Politics

Divided government occurs when: a. The three branches of government are unable to work together to solve problems b. The vice president must cast the deciding vote as president of the Senate c. The presidency and the Supreme Court are controlled by different parties d. One party controls the presidency while the other party controls at least one house of Congress e. The president and Congress are unable to agree on a joint political agenda

d. One party controls the presidency while the other party controls at least one house of Congress

What is the importance of party identification in determining how a person votes today? a. It has no impact anymore; issues and personality have replaced it as a determinant of voting behavior. b. Party identification is correlated with the nature of the times. When times are good, people vote according to their party ID; when they are bad, people defect from their party. c. Party did not used to be very important in determining people's votes, but in today's polarized politics it is. d. Party identification is still the single best predictor of how individuals will vote.

d. Party identification is still the single best predictor of how individuals will vote.

According to the text, the Declaration of Independence was first and foremost a(n): a. Suggestion for a new form of government b. Moral argument opposing slavery in the colonies c. Attempt to persuade King George III to listen to the colonies d. Political document e. Philosophical treatise

d. Political document

Which of the following is not a part of the system of checks and balances? a. The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional. b. Congress can impeach the president. c. Presidents can veto legislation. d. Presidents can force Congress to adjourn. e. Congress can impeach members of the judiciary.

d. Presidents can force Congress to adjourn.

If the news media constantly emphasize crime, and then politicians are evaluated on how they deal with crime, this would be an example of: a. Framing b. News management c. Agenda setting d. Priming e. Media manipulation

d. Priming

Direct lobbying refers to which of the following activities: a. Leaders of political parties attempting to build coalitions among politicians to pass legislation. b. Representatives of interest groups attempting to influence the decisions of government officials indirectly, by influencing public opinion. c. Organizing "get out the vote" drives to encourage nonvoters to participate. d. Representatives of interest groups attempting to directly influence the decisions of government officials.

d. Representatives of interest groups attempting to directly influence the decisions of government officials.

Since around 1980 a. Both Republicans and Democrats have leaned liberal b. The Republican Party has been much less consistent than the Democratic Party with respect to ideology c. Southern Democrats have grown in number, making the Democratic Party more liberal d. Republicans and Democrats have grown more ideological and more polarized e. Both Republicans and Democrats have become more conservative

d. Republicans and Democrats have grown more ideological and more polarized

All of the following statements concerning congressional committee chairs are true except: a. The seniority system gives the chairmanship to the member of the majority party with the longest service on the committee. b. Throughout most of the twentieth century, the seniority system controlled the selection of committee chairs. c. Committee chairs have lost some of their power in the past 30 years. d. Seniority is now irrelevant for the selection of committee chairs. e. Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders.

d. Seniority is now irrelevant for the selection of committee chairs.

In Federalist No. 51, what government structure did James Madison recommend to ensure "ambition . . . be made to counteract ambition"? a. An executive branch with unchecked power b. A unicameral legislature c. Direct democracy d. Separation of powers and checks and balances among the branches of federal government

d. Separation of powers and checks and balances among the branches of federal government

During his travels to early America, Alexis de Tocqueville observed Americans': a. Strong support of many different political parties b. Strong commitment to elitism c. Lack of interpersonal empathy d. Tendency to form organizations and interest groups e. Tendency to discuss politics only privately

d. Tendency to form organizations and interest groups

Which of the following Constitutional provisions has NOT facilitated the expansion of federal power into areas previously dominated by the states? a. The spending clause b. The necessary & proper clause c. The supremacy clause d. Tenth Amendment e. The commerce clause

d. Tenth Amendment

Which of the following is a clear distinction between the rules of debate in the House and the Senate? a. The Senate majority leader dominates rule making in ways that the Speaker of the House cannot. b. The House must have passed legislation before the Senate may debate it. c. The House has the filibuster, whereas the Senate does not. d. The House Rules Committee can limit debate, whereas no such rules can limit debate in the Senate. e. The Senate Rules Committee can limit debate, whereas no such rules can limit debate in the House.

d. The House Rules Committee can limit debate, whereas no such rules can limit debate in the Senate.

According to Federalist #48, the branch of government most likely to abuse our powers is a. The judiciary, which enjoys such independence from the other branches that it cannot be held responsible for its actions b. The executive, which is likely to control armies and be king-like c. None of the above d. The legislature, which in a republic naturally possesses more powers than any other branch.

d. The legislature, which in a republic naturally possesses more powers than any other branch.

President George W. Bush's effort to rally public opinion for Social Security and President Obama's effort to do the same for immigration reform reflect which of the following: a. The ability to use public pressure to get Congress to act b. The president's effective use of the veto threat c. The ability of presidents to use the tools of the modern presidency to be public opinion leaders d. The limited ability of presidents to sway public opinion among today's polarized public

d. The limited ability of presidents to sway public opinion among today's polarized public

Each of the following is a way that interest groups help to articulate interests in society, EXCEPT a. They educate office holders about key issues. b. They represent particular viewpoints in society c. They monitor programs and policy. d. They help to bridge the gap among the three branches of government by providing common goals and collective accountability.

d. They help to bridge the gap among the three branches of government by providing common goals and collective accountability.

Interest groups frequently use social protest when: a. The groups can afford to protest because elected officials already respond well to the groups' traditional techniques b. Economic interests rather than equal opportunity are the issues being debated c. Mainstream America already generally accepts their position d. Traditional techniques have failed to bring attention to the groups' causes e. The groups have considerable money to spend on efforts like direct advocacy

d. Traditional techniques have failed to bring attention to the groups' causes

The president has many foreign policy powers including the powers of a. ratifying treaties and appropriating money for the military b. determining the defense and foreign aid budgets c. declaring war and managing commerce d. appointing ambassadors and consuls

d. appointing ambassadors and consuls

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, a. schools will no longer be assessed based on standardized test results b. the federal government will entirely remove itself from education policy c. the Common Core will be required for all states that want federal education money d. key decisions about how to hold schools accountable for performance are being shifted back to the states

d. key decisions about how to hold schools accountable for performance are being shifted back to the states

Politics is best thought of in terms of conflict a. among political parties b. between political candidates c. over who serves as government officials d. over the allocation of powers and resources in society

d. over the allocation of powers and resources in society

"American politics consists of an interplay of numerous interests. Virtually everyone is represented in a dense network of groups, no single interest is dominant, and all are required to bargain and compromise." This summarizes which view of interest groups a. groups as rent-seekers b. issue network c. subgovernment d. pluralism

d. pluralism

A sample in which each member of the population has an equal chance of being selected and whose responses can therefore be generalized safely to the whole is known as a _____ sample. a. convenience b. straw c. quota d. random e. nonprobability

d. random

In politics and government, ______ determine how decisions are made and __________ are the organizations where government's power is exercised. a. institutions, rules b. authority, economy c. legitimacy, authority d. rules, institutions

d. rules, institutions

The major disagreement among Americans on the ideological economic dimension is over: a. The degree to which the workforce needs to be forced into vital economic jobs b. Whether the economy should be structured so as to increase American military power c. Whether women should be allowed to compete with men for prestigious jobs d. Whether the United States should adopt a socialist economic system e. How much the government should become involved in modifying the effects of the free market

e. How much the government should become involved in modifying the effects of the free market

In engaging in agenda setting, priming, and framing, the news media are: a. Providing a neutral source of information b. Demonstrating liberal bias c. Holding politicians accountable d. Demonstrating a conservative bias e. Influencing what the public thinks about and how it thinks about it.

e. Influencing what the public thinks about and how it thinks about it.

McCulloch v. Maryland increased the power of the federal government by: a. Establishing that the states did not have the power to secede from the union b. Interpreting the federal police power very broadly c. Outlawing slavery in the territories d. Interpreting the commerce clause of the Constitution very broadly e. Interpreting the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution very broadly

e. Interpreting the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution very broadly

Which of the following statements concerning popular sovereignty is not true? a. It is the principle that there is no authority higher than the people. b. The central idea is that government is legitimate only if the people consent to it. c. It is based on the belief that people are not truly free unless they govern themselves. d. In the United States, the Constitution is the document establishing the authority of the people. e. It is the basis for an anarchist form of government.

e. It is the basis for an anarchist form of government.

The enumerated powers of Congress are: a. Identified in the opinion of the court in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison b. Accumulated powers established by Congress in statutes passed over the past two hundred years c. Listed in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution d. Listed in the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution e. Listed in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution

e. Listed in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution

A bill can only be sent to one committee at a time. True False

False

Amendments to the constitution must be ratified by 2/3 of the states in Congress agreeing to them. True False

False

An executive order must have the consent of the Senate before it becomes enforceable. True False

False

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution lists the enumerated powers of the president. True False

False

As ratified by the original thirteen states, the Constitution provided for the direct election of senators. True False

False

By focusing on unilateral presidential actions such as launching foreign policy initiatives or using executive orders, presidents today can overcome polarization in the public and build a broad, bipartisan base of public support. True False

False

Today the committees in Congress are more powerful than the parties. True False

False

Which of the following political actors would be most likely to support a block grant program in the area described? a. A president whose goal in education policy is to increase spending but demand results and accountability from the states b. An environmental activist who is seeking federal money to fund a nation-wide pollution reduction program. c. Members of Congress who want more control of how money is spent. d. A governor of a state who is seeking federal help to pay for a large program like welfare or health care but wants her state to design its own program.

d. A governor of a state who is seeking federal help to pay for a large program like welfare or health care but wants her state to design its own program.

Every amendment to the Constitution has been proposed by a. 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress b. Constitutional convention called by 3/4 of states c. Presidential proclamation d. 3/4 vote of both houses of Congress

a. 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

The Anti-Federalists feared the adoption of the Constitution would lead to: a. A great deal of corruption among elites, leading to tyranny b. A weak national government c. Attacks on property rights d. Popular tyranny e. A weak national government

a. A great deal of corruption among elites, leading to tyranny

A Super PAC is a. A way for supporters of candidates to raise large sums of money to spend advocating for the candidate's election. b. Part of a candidate's campaign, and as such is subject to very strict limits on amounts of money raised. c. Rarely used d. None of the above

a. A way for supporters of candidates to raise large sums of money to spend advocating for the candidate's election.

The greatest difficulty for Congress in attempting to pass laws is: a. That a bill can be defeated at many points in the process b. The sheer size of the institution c. The lack of legislative leadership demonstrated by recent presidents d. The rivalry that exists between the House and the Senate e. That passing a bill is costly

a. That a bill can be defeated at many points in the process

The difference between civil rights and civil liberties is: a. That civil rights involve government action to secure rights of its citizens while civil liberties pertain to individual freedoms that limit the power of government b. That civil rights involve freedoms while civil liberties involve voting c. That civil rights involve speech, press, and religious freedom while civil liberties involve voting d. Inconsequential, because the terms are used interchangeably in the United States e. That civil rights limit the power of government while civil liberties expand the power of government

a. That civil rights involve government action to secure rights of its citizens while civil liberties pertain to individual freedoms that limit the power of government

Recent levels of gridlock, obstruction and delay may suggest what with regard to the responsible party model? a. That the responsible party model is not well suited to separation of powers systems where divided government happens frequently. b. That the responsible party model is leading to higher levels of party polarization c. That more responsible parties can overcome the separation of powers and lead to aggressive programs. d. None of the above

a. That the responsible party model is not well suited to separation of powers systems where divided government happens frequently.

What did James Madison mean when he stated at the end of Federalist #10 that the Constitution created "a republican remedy for those diseases most incident to republican government"? a. The Constitution relies upon elements of representative democracy to prevent the excesses of democracy like tyranny of the majority. b. A Bill of Rights needed to be added to the Constitution. c. The country needed to develop a court system to address the conflicting rights of citizens. d. The country needed stronger state governments to control the people. e. The federal government needed to have the ability to collect taxes to provide services for citizens.

a. The Constitution relies upon elements of representative democracy to prevent the excesses of democracy like tyranny of the majority.

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of rational ignorance? a. The opinions that are expressed during public opinion surveys are often arrived at on the fly. b. We often rely on what Barbour and Wright call a "two-step flow of information," i.e., we rely a lot on opinion leaders who do pay a lot of attention to politics. c. We tend to rely on a lot of heuristics, or shortcuts, to form our political opinions. d. All of the above are consequences of rational ignorance.

d. All of the above are consequences of rational ignorance.

All of the following are elements of the modern presidency, except: a. Increased role in policymaking. b. Public dimension of the job. c. Increased institutional and organizational support. d. All of the above are elements of the modern presidency.

d. All of the above are elements of the modern presidency.

A set of beliefs about politics, the economy, and society that helps people make sense of their world is called: a. A political attitude b. Public opinion c. A public policy d. An ideology e. Political socialization

d. An ideology

Political efficacy is the belief that: a. None of the above b. Politicians should be involved in the personal matters of their constituents c. One can make a difference in politics d. Campaigns should be conducted in an efficient manner

d. Campaigns should be conducted in an efficient manner

In Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court ruled that: a. Congress was not allowed to outlaw slavery in U.S. territories b. The federal government had the implied power to create a national bank c. State-chartered banks were immune from federal regulation d. Congress's power to regulate commerce is broad and extends to regulating navigation; federal regulations are supreme over state regulations. e. The Supreme Court could declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional

d. Congress's power to regulate commerce is broad and extends to regulating navigation; federal regulations are supreme over state regulations.

Political parties choose the legislative chamber's priorities, deciding which bills move through committee and which get debated and voted on. In so doing, they help solve Congress's a. Need for clarity b. Collective action problem c. Need for information d. Coordination problem

d. Coordination problem

Cooperative federalism is a theory that: a. Reflects the formal distribution of powers by the Constitution b. Defines state and federal governments as essentially separate from each other and carrying out their functions independently c. Was an accurate depiction of American federalism during the eighteenth century d. Defines state and national powers as interdependent, requiring the cooperation of each other to get things done e. Is modeled after a layer cake

d. Defines state and national powers as interdependent, requiring the cooperation of each other to get things done

The theory that defines the state and national governments as essentially separate from each other and carrying out independent functions is: a. Federalism b. Cooperative federalism c. Separation of powers federalism d. Dual federalism e. Independent federalism

d. Dual federalism

One way in which the Constitution that was sent to the original thirteen states for ratification attempted to protect individual rights was by: a. Concentrating all power in Congress b. Discouraging the formation of majority factions by making it difficult to get control of government c. Enacting a Bill of Rights d. Enacting a strict and absolute separation of powers system

d. Enacting a strict and absolute separation of powers system

The Great Compromise: a. Provided strong powers to the state governments b. Established slaves as equal to three-fifths a person when totaling populations for both representation and taxation c. Limited the importation of slaves for twenty years d. Established a legislature with equal state representation in the Senate and representation by state population in the House e. Created a confederate system of government

d. Established a legislature with equal state representation in the Senate and representation by state population in the House

Groups of people motivated by a common interest, but one that differs from the interest of the country as a whole, are identified by Madison as: a. Political parties b. Political caucuses c. Segregationists d. Factions e. Minorities

d. Factions

The Constitution was drafted under which of the following circumstances a. Britain would only grant independence to the colonies if they produced a governing document for their new country. b. Virginia felt that state powers were infringed by the Articles of Confederation and pushed for a constitutional convention to rectify this problem. c. The Articles of Confederation were intended to function for a limited amount of time, after which delegates from each colony met to consider how they could form a more permanent government. d. Following several years of instability under the Articles of Confederation, delegates from the states met with the intent to revise the document.

d. Following several years of instability under the Articles of Confederation, delegates from the states met with the intent to revise the document.

Shays' Rebellion demonstrated the: a. Unpopularity of the Revolutionary War b. Need for additional courthouses to process foreclosures c. Strong opposition to the Declaration of Independence d. Frustration of debtors and the failure of the Articles of Confederation e. Power of England to stir up trouble in the new United States

d. Frustration of debtors and the failure of the Articles of Confederation

The founders intended the people to have the most influence over public policy through the: a. House of Representatives and the Senate b. House of Representatives, the Senate, and the president c. Senate d. House of Representatives e. President

d. House of Representatives

Which of the following is not an example of new media? a. Talk radio b. Cable news stations c. Call-in television shows d. Ideological magazines e. Blogs

d. Ideological magazines

All of the following are considered agents of political socialization except: a. The media b. Parents c. Churches d. Ideologies e. Schools

d. Ideologies

All of the following statements concerning direct lobbying are true except: a. Congress regulates the relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers b. Interest groups attempt to bolster their lobbying efforts by cooperating with other interest groups c. Interest groups lobby Congress, in part, by providing testimony and expertise d. Interest groups do not lobby the bureaucracy

d. Interest groups do not lobby the bureaucracy

Education campaigns, grass-roots lobbying and demonstrations are a. part of an outside lobbying strategy to put pressure on public officials by mobilizing public opinion. b. part of an insider group's strategy to generate much-needed information that group lobbyists can then use to pressure elected officials. c. a prelude to the formation of a political action committee that will then engage in an inside strategy of influence. d. the methods of choice for mainstream environmental groups.

a. part of an outside lobbying strategy to put pressure on public officials by mobilizing public opinion.

If a sample is __________, then we will know how much ____________ there is. a. random, sampling error b. systematic , bias c. biased, error d. stratified, question bias

a. random, sampling error

Power is defined in your text as: a. the ability to get other people to do what you want b. the use of military, paramilitary, or police forces to control people c. a type of totalitarianism d. the use of force to obtain desired goals e. the essential quality of leadership

a. the ability to get other people to do what you want

A ______ system is one in which the central government ultimately has all of the power. a. unitary b. federal c. cooperative d. devolutionary e. confederal

a. unitary

On which of the following topics do the media tend to place the greatest emphasis during campaigns? a. who's ahead and who trails in the polls b. issues c. the role of campaign contributions and lobbyists d. party platforms

a. who's ahead and who trails in the polls

Which of the following is an example of horse-race journalism? a. A story on the lack of importance of the parties' national conventions b. A story on the boost in the polls that a candidate received after a recent debate c. A story comparing two presidential candidates' positions on Social Security d. A personal interest story on the wife of a presidential candidate e. Two news organizations competing to be the first to break a story on a presidential scandal

b. A story on the boost in the polls that a candidate received after a recent debate

In contrast to the ideas of James Madison, political observers today argue that political parties: a. Should regulate democracy in place of the government b. Are essential to the maintenance of democracy c. Are a danger to the smooth functioning of democracy d. Should be strongest at the local level e. Are no longer necessary

b. Are essential to the maintenance of democracy

The end of the French and Indian War changed relations between England and the colonies because the: a. English had made the colonies fund the French and Indian War, and the colonists were resentful b. Colonies felt they no longer needed English troops, but the English wanted the colonies to repay England for funding the war c. English government kept insisting on providing more aid to the colonies d. Colonies were grateful to the English government for saving them e. English government was pleased about the tremendous amount of gratitude expressed by the colonies for English sacrifices during the war

b. Colonies felt they no longer needed English troops, but the English wanted the colonies to repay England for funding the war

Interest groups perform all of the following roles in politics except: a. Educating policymakers regarding issues important to the interest group b. Electing members to public office under the group's name c. Providing an avenue for citizen participation in politics d. Representing their members' views to government e. Alerting the proper government authorities about the group's issue to get the issue on the political agenda

b. Electing members to public office under the group's name

What role did Thomas Hobbes play in the development of classical liberalism? a. He organized a rebellion against the King of England b. He wrote The Leviathan, which introduced the idea of a social contract between the ruler and the ruled c. He wrote the Magna Carta in 1215 d. He argued that we were guaranteed the natural rights of life, liberty and property.

b. He wrote The Leviathan, which introduced the idea of a social contract between the ruler and the ruled

_______ is best known for expressing theory that the purpose of government is to protect people's natural rights of life, liberty and property. a. Thomas Hobbes b. John Locke c. Thomas Jefferson d. Baron de Montesquieu

b. John Locke

During the period of time during which the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation, elites came to fear tyranny by the: a. King b. Legislature c. Judiciary d. Political parties

b. Legislature

The enumerated powers of Congress are: a. Listed in the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution b. Listed in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution c. Listed in the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution d. Accumulated powers established by Congress in statutes passed over the past two hundred years e. Identified in the opinion of the court in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison

b. Listed in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution

The single biggest factor accounting for how people decide to vote is: a. Issues b. Party identification c. Ethnicity d. Gender e. Candidate characteristics

b. Party identification

In drafting the Constitution the founders: a. Rejected completely both the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan and started over b. Took from both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan, but took more from the Virginia Plan c. Adopted the New Jersey Plan completely d. Adopted the Virginia Plan completely e. Took more from the New Jersey Plan than from the Virginia Plan

b. Took from both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan, but took more from the Virginia Plan

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states will now be free to develop their own accountability standards and mechanisms, which may include measures other than test results. The flexibility in state programs has been brought about by funding education programs as a. revenue sharing b. block grants c. categorical grants d. unfunded mandates

b. block grants

When the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by another, it is called a. bicameralism b. divided government c. multiparty government d. all of the above

b. divided government

At the Constitutional Convention, supporters of the Virginia Plan argued for a. a dominant executive branch b. legislative representation based on the population of each state c. a one house legislature that employed a simple majority rule system d. equal representation of each state in the legislature regardless of the state's size.

b. legislative representation based on the population of each state

Without political parties, members of different branches of government, different houses of Congress or different levels of government (federal, state, local) would have no real reasons to cooperate with one another to formulate policy. This is an example of how parties a. make electoral politics coherent b. make government coherent c. monopolize power d. provide checks and balances

b. make government coherent

In an authoritarian system, the people have: a. rights but no privileges b. obligations but no rights c. neither rights nor obligations d. rights and obligations e. rights but no obligations

b. obligations but no rights

In order to help pass Obamacare, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi brokered a deal to change the bill that was reported out of committee so that it would include language requiring that insurance coverage that included abortions be purchased separately by individuals. This is an example of a. extended debate in the Senate b. partially bypassing the committee via post-committee adjustment c. complex special rules in the House d. multiple referrals

b. partially bypassing the committee via post-committee adjustment

During the first Gulf War, President George H.W. Bush found his approval ratings near 90% when the media were focusing on military matters. During this time, approval of his handling of domestic policy remained low. As media attention turned away from foreign affairs and toward covering the economic downturn, Bush's approval ratings began to fall. This is an example of a. framing b. priming c. learning d. none of the above

b. priming

Starting in January 2009, the Democrats had control over the Presidency and Senate. In the 2014 election, voters who did not like the state of the country punished Democratic candidates at the polls, and the party lost control of the Senate. This represents which function of political parties? a. agenda setting b. providing collective accountability c. interest aggregation d. recruiting leaders

b. providing collective accountability

If your professor joins the American Political Science Association seeking a feeling of belonging and community with other scholars, he is seeking a. inherent benefits b. solidarity benefits c. material benefits d. expressive benefits

b. solidarity benefit

The most important difference between a political party and an interest group is a. parties are public institutions while interest groups are private. b. the political party seeks to win offices, while interest groups try to influence government to win benefits. c. interest groups always support politicians of both parties. d. the political party is interested in policy, while interest groups are more interested in elections.

b. the political party seeks to win offices, while interest groups try to influence government to win benefits.

At the time of the Constitutional Convention, the Framers had experience with a ________ form of government during colonialism and a __________ form of government during and immediately following the Revolution. a. confederal, unitary b. unitary, confederal c. unitary, federalist d. confederal, federalist e. federalist, confederal

b. unitary, confederal

One possible reason that an outsider like Donald Trump can win his party's presidential nomination today is: a. The continuing need to please party insiders and bosses. b. The growing influence of Latinos within the Republican Party. c. A nomination process today that is dominated by ideological party activists who vote in primary elections. d. The push toward moderation during the general election.

c. A nomination process today that is dominated by ideological party activists who vote in primary elections.

Sampling error refers to: a. A situation in which question wording biases the results b. A situation in which a sample is not representative of the larger universe being measured c. A number that indicates the range within which the results of a poll are likely to be accurate d. The number of mistakes made by a pollster e. Mistakes made in the recording of responses in a poll

c. A number that indicates the range within which the results of a poll are likely to be accurate

Social conservatives would agree with all of the following except: a. Use of government power to encourage and protect traditional family roles b. More stringent controls on immigration c. A significant use of government power to regulate the economy d. A powerful military e. The use of substantive laws to create a particular moral order

c. A significant use of government power to regulate the economy

Which of the following statements is not true about the American party system? a. American party organizations are decentralized. b. Third parties occasionally have had a dramatic impact on presidential election outcomes. c. American parties are more ideologically extreme than many of their European counterparts. d. American parties have recently increased their party discipline. e. The lack of success of third parties in the United States is because of election rules.

c. American parties are more ideologically extreme than many of their European counterparts.

Even though their goal is to provide a collective good, public interest groups often struggle because they: a. Are notorious for raising funds but not for using them to achieve collective goods b. Are liberal and many conservatives oppose them strongly c. Are often vulnerable to the free rider problem d. Look for economic benefits and are disappointed with the collective goods produced e. Do not try to influence government, so their efforts never address real political issues

c. Are often vulnerable to the free rider problem

Casework (or constituency service): a. Is rarely used today b. Seldom helps members of Congress in their reelection bids c. Assists people in dealing with the bureaucracy d. Was outlawed in 1996 e. Is engaged in by senators more commonly than representatives

c. Assists people in dealing with the bureaucracy

The major point of contention between the Federalists and Jefferson's Republicans concerned the: a. Freedoms that citizens would possess b. Role of the Supreme Court in upholding the federal system c. Balance of power between the federal and state governments d. Powers of the president in resolving federal-state government disputes e. Ability of foreigners to gain American citizenship

c. Balance of power between the federal and state governments

What must Congress do for a bill to become law after a president has vetoed it? a. At least one house must pass the bill again by a two-thirds vote while the other house must pass it again with a majority vote. b. Only the Senate must pass the bill again, but it must do so by a two-thirds vote. c. Both houses of Congress must override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. d. Both houses of Congress must pass the bill again by a majority vote within thirty days. e. Both houses of Congress must pass the bill again by a majority vote within ten days.

c. Both houses of Congress must override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

According to the social contract, what is the source of government's legitimacy? a. The divine right of kings b. Government's authority over its subjects c. Citizen consent d. Government's control of all property e. The Catholic Church

c. Citizen consent

The U.S. electoral system is often considered costly for all of the reasons EXCEPT: a. Tuesday elections interfere with voters' work schedules. b. Information costs are somewhat high. c. Citizens must identify with a political party to vote. d. Registration imposes an additional barrier to voting.

c. Citizens must identify with a political party to vote.

_____ discrimination arises from or is supported by law. a. De solis b. Ad hoc c. De facto d. Ex post facto c. De jure

c. De jure

According to Montesquieu, separation of powers safeguards against tyranny by: a. Keeping power away from an executive like the king b. Delegating most power to state governments c. Dividing power between branches so that if one branch goes bad, the others remain intact d. Concentrating power in a few hands so that it cannot be separated in a way that would disperse power e. Separating power between the state and federal branches so that the federal government does not dominate the states

c. Dividing power between branches so that if one branch goes bad, the others remain intact

The need to gain an audience in order to sell ads forces the media to focus on the following kinds of stories: a. Historically-oriented, rich in contextual detail. b. Critical of official sources. c. Dramatic, entertainment-oriented. d. Focused on institutions and procedures.

c. Dramatic, entertainment-oriented.

The theory of federalism that sees the national government as one of enumerated, limited powers and stresses the importance of the powers reserved to the states by the 10th Amendment is a. Fiscal federalism b. Cooperative federalism c. Dual federalism d. Coercive federalism

c. Dual federalism

The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are in agreement on the answer to which of the following points? a. What powers Congress shall possess b. The kind of judiciary to construct c. The source of sovereignty in government d. The use of a bicameral legislature e. How laws are to be passed

c. The source of sovereignty in government

Which of the following does NOT explain how parties help make government coherent? a. They help organize the legislature b. They help bridge the differences among the branches and levels of government c. They provide voting cues for those in the electorate d. They help set the agenda and form policies

c. They provide voting cues for those in the electorate

The process of socialization: a. Teaches us to think independently and critically b. Is the primary function of a college education c. Trains us to support and obey the existing political system d. Has no legitimate function e. Teaches us tolerance for the political values of other nations

c. Trains us to support and obey the existing political system

Under normal legislative procedures, most of the hard work of drafting legislation occurs: a. Strictly among the parties' leadership b. On the floor of both chambers c. Within congressional standing committees d. At the discretion of the executive branch e. Only after the Supreme Court reviews it

c. Within congressional standing committees

The president has the power to make treaties with the a. approval of both houses of Congress b. approval of the Supreme Court c. advice and consent of the Senate d. advice and consent of the House of Representatives

c. advice and consent of the Senate

When the news media started to pay more attention to the war in the Sudan several years ago, public pressure grew on the US government to become involved in diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. This is an example of a. priming b. framing c. agenda setting d. learning

c. agenda setting

The Constitution as it was finally ratified can best be understood as the product of: a. one group of political ideologues b. the economic forces and needs of the masses c. compromises struck among competing interests d. an exercise in pure political philosophy, led by James Madison

c. compromises struck among competing interests

By providing office holders across the political system with common goals and interests, political parties help to overcome the problem of _____ created by the Constitution. a. an overly powerful national government b. the threat of tyranny c. fragmented government d. a weak national government e. overly powerful state governments

c. fragmented government

In the definition of politics, government rules can be thought of as the "______" and power and resources can be thought of as the "_______." a. what; where b. how; where c. how; what d. what; how e. where; how

c. how; what

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides members access to a mail-order pharmacy, low-cost insurance, and discounts at hotels and restaurants. This is an example of an interest group providing which kind of selective incentives a. collective goods b. purposive benefits c. material incentives d. solidary benefits

c. material incentives

Politics is defined in your text as: a. the process by which societies resolve, reduce, or eliminate conflict b. the ability to get others to do what you want c. who gets what, when, and how d. a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people e. the way we organize and live our collective lives

c. who gets what, when, and how

Which of the following is NOT a norm that helps ensure the success of democracy, according to Levitskey and Ziblatt? a. Partisan self-restraint, in which ruling parties tacitly agree not to use their powers to the utmost b. Presidential restraint, in which the executive recognizes limitations on his/her power c. An acceptance of the legitimacy of opposition parties d. A commitment to be nonpartisan

d. A commitment to be nonpartisan

One major reason that the Democratic Party has become more liberal and the Republican Party more conservative over the past several decades is the: a. Growing influence of the Democratic Party in the West b. Growth of Democratic influence with liberals of the Rocky Mountain area c. Growing influence of the Republican Party in the industrial Midwest d. Movement of conservative, southern Democrats to the Republican Party e. Movement of conservative New Englanders and New Yorkers into the Republican Party

d. Movement of conservative, southern Democrats to the Republican Party

Which of the following statements is true about the modern use of treaties and executive agreements? a. About the same number of each is completed each year. b. The percentage of completed interstate negotiations that end in treaties and executive agreements is about the same each year. c. Executive agreements have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in favor of treaties. d. Most completed international negotiations end in treaties rather than executive agreements. e. Most completed international negotiations end in executive agreements rather than treaties.

e. Most completed international negotiations end in executive agreements rather than treaties.

The _____ Plan proposed equal representation for all states in the legislature. a. Pennsylvania b. Virginia c. Delaware d. Connecticut e. New Jersey

e. New Jersey

The system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors is called: a. The civil service system b. Party benefits c. Electioneering d. The party machine e. Patronage

e. Patronage

When divided government exists: a. The president does not bother to send legislative proposals to Congress b. Gridlock is typically avoided c. Congress often passes legislation preferred by the president rather than legislation preferred by Congress d. Bills that represent the will of the public do not pass e. Presidents generally have less success than during periods of unified government

e. Presidents generally have less success than during periods of unified government

All of the following statements concerning the president's veto power are true except: a. Presidents use the veto more frequently when their party does not control Congress. b. The threat of a veto is a powerful tool in presidential negotiations with Congress. c. The veto is the principal legislative power given to the president by the Constitution d. Congress is generally unsuccessful at overturning presidential vetoes. e. Presidents have had the line item veto since 1995.

e. Presidents have had the line item veto since 1995.

______ is the idealized voting behavior, but ______ more realistically describes how voting behavior actually occurs. a. Retrospective voting; prospective voting b. Swing voting; prospective voting c. Prospective voting; swing voting d. Front-loading; retrospective voting e. Prospective voting; retrospective voting

e. Prospective voting; retrospective voting

The two major roles of members of Congress are lawmaking and: a. Constituency service b. Policymaking c. Budget approval d. Agenda setting e. Representation

e. Representation

The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the: a. Deliberative group b. Public c. Population d. Focus group e. Sample

e. Sample

When a poll has a sample that does not represent all segments of the population, the result is called: a. A systematic random sample b. Sampling error c. Erroneous data d. A straw poll e. Sample bias

e. Sample bias

In his position as commander-in-chief, the president: a. Can rearrange the bureaucracy according to his needs b. Presides over the standing committees in Congress c. Has the power to grant pardons d. Has the right to veto legislation e. Serves as the civilian head of the military

e. Serves as the civilian head of the military

Under the Articles of Confederation Congress had all of the following powers except the power to: a. Make treaties b. Coin money c. Direct the armed forces d. Decide matters of war and peace e. Tax

e. Tax

Which of the following arguments made in the Federalist Papers was clearly rejected by the states during ratification? a. The national government would not become too strong under the proposed system. b. Federalism was a workable form of government. c. Factions could be controlled by a large republic. d. The president would not be too strong under the proposed system. e. There was no need for a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

e. There was no need for a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.

Information is a key source of power for interest groups, because: a. Presidents often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups b. Members of Congress often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups c. Information always overpowers other resources such as money, size, and intensity d. These groups often gather information on political officials to use against them e. These groups are often the best sources of information on the potential or actual impact of a law or regulation

e. These groups are often the best sources of information on the potential or actual impact of a law or regulation

Which of the following is true about categorical grants? a. They allow for great flexibility at the state level. b. They are guided by few or no rules. c. They help eliminate red tape. d. They are very cheap for the federal government. e. They allow for more standardization nationwide

e. They allow for more standardization nationwide

The argument for the responsible party model is that democracy is strengthened when: a. Politicians have the flexibility to take individual positions on issues regardless of their party b. The character of the candidates is more important than their policy positions c. Voters vote for the man, not the party d. There are only two parties e. Voters are given clear alternatives and hold parties responsible for their promises

e. Voters are given clear alternatives and hold parties responsible for their promises

The _____ role of interest groups is reflected in Mothers Against Drunk Driving's attempts to direct legislative attention to the issue. a. electioneering b. representative c. program-monitoring d. educational e. agenda-building

e. agenda-building

A political system in which the state holds all power over the social order is: a. a theocracy b. an Athenian-like democracy c. a social monarchy d. a republic e. an authoritarian government

e. an authoritarian government

Collective goods (also called public goods) are defined as being a benefit that a. can be divided and distributed among members. b. is available only to citizens who have failed to join an interest group. c. is available to group members but not to a group's leadership. d. applies to liberal groups more than conservative groups. e. is available to group members and nonmembers alike.

e. is available to group members and nonmembers alike.

The Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers are a. independent from the authority of the president b. the same thing as the White House staff c. agencies of Congress d. organizations that make up the president's cabinet e. organizations that are part of the Executive Office of the President

e. organizations that are part of the Executive Office of the President

Amending the Constitution is a two-stage process, with the first stage taking place at the _______ level and the second stage taking place at the _______ level a. national, state b. state, national c. state, congressional d. legislative, executive

a. national, state

In "The Problem We All Live With," Nikole Hannah-Jones argues that School integration was a failure, and that's why we stopped doing it The federal government should have no role to play in education policy School choice programs and charter schools are the best options for poor students in largely minority areas to get a better education School integration is the only government program tried over the past 40 years that has succesfully narrowed the learning gap between minorities and whites

School integration is the only government program tried over the past 40 years that has succesfully narrowed the learning gap between minorities and whites

A standing committee is a permanent committee in Congress responsible for legislating in a specific area. True False

True

Article III creates the Supreme Court but leaves it up to Congress to create other courts. True False

True

As explained in the Federalist Papers, the framers had a distrust of democracy. True False

True

In today's polarized Senate, nearly every important piece of legislation is subject to extended debate and therefore needs 60 votes to get through. True False

True

Most legislation dies in committee. True False

True

The process used in enacting the Every Student Succeeds act is one of the best recent examples of the legislative process as it's typically represented in civics textbooks. True False

True

With the exception of the filibuster, use of unorthodox legislative techniques increases the likelihood of a bill becoming law. True False

True

When the media bring a news issue to the public's attention, thereby telling the public that this issue is important, the media engage in: a. Agenda setting b. Framing c. News control d. News management e. priming.

a. Agenda setting

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were: a. Among the most educated, powerful, and wealthy citizens of the new country b. Young merchants who wanted to achieve economic success c. Mainly farmers d. Ordinary Americans who confronted great challenges e. Made up entirely of the leaders of the Revolutionary Army

a. Among the most educated, powerful, and wealthy citizens of the new country

A common feature of all interest groups is that they: a. Are organized around shared interests among members b. Spend huge amounts of money on campaign donations c. Provide exclusive benefits to members in order to keep them loyal d. Sponsor public demonstrations e. Have all potential members in society defined and loyal to their cause

a. Are organized around shared interests among members

According to Matt Levendusky's Monkey Cage blog post, what is the best way to understand the role of ideological media (such as Fox News and MSNBC) in polarizing the American public? a. Ideological news programs have an effect mostly on the most extreme viewers. Thus, they make more extreme viewers more extreme, pushing the polarized even further from the center. b. They have no effect, since they are essentially preaching to the choir, and only the most polarized watch in the first place. c. They tend to push more moderate viewers toward ideological extremes. d. They tend to convert those from the opposite end of the ideological spectrum.

a. Ideological news programs have an effect mostly on the most extreme viewers. Thus, they make more extreme viewers more extreme, pushing the polarized even further from the center.

The founders adopted a federal political system: a. As a compromise between those who wanted a strong central government and those who wanted to retain strong state governments b. Because they were inspired by the writings of John Locke, who advocated such an arrangement c. As a return to ancient forms of government d. Because a division of sovereignty between a central government and regional governments is a basic principle of democracy e. Because they hoped King George III would approve such an arrangement

a. As a compromise between those who wanted a strong central government and those who wanted to retain strong state governments

Congressional committees hear testimony from experts, conduct research and publish reports, and hold investigations. All of these help solve Congress's a. Need for information b. collective action problem c. conflict resolution problem d. none of the above

a. Need for information

According to James Madison, factions are best controlled by the creation of a large republic because: a. No faction will be a majority, which means that no faction will be able to get its way b. Legislatures discourage the creation of factions c. Republican government suppresses factions d. Factions will not form in a large republic e. Those who are chosen to govern will be capable of resisting factions

a. No faction will be a majority, which means that no faction will be able to get its way

What is the key difference between categorical grants and block grants? a. Categorical grants provide very detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance requirements for the states, while block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend the grant money. b. Categorical grants are reflective of the dual federalism era, and block grants reflect the cooperative federalism era. c. Categorical grants lack any true congressional oversight, and block grants require a lot of congressional oversight. d. Block grants can be spent on any policy issue, no matter what Congress allocated the money for. e. State discretion is minimal for both types of grants but block grants are only funded one time per year.

a. Categorical grants provide very detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance requirements for the states, while block grants provide states with more leverage and power over how to spend the grant money.

Which term best describes the nature of American political parties? a. Coalition b. Team c. Unity d. Faction

a. Coalition

Selective incentives are necessary for some interest groups because: a. Collective benefits cannot be kept from those who do not join the group b. There are too few potential members for the group to be effective c. Their members are too wealthy to join the group for the collective benefit d. Their members are not interested in the group's collective benefit e. They have no collective benefit to offer their members

a. Collective benefits cannot be kept from those who do not join the group

The necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. Congress has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers b. The president may take any action necessary and proper for the protection of the United States c. Congress may pass only those laws that are necessary and proper d. The states may not pass laws that are not necessary and proper e. Congress may pass any law that isn't necessary for the defense of the United States

a. Congress has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers

The necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. Congress has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers b. The president may take any action necessary and proper for the protection of the United States c. The states may not pass laws that are not necessary and proper d. Congress may pass any law that isn't necessary for the defense of the United States e. Congress may pass only those laws that are necessary and proper

a. Congress has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers

Identify whether the view of federalism expressed by the person or court case named is more consistent with the theory of dual federalism or the theory of cooperative federalism. Question Alexander Hamilton U.S. v. E.C. Knight & Co. (1896) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Thomas Jefferson Franklin Roosevelt All Answer Choices a. Cooperative federalism b. Dual Federalism

a. Cooperative federalism b. Dual Federalism a. Cooperative federalism b. Dual Federalism a. Cooperative federalism

Which of the following has not led to a decline in voter turnout? a. Decreasing interest group involvement in elections b. Declining political efficacy c. The long-term decline in mainstream party identification d. Decreasing social connectedness e. Decreasing voter mobilization

a. Decreasing interest group involvement in elections

The NPR story "A Tale of Two Polls" described substantially different polling results on support for the Common Core. What best explains the difference in these results? a. Question bias--due to the polarized nature of public opinion today, the term "Common Core" elicits immediate negative comments from a lot of people. b. Sample bias--the survey oversampled people from parts of the country where the Common Core has been a more hotly contested political issue. c. Sampling error--one survey had a much smaller sample and therefore a larger margin of error in its estimate. d. None of the above explains the difference in the poll results

a. Question bias--due to the polarized nature of public opinion today, the term "Common Core" elicits immediate negative comments from a lot of people.

Under the three-fifths compromise: a. Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives b. Three-fifths of the states would have to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect c. A three-fifths majority of the Senate would be required to adopt a treaty d. Three-fifths of the states would have to agree to constitutional amendments e. Three-fifths of the members of the Senate would have to vote to impeach a president

a. Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives

Cloture a. Ends a Senate filibuster with a 60-member vote b. Nominates the majority whip c. Attempts to restrict debate in the House d. Forces a bill out of committee e. Opens a bill for debate

a. Ends a Senate filibuster with a 60-member vote

Pacts made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called: a. Executive agreements b. Treaties c. International memos of understanding d. Executive orders e. Interstate protocols

a. Executive agreements

Pluralists believe that interest groups: a. Give more power to citizens and enhance democratic life b. Are too widespread in American society c. Are making American democracy elitist d. Are only good for democracy if they are public but that economic and equal opportunity interest groups weaken democracy e. Have taken away power from citizens and have weakened democracy

a. Give more power to citizens and enhance democratic life

In the middle 1970s, the two parties were split on the issue of abortion, but over time the Republican Party came to be strongly pro-life and the Democratic party strongly pro-choice. This is an example of a. How within a party system, the major parties adjust to new issues and stake out clear positions on them. b. How party systems collapse when an intractable issue splits current coalitions c. How moral issues resist compromise and change d. None of the above

a. How within a party system, the major parties adjust to new issues and stake out clear positions on them.

According to the text, "liberals" are people who believe in the widespread use of government power for: a. Reducing economic inequality b. Increasing societal morality c. Protecting the freedom of corporations to make profits d. Overcoming the excesses of civil liberties e. Maintaining order and protecting property only

a. Reducing economic inequality

What are organizations called where government power is exercised and where political struggle takes place? a. Institutions b. Capitalist economies c. Socialist countries d. Democracies e. Monarchies

a. Institutions

Using words like "welfare" in a survey question can be problematic because: a. It can evoke strong, emotional responses that could skew the results b. Few people know what welfare is c. It is likely to make people feel uncomfortable answering the question d. Few people have opinions about welfare e. Most people are on welfare, so their answers will be biased

a. It can evoke strong, emotional responses that could skew the results

The Declaration of Independence most reflects the political philosophy of: a. John Locke b. Rousseau c. Thomas Hobbes d. Plato e. Edmund Burke

a. John Locke

Today's Republican coalition includes all of the following EXCEPT a. Labor interests b. Business interests c. Conservative Christians d. Wealthier suburban residents

a. Labor interests

What is omnibus legislation? a. Large bills that contain so many important elements, including the money necessary to fund the government, that members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it b. Legislation written by incumbents so that newer members of Congress feel they can't vote against it due to increasing hyperpartisanship c. Bills that pertain to the next annual budget, which need to be passed within a certain time period, so that members feel increased pressure to pass such bills in a timely fashion d. Legislation that dies due to a pocket veto, in which a president takes no action on a bill, essentially "killing" it e. All of the above

a. Large bills that contain so many important elements, including the money necessary to fund the government, that members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it

All of the following statements concerning the legal obstacles to voting in the United States are true except: a. Managing elections at the state level simplifies the electoral process. b. There are many more elections in the United States than in most other democracies. c. The requirement that voters must register to vote decreases participation significantly. d. In many other democracies, the government, not the individual voter, bears the responsibility for registering citizens. e. Elections are held on weekends in many European democracies, which makes voting more convenient than voting on Tuesday, as is done in the United States.

a. Managing elections at the state level simplifies the electoral process.

_____ require that the government have a compelling state interest for treating people differently. a. Suspect classifications b. Quasi-suspect classifications c. De facto classifications d. De jure classifications e. No suspect classifications

a. Suspect classifications

The constitutional safeguard that places legislative, executive, and judicial powers in different hands is called: a. Separation of powers b. Checks and balances c. Federalism d. Bicameralism e. Fusion of powers

a. Separation of powers

The main way that the federal government has become involved in education policy is via: a. Spending programs that required the states to adopt the Common Core to receive federal grants b. Regulations issued under the commerce clause c. Mandates that the states adopt the Common Core d. None of the above

a. Spending programs that required the states to adopt the Common Core to receive federal grants

Which of the following is NOT a key element of classical liberalism? a. Strict government regulation of free markets b. A focus on individual liberty, including the right to property. c. A commitment to limited government and the rule of law. d. Requiring consent of the governed.

a. Strict government regulation of free markets

Realignment refers to a: a. Substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction b. Period of time when party activists become less ideological c. Period of time when party members become more loyal to their political party d. Trend among voters to identify themselves as third-party members rather than as members of a major party e. Trend among voters to identify themselves as independents rather than as members of a major party

a. Substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction

A ______ system is one in which the local units hold all of the power, and the central government is dependent on them for its existence. a. confederal b. devolutionary c. federal d. cooperative e. unitary

a. confederal

The president uses an executive order to a. direct agencies about how to implement laws. b. change the law. c. remove Supreme Court justices. d. appoint cabinet members.

a. direct agencies about how to implement laws.

The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was worked on by two committees in the Senate and three in the House. This is an example of which element of unorthodox lawmaking a. multiple referrals b. bypassing committee c. post-committee adjustments d. extended debate in the Senate

a. multiple referrals

When a president exercises his chief executive role, he can be most accurately compared to: a. The chief executive officer (CEO) of a company b. A diplomat c. An absolute monarch d. The king or queen of a country e. A military commander

a. The chief executive officer (CEO) of a company

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were: a. The most educated, powerful, and wealthy citizens of the new country b. Young merchants who wanted to achieve economic success c. Mainly farmers d. Ordinary Americans who confronted great challenges e. Made up entirely of the leaders of the Revolutionary Army

a. The most educated, powerful, and wealthy citizens of the new country

Which of the following is NOT a problem that legislatures need to solve? a. The need to create conflict b. The need for collective action c. The need for information d. The coordination problem

a. The need to create conflict

Congress is often reluctant to use block grants to achieve policy goals because: a. This type of grant allows states to pursue their own goals rather than the federal government's goals b. State politicians dislike them as much as unfunded mandates c. They are too time consuming to write d. States rarely accept them due to the restrictions written into such grants e. They are too expensive

a. This type of grant allows states to pursue their own goals rather than the federal government's goals

According to the Monkey Cage post by Carsey and Layman, one of the most unique aspects of our current state of party polarization is a. Unlike previous eras of polarization, today we are polarized across nearly every issue area. b. Unlike previous eras of polarization, we seem to disagree primarily on one major issue. c. Polarization is seen among elected officials, but not within the public. d. Polarization is seen among the public, but not among elected officials.

a. Unlike previous eras of polarization, today we are polarized across nearly every issue area.

One very important difference between the U.S. and most other Western democracies in terms of voting is a. We place several legal barriers in the way of voting, including advance voter registration and weekday elections b. We hold fewer elections than most other Western democracies c. The strength of smaller political parties in the U.S. encourages more people to vote. d. None of the above

a. We place several legal barriers in the way of voting, including advance voter registration and weekday elections

Which of the following is not among the issues of concern, if you are to be a critical watcher of polls? a. Whether the poll agrees with your position b. Whether the poll is representative c. Who sponsored the poll d. How the questions are worded e. What the results mean

a. Whether the poll agrees with your position

Interest groups overcome the free rider problem by providing all of the following except _____ only to people who join the group. a. collective goods b. selective incentives c. material benefits d. solidary benefits e. expressive benefits

a. collective goods

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between politics and government described in the text? a. Politics is a positive process for exercising authority over people, while government is a negative process through which power is gained and lost. b. Politics is the process or activity through which power is gained and lost, while government is a system for exercising authority over a body of people. c. Politics is a narrow self-interested activity, while government is used at the whims of politicians instead of serving the needs of the people. d. Politics is democratic, while government is authoritarian. e. Politics is whatever politicians do, while government is whatever bureaucrats do.

b. Politics is the process or activity through which power is gained and lost, while government is a system for exercising authority over a body of people.

The New Deal increased the scope of both national and state powers by: a. Restricting the involvement of the government in business and the economy b. Redefining the purpose of American government to include more active measures to alleviate poverty and regulate the economy c. Giving the states more control over how federal powers are carried out d. Increasing the importance of balancing the federal budget e. Increasing the power of Congress at the expense of the president

b. Redefining the purpose of American government to include more active measures to alleviate poverty and regulate the economy

Which of the following is true regarding party polarization in Congress? a. Although Congress is more polarized than it used to be, public opinion is not. Therefore, party polarization appears to be limited to elected officials. b. Republicans have moved much farther in the conservative direction over the past 30 years than Democrats have moved in the liberal direction. c. Democrats have moved much farther in the liberal direction over the past 30 years than Republicans have moved in the conservative direction. d. Conservative, Southern Democrats are a major force in the Democratic Party today and help to explain why it is still fairly moderate.

b. Republicans have moved much farther in the conservative direction over the past 30 years than Democrats have moved in the liberal direction.

How do rules fit into the concept of "who gets what, and how"? a. Rules can be thought of as the who. b. Rules can be thought of as the how. c. Rules can be thought of as the what. d. Rules are not relevant. e. Rules define the "getting."

b. Rules can be thought of as the how.

The party organization is essential because it: a. Increases party discipline b. Supports party candidates as they run for office and try to win elections c. Provides a solid base of support at the polls for party candidates d. Translates the wishes of voters into policy e. Prevents strong third parties from emerging

b. Supports party candidates as they run for office and try to win elections

The supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. Certain clauses in the Constitution are supreme over others b. The Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land c. State constitutions are to be considered to be supreme over laws passed by Congress d. The president is the supreme commander of the armed forces e. The states' constitutions are the supreme law of the land within the borders of their respective states

b. The Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land

The political debate over the Common Core helps to illustrate the nature of party polarization today because a. Republican governors resented the Common Core because it was created as an unfunded mandate that a Democratic administration was forcing upon the states. b. The Obama administration's endorsement of the Common Core triggered opposition from Republicans, transforming the issue into a partisan one. c. From the outset, Democrats favored the Common Core and Republicans opposed it. d. The debate over the Common Core has primarily polarized the Republican party, exposing internal divisions.

b. The Obama administration's endorsement of the Common Core triggered opposition from Republicans, transforming the issue into a partisan one.

The DREAM Act's failure to be enacted into law best illustrates which feature of our checks and balances system? a. The check of the veto, since President Obama opposed it b. The difficulty of bicameralism, since the Senate was able to pass it but the House wasn't c. The check of the judiciary, since it was struck down by the courts d. The check available to presidents by using their executive power, since Obama did not support it and refused to faithfully implement it.

b. The difficulty of bicameralism, since the Senate was able to pass it but the House wasn't

Obama's and now Trump's executive actions on immigration have been checked by which of the following features of our system? a. The courts, which placed stays on enforcement of their actions b. The legislature, which re-wrote the immigration laws to withdraw power from the executive c. The bureaucracy, which refused to act on the president's orders d. None of the above--the president's actions were enforced

b. The legislature, which re-wrote the immigration laws to withdraw power from the executive

The debate over marijuana laws discussed in the text's feature "What's at Stake... When a State Takes Marijuana Laws Into Its Own Hands" pertains to: a. People being angry that some states have legalized marijuana b. The power of the federal government to regulate marijuana as an element of interstate commerce vs. the power of state governments to regulate marijuana as a criminal matter c. The ability of the federal government to force states to criminalize marijuana in their laws d. None of the above

b. The power of the federal government to regulate marijuana as an element of interstate commerce vs. the power of state governments to regulate marijuana as a criminal matter

What most harmed the accuracy of the straw poll conducted by the Literary Digest in the 1936 presidential elections, which drew its sample from lists of car registrations and phone book entries? a. Its sample was not large enough to accurately reflect the entire U.S. population b. The sample was not representative of the population c. The postcards were sent out too close to the date of the election d. The postcards that were sent out were misprinted

b. The sample was not representative of the population

Which of the following does NOT help explain how parties make electoral politics coherent? a. They provide cues and information shortcuts for voters b. They force voters to learn every detail of individual candidates' policy positions c. They help recruit and select candidates and other government officials d. They help aggregate interests within society to help form a coalition capable of governing

b. They force voters to learn every detail of individual candidates' policy positions

Select the Federalist Paper that is described. There is only one correct choice for each question, and each answer is only used once. Question Argues that the Articles of Confederation have "material defects" rooted in the very nature of a confederation. Illustrates the dangers and potential tyrannical actions of legislatures, including state legislatures. Explains that the system of checks and balances limits the power of government by pitting ambitious office holders against one another. Argues that a republic is superior to a direct democracy in its ability to limit the influence of factions. Argues that the Constitution does not violate the principle of separation of powers just because the branches share some powers. All Answer Choices a. Federalist #10 b. Federalist #51 c. Federalist #15 d. Federalist #48 e. Federalist #47

c. Federalist #15 d. Federalist #48 b. Federalist #51 a. Federalist #10 e. Federalist #47

The idealized, prospective model of voting behavior, as described by the text, occurs when voters: a. Choose the more articulate and handsome of presidential contestants b. Typically ignore candidate qualities that are relevant to governing c. Form clear opinions about candidates' qualities that are relevant to governing d. Make the presidential contest out to be something akin to a beauty or personality contest e. Struggle to perceive any meaningful differences among presidential candidates

c. Form clear opinions about candidates' qualities that are relevant to governing

One reason for the growth of the national government's power and influence has been: a. The failure of the states to provide adequate opportunities for interest group participation b. Lower expectations and demands placed on the federal government c. Heightened expectations and demands placed on the federal government by a populace that wants government services d. The passage of a federal property tax

c. Heightened expectations and demands placed on the federal government by a populace that wants government services

The central goal of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention was to: a. Increase the democratic nature of the government b. Increase the power of the people c. Increase the power of the national government d. Increase the power of the states e. Decrease the power of the national government

c. Increase the power of the national government

The central goal of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention was to: a. Increase the power of the states b. Decrease the power of the national government c. Increase the power of the national government d. Increase the democratic nature of the government

c. Increase the power of the national government

Both the states and the national government may exercise all of the following powers except: a. Charter and regulate banks and charter corporations b. Borrow and spend money for the general welfare c. Levy import or export taxes on goods d. Establish highways e. Take private property for public purposes

c. Levy import or export taxes on goods

Those who believe that government should have little role in either regulating the economy or promoting social order are called a. Liberals b. Communitarians c. Libertarians d. Conservatives e. Socialists

c. Libertarians

The _____ Plan proposed equal representation for all states in the legislature. a. Virginia b. Connecticut c. New Jersey d. Delaware e. Pennsylvania

c. New Jersey

The Executive Office of the President was formed to: a. Control the president b. Serve the cabinet c. Provide expert advice, serve the interests of the president, and supply information d. Replace the cabinet

c. Provide expert advice, serve the interests of the president, and supply information

The way the founders treated slavery in the Constitution indicated that: a. They were unified in their desire to protect it b. They were unified in their desire to eventually eliminate it c. Slavery was such a divisive issue they did not dare to deal with it directly at the convention d. They wanted to use the Constitution as a way to "phase out" slavery e. It was not an important issue at the convention

c. Slavery was such a divisive issue they did not dare to deal with it directly at the convention

The federal government has been able to use categorical grants to coerce states into doing what it wants most of the time because: a. Citizens want the federal government to force recalcitrant states to accept the grants b. States fear that if they don't accept all categorical grants they will not be offered any more c. States have become financially dependent on this aid d. States are required to spend their own funds to complete the project if they reject the categorical grant e. The Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot turn down this money

c. States have become financially dependent on this aid

The way the founders treated slavery in the Constitution indicated that: a. It was not an important issue at the convention b. They wanted to use the Constitution as a way to "phase out" slavery c. The divisive nature of the issue required compromises that perhaps they did not want the Constitution to call too much attention to d. They were unified in their desire to eventually eliminate it e. They were unified in their desire to protect it

c. The divisive nature of the issue required compromises that perhaps they did not want the Constitution to call too much attention to

Which of the three elements of political parties do Carey and Layman point to as primarily responsible for increased polarization over the past several decades? a. The party in electorate, because increased polarization has been a ground-up affair. b. The party in government, because polarization has largely been driven by increasingly extreme office holders. c. The party organization, because it's the activists who provide the funding and labor who are most pushing the parties apart from one another. d. None of the above

c. The party organization, because it's the activists who provide the funding and labor who are most pushing the parties apart from one another.

Which of the following is not a part of the system of checks and balances? a. Congress can impeach members of the judiciary. b. Presidents can veto legislation. c. The president possesses an absolute veto over legislation. d. The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional. e. Congress can impeach the president.

c. The president possesses an absolute veto over legislation.

What is the definition of strict scrutiny? a. A standard of review used by the Court to evaluate laws that treat individuals differently because of sexual orientation b. The requirement of reading or comprehension skills as a qualification for voting c. A policy of creating opportunities for members of certain groups as a remedy for past discrimination d. A standard of review used by the Court to evaluate laws that treat individuals differently because of gender e. A heightened standard of review used by the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of laws that treat individuals differently based on race

e. A heightened standard of review used by the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of laws that treat individuals differently

According to Rudalevidge, why was the Electoral College created? a. It helped avoid the violation of separation of powers that would have resulted by having Congress select the president b. Because electors from each state would meet separately, it calmed worries about intrigue and corruption in the selection of the president c. It left up to the states key decisions about how to choose electors, reinforcing states' rights within the Union d. By giving smaller states a boost in representation, it calmed some fears about tyranny of the majority e. All of the above

e. All of the above

When those in government exercise power recognized by citizens as right and proper, they are exercising: a. Leadership b. Status c. Justice d. Force e. Authority

e. Authority

Interest groups often provide selective incentives, which are: a. Presents that groups give to legislators to drum up support b. Goods and services provided to interest groups by the federal government c. Benefits available only to elite group members d. Public goods available to everyone e. Benefits available only to group members

e. Benefits available only to group members

The tendency of the media to make coverage and programming decisions based on what will attract a large audience and maximize profits is known as: a. Infotainment b. Yellow journalism c. Narrowcasting d. Feeding frenzy e. Commercial bias

e. Commercial bias

Most bills introduced in Congress usually: a. Are bottled up in the House Rules Committee b. Are voted down on the floor of the House or the Senate c. Pass one chamber but not the other d. Pass through both the House and the Senate e. Die by inaction at the committee stage

e. Die by inaction at the committee stage

Under the three-fifths compromise: a. A three-fifths majority of the Senate would be required to adopt a treaty b. Three-fifths of the members of the Senate would have to vote to impeach a president c. Three-fifths of the states would have to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect d. Three-fifths of the states would have to agree to constitutional amendments e. Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives

e. Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives

If a bill passes both the House and the Senate, but in different forms, which of the following may happen? a. The bill dies if the chambers cannot agree the first time around. b. The version was passed by a larger majority goes to the president for signing. c. Members of each chamber meet in conference committee to reconcile the differences between the two versions. d. One chamber passes the other chamber's version of the bill. e. Either C or D may happen

e. Either C or D may happen

What are the main differences between authoritarian governments and democratic governments? a. The powers and privileges of the legislature b. The general level of wealth and prosperity of their publics c. The size of the executive branch and the role of the judiciary d. How often their citizens vote in elections and call for referenda e. How limited government is and how much power people have

e. How limited government is and how much power people have