U.S Government Midterm Study Guide

During a general election, the use of the Electoral College is an example of which election system?

Winner-Take-All

What is original jurisdiction?

The authority to hear cases for the first time

How many members are there in the Senate?

100

How many cabinet departments are there within the executive branch of government?

15

How many votes in the Electoral College must a Presidential candidate receive in order to be elected President?

270

How many branches of government are there in the United States?

3

How many levels are within the United States federal court system

3

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

435

What is an ideology?

A comprehensive set of ideas and beliefs

What is probable clause?

A crime in plain view does not need a warrant

What is a concurring opinion?

A written statement of agreement but with a discrepancy

What is judicial activism?

Acting in a decision to make the law

The government has attempted to prevent discriminatory restrictions in universities and the workplace with

Affirmative Action

Which of the following is NOT a clause in the first amendment?

Affirmative Action

Which of the following is part of the sequence to the formation of policy?

All answer choices are correct (Study, research, and hear from experts about an issue with growing attention, Fund the agency that will regulate & enforce the policy, Make an Agenda)

What are the drawbacks of interest groups?

All of the answer choices are correct (HYPERPLURALISM: competing interest groups fail to compromise, leading to the domination of the ones with more power and money, Government officials can become overwhelmed & unfairly pressured by some groups, FREE-RIDERS: When group members don't contribute to the efforts of lobbyists (it can weaken the SIG))

What are the benefits of interest groups?

All of the answer choices are correct (LOBBYISTS: apply direct pressure to government official & agencies, Can help government make policy that adapts to changing times and meets the needs of people, Encourages PLURALISM: A multitude of views that influence our democracy)

What did the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) cover?

All of the answer choices are correct (Limited hard $$ donations, Banned soft $$ contributions to a national party/candidate, Limited how much an individual could donate to multiple candidates in a 2-year cycle)

What are the objectives of lobbying?

All of the answer choices are correct (To shape the strategy of a SIG, BEST ASSET: To have access to and influence in Washington, DC, To foster long-lasting relationships with legislators)

Which of the following is an example of protected speech?

All of these answers are correct (Burning the American flag, Sit-ins and Boycotts, Wearing armbands to show opposition to war)

What is an example of unprotected speech?

All of these answers are correct (Speech/expression that could threatened a national effort during a crisis, Destroying a Draft Card, Walking nude in public to protest sweatshops)

What is the sixteenth amendment?

Allows Congress to impose a national income tax

What is the spoils system?

Appointing government jobs through patronage and expecting loyalty and support in return

What is committee clearance?

Congress reserves the authority to review & approve agency actions

Why did the First Congress add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution?

Because the ratification process had made it clear that the people wanted a list of rights incorporated into the document

What type of legislature is the United States Congress?

Bicameral

Which of the following was NOT a concept referred to in the Declaration of Independence

Block Grants

Which of the following is a big liberal network?

CNN

Money that is provided by the federal government for an initiative that comes with conditions, or "strings" is known as a(n)

Categorical Grant

Who is the head of the Supreme Court?

Chief Justice

Personal freedoms protected from arbitrary governmental interference or deprivation

Civil Liberties

What do entrance and exit polls do?

Conducted on election day to predict an election

A person who chooses to obtain news from media outlets that report on issues in the way they agree with and subscribe to is due to

Confirmation Bias

What was the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention?

Congress was divided into two houses. The Senate was seated equally by state; the House of Representatives was seated by population

In regard to their political ideology, the Republican Party tends to be more

Conservative

A "Free Enterprise" economic system would most likely be supported by

Conservatives

This group falls to the "right" of the political ideological spectrum

Conservatives

What are Civil Liberties?

Constitutionally guaranteed personal freedoms protected from arbitrary governmental interference

Which of the following is NOT one of the eight tenants of American democracy?

Divine right theory

What is saliency?

Divisive issues that are intensely important to a party or group

The constitutional emphasis that protects life, liberty, and property through fair trials and proper judicial procedures to all Americans

Due Process

Which type of ballot including absentee / mail-in ballots?

Early Voting

Which type of ballot must be printed, private, include all candidates, and only be available at polling sites?

Election Day

A form of democracy where a small group of educated individuals are elected to make decisions that are best for society

Elite

These are listed in Article I Section 8

Enumerated Powers

This 14th amendment concept was most consistent with demands during the Civil Rights Movement

Equal Protection Clause

This concept was enhanced during the Progressive Age to address "fairness" for all people in the economic sphere

Equality of Opportunity

Which of the following is NOT one of the concepts included in the 14th amendment?

Establishment Clause

Which theory about the origins of government holds that government was created as an extension of family ties?

Evolution theory

Under the 4th amendment, this concept prevents evidence that is obtained illegally from being used against an accused person

Exclusionary Rule

In federalism, powers that are specifically granted to the federal government are known as

Exclusive Powers

What is the main role of the executive branch of government?

Execute the laws

What does libel mean?

False statements that damage a person's reputation

What is the establishment clause?

Federal, State, and Local governments cannot establish, recognize, nor disregard any religion

Our republican system in which power is distributed between federal, state and local governments is called

Federalism

Which of the following is a big conservative network?

Fox News Channel

The Constitutional protection in question in the SCOTUS case New York Times v. US was:

Free Press

What do public opinion polls do?

Gauges attitudes on issues or candidates

Which of these events occurred first?

George III was crowned

What term is used for an institution created by society to create and enforce laws?

Government

What is appellate jurisdiction?

Hearing cases from lower courts

Why is John Locke an important name to know

His Second Treatise on Government explained the social contract theory of government and led to several revolutions.

Low voter-turnout and voters who don't educate themselves on a candidate's platform and policies during an election season is most likely to be a result of

Horse Race Journalism

These are an extension of the Elastic Clause that allows Congress the flexibility to make decisions that are "necessary and proper"

Implied Powers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a "Linkage Institution"?

Incumbency Advantage

What is the main role of the judicial branch of government?

Interpret the laws

An interest group that donates to the campaign of a member of Congress. That Congress member will then vote in a committee to appropriate funds to the agency that the interest group benefits from. This is an example of a(n)

Iron Triangle

Which of the following items is a defining characteristic of a nation-state?

It has a group of people (The population)

This concept focuses on fiscal policy, and the need of the government to intervene when society isn't meeting healthy economic demands, like during the 2008 Recession

Keynesian Theory

What is right to counsel?

Lawyers will be provided for all accused people

The power of impeachment lies within which branch of government?

Legislative

The power of the purse is given to which branch of government?

Legislative

In regard to their political ideology, the Democratic Party tends to be more

Liberal

What is an off-the-line political ideology?

Libertarian

Which of the following groups is least likely to support Medicare?

Libertarians

What did the USA Patriot Act address?

Limited rights of suspected terrorists home and abroad

What do tracking polls do?

Measures where people stand heading into an election

5th Amendment rights must be provided and read to those accused of a crime according to the

Miranda Rule

What is the name for the form of government where power is held by a small group of people who them control the entire government?

Oligarchy

A state election where the people choose the nominee for a political party in an upcoming election, regardless of the party that the voter is registered for, is a(n)

Open Primary

Groups of voters with a similar demographic (like women, high-income earners, or the black community) and political affiliation are called a(n)

Party Coalition

What is the main role of the legislative branch of government?

Pass laws

What is the Seventeenth Amendment?

People of each state directly elect thier Senators

A model of democracy where decisions are made by factions of people who have common interests is called a(n)

Pluralist Democracy

Which off-the-line political affiliation tends to be made-up of less educated, very religious, strongly patriotic, blue-collar Americans?

Populists

What term refers to the ability to control the actions of others?

Power

Who is the head of the executive branch of government?

President

What does the 8th Amendment address?

Protects against cruel & unusual punishment and excessive fines

If a nation-state is invaded by another nation, what purpose has its government failed to perform?

Provide National Security & Protection

Which of the following is NOT one of the five purposes of government?

Provide equalization

Which type of ballot is "set aside" ballots; allows for the verification of a voter?

Provisional

The United States is governed based upon the needs of the citizens and not by a hereditary ruling class. This political ideology is called

Republicanism

Which voting model would reflect a voter's decision not to reelect an incumbent president because of a previous sexual misconduct scandal?

Retrospective

What is patronage?

Rewarding party loyalists with jobs

Under this principle, all members of a society- even elected ones, are held to the same standards of legal accountability

Rule of Law

Which showed the weakness of the United States government under the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion occurred

Which is an example of an entitlement?

Social Security

Who is the head of the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House

The 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments are examples of the expansion of

Suffrage

As a result of Citizens United v. the FEC, these independent, political committees that can receive unlimited contributions were created

Super PAC's

Tinker v. Des Moines demonstrated that this right is protected by the Constitution

Symbolic Speech

What do benchmark polls do?

Taken prior to announcing candidacy to measure support

Which of these had the most influences on the American Revolution?

The Enlightenment

What is legislated discretionary authority?

The power to interpret legislation & create rules

What is the name for the beginning portion of the U.S. Constitution that explains the purpose of the United States government?

The preamble

What is procedural due process?

The way in which the law is carried out; applied by the 5th & 14th amendments

Which of the following would NOT be a characteristic of Liberalism (Liberal ideology)?

less taxation

What is executive privilege?

the President's right to withhold information from another branch

What is political socialization?

the process by which you develop your political beliefs