American Politics Final Exam
Which of the following statements is true about the modern use of treaties and executive agreements? a. Most completed international negotiations end in executive agreements rather than treaties. b. About the same number of each is completed each year. c. Most completed international negotiations end in treaties rather than executive agreements. d. The percentage of completed interstate negotiations that end in treaties and executive agreements is about the same each year. e. Executive agreements have been held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in favor of treaties.
A
The president has many foreign policy powers including the powers of a. determining the defense and foreign aid budgets b. declaring war and managing commerce c. appointing ambassadors and consuls d. ratifying treaties and appropriating money for the military
C
The president has the power to make treaties with the a. approval of both houses of Congress b. advice and consent of the House of Representatives c. approval of the Supreme Court d. advice and consent of the Senate
D
In "The Problem We All Live With," Nikole Hannah-Jones argues that
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 was a failure, and that's why we stopped doing it School choice programs and charter schools are the best options for poor students in largely minority areas to get a better education The federal government should have no role to play in education policy
Amendments to the constitution must be ratified by 2/3 of the states in Congress agreeing to them.
True
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution lists the enumerated powers of the president
True
As explained in the Federalist Papers, the framers had a distrust of democracy.
True
As ratified by the original thirteen states, the Constitution provided for the direct election of senators.
True
Most legislation dies in committee.
True
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
According to Federalist #48, the branch of government most likely to abuse our powers is a. The legislature, which in a republic naturally possesses more powers than any other branch. b. The judiciary, which enjoys such independence from the other branches that it cannot be held responsible for its actions c. The executive, which is likely to control armies and be king-like d. None of the above
a
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
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
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
Casework (or constituency service): a. Assists people in dealing with the bureaucracy b. Is engaged in by senators more commonly than representatives c. Was outlawed in 1996 d. Is rarely used today e. Seldom helps members of Congress in their reelection bids
a
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
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
If your professor joins the American Political Science Association seeking a feeling of belonging and community with other scholars, he is seeking a. solidarity benefits b. material benefits c. expressive benefits d. inherent benefit
a
In Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court ruled that: a. Congress's power to regulate commerce is broad and extends to regulating navigation; federal regulations are supreme over state regulations. b. State-chartered banks were immune from federal regulation c. Congress was not allowed to outlaw slavery in U.S. territories d. The federal government had the implied power to create a national bank e. The Supreme Court could declare acts of Congress to be unconstitutional
a
In contrast to the ideas of James Madison, political observers today argue that political parties: a. Are essential to the maintenance of democracy b. Are no longer necessary c. Should regulate democracy in place of the government d. Are a danger to the smooth functioning of democracy e. Should be strongest at the local level
a
In engaging in agenda setting, priming, and framing, the news media are: a. Influencing what the public thinks about and how it thinks about it. b. Demonstrating a conservative bias c. Demonstrating liberal bias d. Holding politicians accountable e. Providing a neutral source of information
a
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
Interest groups often provide selective incentives, which are: a. Benefits available only to group members b. Benefits available only to elite group members c. Public goods available to everyone d. Goods and services provided to interest groups by the federal government e. Presents that groups give to legislators to drum up support
a
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. expressive benefits c. material benefits d. solidary benefits e. selective incentives
a
McCulloch v. Maryland increased the power of the federal government by: a. Interpreting the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution very broadly b. Interpreting the commerce clause of the Constitution very broadly c. Establishing that the states did not have the power to secede from the union d. Outlawing slavery in the territories e. Interpreting the federal police power very broadly
a
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
a
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. Growth of Democratic influence with liberals of the Rocky Mountain area b. Growing influence of the Democratic Party in the West c. Movement of conservative, southern Democrats to the Republican Party d. Growing influence of the Republican Party in the industrial Midwest e. Movement of conservative New Englanders and New Yorkers into the Republican Party
a
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
Pluralists believe that interest groups: a. Give more power to citizens and enhance democratic life b. Are making American democracy elitist c. Are only good for democracy if they are public but that economic and equal opportunity interest groups weaken democracy d. Are too widespread in American society e. Have taken away power from citizens and have weakened democracy
a
Political efficacy is the belief that: a. One can make a difference in politics b. Campaigns should be conducted in an efficient manner c. None of the above d. Politicians should be involved in the personal matters of their constituents
a
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
Since around 1980 a. Republicans and Democrats have grown more ideological and more polarized 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. Both Republicans and Democrats have become more conservative e. Both Republicans and Democrats have leaned liberal
a
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
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. material incentives b. purposive benefits c. solidary benefits d. collective goods
a
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
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
The central goal of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention was to: a. Increase the power of the national government b. Increase the power of the people c. Decrease the power of the national government d. Increase the democratic nature of the government e. Increase the power of the states
a
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
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
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. Because a division of sovereignty between a central government and regional governments is a basic principle of democracy d. As a return to ancient forms of government e. Because they hoped King George III would approve such an arrangement
a
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
The party organization is essential because it: a. Supports party candidates as they run for office and try to win elections b. Increases party discipline c. Prevents strong third parties from emerging d. Provides a solid base of support at the polls for party candidates e. Translates the wishes of voters into policy
a
The supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. The Constitution and federal laws are the supreme law of the land b. State constitutions are to be considered to be supreme over laws passed by Congress c. Certain clauses in the Constitution are supreme over others d. The states' constitutions are the supreme law of the land within the borders of their respective states e. The president is the supreme commander of the armed forces
a
Under normal legislative procedures, most of the hard work of drafting legislation occurs: a. Within congressional standing committees b. Only after the Supreme Court reviews it c. Strictly among the parties' leadership d. At the discretion of the executive branch e. On the floor of both chambers
a
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. block grants b. categorical grants c. unfunded mandates d. revenue sharing
a
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
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. The king or queen of a country c. A diplomat d. A military commander e. An absolute monarch
a
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
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
Which of the following is not an example of new media? a. Ideological magazines b. Cable news stations c. Talk radio d. Blogs e. Call-in television shows
a
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 government coherent b. monopolize power c. provide checks and balances d. make electoral politics coherent
a
_____ discrimination arises from or is supported by law. a. De jure b. Ad hoc c. De solis d. De facto e. Ex post facto
a
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
In an authoritarian system, the people have a. obligations but no rights b. rights but no privileges c. rights and obligations d. neither rights nor obligations e. rights but no obligations
a. obligations but no rights
A common feature of all interest groups is that they: a. Spend huge amounts of money on campaign donations b. Are organized around shared interests among members c. Have all potential members in society defined and loyal to their cause d. Sponsor public demonstrations e. Provide exclusive benefits to members in order to keep them loyal
b
All of the following are considered agents of political socialization except: a. Churches b. Ideologies c. Schools d. The media e. Parents
b
All of the following statements concerning direct lobbying are true except: a. Congress regulates the relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers b. Interest groups do not lobby the bureaucracy c. Interest groups lobby Congress, in part, by providing testimony and expertise d. Interest groups attempt to bolster their lobbying efforts by cooperating with other interest groups
b
All of the following statements concerning the legal obstacles to voting in the United States are true except: a. There are many more elections in the United States than in most other democracies. b. Managing elections at the state level simplifies the electoral process. c. 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. d. In many other democracies, the government, not the individual voter, bears the responsibility for registering citizens. e. The requirement that voters must register to vote decreases participation significantly.
b
Both the states and the national government may exercise all of the following powers except:a. Establish highways b. Levy import or export taxes on goods c. Borrow and spend money for the general welfare d. Take private property for public purposes e. Charter and regulate banks and charter corporations
b
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
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
Education campaigns, grass-roots lobbying and demonstrations are a. part of an insider group's strategy to generate much-needed information that group lobbyists can then use to pressure elected officials. b. part of an outside lobbying strategy to put pressure on public officials by mobilizing public opinion. 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.
b
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. Agenda setting b. Priming c. Framing d. News management e. Media manipulation
b
Interest groups frequently use social protest when: a. The groups have considerable money to spend on efforts like direct advocacy b. Traditional techniques have failed to bring attention to the groups' causes c. Economic interests rather than equal opportunity are the issues being debated d. Mainstream America already generally accepts their position e. The groups can afford to protest because elected officials already respond well to the groups' traditional techniques
b
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 information b. Coordination problem c. Need for clarity d. Collective action problem
b
Realignment refers to a: a. Trend among voters to identify themselves as independents rather than as members of a major party b. Substantial and long-term shift in party allegiance by individuals and groups, usually resulting in a change in policy direction c. Period of time when party activists become less ideological d. Period of time when party members become more loyal to their political party e. Trend among voters to identify themselves as third-party members rather than as members of a major party
b
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 Declaration of Independence most reflects the political philosophy of: a. Thomas Hobbes b. John Locke c. Rousseau d. Edmund Burke e. Plato
b
The Executive Office of the President was formed to: a. Control the president b. Provide expert advice, serve the interests of the president, and supply information c. Replace the cabinet d. Serve the cabinet
b
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
The U.S. electoral system is often considered costly for all of the reasons EXCEPT: a. Tuesday elections interfere with voters' work schedules. b. Citizens must identify with a political party to vote. c. Registration imposes an additional barrier to voting. d. Information costs are somewhat high.
b
The argument for the responsible party model is that democracy is strengthened when: a. There are only two parties b. Voters are given clear alternatives and hold parties responsible for their promises c. The character of the candidates is more important than their policy positions d. Voters vote for the man, not the party e. Politicians have the flexibility to take individual positions on issues regardless of their party
b
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
b
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 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
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. Identified in the opinion of the court in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison e. Accumulated powers established by Congress in statutes passed over the past two hundred years
b
The idealized, prospective model of voting behavior, as described by the text, occurs when voters: a. Typically ignore candidate qualities that are relevant to governingb. Form clear opinions about candidates' qualities that are relevant to governing c. Struggle to perceive any meaningful differences among presidential candidates d. Choose the more articulate and handsome of presidential contestants e. Make the presidential contest out to be something akin to a beauty or personality contest
b
The most important difference between a political party and an interest group is a. 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. c. interest groups always support politicians of both parties. d. parties are public institutions while interest groups are private.
b
The necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. The president may take any action necessary and proper for the protection of the United States b. Congress has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers c. Congress may pass any law that isn't necessary for the defense of the United States d. Congress may pass only those laws that are necessary and proper e. The states may not pass laws that are not necessary and proper
b
The single biggest factor accounting for how people decide to vote is: a. Gender b. Party identification c. Issues d. Ethnicity e. Candidate characteristics
b
The theory that defines the state and national governments as essentially separate from each other and carrying out independent functions is: a. Independent federalism b. Dual federalism c. Federalism d. Separation of powers federalism e. Cooperative federalism
b
The two major roles of members of Congress are lawmaking and: a. Agenda setting b. Representation c. Budget approval d. Policymaking e. Constituency service
b
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. The postcards were sent out too close to the date of the election b. The sample was not representative of the population c. Its sample was not large enough to accurately reflect the entire U.S. population d. The postcards that were sent out were misprinted
b
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
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
Which of the following arguments made in the Federalist Papers was clearly rejected by the states during ratification? a. Factions could be controlled by a large republic. b. There was no need for a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. c. The president would not be too strong under the proposed system. d. Federalism was a workable form of government. e. The national government would not become too strong under the proposed system.
b
Which of the following does NOT explain how parties help make government coherent? a. They help organize the legislature b. They provide voting cues for those in the electorate c. They help bridge the differences among the branches and levels of government d. They help set the agenda and form policies
b
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
Which of the following is an example of horse-race journalism? a. 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 c. A story on the lack of importance of the parties' national conventions d. A personal interest story on the wife of a presidential candidate e. A story comparing two presidential candidates' positions on Social Security
b
Which of the following is not among the issues of concern, if you are to be a critical watcher of polls? a. How the questions are worded b. Whether the poll agrees with your position c. Who sponsored the poll d. Whether the poll is representative e. What the results mean
b
Which of the following is true about categorical grants? a. They help eliminate red tape. b. They allow for more standardization nationwide c. They are guided by few or no rules. d. They are very cheap for the federal government. e. They allow for great flexibility at the state level.
b
Which of the following is true regarding party polarization in Congress? a. Democrats have moved much farther in the liberal direction over the past 30 years than Republicans have moved in the conservative direction. b. Republicans have moved much farther in the conservative direction over the past 30 years than Democrats have moved in the liberal direction. c. Although Congress is more polarized than it used to be, public opinion is not. Therefore, party polarization appears to be limited to elected officials. d. Conservative, Southern Democrats are a major force in the Democratic Party today and help to explain why it is still fairly moderate.
b
_____ require that the government have a compelling state interest for treating people differently. a. De facto classifications b. Suspect classifications c. No suspect classifications d. Quasi-suspect classifications e. De jure classifications
b
_______ 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
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.
What are organizations called where government power is exercised and where political struggle takes place? a. Socialist countries b. Institutions c. Monarchies d. Capitalist economies e. Democracies
b. Institutions
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.
Power is defined in your text as: a. the use of force to obtain desired goals b. the ability to get other people to do what you want c. the use of military, paramilitary, or police forces to control people d. a type of totalitarianism e. the essential quality of leadership
b. the ability to get other people to do what you want
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.
According to James Madison, factions are best controlled by the creation of a large republic because: a. Legislatures discourage the creation of factions b. Republican government suppresses factions c. No faction will be a majority, which means that no faction will be able to get its way d. Factions will not form in a large republic e. Those who are chosen to govern will be capable of resisting factions
c
According to Montesquieu, separation of powers safeguards against tyranny by: a. Delegating most power to state governments b. Keeping power away from an executive like the king c. Dividing power between branches so that if one branch goes bad, the others remain intact d. Separating power between the state and federal branches so that the federal government does not dominate the states e. Concentrating power in a few hands so that it cannot be separated in a way that would disperse power
c
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. Seniority is now irrelevant for the selection of committee chairs. d. Committee chairs have lost some of their power in the past 30 years. e. Committee chairs serve at the pleasure of the party caucus and party leaders.
c
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. federalist, confederal b. confederal, unitary c. unitary, confederal d. confederal, federalist e. unitary, federalist
c
Cloture a. Nominates the majority whip b. Attempts to restrict debate in the House c. Ends a Senate filibuster with a 60-member vote d. Opens a bill for debate e. Forces a bill out of committe
c
Cooperative federalism is a theory that: a. Defines state and federal governments as essentially separate from each other and carrying out their functions independently b. Reflects the formal distribution of powers by the Constitution c. Defines state and national powers as interdependent, requiring the cooperation of each other to get things done d. Is modeled after a layer cake e. Was an accurate depiction of American federalism during the eighteenth century
c
Divided government occurs when: a. The vice president must cast the deciding vote as president of the Senate b. The president and Congress are unable to agree on a joint political agenda c. One party controls the presidency while the other party controls at least one house of Congress d. The presidency and the Supreme Court are controlled by different parties e. The three branches of government are unable to work together to solve problems
c
Even though their goal is to provide a collective good, public interest groups often struggle because they: a. Are liberal and many conservatives oppose them strongly b. Look for economic benefits and are disappointed with the collective goods produced c. Are often vulnerable to the free rider problem d. Do not try to influence government, so their efforts never address real political issues e. Are notorious for raising funds but not for using them to achieve collective goods
c
If a sample is __________, then we will know how much ____________ there is. a. systematic , bias b. stratified, question bias c. random, sampling error d. biased, error
c
In Federalist No. 51, what government structure did James Madison recommend to ensure "ambition . . . be made to counteract ambition"? a. Direct democracy b. A unicameral legislature c. Separation of powers and checks and balances among the branches of federal government d. An executive branch with unchecked power
c
Information is a key source of power for interest groups, because: a. These groups often gather information on political officials to use against them b. Members of Congress often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups c. These groups are often the best sources of information on the potential or actual impact of a law or regulation d. Presidents often provide detailed information to friendly interest groups e. Information always overpowers other resources such as money, size, and intensity
c
One possible reason that an outsider like Donald Trump can win his party's presidential nomination today is: a. The push toward moderation during the general election. 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 continuing need to please party insiders and bosses.
c
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
One way in which the Constitution that was sent to the original thirteen states for ratification attempted to protect individual rights was by: a. Enacting a Bill of Rights b. Concentrating all power in Congress c. Discouraging the formation of majority factions by making it difficult to get control of government d. Enacting a strict and absolute separation of powers system
c
President George W. Bush's effort to rally public opinion for Social Security and President Obama's effort to do the same for immigration refor a. The ability to use public pressure to get Congress to act b. The ability of presidents to use the tools of the modern presidency to be public opinion leaders c. The limited ability of presidents to sway public opinion among today's polarized public d. The president's effective use of the veto threatm reflect which of the following:
c
Sampling error refers to a. A situation in which question wording biases the results b. 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 d. A situation in which a sample is not representative of the larger universe being measured e. The number of mistakes made by a pollster
c
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. recruiting leaders b. interest aggregation c. providing collective accountability d. agenda setting
c
The _____ Plan proposed equal representation for all states in the legislature. a. Virginia b. Connecticut c. New Jersey d. Delaware e. Pennsylvania
c
The major disagreement among Americans on the ideological economic dimension is over: a. Whether women should be allowed to compete with men for prestigious jobs b. Whether the economy should be structured so as to increase American military power c. How much the government should become involved in modifying the effects of the free market d. Whether the United States should adopt a socialist economic system e. The degree to which the workforce needs to be forced into vital economic jobs
c
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
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 debate over the Common Core has primarily polarized the Republican party, exposing internal divisions. c. The Obama administration's endorsement of the Common Core triggered opposition from Republicans, transforming the issue into a partisan one. d. From the outset, Democrats favored the Common Core and Republicans opposed it.
c
The president uses an executive order to a. remove Supreme Court justices. b. appoint cabinet members. c. direct agencies about how to implement laws. d. change the law.
c
The process of socialization: a. Is the primary function of a college education b. Teaches us tolerance for the political values of other nations c. Trains us to support and obey the existing political system d. Has no legitimate function e. Teaches us to think independently and critically
c
The system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors is called: a. The party machine b. Party benefits c. Patronage d. Electioneering e. The civil service system
c
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. Feeding frenzy b. Infotainment c. Commercial bias d. Yellow journalism e. Narrowcasting
c
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 Coercive federalism b. Cooperative federalism c. Dual federalism d. Fiscal federalism
c
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
Those who believe that government should have little role in either regulating the economy or promoting social order are called a. Conservatives b. Socialists c. Libertarians d. Liberals e. Communitarians
c
Today's Republican coalition includes all of the following EXCEPT a. Wealthier suburban residents b. Conservative Christians c. Labor interests d. Business interests
c
Using words like "welfare" in a survey question can be problematic because: a. Most people are on welfare, so their answers will be biased b. Few people know what welfare is c. It can evoke strong, emotional responses that could skew the results d. Few people have opinions about welfare e. It is likely to make people feel uncomfortable answering the question
c
What are the main differences between authoritarian governments and democratic governments? a. How often their citizens vote in elections and call for referenda b. The general level of wealth and prosperity of their publics Correctc. How limited government is and how much power people have d. The size of the executive branch and the role of the judiciary e. The powers and privileges of the legislature
c
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 identification is still the single best predictor of how individuals will vote. d. Party did not used to be very important in determining people's votes, but in today's polarized politics it is.
c
When divided government exists: a. The president does not bother to send legislative proposals to Congress b. Bills that represent the will of the public do not pass c. Presidents generally have less success than during periods of unified government d. Gridlock is typically avoided e. Congress often passes legislation preferred by the president rather than legislation preferred by Congress
c
Which of the following is a clear distinction between the rules of debate in the House and the Senate? a. The House has the filibuster, whereas the Senate does not. b. The Senate Rules Committee can limit debate, whereas no such rules can limit debate in the House. c. The House Rules Committee can limit debate, whereas no such rules can limit debate in the Senate. d. The House must have passed legislation before the Senate may debate it. e. The Senate majority leader dominates rule making in ways that the Speaker of the House cannot.
c
Which of the following political actors would be most likely to support a block grant program in the area described? a. Members of Congress who want more control of how money is spent. b. A president whose goal in education policy is to increase spending but demand results and accountability from the states. c. An environmental activist who is seeking federal money to fund a nation-wide pollution reduction program. Correctd. 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.
c
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
A ______ system is one in which the central government ultimately has all of the power. a. devolutionary b. confederal c. unitary d. cooperative e. federal
c.
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 gender b. The requirement of reading or comprehension skills as a qualification for voting c. A heightened standard of review used by the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of laws that treat individuals differently based on race d. A policy of creating opportunities for members of certain groups as a remedy for past discrimination e. A standard of review used by the Court to evaluate laws that treat individuals differently because of sexual orientation
c.
The way the founders treated slavery in the Constitution indicated that a. They were unified in their desire to protect it b. They wanted to use the Constitution as a way to "phase out" slavery c. Slavery was such a divisive issue they did not dare to deal with it directly at the convention d. They were unified in their desire to eventually eliminate it 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
Shays' Rebellion demonstrated the a. Unpopularity of the Revolutionary War b. Need for additional courthouses to process foreclosures c. Frustration of debtors and the failure of the Articles of Confederation d. Power of England to stir up trouble in the new United States e. Strong opposition to the Declaration of Independence
c. Frustration of debtors and the failure of the Articles of Confederation
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
The _____ Plan proposed equal representation for all states in the legislature. a. Virginia b. Pennsylvania c. New Jersey d. Delaware e. Connecticut
c. New Jersey
A political system in which the state holds all power over the social order is: a. an Athenian-like democracy b. a social monarchy c. an authoritarian government d. a theocracy e. a republic
c. an authoritarian government
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
"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. subgovernment b. groups as rent-seekers c. issue network d. pluralism
d
A set of beliefs about politics, the economy, and society that helps people make sense of their world is called: a. Public opinion b. A public policy c. A political attitude d. An ideology e. Political socialization
d
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
Congress is often reluctant to use block grants to achieve policy goals because: a. They are too expensive b. They are too time consuming to write c. State politicians dislike them as much as unfunded mandates d. This type of grant allows states to pursue their own goals rather than the federal government's goals e. States rarely accept them due to the restrictions written into such grants
d
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
During his travels to early America, Alexis de Tocqueville observed Americans': a. Tendency to discuss politics only privately b. Strong support of many different political parties c. Lack of interpersonal empathy d. Tendency to form organizations and interest groups e. Strong commitment to elitism
d
Each of the following is a way that interest groups help to articulate interests in society, EXCEPT a. They monitor programs and policy. b. They educate office holders about key issues. c. They represent particular viewpoints in society d. They help to bridge the gap among the three branches of government by providing common goals and collective accountability.
d
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. Segregationists b. Political parties c. Political caucuses d. Factions e. Minorities
d
In drafting the Constitution the founders: a. Took more from the New Jersey Plan than from the Virginia Plan b. Adopted the New Jersey Plan completely c. Rejected completely both the New Jersey Plan and the Virginia Plan and started over d. Took from both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey plan, but took more from the Virginia Plan e. Adopted the Virginia Plan completely
d
In his position as commander-in-chief, the president: a. Has the power to grant pardons b. Can rearrange the bureaucracy according to his needs c. Presides over the standing committees in Congress d. Serves as the civilian head of the military e. Has the right to veto legislation
d
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. complex special rules in the House b. multiple referrals c. extended debate in the Senate d. partially bypassing the committee via post-committee adjustment
d
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
Interest groups perform all of the following roles in politics except: a. Educating policymakers regarding issues important to the interest group b. Representing their members' views to government c. Providing an avenue for citizen participation in politics d. Electing members to public office under the group's name e. Alerting the proper government authorities about the group's issue to get the issue on the political agenda
d
Most bills introduced in Congress usually: a. Are voted down on the floor of the House or the Senate b. Pass through both the House and the Senate c. Pass one chamber but not the other d. Die by inaction at the committee stage e. Are bottled up in the House Rules Committee
d
On which of the following topics do the media tend to place the greatest emphasis during campaigns? a. the role of campaign contributions and lobbyists b. party platforms c. issues d. who's ahead and who trails in the polls
d
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution are in agreement on the answer to which of the following points? a. How laws are to be passed b. The use of a bicameral legislature c. What powers Congress shall possess d. The source of sovereignty in government e. The kind of judiciary to construc
d
The Constitution was drafted under which of the following circumstances a. 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. b. Virginia felt that state powers were infringed by the Articles of Confederation and pushed for a constitutional convention to rectify this problem. c. Britain would only grant independence to the colonies if they produced a governing document for their new country. d. Following several years of instability under the Articles of Confederation, delegates from the states met with the intent to revise the document.
d
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
The Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers are a. the same thing as the White House staff b. organizations that make up the president's cabinet c. agencies of Congress d. organizations that are part of the Executive Office of the President e. independent from the authority of the president
d
The _____ role of interest groups is reflected in Mothers Against Drunk Driving's attempts to direct legislative attention to the issue.a. educational b. program-monitoring c. representative d. agenda-building e. electioneering
d
The federal government has been able to use categorical grants to coerce states into doing what it wants most of the time because: a. States are required to spend their own funds to complete the project if they reject the categorical grant b. States fear that if they don't accept all categorical grants they will not be offered any more c. The Supreme Court has ruled that states cannot turn down this money d. States have become financially dependent on this aid e. Citizens want the federal government to force recalcitrant states to accept the grants
d
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. Focused on institutions and procedures. c. Critical of official sources. d. Dramatic, entertainment-oriented.
d
Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, a. schools will no longer be assessed based on standardized test results b. the Common Core will be required for all states that want federal education money c. the federal government will entirely remove itself from education policy d. key decisions about how to hold schools accountable for performance are being shifted back to the states
d
Under the three-fifths compromise: a. Three-fifths of the members of the Senate would have to vote to impeach a president b. A three-fifths majority of the Senate would be required to adopt a treaty c. Three-fifths of the states would have to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect d. Each slave would count as three-fifths of a person for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives e. Three-fifths of the states would have to agree to constitutional amendments
d
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. learning d. agenda setting
d
Which of the following Constitutional provisions has NOT facilitated the expansion of federal power into areas previously dominated by the states? a. The supremacy clause b. The commerce clause c. The spending clause d. Tenth Amendment e. The necessary & proper clause
d
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
Which of the following is NOT a problem that legislatures need to solve? a. The need for collective action b. The coordination problem c. The need for information d. The need to create conflict
d
Which of the following is not a part of the system of checks and balances? a. Presidents can veto legislation. b. The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional. c. Congress can impeach the president. d. The president possesses an absolute veto over legislation. e. Congress can impeach members of the judiciary.
d
Which term best describes the nature of American political parties? a. Unity b. Faction c. Team d. Coalition
d
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
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
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; how b. what; where c. how; where d. how; what e. where; how
d. how; what
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
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. devolutionary b. unitary c. cooperative d. federal e. confederal
e
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. nonprobability b. quota c. straw d. convenience e. random
e
According to the text, "liberals" are people who believe in the widespread use of government power for: a. Increasing societal morality b. Protecting the freedom of corporations to make profits c. Maintaining order and protecting property only d. Overcoming the excesses of civil liberties e. Reducing economic inequality
e
All of the following statements concerning the president's veto power are true except: a. The threat of a veto is a powerful tool in presidential negotiations with Congress. b. Presidents use the veto more frequently when their party does not control Congress. c. Congress is generally unsuccessful at overturning presidential vetoes. d. The veto is the principal legislative power given to the president by the Constitution e. Presidents have had the line item veto since 1995.
e
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. the threat of tyranny b. overly powerful state governments c. an overly powerful national government d. a weak national government e. fragmented government
e
Collective goods (also called public goods) are defined as being a benefit that a. applies to liberal groups more than conservative groups. b. can be divided and distributed among members. c. is available only to citizens who have failed to join an interest group. d. is available to group members but not to a group's leadership. e. is available to group members and nonmembers alike.
e
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
Pacts made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called: a. Treaties b. Interstate protocols c. International memos of understanding d. Executive orders e. Executive agreements
e
Politics is defined in your text as: a. the ability to get others to do what you want b. the process by which societies resolve, reduce, or eliminate conflict c. a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people d. the way we organize and live our collective lives e. who gets what, when, and how
e
Selective incentives are necessary for some interest groups because: a. They have no collective benefit to offer their members 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. Collective benefits cannot be kept from those who do not join the group
e
Social conservatives would agree with all of the following except a. More stringent controls on immigration b. Use of government power to encourage and protect traditional family roles c. The use of substantive laws to create a particular moral order d. A powerful military e. A significant use of government power to regulate the economy
e
The enumerated powers of Congress are: a. Listed in the necessary and proper clause of the Constitution b. Identified in the opinion of the court in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison 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. Listed in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution
e
The founders intended the people to have the most influence over public policy through the: a. Senate b. President c. House of Representatives, the Senate, and the president d. House of Representatives and the Senate e. House of Representatives
e
The necessary and proper clause of the U.S. Constitution states that: a. Congress may pass any law that isn't necessary for the defense of the United States 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 has the power to pass laws that are necessary and proper for the carrying out of its other powers
e
The portion of the population selected to participate in a poll is known as the a. Focus group b. Public c. Population d. Deliberative group e. Sample
e
Under the three-fifths compromise: a. The country needed to develop a court system to address the conflicting rights of citizens. b. The country needed stronger state governments to control the people. c. A Bill of Rights needed to be added to the Constitution. d. The federal government needed to have the ability to collect taxes to provide services for citizens.e. The Constitution relies upon elements of representative democracy to prevent the excesses of democracy like tyranny of the majority.
e
What is the key difference between categorical grants and block grants? a. Categorical grants are reflective of the dual federalism era, and block grants reflect the cooperative federalism era. b. Categorical grants lack any true congressional oversight, and block grants require a lot of congressional oversight. c. Block grants can be spent on any policy issue, no matter what Congress allocated the money for. d. State discretion is minimal for both types of grants but block grants are only funded one time per year. e. 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.
e
What must Congress do for a bill to become law after a president has vetoed it? a. Both houses of Congress must pass the bill again by a majority vote within thirty days. b. 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. c. Only the Senate must pass the bill again, but it must do so by a two-thirds vote. d. Both houses of Congress must pass the bill again by a majority vote within ten days. e. Both houses of Congress must override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers
e
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. Erroneous data c. Sampling error d. A straw poll e. Sample bias
e
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. priming. b. Framing c. News management d. News control e. Agenda setting
e
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
Which of the following statements is not true about the American party system? a. American parties have recently increased their party discipline. b. The lack of success of third parties in the United States is because of election rules. c. Third parties occasionally have had a dramatic impact on presidential election outcomes. d. American party organizations are decentralized. e. American parties are more ideologically extreme than many of their European counterparts.
e
______ 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 Correcte. Prospective voting; retrospective voting
e
The greatest difficulty for Congress in attempting to pass laws is: a. The sheer size of the institution b. The rivalry that exists between the House and the Senate c. The lack of legislative leadership demonstrated by recent presidents d. That passing a bill is costly e. That a bill can be defeated at many points in the process
e.
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. Philosophical treatise e. Political document
e. Political document
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
When those in government exercise power recognized by citizens as right and proper, they are exercising? a. Status b. Leadership c. Justice d. Force e. Authority
e. Authority
According to the social contract, what is the source of government's legitimacy? a. The Catholic Church b. Government's control of all property c. The divine right of kings d. Government's authority over its subjects e. Citizen consent
e. Citizen consent
Which of the following is not a part of the system of checks and balances? a. Presidents can veto legislation. b. Congress can impeach the president. c. Congress can impeach members of the judiciary. d. The Supreme Court can declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional. e. Presidents can force Congress to adjourn.
e. Presidents can force Congress to adjourn
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
A bill can only be sent to one committee at a time.
false
An executive order must have the consent of the Senate before it becomes enforceable.
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.
false
Today the committees in Congress are more powerful than the parties.
false
A standing committee is a permanent committee in Congress responsible for legislating in a specific area.
true
Article III creates the Supreme Court but leaves it up to Congress to create other courts.
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
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
With the exception of the filibuster, use of unorthodox legislative techniques increases the likelihood of a bill becoming law.
true
