AP Gov Final Test

Which of the following did Congress move to regain powers previously lost to the executive branch? A. Budget and Impoundment Control Act B. Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act C. Presidential Disability Act D. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution E.Persian Gulf War Resolution

A. Budget and Impoundment Control Act

A member of the Senate has just been elected to a position that requires him to keep the majority leader informed about the opinions of other party members. He has just been elected A. majority party whip. B. president pro tempore. C. chairman/chairwoman of the Steering Committee. D. chairman/chairwoman of the Policy Committee. E. chairperson of the Judiciary Committee.

A. majority party whip.

If you were a newly elected member of Congress interested in becoming an expert on a particular policy and influencing your colleagues on this policy, you would probably ask to be assigned to the A. Appropriations Committee. B. Ways and Means Committee. C. Public Works and Transportation Committee. D. Ethics Committee. E. Post Office and Civil Service Committee.

B. Ways and Means Committee.

A bill can be introduced in Congress by A. any member of the majority party. B. any member of Congress. C. any member of Congress or the president. D. members of the relevant committees only. E. committee chairmen/chairwomen only.

B. any member of Congress.

One of the formal tools used by Congress for oversight of the federal bureaucracy is: A. the line-item veto B. authorization of spending C. impoundment bills D. private bills E. senatorial courtesy

B. authorization of spending

If you wished to study the real leadership office in the Senate, you would most likely focus on the A. president pro tempore. B. majority leader. C. party whip. D. chairperson of the Policy Committee. E. chairperson of the Judiciary Committee.

B. majority leader.

The purpose of creating majority-minority congressional districts is to A. make it easier for majority citizens to elect majority representatives. B. make it easier for minority citizens to elect minority representatives. C. allow minority citizens to choose their own voting districts. D. present majority citizens with an alternative voting district. E. make it easier for independent candidates to be elected.

B. make it easier for minority citizens to elect minority representatives.

A problem with the representational interpretation of congressional voting behavior is that A. senior members of Congress have little need to be concerned about public opinion. B. on many key issues, public opinion is weak or vague. C. such representation relates to the House but not to the Senate. D. most politicians are not theoreticians. E. most politicians have a strong academic background.

B. on many key issues, public opinion is weak or vague.

When does reapportionment of seats in the House usually occur? A. whenever the total U.S. population increases by 5 percent B. once every decade C. whenever called for by the president D. once every century E. every two years

B. once every decade

Where is the real work of Congress done? A. on the House floor B. on the Senate floor C. in the caucuses D. in floor sessions in both houses E. in the committees in both houses

E. in the committees in both houses

The president's veto power is accurately described by which of the following statements? I. A president sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to influence congressional decision-making II. A president typically vetoes about a third of the bills passed by Congress III. Congress is usually unable to override a president's veto a) I only b) III only c) I and III only d) II and III only e) I, II and III

I. A president sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to influence congressional decision-making III. Congress is usually unable to override a president's veto c) I and III only

Which of the following is articulated in the War Powers Resolution? A. The President may declare war B. The President must finance any war efforts from a special contingency fund C. The President must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time D. The President may not nationalize state militias without congressional consent E. The President may not send troops into hostilities without a declaration of war from Congress or a resolution from the United Nations

C. The President must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time

One effect of the growth in congressional staff has been to A. speed up legislation. B. give members of Congress more control over legislation. C. generate more legislative work. D. decrease reliance on lobbies as sources of information. E. increase the influence of corporate lawyers.

C. generate more legislative work.

Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then: A. passed by one chamber but not the other B. passed by both chambers but vetoed by the President C. referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress D. voted down during the amendment stage of the floor debate E. killed in the Rules Committee

C. referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress

Communications between congressional representatives and constituents occurs mainly through: A. committee hearings B. the media C. the personal staffs of representatives D. the federal bureaucracy E. staff members of congressional committees

C. the personal staffs of representatives

The connection between the national census taken every ten years and the allocation of various formula grants is that a. no new programs may be implemented until the census is taken. b. some allocation formulas are based on census figures. c. the census is funded by federal levies on the states. d. demographic reasons must accompany any proposal to alter existing allocations. e. the results of the census are the sole basis for the determination of the distribution of all such funds.

b. some allocation formulas are based on census figures.

The notion that individuals should work hard, save their money, and avoid dependence on the state is sometimes referred to as the a. Protestant (work) ethic. b. blue-collar ethic. c. doctrine of social Darwinism. d. evolutionary principle. e. labor theory of value.

a. Protestant (work) ethic.

Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with? a .The United States Constitution explicitly prohibits the government from restricting the press. b. The amendment process would create confusion about the meaning of the United States Constitution. c. The Bill of Rights could potentially be used to limit civil liberties. d. The media ought to be held accountable for publishing untrue information about public figures.

a. The United States Constitution explicitly prohibits the government from restricting the press.

What type of federal funds are most likely to be critical for an agency that depends on the federal government for its existence? a. categorical grants b. block grants c. fund grants d. revenue-sharing programs e. B and D

a. categorical grants

One of the ways in which the culture war differs from other political disputes is that a. compromise is almost impossible. b. money is a critical issue. c. it is exclusively about what kinds of policies the government ought to adopt. d. the issues are basically simple ones. e. it has no distinct winners or losers.

a. compromise is almost impossible.

Which of the following is the best example of "gerrymandering"? a. drawing a congressional district boundary down a narrow strip of highway no wider than six blocks b. drawing boundaries so that districts are of very unequal size c. drawing boundaries to allow fair and equal representation of voters d. creating a new district to reapportion seats following a census e. eliminating an existing district to reapportion seats following a census

a. drawing a congressional district boundary down a narrow strip of highway no wider than six blocks

The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powers a. not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states b. implied in the Fifth Amendment c. listed specifically in the Tenth Amendment d. exercised by both national and state governments e. granted to states as part of the implied powers doctrine

a. not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states

States cannot declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. In other words, states do not have the right of a. nullification. b. local mandate. c. dual federalism. d. habeas corpus. e. recall.

a. nullification.

Relative to the notion of democratic government, the Supreme Court's power of judicial review a. places limits on democracy. b. is limited to state issues. c. generally favors the executive. d. is sometimes democratic, sometimes not. e. is used frequently.

a. places limits on democracy.

The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to a. the political support each candidate has among the voters b. the platforms of the major parties c. candidates' policy stands on domestic issues d. candidates' stands on foreign policy issues e. candidates' experience and qualifications

a. the political support each candidate has among the voters

Hyperpluralists differ from pluralist in their belief that a. the representation of too many interests is detrimental to policymaking b. only the wealthiest lobbyists are heard in Congress c. power should be centralized in one branch of government d. competition among groups leads to compromise and, hence, stronger policy e. political groups get their funds exclusively from big business

a. the representation of too many interests is detrimental to policymaking

A government official might leave her position and join a corporation to which she previously awarded government contracts. This is a clear example of a. government operating on its own inner logic b. a conflict of interest c. double-dipping d. agency lacing e. the revolving door

e. the revolving door

A significant criticism of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is that a) the projections on which spending is based are subjective b) the president can increase spending ceilings by reallocating other funds c) there is nothing in the federal budget process that requires Congress to tighten the government's financial belt d) its key section has been declared unconstitutional e) its key section and numerous applications have been declared unconstitutional

c) there is nothing in the federal budget process that requires Congress to tighten the government's financial belt

Which of the following concepts is fundamental to democracies? a. Economic equality b. Tyranny of the majority c. Majority rule with minority rights d. Bicameralism e. Seniority

c. Majority rule with minority rights

A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is a called a/n a. open primary b. blanket primary c. closed primary d. run-off primary e. presidential preference primary

c. closed primary

Which one in each of the following pairs are Americans more likely to tolerate? a. political as opposed to economic inequality b. ideologues as opposed to activists c. economic as opposed to political inequality d. activists as opposed to ideologues e. political as opposed to sociological inequality

c. economic as opposed to political inequality

Although rising in recent elections, voter turnout in U.S. presidential elections is typically a. less than 25 percent. b. less than 30 percent. c. less than 70 percent. d. approx. 80 percent. e. nearly 100 percent.

c. less than 70 percent.

All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT a. lobbying b. contributing money to candidates c. nominating candidates d. filing lawsuits e. appealing to public opinion

c. nominating candidates

An election involving more than two candidates in which the person who receives the most votes relative to the other candidates is the winner is called a a. majority election b. proportional election c. plurality election d. simple election e. indirect election

c. plurality election

A categorical grant is a transfer of federal funds designed for a. the private sector. b. discretionary use by a state. c. specific purposes. d. programs with matching grants. e. the accomplishment of broad goals.

c. specific purposes.

In Citizens United vs. FEC (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that a. an unlawful assembly must not be allowed to occur because it threatens the public safety. b. burning the American flag is protected by the First Amendment. c. the campaign finance law violated the free speech of corporations and unions. d. p materials can be banned by establishing community standards. e. the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaigns could be limited.

c. the campaign finance law violated the free speech of corporations and unions.

Block grants were designed to remedy a common criticism of categorical grants, namely, a. their lack of specificity. b. the lack of conditions under which such grants were made. c. the difficulty of adapting categorical grants to local needs. d. their discriminatory nature -- decisions are too often based on politics. e. their lack of relevance to problems that were perceived to be "national" in nature.

c. the difficulty of adapting categorical grants to local needs.

All of the following solutions have been proposed to make sure there is enough Social Security when future generations retire EXCEPT a) Raise the retirement age b) Freeze the level of retirememt benefits c) Privatize Social Security so that people could invest those funds in the stock market d) End the program entirely by the year 2040 e) Permit citizens to invest some of their Social Security withholdings in carefully chosen mutual funds

d) End the program entirely by the year 2040

Presidents have had the most success in changing the direction of decisions by the federal judiciary by a) threatening to ask Congress to impeach specific judges b) using the media to build consensus for the President's position c) requesting that Congress reduce the term of office that judges may serve d) using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President e) pressuring Congress to pass the appropriate legislation to override judicial opinions

d) using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President

When President Reagan was governor of California, he could veto portions of a bill that were irrelevant to the subject of the bill. He was exercising what is called a) constitutional discretion b) a pocket veto c) states' rights d) gubernatorial advantage e) a line-item veto

e) a line-item veto

A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its a) role in moving legislation out of subcommittees b) role in mediating interstate conflicts c) ability to convince Congress to fund most projects it supports d) ability to mobilize public opinion in support of legislative initiatives e) ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

e) ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

The definition of "bureaucracy" includes all of the following elements EXCEPT a) a large organization b) authority divided among several managers c) complexity of structure d) appointed officials e) an issue network

e) an issue network

All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post-1945 era EXCEPT a) tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period b) an increase in public expectations for services from the federal government c) economic and domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights issues d) increasing United States involvement in international affairs e) legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

e) legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

All of the following were considered to be "swing states" in 2012 EXCEPT a. Virginia b. Nevada c. Ohio d. Florida e. Texas

e. Texas

The general pattern of public-opinion/political cleavages in this country has been a. horizontal, based on class. b. vertical, based on many variables. c. vertical on economic issues and horizontal on social issues d. impossible to analyze clearly. e. cross-cutting, based on many variables.

e. cross-cutting, based on many variables.

Federalism in the U.S. Constitution meant a. removing all traces of the monarchy from government. b. separating governmental functions into branches. c. protecting individual and property rights. d. placating mercantile and agrarian interests. e. dividing power between state and national levels.

e. dividing power between state and national levels.

All of the following are basic elements of the U.S. political culture EXCEPT a. liberty. b. populism c. individualism. d. laissez-faire e. economic equality.

e. economic equality.

If people have a sense of political efficacy, then they believe they a. trust the government to do what is right. b. would rather live here than elsewhere. c. are capable of joining interest groups. d. feel alienated from public policy. e. have a say in what government does.

e. have a say in what government does.

Probably the MOST effective commodity at the command of interest groups is a. money b. allegiance c. persuasiveness d. media access e. information

e. information

A first-term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees? A. Judiciary B. Agriculture C. Rules D. Foreign Affairs E. Science and Technology

B. Agriculture

In selecting members of the White House staff, presidents primarily seek people who a) give the White House ideological balance b) are personally loyal to the president c) have extensive governmental experience d) will help the president develop a good working relationship with Congress e) can bring a non-partisan perspective to policy deliberations

b) are personally loyal to the president

Suffrage is most likely to be formally denied to a citizen who is a. African American b. disabled c. 18 years old d. a convicted felon e. a pauper

d. a convicted felon

A bill that has many non-germane amendments tacked on is called a A. Christmas-tree bill. B. pork-barrel bill. C. Dirksen Special bill. D. Full-House rider. E. golden shovel bill.

A. Christmas-tree bill.

Which of the following statements about revenue bills is correct? A. They must originate in the House. B. They must originate in the Senate. C. They must originate with the president. D. They can originate in either the House or the Senate. E. They must originate in the Senate Finance Committee.

A. They must originate in the House.

A mark-up session is one in which A. a committee or subcommittee makes changes in the original version of a bill. B. the party leadership assigns priority ratings to numerous bills. C. the Rules Committee determines the conditions under which floor debate will be conducted. D. a conference committee makes key compromises before reporting back to both houses. E. committee chairmen/chairwomen meet to discuss the order of discussion for revenue bills

A. a committee or subcommittee makes changes in the original version of a bill.

In terms of its percentage of women and nonwhite members since 1950, the Senate, compared with the House, has A. been slower to change. B. changed at about the same rate as the House. C. been faster to change. D. fewer women and nonwhites in powerful positions. E. has not changed at all.

A. been slower to change.

The Congressional system of standing committees is significant because it: A. fosters the development of expertise by members B. helps congress reduce staff costs C. insulates decision-making from the influence of special interests D. weakens Congress in its dealings with the President E.prevents Congress from effectively processing its large legislative workload

A. fosters the development of expertise by members

All of the following are reasons incumbents in the House of Representatives enjoy an electoral advantage over challengers EXCEPT that the incumbents: A. get substantial financial support from their party's national committee B. are better known to voters than are challengers C. find it much easier to raise campaign funds than do challengers D. can use staff members to do constituent service E. often serve on committees that enable them to help the constituency

A. get substantial financial support from their party's national committee

The term bicameral used to describe the U.S. legislature means that the legislature A. has two chambers, or legislative bodies. B. is elected every two years. C. consists of both committees and a main body. D. is based on a system of checks and balances. E. is apportioned once every ten years.

A. has two chambers, or legislative bodies.

In general, Congress is most likely to defer to the President: A. in the area of foreign policy B. in the area of fiscal policy C. in the area of social policy D. late in the President's term E. when the economy is strong

A. in the area of foreign policy

In the last thirty years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been: A. incumbency B. personal wealth C. previous political offices held in the district D. membership in the political party of the President E. positions on key social issues

A. incumbency

Which of the following is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them? A. The Supreme Court B. Congress C. The President D. The Department of Justice E. The attorney general

B. Congress

Which of the following statements about Congress is true? A. Members of Congress only occasionally are interested in and pay attention to constituents B. The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargain C. Lobbyists and political action committees (PAC's) successfully induce most members of Congress to trade their votes for campaign contributions D. The growth in the size of Congress as an organization is the principal cause of growth in the federal budget deficit E. Debate in both houses is structured by elaborate rules enacted by leaders of the majority party

B. The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargain

The purpose of a filibuster is to A. ensure that all sides of an issue are heard. B. delay action in a legislative body. C. protect majority rule. D. shift legislative power to the Senate committees. E. magnify the impact of specific special interests.

B. delay action in a legislative body.

A discharge petition is used by the House to A. make revisions and additions to a bill before it is voted on. B. get a bill stalled in committee onto the floor. C. amend a bill that has already passed one house but not the other. D. override a presidential veto. E. amend a bill in a manner that will make it quite unpopular.

B. get a bill stalled in committee onto the floor.

"Pork barrel legislation" helps the reelection chances of a member of Congress because such legislation: A. gives the member of Congress national standing and coverage on national television news B. helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district C. attracts campaign contributions from ideological political action committees (PACs) D. prevents other candidates from claiming that the member of Congress is too liberal for his or her district E. requires the member of Congress to travel extensively

B. helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district

One proposed explanation for why congressional seats have become less marginal is that A. the growing strength of the party system makes it less likely for challengers to appeal to average voters. B. incumbents can use their powers to get programs passed that benefit their districts and thereby themselves. C. incumbents are less likely than challengers to become associated with the "mess" in Washington. D. changing demographics have made an increasing number of districts overwhelmingly Democratic or Republican. E. incumbents are less ideological than challengers and link themselves with Congress as an institution.

B. incumbents can use their powers to get programs passed that benefit their districts and thereby themselves.

The boundaries of United States congressional districts are usually determined by: A. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) B. the state legislatures C. the House Rules Committee D. a conference committee of the House and Senate E.the director of the United States Census Bureau

B. the state legislatures

The best way to understand how Congress carries out its business is to think of it as A. a single, centralized bureaucracy. B. anarchy in a three-piece suit. C. a collection of different kinds of organizations. D. a temporary alliance between warring camps. E. a bureaucracy headed by a king.

C. a collection of different kinds of organizations.

The type of committee most likely to deal with a bill near the end of its legislative process is the A. standing committee. B. select committee. C. conference committee. D. joint committee. E. rejoinder committee.

C. conference committee.

The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives rests on its authority to: A. choose the chairs of other standing committees and issue rules for the selection of subcommittee chairs B. initiate all spending legislation and hold budget hearings C. place a bill on the legislative calendar, limit time for debate, and determine the type of amendments allowed D. determine the procedures by which nominations by the President will be approved by the House E.choose the President if no candidate wins a majority in the electoral college

C. place a bill on the legislative calendar, limit time for debate, and determine the type of amendments allowed

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always: A. the member with the longest service on the committee B. the member with the longest service in the House C. a representative of the Speaker D. a member of the majority party in the chamber E. a trusted ally of the President

D. a member of the majority party in the chamber

Which of the following bills is most likely to pass through Congress quickly? A. A bill calling for a major increase in defense spending. B. A bill dealing with energy conservation. C. A bill affecting our trade policy with the European Economic Community. D. A bill dealing with aid to the handicapped. E. A bill dealing with funding of covert operations.

D. A bill dealing with aid to the handicapped.

Which of the following is an accurate statement about committees in Congress? A. The work of a committee ends when it submits a bill to the full House or Senate for consideration B. An individual representative or senator can serve on only one committee and one subcommittee C. Membership on key committees such as House Rules and Senate Finance is limited to fixed terms D. Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation E. Committee recommendations tend to have little influence on floor voting

D. Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation

Which of the following actions can Congress take if the Supreme Court finds a federal law unconstitutional? A. Appeal the Court's decision to the District of Columbia's Court of Appeals B. Formally request the President to veto the Court's decision C. Remove certain members of the Court and replace them with new members D. Try to amend the Constitution E. Reenact the same law

D. Try to amend the Constitution

Debate of a bill in the House of Representatives under a "closed rule" means that: A. the bill can only be amended by section B. debate on the bill will consist of five-minute speeches, pro and con C. only senior members are allowed to participate D. amendments to the bill cannot be offered E.the bill must be approved by two-thirds of the House

D. amendments to the bill cannot be offered

The typical member of Congress is a(n) A. middle-aged, white, Protestant businessman. B. older, white, Protestant businessman. C. older, white, Catholic lawyer. D. middle-aged, white, Protestant lawyer. E. young, white, communications major.

D. middle-aged, white, Protestant lawyer.

Congressional standing committees are best described as A. specially appointed investigative bodies B. joint committees of the two houses of Congress C. committees created for each session D. permanent subject matter committees E.advisory staff agencies

D. permanent subject matter committees

The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because: A. the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B. the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the house C. committee members are appointed by the President D. the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor E.the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees

D. the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor

Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution confers on Congress all of the following powers except A. the power to collect taxes. B. the power to declare war. C. the power to establish courts. D. the power to veto bills. E. the power to regulate commerce.

D. the power to veto bills.

Which of the following statements about rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct? A. Debate by a determined minority in either chamber cannot be halted B. The rules in each chamber are determined by the majority whip C. The rules are specified in Article I of the Constitution D. The rules can be changed by the President during a national emergency E. The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understanding.

E. The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understanding.

If a House bill has just been reported out of committee and its sponsor is worried that floor amendments will substantially change it, he or she would be most likely to request a(n) A. discharge petition from his or her colleagues. B. referral slip from a committee chairman/chairwoman. C. open rule from the majority leader. D. amendment from one of the select committees. E. closed rule from the Rules Committee.

E. closed rule from the Rules Committee.

More opportunities for corruption exist in a decentralized political system because A. more officials are basically corrupt than in a centralized system. B. more money is available. C. more corporate heads will run for office. D. more greed exists. E. more officials can affect policy.

E. more officials can affect policy.

The role of a conference committee in Congress is to: A. hold hearings on proposed legislation B. oversee the actions of the executive branch of the government C. decide which bills should be considered by the full Senate D. conduct hearings that make information available to the public E. reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

E. reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to: A. establish post offices B. coin money C. levy taxes D. regulate commerce with foreign nations E. regulate interstate commerce

E. regulate interstate commerce

A marginal district is one in which A. voters frequently change party affiliation. B. the constituency is made up of largely minority groups. C. voters are not clear as to which candidate is the incumbent. D. gerrymandering has produced a loose affiliation of interest groups. E. the winner in an election gets less than 55 percent of the vote.

E. the winner in an election gets less than 55 percent of the vote.

Which of the following are differences between the legislative process in the House of Representatives and that in the Senate? I Debate is more restricted on the House floor than on the Senate floor II The amendment process is more restricted in the House than in the Senate III Bills are more likely to bypass committee considerations in the House than in the Senate IV A Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate in the House but not in the Senate A. III only B. I and II only C. II and IV only D. I, II, and IV only E. I, II, III and IV

I Debate is more restricted on the House floor than on the Senate floor II The amendment process is more restricted in the House than in the Senate IV A Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate in the House but not in the Senate D. I, II, and IV only

How are older Americans different from younger Americans? I. Older Americans are more likely to vote II. Older Americans are more conservative III. Older Americans are more supportive of investing Social Security funds in the stock market IV. Older Americans are more likely to favor spending money on national defense a. III only b. I and II c. I, II, and III d. II, III, and IV e. I, II, and IV

I. Older Americans are more likely to vote II. Older Americans are more conservative IV. Older Americans are more likely to favor spending money on national defense e. I, II, and IV

A powerful national government is likely to meet opposition in which of the following regions of the United States? I. South II. Northeast III. Midwest IV. West a. I and IV b. II and III c. I and II d. I, II, and IV e. I, II, and III

I. South and IV. West a. I and IV

Which of the following statements help to explain why voter turnout is lower in the United States than in most other democracies? I. Citizens in other democracies vote more often and, therefore, have developed stronger voting habits II. Citizens in most other democracies are required by law to vote III. Citizens in most other democracies are not required to register themselves to vote IV. Citizens in most other democracies face starker differences between the viable political parties a. I and II b. I and III c. II and III d. II and IV e. III and IV

III. Citizens in most other democracies are not required to register themselves to vote IV. Citizens in most other democracies face starker differences between the viable political parties e. III and IV

Registered voters directly elect which of the following? I. The president and vice-president II. Supreme Court justices III. Members of the Senate IV. Members of the House of Representatives a. I only b. IV only c. I and II only d. III and IV only e. II, III, and IV only

III. Members of the Senate IV. Members of the House of Representatives d. III and IV only

Which of the following BEST describes the federal budget? a) A document that announces how much the government expects to collect in taxes and other revenue and how expenditures will be allocated on various programs b) A document that just predicts a "bottom line" including the dollar amount of a projected surplus or deficit c) A document that describes the federal debt and proposes a payment plan d) A document that changes over the course of a fiscal year, as revenue and expenditures change with the times e) A general policy statement outlining the economic goals of the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year

a) A document that announces how much the government expects to collect in taxes and other revenue and how expenditures will be allocated on various programs

Why did Social Security meet popular demands and fit within the framework of American beliefs about social welfare? a) Because it was viewed as an insurance program that would be available to all Americans who contributed, regardless of income level or socioeconomic status b) Because it was an insurance program that would be available to all Americans on a voluntary basis c) Because it would be available to middle-class and low-income Americans as a kind of retirement savings account d) Because it was a means-tested program to help those who could not afford retirement e) Because it was a means of redistributing wealth and that philosophy had great popular appeal during the Great Depression

a) Because it was viewed as an insurance program that would be available to all Americans who contributed, regardless of income level or socioeconomic status

Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a United States president and another head of state? a) It does not require Senate approval but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation b) It does not require congressional funding because the president can use the power of the purse to raise implementation funds c) It has more legal force than a treaty d) It is binding on all succeeding presidents and Congresses e) It has been used extensively to end armed conflicts

a) It does not require Senate approval but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation

All of the following are powers that only the president is constitutionally entitled to exercise EXCEPT a) appointing ambassadors b) serving as military commander-in-chief c) convening Congress in special sessions d) receiving ambassadors e) commissioning officers of the armed forces

a) appointing ambassadors

The principal function of the White House staff is to a) oversee the political and policy interests of the president b) administer federal departments at the president's representative c) prepare the federal budget for the president d) supervise the national security agencies, such as the CIA and FBI e) supervise military intelligence agencies

a) oversee the political and policy interests of the president

All of the following are formal or informal sources of presidential power EXCEPT a) presidential authority to raise revenue b) presidential access to the media c) precedents set during previous presidential administrations d) public support e) the U.S. Constitution

a) presidential authority to raise revenue

Programs such as Social Security would be controllable if Congress a) were willing to reduce benefits promised to individuals b) were willing to challenge the president on substantive issues of Social Security funding c) could bypass constitutional issues and focus on practical funding issues d) were more concerned about the well-being of elderly Americans e) were willing to cut taxes

a) were willing to reduce benefits promised to individuals

Which of the following is an example of a survey that uses self-selection? a. A sports Web site asks readers to vote for which NBA team LeBron James should play b. Some surveys ask questions only to Ferrari owners c. A poll asks if people had a good day, giving them "yes" and "no" as options d. A poll was conducted with the responses of only 10 respondents being measured e. A polling firm calls 1,000 people randomly to ask them a question about presidential approval

a. A sports Web site asks readers to vote for which NBA team LeBron James should play

The most recent immigrants to the United States have tended to come from a. Central America and Asia b. southern and eastern Europe c. northern and western Europe d. the former Soviet Republics e. the Middle East and Scandinavia

a. Central America and Asia

In the Constitution as originally ratified in 1788, the provisions regarding which of the following most closely approximate popular, majoritarian democracy? a. Election of members of the House of Representatives b. Election of members of the Senate c. Election of the President d. Ratification of treaties e. Confirmation of presidential appointments

a. Election of members of the House of Representatives

Which of the following constitutional provisions limits the power of the national government in Hamilton's argument? a. Enumerated powers in Article I b. Faithful execution of the laws in Article II c. Judicial review in Article III d. Supremacy Clause in Article VI

a. Enumerated powers in Article I

The President is trying to balance the budget to begin reducing the national debt. One part of his program is to raise income taxes. Into which house of Congress must the President try to get his tax increase bill introduced to see it become law? a. House of Representatives. b. U.S. Senate. c. It does not matter. d. Both houses at the same time. e. None of the above.

a. House of Representatives.

Which of the following statements about the gender gap is the most accurate, according to the text? a. Men have "deserted" Democratic candidates for Republican ones. b. The gender gap has remained constant in the past four elections. c. Women voters tend to identify more strongly than men with the Republican party. d. Most analysts agree about the electoral significance of the gender gap. e. Men have "deserted" Republican candidates for Democratic ones.

a. Men have "deserted" Democratic candidates for Republican ones.

All of the following statements concerning Americans' ideological thinking are correct except a. Most Americans describe themselves as liberal. b. Only a small minority of Americans take ideologically consistent views on political issues. c. People often express opinions at odds with the ideological label they attach to themselves. d. Ideological thinking may be greater in some years than in others. e. A plurality of Americans classify themselves as moderate.

a. Most Americans describe themselves as liberal.

Supporters of Hamilton's view that a bill of rights could be dangerous to liberty could point to which of the following cases? a. Schenck v. United States (1919) b. Engel v. Vitale (1962) c. New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) d. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

a. Schenck v. United States (1919)

While gleefully accepting federal grants with no apparent strings, state governors were disregarding which fundamental axiom of politics? a. There's no such thing as a free lunch. b. Politics makes strange bedfellows. c. Nice guys finish last. d. Those who respect sausages or law should avoid being present when they are made. e. You can't fool all of the people all of the time.

a. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

Sometimes money affects legislative behavior not so much by buying votes as by ensuring a. access b. veto power c. procedural fairness d. favorable implementation e. sympathy in administrative hearings

a. access

A major argument in favor of reducing the separation of powers called for in the U.S. Constitution is that it would a. allow prompt, decisive leadership in times of crisis. b. weaken the presidency and give greater protection against executive dictatorship. c. disperse credit or blame equally among the three branches of government. d. apportion responsibility for implementing government programs among members of Congress. e. create a truly independent judiciary.

a. allow prompt, decisive leadership in times of crisis.

The interstate commerce that the federal government can regulate is now interpreted to include a. almost any kind of economic activity. b. only the movement of goods between states. c. almost any commerce in goods, but not labor transactions. d. commerce between states and a handful of transactions within states. e. All of the above.

a. almost any kind of economic activity.

Elections for the House of Representatives provide a. approximately equal representation for every voter b. an equal chance of getting elected for both incumbents and challengers c. a system in which only those candidates who receive a majority of the votes cast win on the first ballot d. proportional representation based on the percentage of votes cast for each party e. proportional representation of racial and ethnic minorities

a. approximately equal representation for every voter

Given a sampling error of 3 percent, if 47 percent of respondents say they will vote for George W. Bush, we can infer that a. between 44 percent and 50 percent of the voters will vote for Bush. b. the likelihood of 47 percent voting for Bush is 97 percent. c. 3 percent of the respondents are falsifying their intentions. d. Bush will lose the election narrowly 97 times out of 100. e. None of the above

a. between 44 percent and 50 percent of the voters will vote for Bush.

Individual opinions sometimes may be badly informed and unstable: a. but aggregate public opinion is both stable and coherent. b. which leads to an uninformed and unstable aggregate public opinion. c. though only informed and stable individual opinions are considered for the purposes of aggregate public opinion. d. but when combined into aggregate public opinion they are informed - though still unstable. e. which makes discussing public opinion on a given issue useless.

a. but aggregate public opinion is both stable and coherent.

The term "superdelegate" refers to a. elected officials and party leaders who are not required to pledge themselves in advance to a presidential candidate b. delegates representing special-interest caucuses, such as those organized to represent African- Americans or homosexuals c. delegates-at-large who are chosen by a vote of the national party leadership d. delegates chosen by primary elections and grassroots caucuses e. delegates who achieved more than 80% of the vote necessary to achieve their status

a. elected officials and party leaders who are not required to pledge themselves in advance to a presidential candidate

One method used by lobbyists to convince undecided legislators that public opinion on an issue is inclined toward the lobbyist's position is to a. encourage local citizens to contact their members of Congress b. supply the legislators with recent political scorecards c. supply the legislators with technical information d. cultivate the goodwill of government officials e. threaten a lawsuit

a. encourage local citizens to contact their members of Congress

Which of the following principles is most fundamental to democratic theory? a. free elections and universal suffrage b. minority rule c. universal public education d. political parties e. a written constitution

a. free elections and universal suffrage

The central issue in the framing of the U.S. Constitution was that of a. how strong to make the central government. b. how best to divide powers among the branches of government. c. how best to break with Great Britain. d. how to adopt liberty but still allow slaveholding. e. how to create a truly independent judiciary.

a. how strong to make the central government.

The grant-in-aid system grew rapidly because it helped state and local officials resolve what dilemma? a. how to get federal money into state hands without violating the U.S. Constitution b. how to limit federal taxation power without reducing aid to states c. how to increase federal taxation power without violating the U.S. Constitution d. how to shift financial control of state programs to the federal government without violating states' rights e. how to gradually bring critical state functions under federal control.

a. how to get federal money into state hands without violating the U.S. Constitution

Which of the following theories claims that too many competing groups cripple government's ability to govern? a. hyperpluralist theory b. pluralist theory c. elite theory d. democratic theory e. class-based theory

a. hyperpluralist theory

Which of the following kinds of minor parties tends to endure the longest? a. ideological b. single-issue c. economic protest d. factional e. consensual

a. ideological

Convicted felons are allowed to vote a. in certain states, depending on the state law b. never c. by constitutional mandate d. as long as they did not commit murder e. ten years after leaving prison

a. in certain states, depending on the state law

The adversarial, contentious spirit of U.S. society is related most closely to Americans' belief in a. individual rights. b. social equality. c. group harmony and cohesion. d. democracy. e. bicameralism.

a. individual rights.

Supreme Court justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that: a. justices are free from direct political pressure b. justices remain accountable to the public c. justices are encouraged to make politically popular decisions d. cooperation between the judicial and legislative branches is assured e. Presidents are encouraged to seek younger nominees for the Supreme Court

a. justices are free from direct political pressure

An example of an intergovernmental lobby would be a lobby comprising a. local police chiefs. b. local gas station owners. c. gun enthusiasts. d. oil company executives. e. society of card players.

a. local police chiefs.

Unlike presidential campaigns, congressional campaigns are traditionally funded by a. private sources only b. public sources only c. both private and public sources d. federal matching grants only e. private sources during the primaries and public sources after the nominations are made

a. private sources only

The steady decline in U.S. voter turnout during the late twentieth century appeared to be the unintentional result of a. strict voter registration procedures. b. the poll tax. c. the fraudulent reporting of election results. d. literacy testing. e. media campaigns.

a. strict voter registration procedures.

Linkage institutions are mechanisms through which citizens can influence the policy agenda. All of the following are linkage institutions EXCEPT a. the Constitution b. political parties c. interest groups d. the media e. elections

a. the Constitution

Voters in the South have become progressively less attached to a. the Democratic party. b. the Republican party. c. liberal ideology. d. conservative ideology. e. independent parties.

a. the Democratic party.

Today, a liberal would be more likely than a conservative to oppose a. the death penalty. b. a reduction in defense spending. c. school busing to achieve desegregation. d. legalizing marijuana. e. raising taxes, especially on the rich.

a. the death penalty.

The concept of the separation of powers involves a. the division of the functions of government. b. the delegation of authority to the colonies. c. strong state governments with taxation powers. d. a central government and submissive states. e. submissive central government and superior states.

a. the division of the functions of government.

Both revenue sharing and block grants have enjoyed only marginal success, in part because a. the federal government steadily increased the number of strings attached to such grants. b. money from categorical grants shrank so low as to make these other grants essential. c. these grants were based on local priorities rather than on the needs of the nation as a whole. d. these grants discouraged federal control over how the money was to be used. e. these grants were not attractive to members of Congress.

a. the federal government steadily increased the number of strings attached to such grants.

Suffrage was extended in the Twenty-sixth Amendment to a. those aged eighteen to twenty. b. blacks. c. women. d. residents of the District of Columbia. e. felons who had received presidential pardons.

a. those aged eighteen to twenty.

The Office of Management and Budget has the primary responsibility for doing which of the following? a) Implementing federal unemployment policy b) Preparing the budget c) Auditing the budget d) Appropriating funds for the budget e) Approving the budget

b) Preparing the budget

Cabinet departments DIFFER from independent regulatory agencies in which of the following ways? a) The president can use an executive order to create a Cabinet department but not to create an independent regulatory agency b) The president can dismiss Cabinet officers but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies c) The president seeks appointees who reflect administration views in making Cabinet appointments, but not in making appointments to independent regulatory agencies d) Through the appropriations process, Congress can exert control over the Cabinet departments but not over independent regulatory agencies e) The courts can overrule regulations issue by Cabinet departments, but not those issued by independent regulatory agencies

b) The president can dismiss Cabinet officers but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies

A person appointed to a government position after passing an examination is probably joining the a) excepted service b) competitive/civil service c) patronage system d) Department of State e) Department of Justice

b) competitive/civil service

From the time of winning office to the time of leaving it, the popularity of most recent presidents has a) decreased steadily b) decreased except at election time c) increased steadily d) increased except at election time e) revealed no systematic trends and is impervious to elections and campaigns

b) decreased except at election time

Bureaucrats' own values and beliefs are most likely to have the LEAST influence on their work when their duties are a) loosely defined b) highly structured c) greatly affected by laws d) professional in nature e) reviewed by agencies

b) highly structured

Presidents attempt to influence policymaking in all of the following ways EXCEPT by a) appealing directly to the public for support b) introducing legislation in congressional committees c) offering favors such as backing during re-election campaigns d) exchanging support for policies with members of Congress e) building coalitions among party members

b) introducing legislation in congressional committees

A constitutional limitation on the federal bureaucracy's ability to regulate the economy is that a) only the president has the constitutional authority to regulate commerce b) only Congress has the constitutional authority to regulate commerce c) only the Supreme Court has the constitutional authority to regulate commerce d) commerce cannot be regulated by the federal government e) none of the above

b) only Congress has the constitutional authority to regulate commerce

The number of electoral votes a state is allotted is determined by a) its total population b) the number of congressional members it has c) the number of registered voters it has d) the number of people in the state who actually voted in the last presidential election e) the number of eligible voters it has

b) the number of congressional members it has

Presidents, even with great majorities of their own party in Congress, experience difficulty in exercising legislative leadership because a) the president must compete against interest groups for influence b) the president is unable to control Congress, unlike a prime minister c) the president's use of the veto is ineffective with Congress d) members of Congress attract greater publicity when challenging the president e) members of Congress are able to thwart presidential aspirations through the technicalities of committees and floor rules

b) the president is unable to control Congress, unlike a prime minister

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of constitutional provisions? a. Necessary and proper clause Fourteenth Amendment b. Commerce clause Tenth Amendment c. Supremacy clause Seventeenth Amendment d. Fifth Amendment Article V

b. Enhance Federal Power: Commerce clause Enhance State Power: Tenth Amendment

Which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a congressional election? a. Local performance of a candidate's party in the presidential race b. A candidate's incumbency status c. The amount of a candidate's campaign spending relative to that of his/her opponent d. The level of support from local party leaders e. The level of voter turnout

b. A candidate's incumbency status

Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the chart? a. Those who are younger are more likely to be registered to vote than those who are older. b. Among registered voters, there was a steep increase in social media usage to follow political figures across all age groups and party affiliations. c. Registered voters in the 65+ age group did not increase their use of social media to follow political figures. d. Of those using social networking sites, those registered as Republican were more likely to vote than those registered as Democrats.

b. Among registered voters, there was a steep increase in social media usage to follow political figures across all age groups and party affiliations.

In polling, a random sample is one that a. is generated by a computer using complex algorithms. b. gives each person an equal chance of being in the sample. c. has no preselection criteria. d. just happens, with no control by any outside force. e. perfectly matches the population

b. gives each person an equal chance of being in the sample.

Which of the following is a potential consequence of the trend illustrated in the bar chart? a. Social media has led to more candidates running as independents rather than as members of political parties. b. Elected officials and candidates running for office are increasingly using social media to reach out to voters and constituents. c. Social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter have been overrun with political content. d. Social networking sites have led to increased political polarization in the general public.

b. Elected officials and candidates running for office are increasingly using social media to reach out to voters and constituents.

Which of the following accurately characterizes the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the United States? a. Elite theories concentrate on the role of interest groups; pluralist theories emphasize the role of individuals. b. Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that many minorities compete for power in different policy areas c. Elite theories argue that social status is the major source of political power; pluralist theories argue that wealth is the major source. d. Elite theories emphasize the multiple access points that interest groups have to public officials; pluralist theories stress the limits in the number and effectiveness of such access points. e. Elite theories view government as efficient; pluralist theories view it as slow and wasteful.

b. Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that many minorities compete for power in different policy areas

On which of the following issues do the opinions of men and women generally differ most? a. Abortion rights. b. Equal roles for women and men in society and politics. c. The use of violence in foreign and domestic policy. d. Social welfare spending. e. Campaign finance reform.

b. Equal roles for women and men in society and politics.

How are older Americans different from younger Americans? I. Older Americans are more likely to vote. II. Older Americans are increasingly resistant to taxes. III. Older Americans are more supportive of investing Social Security funds in the stock market. IV. Older Americans are less likely to favor spending money on government health and social welfare programs. a. III only b. I and II only c. I, II, and III only d. II, III, and IV only e. I, II, and IV only

b. I and II only (I. Older Americans are more likely to vote. II. Older Americans are increasingly resistant to taxes.)

Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past four decades? a. Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party b. Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions c. Sharply declining role for political action committees (PACs) d. Decreasing cost of campaigns e. Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes

b. Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions

Which of the following is true of the Electoral College system? a. It encourages the emergence of third parties b. It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states c. It ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the president d. It requires that a candidate win a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the Electoral College e. It tends to make presidential elections appear closer than they really are

b. It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states

Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument? a. Even though civil liberties are protected by a bill of rights, there are some reasonable exceptions. b. Listing rights will lead some to assume that government may regulate those rights. c. Freedom of the press is essential for a functioning democracy. d. A bill of rights is necessary to protect civil liberties such as freedom of the press.

b. Listing rights will lead some to assume that government may regulate those rights.

Which of the following groups would be LEAST likely to maintain a national lobbying organization in Washington D.C.? a. Environmentalists b. Low-income housing tenants c. Nurses d. Automobile manufacturers e. Automobile assembly-line workers

b. Low-income housing tenants

Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graph above and your knowledge of voter behavior? a. More citizens vote in presidential elections because more citizens are eligible to vote in presidential elections than in midterm elections. b. More citizens vote in presidential elections because there is more media coverage of presidential elections than midterm elections. c. More citizens vote in midterm elections because midterm elections are more important than presidential elections. d. More citizens vote in midterm elections because there is more money spent on campaigns in midterm elections than in presidential elections.

b. More citizens vote in presidential elections because there is more media coverage of presidential elections than midterm elections.

What role do political parties play in the lives of most Americans? a. U.S. political parties dominate a variety of associations to which a person may belong b. Most Americans separate political parties from other aspects of their lives c. Most Americans are highly partisan in their politics, and this partisanship affects more than just their voting d. Fewer Americans than Europeans think of themselves as political independents e. Both (A) and (C)

b. Most Americans separate political parties from other aspects of their lives

What did George Gallup mean when he said that public opinion polls "speed up the process of democracy" in the United States? a. Laws will always move quickly through the legislative process if public opinion supports them b. Polls can cue politicians to consider important political issues c. Public opinion polls accurately predict election outcomes so the public actually knows the winners months in advance d. All politics is driven by public opinion e. Polls can make elections run more smoothly

b. Polls can cue politicians to consider important political issues

Given what we know about "red" states and blue "states", which of the following statements is incorrect? a. The Democrats dominate New England b. The Republicans dominate bigger cities in the Midwest c. The Democrats dominate the coastal areas of California, Oregon, and Washington d. Many red states also have blue congressional districts e. Many blue states also have red congressional districts

b. The Republicans dominate bigger cities in the Midwest

Which of the following statements about the two-party system is correct? a. Most European countries have such a system b. The United States is one of the few countries with such a system c. It exists in the United States because of the absence of local party organizations d. It has existed in the United States only since the early 1900s e. It has always been on the verge of collapse

b. The United States is one of the few countries with such a system

In recent decades, what has been the relationship between public confidence in political institutions and that in other institutions? a. They have both gone down. b. The former has gone down while the latter has remained unchanged or declined. c. The former has remained steady while the latter has gone down. d. The former has gone up while the latter has gone down. e. Both have remained quite steady.

b. The former has gone down while the latter has remained unchanged or declined.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics? a. The lower one's socioeconomic status, the more likely it is that one will run for public office b. The higher one's socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process c. Adults who are unemployed have a greater personal interest in policy and tend to participate more actively in politics than do employed adults d. People in the lower middle class are the most likely to participate in politics e. There is no relationship between socioeconomic status and political participation

b. The higher one's socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process

All of the following demographic trends will confront the U.S. in the 21st Century EXCEPT a. Racial diversity is growing. b. The number of senior citizens is decreasing. c. The number of African Americans serving in elected office has increased. d. Much of the American population growth since World War II has been centered in the West and the South. e. Asian Americans have begun to achieve political success.

b. The number of senior citizens is decreasing.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about political parties in the United States prior to the 2012 election? a. Parties increasingly identify themselves with coherent ideologies to attract large blocs of voters b. The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970s c. National party organizations are generally the strongest party organizations d. It is increasingly difficult for third parties to gain more than 2% of the popular vote e. Most candidates prefer to run as independents rather than as Democrats or Republicans

b. The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970s

Which of the following statements most accurately summarizes the figure on the next page? a. The gap in political knowledge between the young and the old has narrowed between 1972 and 2008 b. While political knowledge has decreased for all age groups between 1972 and 2008, the decrease has been the largest for younger Americans c. In 1972 the young were considerably more politically knowledgeable than the elderly; in 2008 the elderly were considerably more politically knowledgeable than the young d. Older Americans are more likely to vote than younger Americans e. The advent of cable television and the Internet helps explain why Americans were more politically knowledgeable in 2008 than they were in 1972.

b. While political knowledge has decreased for all age groups between 1972 and 2008, the decrease has been the largest for younger Americans

According to traditional democratic theory, all of the following are characteristics of an ideal democracy EXCEPT a. freedom of speech b. a written bill of rights c. equality of voting d. citizens have collective control over the government's policy agenda e. government extends rights to everyone who is subject to its laws

b. a written bill of rights

Historically, when selecting a vice-presidential candidate, a presidential nominee is usually concerned primarily with choosing a running mate who a. has significant personal wealth b. adds balance and appeal to the national ticket c. comes from the same ideological wing of the party as the presidential nominee d. can serve as the most important domestic policy advisor to the presidential nominee e. can effectively preside over the Senate

b. adds balance and appeal to the national ticket

The practical effect of this clause has been to: a. make the legislature the most powerful branch of the national government b. allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution c. allow state governments to nullify federal laws within their boundaries d. give the President uncontested powers in the area of foreign policy e. ensure that any powers not delegated by the Constitution to the United States government are reserved to the states and the people

b. allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

A central problem of the major parties today is how to a. win the trust of an increasingly mistrustful electorate b. appeal to moderate voters despite the parties' ideological orientations c. keep up the appearance of diversity despite the parties' homogeneous make-up d. attract the attention of an increasingly apathetic electorate e. mobilize voters with a declining sense of internal political efficacy

b. appeal to moderate voters despite the parties' ideological orientations

According to pluralists, a wealthy interest group would a. have more access to policymakers b. compete with other interest groups for an equal share of influence c. buy all of the votes on a piece of legislation d. manipulate public opinion to support legislation proposed by Congress e. have no influence on the policy agenda

b. compete with other interest groups for an equal share of influence

The following functions are shared by all governments EXCEPT a. maintaining a national defense b. ensuring social equality c. preserving order d. providing public services e. socializing the young

b. ensuring social equality

A block grant is essentially a a. grant that benefits a single, local unit (or block). b. group of categorical or project grants. c. reverse grant-in-aid -- money flows from states back to the federal government. d. project grant with tighter restrictions. e. a project grant with less federal support.

b. group of categorical or project grants.

Politically inactive individuals tend to be all of the following except a. low income. b. ideological. c. young. d. nonwhite. e. A and B.

b. ideological.

The disadvantage of the new primary system that has developed in the United States is that it a. increases the role of rank-and-file party members to exert an influence over the party's candidate choice b. increases the chances that the party will nominate a candidate who is unappealing to the average voter c. decreases the opportunity for those with strong policy preferences to play a role in the party d. decreases the likelihood that one party or the other will gain control of the presidency for several terms e. increases the likelihood of interest groups supporting candidates who are appealing to single-issue voters

b. increases the chances that the party will nominate a candidate who is unappealing to the average voter

Separation of power and federalism were two key principles in the framing of the U.S. Constitution. These two principles are related in that each a. requires a strong central government elected by a popular majority. b. involves a system of checks and balances in which power is dispersed. c. grants power to a political elite that acts on behalf of the people. d. reflects a need for "political virtue" -- frugality, industry, temperance, and simplicity. e. implies that it is sometimes necessary to exercise unrestrained power.

b. involves a system of checks and balances in which power is dispersed.

A city council representative faces an important vote on how much, if any, money to spend on a new school. The representative relies on a poll of her constituents to make a decision. This is in keeping with the form of politics known as a. participatory politics. b. majoritarian politics. c. pluralist politics. d. elitist politics. e. reciprocal politics.

b. majoritarian politics.

When a locality is required by federal law to do something, regardless of whether it receives federal funding for that purpose, this duty is called a a. condition of aid. b. mandate. c. string-attached edict. d. court decision. e. pontification.

b. mandate.

Political participation encompasses all of the following activities except a. voting. b. paying your taxes. c. writing your congressional representative. d. signing a petition. e. watching a political debate.

b. paying your taxes.

The framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is: a. educating citizens b. protecting individual property rights c. protecting new immigrants from persecution d. expanding the borders of the nation e. ensuring that anyone accused of a crime has the right to legal representation

b. protecting individual property rights

One way the "motor-voter" bill makes registering to vote easier is by allowing a. mail-in registration with income tax payment for all car owners. b. registration with driver's license application. c. all state welfare offices to register applicants. d. automatic registration for all car owners. e. rewards for car owners who register.

b. registration with driver's license application.

Between 1915 and 1925, the size of the eligible voting population in the United States almost doubled. The main reason for this was that a. the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. b. women were given the right to vote. c. the grandfather clause that denied voting to blacks was ruled unconstitutional. d. literacy tests for blacks were ruled unconstitutional. e. voter registration laws were abolished in seventeen states.

b. women were given the right to vote.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House of Representatives and the Senate? a. Only the Speaker of the House can initiate the legislative process by proposing bills Only the majority leader can initiate the legislative process by proposing bills b. Members can delay the policy-making process by invoking cloture Members can delay the policy-making process through the use of a filibuster c. Members are elected by constituents in a local district based on population Members are elected by constituents of an entire state d. Members serve six-year terms Members serve two-year terms

c House of Representatives: Members are elected by constituents in a local district based on population Senate: Members are elected by constituents of an entire state

Which of the following statements about the firing of federal employees is true? a) Only bureaucrats who were appointed by the president can be fired by him/her b) Only employees in the competitive/civil service can be fired c) Employees must fail the "three strikes" policy before they can be fired d) Most bureaucrats cannot be fired e) Most bureaucrats can be fired quite easily

c) Employees must fail the "three strikes" policy before they can be fired

Congress has exerted the greatest influence on the operation of a federal agency by doing which of the following? a) Requiring the agency to participate in inter-agency task forces b) Dismissing an agency head who disagrees with congressional priorities c) Reviewing the annual budget appropriations for the agency d) Passing "sunset" legislation that terminates programs after a certain period e) Asking the Supreme Court for advisory opinions on agency regulations

c) Reviewing the annual budget appropriations for the agency

All of the following help to explain the president's difficulty in controlling Cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT a) Agencies often have political support from interest groups b) Agency staff often have information and technical expertise that the president and presidential advisors lack c) The president can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate d) Civil servants who remain in their jobs through changes of administration develop loyalties to their agencies e) Congress is a competitor for influence over the bureaucracy

c) The president can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate

If you worked in a senior position on a successful presidential campaign and the new president then wished to have your advice while in office, you would most likely be appointed to a) the competitive/civil service b) Congress c) a Schedule C/political position d) a federal union e) a federal commission

c) a Schedule C/political position

The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 (which ended the 16-day 2013 government shutdown) illustrates that a) unified governments rarely accomplish anything of note b) a divided government never could have produced this legislation c) a divided government can produce legislation d) the president can override a divided government with an executive order e) the Senate has greater power to pass legislation than does the House of Representatives

c) a divided government can produce legislation

The federal government receives most of its revenues from a) excise taxes b) corporate income taxes c) personal income taxes d) sales taxes e) Social Security taxes

c) personal income taxes

Which of the following is NOT one of the modern challenges to democracy, as described in the textbook? a. Escalating campaign costs b. Increased complexity of issues c. A global economy d. Limited participation in government e. Diverse political interests

c. A global economy

Among the following groups, the group that is most likely to hold political views that are similar to Anglo-whites are a. blacks. b. Hispanics. c. Asian-Americans. d. Latinos. e. Mexican-Americans

c. Asian-Americans.

Which of the following would result from direct election of presidential candidates? a. A national primary would be established b. Party nominating conventions would be abolished c. Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election d. The Electoral College would become more influential in the electoral process e. Third-party candidates would have less chance of winning the election

c. Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election

Party realignments most often occur as a result of strong disagreements over real issues. An example of an issue that caused a realignment is the a. War of 1812, which split the Federalist party in half b. gold crisis of 1898, which gave rise to the Socialist and Populist parties c. Great Depression in 1932, which lured many groups to the Democratic party d. World War I, which led to electing Republican presidents e. The 2008 election, which led to the Democrats taking control of all three branches of government

c. Great Depression in 1932, which lured many groups to the Democratic party

Which of the following statements about incumbent senators running for re-election is correct? a. The senators with the best chances of re-election are those who have served the longest b. The amount of money spent by a challenger has little bearing on an incumbent's re-election bid c. Incumbent senators are less likely to be re-elected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives d. An incumbent senator is equally likely to be re-elected or defeated e. The most important factor influencing the re-election chances of incumbent senators is whether they belong to the president's party

c. Incumbent senators are less likely to be re-elected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the voter turnout rate in the United States: a. It is high because of the large numbers of elective offices b. It is significantly higher among men than among women c. It is lower than in most other Western democracies d. It increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote e. It has been steady over the last 30 years

c. It is lower than in most other Western democracies

The Founders did not include in the U.S. Constitution an explicit statement of state powers but added it later in the a. Second Amendment. b. Seventh Amendment. c. Tenth Amendment. d. Fourteenth Amendment. e. None of the above.

c. Tenth Amendment.

Which of the following best defines the constitutional interpretation of federalism? a. The federal government and the states each have separate and mutually exclusive roles and responsibilities; neither controls the other b. The states have some powers reserved to them which they may exercise if the Supreme Court permits c. The federal government and the states have separate but overlapping powers; where these powers conflict the federal government prevails d. The states may only exercise those powers delegated to them by Congress e. The federal government may exercise only those powers specifically enumerated in the Constitution

c. The federal government and the states have separate but overlapping powers; where these powers conflict the federal government prevails

Which statement most accurately describes the party loyalties of African-Americans? a. They are generally Republican. b. They are generally Democrats. c. They are overwhelmingly Democrats. d. They are overwhelmingly Republican. e. They are usually independents.

c. They are overwhelmingly Democrats.

The primary source of legitimate political authority in the United States is the a. Bill of Rights. b. will of the people. c. U.S. Constitution. d. concept of civil liberty. e. notion of civil rights.

c. U.S. Constitution.

Which of the following best describes a trend in the line graph above? a. Voter turnout in midterm elections increased substantially between 1982 and 2010. b. Voter turnout in presidential elections generally increased between 1940 and 1948. c. Voter turnout in midterm elections generally decreased between 1966 and 2014. d. Voter turnout in presidential elections consistently decreased between 1972 and 2008.

c. Voter turnout in midterm elections generally decreased between 1966 and 2014.

Those who possess a disproportionate share of political power are defined as a. capitalists. b. majoritarians. c. a political elite. d. officeholders. e. centralists

c. a political elite.

The primary reason for the current existence of only two major political parties in the United States is that a. the Constitution puts severe restrictions on other parties b. third parties are usually far to the right or left, and Americans are mostly moderates c. a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive d. voters naturally think of themselves as either liberals or conservatives e. presidential electors can only vote for two candidates

c. a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions designed to: a. limit the importation of foreign manufactured goods b. increase the economic importance of the agrarian sector relative to that of the manufacturing sector c. increase the economic powers of the central government d. expand the states' powers to regulate their own commerce with foreign countries e. guarantee the states a greater role in economic policy-making

c. increase the economic powers of the central government

The importance of Shay's rebellion to the development of the United States Constitution was that it: a. revealed the necessity of both adding the Bill of Rights to the b. Constitution and creating a new system of checks and balances demonstrated the intensity of anti-ratification sentiment within the thirteen states c. indicated that a strong, constitutionally designated national government was needed to protect property and maintain order d. convinced the delegates attending the Constitutional Convention to accept the Connecticut plan e. reinforced the idea that slavery should be outlawed in the new Constitution

c. indicated that a strong, constitutionally designated national government was needed to protect property and maintain order

Perhaps the most obvious effect of federalism in the United States has been to a. centralize the government. b. prevent states from blocking national interests. c. mobilize political activity. d. raise the cost of organized political activity. e. increase conflict among elites.

c. mobilize political activity.

One major difference between incumbents and challengers in the financing of their campaigns is that incumbents usually rely a. much less on funding from interest groups or super PACs b. on a combination of public and private funds c. much more on funding from interest groups or super PACs d. entirely on public funds e. entirely on their own money

c. much more on funding from interest groups or super PACs

The Great Compromise finally allocated representation on the basis of a. population in both houses. b. equality, in both houses. c. population in the House and statehood equality in the Senate. d. equality in the House and population in the Senate. e. None of the above.

c. population in the House and statehood equality in the Senate.

Party identification among voters is one way of gauging strength of a party. Another way of gauging strength is the a. number of parties that appear on the ballot in a national election b. use of a party label or symbol on ballots in municipal elections c. strength of the organization that recruits and campaigns for candidates d. protection offered to individual parties by the U.S. Constitution e. amount of attention given to parties by the media

c. strength of the organization that recruits and campaigns for candidates

The Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution was intended to limit the power of a. state governments over citizens. b. citizens to amend the U.S. Constitution. c. the federal government. d. legislatures to amend the U.S. Constitution. e. All of the above.

c. the federal government.

Most amendments to the U.S. Constitution have been ratified by the vote of a. ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states. b. two-thirds of the members of both houses of Congress. c. three-fourths of the state legislatures. d. two-thirds of the representatives to a national convention. e. one-half of the state legislatures.

c. three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Political elites/activists are a. always conservative in their views b. always liberal in their views c. usually more ideological than are average citizens d. usually more optimistic about the future of the country than are average citizens e. usually supporters of minority rights

c. usually more ideological than are average citizens

Cabinet members often do not have a dominant influence on presidential decision-making because a) Cabinet members generally maintain close independent ties to Congress b) Cabinet members generally view their position only as a stepping-stone to further their own political ambitions c) Cabinet members are not permitted to disagree with the President d) Presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual Cabinet-level agencies e) only half of all Cabinet members can be members of the President's party

d) Presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual Cabinet-level agencies

Of the following, the group in closest physical and political proximity to the president is the a) Executive Office of the President b) State Department c) Cabinet members d) White House staff e) the press corps

d) White House staff

Congressional oversight of the bureaucracy involves all of the following EXCEPT a) congressional statutes b) budgetary appropriations c) committee investigations d) bills of attainder e) B and C

d) bills of attainder

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was designed primarily to give: a) Congress access to information from private citizens b) police access to information from criminal suspects c) the courts access to information from reporters d) citizens access to information from the executive branch e) Congress access to information from the executive branch

d) citizens access to information from the executive branch

Veto power and executive privilege give a president both a way of blocking action and a a) route of appeal to the people b) means of affecting the party platform c) "trump card" to play with the media d) means of forcing Congress to bargain e) means of overriding the influence of special interest groups

d) means of forcing Congress to bargain

In general, independent regulatory commissions are created primarily for the purpose of a) supporting and helping Cabinet-level departments b) proposing policy alternatives during periods of crisis c) regulating the activities of other bureaucratic agencies to ensure they act in a fair and objective manner d) regulating certain industries to protect the public interest e) increasing the president's patronage powers

d) regulating certain industries to protect the public interest

Politicians have a strong tendency to get re-elected by a) decreasing taxes b) lowering the deficit c) cutting expenditures d) spending money on specific, popular programs that benefit their constituents e) raising taxes

d) spending money on specific, popular programs that benefit their constituents

The usefulness to the president of having Cabinet members as political advisors is undermined by the fact that a) the president has little latitude in choosing Cabinet members b) Cabinet members have no political support independent of the president c) Cabinet members are usually drawn from Congress and retain loyalties to Congress d) the loyalties of Cabinet members are often divided between the president and their own executive departments e) the Cabinet operates as a collective unit and individual members have no access to the president

d) the loyalties of Cabinet members are often divided between the president and their own executive departments

An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the president in the policymaking process is that bureaucrats a) control the budgetary process b) have an independence from the president that is guaranteed by the Constitution c) find it easier to marshal public support than does the president d) usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the president lacks e) have better access to the media than does the president

d) usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the president lacks

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of conservative and liberal views concerning social policy? a. The federal government should have a stronger role in shaping education The federal government should provide more funding for public schools b. Licensed gun-owners should be permitted to openly carry firearms in public The federal government should not conduct background checks for gun purchases c. Racial and gender considerations should be taken into account to promote diversity in workplace hiring decisions Job promotion should be based on skills and experience, not race or gender d. Individuals should not rely on government aid for their economic well-being The government should be responsible for helping to improve the economic position of low-income people

d. Conservative: Individuals should not rely on government aid for their economic well-being Liberal: The government should be responsible for helping to improve the economic position of low-income people

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on government? a. Favored a weak central government and strong state governments Favored a strong central government and weak state governments b. Believed the creation of a bill of rights was necessary Believed the creation of a bill of rights was not necessary c. Favored the legislative branch having more power than the executive Favored increasing the power of the national judiciary over the states d. Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms Believed only a small republic could best ensure protection of individual freedoms

d. Federalist: Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms Anti-Federalist: Believed only a small republic could best ensure protection of individual freedoms

A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter involving a corporation with which of the following people? a. A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant b. A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue c. A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation d. A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard e. A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue

d. A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard

According to recent trends, which of the following people would be MOST likely to vote? a. An eighteen-year-old college freshman because she just became eligible to vote b. A male when Hillary Clinton was running for the Democratic presidential nomination c. A father whose family receives welfare because he sees the direct benefits of government d. Donald Trump because he sees the direct financial consequences of his decision e. An African-American male because he sees few candidates like him in office

d. Donald Trump because he sees the direct financial consequences of his decision

"The Congress shall have power. . . to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers, and all other government powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." Interpretations of this clause have been central to attempts to define the nature of which of the following aspects of the United States political system? a. Republicanism b. Pluralism c. Due process of law d. Federalism e. Judicial review

d. Federalism

Which general area of policy is generally left up to the states? a. Foreign policy b. Military policy c. Relations among the several states d. Health and welfare e. Immigration

d. Health and welfare

Which of the following is true about divided party control of the presidency and Congress? a. It is a natural occurrence due to the constitutional system of checks and balances b. It rarely occurs in United States elections c. It promotes quick action by the president and Congress on such issues as the federal budget d. It reflects a frequent election pattern over the past four decades e. It results from the reapportionment of House seats after the decennial census

d. It reflects a frequent election pattern over the past four decades

Which of the following is an accurate statement about political participation in the United States today? a. a majority of Americans campaign for a candidate in each presidential election b. Over 75% of Americans vote in presidential elections c. People who participate in the political process are usually angry at government d. Similar proportions of eligible men and women vote in presidential elections e. People in their thirties or forties are less likely to be active in politics than are those aged 18 to 21

d. Similar proportions of eligible men and women vote in presidential elections

All the following are characteristics of marble cake federalism EXCEPT a .There are mingled responsibilities and blurred distinctions between the levels of government. b. The federal government becomes more intrusive in state affairs. c. There is a greater sharing of responsibilities between the federal and state levels. d. The national government exercises its power independently from state governments. e. There is greater cooperation between the federal and state governments.

d. The national government exercises its power independently from state governments.

Over the past 40 years, reforms of the presidential nomination process have had which of the following effects? a. The nomination process in both parties has become less democratic and open b. The number of African-American delegates at the Republican National Convention has grown substantially c. The number of candidates willing and able to seek the nomination has decreased dramatically d. The number of female and minority-group delegates at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions has grown substantially e. State and local party organizations have increased their control over the process

d. The number of female and minority-group delegates at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions has grown substantially

Which of the following statements about categorical grants is typically true? a. They have a high likelihood of presidential veto. b. They face severe opposition from interest groups. c. They have the support of the business community. d. They have the support of interest groups. e. They are likely to face opposition in the House of Representatives.

d. They have the support of interest groups.

When 18 to 21 year olds received the right to vote in 1971, in the 1972 national elections they did which of the following? a. Voted overwhelmingly for Republican candidates b. Voted overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates c. Voted overwhelmingly for radical candidates d. Turned out at a lower rate than the rest of the electorate e. Turned out at the same rate as the rest of the electorate

d. Turned out at a lower rate than the rest of the electorate

Liberty and individualism are two key elements of a. all Western democracies. b. all twentieth-century nations. c. most nations throughout history. d. U.S. political culture. e. European nations in the 1700s.

d. U.S. political culture.

An alternative developed by the federal government that places the primary fiscal responsibility on the states was a. Revenue sharing b. Project grants c. Formula grants d. Unfunded mandates e. Reimbursement grants

d. Unfunded mandates

"Voting is partly a matter of habit: the more frequently a person has voted in the past, the more likely she or he is to vote in the current election." All of the following support the observation above EXCEPT: a. Immediately after the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971 gave 18-to-21 year olds the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined b. Immediately after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 gave women the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined c. Immediately after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the participation rate of Black voters in the South was lower than that of White voters in the South d. Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group e. Newly naturalized citizens may need special inducements to vote

d. Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group

On which of the following indicators of democratic health does American democracy do poorly? a. Political equality b. Majority rule c. Minority rights d. Voter turnout e. Freedom of speech

d. Voter turnout

Today, a conservative would be more likely than a liberal to oppose a. a strong military presence abroad. b. deregulation of airlines. c. restrictions on a woman's right to abortion. d. a tax increase. e. the death penalty

d. a tax increase.

The experience with super PACs and Barack Obama/Mitt Romney's decision to bypass public funding in the 2012 election suggests that campaign finance laws a. are an effective way to minimize interest group participation b. are an effective way to reduce campaign spending c. facilitate coordination of efforts between candidates and groups d. are not likely to take money out of politics e. have restricted speech considerably

d. are not likely to take money out of politics

In The Federalist Papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions: a. should be nurtured by a free nation b. should play a minor role in any free nation c. are central to the creation of a free nation d. are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation e. are necessary to control the masses in a free nation

d. are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

Which of the following is the best example of devolution? a. the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law, which provides states with monetary incentives for meeting national educational guidelines b. the McCullough vs. Maryland case, which allowed the federal government to maintain a national bank c. civil rights legislation mandating that states not discriminate d. block grants, by which money from the national government is given to the states for discretionary use with broad guidelines e. the federal tax code, which provides deductions for local charities

d. block grants, by which money from the national government is given to the states for discretionary use with broad guidelines

Moderates fall to the ____________on the political spectrum a. right b. far left c. left d. center e. far right

d. center

Procedures such as the initiative and the referendum arose as efforts to give a. Congress a way of controlling the president b. party regulars a say in nominating candidates c. courts a system for prosecuting election fraud d. citizens a direct say in making laws e. governors more power in relation to legislatures

d. citizens a direct say in making laws

In our society, government officials should be accountable to the people. This principle is known as a. liberty. b. equality. c. civic duty. d. democracy. e. capitalism.

d. democracy.

One important feature of a federal system such as that in the United States is the fact that a. in matters of national concern -- for example, military spending -- state and local governments will make governing difficult. b. the cost of organized political activity will be higher than in a unitary system. c. most local programs such as welfare and taxation will be funded and regulated at the national level. d. different political groups pursuing different political purposes will come to power in different places. e. the political purposes of a small group will dominate from generation to generation.

d. different political groups pursuing different political purposes will come to power in different places.

In a federal system of government, political power is primarily a. vested in local governments b. vested in the regional governments c. vested in the central government d. divided between the central government and regional governments e. divided between regional governments and local governments

d. divided between the central government and regional governments

Individuals have power when they are able to a. get elected to office. b. be present at behind-the-scenes political meetings. c. serve their fellow human beings. d. get others to do what they want them to do. e. vote without being influenced by outside forces.

d. get others to do what they want them to do.

In addition to seeking technical information from lobbyists, public officials often look to them for a. help in persuading uncommitted voters b. assistance in their personal lives c. legal expertise d. help with assessing public opinion on particular issues e. inside tips on campaigning slogans

d. help with assessing public opinion on particular issues

The primary purpose of legislative ratings/scorecards used by various interest groups is to a. inform the general electorate of major issues b. compare the performances of different legislators c. provide a cover for illegal influence peddling d. influence the behavior of legislators e. guide administrative officials in the interpretation of federal regulations and statutes

d. influence the behavior of legislators

Even though minor parties have had little success in national elections, they have played an important role in many elections by a. forcing runoffs that sharpened the policy positions b. making the cost of running for the presidency much higher c. encouraging dissident factions to remain in the Democratic or Republican Party d. influencing the public policy positions of the two major parties e. removing barriers in state election laws

d. influencing the public policy positions of the two major parties

The power of the people -- popular majority rule -- was limited by the U.S. Constitution in several ways, including a. establishing a directly elected House of Representatives. b. granting law-making powers to the judicial branch of government. c. concentrating political power in a single, supreme legislature. d. making the amending of the U.S. Constitution relatively difficult. e. removing all formal titles from the heads of government.

d. making the amending of the U.S. Constitution relatively difficult.

To win the presidential nomination, as opposed to the general election, candidates generally present themselves as a. more conservative b. more liberal c. more liberal if Republican, more conservative if Democrat d. more liberal if Democrat, more conservative if Republican e. moderate

d. more liberal if Democrat, more conservative if Republican

Political socialization is the process by which: a. the use of private property is regulated by the government b. governments communicate with each other c. public attitudes toward government are measured and reported d. political values are passed to the next generation e. children are trained for successful occupations

d. political values are passed to the next generation

An example of an independent political expenditure by a PAC or super PAC would be a a. television debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters b. direct mailing of a letter, under a candidate's signature, stating the candidate's position on oil c. visual that shows a candidate helping disadvantaged children d. television spot that attacks one candidate's stand on defense without mentioning the other candidate e. direct financial contribution to a candidate

d. television spot that attacks one candidate's stand on defense without mentioning the other candidate

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established in the Constitution? a. a requirement that states lower their legal drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving funds through federal highway grant programs b. media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period c. the Supreme Court's ability to overturn a lower court decision d. the requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate e. the election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election

d. the requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate

Which of the following is the MOST true of government corporations? a) They tend to have larger budgets than Cabinet departments b) They are directly supervised by Cabinet departments c) They provide a product or service directly to the public, and produce a profit d) They are insulated from contact with interest groups e) They tend to be more free from presidential control than are Cabinet departments

e) They tend to be more free from presidential control than are Cabinet departments

All of the following are attempts at lowering the nation's deficit EXCEPT a) the attempt to pass a balanced budget constitutional amendment b) changes in the current welfare system c) the proposal to institute means-testing in order to receive Social Security d) the proposal to institute means-testing for Medicare e) eliminate the Cabinet departments and combine their functions with other existing agencies

e) eliminate the Cabinet departments and combine their functions with other existing agencies

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? b) President, Speaker of the House, Senate majority leader c) interest group, Senate majority leader, Speaker of the House d) executive department, House majority leader, president e) executive department, congressional committee, interest group

e) executive department, congressional committee, interest group

A president may persuade obstinate members of Congress to vote for a particular bill by a) having members who oppose the bill transferred to unpopular committees b) denying campaign funds to members who oppose the bill c) threatening to deny re-nomination to members who oppose the bill d) threatening to line-item veto part of a different bill that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress e) making a direct appeal to the public through the mass media

e) making a direct appeal to the public through the mass media

Many people say that the greatest source of presidential power lies in the realm of a) the U.S. Constitution b) the interpretation of laws c) the execution/implementation of laws d) the formulation of foreign policy e) politics and public opinion

e) politics and public opinion

Congress believes the War Powers Act checks the president's power by a) prohibiting him from issuing executive agreements that engage the country in war b) increasing the power of Congress to control the military budget c) preventing him from sending troops into crisis situations without prior congressional approval d) mandating that Congress approve the president's decision to use weapons of mass destruction e) requiring troops to be withdrawn in 60 days unless Congress declares war or issues an extension

e) requiring troops to be withdrawn in 60 days unless Congress declares war or issues an extension

Over the past 20 years, which of the following areas has shown the greatest increase in budgetary spending? a) military/defense spending b) federal operations c) federal grants d) discretionary spending e) spending on entitlement programs

e) spending on entitlement programs

In trying to influence legislation, the president is generally more successful than congressional leaders in a) using the legislative schedule to political advantage b) enforcing party discipline c) satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process d) effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion e) using the media to set the policy agenda

e) using the media to set the policy agenda

Which of the following generalizations about group voting tendencies is true? a. Jewish voters tend to vote Republican b. Protestant voters tend to be more liberal than Roman Catholic on economic issues c. More women than men identify themselves as Republicans d. Rural voters are more likely to support Democratic candidates than are urban voters e. African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party

e. African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party

Which of the following statements about political action committees (PACs) is true? a. PACs may give unlimited contributions to the election campaigns of individual candidates b. PAC spending has not kept pace with inflation c. PAC activity is limited to direct contributions to candidates d. Social issue groups are the source of most PAC dollars e. PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds

e. PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds

The pluralist view holds all of the following EXCEPT a. No single elite has a monopoly on political resources. b. Policies are the result of a complex pattern of shifting alliances. c. Political resources are not distributed equally. d. Political elites are divided. e. Political elites do not respond to the interests of their followers.

e. Political elites do not respond to the interests of their followers

The U.S. is expected to have a "minority majority" population by 2050. What does this mean? a. Hispanic Americans will outnumber the Caucasian population b. Female conservatives will outnumber male conservatives c. Asian Americans will outnumber Hispanic Americans d. Voters under the age of 30 will outnumber senior citizens e. The minority populations will collectively outnumber the Caucasian population

e. The minority populations will collectively outnumber the Caucasian population

Today, a person wanting to win an election will MOST often seek the support of a. a political machine b. issue-oriented clubs c. sponsored parties d. party-based societies e. a personal following

e. a personal following

All of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States except: a. inequality in government services across subnational entities b. opportunities for experimentation in government programs c. multiple points of access for interest groups d. decentralization of political conflict e. a strict division of power among levels of government

e. a strict division of power among levels of government

The most powerful determinant of political participation, other than education and information, is a. race. b. gender. c. employment. d. region e. age.

e. age.

Examples of direct democracy include programs of citizen participation and a. interest group participation. b. guerrilla warfare. c. competitive elections. d. political party centralism. e. community control over decision-making

e. community control over decision-making

Representative democracy allows individuals to gain political power through a. media campaigns. b. quadrennial elections. c. nonpartisan elections. d. reciprocal elections. e. competitive elections.

e. competitive elections.

According to Tocqueville, egalitarianism in the United States involves a. self-interest. b. moral precepts. c. religious commitment d. economic equality for all classes e. equality of opportunity in the absence of a monarchy

e. equality of opportunity in the absence of a monarchy

Religious diversity in the United States was largely the result of the absence of a(n) a. powerful army. b. bill of rights. c. strong central government. d. established aristocracy. e. established religion.

e. established religion.

All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution except: a. commissioning officers in the armed forces b. addressing the Congress on the state of the union c. receiving ambassadors d. granting pardons for federal offenses e. forming new cabinet-level departments

e. forming new cabinet-level departments

Formal authority refers to a right to exercise power that is derived from a(n) a. official ceremony. b. majority vote. c. consensus. d. popular consensus e. governmental office.

e. governmental office.

Within both major parties, it is the ____________level that has most obviously declined a. national b. regional c. state d.district e. grassroots

e. grassroots

One way that blacks were prevented from voting prior to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was by requiring them to a. meet qualifications found in Article III of the Constitution. b. register six months in advance of an election. c. become U.S. citizens. d. memorize the Bill of Rights. e. pass a literacy test

e. pass a literacy test

A coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who should rule and how is referred to as a. political efficacy. b. public opinion. c. pragmatism. d. realism. e. political ideology.

e. political ideology.

The primary function of political action committees (PACs) or super PACs is to a. serve as fundraising organizations for challengers b. provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation c. consult with the president regarding domestic policy d. encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate e. raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

e. raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

The Supreme Court case of Buckley vs. Valeo (1976) a. declared the Federal Election Campaign Act unconstitutional. b. required PACs to register with the Federal Election Commission. c. declared the Federal Election Commission, as it existed, unconstitutional. d. limited the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaigns. e. ruled that spending money was a form of free speech.

e. ruled that spending money was a form of free speech.

Most of the states that initiated same-day voter registration (on Election Day) have experienced a. a continuing voter turnout decline. b. a major increase in voter turnout. c. no change at all in voter turnout. d. a major increase in turnout of Democratic voters. e. some improvements in voter turnout.

e. some improvements in voter turnout.

If the United States were operating today under the Articles of Confederation, issues such as the effect of acid rain on the environment would be handled by a. Congress. b. the executive branch. c. the Supreme Court. d. popular vote. e. the individual states.

e. the individual states.

The most common form of political activity undertaken in the United States is: a. lobbying to influence decisions by public officials b. campaigning for candidates for office c. contributing money to a political party d. voting in local elections e. voting in presidential elections

e. voting in presidential elections

Some people argue the culture war is about a. which ethnic group governs. b. what kind of country we ought to live in. c. how much money should be spent on social programs. d. the ethics of foreign policy. e. which groups deserve to influence policy.

e. which groups deserve to influence policy.

In the 2012 election, Barack Obama won the majority of votes of all of the following groups EXCEPT a. women b. Hispanic voters c. young voters d. lower-income voters e. white voters

e. white voters