Combo Govt. Exam 1 Cards

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Congress was attempting to strike a balance between the need for secrecy in national security and the right of individuals to know what their government is doing when it passed the ______ Act. A) Sedition B) Morill C) Freedom of Information D) Secrecy in Government E) USA PATRIOT

Which of the following is NOT true of government under the Articles of Confederation?

Congress was overshadowed by the president.

During the six years under the Articles of Confederation,

Congress could not tax or conscript citizens.

During the nineteenth century, party machines depended heavily on ______ in order to reward loyal party supporters. A) 527 committees B) patronage C) soft money D) caucuses E) hard money

If George W. Bush won the plurality of votes in Texas during the 2000 election, and Texas had thirty representatives in the House of Representatives, how many electoral votes from Texas did Bush win? A) 0 B) 30 C) 32 D) 44 E) 50

If I decide to support a candidate because I see that he or she is the front-runner in a poll, I become an example of A) the bellwether effect. B) the illusion of saliency. C) the bandwagon effect. D) the "bounce" effect. E) push polling.

If a citizen votes for a candidate because he or she approves of the candidate's past record, it is called A) prospective voting. B) retrospective voting. C) poll testing. D) ticket splitting. E) recall voting.

The "virtual fourth branch of government" refers to A) political parties. B) state governments. C) the bureaucracy. D) interest groups. E) government contracting.

The 1787 convention to draft a new constitution was held in A) Boston. B) New York City. C) Philadelphia. D) Washington, D.C. E) Charlottesville, Virginia.

The political power of Asian Americans has recently been hindered because of the A) diversity of national backgrounds and cultures. B) political apathy among Asian American voters. C) disenfranchisement of Asian American voters in the 1990s. D) lack of a sufficiently large population for bloc voting. E) absence of organizations working to mobilize Asian Americans.

The periodic adjustment of benefits or wages that takes into account the increased cost of living is called A) means testing. B) indexing. C) graphing. D) economic tabulating. E) inflation.

The phrase stare decisis means A) "let the decision stand." B) "the state will decide." C) "the decision is void." D) "the state must be decisive." E) "the decision is made."

The policy of striking a nation that you fear might be contemplating hostile actions is called A) diplomacy. B) appeasement. C) détente. D) preemption. E) deterrence.

Which is the best example of a concurrent power under the federal constitution? A) the power to declare war B) the power to coin money C) the power to regulate commercial activity D) the power to impeach federal officials E) the power to tax imports and exports

Which media source is most critical in setting news agendas? A) newspapers B) television C) radio D) the Internet E) magazines

Which of the following Supreme Court cases limited federal power? A) United States v. Lopez and Printz v. United States B) Gibbons v. Ogden and McCulloch v. Maryland C) Gibbons v. Ogden and Brown v. Board of Education D) McCulloch v. Maryland and Brown v. Board of Education E) Gibbons v. Ogden and Roe v. Wade

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton White House's attempts to influence public opinion? A) The Clinton White House used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives. B) The Clinton White House made no attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives. C) Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration. D) The Clinton White House almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts. E) Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts.

General revenue sharing

the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula. Revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments. (page 97)

Establishment clause

the First Amendment clause that says that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' This law means that a 'wall of separation' exists between church and state. (page 119)

Exclusionary rule

the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. (page 134)

Political efficacy

the ability to influence government and politics. (page 8)

Great Compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population. (page 46)

Three-Fifths Compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as three-fifths of a person. (page 48)

Gerrymandering

the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party. (page 173)

Separation of powers

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making. (page 50)

Which of the following is a major limit on majoritarianism in the United States?

the fact that most of the public pays attention to only a small number of issues

Bill of Rights

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 116)

Bill of Rights

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 50)

The Great Compromise dealt with the issue of

the nature of state representation in Congress.

Judicial review

the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison. (page 53)

Electoral college

the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president. (page 50)

Preemption

the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack. (page 94)

States' rights

the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government. This principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War. (page 87)

Selective incorporation

the process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments. (page 117)

Miranda rule

the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona, that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel. (page 139)

Due process of law

the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state governments. (page 133)

Eminent domain

the right of government to take private property for public use. (page 139)

Right to privacy

the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail free access to birth control and abortions. (page 143)

Dual federalism

the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments. (page 82)

Pluralism

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation. (page 16)

Discrimination

the use of any unreasonable and unjust criterion of exclusion. (page 157)

Federalists

those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 56)

Antifederalists

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 56)

Which of the following forms of government admits to no limits on its power?

totalitarianism

Constitutional government

a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government. (page 13)

Authoritarian government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions. (page 13)

Totalitarian government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it. (page 13)

Democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials. (page 13)

Direct democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies. (page 15)

Intermediate scrutiny

a test used by the Supreme Court in gender discrimination cases that places the burden of proof partially on the government and partially on the challengers to show that the law in question is unconstitutional. (page 178)

Strict scrutiny

a test used by the Supreme Court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights that places the burden of proof on the government rather than on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional. (page 165)

Cooperative federalism

a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities. (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals. Also known as 'intergovernmental cooperation.' (page 92)

Libel

a written statement made in 'reckless disregard of the truth' that is considered damaging to a victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 127)

How many times in American history has the presidential candidate who won the most popular votes not been selected by the electoral college? A) 0 B) 3 C) 5 D) 8 E) 10

"Astroturf lobbying" refers to the practice whereby A) members of Congress are influenced by being given free tickets to sporting events or other gifts. B) a special interest group simulating a grassroots movement works with well-organized campaigns and petitions. C) members of Congress are influenced by large campaign donations. D) lobbyists begin to specialize, with narrow areas of professional expertise. E) a special interest group pretends to represent the public interest.

"Due process of law" in the United States is generally defined by the A) First, Second, Third, and Fourth amendments. B) First, Second, Ninth, and Tenth amendments. C) Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth amendments. D) Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth amendments. E) Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth amendments.

"King Caucus" refers to A) the significance of Iowa as the first caucus of the presidential campaign. B) the importance of caucuses, not primaries, for Barack Obama's 2008 Democratic nomination. C) the use of each party's congressional caucus to nominate presidential candidates during the early nineteenth century. D) Daniel Webster, who had unrivaled influence over the presidential nominating process during the 1820s and 1830s. E) the fact that caucuses are inherently undemocratic methods of selecting nominees for national political office.

"Me too" Republicanism refers to A) the tendency of Republican politicians during the New Deal to support popular programs such as Social Security rather than advocate alternative policies. B) the tendency of southern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws apply equally to the northern and southern states. C) the tendency of northern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws favor the northern states over the southern states. D) an ideology that argues for more representative government and less direct democracy. E) an ideology that argues a strong federal government should promote economic equality.

The office of the presidency was established by ______ of the Constitution. A) Article I B) Article II C) Article III D) Article IV E) Article V

According to political scientist Terry Moe, why does Congress suffer from a collective-action problem in the face of presidential power? A) Individual members of Congress are more concerned with the substantive impact of presidential action on their constituents rather than the general implications of presidential powers. B) The House and the Senate must work in tandem but constantly find any unity impossible. C) The Constitution gives the president the ability to resist any congressional oversight not supported by two-thirds of members. D) Members of Congress are often uninformed about the actions of the president. E) The size and diversity of Congress make cooperation difficult.

According to the text, daily Internet users who participate in society and politics through online activities are called A) 2.0 participators. B) online activists. C) Internet junkies. D) digital citizens. E) Web entrepreneurs.

Which of the following statements provides the most accurate description of democracy as practiced in the United States?

The people govern through elected representatives.

According to the text, democracy functions best when A) all citizens are members of a political party. B) a majority of citizens vote in every election. C) citizens are informed. D) all candidates for office are highly educated. E) all candidates for office are wealthy.

According to the text, the United States did not become a fully democratic nation until A) 1790, when all thirteen states ratified the Constitution. B) the 1860s, after the Civil War. C) the 1820s, when property requirements for voting were dropped. D) the early twentieth century, when women were granted suffrage. E) the 1960s, when the right of African Americans to vote was enforced by federal laws.

According to the text, what are the three most common ways for a president to expand his base of power? A) party support, popular mobilization, and administrative control B) congressional mandate, judicial appointments, and constitutional amendments C) referendums, initiatives, and litigation D) fund-raising, advertising, and logrolling E) gerrymandering, appropriations, and oversight of state governments

Federalism was invented in

America in 1787.

Articles of Confederation

America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789. (page 42)

Necessary and proper clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws 'necessary and proper' to carry out its expressed powers. (page 77)

According to the text, what is the goal of politics? A) to have a say in a government's leadership, organization, and policies B) to get as much power as possible in order to serve one's own interests C) to construct a perfect constitutional order D) to construct a political system that is conducive to economic growth E) to construct a political system that provides as many people as possible with the chance to participate

According to the text, which of the following does not describe the United Nations? A) is a very large and unwieldy institution B) has few powers C) has no armed forces D) lacks enforcement power to implement its rules and resolutions E) The United States never contributes to the United Nations' peacekeeping efforts.

According to the text, which of the following is not a necessary part of the knowledge a citizen must possess? A) the candidates running for office and their policy proposals B) the structures of government C) the political process D) democratic principles E) the economic interests of other citizens

According to the text, which of the following is not an important influence on the legislative agenda of Congress? A) constituents B) lobbyists C) the president D) the federal courts E) party leadership

According to the text, which of the following is not an influential interest group affecting American foreign policy? A) organized ethnic groups B) economic interest groups C) diplomats from foreign nations D) human rights interest groups E) environmental groups

According to the text, which sector of society did not have interests that were important to colonial politics? A) New England merchants B) small farmers C) slaves D) Royalists loyal to Britain E) southern planters

According to the text, why is it difficult to lobby for the interests of poor children? A) There are no longer enough poor children to make a difference. B) Children cannot vote. C) There are no interest groups devoted to poor children. D) American political values tend to discount the needs of youth. E) Most poor children live in foreign countries.

Adam Smith's theory of ______ argues that many individual economic transactions come together to create a greater good for all. A) rational expectations B) the prisoner's dilemma C) the invisible hand D) trickle-down economics E) collective action

A runoff election is likely to occur when A) there are only two candidates running in the election. B) there are more than two candidates running in the election. C) there is only one candidate running in the election. D) turnout in the election is very high. E) turnout in the election is very low.

A senator or representative running for re-election is called the A) constituent. B) incumbent. C) elector. D) trustee. E) delegate.

A service that a person needs but is usually unable to provide for him- or herself individually is called a(n) A) public good. B) cultural commodity. C) oligarchy. D) entitlement. E) selective benefit.

A significant initiative set forth by Lyndon Johnson was A) the New Deal. B) the war on terrorism. C) Prohibition. D) the Great Society. E) the Great Leap Forward.

A state government's authority to regulate the safety, health, and morals of its citizens is called ______ power. A) police B) reserved C) concurrent D) supremacy E) implied

A wealthy businessperson who is very liberal is an example of A) the fact that group memberships always fully explain all of an individual's political views. B) the fact that group memberships never fully explain all of an individual's political views. C) the power of the bandwagon effect. D) the negative consequences of the spiral of silence. E) the impact of political efficacy on political attitudes.

A woman's constitutional right to an abortion was established in A) Mapp v. Ohio (1961). B) Gideon v. Wainwright (1963). C) Griswold v. Connecticut (1965). D) Miranda v. Arizona (1966). E) Roe v. Wade (1973).

Under the U.S. Constitution, members of the U.S. House of Representatives have a ________ term, members of the U.S. Senate have a(n) ________ term, and the president has a ________ term.

2 year; 6 year; 4 year

At the worst depths of the Great Depression, ________ percent of the nation's work force was unemployed.

A writ of habeas corpus declares that A) the government must show a legal cause for holding someone in detention. B) the government cannot send a defendant to stand trial in a geographically distant jurisdiction. C) a defendant in a felony trial must receive assistance from legal counsel. D) capital punishment can be neither cruel nor unusual. E) the government cannot search premises without a warrant issued by a judge.

Elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. (also known as the necessary and proper clause), which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws 'necessary and proper' to carry them out. (page 51)

Accidental mobilization occurs when A) people are mistakenly contacted by a political party on Election Day. B) individuals are exposed to political information that they did not explicitly seek out. C) a candidate makes a verbal gaffe that leads new groups of people to vote in an election. D) turnout in a midterm congressional election is much higher than analysts predict. E) interest groups, rather than political parties, mobilize the majority of voters in an election.

According to historian Charles Beard, the framers of the Constitution were most concerned with A) establishing principles of good government. B) pursuing military glory and imperialism. C) promoting their economic interests. D) creating a religious community. E) creating a form of government that maximized popular sovereignty.

According to many analysts, the spurt of economic growth in 2003 illustrates that A) the federal government can always produce large levels of economic growth if it makes the right decisions regarding deficit spending. B) inflation is always a problem that government should attempt to solve. C) inflation is not a problem that government should attempt to solve. D) some kinds of public investment, such as military spending on wars, can produce economic growth as a byproduct of pursuing other, more central objectives. E) public investment always reduces economic growth and should, therefore, be eliminated.

A "certiorari pool" describes the A) computerized lottery system by which the Supreme Court selects its cases each year. B) practice by which Supreme Court law clerks work together to evaluate each petition. C) method used to appoint the chief justice. D) nickname for the water fountain in the courtyard of the Supreme Court building. E) pool of applicants seeking appointment to the federal judiciary.

A "safe district" is A) a district where a majority of voters identify as independents. B) a district where a majority of voters identify with their member of Congress's party. C) a district that is not likely to be the target of a terrorist attack. D) a district that has a crime rate that is lower than the national average. E) a district that includes a military base.

A PAC can contribute ______ to any candidate for federal office, provided it contributes to at least five different federal candidates each year. A) $500 B) $5,000 C) $50,000 D) $500,000 E) $5,000,000

A ______ grant requires state and local governments to submit proposals to the federal government and compete for funding. A) Pell B) formula C) project D) federal E) contest

A ______ is a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for powers expressly delegated to a national government. A) republic B) confederation C) democracy D) bicameral state E) unitary state

A ______ nation is one with unstable leadership, whose policies are driven by ideology rather than by economic or human costs and benefits. A) rational B) rogue C) sovereign D) nonsovereign E) terrorist

A frequent cause of measurement error in polls is due to A) unresponsiveness. B) poorly worded questions. C) push polling. D) the increased use of cell phones. E) sampling error.

A party activist is an individual who A) attends every social function that a political party stages. B) writes favorable news reports for the national media. C) commits acts of civil disobedience when asked to by a political party. D) not only votes, but also contributes time, energy, effort, and financial resources to party affairs. E) formally declares their membership with a political party when registering to vote.

A party's ______ contains its philosophy, principles, and policy positions. A) caucus B) convention C) platform D) machine E) primary

A proposed piece of legislation is called a A) bill. B) referendum. C) proposal. D) cloture. E) filibuster.

A recent controversy that has tested the constitutional definition of "search and seizure" has been A) a prohibition against voluntary suicides. B) mandatory drug testing. C) employers reading employees' e-mail messages. D) a mandatory waiting period for purchasing firearms. E) attempts to restrict access to abortions.

After the election of 2004, President George W. Bush announced that ______ would be the centerpiece of his domestic policy. A) tax reform B) education C) Social Security reform D) land management E) war on terrorism

________ initially proposed that Congress charter a national bank.

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton argued that the chief executive office should possess A) popularity. B) judgment. C) energy. D) gravitas. E) integrity.

All of the following are part of the official jurisdiction of the federal courts except A) treaties with other nations. B) federal statutes. C) cases involving the U.S. Constitution. D) cases involving citizens from the same state. E) any case in which the U.S. government is party.

What happened in the Dred Scott case of 1857?

All the statements are true, except the answer indicating that the Supreme Court ruled slavery unconstitutional.

The Anti-Federalists opposed ratification of the Constitution because they felt that

All these answers are correct, except the answer suggesting they felt the national government would be too weak and ineffective.

The framers of the Constitution created a federal system of government because

All these answers are correct.

Which reform occurred during the Progressive Era?

All these answers are correct.

Which of the following is true of majoritarianism in the United States?

All these statements are true, except for the statement that the public is interested and well-informed on all policy issues.

Supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision. (page 53)

An individual's psychological attachment to one party or another is called a party A) ideology. B) opinion. C) identification. D) tradition. E) value system.

An informal group of advisers to the president is often called the A) Kitchen Cabinet. B) plumbers. C) round table. D) colloquium. E) good ole boys (despite the fact that many women have entered these ranks).

An iron triangle is made up of an alliance between A) a legislative committee, an executive agency, and the federal courts. B) the federal courts, the state courts, and interest groups. C) a legislative committee, an interest group, and an executive agency. D) an interest group, an executive agency, and the media. E) the media, a legislative committee, and the federal courts.

________ persuaded the states to choose their presidential electors on the basis of the popular vote.

Andrew Jackson

Approximately how many judges currently sit on the federal district courts? A) 9 B) 50 C) 75 D) 700 E) 2,500

Approximately what percent of Americans are completely offline? A) 0 B) 10 C) 20 D) 33 E) 50

Approximately what percentage of daily newspapers is owned by large media conglomerates? A) 10 percent B) 25 percent C) 40 percent D) 55 percent E) 75 percent

Approximately what percentage of proposed bills die in committee? A) 40 percent B) 50 percent C) 60 percent D) 75 percent E) 95 percent

Approximately what percentage of senators and representatives in Congress are women? A) 5 percent B) 17 percent C) 30 percent D) 45 percent E) 55 percent

Commerce clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power 'to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States and with the Indian tribes.' This clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy. (page 85)

As a constitution, the Articles of Confederation were concerned primarily with A) creating a national government that had significant power and authority. B) creating a federal form of government. C) creating a form of government in which the states were largely subservient to the national government. D) limiting the powers of the central government. E) creating a strong and unified national armed forces.

As a third-party candidate, Ross Perot captured approximately ______ percent of the popular vote in the 1992 presidential election. A) 5 B) 10 C) 20 D) 30 E) 40

As of 2012, how many women serve in the U.S. Senate? A) two B) seven C) twenty D) twenty-one E) twenty-nine

At its peak in ______, the federal bureaucracy had ______ employees, not including military personnel. A) 1936; 6 million B) 1968; 3 million C) 1982; 1 million D) 1996; 8 million E) 1994; 2 million

At what level of scrutiny do courts review cases involving gender discrimination? A) strict scrutiny B) intermediate scrutiny C) loose scrutiny D) stare decisis E) rational basis

Based on recent polling data, what percentage of Americans disagreed with the statement "Any group should be allowed to hold a rally for a cause"? A) 22 percent B) 31 percent C) 40 percent D) 55 percent E) 69 percent

Before the Civil Service Act of 1883, how were government appointments handled? A) Appointments were made on the basis of merit. B) Appointments were made on the basis of seniority. C) Appointments were made to political supporters as part of a spoils system. D) The Civil Service Act of 1883 created the first federal bureaucracy. E) The president or his staff appointed all civil servants.

Bicameralism is a constitutional principle that means the A) division of national government into two branches. B) division of the powers of the executive branch between two individuals: the president and the vice president. C) division of the powers of the executive branch between two individuals: the head of state and the head of government. D) division of Congress into two chambers. E) division of the federal court system into two levels: the Supreme Court and the appellate courts.

Brutus and Federal Farmer are two pseudonyms used by the A) Federalists. B) Antifederalists. C) Publius. D) Monarchists. E) Constitutionalists.

Campaign consultants do all of the following except A) conduct public opinion polls. B) organize direct mailings. C) develop the issues on which the candidate will focus. D) produce television commercials. E) print ballots for the election.

All of the following nations have a unitary or modified unitary form of government EXCEPT

Canada.

Cases such as Brandenburg v. Ohio, Loving v. Virginia, and Griswold v. Connecticutillustrate that A) the Supreme Court will rarely strike down laws passed directly by voters through the initiative process. B) the Supreme Court has the authority to overturn state statutes that contravene rights and privileges guaranteed under the Constitution. C) the Supreme Court does not have the authority to overturn state statutes. D) the Supreme Court does not have the authority to strike down sections of state constitutions. E) the Supreme Court will only overturn state laws when the president and Congress agree with the Court's decision.

Chartering a bank is a ______ power, because both federal and state governments have the authority to do it. A) necessary B) police C) concurrent D) reserve E) sovereign

Cheap, tabloid-style papers produced in the nineteenth century were collectively referred to as A) social media. B) the penny press. C) citizen journalism. D) news aggregators. E) niche journalism.

Civil servants were given legal protection against being fired without a show of cause in order to A) meet the Constitution's strict requirements for the treatment of public employees. B) force the bureaucracy to respond more to political pressures from parties, interest groups, and elected officials. C) cleanse bureaucracy of political interference while upgrading performance. D) end the abuses of the merit system. E) enhance the public's trust in bureaucracy.

Cloture is A) the ability of a senator to speak for as long as he or she wishes to prevent action from being taken on legislation that he or she opposes. B) the process by which three-fifths of the Senate can end a filibuster. C) the rule that allows one house of Congress to circumvent the other during the legislative process. D) the process by which the president can end a filibuster. E) a lawsuit filed by a member of the Senate against a member of the House or vice versa.

Colonial protesters of the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act rallied around what famous political slogan? A) "No taxation without representation" B) "Give me liberty or give me death" C) "Remember the Alamo" D) "A house divided against itself cannot stand" E) "Don't tread on me"

Competition between political parties ______ voter turnout. A) depresses B) promotes C) subverts D) corrupts E) has no effect on

Congress's tendency in recent years to give executive agencies fewer clear guidelines for implementing laws is the result of A) the greater scope and complexity of the tasks that American government has undertaken. B) the reduced scope and complexity of the tasks that American government has undertaken. C) frequent requests made by state governments to transfer more power to the executive branch. D) numerous initiatives passed by voters that require less legislative specificity. E) a series of Supreme Court decisions that ruled executive mandates were unconstitutional.

Congressional organization is influenced by all of the following except A) parliamentary rules of the House and Senate. B) presidential directives. C) political parties. D) the committee system. E) congressional staff.

Conservatives are more likely than liberals to support A) government regulation of business. B) abortion rights. C) school prayer. D) the expansion of government activity. E) gay rights.

Constituency service is so important that A) representatives spend about three-quarters of their time aiding constituents. B) party leaders will not ask any member to vote in a way that conflicts with the interests or opinions of the member's district. C) the House and Senate have recently created a Committee on Constituency Service. D) the Constitution explicitly lists "constituent service" as the most important responsibility of Congress. E) members of Congress have been impeached for not devoting enough attention to constituency service.

Which of the following could be considered a belief of sociologist C. Wright Mills?

Corporate elites have more control over economic policy than do the elected politicians.

Currently, the United Nations has ______ member states. A) 40 B) 192 C) 350 D) 435 E) 630

Dealignment refers to A) the decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the number of voters identifying themselves as independents, and the rise of "split-ticket" voting. B) the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress. C) the point in history where a new party becomes the dominant political force by supplanting the ruling party. D) conflicts within the government that create divided factions, each of which tries to mobilize popular support. E) attempts by politicians outside of government to mobilize popular support in order to win governmental power.

During the nineteenth century, newspapers were controlled by A) Wall Street. B) political parties. C) churches and other religious groups. D) state governments. E) the federal government.

Debates over the wisdom of President Bush's decision to monitor domestic phone traffic in search of communications among terrorist groups without a court warrant illustrate A) the difficulties in reconciling the ideal of liberty with the need for security. B) the difficulties in balancing popular sovereignty and minority rights. C) the impact of pluralist politics on American government. D) the negative consequences of direct democracy. E) the importance of political knowledge to popular sovereignty.

Desegregating schools in northern states proved to be difficult because A) very few minorities lived in the North. B) segregation in the North was generally de facto, the product of both segregated housing and acts of private discrimination that were hard to prove. C) discrimination in the South was so visible and pervasive that little attention had been given to other parts of the country. D) there was less hostility toward segregation in the North. E) there was less tax revenue to fund integration efforts in the North than in the South.

Devolution describes a process through which A) Congress gives up some of its power to the executive branch. B) the federal government is downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments. C) state and local governments are downsized by delegating the implementation of programs to the federal government. D) the United States delegates some of its power to the UN. E) the federal government is downsized by completely cutting wasteful programs.

Direct democracy is best defined as A) a state of continual revolution. B) the system that allows people to vote by telephone or over the Internet. C) a system that allows citizens to vote directly for laws and policies. D) the competition between interest groups for governmental power. E) a system that allows citizens to elect representatives who play a significant role in governmental decision making

During the 1960s, Ralph Nader was influential as a(n) A) environmental activist. B) consumer advocate. C) presidential candidate. D) corporate spokesman. E) member of Congress.

During the 1980s, under the leadership of Ronald Reagan, which two groups did the Republican Party add to their coalition? A) religious conservatives and working-class whites B) African Americans and upper-class intellectuals C) Latinos and the business community D) Jews and unionized workers E) gays and lesbians and southern farmers

During the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, how many federal agencies or programs were terminated? A) 0 B) 10 C) 26 D) 137 E) 52

During the ratification debates, who were the Antifederalists? A) those who opposed the new Constitution because they wanted a weaker central government B) those who opposed the Constitution because it did not create a strong enough central government C) those who opposed the Constitution because it did not provide women with the right to vote D) those who supported the Constitution E) those who believed that the United States should enter into a confederation with Britain and Canada

Each Supreme Court justice is assigned ______ clerk(s). A) one B) four C) eight D) ten E) fifteen

Each of the following has been a method by which the federal courts have expanded their power except A) liberalizing the concept of standing. B) broadening the scope of relief from individuals to entire groups. C) narrowing the discretionary authority of the president over foreign affairs and diplomacy. D) holding onto jurisdiction over a case until the court's decision has been carried out. E) taking a more active role in hearing cases that would generally be considered legislative matters.

Each of the following is a liberal organization except A) the Sierra Club. B) the National Organization for Women. C) World Wildlife Federation. D) the Chamber of Commerce. E) Friends of the Earth.

Each of the following was an Antifederalist except A) Patrick Henry. B) John Jay. C) George Mason. D) Richard Henry Lee. E) Elbridge Gerry.

Each year, the Supreme Court receives about ______ appeals and hears about ______ of them in full court. A) 1,000; 500 B) 200; 10 C) 9,500; 80 D) 12,000; 300 E) 5,000; 100

Evangelical Protestants are more likely to be associated with A) the Republican Party. B) the Democratic Party. C) the Moral Majority Party. D) the Green Party. E) no party; they are typically nonpartisan.

Executive agreements differ from formal treaties in that they A) have been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. B) must be approved by the U.S. Supreme Court but not by Congress. C) do not have to be approved by the Senate. D) do not have to be approved by the House. E) are generally formulated at meetings of the United Nations.

Executive privilege refers to A) the fact that the Senate never votes against presidential appointments to the executive branch. B) the increasing power of the executive branch in determining fiscal policy. C) the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president. D) the right of presidents to eliminate government agencies without the approval of Congress. E) the authority of members of the executive branch to formulate specific rules when implementing vague legislation.

Federal officials seeking to give state government more authority are most likely to support A) unfunded mandates. B) preemption. C) block grants. D) categorical grants. E) project grants.

Which of the following is a check on legislative power in the U.S. system?

For legislation to be passed, a majority in each chamber of Congress is required.

Freedom of speech and of the press have a special place in American democracy because A) free and open debate is an essential mechanism for determining the quality and validity of competing ideas. B) they are the only liberties explicitly mentioned in the Bill of Rights. C) they were the last provisions in the Bill of Rights to be incorporated through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. D) they have never been restricted by any law in the history of the United States. E) they were the only liberties explicitly mentioned in Article I of the Constitution.

Generally speaking, a recall effort begins with a A) petition campaign. B) lawsuit. C) law passed by the state legislature. D) decree by the governor. E) law passed by Congress and signed by the president.

A handwritten note by a penniless convict brought about the Gideon v. Wainwright Supreme Court case, in which the Court ruled that

Gideon's Sixth Amendment right to counsel had been violated.

Government can best be defined as the A) institutions and procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled. B) set of political principles and values that guide political life. C) legalized theft of others' property. D) invisible hand that turns private interests into public goods. E) shared set of values, beliefs, and attitudes that people have about politics.

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Roe v. Wade (1973) have been extremely important in the development of A) a constitutional right to privacy. B) American due process. C) New Federalism. D) a test that can be used to determine what is protected speech. E) the rights of individuals accused of a crime.

Having some share or say in the composition of a government's leadership, how it is organized, or what its policies are going to be is called A) government. B) power. C) autocracy. D) federalism. E) constitutionalism.

Why did President Lyndon Johnson choose not to pursue comprehensive government-based health insurance?

He was convinced that it could not be achieved politically

How are ambassadors chosen? A) They are part of the federal bureaucracy's merit system. B) They are selected by the president, often as patronage for large campaign donations. C) They are selected by the secretary of state. D) They are elected to four-year terms of office by the nation to which they will be ambassador. E) They are appointed by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

How did the Founders attempt to reassure citizens that their views would be represented in the new government created by the Constitution? A) By allowing citizens to vote directly on all laws enacted by the federal government. B) By making the Constitution very easy to amend. C) By requiring the direct election of senators, members of the House, and the president. D) By giving the federal judiciary the power of judicial review. E) By defining the new government's most important powers, such as collecting taxes, borrowing money, and regulating commerce, as belonging to Congress.

How did the colonists' victory in the Revolutionary War change the balance of political power in the new states? A) Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and pre-Revolutionary radicals were significantly weakened. B) Royal land, office, and patent holders were significantly weakened, and pre-Revolutionary radicals became the controlling forces in many state legislatures. C) Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and Native Americans were placed in positions of power in the federal government. D) Royal land, office, and patent holders became the controlling force in many state legislatures, and women were placed in positions of power in the federal government. E) Royal land, office, and patent holders were significantly weakened, and Native Americans were placed in positions of power in the federal government.

How did the traditional system of dual federalism establish a "commercial republic"? A) The federal government passed laws forbidding any regulation of capitalism. B) The function of the federal government was to promote and assist commerce. C) Dual federalism established property-holding requirements for federal officeholders. D) The federal government was originally designed to regulate and control the marketplace. E) The federal government sold many natural resources from publicly owned lands.

How does an entitlement differ from a right? A) Unlike an entitlement, a right cannot be taken away by an act of Congress. B) Unlike a right, an entitlement can be revoked without the due process of law. C) Unlike entitlements, only citizens have rights. D) Entitlements are only for minorities and the elderly. Rights apply to everyone. E) Unlike a right, only children receive entitlements.

How long is the term of office for a U.S. senator? A) two years B) four years C) six years D) eight years E) ten years

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court? A) seven B) nine C) ten D) eleven E) fifteen

How many party systems has the United States had since 1789? A) two B) six C) twelve D) twenty-four E) forty-three

If a person believes that the Constitution should not be amended by judges and that judges should adhere closely to the document's text when deciding cases, this person believes in A) "strict construction." B) the idea of the "living Constitution." C) the supremacy clause. D) the separation of powers. E) federalism.

If a person does not know anything about a proposed piece of legislation but supports it because Barack Obama endorsed it, we would say the person A) fell prey to the illusion of saliency. B) was an example of the bandwagon effect. C) committed a sampling error. D) was an example of the bellwether effect. E) reached his or her decision through the use of an informational shortcut.

If a person were imprisoned in the United States without an open trial before a judge, this action would A) infringe upon the principle of selective incorporation. B) constitute an ex post facto law. C) undermine the Lemon test. D) violate the right of habeas corpus. E) defy the exclusionary rule.

If a private individual brought a suit against a corporation for breaking a contract, what kind of law would this involve? A) criminal B) civil C) public D) plaintiff E) common

If a radio station aired a personal attack against you but refused to give you the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station, this station would be violating the A) Telecommunications Act of 1996. B) fairness doctrine. C) equal time rule. D) right of rebuttal. E) Communications Decency Act.

If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor, but refused to sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor, this station would be violating the A) Telecommunications Act of 1996. B) fairness doctrine. C) equal time rule. D) right of rebuttal. E) Communications Decency Act.

If an individual is arrested because his home was searched by police without a legal warrant, he could argue in court that he had been denied A) a writ of habeas corpus. B) his Miranda rights. C) a writ of certiorari. D) judicial review. E) the due process of law.

If people were motivated to join an environmental organization because they strongly believed in protecting the environment and supported the goals of the group, then we would say they were motivated by A) pluralism. B) solidary benefits. C) purposive benefits. D) informational benefits. E) material benefits.

If the Federal Reserve wants to help boost a sagging economy, which one of the following is the most direct way it can do this? A) Raise interest rates so that banks can earn more money on the loans they provide to individuals and businesses. B) Lower interest rates so that banks can provide more loans at cheaper rates to individuals and businesses. C) Take money out of circulation so that the dollar becomes more valuable. D) Raise the reserve requirement, restricting the amount of cash and negotiable securities banks must have on hand. E) Lower tariffs so that corporations can trade more freely with foreign countries.

If the government were controlled by a small group of wealthy landowners and corporate leaders, this would be best described as a(n) A) oligarchy. B) autocracy. C) authoritarian regime. D) totalitarian state. E) monarchy.

If the winner of an election is whoever receives the most votes, regardless of the percentage of votes received, the candidates are running under a ______ system. A) majority B) plurality C) proportionality D) unitary E) primary

In 1936, pollsters at the Literary Digest were guilty of ______ when they mistakenly predicted a presidential victory for Alf Landon over Franklin Roosevelt by polling people whose names came from the telephone book and automobile registration records. A) probability sampling B) illusion of salience C) random dialing D) selection bias E) push polling

In 1964, the Republican Party presidential nominee, ______, espoused a number of ideas, such as less taxation and less government regulation of the economy, that became major themes for the modern Republican Party. A) Richard Nixon B) Barry Goldwater C) Ronald Reagan D) Franklin Delano Roosevelt E) Dwight Eisenhower

In 1998, the foreign trade term most favored nation was changed to what? A) normal trade relations B) equity trading partner C) commercial diplomacy D) not unfavored nation E) favored nation

In 2008, volunteering for a political campaign was A) a less common activity than contributing money. B) a more common activity than contributing money. C) a more common activity than voting. D) a more common activity than contacting an elected official. E) a more common activity than attending a rally.

In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court A) impeached Nixon. B) allowed Nixon to withhold secret tapes from Congress. C) required Nixon to turn over secret tapes to Congress. D) reinstated the independent prosecutor fired by Nixon. E) ruled that Nixon must resign from office in order to avoid criminal charges.

In West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Supreme Court announced that A) Amish children are not required to attend school past the age of twelve. B) children cannot be required to salute the flag if it violates their religious faith. C) children can be required to salute the flag even if it violates their religious faith. D) school officials are permitted greater authority to censor speech and expression than would be permissible off school grounds. E) prayer in school violates the establishment clause.

In a liberal ideology, which of the core American values is most important? A) liberty B) democracy C) equality D) justice E) patriotism

In addition to pressuring members of Congress to vote a certain way on a bill, interest groups also have substantial influence in A) setting the legislative agenda. B) getting senators to filibuster debates on bills that they oppose. C) determining whether a member of Congress will run for re-election. D) deciding committee assignments for members of Congress. E) determining whether a bill will receive an open rule or a closed rule.

In contemporary American politics, solid support for the Republican Party comes from the A) South and Mountain West. B) South, Northeast, and Midwest. C) Northeast, Midwest, and West. D) Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest. E) Northeast and South.

In contemporary politics, local election campaigns tend to be ______, while statewide elections tend to be ______. A) caucuses; primaries B) media-driven and capital intensive; organizationally driven and labor intensive C) organizationally driven and labor intensive; media-driven and capital intensive D) front-loaded; back-loaded E) back-loaded; front-loaded

In each House district there are approximately ______ people. A) 200,000 B) 700,000 C) 1,000,000 D) 1,500,000 E) 2,000,000

In order for a political party to select a candidate to run in the general election, it holds a A) primary election. B) referendum. C) midterm election. D) franchise vote. E) exploratory committee.

In order to be an online citizen, an individual must have A) the right to vote in elections. B) a college education. C) experience with political participation offline. D) the basic skills necessary to read a simple newspaper article. E) a government-issued ID number.

In order to signify that the enumerated powers were meant to be a source of strength to the national government and not a limitation on it, the Founders A) added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. B) included provisions for direct democracy in the Constitution. C) included the full faith and credit clause in the Constitution. D) included the elastic clause in the Constitution. E) made it difficult to amend the Constitution.

In recent years, federal court appointments have A) been characterized by strict neutrality on the part of Congress. B) attracted very little attention from the media and special interest groups. C) been characterized by intense partisan and ideological efforts to support or defeat the candidate. D) been unaffected by ideological concerns. E) been confirmed very quickly.

In the 1976 decision Buckley v. Valeo, the Supreme Court articulated the principle that A) spending by or on behalf of a candidate for office is protected speech. B) libel is protected by the First Amendment, as long as the person libeled is a public figure. C) burning draft cards is a protected symbolic act, but only if it is done in public. D) the Espionage Act of 1917 was unconstitutional. E) government can regulate speech if the speech contains an incitement to imminent lawless action.

In the House of Representatives, the majority leader A) is subordinate to the Speaker of the House. B) is the same office as the Speaker of the House. C) is superior in formal powers to the Speaker of the House. D) has the same powers as the Speaker of the House but is a different office. E) There is no majority leader in the House of Representatives.

In the national debate over ratification of the new Constitution, the Federalists A) supported a return to the Articles of Confederation. B) opposed the Constitution and preferred decentralized government. C) supported the Constitution and preferred a strong national government. D) supported a return to British rule. E) refused to support the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was added.

In what type of law is the government always the plaintiff? A) public law B) criminal law C) civil law D) common law E) tort law

In what year was freedom of speech extended to protect against the acts of state governments? A) 1833 B) 1865 C) 1868 D) 1925 E) 1964

Individual members of Congress can discover questions of public responsibility when engaged in A) a filibuster. B) constituent case work. C) activities related to the work of a conference committee. D) a party caucus. E) a markup session.

Interest groups most effectively serve A) the working classes. B) the powerless. C) the upper classes. D) government bureaucrats. E) racial and ethnic minorities.

Issues such as the environment, health care, retirement benefits, and taxation are on the political agenda in the United States because A) these are the only issues that are important to all Americans. B) these are the only problems that have yet to be solved by the free market. C) contemporary political parties mainly compete for the support of middle-class Americans and these issues are important to the middle class. D) the Constitution limits the federal government's powers to legislating on these issues. E) these are the only issues where Democrats and Republicans consistently agree with each other.

Which of the following is true about the Supreme Court between 1865 and 1937?

It consistently restricted national power and decreased the power of Congress to regulate business.

What was the significance of Shays's Rebellion?

It demonstrated that Congress was weak and unable to respond to crises in an effective manner.

It is difficult for political scientists to categorize unrepresented interests because A) there are no constitutional means for unorganized interests to compete for attention. B) there are no organizations that can present their identities and demands. C) there are no measurements of interests and needs outside of representation. D) there are no legitimate interests that do not already have representation. E) these interests often want to stay hidden from public view.

It is important for Americans to have political knowledge so that they A) will be able to determine who is or is not un-American. B) will not suffer from "political efficacy." C) will be better able to assess their own interests when making political choices. D) will be better able to judge the legitimacy of other nations. E) will feel a stronger sense of patriotism.

In what way was the government of Pennsylvania an exception among the state governments formed after the Revolutionary War?

It lacked any separation of powers, and had an all-powerful legislature.

On what grounds did the Supreme Court strike down a federal act that prohibited the interstate shipment of goods produced by child labor, in the case Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)?

It ruled that the Tenth Amendment gave the states, and not the federal government, the power to regulate factory practices.

________ wrote The Federalist Papers.

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay

The United States has ______ percent of the world's population and is responsible for ______ percent of its greenhouse gas emissions. A) 1; 5 B) 10; 25 C) 5; 45 D) 20; 60 E) 25; 10

________ created the doctrine of nullification based on the premise that each state had the constitutional right to nullify a national law.

John C. Calhoun

John Locke and John Stuart Mill are important philosophers for which of the following ideologies? A) popular participation B) liberty and political rights C) tradition and religion in government D) revolutionary action E) socialism and communism

Karl Rove was the ______ for George W. Bush. A) first secretary of state B) chief political strategist C) attorney general D) official White House spokesman E) first appointee to the federal judiciary

Low voter turnout and political apathy endanger A) equality. B) economic liberty. C) democracy. D) constitutionalism. E) laissez-faire capitalism.

Men in the United States are ______ the ______ Party. A) overwhelmingly committed to; Republican B) somewhat more likely to support; Republican C) overwhelmingly committed to; Democratic D) somewhat more likely to support; Democratic E) overwhelmingly committed to; Green

Most American presidents have been A) international politicians who set out to make their place in history through achievements in foreign policy. B) focused on promoting their own legacies regardless of whether that means prioritizing foreign or domestic policy. C) focused on promoting the well-being of the United States regardless of whether that means prioritizing foreign or domestic policy. D) equally focused on promoting the United States through both foreign and domestic policy. E) domestic politicians who set out to make their place in history through achievements in domestic policy.

Most cases reach the Supreme Court through the A) writ of appeal. B) writ of certiorari. C) writ of habeas corpus. D) writ of amicus curiae. E) state courts.

Most initiative campaigns today are sponsored by A) candidates for political office who see it as a way to engage in money swapping. B) issue networks that want to change government policies without attracting attention from the public. C) citizens who care deeply about a given issue. D) interest groups seeking to circumvent legislative opposition to their goals. E) political parties seeking to raise public awareness about a particular issue.

Most local newspapers get their national news from A) local reporters. B) wire services. C) the Internet. D) government reports, press briefings, and announcements. E) interviews with politicians.

Most newspaper reporters identify themselves as A) liberal. B) conservative. C) anarchist. D) nonpolitical. E) socialist.

Most of the groundbreaking environmental laws were written in the A) 1950s. B) 1970s. C) 1980s. D) 1990s. E) 2000s.

Nations that adopt a federal arrangement tend to have A) diverse ethnic or language groups. B) multiparty systems. C) strong executives. D) no history of feudalism. E) a history of totalitarianism.

Over the many decades of public debate and conflict over the American health care system, what has been the one constant?

Never has a majority expressed a willingness to entrust health insurance fully to government.

New media can level the electoral playing field for third-party candidates by A) increasing the number of candidates who run in elections. B) increasing candidate reliance on money from special interests, corporations, special interests, and wealthy donors. C) reducing the number of people who vote in elections. D) reducing candidate reliance on money from special interests, corporations, special interests, and wealthy donors. E) reducing the number of candidates who run in elections.

In 1994, which Republican House leader declared that the "1960s-style federalism is dead"?

Newt Gingrich

Original jurisdiction refers to A) the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. B) the court with the authority to hear a case first. C) the highest court with the power to overrule other courts. D) Congress's power to determine what cases the federal courts will hear. E) the president's power to appoint federal judges.

Over the past decade, polls have revealed that Asian American voters are moving A) toward the Republican Party. B) toward the Democratic Party. C) away from all forms of partisan identity. D) toward the Green Party. E) toward newly formed political parties that focus entirely on Asian American political issues.

Over the past several decades, the ______ and the ______ have benefited most from apportionment. A) Northeast; Midwest B) Northeast; South C) Northeast; West D) South; West E) South; Midwest

Of the nearly 200 governments in the world, what is the estimate of the number of actual constitutional democracies? A) 20 B) 75 C) 87 D) 110 E) 150

On average, more women vote for ______ candidates, and more men vote for ______ candidates. A) Republican; Republican B) Republican; Democratic C) Democratic; Republican D) Democratic; Democratic E) Independent; Independent

On the subject of representation, Antifederalists wanted A) representative bodies that resembled those represented to the highest degree. B) representatives to exercise independent judgment and wisdom. C) representatives who would reflect commercial interests. D) as few representatives as possible. E) representatives who were significantly more educated and wealthier than the majority of the public.

One reason that the AFDC program grew significantly in the 1970s was that A) voters passed initiatives in many states that required an increase in benefits. B) a number of court decisions determined that benefits must be increased at a level greater than that of inflation each year. C) Congress passed a number of laws that dramatically expanded the number of people who were eligible and the overall amount of in-kind benefits that would be provided to eligible people. D) court decisions made it more difficult for the government to legally terminate people's benefits for a lack of eligibility. E) state governments refused to administer the program unless the federal government spent more on benefits.

One reason why redistricting is controversial is that A) computer technologies allow legislatures to know statistically what kinds of people live where and this can be used to give one party an advantage over the other. B) it is unclear whether state legislatures or the federal government has the authority to redraw districts. C) incumbents never lose when districts are redrawn. D) it is unclear whether districts have to be drawn in such a way that each district includes roughly the same number of people. E) interest groups and PACs exert a great deal of influence over the specific shape of each district.

One-third of all Asian Americans live in A) California. B) New York. C) Florida. D) Texas. E) Washington, D.C.

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______ while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ______. A) liberals; conservatives B) conservatives; liberals C) libertarians; conservatives D) liberals; libertarians E) libertarians; liberals

Organized interest groups enhance American democracy by A) fielding large numbers of electable candidates. B) financing large numbers of election campaigns. C) empowering less potent segments of society. D) representing the interests of large numbers of people and encouraging political participation. E) placing initiatives on the ballot.

Oversight can best be described as A) the efforts of Congress to supervise the manner in which its laws are implemented by the executive branch. B) the organizational control exercised by party whips over members of Congress. C) the authority of committee chairs over the hearings and investigations conducted by the subcommittees. D) the informal power of the president to set the legislative agenda for Congress. E) the approval that the Senate must give to all presidential appointments to the federal judiciary.

In 1937, Justice ________ abandoned his opposition to Franklin Roosevelt's policies and thus gave the president judicial support of key provisions of his New Deal legislation.

Owen Roberts

Party activists are ______ to contribute time, energy, and effort to party affairs and ______ to hold more extreme views than the party's rank-and-file voters. A) less likely; less likely B) less likely; more likely C) more likely; more likely D) more likely; less likely E) equally likely; equally likely

Party activists who are elected to vote at a party's national convention are called A) incumbents. B) delegates. C) electors. D) nominees. E) whips.

________ was a leading figure in the American Revolution and later opposed ratification of the Constitution on the grounds that the national government should be a union of states and not also of people.

Patrick Henry

People's political party preferences are primarily acquired through the influence of A) their families. B) the region of the country they inhabit. C) their education. D) the media they consume. E) their occupation.

Political culture refers to the A) way that artists, musicians, filmmakers, and cultural critics use their message to influence political decision making. B) factors that influence the way informal social organizations make decisions. C) shared values, beliefs, and attitudes that serve to hold a nation and its people together. D) system of organizing politically, which is defined in the Articles of Confederation. E) formal rules that govern the interaction between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Political scientists call voters' choices that focus on future behavior ______, while those based on past performances are called ______. A) prospective voting; retrospective voting B) retrospective voting; prospective voting C) partisan voting; issue voting D) issue voting; partisan voting E) issue voting; prospective voting

Politics can be defined as A) conflicts over the character, membership, and policies of any organization to which people belong. B) the informal, private organizations through which a land and its people are ruled. C) a hierarchically structured organization that is designed to distribute labor among several different groups of people. D) a line-and-staff organization that is designed to facilitate control over complex social arrangements. E) alliances of various interest groups, policy experts, and elected representatives who unite in order to promote a governmental solution to a problem.

Pollsters use random digit dialing to gather national samples for surveys because A) Sampling errors are typically too low when other techniques are used. B) Sampling errors are typically too high when other techniques are used. C) There is not a complete list of all Americans that can be used to identify the population. D) It is the only method that allows for push polling. E) It is the only method that generates high levels of measurement error.

Pork-barrel legislation A) deals with specific projects and their location within a particular congressional district. B) deals with specific agricultural subsidies. C) funds efforts to increase the levels of America's meat exports. D) grants a special privilege to a person named in the bill. E) orders state governments to implement a program without providing funding for doing so.

The United States withdrew from the 1997 A) Geneva Conventions. B) NAFTA. C) Kyoto Protocol. D) NATO. E) United Nations.

Why do southern states get more revenue from the federal government than most other states?

Poverty is more widespread in the South than other areas.

Prior cases whose principles are used by judges to decide current cases are called A) public law. B) en blanc decisions. C) precedents. D) common law. E) ex post facto cases.

Procedures outlining how to amend the Constitution are found in Article A) I. B) II. C) III. D) V. E) X.

Protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO) in recent years were prompted by A) the lack of debt relief for Third World nations. B) the perception that the WTO was not paying enough attention to developing countries. C) American military and economic hegemony. D) opening trade relations with China. E) the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Public policy can be embodied in all of the following forms except A) a law. B) an administrative rule. C) an order. D) regulation. E) a petition.

Research into public opinion and public policy has shown that A) every citizen has an equally strong influence over politics and public policy decisions. B) more affluent and more educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public-policy decisions. C) less affluent and less educated citizens have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. D) nonvoters have a disproportionate influence over politics and public policy decisions. E) the opinions of members of the public have no influence whatsoever over politics and public policy decisions.

Responsibility for communicating the leader's wishes to members in Congress lies with the A) Speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore. B) whip system. C) party's national committee. D) party caucuses. E) the Ways and Means Committee.

Which of the following states was steadfastly opposed to the new Union and refused to ratify the Constitution until eleven other states had done so and had begun to form the new government?

Rhode Island

Pluralists such as ________ argue that it is the preference of the special interest that largely determines what government does.

Robert Dahl

Ronald Reagan's inability to dismantle the Department of Education reflects the power of A) the merit system. B) iron triangles. C) the Federal Register. D) devolution. E) separation of powers.

After Andrew Jackson's time, which three candidates won the presidency after losing the popular vote?

Rutherford B. Hayes (1876), Benjamin Harrison (1888), and George W. Bush (2000)

Senatorial courtesy describes the practice of A) senators from a president's party approving of a judicial nominee from their home state. B) including home-state senators in the formal vetting of district and circuit court judges. C) allowing any senator to place a hold on the consideration of a judicial nominee. D) permitting senators to officially swear in home-state district court judges. E) allowing senators to nominate members to the federal judiciary.

Shays's Rebellion was an attempt to A) prevent the state of Massachusetts from foreclosing on the lands of debt-ridden farmers. B) invade New England by Loyalists from Canada. C) overthrow the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. D) bring a Georgian slave revolt to Virginia. E) force the British government to rescind the Tea Act.

Since the mid-1990s, by how much has the number of welfare recipients declined in the United States? A) between 5 and 10 percent B) between 20 and 30 percent C) over 50 percent D) The number of welfare recipients has actually risen 5 percent since the mid-1990s. E) over 80 percent

Smaller and weaker parties are most likely to have electoral success under which system of elections? A) the proportional representation system B) the majority system C) the plurality system D) the unitary system E) the referendum system

Social Security is a good example of A) outdoor relief. B) indoor relief. C) a contributory program. D) a noncontributory program. E) a means-tested program.

Social capital refers to A) campaign contributions made by community organizations. B) community networks that motivate political participation. C) the fees associated with membership in a club or social group. D) the fund that interest groups raise during election campaigns. E) an individual's belief in his or her ability to competently engage in personal interactions with other people.

Some developing countries have accused the United States of hypocrisy because they believe the United States A) demands democracy from other countries while not allowing true democracy in its own political system. B) claims to support the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) but will not support the WTO. C) pursues a policy of isolationism while also asking other countries to pursue a policy of appeasement. D) preaches against free trade to others while keeping open, unregulated markets at home. E) preaches free trade to others while still offering subsidies to their own farmers.

What contemporary political scientists call an interest group, James Madison called a(n) A) mob. B) faction. C) oligarchy. D) corporation. E) social movement.

State ballot access laws, such as registration fees and petition requirements, have the effect of A) increasing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates. B) reducing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates. C) reducing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office. D) increasing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office. E) decreasing the importance of soft money in election campaigns.

State governments A) have had total power to regulate suffrage throughout American history. B) used to have far more power to regulate suffrage than they currently do. C) used to have far less power to regulate suffrage than they currently do. D) have never had any power to regulate suffrage at any point in American history. E) have seen their power to regulate suffrage increase and decrease roughly every thirty years throughout American history.

Strong and often corrupt urban political party organizations during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were called A) gangs. B) juntas. C) machines. D) corporations. E) 527 committees.

Successful amendments to the Constitution A) are usually responses to particular topical problems. B) are most commonly concerned with the structure or composition of the government. C) have often been used to restrict the rights of citizens. D) have typically had little effect on the actual workings of the government. E) have been those designed to promote economic equality.

Suffragists called the Statue of Liberty "the greatest hypocrisy of the nineteenth century" because A) it was in New York—a state that had prohibited women from owning property throughout its history. B) it was a gift from France and French women were frequently abused by their husbands during the time. C) "liberty" had historically been represented as a male figure, not a female figure. D) it was supposed to represent "liberty," yet women could not vote in the United States. E) the statue did not wear clothes that were appropriate for women during the time.

Survey experiments have shown that A) roughly half of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. B) roughly one-third of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. C) roughly three-fourths of Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. D) almost all Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008. E) almost no Americans had misgivings about a black president in 2007 and 2008.

The "sophomore surge" refers to A) the fact that many members of Congress lose their re-election campaigns after their second term in office. B) the tendency for college students to intern with their local members of Congress during the summer between their sophomore and junior years in college. C) the fact that most members of Congress leave office after serving only two years. D) the fact that many college sophomores choose to vote in midterm congressional elections but not in presidential elections. E) the tendency for candidates to win a higher percentage of the vote when seeking future terms in office.

The doctrine of ______ requires courts to follow authoritative prior decisions when ruling on a case. A) stare decisis B) habeas corpus C) lex talions D) ex post facto E) a priori

Ten years after Brown v. Board of Education, ______ percent of black children in the Deep South attended school with white children. A) 1 B) 20 C) 33 D) 50 E) 67

The "Era of Good Feelings" was A) the period of one-party politics from the collapse of the Federalist Party until the 1830s. B) the period immediately following the end of the Civil War. C) the period of rapid economic growth in the early twentieth century. D) the period immediately following the end of World War II. E) the period of two-party cooperation between 1896 and 1932.

The "individual mandate" refers to A) the requirement that Medicare cover all individuals living in the United States by 2014. B) a tax credit that is given to all people who are unemployed and do not have health insurance coverage. C) the requirement that uninsured individuals purchase health insurance. D) the requirement that health insurance companies accept all applicants, regardless of preexisting conditions. E) a system of health care where the government owns and operates all medical facilities.

The effort by political candidates and their staff to win backing and support by voters in the quest for political office is known as a(n) A) incumbency. B) campaign. C) caucus. D) platform. E) national convention.

The American experience with civil rights suggests which of the following things about political change in the United States? A) Political change can only be achieved when citizens bypass the courts and the legislatures entirely. B) Political change is easiest to achieve when the courts and the legislatures frequently overturn each other's actions. C) The courts are far more powerful than the legislature and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. D) The legislatures are far more powerful than the courts and, therefore, can advance political change on their own. E) Legislatures need constitutional authority to act from the courts, and the courts need legislative assistance to implement court orders and focus political support.

The Articles of Confederation were adopted in A) 1763. B) 1768. C) 1777. D) 1787. E) 1791.

The Bill of Rights is the A) first ten amendments to the Constitution. B) first constitution the Founders wrote. C) charter of freedom established by the English lords against the king. D) Fourteenth Amendment. E) first governing document of Plymouth Colony.

The Bill of Rights was designed to protect A) equality. B) liberty. C) democracy. D) capitalism. E) socialism.

The Bill of Rights was ratified by the states in A) 1776. B) 1787. C) 1791. D) 1802. E) 1812.

The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth amendments are largely about A) protections for those accused of committing a crime. B) the right to privacy and travel. C) the demands that citizens be treated equally. D) the limits of Congress regarding economic regulation. E) the process of amending the Constitution.

The number of cases filed in the Supreme Court has A) increased dramatically since 1940. B) decreased dramatically since 1940. C) remained the same since 1940. D) increased between 1940 and 1965 but decreased since 1965. E) decreased between 1940 and 1965 but increased since 1965.

The Civil Rights Act of 1875 attempted to A) protect African Americans from discrimination in public accommodations such as hotels and theaters. B) protect African Americans against disenfranchisement in the voting booth. C) expand the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment to recent Asian immigrants. D) restore civil rights to former Confederate soldiers and sympathizers. E) protect women against disenfranchisement in the voting booth.

The Civil Service Act of 1883 attempted to pattern government hiring after practices found in A) business. B) the Catholic Church. C) Congress. D) local government. E) the military.

The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the A) First Amendment's right to freedom of speech. B) FCC's equal time rule. C) FCC's right of rebuttal. D) FCC's fairness doctrine. E) Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause.

The Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office are examples of A) staff agencies. B) executive-congressional liaison offices. C) caucuses. D) select committees. E) conference committees.

The Constitution was amended in ______ to give eighteen-year-olds the right to vote. A) 1900 B) 1920 C) 1942 D) 1971 E) 1994

The Constitution was amended to allow women to vote during all public elections in A) 1870. B) 1885. C) 1920. D) 1948. E) 1965.

The Constitution's Preamble, beginning with the words "We the People," is an illustration of what principle? A) majority rule B) political equality C) popular sovereignty D) minority rights E) political rights

The Eighth Amendment prohibits A) double jeopardy. B) cruel and unusual punishment. C) denial of a lawyer in felony trials. D) the violation of habeas corpus. E) unlawful searches and seizures.

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was established under A) George Washington in 1790. B) Andrew Jackson in 1829. C) Franklin Roosevelt in 1939. D) Lyndon Johnson in 1965. E) Bill Clinton in 1993.

The Fair Housing Act of 1968 A) had little effect on housing segregation because its enforcement mechanisms were very weak. B) had little effect on housing segregation because it was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1969. C) had little effect on housing segregation because most housing segregation had been eliminated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. D) dramatically increased housing segregation. E) dramatically reduced housing segregation.

The Fifteenth Amendment, passed in 1870, mandated that A) states were forbidden to impose poll taxes. B) no state could prevent the right to vote on account of race. C) no state could deny the right to vote on account of gender. D) no state could deny the right to vote on account of property requirements. E) literacy tests were forbidden in federal elections.

The Founders A) explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were enough to protect political freedom. B) explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed in pluralism. C) provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed direct democracy was a better form of government than representative democracy. D) provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were not enough to protect political freedom. E) provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed it was the only way to guarantee political equality.

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to A) lead to quicker filing of habeas corpus petitions. B) make more national security documents available to the public. C) prevent inefficiency and waste in government management. D) expand the freedom of speech granted to government employees. E) allow the government to acquire any information about a person to aid in a government investigation.

The Great Compromise led to the A) legalization of slavery. B) creation of a bicameral Congress. C) creation of the Supreme Court. D) peaceful conclusion of Shays's Rebellion. E) abolition of the slave trade.

The Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Antitrust Act are examples of the federal government's attempt to A) control discretionary spending. B) deregulate the economy. C) regulate large businesses that established monopolies. D) control mandatory spending. E) close tax loopholes.

The National League of Cities is a good example of a A) public-sector interest group. B) professional association. C) political party. D) political action committee. E) public interest group.

The National Origins quota system A) allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. B) allowed only a small quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but a large quota of immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. C) allowed the same quota of new immigrants from every country around the world. D) abolished the quota system for immigrants from certain countries. E) outlawed all immigration from European countries.

The National Park Service is A) part of the Department of the Interior. B) part of the Department of Agriculture. C) part of the Department of Energy. D) an independent agency. E) a government corporation.

The Office of Management and Budget and the Council of Economic Advisers are both parts of A) the Cabinet. B) the White House staff. C) the Office of the Vice President. D) the Executive Office of the President. E) the Department of the Interior.

The Pentagon Papers were released as a result of A) Nixon's repudiation of the Johnson administration's strategy in Vietnam. B) investigations led by Washington Post reporters in 1972. C) a leak by a minor Defense Department staffer. D) an accident in which some of the papers were left on a Washington, D.C., subway. E) a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Populist Party appeals to which of the following groups? A) Western mining interests, small farmers, and urban workers B) eastern bankers, southern planters, and wealthy merchants C) northern bankers, landowners, and factory workers D) southern bankers, northern mining interests, and factory owners E) eastern mining interests, southern merchants, and small farmers

The Reconstruction era in the South came to an end because A) African Americans had been granted full social, political, and economic equality in the South. B) Northern Republicans agreed to remove federal troops from the South and give up on their support for civil liberties if Southern Democrats allowed Rutherford B. Hayes to become president. C) the Supreme Court ruled that federal troops could not be stationed in Southern states under the Constitution. D) A referendum on the federal government's military presence was held in 1876 and a majority of Americans voted to end the Reconstruction policies. E) In 1876, state legislatures from around the South passed laws forcing the federal government to remove all troops immediately.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in 1993, was an attempt to A) recognize Judeo-Christianity as the unofficial religion of the United States. B) give more protection to religious freedoms than the Supreme Court was allowing. C) establish a federal school voucher program. D) permit prayer in public schools. E) limit the kinds of religious ceremonies that nonmainstream religious organizations conduct at their services.

The Senate's constitutional power of advice and consent extends to which of the following? A) the president's power to make treaties with foreign nations B) the president's power to make executive agreements C) the president's power to issue executive orders D) the president's power to issue pardons E) all federal court decisions regarding the separation of powers

The Three-fifths Compromise A) determined that three out of every five slaves would be counted for purposes of representation and taxation. B) determined the ratio between free states and slave states. C) created a bicameral legislature. D) declared that the states would pay three-fifths of the Revolutionary War debt and the federal government would pay the rest. E) determined that all American citizens would pay three-fifths of their income to the federal government in taxes every year.

The UN Security Council has ______ permanent members and ______ elected members. A) five; five B) ten; ten C) five; ten D) ten; twenty-five E) ten; five

The State of the Union address is A) required by a law passed by Congress in 1802 and renewed ever since. B) requested by the president, and comity demands that his request is always accepted. C) based on tradition but was discontinued during the Great Depression and World War II. D) mandated by the Constitution. E) requested by the media and nearly always agreed to by the president and Congress.

The Supreme Court case Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC upheld A) the fairness doctrine. B) the right of rebuttal. C) the equal time rule. D) framing. E) the agenda-setting provision.

The Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in McDonald v. Chicago was significant because A) it applied the Second Amendment to state governments for the first time. B) it rejected the idea that the Second Amendment applies to state governments. C) it concluded that the Second Amendment applies only to state governments and not to the federal government. D) it banned assault rifles in the United States. E) it upheld the state of Illinois's restrictions on gun ownership by former felons.

The Supreme Court's decision in R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul suggests that A) high school students have the same freedom of speech rights as adults. B) political speech receives more protection under the Constitution than commercial speech. C) commercial speech receives more protection under the Constitution than political speech. D) virtually all hate speech is not protected by the Constitution. E) virtually all hate speech is constitutionally protected.

The Supreme Court's decisions in Van Orden v. Perry and McCreary v. ACLU illustrate that A) the issue of government-sponsored displays of religious symbols has not yet been definitively settled. B) there are different opinions about whether the establishment clause should apply to state governments as well as to the federal government. C) the free exercise clause has still not been incorporated through the Fourteenth Amendment. D) the Lemon test does not apply to cases involving school prayer. E) the government will never be allowed to display any kind of religious symbols anywhere on government property.

The Supreme Court's ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson A) established the separate but equal rule. B) upheld the Civil Rights Act of 1875. C) declared that segregation by race was unconstitutional. D) ruled that the equal protection clause did not cover private acts of discrimination. E) ruled that the equal protection clause applied only to the federal government and not to state governments.

The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program is administered A) by the federal government. B) by the states, with uniform benefit levels set by the federal government. C) by the states, with benefit levels varying between states. D) through private agencies with governmental contracts. E) by the federal government, with benefit levels varying between states.

The Terri Schiavo case was an example of A) the controversy surrounding the so-called right to die. B) the limits of the Fourth Amendment. C) selective incorporation of the Bill of Rights. D) the Supreme Court's difficulty in defining "cruel and unusual punishment." E) the difference between the establishment clause and the free exercise clause.

The United States began its tradition of the ______ during the early eighteenth century. A) single-party mandate B) two-party system C) multiparty system D) proportional representation E) 527 committees

The United States withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol because it A) did not include any provisions to limit carbon emissions. B) did not require other countries to protect basic human rights. C) would threaten American national security. D) would be too harmful to American national economic interests. E) did not go far enough in limiting carbon emissions.

The ______ asserted that the president could send American troops into action abroad only in the event of a declaration of war or other statutory authorization by Congress, or if American troops were attacked or directly endangered. A) War Powers Resolution of 1973 B) National Security Act of 1947 C) Neutrality Act of 1937 D) Boland Amendment of 1982 E) Arms Control Export Act of 1976

The ______ is determined by the amount by which government spending exceeds government revenue in a fiscal year. A) budget deficit B) inflation rate C) gross domestic product D) reserve requirement E) gross national product

The ______ is the last example of indirect voting in national elections. A) referendum B) electoral college C) closed primary D) open primary E) franchise

The ______ is the most important concept for the theory of pluralism. A) individual B) state C) group D) vote E) nation

The ability of the president to veto a bill passed by Congress is a good example of what principle of limited government? A) separation of powers B) federalism C) checks and balances D) civil liberties E) majority rule, minority rights

The area of authority possessed by a court, in terms of either subject area or geography, is called its A) appellate scope. B) judicial review. C) precedents. D) jurisdiction. E) mandate.

The average winning margin in House elections is A) 5 percent. B) 10 percent. C) 25 percent. D) 40 percent. E) 50 percent.

The belief that government is a wasteful and dangerous institution and should be limited to as few activities as possible is an example of a political A) culture. B) value. C) ideology. D) truism. E) interest.

The belief that you can influence how your government acts is called A) political efficacy. B) saliency. C) popular sovereignty. D) autocracy. E) oligarchy.

The bourgeoisie sought to change which of the following institutions into instruments of political participation? A) monarchies B) universities C) independent judiciaries D) newspapers E) parliaments

The central thrust of federal housing policy has been to A) promote home ownership. B) reduce homelessness. C) provide low-cost rental units for the poor. D) provide uniform housing safety standards. E) provide equitable housing for minorities.

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to A) important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information. B) the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums. C) the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches, ideas, and votes. D) the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication. E) the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television.

The constitutional authority of Congress to forbid discrimination in employment is based on the A) power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. B) equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. C) privileges and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. D) Thirteenth Amendment. E) Tenth Amendment.

The constitutional idea of states' rights was strongest during which historical period? A) the years immediately preceding the Civil War B) Reconstruction C) the 1910s D) the Great Depression E) the 1960s

The controversy over suspicionless drug tests at school and in the workplace pits the government's war on drugs against the right A) against self-incrimination. B) against profiling. C) to take drugs. D) to privacy from unwarranted searches. E) to a jury trial.

The decentralization of news refers to A) the expansion in the number of people who subscribe to traditional newspapers. B) the growing number of news organizations that maintain bureaus in Washington, D.C. C) the decline of national media reporting and the revitalization of local news coverage. D) the fact that it is now easier to find coverage of international affairs in the United States than it is to find coverage of domestic affairs. E) the tendency for reporters to ignore the actions of the president and focus instead on low-ranking government bureaucrats.

The decline of voting and political participation by Americans has which of the following effects? A) It increases the powers of both the Congress and the president. B) It weakens the power of both the president and Congress. C) It enhances the power of the president while weakening Congress. D) It increases the powers of Congress while weakening the president. E) It increases the powers of state governments and weakens the federal government.

The determination of the time and structure of floor debate on a bill, in the House of Representatives, is up to the A) bill's authors. B) Rules Committee. C) Ways and Means Committee. D) majority leader. E) congressional staff.

The development of media giants with access to a variety of media holdings raises the question of whether A) local newspapers are no longer a viable source of news. B) the level of censorship and manipulation of news media by the federal government will increase. C) there is enough competition among the media to produce a diverse set of views and opinions. D) there is a large enough audience for all of the news media sources that have proliferated in the last decade. E) government has the authority to regulate corporations that are so large.

The essential dilemma of a limited government raised by the ratification debates is A) a government too weak to do harm also cannot do good. B) power sharing is inherently unstable and too often violent. C) a government of expressed powers will slip into an oligarchy. D) government may promote civil virtue only at the expense of national power. E) a government of limited powers will be unable to protect national security.

The events that led to the Revolutionary War were triggered by which of the following? A) The British raised revenue by increasing the tax rate of the colonies. B) The British had established suspicious alliances with Indian tribes during the French and Indian Wars. C) American separatists assassinated King George II. D) Protestant fundamentalists in New England were attempting to establish a theocracy. E) The British were attempting to end slavery in the colonies.

The existence of slavery in the United States is a good example of how A) American values are not always reflected in practice. B) Americans do not value liberty. C) European ideals have influenced American political culture. D) political needs are often placed above economic needs. E) liberty requires popular sovereignty.

The expansion of the Executive Office of the President, the development of regulatory review, and the use of executive orders have been important because they A) are deeply unpopular with the public and have led to the declining trust in American government. B) make it very difficult for challengers to defeat incumbent presidents in elections. C) have given presidents substantial capacity to achieve significant policy results despite congressional opposition to their legislative agendas. D) have dramatically limited the power of the president and made it easier for Congress to dominate the American political system. E) have rendered the judiciary essentially irrelevant in the American political system.

How have changes in modern communication affected political thinking in the United States?

The extreme bias and popularity of new forms of media such as cable news networks and Internet blogs have led to a rise in faulty perceptions and thus a decrease in political thinking.

The fact that Democratic Party leaders have become more liberal and Republican Party leaders more conservative is important because A) it has made the gender gap much smaller. B) it has significantly decreased the illusion of saliency in polling. C) it has significantly increased the illusion of saliency in polling. D) partisans in the public tend to rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues. E) partisans in the public no longer rely on party leaders for cues on the appropriate positions to take on major political issues.

The fact that lawyers must be licensed by the state of California is an example of A) reserved power. B) concurrent power. C) police power. D) expressed power. E) implied power.

The fact that the media referred to the Obama administration's health care initiative as "reform" instead of as "health care rationing" is an example of the media's power of A) agenda setting. B) framing. C) sound bites. D) news enclaves. E) adversarial journalism.

The federal government's role in providing electricity to rural areas is an example of the fact that A) government often supplies public goods that are too big or risky for private actors to tackle. B) private businesses are always more efficient at providing public goods and services than government actors. C) government never gives up control of an industry once they have started to regulate it. D) state governments are not allowed under the Constitution to engage in any activity related to the provision of public goods. E) the federal government has rarely undertaken projects to produce public goods.

The filibuster is likely to remain a feature of legislative politics in the United States because A) the House, the Senate, and the president all must agree to eliminate it. B) it makes majority rule in the Senate much easier. C) a sixty-seven vote majority is required to eliminate it. D) a constitutional amendment is required to eliminate it. E) it is universally regarded as an essential part of every legislative assembly.

The first lady is an important resource for the president in his capacity as A) head of government. B) head of state. C) commander in chief. D) legislative initiator. E) chief diplomat.

The first modern free speech case in which the Supreme Court interpreted the full scope of the First Amendment was A) in the 1790s, soon after the Bill of Rights was ratified. B) during the Civil War. C) in the years right after World War I. D) during the Great Depression. E) during the Cold War.

The first organized interest groups arose in response to the A) debates about the ratification of the Constitution. B) Civil War. C) economic interventions of the federal government during the 1890s. D) New Deal policies during the 1930s. E) New Politics movement of the 1960s.

The first party system was characterized by conflict between the ______ and the ______. A) Federalists; Jeffersonian Republicans B) Democrats; Republicans C) Whigs; Democrats D) Whigs; Jeffersonian Republicans E) Whigs; Federalists

The first prerequisite to increasing political efficacy is A) increasing political knowledge. B) decreasing political knowledge. C) reducing political participation. D) reducing trust in government. E) reducing popular sovereignty.

The first regulatory agency was the ______, created by Congress in ______. A) U.S. Post Office; 1791 B) Interstate Commerce Commission; 1887 C) Federal Communications Commission; 1934 D) Environmental Protection Agency; 1970 E) Federal Trade Commission; 1914

The foreign policy ideals that Americans have historically espoused assert that our foreign policies should A) focus on the interests of the United States at the expense of all other nations. B) focus on the interests of other nations at the expense of our own personal interests. C) have a higher purpose than the pursuit of our own interests and to use force only as a last resort. D) promote the use of force to advance democracy around the world. E) focus on working with the United Nations to promote democracy around the world.

The framers of the Constitution attempted to create a government that could do all of the following except A) promote commerce. B) protect private property from radical state legislatures. C) limit excessive democracy. D) restrict the power of the central government. E) lead to the eventual inclusion of nonwhites in political life.

The free-rider phenomenon A) becomes increasingly problematic in very large groups. B) becomes increasingly problematic in very small groups. C) is not affected in any way by the size of the group in question. D) is not related to groups in any way because it is an individual-level problem. E) makes collective action considerably easier.

The goals of American social policy are A) popular and receive wide support. B) often controversial. C) determined not by popular opinion but by the Constitution. D) often changed drastically from administration to administration. E) similar to those seen in the social programs of other countries.

The idea of ______ identifies the best representative as the one who shares a similar racial, ethnic, religious, or occupational background with those he or she represents. A) agency representation B) sociological representation C) mirroring representation D) trustee representation E) delegate representation

The idea that the government can stimulate a slow economy by increasing public spending or cutting taxes is called A) laissez-faire economics. B) Keynesianism. C) social democracy. D) rational choice theory. E) monetarism.

The increase of administrative agencies since the New Deal has resulted in a(n) A) increased instance of Congress writing administrative rules. B) delegation of power by Congress to administrative agencies. C) strict nondelegation doctrine pronounced by the Supreme Court. D) increase in states making administrative law. E) increase in federal laws being challenged in the courts.

The increased amount of information online A) has eliminated misinformation in public opinion. B) has destroyed the "filter bubbles" that many people used to be trapped inside. C) has decreased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge. D) has increased the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge. E) has not had any effect on the gap between the haves and the have-nots in terms of political knowledge.

The increased number and importance of interest groups A) causes a subsequent expansion in government. B) is a response to an increase in the size and activity of government. C) is a response to a decrease in the size and activity of government. D) is a direct result of a more broadly defined First Amendment freedom of association. E) is due to the decline in the United States' multiparty system.

The issue of representation, which threatened to wreck the entire Constitutional Convention, was resolved by the Great Compromise, also called the A) New Jersey Plan. B) Connecticut Compromise. C) Pennsylvania Compromise. D) Delaware Deal. E) Virginia Plan.

The jurisdiction of each federal court is derived from A) the Constitution and federal law. B) the Supreme Court. C) state laws. D) The federal courts decide their own jurisdictions. E) the president.

The key group in Europe that pushed for limited government was the A) bourgeoisie. B) idiotes. C) citizens. D) poor. E) peasantry.

The last time Congress exercised its constitutional power to declare war was in A) 1941. B) 1950. C) 1964. D) 2001. E) 2003.

The legality of interracial marriages prior to 1967 is an example of A) how states have always been forced to recognize marriages performed in other states. B) states' power to ignore the full faith and credit clause if it is against their strong public policy interests. C) the fact that only the federal government has the power to recognize marriages. D) the strict limits of the necessary and proper clause. E) the power of the privileges and immunities clause.

What point is the author trying to make when he makes note of the fact that the White House Press Office was once run by a single individual?

The level to which political leaders spin their messages has increased dramatically.

The main problem with voting as a form of political participation is that A) citizens cannot communicate very much information by only casting a ballot. B) the electoral system is rigged to favor the status quo. C) voting is a form of political participation that requires the most time and commitment. D) voting has very little impact on what government does. E) there are many legal obstacles that prevent most citizens from voting.

The majority of PACs represent A) single-issue advocacy groups. B) trial lawyers. C) business and professional groups. D) the Republicans and Democrats. E) environmental groups and religious organizations.

The media can set the political agenda in the United States by A) identifying an issue as a problem that must be solved. B) endorsing a particular political candidate. C) accepting advertising only from businesses that are identified as being ideologically "correct." D) maintaining a strictly nonpartisan approach to news reporting. E) refusing to follow government regulations regarding the content of news broadcasts.

The most common occupation among members of Congress before coming to Congress is A) business executive. B) sales representative. C) professor. D) lawyer. E) lobbyist.

The most important selection bias in news is A) the ideology of the journalists. B) the audience appeal of a story. C) the newsworthiness of a story. D) the economic interests of the media's owners. E) the approval of government regulators.

The most visible indication of oversight is the A) use of a unanimous Supreme Court opinion by the lower federal courts to generate public support for a particular policy. B) use of the nullification power by the states to declare an act of the federal government unconstitutional. C) use of public hearings before congressional committees and subcommittees. D) budget deficit. E) using the Congressional Budget Office to report on how much particular legislation is going to cost the American taxpayer.

The politics of the IRS are interesting because A) it is the one government agency that does not have to obey court orders. B) the IRS is the most popular agency in all of government, and this popularity leads almost all Americans to comply with the agency's rules. C) Congress, the president, and the Treasury Department have little to no influence over the taxation decisions made by the IRS. D) influence over tax decisions regarding exemptions is spread broadly throughout the fifty states and is not concentrated in any one area or among any one group. E) contrary to popular perceptions, key tax decisions regarding exemptions are made by Congress, the president, and the Treasury Department rather than by the IRS itself.

The power of the Christian Coalition in the 1990s was due to A) its ability to donate large sums of money to candidates. B) its success in mobilizing a large grassroots base. C) the number of its members who were elected to political office. D) its close alignment with the Democratic Party. E) the number of its members who were appointed to the federal judiciary.

The power of the Supreme Court to review state actions and legislation comes from A) the judicial review clause of Article III. B) the supremacy clause of Article VI. C) the Tenth Amendment. D) Marbury v. Madison. E) Congress.

The power of the media to draw public attention to particular issues and problems is called A) framing. B) canvassing. C) agenda setting. D) polling. E) the bandwagon effect.

The power to declare war is given to ______ under the Constitution. A) the president B) the Senate C) both houses of Congress D) the Senate, with the approval of the president E) the Department of Defense

The practice of lobbying is protected by A) the First Amendment. B) state and federal laws dating from the 1930s. C) internal rules of Congress. D) the personal relationships between lobbyists and politicians. E) a 1961 Supreme Court decision.

The primary responsibility for conducting public elections rests with A) the federal government. B) state and local governments. C) political parties. D) the candidates running for office. E) privately owned and operated election companies.

The principle of "one person, one vote" was established by the Supreme Court in the A) 1790s. B) 1820s. C) 1870s. D) 1930s. E) 1960s.

The protests against SOPA and PIPA are an example of A) how members of Congress can use new media to ensure the passage of their preferred pieces of legislation. B) how online political action can never achieve its goals. C) how new media can be effectively used to mobilize offline participation in politics. D) how new media cannot be effectively used to mobilize offline participation in politics. E) how new media has made offline participation in politics completely obsolete.

The requirement of standing means that parties in a case must A) be alive. B) have a concrete injury or interest at stake. C) be present in court during the trial. D) know the law they are using to defend themselves. E) have an attorney present with them in court.

The right of due process is best described as the right of A) everyone to appeal his trial. B) every citizen to vote. C) every person not to be treated arbitrarily by a government official or agency. D) every person to be a lawyer. E) every person to sue when he or she feels harmed in some way.

The role the House of Representatives plays in impeachments can best be compared with that of a A) judge. B) grand jury. C) prosecuting attorney. D) defense attorney. E) defense witness.

The separate but equal doctrine was introduced in what Supreme Court case? A) Plessy v. Ferguson B) the civil rights cases C) Brown v. Board of Education D) Roe v. Wade E) Marbury v. Madison

The size of the U.S. Supreme Court is set by A) the U.S. Constitution. B) Congress. C) a national convention. D) the American Bar Association. E) the president.

The social desirability effect refers to A) the bias in surveys that comes from the repeated failure of pollsters to interview respondents who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. B) the strong desire that people have to express their opinions to survey researchers. C) the fact that respondents report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear or whatever they think is socially acceptable rather than what they actually believe or know to be true. D) the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not. E) the tendency for people to shift their electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner.

The specific powers granted to the national government in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution are called the A) implied powers. B) expressed powers. C) sovereign powers. D) executive powers. E) absolute powers.

The supremacy clause A) states that Congress is the most powerful branch of the government. B) establishes that no branch of the government is supreme over others. C) announces that the Constitution and all laws made under it are superior to any state laws. D) announces that state laws are superior to any federal laws. E) declares that no European powers shall interfere in North America.

The takings clause states that government may not take private property A) for public use. B) without prior notification. C) without just compensation. D) without giving it back in due time. E) for any reason.

The technique of popular mobilization dates back to the presidency of A) Thomas Jefferson. B) Ulysses Grant. C) Theodore Roosevelt. D) Franklin Roosevelt. E) Andrew Johnson.

The term gender gap refers to A) differences in political opinions between men and women. B) differences in education and income levels for men and women. C) differing levels of political participation between the genders. D) differences in fundamental political values held by men and women. E) differences in the amount of attention elected officials give to men and women in their campaign speeches.

Which interest group in the United States is more likely to depend on demonstrations and other nontraditional strategies of influence? A) ethnic groups B) economic groups C) environmental groups D) human rights groups E) diplomatic groups

The term marble cake federalism is meant to refer to what development? A) budgeting being conducted with a "dessert first" mentality B) intergovernmental cooperation blurring the lines between different layers of government C) the federal government bribing the states with various gifts in order to convince them to follow national standards D) federalism becoming hard and tasteless E) the confusion that emerged during the 1960s about which layer of government is actually responsible for regulating the national economy

The term public opinion is used to describe A) the president's collected speeches and writings during his term in office. B) the analysis of events broadcasted by reporters during the evening news. C) beliefs and attitudes toward different issues, events, and people. D) the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions. E) political debates that take place between citizens in public settings.

The traditional American distrust of diplomacy has resulted in which situation? A) The budget and personnel at the State Department has been drastically cut since the end of the Cold War. B) Presidents often use military or political leaders outside the State Department during a crisis. C) The United States has closed down embassies in many nations since the mid-1990s. D) The United States has limited the amount of meetings the president has with foreign ambassadors. E) Foreign ambassadors demand much more from the U.S. president than in the past.

The turning point in American politics toward a president-centered government came about during the administration of A) Andrew Jackson. B) Abraham Lincoln. C) Franklin Roosevelt. D) Richard Nixon. E) Ronald Reagan.

The two presidents to be impeached by the House of Representatives were Bill Clinton and A) Andrew Jackson. B) Andrew Johnson. C) Herbert Hoover. D) Richard Nixon. E) Warren Harding.

The typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents is A) 0.1 percent. B) 0.5 percent. C) 2.5 percent. D) 10 percent. E) 15 percent.

The use of taxing and spending powers to shape the economy is part of ______ policy. A) fiscal B) monetary C) regulatory D) distributive E) redistributive

The various attitudes that citizens possess toward political issues, events, and people are called A) public opinions. B) political values. C) public ideologies. D) political propaganda. E) cultural philosophies.

The written opinions of appellate courts have been described as halfway between ______ and ______. A) common law; statutory law B) stare decisis; administrative rule making C) civil law; constitutional law D) public law; private law E) common law; public law

How does the number of lawyers in the United States compare to those in Britain, Italy, or Germany, on a per capita basis?

There are twice as many lawyers in the United States.

Which of the following is true of the issue of the creation of a national bank?

Thomas Jefferson opposed a national bank for fear it would serve only wealthy interests at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Three factors related to the American electoral system affect who is elected to office in this country and what they do once they get there. Those factors are A) party affiliation, family connections, and the substance of issues raised during a campaign. B) who decides to run for office, incumbency, and the drawing of district lines. C) incumbency, franking, and party affiliation. D) military service, professional connections, and religious beliefs. E) race, religious beliefs, and the region of the country the district falls within.

Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been linked to the A) idea of privacy. B) idea of limited government. C) idea of unlimited government. D) idea of economic equality. E) Articles of Confederation.

Throughout its history, American politics has been dominated by A) one major political party. B) two major political parties. C) three major political parties. D) four major political parties. E) five major political parties.

To draw voting districts so that one group or party is unfairly advantaged is called A) disenfranchisement. B) gerrymandering. C) busing. D) logrolling. E) redlining.

Under normal rules of oral argument, each lawyer has ______ to present his or her case before the Supreme Court. A) thirty minutes B) an hour C) ninety minutes D) two hours E) unlimited time

Under the Articles of Confederation, the relationship between the states and the federal government can best be compared to A) the United Nations' relationship with member states. B) a state government's relationship with counties. C) a state government's relationship with cities. D) the Soviet Union's relationship with member republics. E) the United States' relationship with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

What was the constitutional basis for the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Under the doctrine of implied powers, Congress had the power to create a national bank because it was assigned the powers to tax, borrow money, and regulate interstate commerce under the Constitution, and national law was supreme over conflicting state law.

What did the Supreme Court declare in Miller v. Johnson? A) Districts could not be drawn to favor the incumbent candidate. B) The racial composition of a district could not be the predominant factor when redistricting. C) Incumbents could not begin fund-raising more than nine months before the general election. D) It was not unconstitutional for states to use an unelected, nonpartisan committee to redistrict. E) The use of computer technologies to draw districts that will favor one party over another is unconstitutional.

Which idea of representation says that a legislator should be viewed as someone whom voters hire to represent their interests? A) agency representation B) sociological representation C) mirroring representation D) trustee representation E) contract representation

What Supreme Court case ruled that prayer in public schools was unconstitutional? A) Plessy v. Ferguson B) Engel v. Vitale C) Roe v. Wade D) Falwell v. Hustler E) Brown v. Board of Education

What are political parties more capable of doing than interest groups? A) raising money B) providing solidary benefits C) providing purposive benefits D) articulating a clear and persuasive ideology E) organizing people on a mass scale

What are the greatest dangers associated with a trustee model of representation? A) Members of the Congress may not bring back enough pork-barrel projects to their districts. B) Representatives may become inattentive to the wishes and opinions of their constituents. C) Members of Congress may give inadequate deference to the executive branch in the area of national security. D) The representatives who adopt this model are too influenced by special interest groups. E) Members of Congress may become too polarized, and bipartisanship will decrease significantly.

What are the most common private bills proposed in Congress? A) bills giving individuals or corporations tax relief B) bills for permanent visas or citizenship for foreign nationals C) bills for defense contracts in a representative's district D) bills that declare certain foreign nationals enemies of the United States E) There are no private bills in Congress; all bills must be public.

What bloc of voters has recently been called "the sleeping giant"? A) African Americans B) Latinos C) Asian Americans D) middle-class whites E) upper-class whites

What constitutional clause affirms that national laws and treaties, made under the authority of the Constitution, are the supreme law of the land? A) the full faith and credit clause B) the necessary and proper clause C) the republican government clause D) the supremacy clause E) the establishment clause

What did the Supreme Court rule in Bowers v. Hardwick? A) There was a constitutional right to privacy for consensual homosexual activity. B) There was no constitutional right to privacy for consensual homosexual activity. C) The Court extended civil rights protection of gays and lesbians as a class. D) The Court legalized gay marriages. E) The Court ruled that employment discrimination against gays and lesbians was a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

What did the framers call the "least dangerous branch"? A) the Senate B) the Supreme Court C) the system of state courts D) the president E) the bureaucracy

What distinguishes lobbying from other strategies of influence? A) Lobbying is the least expensive and the most democratic strategy of influencing government. B) Lobbyists try to exert pressure directly on government officials themselves. C) Lobbyists attempt to influence government directly by running for elected office. D) Lobbying is the only form of influence that has explicit First Amendment protection from regulation. E) Lobbying involves advertising in order to create a positive image of an organization.

What happened when Harry Truman seized control of the nation's steel mills during the Korean War? A) His action was upheld by the Supreme Court as a constitutional exercise of war powers. B) Congress passed a bill shortly afterward that retroactively approved the steel mill seizures. C) The Supreme Court declared his actions without basis in law or the Constitution. D) The steel mills quickly capitulated to Truman's wartime demands, and the issue passed without further resolution. E) Congress immediately passed a bill that legally prohibited the president from seizing the mills, and Truman quickly rescinded his executive order.

What has been the main problem posed for U.S. states by international trade agreements? A) These agreements cause confusion when each state interprets them differently. B) These agreements have led to intense competition between individual states. C) These agreements often limit the regulatory authority of states. D) The Constitution grants each state a veto over these agreements, but Congress has used its implied powers to usurp these vetoes. E) These agreements usually require states to spend a great deal of money but offer little return on their investment.

What is one of the biggest problems with federal block grants? A) There is a need for greater accountability in how the funds are actually spent by the states. B) There is a need to be sure that the states are following the precise regulations established by the federal government. C) There is a need to make sure the grants do not violate the commerce clause of the Constitution. D) Republican administrations have been unwilling to allow block grants. E) States have been unwilling to accept any funding from the federal government.

What is one of the main differences between those who have gone to college and those who have not? A) Those with a college education are less likely to believe that women and men should have equal roles. B) Those with a college education are more likely to believe that abortion should never be allowed. C) There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education. D) There is a lower level of political participation among those with a college education. E) Those with a college education are more likely to believe that the United States should not concern itself with other nations' problems.

What is required for Congress to override a presidential veto? A) a majority of both houses of Congress B) two-thirds of both houses of Congress C) three-fourths of both houses of Congress D) a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress E) A president's veto cannot be overridden unless it concerns the budget, in which case it requires a three-fourths of both houses.

What is the most important and beneficial resource that lobbyists provide government officials? A) legitimacy B) money C) information D) campaign workers E) legal assistance

What is the most important way the government affects personal and corporate investments? A) granting tax breaks for stock gains and losses B) promoting investor confidence through policies enforcing stability and regard for the law C) allowing Social Security pensions to be invested in the stock market D) requiring that all stock and bond transfers remain confidential E) bailing out corporations like GM that are considered "too big to fail"

What is the primary variable for predicting the likelihood of joining an interest group? A) having an interest shared by others B) having a higher income and education C) already being a member of a political party D) having connections with government officials E) the region of the country in which an individual lives

What is the purpose of the Tenth Amendment? A) to offer each state constitution the same level of protection provided by the federal constitution B) to limit the powers of the central government by establishing reserved powers for states and individuals C) to grant citizens of each state access to the federal court system D) to protect freedom of speech E) to establish the electoral college

What is the significance of dissenting opinions? A) They are made to appeal to a justice's constituency groups. B) They have as much weight of law as the majority's opinion does. C) Dissents are signs that the Court is in disagreement on an issue and could change its ruling. D) Dissents are meant to confuse lawyers and government officials as to the true meaning of a decided case. E) They are meant to appease the losing side in a case.

What issue led to the demise of the Whig Party? A) slavery B) economic regulations and tariffs C) the admission of California into the Union D) the death of Andrew Jackson E) industrialization

What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government? A) legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote B) the right of revolution and the spread of socialism C) debt relief for the poor and the right of citizens to hold office D) the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution E) the growth in ethnic and religious diversity

Which event was most influential in the rise of a more active national government? A) the War of 1812 B) the Civil War C) World War I D) the Great Depression

Which group has had great popularity on radio talk shows? A) conservatives B) liberals C) socialists D) communists E) racial and ethnic minorities

What unusual action did Texas take after the 2000 census? A) The Texas legislature refused to change the congressional districts from what they were during the 1990s. B) Texas redistricted twice, in 2001 and 2003. C) The Texas legislature established a nonpartisan redistricting board to draw new districts. D) The Texas legislature permitted the Department of Justice to draw the new district boundaries, in conformity with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. E) The Texas legislature allowed citizens to vote directly on how each of the new districts should be drawn.

What was one effect of dual federalism during the early Republic? A) The national government was spared the task of making difficult policy decisions, such as the regulation of slavery, because the states did it themselves. B) The national government was unable to raise sufficient amounts of money through taxes and tariffs. C) The number of federal criminal laws expanded rapidly, while state criminal laws decreased. D) The national government was able to significantly expand civil rights for blacks in the South. E) The strength and size of the military grew dramatically.

What was the Marshall Plan? A) the original blueprint for the United Nations B) an early attempt to establish a military alliance between North America and western Europe C) the economic recovery package of aid from the United States to western Europe after World War II D) aid to rebuild the Japanese economy along capitalist lines after World War II E) aid to rebuild the Iraqi economy after the Persian Gulf War

What was the Supreme Court's record in segregation cases in the years before Brown v. Board of Education? A) The Court overturned forms of segregation using the separate but equal rule on factual grounds. B) The Court had struck down forms of segregation through the commerce clause, not the Fourteenth Amendment. C) The Court consistently refused to strike down any form of segregation. D) The Court had already struck down separate but equal as a principle before Brown. E) The Court had refused to hear cases on segregation before Brown.

What was the Supreme Court's response to the Civil Rights Act of 1875? A) It declared the act constitutional. B) It declared the act unconstitutional because it protected against acts of private discrimination, not state discrimination. C) It declared the act unconstitutional because Congress had violated the principles of federalism. D) It declared the act unconstitutional because Congress had violated the separation of powers. E) The Supreme Court never heard a case concerning the constitutionality of this act.

What was the chief bureaucratic flaw identified by the 9/11 Commission? A) The CIA director lacked adequate access to the president. B) There was a lack of communication between the domestic and foreign security agencies. C) The Federal Aviation Administration was not properly monitoring all inbound airplanes on 9/11. D) Diplomacy with the Taliban and other sponsors of terrorism had broken down in the mid-1990s. E) The government did not act swiftly enough after the attack in order to prevent further casualties.

What was the main fear concerning the consequences of outdoor relief? A) It perpetuated poverty. B) It was not cost effective. C) It involved the state too much. D) It was unconstitutional. E) It did not provide enough relief.

What was the main reason that Alexander Hamilton did not want a bill of rights? A) He wanted the government to have as much power as possible. B) He believed that too many individual liberties destroyed the trust between citizen and government. C) He believed it was unnecessary for a government that possessed only specifically delegated powers. D) He believed a bill of rights would make the Constitution too long and cumbersome. E) He believed a bill of rights would lead to too many frivolous lawsuits.

What was the most significant education policy developed by the federal government in the nineteenth century? A) the creation of compulsory elementary school education B) the establishment of land-grant colleges C) the creation of the G.I. Bill D) the development of a standard national elementary school curriculum E) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

What was the original purpose of voter registration? A) to reduce corruption by making it more difficult to vote B) to simplify the voting process C) to make voters more dependent on the political parties D) to raise revenues for the government E) to reduce the number of women who voted in national elections.

What was the overall importance of the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland? A) The Court interpreted the delegated powers of Congress broadly, creating the potential for increased national powers. B) The Court gave a very restricted definition of Congress's delegated powers, in keeping with the era of dual federalism. C) The Court announced that dual federalism did not conform to the framers' design. D) The Supreme Court declared that all national banks were unconstitutional. E) The Court forced all states to open at least one branch of the national bank.

What were the Alien and Sedition Acts? A) laws passed in the 1790s that made it a crime to say or publish anything that would defame the government of the United States B) laws that made it a crime for foreign immigrants to belong to the Communist Party or other anti-American organizations C) a law passed by Congress denying civil liberties to all citizens D) laws passed during the Civil War denying Confederate sympathizers the right to free speech E) a law passed by Congress in 1921 that restricted immigration to the United States

What were the most common favors political bosses distributed to loyal party members during the era of political machines? A) money B) jobs C) patents D) tariffs E) tax cuts

What year marked the beginning of the Great Depression? A) 1918 B) 1921 C) 1929 D) 1933 E) 1941

What year marked the first time a major political party held a convention? A) 1789 B) 1832 C) 1860 D) 1912 E) 1942

When American voters support only one party's candidates, they are said to be voting a A) dual ticket. B) single ticket. C) straight ticket. D) split ticket. E) unity ticket.

Which group is most likely to support the Republican Party? A) Latinos B) women C) the wealthy D) Jewish Americans E) African Americans

Representative democracy/republic

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making. (page 15)

When Dwight Eisenhower sent federal troops into Little Rock High School in 1957, it demonstrated that A) the president may make unilateral use of the emergency powers to protect states against domestic disorder. B) the president requires the federal court's approval before using troops in domestic disturbances. C) the use of the president's emergency powers against domestic disorder necessitates a request by the governor of the affected state. D) the president needs congressional authorization to use troops in both domestic and international situations. E) the president can only use troops in domestic situations when the health and safety of children under the age of 18 is threatened.

When New York Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed in 2005, it illustrated that A) the press has no constitutional right to withhold information in court. B) prior restraint can still be allowed in cases of national security. C) journalists are held to a higher standard of libel than average citizens. D) parodies are not protected speech. E) journalists can be punished for reporting inaccurate information on political stories.

When a coalition of credit card companies forms an interest group called the Partnership to Protect Consumer Credit, this indicates that A) credit card companies are interested in the public good. B) private interests are hiding behind the ideals of public interests. C) public interest groups are now actively involving private corporations. D) the free-rider problem does not apply to private corporations. E) the credit card companies lack solidary benefits to offer their customers.

When a group is called a membership association, it means that A) the group accepts anyone as a member. B) members play an important role in the daily activities of the group. C) members vote directly for the leaders. D) membership is a mandatory requirement for receiving any of the group's benefits. E) every decision the group makes must be voted on and approved by every member.

When did the Cold War begin? A) in the 1940s, soon after World War II B) in the early 1950s with the Korean War C) in the late 1950s, with American involvement in Vietnam D) in the early 1960s, with the Cuban Missile Crisis E) in the late 1970s, after the Vietnam War

When justices agree with the ruling of a court majority but not all of its reasoning, they may often write a(n) A) dissent. B) concurrence. C) ex parte. D) per curiam. E) writ of certiorari.

When membership in an organization allows for a reduction in the price of museum tickets, it is called a A) solidary benefit. B) promotion offer. C) material benefit. D) bribe. E) purposive benefit.

When potential recipients of a benefit must establish their genuine need, the government program is called A) indexed. B) contributory. C) means tested. D) in-kind. E) progressive.

When the House and the Senate coordinate two versions of the same bill, they will often use a ______ to obtain a single unified bill. A) joint committee B) conference committee C) reconciliation committee D) standing committee E) select committee

When the White House directs administrative agencies to promulgate specific rules and regulations, this is called A) regulatory review. B) administrative oversight. C) delegation. D) an executive agreement. E) a mandate.

When the government's goals are embodied in a law or an order, backed by punishments or rewards, it is best described as A) public policy. B) regulation. C) administrative rule making. D) legislation. E) implementation.

When the media focus on a candidate's relative standing in the polls instead of substantive issues, they are demonstrating ______ coverage. A) bandwagon B) horse race C) momentum D) lame duck E) dog show

When two members of Congress who share no common interests agree to support each other's bills, the practice is called A) filibustering. B) delegating. C) logrolling. D) bargaining. E) pork barreling.

When was NATO formed? A) 1919 B) 1941 C) 1942 D) 1949 E) 1956

Which area was not covered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964? A) employment B) public accommodations C) school desegregation D) voting E) military service

Which clause of the Constitution has been critical in allowing the growth of national power? A) the commerce clause B) the full faith and credit clause C) the comity clause D) the Tenth Amendment E) the establishment clause

Which clauses of the Constitution involve the relationships among various states? A) the full faith and credit clause and the privileges and immunities clause B) the full faith and credit clause and the federalism clause C) the privileges and immunities clause and the federalism clause D) the establishment clause and the full faith and credit clause E) the establishment clause and the privileges and immunities clause.

Which constitutional amendment has been used to restrict the scope of authority by the federal government over the states? A) First B) Fifth C) Eighth D) Tenth E) Fourteenth

Which constitutional clause has been central in debates over gay and lesbian marriage? A) the full faith and credit clause B) the necessary and proper clause C) the privileges and immunities clause D) the interstate commerce clause E) the establishment clause

Which constitutional principle of the United States has been most frequently imitated by other nations? A) bicameralism B) federalism C) lifetime tenure for judges D) written constitutions E) the electoral college

Which event helped lead to a change in the way that the electoral college chose the president and vice president? A) the riots caused by the Alien and Sedition Act in the 1790s B) the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1803 C) the failure of Andrew Jackson to win the White House in 1824 D) the failure of the electoral college to produce a majority for any candidate in 1824 E) the secession of southern states in 1860

Which of the following best describes the role of the solicitor general? A) the chief legal counsel for the White House B) the lawyer who represents the United States before the Supreme Court in cases where the federal government is a party C) the chief lawyer for Congress who makes advisory opinions on the constitutionality of legislative proposals D) the head of the Department of Justice E) the chief legal counsel to the U.S. military

Which of the following best explains the small number of women in Congress? A) More men than women vote, and men tend not to vote for women candidates. B) Women do not have organizations or PACs supporting their candidacy. C) Incumbency is a very powerful resource, and most incumbents have been men. D) Women do not make very effective representatives. E) Women do not want to run for Congress.

Which of the following best indicated the downfall of the New Deal coalition? A) John Kennedy's election in 1960 B) Lyndon Johnson's election in 1964 C) Richard Nixon's election in 1968 D) Jimmy Carter's election in 1976 E) Bill Clinton's election in 1992

Which of the following best summarizes the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education? A) Racially segregated schools can never be equal. B) States that segregate must spend more money to make African American schools equal. C) States that segregate must spend less money on all-white schools in order to make them equal with African American schools. D) The federal judiciary, but not Congress, has the power to enforce civil rights. E) School segregation is unfair but does not violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

Which of the following can be concluded from the results of the 1996 welfare reforms? A) The reforms have done little to get people off of welfare dependency. B) The reforms have reduced the number of people on welfare but have done little to reduce poverty. C) The reforms have led to a reduction in overall poverty. D) The reforms have led to an increase in the number of welfare recipients. E) The reforms did not change anything.

Which of the following does not represent an important interest reflected through the actions of foreign policy interest groups? A) ethnic solidarity B) promotion of economic interests C) human rights enforcement D) domestic representation of foreign governments E) environmental interests

Which of the following does the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide? A) insurance B) legal council C) disaster assistance D) subsidies E) grants

Which of the following economic policies was the national government allowed to implement during the nineteenth century? A) establishing a series of national banks B) regulating the health and safety of the workplace C) regulating the use of child labor D) preventing the production of impure goods E) prohibiting fraud

Which of the following groups are more than twice as likely as other Americans to be below the poverty line? A) African Americans B) children C) the elderly D) Hispanics and Latinos E) single mothers

Which of the following groups has had the greatest success with a strategy of litigation? A) the National Chamber of Commerce B) the National Rifle Association C) the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People D) the Southern Christian Leadership Conference E) the AARP

Which of the following groups have had the highest levels of political participation? A) senior citizens (65 and over) B) Asian Americans C) young people (18-24) D) people who did not graduate high school E) unemployed people

Which of the following has not been a major goal of the government's involvement in the economy? A) promoting economic equity and fairness for all citizens B) promoting economic stability C) encouraging business development and innovation D) stimulating economic growth E) protecting employees and consumers

Which of the following have political parties been doing less of in recent years? A) fund-raising B) advertising C) mobilizing voters D) nominating candidates E) presenting party platforms

Which of the following is a common explanation for why the United States should pursue a policy of democratization? A) Democratization is less expensive than diplomacy. B) Democratization leads to more political participation within the United States. C) Democratization leads to political stability. D) Democratization leads to more economic equality among nations. E) Democratization leads to a healthy environment.

Which of the following is a government corporation? A) the National Park Service B) the U.S. Postal Service C) the Department of Defense D) the Federal Bureau of Investigation E) the Department of Agriculture

Which of the following is an agency created by Congress to assist it in overseeing the federal bureaucracy? A) General Accounting Office B) Office of White House Affairs C) Congressional Office on Legislative Affairs D) Office of Management and the Budget E) Congressional Oversight Office

Which of the following is an independent agency? A) United States Postal Service B) Department of Agriculture C) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) D) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) E) Forest Service

Which of the following is not a NATO member? A) Canada B) Mexico C) Poland D) the Czech Republic E) Hungary

Which of the following is not a federal department entrusted with providing national security? A) Defense B) State C) Police D) Justice E) Homeland Security

Which of the following is not a job regularly performed by lobbyists? A) testifying before congressional committees B) holding interviews with reporters C) helping raise funds for political campaigns D) placing ads in newspapers E) nominating a candidate to run for political office

Which of the following is not a key factor in indicating one's level of participation? A) age B) income C) geographic region D) education E) occupation

Which of the following would not be an example of speech plus? A) burning the American flag B) assassinating a political leader C) picketing a factory D) holding a sit-in at a public park E) distributing leaflets advocating political reform

Which of the following is not a reason for the declining levels of trust in the United States in recent years? A) revelations about the faulty information that led up to the war in Iraq B) the government's inability to get the economy moving following the recession of 2008 C) an increase in the knowledge of how government operates D) the bitter congressional battle over raising the national debt limit in 2011 E) ongoing concern about the war in Iraq during the Bush administration

Which of the following is not a reason why the No Child Left Behind Act has been controversial? A) Many states branded it an unfunded mandate. B) Teachers argued that "teaching to the test" undermined critical thinking skills. C) The standards were too lenient and almost every school met them easily. D) It vastly increased the role of the federal government in the public school system. E) The states were made responsible for setting standards and devising appropriate tests.

Which of the following is not a specialized "legislative court" created by Congress? A) the Court of International Trade B) the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims C) the Court of Federal Claims D) the Court of Federal Territories E) the Court of Military Appeals

Which of the following is not a way in which Congress can exercise oversight? A) individual constituency case work B) committee hearings and investigations C) budgeting process D) government agencies such as the GAO and the CBO E) having members of Congress work part-time for a particular agency that is struggling to meet the demands Congress has placed on it

Which of the following is not a way in which the government promotes business development? A) subsidies B) tax breaks C) loans D) regulations E) grants

Which of the following is not accomplished at a party's national convention? A) nomination of the presidential candidate B) nomination of the vice-presidential candidate C) determination of the party's rules and bylaws D) development and ratification of the party's platform E) nomination of Senate and House candidates

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government? A) Distrust threatens the government's ability to attract good workers to the public sector. B) Distrust makes people less willing to pay the taxes necessary for public activities. C) Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political campaigns, and running for office. D) Distrust weakens the government's ability to help people in times of crisis. E) Distrust weakens the government's ability to defend our national interest in the world economy.

Which of the following is not one of the concerns politicians have to consider when attempting to pass regulations that seek to protect the environment? A) Compliance with environmental regulations can be very costly. B) Federal environmental standards are often set "too high." C) Who should bear the costs of providing environmental benefits? D) Scientific evidence can change, making some environmental regulations obsolete. E) Public opinion overwhelmingly favors economic interests over the environment.

Which of the following is not part of a country's party system? A) the number of political parties in the country B) the balance of power between and within party coalitions C) the issues and policies around which party competition is organized D) the laws that govern how much money parties can raise and spend in election campaigns E) the parties' social and institutional bases within the country

Which of the following is not part of the Justice Department? A) the Civil Rights division B) the Antitrust division C) the Internal Revenue Service D) Criminal division E) Tax division

Which of the following is not true? A) Knowledge of and interest in politics increases one's sense of political efficacy. B) Knowledgeable citizens are better able to recognize their political interests and act consistently on behalf of them. C) People with higher education, income, and occupational status are more likely to be both familiar with and active in politics. D) People who are members of social or political organizations are more likely to be both familiar with and active in politics. E) Political elites cannot influence people's ideas and beliefs.

Which of the following is the best example of a unitary system of government? A) The federal government sets education policies for all schools. B) The federal government establishes general guidelines for schools but leaves most specific policy decisions up to local school boards. C) The federal government makes funding for schools dependent on test scores but allows local school boards the freedom to determine how to best prepare students for the tests. D) The federal government provides parents with vouchers for private schools, and local governments have no role to play in education policy. E) The federal government provides no funding for schools and leaves education policy entirely up to local school boards.

Which of the following is the essence of the rule of law? A) Every state needs to have a written constitution. B) Every state must have an established system of common law. C) Every state needs to make its laws public. D) Every state must judge government officials by the same laws as its citizens are judged. E) Every state must follow federal law.

Which of the following is true about political participation? A) African Americans and Latinos are less likely to participate in politics than whites. B) African Americans and Latinos participate in politics at the same levels as whites. C) African Americans hardly participate in politics at all, while Latinos participate at extraordinarily high levels. D) Latinos barely participate in politics, while African Americans participate at extraordinarily high levels. E) Whites hardly participate in politics at all, while African Americans and Latinos participate at extraordinarily high levels.

Which of the following is true about political participation? A) Young people are far less likely to participate in politics than older people. B) Older people are far less likely to participate in politics than younger people. C) Young people are just as likely to participate in politics as older people. D) Neither young people nor older people participate much in politics. E) Both old people and young people participate in politics at a very high level.

Which of the following least explains why the elderly receive a large share of social benefits? A) The elderly make up a large proportion of the population. B) The elderly are perceived as deserving benefits. C) The elderly have developed strong interest groups and lobbying techniques. D) Most members of Congress are themselves elderly or soon will be. E) The elderly tend to vote more than younger people.

Which of the following occurs when one party becomes dominant after replacing another party that has dominated national politics for a lengthy period of time? A) an electoral realignment B) a proportional representation C) a divided government D) external mobilization E) internal mobilization

Which of the following political officers are subject to recall elections? A) the president B) senators C) members of the House of Representatives D) federal judges E) the governor of the state of California

Which of the following politicians was recalled from office? A) President Warren Harding (1921) B) New York City Mayor David Dinkins (1993) C) California Governor Gray Davis (2003) D) President Richard Nixon (1972) E) Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (1998)

Which of the following possesses the sole power to create revenue bills? A) the House of Representatives B) the Senate C) the president D) the Office of Management and Budget E) the Treasury Department

Which of the following rights is not found in the original, unamended Constitution? A) guarantee of habeas corpus B) prohibition of ex post facto laws C) prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment D) guarantee of trial by jury in the state where the crime was committed E) prohibition of bills of attainder

Which of the following social policies is currently the most costly to the government? A) Social Security B) food stamps C) public housing assistance D) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families E) Medicare

Which of the following statements about Organizing for America (OFA) is false? A) OFA took an active part in lobbying members of Congress to support health care reform. B) OFA is an independent project of the Democratic National Committee. C) OFA began as a mobilizing organization for the Obama campaign. D) OFA provides training for volunteers to learn how to become organizers. E) OFA has established offices in only three states: California, New York, and Massachusetts.

Which of the following statements about administrative rule making is false? A) All federal rules must be published in the Federal Register. B) Both houses of Congress must formally approve all federal rules. C) All federal rules must undergo a period of public comment. D) All federal rules must prepare "environmental impact statements." E) The length of time to develop an administrative rule from proposal to actual publication in the Federal Register increased between the 1970s and 1980s.

Which of the following statements about adversarial journalism is false? A) It has been accused of leading to increased political cynicism among American citizens. B) It became an established practice during the Vietnam War. C) It has permitted the media to gain more autonomy from the political figures they publicize. D) It has enhanced the media's reputation as the "watchdog" of American politics. E) Adversarial journalism disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s.

Which of the following statements about agencies of socialization is incorrect? A) Family, membership in social groups, and education are all important agencies of socialization. B) People's preference for a political party is primarily acquired through their family. C) An individual's religion has no impact on their political views. D) Attending college makes people more likely to participate in politics. E) Both involuntary and voluntary social groups have an impact on their members' political views.

Which of the following statements about annual federal outlays is most accurate? A) Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has remained at essentially the same level every year since 1960. B) Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has decreased significantly every year since 1960. C) Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has increased significantly every year since 1960. D) Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has experienced significant ups and downs over time. E) Federal spending as a percentage of gross domestic product has only increased once since 1960.

Which of the following statements about campaign spending in House elections is true? A) The amount of money spent by challengers and incumbents has decreased at the same rate since 1980. B) The amount of money spent by incumbents has decreased since 1980 and has decreased at a much faster rate than the amount spent by challengers. C) The amount of money spent by incumbents has increased since 1980 but has grown at a much slower rate than the amount spent by challengers. D) The amount of money spent by incumbents has increased since 1980 and has grown at a much faster rate than the amount spent by challengers. E) The amount of money spent by incumbents has increased since 1980 and has grown at the same rate as the amount spent by challengers.

Which of the following statements about congressional oversight of the bureaucracy is most accurate? A) The number of oversight hearings has decreased over time as the bureaucracy has expanded. B) While the number of oversight hearings has increased over time as the bureaucracy has expanded, the extent of oversight does depend somewhat on which party controls the White House. C) The number of oversight hearings has remained constant over time despite the fact that bureaucracy has expanded. D) While the number of oversight hearings has increased over time as the bureaucracy has expanded, the extent of oversight does not depend on which party controls the White House. E) Oversight has been eliminated as a result of a 2005 Supreme Court decision.

Federalist Papers

a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution. (page 57)

Which of the following statements about federal courts is most accurate? A) The federal government does not operate a court system. B) Federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. C) Although federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are rarely important because they are not allowed to interpret the Constitution or the federal laws that govern all Americans. D) Federal courts hear the vast majority of all civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, and their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans. E) Although the federal courts hear only a small fraction of all of the civil and criminal cases decided each year in the United States, their decisions are extremely important because they interpret the Constitution and the federal laws that govern all Americans.

Which of the following statements about leaks is false? A) Leaks sometimes come from lower-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses' improper activities. B) Most leaks originate with senior government officials, prominent politicians, and political activists. C) Thousands of leaks each year are incorporated into news stories. D) A federal statute makes it illegal to disclose the identities of covert intelligence operatives. E) Leaks never occurred before the George W. Bush administration.

Which of the following statements about lobbyists and members of Congress isincorrect? A) Many members of Congress list lobbyists as treasurers of their re-election campaigns. B) Interest groups will often hire lobbyists whom they know to be key fund-raisers for the politicians they hope to influence. C) Many of Washington's top lobbyists have close ties to important members of Congress or were themselves important political figures. D) Lobbyists have substantial influence in setting the legislative agenda. E) Members of Congress are forbidden from ever working for an interest group once they leave office.

Which of the following statements about noncontributory programs is false? A) Eligibility for these programs is determined through means testing. B) These programs may provide public housing, food stamps, and school lunches. C) The existence of these programs dates from the Civil War. D) These programs underwent drastic reform in the 1990s. E) These programs are relatively unpopular when compared to contributory programs.

Which of the following statements about partisan identification in the United States is most accurate? A) Party identification does not vary significantly by ideology. B) Party identification varies significantly by gender but not by race. C) Party identification varies significantly by income but not by ideology. D) Party identification varies significantly by income, race, and gender. E) Party identification does not vary by income, race, and gender.

Which of the following statements about political opinions is not true? A) Race, income, and education cause important differences in opinion. B) The poor are generally more supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. C) The poor are generally less supportive of economic and social programs than the wealthy. D) Whites and blacks have differing views on racism. E) Women are more opposed to military intervention than men.

Which of the following statements about political parties is correct? A) During the nineteenth century, political parties employed hundreds of thousands of workers to organize and mobilize voters. B) During the nineteenth century, political parties were more interested in fund-raising than in organizing and mobilizing voters. C) During the late twentieth century, political parties organized and mobilized a larger percentage of voters than at any other point in American history. D) Political parties have never attempted to organize and mobilize voters because doing so would violate the Constitution. E) Since 2000, political parties have ended efforts to organize and mobilize voters because doing so would violate federal campaign finance laws.

Which of the following statements about presidential pardons is false? A) George Washington declared amnesty to all Americans who fought for the British during the War for Independence. B) Andrew Johnson declared amnesty to all Confederate soldiers. C) Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for crimes he may have committed. D) Jimmy Carter declared amnesty for all draft evaders during the Vietnam War. E) The presidential power to grant pardons involves power over all individuals who may be a threat to the security of the United States.

Which of the following statements about the House and the Senate is false? A) The Senate has the power to ratify treaties while the House does not. B) The Senate has the power to approve presidential appointments while the House does not. C) The House has the power to overturn a president's veto while the Senate does not. D) The House has the power to originate revenue bills while the Senate does not. E) Members of the House have two-year terms while Senators have six-year terms.

Which of the following statements about the U.S. Courts of Appeals is incorrect? A) The appeals courts were created by Congress, not by the Constitution. B) The appeals courts are able to hear all cases involving federal law, but not constitutional law. C) About 20 percent of federal cases are heard by the appeals courts. D) There are more than ten appeals courts in the United States. E) Except for cases selected for review by the Supreme Court, decisions made by an appeals court are final.

Which of the following statements about the United States budget deficit is most accurate? A) The federal deficit has decreased dramatically since 2000. B) The federal budget showed a large surplus throughout the 1980s. C) The federal budget deficit increased dramatically after 2001. D) The federal budget has not shown a surplus since 1960. E) The federal budget deficit was at its largest point in history in 1992.

Which of the following statements about the abolitionist movement is false? A) The movement spread primarily through local organizations in the North. B) The movement spawned two political parties: the Liberty Party and the Free Soil Party. C) The movement grew in the 1830s. D) Some members of the movement aided in the escape of runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad. E) The movement focused most of its energies on eliminating slavery in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Federalism

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments. (page 50)

Which of the following statements about the changes in American society between 1900 and 2010 is not true? A) There has been a decline in the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as Protestants. B) The average age of Americans has fallen. C) There has been an increase in the percentage of Americans who live in urban areas. D) The percentage of whites has decreased. E) There has been an increase in the percentage of Americans who identify as multiracial.

Which of the following statements about the ideological preferences of Americans isfalse? A) More Americans have identified themselves as conservatives than as liberals over the last twenty years. B) The percentage of Americans identifying themselves as liberals has increased since the mid-1990s. C) More Americans have identified themselves as moderates than as liberals over the last twenty years. D) Prior to 2000, there were almost no Americans who identified themselves as liberal. E) More Americans have identified themselves as liberals or conservatives than as moderates over the last twenty years.

Which of the following statements about the marketplace of ideas is true? A) The English created the marketplace of ideas in the seventeenth century. B) Private groups and the news media play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace of ideas. C) Exposure to the marketplace of ideas rarely leads people to change their minds about political issues. D) Only individuals, not groups or organizations, are allowed to promote ideas in the marketplace of ideas. E) Government officials are legally prohibited from promoting ideas in the marketplace of ideas.

Which of the following statements about the role of political parties in the 2009 debate over health care reform is false? A) Most Republicans preferred policy approaches that required less government regulation of the market and less public spending. B) Only one Republican in the House voted in favor of health reform. C) The bill received majority support from Democrats in both the House and the Senate. D) Republican Party opposition led Democratic leaders in the Senate to use the reconciliation process to pass the bill. E) There was strong bipartisan support for the bill after compromises were struck between the House and the Senate.

Which of the following statements about the structure of American federalism is true? A) It has contributed to the longevity of the U.S. government by allowing many divisive policy decisions throughout American history to be made by states. B) It has contributed to the longevity of the U.S. government by forcing every state to develop in exactly the same way. C) It has contributed to the longevity of the U.S. government by not allowing states to make divisive policy decisions at any point in American history. D) It caused the Civil War to be fought decades before it would have been under a unitary system. E) It has had almost no effect on the stability and functioning of U.S. government.

Which of the following statements about voter identification laws is most accurate? A) Voter identification laws in the states disproportionately affect minority citizens and the less affluent. B) Every state requires all voters to show ID before voting at the polls. C) The Supreme Court has ruled that voter identification laws cannot go into effect until after the 2012 election. D) In every state with a voter identification law, a person must have a government-issued photo ID in order to cast a ballot. E) Every voter identification law was passed prior to 1956.

Which of the following statements about voting rights is correct? A) Many states have laws restricting the voting rights of persons convicted of felonies. B) Laws passed by Congress prevent the abridgement of a felon's voting rights. C) According to the Supreme Court, the Constitution prevents felons from having their right to vote limited due to their criminal status. D) According to the Supreme Court, the Constitution requires that felons have their right to vote limited due to their criminal status. E) Even though prison inmates cannot vote, federal law states that an ex-con's voting rights cannot be restricted.

Which of the following statements about youth participation in the 2008 presidential election is true? A) Youth turnout rose in 2008, and most young people voted for Barack Obama. B) Youth turnout rose in 2008, and most young people voted for John McCain. C) Youth turnout declined in 2008, but most young people voted for Barack Obama. D) Youth turnout declined in 2008, but most young people voted for John McCain. E) Youth turnout was the same in 2008 as it was in 2004, 2000, and 1996.

Which of the following statements best describes how recent administrations have approached the issue of bureaucratic reform? A) Republican administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Democratic administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. B) Democratic administrations have aimed to make the existing bureaucracy work more effectively while Republican administrations have sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. C) Both Democratic and Republican administrations have rejected the idea of reducing bureaucracy and have aimed to make existing bureaucracy work more effectively. D) Both Democratic and Republican administrations have given up on trying to make the existing bureaucracy function more effectively and, instead, sought to reduce bureaucracy by contracting out government work to private companies. E) Both Democrats and Republicans have avoided any attempts to reform government bureaucracy.

Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court? A) The Court has no discretion whatsoever to decide which cases it will hear because its jurisdiction is defined entirely by the Constitution. B) The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear and it is forced to hear many cases that address only narrow, technical issues of federal law. C) The Court has limited discretion to decide which cases it will hear, and it is forced to hear only those cases that raise the most important issues of federal law. D) The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally hears only those cases it deems to raise the most important issues. E) The Court has broad latitude to decide which cases it will hear and generally avoids those cases that it deems to raise the most important issues.

Which of the following statements best describes the composition of the federal judiciary? A) There are an equal number of men and women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. B) There are far fewer women than men and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics. C) There are far fewer women than men and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. D) There are far fewer men than women and far fewer Hispanics than African Americans. E) There are far fewer men than women and far fewer African Americans than Hispanics.

Which of the following statements best describes the discussion of local government found in the Constitution? A) Local government has no status in the Constitution. B) Local governments are constitutionally required to turn over all of the local taxes collected from residents to state governments. C) Local governments are given the authority to ignore federal laws that their citizens do not agree with. D) Local governments have the power to establish local banks. E) Local governments have the power to raise and maintain militias.

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Voting Rights Act on voter registration in southern states? A) A smaller percentage of blacks registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. B) A much larger percentage of whites registered to vote in Southern states after passage of the Voting Rights Act. C) The percentage of blacks registering to vote did not change at all after passage of the Voting Rights Act. D) The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote declined significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act. E) The gap between the percentage of whites registering to vote and the percentage of blacks registering to vote increased significantly after passage of the Voting Rights Act.

Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between lobbyists and Congress in recent years? A) The relationship between Congress and lobbyists has become distant and strained. B) The relationship between lobbyists and Congress has become so close that many have argued that lobbyists have become like staff members to the Republican leadership. C) Lobbyists are more heavily relied on for information but are less important as sources of campaign contributions. D) Since the breakdown of iron triangles, most successful lobbyists have moved on to state legislatures. E) Lobbyists have abandoned Congress and focused their lobbying efforts on the executive and judicial branches.

Which of the following statements concerning the death penalty is false? A) The United States is the only Western democracy to use the death penalty as a criminal sanction. B) Thirty-six states have legalized the death penalty. C) Congress has imposed capital punishment for more than fifty federal crimes. D) The death penalty was never used in the United States prior to the 1950s. E) Texas has executed more people than any other state.

Which of the following statements concerning the process of reapportionment is correct? A) In order for one state to gain a seat, another state must lose a seat. B) States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids reducing the number of representatives for any state. C) States that fall below a minimum number of inhabitants are represented in the House by a nonvoting delegate. D) States that grow in size may gain extra seats, but the Constitution forbids any state from having more than 35 representatives. E) States that grow in population can refuse to accept further seats and instead give them to another state.

Which of the following statements concerning third parties is false? A) Third parties are often short-lived. B) Successful third parties often have their programs adopted by one of the two major parties. C) The earliest third parties in the United States arose as a result of the Great Depression. D) Third parties almost always lose at the national level. E) Under federal election law, any minor party receiving more than 5 percent of the national presidential vote is entitled to federal funds.

Which of the following statements is most accurate? A) The War Powers Act has been fully observed by every president who has deployed the military overseas since Gerald Ford. B) Recent presidents have refrained from asking Congress to declare war and have, instead, frequently deployed the military without congressional authorization. C) Recent presidents have asked Congress to declare war many times and have never deployed the military without congressional authorization. D) Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in order to give the president more control over the military. E) As a result of the War Powers Resolution, Congress now has more control over the military than the president does.

Which of the following statements is true? A) Federal law since 2002 requires that all states use the same type of voting equipment. B) The Supreme Court has mandated that all voting machines provide a paper ballot. C) Voting equipment varies from county to county throughout the United States. D) Since 2000, all voting equipment has been required to use a butterfly ballot. E) The Supreme Court has ruled that elections using electronic voting machines are unconstitutional.

Which of the following tactics did Franklin Roosevelt not use to forge a link between the executive office and the public? A) going on speaking trips around the nation B) delivering radio-broadcast fireside chats C) holding biweekly press conferences with reporters D) designating the first White House press secretary E) running extensive national television advertising campaigns

Which of the following tasks does a party's national committee not perform? A) raising funds B) resolving disputes between factions of the party C) selecting presidential and vice-presidential candidates D) enhancing the media image of the party E) heading the political party during the period between conventions

Which of the following transpires when one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress? A) an electoral realignment B) a divided government C) a seditious government D) internal mobilization E) external mobilization

Which of the following was designed by the framers to be an office directly elected by the people? A) member of the House of Representatives B) senator C) president D) federal court judge E) vice president

Which of the following was not a case involving the Supreme Court overturning a state law? A) Marbury v. Madison B) Brown v. Board of Education C) Griswold v. Connecticut D) Loving v. Virginia E) Brandenburg v. Ohio

Which of the following was not a date of an electoral realignment? A) 1800 B) 1828 C) 1896 D) 1932 E) 1994

Which of the following was not an important part of the movement to expand civil rights for African Americans? A) NAACP B) DAR C) SNCC D) SCLC E) black churches

Federalism

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments. (page 77)

Which of the following would not constitute an example of patronage? A) a senator from Virginia adding a project for a $3.5 million horse trail in Virginia to a highway bill B) a senator from New York voting in favor of a law to eliminate earmarks C) a member of the House helping a senior citizen who lives in their district overcome problems with their Social Security benefit eligibility D) a member of the House securing an appointment to one of the military academies for the child of a constituent E) a member of the House sponsoring a bill to obtain legal status for an undocumented couple whose son had died as a marine in Iraq

Which organizations are committed to developing and marketing conservative ideas and policies? A) the Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institute, and the American Enterprise Institute B) the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and Common Cause C) the National Organization for Women, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the American Association for Retired People D) the Chamber of Commerce, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the Teamsters E) the Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Public Affairs Council

Which party has reserved slots at the national convention for elected superdelegates? A) the Republicans B) the Democrats C) the Greens D) the Reform Party E) the Independents

Which president presided over the New Deal? A) Herbert Hoover B) Franklin Roosevelt C) Dwight Eisenhower D) Woodrow Wilson E) Lyndon Johnson

Which president was most concerned with managing and reorganizing the executive bureaucracy? A) Richard Nixon B) Jimmy Carter C) Ronald Reagan D) Bill Clinton E) Woodrow Wilson

Which president's approach to the managerial presidency featured a deep belief in the importance of scientific expertise in government service? A) Barack Obama B) George W. Bush C) George H. W. Bush D) Ronald Reagan E) Bill Clinton

Which statement about government under the Articles of Confederation is false? A) The armed forces of the United States consisted of state militias. B) The central government could not prevent states from economically discriminating against one another. C) There was no president under the Articles of Confederation. D) Members of Congress had significant independence from their states. E) Each state, regardless of size, had only one vote in Congress.

Which statement about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is false? A) The FCC was established in 1965 under President Lyndon Johnson. B) The FCC licenses radio and television stations. C) The FCC bans explicit sexual and excretory references on airwaves during certain hours of the day. D) The FCC does not regulate newspapers. E) The Telecommunications Act of 1996 loosened many FCC restrictions on media ownership.

Which statement about the Reconstruction era is false? A) African Americans held many state-level political offices. B) Two black senators were elected from Mississippi. C) The Constitution was amended three times. D) Many areas of the southern states were occupied by federal troops. E) African American voters supported the Democratic Party.

Which statement about the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is false? A) The act loosened federal restrictions on media ownership. B) The act attempted to regulate the content of material transmitted over the Internet. C) The act allowed broadcasters, telephone companies, and cable companies to compete with one another for telecommunications services. D) Following passage of the act, several mergers between telephone and cable companies produced a greater concentration of media ownership. E) The act required broadcasters who air programs on controversial issues to provide time for opposing views.

Which statement about the membership of Congress is not true? A) Senators and members of the House are much less likely to be Hispanic than the population on the whole. B) Senators and members of the House are more likely than the population on the whole to be Jewish. C) Senators and members of the House are much more likely than the population on the whole to hold a professional or law degree. D) Senators and members of the House are less likely than the population on the whole to be Protestants. E) Senators and members of the House are, on average, much older than the population.

Which statement best describes American federalism since the 1930s? A) There has been no change in the strength of the federal government since the 1930s. B) Although the federal government has grown significantly more powerful since the 1930s, the basic framework of American federalism has not been altered and state governments remain important. C) Although the state governments have grown significantly more powerful since the 1930s, the basic framework of American federalism has not been altered and the federal government remains important. D) The growing power of the federal government since the 1930s has fundamentally altered American federalism by rendering state governments obsolete. E) The growing power of state governments since the 1930s has fundamentally altered American federalism by rendering the federal government obsolete.

Which statement is correct? A) Religion has played an important role in organizing political participation. B) Religious groups have played a relatively minor role in politically mobilizing Americans. C) The Moral Majority was the first broad-based political organization of atheists in the United States. D) Religious issues have not been important or divisive in American politics. E) White evangelicals have become closely aligned with the Democratic Party in recent years.

Which statement is the definition of privatization? A) a way to shrink the federal budget by selling government services or property in the private sector B) a way to reduce government costs by relocating government programs to private groups or corporations C) a way to reduce big government by doing without some of the programs it once provided D) a way to increase the government's role by purchasing private companies E) a way to reduce government costs by lowering the amount of benefits paid out to private citizens

Which system develops when the winner of an electoral race obtains more votes than any other candidate? A) the majority system B) the plurality system C) proportional representation D) the winner-take-all system E) the spoils system

Confederation

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government. (page 42)

Who decides which committee assignments members of the House of Representatives receive? A) the Speaker of the House B) each party's own "steering and policy" committee C) the president selects for members of his own party, and either the House majority or minority leader selects for opposition members D) each party's National Committee E) each party's whip

Who defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre? A) Thomas Jefferson B) Samuel Adams C) John Adams D) John Hancock E) George Washington

Who is the Speaker of the House? A) The vice president is also the Speaker of the House. B) The representative with the longest tenure in the House is the Speaker of the House. C) The elected leader of the majority party in the House is the Speaker. D) An employee of Congress who formally brings the House into session each day is the Speaker. E) The president selects the Speaker of the House from the majority party in the House.

Who was not appointed to help draft the Declaration of Independence? A) Thomas Jefferson B) Benjamin Franklin C) John Adams D) George Washington E) Robert Livingston

Who was the most prominent monetarist in the United States? A) John Locke B) Adam Smith C) John Maynard Keynes D) Milton Friedman E) Joseph Schumpeter

Who were the writers of the Federalist Papers? A) James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton B) John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson C) George Washington, Samuel Adams, and William Paterson D) Charles Beard, Daniel Shays, and Paul Revere E) James Madison, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson

Who wrote the Supreme Court opinions in both McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden? A) Alexander Hamilton B) James Madison C) John Marshall D) Roger Taney E) Andrew Jackson

Why did President Dwight Eisenhower deploy federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957? A) There were massive race riots as a result of a federal court order to bus white children into black neighborhoods for schooling. B) The governor of Arkansas mobilized the Arkansas National Guard to block the enforcement of a federal court order to integrate Little Rock Central High School. C) Ku Klux Klan members from Little Rock were making terrorist threats against President Eisenhower if the local school district tried to integrate. D) It was feared that communists had infiltrated the local government. E) The local police refused to respond to calls from African American neighborhoods.

Why did local governments become administratively important in the early years of the Republic? A) They became important because the Constitution instructed them to implement all federal laws. B) They became important because the Constitution instructed them to implement all state laws. C) They became important because states lacked the administrative capability to implement laws and relied, therefore, on local governments. D) They became important because Congress passed many laws that emphasized the role of local government in implementing federal laws. E) They became important because the Supreme Court ruled that only local governments had the authority to implement laws under the Constitution.

Why did many members of Congress vote to ban advocacy groups from running ads that mention a candidate's name within thirty days of a primary election and sixty days of a general election? A) They thought that the ban would eliminate the importance of money in politics. B) They thought that the ban would make the system of American elections more consistent with the campaign requirements specified in the Constitution. C) They thought that the ban would make it less likely for wealthy advocacy groups to flood the media with ads and unfairly influence the outcome of elections. D) They thought that the ban would make it more difficult for opponents to defeat incumbents. E) They thought that the ban would increase the number of people who vote in elections.

Why did the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) rely primarily on the courts to press for black political rights in its early years? A) Only the courts had the legal authority to grant African Americans political rights, so the litigation strategy was most consistent with the organization's goals. B) The organization was composed of five members and, due to the fact that they were all lawyers, the strategy of litigation seemed to be the most logical choice. C) The organization was legally prohibited from contacting elected officials at the state and local level and, therefore, had no other alternative than a strategy of litigation. D) Many judges were African American and, therefore, more sympathetic to the claims of the organization than legislators. E) The northern black vote was too small to bring about policy change at the legislative level, so the organization chose a strategy of litigation.

Why did the Progressives support women's suffrage in the early twentieth century? A) The Progressives were a group dominated by women. B) The Progressives wanted to make the United States as democratic as possible. C) The Progressives believed women would support their reform movement. D) The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit upper-class northerners. E) The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit lower-class southerners.

Why did the Supreme Court rule that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act was unconstitutional? A) The Court argued that the Constitution forbids the establishment of official or unofficial religions. B) The Court argued that peyote smoking is illegal, even if it is for religious reasons. C) The Court argued that Congress had violated the separation of powers principle. D) The president did not formally sign the act. E) The Court argued that the act unnecessarily limited an individual's right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses.

Why did the delegates at the Philadelphia Convention turn down the idea of including a list of citizens' rights in the Constitution? A) They believed that protecting citizens' rights was not an important responsibility for government. B) They believed that such a list would limit economic development. C) They believed that since the federal government was already limited to its expressed powers, further protection of citizens was not needed. D) They believed that citizens should vote directly on which rights should be protected. E) They believed that such a list would make government too weak to protect national security.

Federal system

a system of government in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government, such as states. (page 77)

Why do many political scientists and economists believe that states and localities should not be in charge of redistributive programs? A) States and local governments have to compete with each other and do not have, therefore, an incentive to spend their money on the needy people in their area. B) Elected officials at the state and local level are typically less generous and more discriminatory than elected officials at the national level. C) State and local governments are wasteful and are too often plagued by corruption and bribery. D) The Constitution clearly states that redistributive programs should be handled by the national government rather than by state and local governments. E) State and local governments have fewer powers under the Constitution to impose taxes and spend money than the federal government.

Why was it considered shocking when, after the Civil War, Andrew Johnson made a series of speeches seeking public support for his Reconstruction policies? A) Johnson traveled with his own press secretary, the first time a president had used public relations officials. B) During the nineteenth century, it was seen as undignified for a president to campaign on his own behalf. C) Johnson did not speak to the general public, but instead spoke only to handpicked audiences where he knew he would be favorably received. D) Johnson's speeches were delivered only in the former Confederate states and ignored the North, where he most needed support. E) Johnson's speeches were the first to encourage women and African Americans to become active in politics.

Why was the Declaration of Independence a remarkable political statement for its time? A) It convinced southern states to abolish slavery. B) It persuaded the British government to give back all of the tax revenue it collected from the colonies. C) It ended the Revolutionary War by offering a compromise with the British government. D) It helped unify colonial groups that were divided along economic, regional, and philosophical lines by identifying shared problems, grievances, and principles. E) It changed the distribution of power between the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Why was the Supreme Court case New York Times v. Sullivan significant? A) The Court ruled that a newspaper had to print false and malicious material deliberately in order to be guilty of libel. B) The Court ruled that newspapers could be guilty of libel if they published any information that was ultimately proven to be inaccurate. C) The Court ruled that the government could prevent the publication of newspapers and magazines only under the most extraordinary circumstances. D) The Court ruled that pornography is always illegal. E) The Court ruled that "shield laws" were unconstitutional.

Why was the Supreme Court case United States v. Lopez important? A) It was the first time since the New Deal that the Supreme Court limited the power of Congress outlined under the commerce clause. B) It was the first time that the Court had used the Tenth Amendment to limit the power of Congress. C) The Court found that citizens could not bring racial discrimination suits against state governments. D) The Court found the line-item veto unconstitutional. E) The Court gave a broad interpretation of the commerce clause that expanded the power of the federal government over the states.

Why was the Supreme Court's decision in Ricci v. DeStefano important? A) It overturned a prior decision by Elena Kagan, who, a few months later, joined the Supreme Court. B) It held that employment tests for promotion could not discriminate based on gender or race. C) It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion are clearly defective, rather than that they produce unequal outcomes based on race or gender. D) It held that, in order to seek damages, employees must show that employment tests for promotion clearly create unequal outcomes based on race or gender. E) It held that employment tests for promotion were allowed to discriminate based on gender or race if the employer could show that the position would be better performed by a person with a particular race or gender.

______ are nonprofit independent groups that receive and distribute funds to influence the nomination, election, and defeat of a candidate. A) Political action committees B) 527 Committees C) Political caucuses D) Political parties E) Party machines

______ is an example of a justice who advocated judicial restraint. A) Harry Blackmun B) Earl Warren C) John Marshall D) Felix Frankfurter E) Ruth Bader Ginsburg

______ is the primary mission of the State Department. A) Military protection B) Diplomacy C) International aid D) Transnational commerce E) National security

______ was an important Washington lobbyist who was indicted in 2005 on charges of violating federal lobbying laws. A) Valerie Plame B) Jack Abramoff C) Paul Wolfowitz D) Michael Bloomberg E) Karl Rove

______ was one of the founders of the NAACP. A) Woodrow Wilson B) W. E. B. Du Bois C) Thurgood Marshall D) Malcolm X E) Harriet Tubman

Unitary system

a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government. (page 77)

Amendment

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution. (page 62)

Habeas corpus

a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention. (page 115)

Regulated federalism

a form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards. (page 94)

Autocracy

a form of government in which a single individual -- a king, queen, or dictator -- rules. (page 13)

Oligarchy

a form of government in which a small group -- landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants -- controls most of the governing decisions. (page 13)

Virginia Plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state. (page 45)

New Jersey Plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population. (page 45)

Bill of attainder

a law that declares a person guilty of a crime without a trial. (page 115)

Which of the following is enhanced by a democratic form of government?

a leader's authority

Devolution has resulted in

a modification of fiscal and cooperative federalism, rather than their demise.

Devolution

a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments. (page 96)

Redlining

a practice in which banks refuse to make loans to people living in certain geographic locations. (page 175)

Limited government

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. (page 24)

Limited government

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. (page 59)

Lemon test

a rule articulated in Lemon v. Kurtzman that government action toward religion is permissible if it is secular in purpose, neither promotes nor inhibits the practice of religion, and does not lead to 'excessive entanglement' with religion. (page 120)

Laissez-faire capitalism

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference. (page 24)

Prior restraint

an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship. In the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances. (page 126)

Slander

an oral statement made in 'reckless disregard of the truth' that is considered damaging to the victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 127)

The Three-Fifths Compromise dealt directly with the issue of

apportionment of taxes and seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Civil liberties

areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering. (page 116)

New Federalism

attempts by Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants. (page 96)

Concurrent powers

authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes. (page 78)

Which of the following is a concurrent power?

taxation

clear and present danger test

test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a 'clear and present danger' to society. (page 123)

The Senate was initially designed to

be less responsive to popular pressure.

Political culture

broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy. (page 23)

Politics

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments. (page 4)

Categorical grants

congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law. (page 91)

In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court justices created

the "separate but equal" standard.

Free exercise clause

the First Amendment clause that protects a citizen's right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses. (page 121)

separate but equal rule

doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be considered equal. (page 161)

Redistributive programs

economic policies designed to control the economy through taxing and spending, with the goal of benefiting the poor. (page 98)

In most democracies of the world,

executive and legislative powers are combined in a single body.

In Federalist No. 10, James Madison warned against the dangers of

factions.

Block grants

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent. (page 96)

Liberty

freedom from governmental control. (page 24)

Affirmative action

government policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of those groups with access to educational and employment opportunities. (page 190)

Project grants

grant programs in which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies and for which funding is provided on a competitive basis. (page 91)

Formula grants

grants-in-aid in which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state or local government will receive. (page 91)

Bicameral

having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral. (page 52)

The reality that officials in the United States spend comparatively less money on government programs for the poor than other fully industrialized democracies reflects the American ideal of

individualism

Power

influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies. (page 15)

Citizenship

informed and active membership in a political community. (page 10)

Government

institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled. (page 4)

In Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States (1935), the Supreme Court

invalidated the National Industry Recovery Act, ruling that it usurped powers reserved to the states.

Marbury v. Madison (1803) became the foundation for

judicial review by the federal courts.

Grand jury

jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence. (page 136)

Jim Crow laws

laws enacted by southern states following Reconstruction that discriminated against African Americans. (page 160)

Ex post facto laws

laws that declare an action to be illegal after it has been committed. (page 115)

De facto

literally, 'by fact'; refers to practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the United States today. (page 165)

De jure

literally, 'by law'; refers to legally enforced practices, such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s. (page 165)

Checks and balances

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments. (page 49)

Civil rights

obligation imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies and of other private citizens. (page 157)

Which of the following could NOT be considered one of the aspects of the American system of government or political culture?

oligarchy

Thirteenth Amendment

one of three Civil War amendments; it abolished slavery. (page 159)

Fourteenth Amendment

one of three Civil War amendments; it guaranteed equal protection and due process. (page 159)

Fifteenth Amendment

one of three Civil War amendments; it guaranteed voting rights for African American men. (page 159)

More than ________ of Americans have a college degree—the world's highest rate

one-quarter

Brown v. Board of Education

the 1954 Supreme Court decision that struck down the 'separate but equal' doctrine as fundamentally unequal. This case eliminated state power to use race as a criterion of discrimination in law and provided the national government with the power to intervene by exercising strict regulatory policies against discriminatory actions. (page 164)

In the American political context, John Locke's conception of inalienable rights and the legitimacy of the social contract found its most explicit statement in

the Declaration of Independence.

Double jeopardy

the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. (page 138)

Tyranny

oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority. (page 59)

Under communism, the government

owns most or all major industries and also takes responsibility for overall management of the economy.

As described in the text, the issue of agricultural price-supports suggests that the exercise of government power conforms to which of the following models?

pluralism

Home rule

power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs. (page 80)

The principle of checks and balances is based on the notion that

power must be used to offset power.

Police power

power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens. (page 78)

Implied powers

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. Such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers. (page 77)

Reserved powers

powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states. (page 78)

Grants-in-aid

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government. (page 91)

Equal protection clause

provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens 'the equal protection of the laws.' This clause has been the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups. (page 157)

Full faith and credit clause

provision, from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state. (page 79)

Privileges and immunities clause

provision, from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges. (page 79)

Unfunded mandates

regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government. (page 95)

In a 2009 Pew Research Center survey, what percent of Americans expressed "complete agreement" when asked whether government has a responsibility "to take care of people who can't take care of themselves"?

roughly one-quarter

The two primary sources of political conflict are

scarce resources and competing values.

Expressed powers

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress. (Article I, Section 8) and to the president. (Article II). (page 51)

Expressed powers

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress. (Article I, Section 8) and to the president. (Article II). (page 77)

speech plus

speech accompanied by conduct such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Protection of this form of speech under the First Amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order. (page 126)

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