GOVT 2305: UNIT 1 Smartbook CH 1

In what year was discrimination against Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian immigrants finally removed from U.S. immigration law?

1965

The text suggests that Americans tend especially toward selective memory and recasting history because

Americans' beliefs are so idealistic.

What is the true test of an opinion?

Does it hold up when judged against other views?

Which of the following are true of party polarization?

Partisan divisions have surfaced on nearly every issue. Partisanship has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Partisan fights have become prolonged and bitter.

What best explains why European governments give the American colonies a degree of self-determination?

The geographical distance that separated them was too great to do otherwise.

As political leaders have become more willing to make deceptive claims, the public has

become more tolerant of the practice.

The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power is called

constitutionalism.

According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, who or what has greater control over economic policy than even elected officials have?

corporate elites

A particularly strong example of Americans' determination to build a more equal society is its

public education system.

The state of California barred individual of Japanese descent from doing what?

purchasing property

Pluralism asserts that, on most issues, the actors who exercise the most influence over government policy are

special interest groups.

Who or what holds the power in a pluralist system?

special interests

Which of the following are tools that political science offers to increase one's ability to think critically?

terms and concepts that precisely describe aspects of politics reliable information about how the U.S. political system operates systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics

What document proclaimed that "Governments deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed"?

the Declaration of Independence

Democracy may free the mind, but who determines how that freedom will be used?

the individual

At what point in American history did the influence of business firms on public policy become a defining feature of American politics?

the late 1800s

In the U.S., who or what is the ultimate source of governing authority?

the people

Who is the "self" in the political ideal of self-government?

the people

Under an authoritarian government,

the regime is usually backed by the military or police. opposition leaders are sometimes brutalized or imprisoned. political opposition is openly repressed.

Concerning power sharing, the U.S. is

unique.

In an echo chamber, you hear

what you want to hear.

The "two Americas" referenced in the text are

white America and black America.

The best way to characterize political power in the United States is that it is

widely shared.

Individualism in the U.S. is best described as

deeply ingrained

Despite the existence of institutions that encourage widespread participation, wealth gives rise to ______, the power that well-positioned and highly influential individuals have.

elitism

The power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals is known as

elitism.

Which of the following reflects the notion that all individuals have the same moral worth and treatment under the law?

equality

Political scientists use the term ______ to describe the situation in which the majority of citizens effectively determines what government policy will be.

majoritarianism

When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority, it is referred to as

majoritarianism.

A single individual controls governance in which of these forms of government?

monarchy

Compared to other countries, the U.S. holds

more elections.

The overall way in which society settles conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called

politics.

The ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments is called

power.

Who or what owns the means of production in a free-market economic system?

private firms

Elements of constitutionalism include

the protection of individual rights. officials being required to follow the laws. lawful restrictions of governmental power.

In a pluralist system, who or what would have the most influence on policies regarding regulation of Internet service providers?

the providers themselves

Slavery in America lasted for ______ years.

250

Which of the following statements are true about American ideals and government?

Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.

Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States?

Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms.

_____ is a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.

Individualism

Which of the following correctly describes political culture?

It is derived from the country's traditions. It helps define the relationship between citizens and their government. It helps define citizens' relationships to each other.

Which of the following people is acting in a way that promotes critical thinking?

Jamal is a liberal but his best friend is conservative. The two often compare sources before forming opinions on political issues.

Which of the following statements best describes politicians' "slanting" of the facts?

Leaders of both parties have done this.

______ is the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe on the freedoms of others.

Liberty

What best describes the ways in which our media system has presented obstacles to critical thinking in recent history?

Some sources invent information that suits their purpose. Some sources purposely hide contradictory information. Media consumers fail to question media sources.

Upon what assumption was Chinese immigration to the U.S. suspended in 1882?

The Chinese were an inferior people.

Which of the following statements are true about the motivations for creating American democracy?

The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World. Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society.

If citizens do not develop the habit of critical thinking, what may result?

Their choices may not result in the outcome they expect. They may engage in wishful thinking. They may invent odd versions of reality.

How are the media treated under an authoritarian government?

They are tightly controlled.

Which of the following is true of American democratic political ideals?

They come from European Enlightenment beliefs about individual worth.

Which of the following accurately describe higher education in the U.S.?

U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. The U.S. has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world. The U.S. ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree.

Which of the following were periods with high levels of bipartisanship in American history?

World War II George Washington's first years as president World War I

Helga and Halla are sisters who vehemently disagree about politics and support opposing parties. When they watch a news story about how a Republican congressional representative has been accused of embezzling campaign funds to support his drug addiction, Republican Helga immediately dismisses the story, while Democrat Halla counters that "of course it's true." Both women are demonstrating

a confirmation bias.

Political culture in the U.S. is based upon Americans'

allegiance to common goals.

Which governing structure represses individuals and groups that oppose the regime?

authoritarianism

The text cites President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change—even though two-thirds of Americans polled disagreed with the decision—as an example of

authority.

Henri is a conservative Republican. This morning, he heard a news story describing how the local Democrat school board chair was allowing student scores to be artificially inflated. If Henri is guilty of confirmation bias, he will likely

believe the story without any further research.

Which of these is not considered to be a core value of American political ideals?

collectivism

Americans' belief in self-government formed in

colonial America.

Which of the following is a system of majority rule through elections, empowering majorities, groups, and officials?

democratic

What is critical thinking?

determining what can be reasonably believed and then using the information to reach a thoughtful conclusion

In a(n) ______ form of democracy (for example, the type that might be conducted through town meetings) citizens decide policy instead of depending on elected representatives.

direct

Liberals who only listen to liberal talk radio as a source of information are immersing themselves in a(n)

echo chamber.

Americans have a(n) ______ view of their rights and freedoms.

expansive

Which of the following is an economic system that centers on the transactions between private parties?

free market

Under socialism as it is practiced today in Sweden and other countries, the government

guarantees its citizens a minimal standard of living.

In the democratic system of the United States, which of the following are bestowed with legal authority to exercise power?

judges the president members of Congress

The use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests is known as

legal action.

Which concept refers to the widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of a people about their politics?

political culture

Basic to politics is ______, which is needed to influence political developments.

political power

The tools of political science attempt to

sharpen students understanding of American politics.

As practiced today, ______ is a system in which the government stresses economic equality and owns a number of major industries.

socialism

Politics are necessary because

society's resources are limited. conflict in a society is inevitable. people do not all think alike.

A country's political culture derives from its

traditions.

The term party polarization refers to

the situation resulting from the intense conflicts between republicans and democrats in recent years.

Participants in a free-market economy depend primarily on which of the following for their economic security?

themselves

In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly

through competition between the republican and democratic parties.