Quizzes

A theory that is tested in an attempt to prove or refute with evidence, is known as _____. -scholarship -corruption -a methodology -a hypothesis

A hypothesis

Who generally belongs to interest groups? -A multiplicity of people -Primarily the middle class -Almost exclusively the well educated -Suburbanites and urbanites

A multiplicity of people

Which of the following statements best defines feudalism? -A political structure in which power is dispersed evenly -A system of political power dispersed among layers -A political structure in which power rests with church leaders -A system of political power distributed to the working class

A system of political power dispersed among layers

Describe how the election process in a parliamentary system slightly resembles presidential elections in the United States. -Party chiefs run as candidates for prime minister. -Citizens vote directly for the each new prime minister. -Citizens vote for a party member with the knowledge that the next prime minister will be the head of the largest party. -The prime minister is appointed for a 4-year term and can be reappointed one time.

Citizens vote for a party member with the knowledge that the next prime minister will be the head of the largest party.

Adam Smith is most associated with which concept? -Socialism -Modern liberalism -Classic liberalism -Communism

Classic liberalism

Modern American conservatism would favor government involvement in what activity? -Religious promotion -Regulating markets -Protecting organized labor -A progressive tax system

Religious promotion

Reason, balance, and theory pertain to which of the following? -balance -power -scholarship -methodology

Scholarship

Why do the responsibilities of legislative and executive powers often overlap? -Separation of powers is rarely clear-cut -Separation of powers is rare among industrialized nations -Separation of powers is absolute -Separation of powers grants obtuse levels of power to the executive branch

Separation of powers is rarely clear-cut

What was the poverty line in 2012? -$14,505 -$17,060 -$23,050 -$26,750

$23,050

Conservatives hold that Johnson's Great Society was a waste of money, locking recipients into _____ and encouraging a subculture of drugs and crime. -entitlement benefits -perpetual subsidies -social safety nets -welfare dependency

welfare dependency

International law consists of _____ and established customs recognized by most nations. -treaties -ratification -amendments -cease-fires

treaties

Which of the following descriptions best depicts a federal system of government? - The central government maintains all the power. - The first-order subdivisions maintain all the power. - Federal systems exist where there are no governments. - Federal systems have divided power between a central government and first-order governments.

Federal systems have divided power between a central government and first-order governments

Theoretically, what are the consequences if the government assumes the burden of bad loans? - Citizens will default on their mortgages. -Banks will learn from their mistakes and pay back the burden with interest. -Ultimately, the government will profit. -Firms will be encouraged to continue their risky behavior.

Firms will be encouraged to continue their risky behavior.

Which of the following is an advantage to having less powerful, less centralized parties? -Fluid and flexible parties may be better able to process demands from a wider range of citizens -Multiple party platforms possess greater persuasive abilities over the general public -Parties can form a stronger organizational identity based around a single, cohesive ideology -Third parties can effectively shoot for power grabs at legislative seats

Fluid and flexible parties may be better able to process demands from a wider range of citizens

In theory, what is the role of foreign powers in relation to sovereign states? -Foreign nations maintain satellite rule. -Foreign powers "keep their fingers" in the sovereign's politics. -Foreign states have no business intruding on sovereign affairs. -Foreign powers provide financial aid in times of crisis.

Foreign states have no business intruding on sovereign affairs.

Aristotle argued that the best political communities would be _____. -dominated by wealthy citizens -oligarchies -formed by elites -formed by citizens of the middle class

Formed by citizens of the middle class

_____gives people a stake in election outcomes, and education raises levels of interest and sophistication. -Life in the suburbs -Family tradition -Nationalism -High income

High income

What was the relationship between African American voting rates and Barack Obama's run for president? -American American voting rates rose to those of white voters as African American income and education levels rose. -African American voting rates unexpectedly remained far below those of white voters as African American income and education levels remained steady -African American voting rates rose to those of Hispanic voters and African American income and education levels rose -African American voting rates fell unexpectedly below those of white voters despite African American income and education levels rising

African American voting rates rose to those of white voters as African American income and education levels rose.

What legal agency in the United States generates reputation-based ratings of prospective federal judges? -Judicial Ratings Bureau -Federal Bureau of Judicial Review -American Bar Association -Office of Legal Assessment

American Bar Association

What is the term for the absence of government? -Socialism -Anarchy -Statism -Republic

Anarchy

Which of the following assisted Germany and Italy in their war efforts? -Disenchantment with socialism -Appeals to the citizens based on extreme nationalistic views -Unequal distribution of resources domestically and abroad -A revolt against the dominant world powers

Appeals to the citizens based on extreme nationalistic views

Why are coalitions among parties seldom necessary in the United States? - Because elections are held in multimember districts - Because elections usually produce more than two viable candidates - Because elections are held in single-member districts with plurality winners - Because of the multiparty system in the United States

Because elections are held in single-member districts with plurality winners

Which of the following would most likely be supported by the bourgeoisie? -Equality for all -A revolt by the proletariat -Minority rights -Conflict for economic gain

Conflict for economic gain

Describe how today's conservatives use the term "political economy." -Conservatives use the term to try to get back to the pure market system advocated by Adam Smith. -Conservatives understand the term within the context of Machiavelli's The Prince. -Conservatives veer toward John Stuart Mill's usage, which advocated utilitarianism. -Conservatives take a neo-utilitarian approach, hoping to benefit the weakest members of society.

Conservatives use the term to try to get back to the pure market system advocated by Adam Smith.

Which of the following is most consistent with the concept of the "general will" according to Rousseau? -Creating a park for the citizens to enjoy -Using public dollars so that some citizens can attend private schools -Offering tax breaks to one auto manufacturing plant -Low turnout in elections

Creating a park for the citizens to enjoy

Which type of regime has a free media, competitive elections, and protected civil liberties? -Democratic -Transitional -Authoritarian -Totalitarian

Democratic

Why might factory workers in small towns feel a different sense of the stakes elections hold than executives and professionals? -Factory workers in small towns may perceive a great deal of difference between candidates, noticing considerable change from one administration to another, and executives and professionals feel generally less involved but still perceive a direct correlation between who wins and their personal fortunes. -Factory workers in small towns may perceive little difference between candidates, noticing little change from one administration to another, and although executives and professionals share this sense of noticing little change from one administration to another, they still perceive a direct correlation between who wins and their personal fortunes. -Factory workers in small towns may perceive little difference between candidates, noticing little change from one administration to another, and executives and professionals feel involved and perceive a direct correlation between who wins and their personal fortunes. -Executives and professionals may perceive little difference between candidates, noticing little change from one administration to another, and factory workers in small towns feel involved and perceive a direct correlation between who wins and their personal incomes.

Factory workers in small towns may perceive little difference between candidates, noticing little change from one administration to another, and executives and professionals feel involved and perceive a direct correlation between who wins and their personal fortunes.

Which best explains the differences between historians and political scientists? -Historians look for generalizations, and political scientists are reluctant to generalize. -Historians are reluctant to generalize, and political scientists look for generalizations. -Historians are more likely to look for comparisons than political scientists. -Historians tend to focus on nature-based explanations, and political scientists focus on nurture-based explanations.

Historians are reluctant to generalize, and political scientists look for generalizations.

Which of the following is most consistent with the idea of a social contract? -Government should be limited to ensure individual freedom. -Individuals join and stay in civil society. -Citizens prefer solitary lives to living in groups. -Citizens are more concerned with their own social situations than the community.

Individuals join and stay in civil society.

When people base their views on beliefs that may not be based in reality, they are behaving _____. -irrationally -rationally -politically -legitimately

Irrationally

What is the effect of divided government, such as that used in the United States, on spending and policy formation? - It encourages unhealthy spending and foolish policies. - It holds down spending and foolish policies. - It encourages irresponsible spending because representatives are held accountable for only a short amount of time. - It encourages responsible spending, but is slow to implement policy.

It holds down spending and foolish policies

Describe British economist John Maynard Keynes' proposal to cure economic depressions. -Keynes suggested infusing the economy with government funds to promote spending. -Keynes advocated for "trickle-down" economic policies. -Keynes argued for stronger stimulus packages to corporations and small businesses. -Keynes proposed to cure depressions by dampening the swings of the business cycle.

Keynes proposed to cure depressions by dampening the swings of the business cycle.

Despite a disputed 2000 presidential election, once President George W. Bush took office, few people doubted his _____. -charisma -control -legitimacy -sovereignty

Legitimacy

The notion that we acknowledge the rightful roles of our leaders or our laws is known as _____. -sovereignty -authority -legitimacy -monarchy

Legitimacy

How do Libertarians differ from liberals and conservatives? - Libertarians are more consistent in their views. -Libertarians are less consistent in their views. -Libertarians prefer intervention in economic matters only. -Libertarians prefer intervention in social matters only.

Libertarians are more consistent in their views.

Differentiate between the rising costs of Medicare and Medicaid. -Medicare anticipates rising costs due to changing proportions of people over 65. -Medicaid expects rising costs due to looming financial busts. -Medicare plans to keep spending down by raising the eligibility age to 69. -Medicaid hopes to beat rising costs by adjusting the poverty level.

Medicare anticipates rising costs due to changing proportions of people over 65.

What is the most common response to serious domestic unrest? -Revolution -Coup d'etat -Military takeover -UN diplomatic action

Military takeover

How does the American welfare state compare to those of other industrialized nations? -Much less is allocated to welfare in the United States. -Other nations allocate less to welfare than the United States. -The United States allocates about the same to welfare. -Few nations besides the United States maintain funds for welfare.

Much less is allocated to welfare in the United States.

What is likely to happen if the people are unhappy and there is no organization to focus their discontent? -They will almost assuredly turn to violence -Not much will happen -The people will organize themselves regardless -They will eventually find other means of achieving contentedness

Not much will happen

Which of the following best articulates the stance of judicial restraint advocates? - Judicial review is the best and only true method of checking legislative power. -The court should practice restraint in cases in which legislative acts are presented for interpretation. -Only the executive branch can restrain the court, keeping the power of judicial review in balance with the other governing branches. -Only Congress should make public policy and, unless a legislative act clearly violates the Constitution, the law should stand.

Only Congress should make public policy and, unless a legislative act clearly violates the Constitution, the law should stand.

Which of the following is a function of political parties? -Parties limit voters' choices by narrowing the playing field -Parties function as an input device, allowing citizens to get their needs heard -Parties decide the issues for televised political debates -Parties nominate candidates, thereby increasing voter efficacy

Parties function as an input device, allowing citizens to get their needs heard

Which of the following propositions would likely be favored by modern liberals? - Tax cuts for top income earners -Regulation of the banking sector -Little government involvement in economic matters -Free markets

Regulation of the banking sector

Identify one major flaw in the current organization of the United Nations. -Larger nations maintain greater influence over world financial issues. -The organization receives support from the International Monetary Fund with no real way to repay those funds. -The U.N. has too much power and thus maintains strict authority over international security matters. -Permanent members of the Security Council maintain the right to veto anything they dislike.

Permanent members of the Security Council maintain the right to veto anything they dislike.

Machiavelli is associated with the concept of _____. -culture -sovereignty -rationality -power

Power

Distinguish between primitive and modern judicial systems. -Primitive legal systems rely largely on labyrinthine written and codified laws, and modern systems rely on oral rhetoric. -Modern legal systems utilize recent advances in technology, and primitive legal systems must do without such amenities. -Modern legal systems better ensure the rights of citizens, and primitive systems function on superstition and disbelief. -Primitive legal systems are oral and consist of customs and beliefs, and modern systems are written and largely codified.

Primitive legal systems are oral and consist of customs and beliefs, and modern systems are written and largely codified.

_____ allow and even encourage parties to split. -Single-member districts -"First past the post" systems -Proportional representation systems -Plurality systems

Proportional representation systems

Which political science subfield studies the interface of politics and economics? -public administration -public policy -comparative politics -political theory

Public policy

Evaluate the changing role of sovereignty in today's international relations. -International relations have reinforced the notion of sovereignty. -Sovereignty is dwindling in the face of international law. -Weaker nations are losing sovereignty to larger, more powerful ones. -United States sovereignty has weakened due to the threat of terrorism.

Sovereignty is dwindling in the face of international law.

A great deal of legislation originates in _____. -economic downturns -corporate boardrooms -specialized agencies -secret

Specialized agencies

During the 1970s, critics developed this new term to describe inflation with stagnant economic growth. -Growth Slope -Quagmire -Stagflation -Recession

Stagflation

Why did the 2010 healthcare reform bill contain no provision for public insurance options? -The insurance industry blocked the Democrats efforts for a public option -The people had no desire for a public option -Democrats were not interested in a public option -Farmers, heavily invested in the insurance industry, blocked them

The insurance industry blocked the Democrats efforts for a public option

In countries where _____, the courts become an arena of interest-group contention. -public defenders are unavailable -the rule of law is strong -judges have little power -the rule of law is weak

The rule of law is strong

Analyze recent changes to the Food Stamp program. -The distribution of cash grants allows the program to be easily misused. -The updated debit card system makes the program more difficult to misuse. -Many recipients sell Food Stamps for 50 cents on the dollar in order to purchase drugs and alcohol. -The program allocates surplus government dairy to the poor, ameliorating milk and cheese inflation.

The updated debit card system makes the program more difficult to misuse.

Relating concepts in a way that connects them in an empirical manner is the basis of _____ building. -scholarship -theory -power -culture

Theory

What about U.S. agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the CIA make them so ill-prepared to fight terrorism? - They have extremely different missions when it comes to terrorism. -They are poorly funded. -They have a great deal of red tape to get through in order to be able to communicate. -They are often unwilling to communicate with each other.

They are often unwilling to communicate with each other.

Which are both true for most politicians? -They think practically and are skeptical of power. -They seek popularity and hold firm views. -They offer single causes and think abstractly. -They seek accuracy and offer long-term consequences.

They seek popularity and hold firm views.

Describe the purpose of total control as relates to the image of the state. -To reveal the state as a genuine and open entity -To excuse the state's invasive and/or violent political measures -To convey to the citizens a perception of only everyday order -To convey to visitors a perception of nearly perfect order

To convey to visitors a perception of nearly perfect order

To Aristotle, the corrupt form of monarchy is _____. -democracy -tyranny -polity -oligarchy

Tyranny

Which statement best supports Marxist theories? -The United States provides ample opportunities for all who work hard. -Similarities exist between economies in both Europe and the United States. -Tax breaks will often create jobs, benefiting the working class. -Uneven benefits to corporations with few benefits for workers led to the economic crises in the early 2000s.

Uneven benefits to corporations with few benefits for workers led to the economic crises in the early 2000s.

How often does the cabinet change in a parliamentary system? -Every 4 years -Every 6 years -Every 8 years -When the cabinet is voted out or resigns

When the cabinet is voted out or resigns

The only political system that could guarantee the cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is _____. -a monarchy -a dictatorship -a democracy -an oligarchy

a dictatorship

Right-wing totalitarianism does not desire revolution; instead, it attempts to block _____. -a leftist revolution -ethnic turmoil -an Islamic fundamentalist movement -a libertarian revolution

a leftist revolution

In a single-member district election, the winner receives a minimum of _____. - a plurality of the votes - 50% of the votes - two-thirds of the votes - three-fourths of the votes

a plurality of the votes

According to Hannah Arendt, the American struggle was indeed a revolution, perhaps history's only complete revolution, _____. -because it alone ended with a democratic institutions. -because it became an example for other nations. -because it managed to rout what was then the great world power. -because it alone ended with a new foundation of liberty instead of the tyranny that came after other revolutions.

because it alone ended with a new foundation of liberty instead of the tyranny that came after other revolutions.

According to political scientist Ira Sharkansky, "All modern states are welfare states, and all welfare states are _____." -democratic -compassionate -bureaucratic -incoherent

incoherent

Riots triggered by police beating youths, protests against globalization, and labor strikes against austerity are all examples of _____. -purely traditional violence -issue-oriented violence -violence carried out by civilian institutions of government coups

issue-oriented violence

The ability of courts to decide if laws are constitutional is referred to as _____. -judicial review -judicial activism -judicial restraint -basic law

judicial review

A big war with a definitive outcome often brings peace because _____. -relative power is clearly seen -power struggles are safely obscured -weaker powers are rendered impotent -larger powers rest satisfied

larger powers rest satisfied

A _____ system practices both state ownership and extensive welfare benefits. -socialist -statist -welfare -laissez-faire

socialist

Most countries participate in _____, a largely capitalistic competition where goods, money, and ideas flow easily to wherever there are customers. -the world market -free-trade agreements -nontariff barriers -plurilateral agreements

the world market