question

Economic groups have an advantage over non-economic groups because

answer

they have greater access to financial resources.

question

Objective reporting is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to

answer

report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate.

question

In the United States,

answer

voter registration requirements have usually been set by the states.

question

Through the grants of power in the Constitution, the framers sought to

answer

both define the powers of the national government and limit them.

question

The Greek words demos and kratis together mean

answer

the people rule.

question

The Democratic Party's long-time regional stronghold, the Solid South, stemmed from a realignment during which historical period?

answer

Civil War era

question

National party organizations can dictate the day-to-day decisions of

answer

neither local nor state party organizations

question

A conservative is opposed to government intervention

answer

in the economic but not the social sphere

question

Voter identification cards find the most support among

answer

Republicans.

question

Political parties serve to

answer

All these answers are correct

question

Any law that attempts a racial or ethnic classification is subject to the

answer

strict scrutiny test

question

The fact that farmers have more influence over agricultural price-supports than do other groups is an example of

answer

pluralism.

question

Which of the following is correct with regard to obscenity and the law?

answer

Obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.

question

Which of the following ideological types favor government activism in the economic realm?

answer

liberals and populists

question

Which of the following is a correct statement about commerce power in the U.S.?

answer

All these answers are correct

question

According to the Supreme Court, prior restraint on the press is only acceptable if

answer

the government can clearly justify the restriction.

question

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution, among other things

answer

a guarantee of freedom of speech

question

Which of the following has democracy come to mean in practice?

answer

majority rule through the free and open election of representatives

question

Women are less likely than men to favor

answer

the use of force to settle international disputes

question

Which of the following is a difference between communism and socialism, as described by the text?

answer

Under communism, the government takes responsibility for overall management of the economy, whereas under socialism, the government does not try to manage the overall economy.

question

In recent decades, lobbyists in Washington, D.C. have increasingly

answer

targeted the executive branch in their efforts to influence policy decisions

question

One of the reasons the reporting of national news is relatively uniform among news sources is that

answer

a small number of news organizations and news services generate most of the news.

question

When the United States first came into being, married women were not permitted to

answer

All these answers are correct

question

Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press? Answer Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press? Answer Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press?

answer

the presidency

question

The framers' most significant modification of the traditional doctrine of the separation powers was to

answer

ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others

question

The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling (1954) held that racial segregation in schools violated the

answer

equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

question

During the twentieth century, American parties lost their complete control over

answer

All these answers are correct

question

According to the Supreme Court, which is true regarding freedom of assembly?

answer

Public officials can regulate the time, place, and conditions of public assembly, provided the regulations are reasonable.

question

In recent decades, lobbyists in Washington, D.C. have increasingly

answer

targeted the executive branch in their efforts to influence policy decisions

question

De jure discrimination and de facto discrimination are two ways in which some Americans are treated as less equal than others. Examples of public policies designed to address each of these forms of discrimination are

answer

the Brown decision (de jure), and affirmative action (de facto).

question

The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and hence in its ability to deprive people of their liberty is expressed by the term

answer

limited government

question

The Constitution allows states to

answer

govern intrastate commerce

question

The reason the news product is designed to fascinate as well as to inform is because

answer

news organizations are fundamentally businesses and must obtain revenue to survive.

question

Political protests

answer

are today usually planned events

question

Which of the following statements about Americans and ideology and political thinking is true?

answer

Only a minority of Americans can be classified as true ideologues

question

PACs tend to contribute money to

answer

incumbents.

question

Civic duty and apathy are attitudes that are usually acquired from

answer

one's parents

question

The idea that ordinary people have a right and a duty to participate in public affairs is the essential component of the ideal of

answer

self-government

question

A contemporary legislator who voted for a bill because of a belief in its benefit, even though his constituents back home overwhelmingly opposed the bill, would be performing the Edmund Burke role of

answer

trustee.

question

Government can lawfully prevent a political rally from taking place

answer

when it can demonstrate that harmful acts will necessarily result from the rally

question

Which of the following is true of employment in lobbying firms by members of Congress?

answer

They are prohibited by law from lobbying Congress for a set period of time after leaving office.

question

Which of the following is true of letter writers and demonstrators?

answer

Their opinions tend to be atypical of the population as whole

question

In the United States, the primary responsibility for registration of the individual voter rests with the

answer

individual.

question

Where is the Bill of Rights found in the Constitution?

answer

the first ten amendments

question

The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act

answer

authorizes states to deny marital rights to a same-sex couple that has been granted these rights by another state.

question

Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press?

answer

the presidency

question

Public interest groups are distinguished by the fact that

answer

their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.

question

Which of the following groups in the U.S. shows a higher level of support for collective bargaining?

answer

factory workers

question

If a state accepts a federal grant-in-aid, it must

answer

comply with federal restrictions on its use.

question

The term "public opinion" is frequently used in reference to all of American society. This perspective is

answer

less accurate than the idea that Americans form many publics, which differ greatly in such things as the level of attention they pay to politics.

question

The greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties was

answer

the direct primary.

question

One example of a policy that aimed chiefly to overcome de facto discrimination is

answer

busing to achieve racial integration in the schools.

question

Which of the following groups is not typically a part of the Democratic coalition?

answer

fundamentalist Christians

question

Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties?

answer

the direct primary

question

In a constitutional system,

answer

there are lawful restrictions on a government's power

question

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

answer

All these answers are correct.

question

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

answer

providing useful and persuasive information to key officials

question

Political parties serve

answer

All these answers are correct.

question

A public policy program on which national, state, and local policymakers collaborate is an example of

answer

cooperative federalism

question

The reason the news product is designed to fascinate as well as to inform is because

answer

news organizations are fundamentally businesses and must obtain revenue to survive

question

Compared with U.S. citizens of higher income, those of lower income are

answer

much less likely to vote in elections

question

Native Americans

answer

All these answers are correct.

question

Candidate-centered politics encourages all of the following except

answer

long-term consistency in policymaking.

question

PACs tend to contribute the most money to

answer

incumbents.

question

A person who favors government intervention in both social and economic affairs is a(n)

answer

populist

question

The most well-financed interest groups are those that promote

answer

corporate interests

question

Grass roots lobbying is based on the assumption that officials will respond to

answer

pressure from constituents

question

The federal government's licensing of broadcasting is based primarily on

answer

the scarcity of broadcasting frequencies

question

A member of Congress who wants to act on what the majority of his or her constituency thinks on a particular issue would be advised to respond to which of the following indicators?

answer

a poll based on a random sample of constituents

question

________ elections tend to draw the largest percentage of voters in the U.S.

answer

Presidential

question

In order to overcome the free-rider problem, non-economic groups have

answer

used internet resources and computer-assisted mailing lists to target potential donors.

question

The United States has certain rules in place to keep politics within peaceful bounds. These rules include all of the following EXCEPT

answer

autocracy.

question

Which of the following is most closely related to the concept of implied powers?

answer

necessary and proper clause

question

A consistent pattern of opinion on particular issues that stems from a coherent set of political beliefs is called

answer

an ideology

question

One reason that affirmative action is so controversial is that

answer

it is viewed as giving preferential treatment, which is unpopular, instead of simply ensuring equal treatment.

question

Devolution is

answer

the passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels

question

The news provides a refracted version of reality because it

answer

emphasizes dramatic and compelling news stories

question

The situation where individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called

answer

the free-rider problem

question

The theory that society's interests are most effectively represented through group action is

answer

pluralist theory

question

In recent presidential elections, which party's platform has supported school prayer and been opposed to abortion?

answer

Republican

question

Equality of result policies are primarily directed at ________ discriminatory effects.

answer

de facto

question

The federal government's power to tax, regulate commerce among the states, and declare war are all examples of ________ powers.

answer

enumerated

question

In general, public opinion

answer

sets limits on government action

question

Prospective voting is characterized by

answer

choices based on an awareness of the candidates' positions on various issues

question

The Supreme Court's position on prior restraint of the press is that

answer

prior restraint should apply only in rare circumstances, and it is better to hold the press responsible for what it has printed than to restrict what it may print

question

The Tenth Amendment addressed the concerns of Anti-Federalists about

answer

the powers of state governments

question

Viewed in historical terms, federalism has been a

answer

contentious and dynamic system that has adapted to the needs of the time.

question

Housing in America

answer

continues to evidence a high degree of racial segregation.

question

Democrats and Republicans have endured as the two major U.S. parties primarily due to

answer

their ability to adapt to changing circumstances

question

The exclusionary rule states that

answer

evidence obtained illegally is inadmissible in court.

question

In which of the following ways is the U.S. free-market system distinct from the European economies?

answer

the extent to which private transactions determine the allocation of economic costs and benefits

question

Pluralism contends that, on most issues,

answer

it is the preference of the special interest that largely determines what government does

question

A main difference between iron triangles and issue networks is

answer

issue networks are generally less stable than iron triangles, such that the members of an issue network may change as the issue develops.

question

The traditional media have "softened" their news by

answer

infusing it with more stories about celebrities, crime, and the like

question

Effective inside lobbying is based upon

answer

providing useful and persuasive information to key officials

question

State and local governments

answer

lobby in Washington, D.C., most effectively through organizations representing groups of states and localities.

question

Which of the following aspects of U.S. government might be used as part of an argument that the U.S. is less democratic than some other democracies?

answer

its staggered terms of office of members of the legislature

question

Which of the following groups is NOT typically a part of the Democratic coalition?

answer

fundamentalist Christians

question

The most powerful religious force in contemporary American society is the

answer

religious right

question

Voter registration in the United States

answer

began as a way of preventing voters from casting more than one ballot on election day.

question

All of the following statements about Latino Americans are true EXCEPT that

answer

their average annual income is relatively close to the national average.

question

The Constitution forbids Congress from

answer

passing ex post facto laws

question

Each of the following statements could be considered true of either economic or social liberals, EXCEPT that

answer

they believe that government should be used to promote traditional values

question

The FCC's equal time requirement

answer

prohibits broadcasters from selling or giving time to political candidates and denying it to their opponents

question

The Bill of Rights

answer

further checked the power of the majority

question

Which of the following is not a typical interest group function?

answer

addressing a broad and diverse range of public issues

question

The individual right that is widely regarded as the most basic of individual rights is

answer

freedom of expression.

question

Which of the following characteristics does the Internet have that traditional media lack?

answer

the ability to allow readers to interact with news reporting

question

_____ provides no free television time to political parties and allows candidates to purchase air time.

answer

The United States

question

In applying the reasonable basis test, courts tend to

answer

require government only to show that a particular law is reasonable.

question

Most states conduct _____ primaries.

answer

closed

question

The elastic clause is related to which of the following concepts?

answer

implied powers

question

Voting

answer

All these answers are correct

question

In the dynamics of an iron triangle, what benefit do interest groups provide to friendly bureaucratic agencies?

answer

lobbying support for agency programs

question

Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to

answer

win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections.

question

Outside lobbying does not include the use of

answer

developing and maintaining close contacts with policymakers.

question

A government's authority

answer

is evidenced when government officials use their right to exercise power

question

The Supreme Court concept of suspect classifications suggests that

answer

laws that classify people differently on the basis of their race or ethnicity are presumed to have discrimination as their purpose.

question

The process of political socialization in the United States is

answer

normally cumulative; political beliefs attained earlier in life tend to be retained to a substantial degree.

question

The news provides a selective depiction of reality because it

answer

emphasizes dramatic events and excludes slow, steady processes.

question

In terms of party identification, about two-thirds of adults call themselves

answer

Republicans or Democrats

question

The news media are usually guided by events that

answer

are timely.

question

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

answer

power must be used to offset power

question

One of the reasons that the reporting of national news is relatively uniform among news sources is because

answer

a small number of news organizations and news services generate most of the news.

question

When the nation was founded, who was eligible to vote?

answer

only white males who owned property

question

The traditional media have "softened" their news by

answer

infusing it with more stories about celebrities, crime, and the like.

question

The Fourteenth Amendment applies to discriminatory action by

answer

government only

question

Unlike in many other democracies, elections in the United States are traditionally held on

answer

Tuesdays

question

If a minor party gains a large following, it is almost certain that

answer

the major parties will try to capture its supporters

question

The individual freedoms in the Bill of Rights were extended by the Fourteenth Amendment to include protection from deprivation of due process rights by

answer

actions of state and local governments

question

Which of the following is NOT among the checks Congress has on the executive?

answer

power to declare an executive action unlawful

question

Party de-alignment is

answer

None of these answers is correct

question

The term iron triangle refers to

answer

a small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest.

question

Today, the largest labor unions are those that represent

answer

service and public employees

question

According to the Supreme Court, prayer in public schools violates

answer

the establishment clause

question

The writers of the Constitution devised the Electoral College as the method of choosing presidents because

answer

the method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities

question

A set of lobbyists, legislators, policy experts, and executives who come together temporarily in debate over a complex policy issue is

answer

an issue network

question

The most fully organized interests are those that represent

answer

business.

question

All of the following tend to decrease voter turnout EXCEPT

answer

sharp policy differences between major parties

question

National authority has greatly expanded in the twentieth century in large part because

answer

local, state, and federal governments have become increasingly interdependent.

question

If a person yells "fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire, and people are hurt in the ensuing panic, that individual abused his freedom of speech according to the doctrine of

answer

clear and present danger

question

Most lobbyists receive support from elected officials in direct exchange for

answer

information.

question

Which statement about women's rights is correct?

answer

Women have made substantial gains in the areas of appointive and elective offices.

question

Organizationally, the U.S. major parties are

answer

decentralized and weak.

question

In an oligarchy,

answer

control rests with a small group, such as military officers or a few wealthy families.

question

The Communications Act

answer

imposed on broadcasters an "equal time" restriction that prevented preference for some political candidates over others

question

The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is

answer

the existence of single-member election districts

question

A totalitarian government

answer

admits to no limits on its power

question

Regular voters tend to be characterized by

answer

a strong sense of civic duty

question

The group system politically favors those interests that

answer

are already favored by the economic system

question

Sovereignty refers to

answer

supreme and final governing authority.

question

Freedom of the press is substantial in the United States because

answer

All these answers are correct

question

Disadvantaged Americans have generally gained their rights

answer

through struggle against entrenched interests

question

The establishment clause prohibits government from

answer

favoring one religion over another or supporting religion over no religion.

question

When it comes to protest activities, a majority of Americans are

answer

not highly supportive of such activities, despite America's tradition of free expression.

question

What issue has done the most to bring young Americans to the voting booth in the twenty-first century?

answer

the war in Iraq

question

A primary difference between a political party and a typical interest group is that the party

answer

adapts its policy positions

question

All of the following ideological types are prevalent in the United States EXCEPT

answer

communists

question

The special contribution of Internet-based news is that it

answer

provides an outlet for opinion.

question

The Supreme Court has reasoned that a right of privacy is provided by

answer

the implication of said right by the freedoms in the Bill of Rights.

question

Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent

answer

business firms.

question

The poll tax was used to

answer

disenfranchise African Americans in the South

question

_____ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party.

answer

Retrospective voting

question

The Democratic coalition today includes the following groups except

answer

the Christian Coalition

question

Since the height of the busing era, the trend in public schools has been

answer

toward greater segregation

question

Progressive reforms included

answer

All these answers are correct

question

A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that

answer

the interest group system is unrepresentative because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others.

question

Dramatic change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of

answer

major upheaval

question

To the framers, the great danger of democratic government was the risk of

answer

tyranny of the majority.

question

Objective journalism is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to

answer

report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate.

question

Why have issue networks become more prevalent than iron triangles?

answer

the increasing complexity of policy problems

question

The internet has

answer

failed to strengthen the news-reading habits of Americans

question

What party has made big gains in recent decades among white fundamentalist Christians, based on its positions on topics like abortion and school prayer?

answer

Republican

question

Presidential appointments and treaties must be approved by

answer

the Senate

question

Advantages that Republicans and Democrats have over minor party candidates include

answer

All of the answers are correct

question

Like all other rights, the right of free expression is

answer

not absolute

question

Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention

answer

in both the economic and social spheres

question

A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is

answer

All these answers are correct

question

In America today, public education is primarily the responsibility of

answer

state and local governments

question

The situation in which individuals are tempted not to contribute to a cause because they will get the benefits even if they do not participate is called

answer

the free-rider problem

question

Which of the following are key players in the modern campaign?

answer

All these answers are correct

question

Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that

answer

their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.

question

The Supreme Court

answer

has generally protected symbolic speech, though less substantially than it has protected verbal speech

question

Which of the following characteristics does the internet have that traditional media lacks?

answer

the ability to interact with its followers

question

The theory that nearly all interests are adequately presented through group activity is

answer

pluralism.

question

Which of the following, relative to the others, is typically more protective of individual rights?

answer

the judiciary

question

Which of the following statements is true?

answer

The federal government raises roughly as much revenue from taxation as all state and local governments combined

question

The writers of the Constitution established a federal system of government in part because

answer

the states already existed as established entities and had to be preserved

question

The most significant resource that most groups offer congressional candidates is

answer

money.

question

American party organizations

answer

are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates.

question

Judicial review is the power of the American courts to

answer

declare a law unconstitutional.

question

Which of the following nations is often noted as an example of a government that has a system of checks and balances, but is often plagued by political extremes?

answer

Mexico

question

One special contribution of Internet-based news is that it

answer

provides the ordinary citizen with an opportunity to be part of the news system

question

An amicus brief

answer

is a written document in which a group explains to a court its position on a legal dispute the court is handling

question

Regarding state party organizations, the day-to-day operation is usually the responsibility of

answer

the state chairperson

question

Protest activity is a reversal to the pattern of voting in that it

answer

is more likely to involve younger citizens rather than older ones.

question

The largest number of PACs are those associated with

answer

business.

question

Interest group activity is basic to the democratic process because it

answer

serves to promote the concerns of various interests in society

question

Which of the following is true of the appeal process?

answer

The Constitution does not guarantee an appeal after conviction, but the federal government and all states permit at least one appeal.

POS 2 Political Science

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