question

Political socialization is the process by which

answer

Political values are passed to the next generation

question

Which of the following were LEAST likely to have been part of the New Deal electoral Coalition?

answer

Farm Laborers

question

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs?

answer

They are used by interest groups to lobby court

question

The pluralist theory of democracy would be best demonstrated by which of the following?

answer

Unions, conservationists, and business groups compete to influence a piece of environmental legislations

question

During the past 25 years, all of the following changes in public opinion and political behavior have occurred in the US EXCEPT

answer

A decline in party competition in the South

question

All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPT

answer

Forming new cabinet level department

question

Which of the following statements about the Senate is true?

answer

Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process

question

Compared to voters in the general election, voters in presidential primary elections are

answer

More likely to be affluent

question

Since 1972, voters in presidential elections have

answer

Become more focused on individual candidates

question

Debate of a bill in the House of Representatives under a "closed rule" means that

answer

amendments to the bill cannot be offered

question

In The Federalist Papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions

answer

Are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

question

Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation?

answer

Rules committee

question

The primary function of PACs is to

answer

Raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

question

Which of the following is NOT a core value of the US political culture?

answer

Economic Equaliry

question

Which of the following serves as the Constitutional bases for Congress' implied powers?

answer

The Elastic Clause

question

The Supreme Court ruled the legislative veto unconstitutional on the grounds that such vetoes

answer

Violated the principle of separation of powers

question

Supreme Court justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the constitution in order to ensure that

answer

Justices are free from direct political pressures

question

The practical effect of this cause has been to

answer

Allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the constitution

question

As originally ratified, the US constitution included provisions designed to

answer

Increase in economic powers of the central government

question

Giving state governments greater discretion in deciding how to achieve the specific goals of welfare reform is an example of

answer

Devolution

question

Which of the following best explains why delegates to both the republican and democratic conventions in 1996 were much more likely to have college and post graduate degrees than was the rest of the voting population?

answer

Political activism increases with education levels

question

Which of the following would result from the direct election of presidential candidates?

answer

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

question

An important change in political culture since 1950 is that the US citizens have become

answer

less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders

question

The constitution states that all bill revenues must originate in

answer

The US House of Representatives

question

Which of the following is a fundamental element of the US constitution?

answer

division of government authority across political institutions

question

Which of the following is an accurate statement about committees in congress?

answer

Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation

question

The Freedom of Information Act was designated primarily to give

answer

Citizens access to information to government recors

question

All of the following are American policy making institutions EXCEPT

answer

Political Parties

question

Which of the following is true about the right of free speech as currently interpreted by the supreme court?

answer

It protects the right to express opinions, even without the actual use of words

question

Which of the following is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them?

answer

Congress

question

Which of the following accurately characterizes the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the US?

answer

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

question

To enforce the 14th amendment more clearly, congress passed the

answer

Civil Rights Act of 1964

question

The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to

answer

Day-to-day campaign activities

question

All of the following were decided at the constitutional conventions EXCEPT

answer

Voting qualifications of the electorate

question

Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the two major political parties in the US?

answer

Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state, and local levels

question

Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a US president and another head of state?

answer

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

question

The role of congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislation responsibilities is known as

answer

Legislative oversight

question

In The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argues that factions in a republic are

answer

Undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

question

Congressional districts are usually redrawn every 10 years by the

answer

Census

question

The difference between and appellate court and a district is that and appellate court

answer

Reviews previous court cases

question

Which of the following took place after the presidential candidates Harry S Truman in 1948, Richard Nixon in 1968, Bill Clinton in 1993, and George W Bush in 200 won only pluralities of the popular vote?

answer

The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast

question

How did McCulloch vs Maryland impact the application and interpretation of the US Federal System?

answer

It expanded the scope of the national government's power by ruling that it possessed implied powers in addition to expressed powers

question

Which of the following is NOT part of traditional Democratic theory?

answer

Citizens must make rational choices

question

In US vs Nixon, the supreme court ruled that

answer

President Nixon had to hand over White House tape recordings to the courts

question

the main intent of "motor voter" laws is to

answer

Increase voter registration

question

Which of the following is an accurate statement about political participation in the US today?

answer

Similar proportions of eligible men and women vote in presidential elections

question

Registered Voters directly elect which of the following?

answer

Members of the Senate Members of the House of Representatives

question

In which of the following scenarios would a presidential veto most likely be upheld?

answer

2/3 of the representatives and senators are members as the same party as the president

question

In trying to influence legislation, the president is generally more successful than congressional leaders in

answer

Using the media to set the policy agenda

question

In Plessy vs Ferguson, the US Supreme Court ruled that state imposed racial segregation is constitutional based on the

answer

"Separate but equal" doctring

question

When 18 to 21 year olds received the right to vote in 1971, in the 1972 national election they did which of the following?

answer

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

question

The 1973 Roe v Wade decision that upheld a women's right to secure an abortion was based on the right to

answer

Privacy implied in the Bill of Rights

question

Public monies are used to help finance which of the following campaigns?

answer

Presidential

question

Which of the following is most accurate statement about political parties in the US?

answer

The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democratic or Republican has been declining since the 1970s

question

The Americans with Disabilities Act which provides protections for the disabled is an example of

answer

a federal mandate

question

Explanations for low voter turnout include all of the following EXCEPT

answer

Laws protecting voting rights for minorities

question

Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the US?

answer

The majority of the electorate vote does not vote in most elections

question

Which of the following conclusions about income distribution during the Reagan administration is supported?

answer

The share of income received by the highest fifth increased, whereas the share received by the lowest fifth decreased

question

Which of the following is true of PACs?

answer

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

question

The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to

answer

Regulate interstate commerce

question

In contrast to revenue sharing, categorical grants in aid provide state and local governments with

answer

Funds to administer programs clearly specified by the federal government

question

Which of the following best characterizes the influence of the news media on public opinion in the US?

answer

They affect which issues the public thinks are important

question

One of the formal tools used by congress for oversight of the bureaucracy is

answer

Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

question

Which of the following best describes the primary formal role of the attorney general?

answer

Serving as the chief executive officer of the department of justice

question

Which of the following best defines the term "judicial activism?"

answer

The tendency of the judges to interpret the Constitution according to their own views

question

The 14th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted by the supreme court to

answer

Make most rights contained in the Bill of Rights applicable to states

question

Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system?

answer

Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations

question

Which of the following court cases established criminal rights at the time of their arrest?

answer

Miranda vs Arizona

question

Which of the following is true of independent regulatory agencies?

answer

They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments

question

Which of the following is the most likely consequence of divided government?

answer

Delays in confirmation of federal court nominees

question

Which of the following is articulated in the War Powers Resolution?

answer

Assure congressional involvement in decisions committing military forces in hostile situations overseas

question

The doctrine of "separate but equal" had previously been upheld by which of the following supreme court decisions?

answer

Plessy vs Ferguson

question

Which of the following describes a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of news media?

answer

There is increased similarity of network news coverage

question

To which of the following congressional committees would a proposal to reform the national income tax system be initially sent?

answer

House Ways and Means Committee

question

The Office of Management and Budget has the primary responsibility for doing which of the following?

answer

Preparing the budget

question

The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?

answer

The scope of power of the central government

question

Which of the following has decreased in Congress over the past 20 years?

answer

The influence of the committee chairs

question

Which of the following is true about divided party control of the presidency and congress?

answer

It reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades

question

Presidents have had the most success in changing the direction of decisions of the federal judiciary by

answer

Using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President

question

The framers of the US constitution left voting eligibility to the

answer

Individual states

question

Which of the following is an accurate statement that could be used to refute the argument that a realignment took place in the 1980s?

answer

Republican dominance in presidential elections did not extend to congressional, state, and local elections

question

Which of the following is NOT a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns?

answer

By prohibitions on negative advertising

question

Under the current grant in aid system, states have the most flexibility in implementing

answer

Block Grants

question

A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is called

answer

A closed primary

question

The Supreme Court has ruled which of the following concerning the death penalty?

answer

The death penalty is not necessarily cruel and unusual punishment

question

Which of the following statements most accurately compares elections in the US with those in most other western democracies?

answer

The voter turnout rate in the US is usually lower

question

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the supreme court and public opinion?

answer

The existence of public consensus on an issue limits the extent to which the court will render decisions contrary to that consensus

question

The literacy tests were most likely designed to

answer

Prevent Black people from exercising their right to vote

question

Critical elections in the US have typically occurred

answer

When groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

question

Which of the following is the leading predictor of how an individual will vote in a congressional election?

answer

Partisanship

question

Which of the following statements about voting behavior in the US is correct?

answer

College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma

question

Which of the following generalizations about voting tendencies is true?

answer

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

question

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always

answer

A member of the majority party in the chamber

question

Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics?

answer

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

question

Which of the following techniques would a corporate lobbyist be likely to use to influence political outcomes in Congress?

answer

Ensuring that the corporation's PAC makes donations to the campaigns of members of key committees Meeting informally with Senate aides over lunch or cocktails Bringing influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives

question

Most important source of the Supreme Court's caseload is

answer

Its appellate jurisdiction

question

Which of the following form an iron triangle?

answer

Executive department, congressional committee, and interest group

question

Which of the following describes a fundamental difference between political parties and interest groups?

answer

Political parties represent broad arrays of issues, whereas interest groups are more likely to focus on narrow sets of issues

question

The largest portions of "uncontrollable spending" in the federal budget is designated for which of the following?

answer

Entitlement spending

question

Which of the following trends was evident in presidential elections in the 1980s?

answer

The decline of Democratic party strength among White Southerners

question

Which of the following best explains the principle of stare decisis?

answer

It encourages judges to follow precedent when deciding cases

question

In recent presidential administrations, the principal staff for the president has been made up of the

answer

White House Office

question

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review permits the court to overrule all of the following EXCEPT

answer

the Bill of Rights

question

The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate?

answer

Deploy troops

question

Compared to the general population, delegates to presidential nomination conventions are

answer

More ideological

question

"Pork Barrel" legislation helps the reelection chances of a member of congress because such legislation

answer

Helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district

question

Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances?

answer

The senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law

question

Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true?

answer

They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to vote

question

Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts?

answer

It creates districts that favor one political party over another

question

An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving

answer

Narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information

question

Which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary?

answer

Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party's closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries

question

All of the following are reasons incumbents in the House of Representatives enjoy an electoral advantage over challengers EXCEPT that incumbents

answer

Get substantial financial support from their party's national committee

question

Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years?

answer

Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties

question

In Marbury vs Madison (1803) the Supreme Court assumed the power to

answer

Decide on the constitutionality of a law or an executive action

question

The importance of Shay's Rebellion to the development of the US constitution was that it

answer

Indicated that a strong constitutionally designed government was needed to protect property and maintain order

question

The procedure for formally amending the US Constitution best illustrates which of the following?

answer

The federal structure of the US government

question

When a lower court decision is appealed to the Supreme Court, which of the following is most likely to occur?

answer

The Supreme Court will not hear the appeal

question

Which of the following statements about writs of certiorari is accurate?

answer

The Supreme Court grants certiorari for less than 5% of the cases appealed to it

question

Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by

answer

Evangelical Christians

question

The terms "fiscal federalism" and "cooperative federalism" refer to situations in which

answer

Federal, state, and local governments work together to complete a project with the federal government providing much of the project funding

question

Which of the following is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections?

answer

Partisan Identification

question

Between 1964 and 1984, which of the following would have been most likely to vote for the democratic presidential candidate?

answer

An African American teacher from Los Angeles

question

The 10th amendment to the constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to

answer

Reserve powers to the states

question

All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT

answer

Nominating candidates

question

In the last 30 years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the house of representatives has been

answer

Incumbency

question

Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through

answer

Providing legislators with information on technical issues

question

Discrimination in public accommodations was made illegal in the US as a direct result of the

answer

Civil Rights Act of 1964

question

The reserved powers of the state governments can best described as those powers

answer

Not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states

question

Of the following, which group voted most heavily democratic in presidential elections between 1964 and 1992?

answer

Black Americans

question

Griswold vs Connecticut and Roe vs Wade are similar supreme court cases in that both cases are based on the

answer

Rights of privacy

question

Which of the following is true about the line item veto?

answer

It is used be many state governors

question

Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?

answer

The commerce clause of the Constitution

question

Which of the following is considered a linkage institution?

answer

Political parties

question

The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers of the constitution to create a legislature that would

answer

Be cautious and deliberate

question

The "Miranda Warning" represents an attempt to protect criminal suspects against

answer

Unfair police interrogation

question

A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that

answer

There is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

question

The term "horse-race journalism" refers to the tendency of the media to

answer

Cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss

question

The establishment clause in the 1st amendment does which of the following?

answer

Prohibits the setting up of a state church

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