Chapter 1 GOVERNMENT 2305 – Flashcards

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A direct democracy is a system in which
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citizens are permitted to vote directly on laws and policies.
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American democracy rests on the principle of
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majority rule, minority rights.
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Contemporary politics is best defined as
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conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments.
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How does the text define citizenship, as derived from the ancient Greek meaning?
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as the complete person; participation in public affairs
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In a democracy, popular sovereignty is vested in
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the people.
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In a representative democracy, public policies are determined by
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officials regularly chosen by the people.
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Some states allow ballot referenda or popular initiatives, which are forms of
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direct democracy.
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The U.S. definition of liberty refers to
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personal and economic freedom.
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The United States' government is best characterized as
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a republic.
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The United States' key political values are
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liberty, equality, and democracy
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The belief that citizens can affect government is called political
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efficacy
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The bourgeoisie of western Europe wanted to
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promote political participation for the middle classes.
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The principle that suggests "one person, one vote" refers to
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political equality.
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Under a system of laissez-faire capitalism, the role of government is to
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interfere with the market as little as possible.
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Which concept is increasingly important in politics and best describes the rising ability to participate in society online?
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digital citizenship
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Which of the following caused a partial government shutdown in 2013 leading to historically low rates of trust in government?
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differences in taxing and spending especially concerning the Affordable Care Act
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Which of the following is the term generally used to describe the institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled?
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government
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Which of the following is true of changes in the income and wealth distribution of the American people?
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Beginning in the 1930s, a large middle class began to take shape.
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Which of the following statements about the experience of the United States with religion is accurate?
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By 2012 religious diversity was increasing, as approximately 20 percent of the population was not affiliated with an organized church, the largest statistic ever for this group
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Which of the following statements describes America's growing population since its founding?
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The number of elderly Americans has grown, and the number of children aged 18 and under has declined.
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Which of the following statements is accurate?
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By 2014 income inequality has become rigid once again, with the top 1 percent earning 20 percent of the national income.
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Why are knowledgeable citizens more engaged in politics?
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They understand how politics affects their lives
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Balancing the desires of the majority of the population against the freedoms of the minority of the population is part of which trade-off?
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democracy versus liberty
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The Bill of Rights includes things such as the right to bear arms and freedom of speech. These are examples of which American value?
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liberty
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Which age group had the lowest level of active voters in 2012?
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17-24
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Which age group donated the most money to a campaign in 2012?
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65+
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Which age group had the lowest level of attendance at political events in 2012?
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25-44
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According to polling data in 1960, roughly ______ percent of American adults said they trusted the government to "do the right thing" always or most of the time.
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70
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By 1980, trust in government dropped to about ______ percent.
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25
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Since 1980, the only time trust in government rose above 50 percent was after
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the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
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Which of the following statements is true regarding trust in government?
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Trust in government today is at an all-time low
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According to the Gallup Poll, what percentage of people said they were very satisfied with income distribution in the United States?
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7%
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According to the Gallup Poll, what percentage of people said they were very dissatisfied with income distribution in the United States?
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39%
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Between 2009 and 2012, the top 1% of richest Americans accumulated ___% of the U.S. economic recovery's income gains.
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95
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The 85 richest people in the world have as much wealth as ______ of poorest people in the world combined.
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3.5 billion
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The population of the United States has grown approximately _____ times since 1790.
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100
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According to the most recent census data, which geographic region is home to the largest portion of Americans?
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South
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Identify the demographic group that has more than tripled, as a percentage, since 1790.
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65+
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On average, which demographic group has made up the largest portion of the population in the United States?
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20-44
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Which geographic region has experienced a consistent decline in percentage of population?
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Northeast
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A belief in equality of results is
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not a part of U.S. political culture.
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A government is made up of the
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formal institutions that rule a people and territory
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A system that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies is often called a(n) ____ democracy.
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direct
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American democracy rests on the principle of ___ rule with ____rights.
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majority; minority
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Citizens need political knowledge because
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it helps them understand how politics and the government affect their lives and what policies promote their interests
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Compared to Europeans, Americans are ____ supportive of government actions to ensure economic equality.
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less
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Governments whose powers are limited through a system of rules and institutions are known as ____ governments.
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constitutional
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Liberty, democracy, and ____ are the United States' core political values.
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equality
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Personal and economic freedom are both definitions of
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liberty
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Political efficacy is the
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belief that citizens can affect government.
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Political equality means that each citizen
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has one, and only one, vote.
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The conflicts and struggles over a government's leadership, organization, or policies is called
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politics
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The idea that political authority ultimately rests in the hands of the people is known as
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popular sovereignty.
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The term autocracy refers to
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a form of government in which a single individual rules.
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Today, the average member of Congress represents
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about 700,000 constituents.
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Totalitarianism entails government having unlimited political
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power
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Which of the following can be said to have characterized American politics for much of the past half-century?
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a pervasive sense of apathy and cynicism
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Which of the following statements about recent immigration trends and the foreign-born population in the United States is accurate?
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People born in Asia constitute the second-largest group of foreign-born residents.
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Which of the following statements is true concerning race and ethnicity?
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By 2014 the total Hispanic proportion of the population is 17.4 percent.
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Which of the following wanted to promote political participation for the middle classes?
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bourgeoisie
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Which of the following was true of digital citizenship in 2015?
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Sixty-five percent of Americans used the Internet to find data or information about the government
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Which of the followings statements about trust in government is accurate?
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Public trust in government in the United States dipped to historically low levels during the fight over the Affordable Care Act.
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Who gets what, when, and how is a definition of
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politics
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____ refers to a system that allows very little room for the national government to regulate trade or restrict the use of private property, even in the public interest.
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Laissez-faire capitalism
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