question

All of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation EXCEPT

answer

the national government had too much power

question

What was the result of the Great Compromise?

answer

states were represented in the upper house, and individuals were represented in the lower house

question

Under the original Constitution, which branch or branches of government were selected directly by the citizens?

answer

the house of representatives

question

What is the main result of judicial review?

answer

the constitution is safeguarded from popular passions

question

All of the following are part of the amendment process EXCEPT

answer

a national referendum (by popular vote) with two-thirds voter approval

question

How does the Constitution provide an executive check on the judicial branch?

answer

by nominating federal judges, subject to Senate confirmation

question

How did the Antifederalists differ from the Federalists?

answer

The Antifederalists believed that a strong central government would be too distant from the people

question

Which of the following guarantees of individual liberties is found in the original Constitution?

answer

no religious tests to hold office

question

Which of the following is NOT a criticism of separation of powers?

answer

it results in prompt, but hasty, decision- making

question

What would be the impact of the line- item veto on the separation of powers?

answer

it would strengthen the presidency in relation to Congress

question

All of the following were arguments by the Federalists in support of the Constitution EXCEPT

answer

the new Constitution would eliminate factions

question

Which states received the most benefit from the Great Compromise?

answer

northern states, small states

question

How did the Antifederalists differ from the Federalists?

answer

The Antifederalists believed that a strong central government would destroy liberty

question

Which of the following best describes judicial review?

answer

the Supreme Court may nullify government acts that conflict with the Constitution

question

What was the impact of the three- fifths compromise?

answer

it gave southern states more representation in the House of Representatives

question

Which of the following is the best example of devolution?

answer

block grants, by which money from the national government is given to the states for discretionary use with broad guidelines

question

The Founding Fathers devised a federal system for all the following reasons EXCEPT

answer

federal systems were common throughout the world and were proven to be effective

question

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of the Tenth Amendment?

answer

it has rarely had much practical significance

question

Which of the following Constitutional provisions has been interpreted as weakening the Tenth Amendment?

answer

the necessary and proper clause

question

What did the Supreme Court determine in McCulloch v. Maryland?

answer

to carry out its economics powers, the necessary and proper clause, states may not tax

question

The concept that the national government is supreme in its own sphere while the states are equally supreme in theirs is known as

answer

dual federalism

question

The pie chart to the right supports which of the following conclusion?

answer

the category in which federal grant money increased the most from 1960 until 2009 is health

question

States have found federal funding attractive for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

answer

federal grants rarely come with strings attached

question

Why do states prefer block grants to categorical grants?

answer

block grants allow states to spend funds on any governmental purpose

question

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires stats and local governments to provide equal access for the disabled. This is an example of a(n)

answer

mandate

question

Presidents have less power to block spending than most state governments. What best explains this difference in executive power?

answer

the president must sign all of a bill into law, while most governors have the power of a line- item veto

question

Suppose the state of Nevada receives federal money to renovate McCarran International Airport. What term best describes this?

answer

a categorical grant

question

The states play a key role in all of the following EXCEPT

answer

managing the economy

question

The table above supports which of the following conclusions?

answer

Federal grants for Medicaid are more than double the spending on any other program

question

A couple who got married in Virginia moves to Florida. Must Florida accept the couple's marriage as valid?

answer

yes, because of the full faith and credit clause

question

For representative democracy to work, all of the following must be present EXCEPT

answer

voter turnout above 60 percent

question

All of the following statements about the beliefs of the framers of the Constitution are true EXCEPT

answer

they believed that government decisions should mirror popular viewpoints

question

Which of the following statements best represents pluralist theory?

answer

there are so many groups that none of them can dominate the political process

question

In the past couple of decades, several events have challenged traditional theories of policy-making. Which of the following examples demonstrate that Americans do not always act in their own self- interest?

answer

the response of police and firefighters, some wealthy Americans, CAB

question

Which of the following is an example of political beliefs changing over time?

answer

Americans wanted the federal government to play a bigger role in our lives until the 1980s, when this trend was reversed

question

What is one of the best barometers for measuring changes in who governs?

answer

an analysis of the policy process and changes in the laws

question

Which of the following is the best evidence that direct democracy is expanding in America today?

answer

more frequent use of ballot initiatives

question

What is the most basic definition of democracy?

answer

rule by the many

question

In the United States, government agencies make a variety of regulations that impact the day-to-day life of Americans. According to the bureaucratic view of government, who holds most of the power in the American government?

answer

appointed officials and career government workers who translate public laws into administrative actions

question

How are power and authority related?

answer

a government can have power without having authority

question

What best explains the legitimacy of the United States Government?

answer

the constitution is widely accepted as the source of authority

question

According to John Locke, all of the following are necessary for proper government EXCEPT

answer

a strong executive

question

Some argue that the government is dominated by business owners. Which of the following terms does this best describe?

answer

class view

question

All of the following are arguments against direct democracy EXCEPT

answer

most people are not interested in government or politics

question

Some argue that appointed officials actually run the government, despite the efforts of elected officials to control them. This belief is consistent with which theory of government?

answer

bureaucratic view

question

All of the following are important elements in the American view of the political system EXCEPT

answer

Americans believed that government should try to equalize the property and living conditions of citizens

question

Which of the following best defines "civil society"?

answer

a collection of private,voluntary groups that make cooperation easier and hold the government accountable

question

One core American attitude about the economic system is

answer

a widely held commitment to individualism and personal responsibility

question

In comparison with most other nations,

answer

Americans have more confidence in both public and private institutions

question

All of the following are true about religion in America EXCEPT

answer

religious people are less likely than secular people to donate to nonreligious charities

question

Which of the following statements about civic duty is most accurate?

answer

most Americans do not believe that their actions can have an impact on government policies

question

According to Wilson and DiIulio, the "culture war" in America "is about what kind of country we ought to live in, not just about what kinds of policies our government ought to adopt." Which of the following is NOT a major source of cultural disagreement in America?

answer

socialism and communism

question

Which of the following statements best describes the trend in Americans' trust in government?

answer

Americans' trust in government officials has declined at a fairly steady rate since the 1950s

question

Citizens who believe they can influence political events have a high sense of civic

answer

competence

question

All of the following are true about political tolerance in America EXCEPT

answer

Americans will support liberties for all groups both in theory and in practice

question

The table above best supports which of the following statements? (confidence)

answer

confidence in congress fell more than for any other group

question

Which of the following is the best example or description of civil society?

answer

voluntary associations outside of government control

question

Author Robert Putnam argues that American social capital is decreasing. How might this trend impact the United States?

answer

Fewer citizens will join groups, and people will be less inclined to volunteer in their communities

question

The table above best supports which of the following statements?(attitudes)

answer

Most Americans believe their success is determined by factors within their control

question

All of the following are part of American political culture EXCEPT

answer

Americans do not support programs to help those truly in need

question

Presidential and congressional races differ in all of the following ways EXCEPT

answer

congressional elections receive more national funding than presidential elections

question

How does the federal law restrict fund- raising for presidential campaigns?

answer

limited to $2000, PAC contributions, federal matching funds

question

Which of the following is the best example of gerrymandering?

answer

drawing a congressional district boundary down a narrow strip of highway no wider than six blocks

question

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the impact of party identification on voting behavior?

answer

party identification plays a key role in voting choices

question

Which of the following is a valid criticism of the caucus system?

answer

The first caucus is in Iowa, which is not representative of the population as a whole

question

Which of the following groups would be most likely to receive direct mail from a conservative candidate?

answer

fundamentalist Christians and business owners

question

All of the following are part of the Bipartison Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 EXCEPT

answer

individuals can no longer spend unlimited amounts of their own money on their campaigns

question

Which of the following is most likely to help an incumbent president get reelected?

answer

good economic times

question

The table above supports which of the following conclusions? (presidential fundraising)

answer

presidential campaign fundraising and expenditures more than doubled between 2004 and 2008

question

Which type of voters has the most impact on an election?

answer

retrospective voters, who look at how things have gone in the recent past

question

Which of the following best describes those who vote in primary elections?

answer

voters in both parties who tend to be more active in party politics

question

The figure above best supports which of the following statements? (spending on media)

answer

most of the spending in presidential campaigns goes toward television and radio ads

question

The figure above best supports which of the following statements? (growth of PACs)

answer

since 2007, there are more than five times as many corporate PACs as labor PACs

question

All of the following statements are supported by the table above EXCEPT (who likes the democrats?)

answer

Jewish voters were less likely to support Obama than Catholic voters

question

Which of the voters would most likely support McCain?

answer

an Hispanic female who has some college and lives in a big city

question

How do American political parties compare with political parties in Europe?

answer

Because of federalism, American political parties are decentralized, with significant power at the state and local levels

question

All of the following characterize a period of critical realignment EXCEPT

answer

when voters become apathetic and turnout fails below 50 percent

question

The proportion of people identifying themselves with a political party declined between 1960 and 1980. One of the reasons for this is

answer

split-ticket voting

question

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Democratic party made reforms that unintentionally led to its becoming more fragmented. What was the original purpose of these reforms?

answer

to make the Democratic party delegations more reflective of the population as a whole

question

Who are superdelegates?

answer

powerful members of political parties and elected officials who become delegates without having to run in primaries or caucuses

question

All of the following were problems with political machines EXCEPT

answer

they rarely delivered on their promises to help new immigrants

question

Which of the following features have encouraged the development of a two-party system in the United States?

answer

the plurality system, the winner

question

Long-standing third parties, such as the Socialists, Libertarians, and Green parties, are examples of

answer

ideological parties

question

All of the following statements are supported by the table above EXCEPT(political opinions)

answer

a majority of Republican delegates believed there should be no legally recognized relationship among homosexuals couples

question

What is the major difference between a primary and a caucus?

answer

Caucuses are meetings of party members, and primaries are elections

question

All of the following statements accurately describe American political parties EXCEPT

answer

they adopt very similar policies in their platforms

question

In the 1824 elections, Jackson won more of the popula and electoral college vote, but he lost the election. Which of the following statements best explains why this occured?

answer

When there is no majority winner in the electoral college, the House of Representatives decide the elections

question

In the 2008 presidential elections, several traditionally Republican states, including North Carolina and Virginia, voted for Barack Obama. If this trend continues over the next several elections, what will have occured?

answer

realignment

question

Which term best describes a gathering of delegates of a single political party from across the country to choose candidates for president and vice president?

answer

national convention

question

Which of the following statements explains why America is described as having a two-party system?

answer

while third parties compete in elections, they rarely win

question

All of the following explain the proliferation of interest groups EXCEPT

answer

interest groups often run candidates for office to give their supporters a voice in government

question

Throughout American history, which of the following conditions has led to an increase in interest groups' activity?

answer

the rise of professional societies, government policies, leaders

question

"Free riders" occur when interest groups fight for benefits to the public as a whole, such as consumer protection. How can interest groups prevent the free-rider problem?

answer

by providing people an incentive to join the interest group, such as a subscription to a magazine

question

Environmentalists, women, and union members have worked over the years to advance their interests. What is the best description of these causes?

answer

they are social movements that have spawned several related interest groups

question

Why are lobbyists useful to members of congress in considering legislation?

answer

because members of congress are policy generalists and lobbyists are policy specialists with expert knowledge in their area

question

An interest group would use grassroots lobbying on all of the following issues EXCEPT

answer

complex tax legislation affecting a few people

question

A group with more than fifty members, representing a corporation, labor union, or special interest that raises and spends campaign contributions on behalf of candidates or causes is a

answer

political action committee

question

Interest groups do all of the following EXCEPT

answer

run candidates for state and federal office

question

Which of the following are sources of funding for interest groups?

answer

foundation, federal, contracts, direct-mail

question

Which of the following is a concern about the influence of lobbyists on government?

answer

many lobbyists are formal federal officials who gave up their positions in government to work for interest groups

question

Sometimes interest groups pursue goals that will principally benefit nonmembers, such as raising money to provide housing for orphans. Such groups are known as

answer

public interest lobbies

question

Which of the following is a restriction on the interaction between members of Congress and interest groups?

answer

members of Congress may not accept gifts of any value from registered lobbyists

question

An interest group would use public pressure on all of the following issues EXCEPT

answer

complex tax legislation affecting a few people

question

Which of the following best describes an earmark?

answer

a provision in a law that provides a direct benefit to a client without being reviewed on the merits by all members of Congress

question

All of the following statements about political actions committees (PACs) are true EXCEPT

answer

they can give an unlimited amount of soft money to political parties

question

How does American media differ from the media in most other countries?

answer

Almost all American radio and television stations are privately owned

question

Broadcast journalism changed the media's coverage of politics in all of the following ways EXCEPT

answer

citizens get more detailed and specific information about programs and policies than they could get from the print media

question

When Gary Hart ran for the Democratic nomination in 1987, he told the press to go ahead and follow him, because "they would be bored." The resulting sexual scandal that arose is an example of the media's role as

answer

a watchdog who closely scrutinizes candidates' backgrounds and activities

question

Which of the following have to be proved in order for a public official to recover damages for libel?

answer

made with malice, untrue, reckless disregard, cause harm

question

The government can use all of the following tools to encourage positive stories and constrain negative stories written by journalists EXCEPT

answer

revoking the licenses of stations that give unfavorable coverage

question

Which of the following is the best example of a trail balloon?

answer

an anonymous White House source makes a statement that is then reported on the news

question

Why is there more news coverage of the president than of congress or the courts?

answer

because the president is one person and is viewed by the public as the center of government

question

What best explains the reason for bias in newspapers?

answer

a newspaper's bias tends to reflect the political views of its readers

question

Since the early 1970s, how has the relationship between the president and press changed?

answer

it has become more adversarial, partly as a result of the Vietnam War and Watergate

question

Which of the following stories would most likely receive media coverage?

answer

a story about a missing woman and her romantic relationship with a member of Congress

question

All of the following are examples of horse-race journalism EXCEPT

answer

which candidate opposed off-shore drilling

question

Which of the following stories is most likely to receive widespread news coverage?

answer

a widely prescribed drug may cause sudden, fatal heart attacks

question

A journalist refuses to give federal prosecutors information about a confidential information. May the journalist be jailed?

answer

No. There is no federal shield law that protects journalism from revealing their sources in criminal prosecutions

question

The Internet has affected politics in all of the following ways EXCEPT

answer

it contains less biased and more detailed information than the newspapers

question

The trends depicted in the figure above is troubling to many political scientists because

answer

fewer people are reading newspapers, which are an important source of in-depth coverage about politics

question

All of the following make it difficult for Congress to make policy EXCEPT

answer

congress operates through coalitions of several political parties, each of which represents different interests

question

How did the composition of Congress change between 1950 and 2011?

answer

Although representation does not mirror the population as a whole, there are more minorities and women

question

What role does incumbency play in congressional elections?

answer

incumbents are more likely to be reelected in the House of Representatives than in the Senate

question

During the 1960s and 1970s a conservative coalition was an important factors in Congress. Why is that coalition less important today?

answer

Because many southern Democrats in Congress have been replaced by Republicans

question

The representational view of Congress is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected and therefore vote to please their constituents. Under what circumstances is a member of Congress most likely to vote according to this view?

answer

when constituents have a clear view on some issue and the issue has attracted attention

question

Of the following members of Congress, who will most likely be chosen to head the House Appropiations Committee when the majority is Republican?

answer

jones

question

A congressional committee was created to investigate any intelligence failures that might have occured prior to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. What kind of committee does this represent?

answer

select

question

How does the majority party influence committees in Congress?

answer

committee chairs, the majority in committee, key committees

question

The House Rules Committee does all of the following EXCEPT

answer

establishes the number of votes needed for a bill to pass in the House

question

A filibuster in the Senate can be used to talk a bill to death. A cloture vote can end a filibuster. Taken together, what is the impact of these practices?

answer

neither political party can control the Senate unless it has at least sixty votes

question

All of the following are powers of the Senate EXCEPT

answer

initiating all revenue bills

question

Incumbents have certain advantages over challengers. These include all of the following EXCEPT

answer

the public's generally positive view of Congress

question

Where does most of the work of Congress take place?

answer

in committees

question

When is it most likely that Congress will override a presidential veto?

answer

when the overwhelming majority of both houses of Congress is from the party opposite that of the president

question

Which of the following statements best describes the impact of divided government on Congress?

answer

divided government occurs when the majority of one or both houses of Congress are from a party different from the president's. This slows the passage of the most far- reaching and costly legislation.

question

The table above supports which of the following conclusions?(christian groups)

answer

White Evangelicals are less likely to support same-sex marriage than the other groups shown

question

Which of the following statements best describes the gender gap?

answer

Women are more likely than men to vote for a Democratic presidential candidate

question

The gender gap can be explained by major differences in policy views on all of the following issues EXCEPT

answer

women vote at slightly lower rates than men

question

What is the effect of a social class on political attitudes?

answer

working class people tend to describe themselves as liberals

question

Which of the following voters will most likely prefer a Republican candidate?

answer

a southern white male business owner

question

The table above supports which of the following conclusions about the viewpoints of young adults?

answer

the majority of 18-24 age believe that elected officials do not share their priorities

question

A conservative would support which of the following measures?

answer

less government regulation, the death penalty

question

All of the following are characteristics of an accurate random sample EXCEPT

answer

the sample must include at least 10 percent of the population

question

According to Wilson and DiIulio, "the framers of the constitution did not try to create a government that would do from day to day "what the people wants." Which of the following serve as checks on public opinion?

answer

federalism, an independent judiciary, separation of powers

question

A public opinion poll asks whether or not people agree with the following statement: "The federal government should see to it that all people have adequate housing." Which of the following statements best describes the accuracy of the poll?

answer

it will not be accurate because the statement is loaded

question

Most people believe there should be a limit on the number of terms to which members of Congress should be elected, but Congress has not approved term limits. Which of the following principles does this best illustrates?

answer

sometimes government policies go against what the public wants

question

This question has been used over time to measure the job approval rating of the president: " Do you approve or disapprove of the way ___ is handling his job as a president?" Which of the following statements best describes the accuracy of this poll?

answer

the poll is accurate most of the time becaus the language used is neutral

question

What is political socialization?

answer

the process by which people acquire their political values

question

Which of the following has the greatest impact on political socialization?

answer

parents

question

All of the following are true of political elites EXCEPT

answer

they tend to have moderate political beliefs

question

Which of the following is the best explanation for lower voter turnout in the United States?

answer

the burden of registering falls on the individual

question

The graph above supports which one of the following statements?

answer

one fifth of voters register at their motor vehicle office

question

All of the following were used to keep blacks from voting EXCEPT

answer

segregation

question

The electorate has expanded as a result of all of the following EXCEPT

answer

state standards now govern almost every aspect of voter eligibility

question

What is the most accurate way of comparing voter turnout in the United States with voter turnout in other countries?

answer

compare the turnout among the voting-age population

question

Which of the following citizens is most likely to vote?

answer

a 70 age white college professor

question

Which is the best explanation for why Americans vote at lower rates than people abroad?

answer

unlike most countries, we have a federal system, which means we elect more officials at more levels of government

question

What is the impact of religion on political participation?

answer

being active in a religious organization increases the likelihood of charitable volunteer work as well as voting

question

Which of the following make it difficult to compare voter turnout rate in the nineteenth century with voter turnout today?

answer

nineteenth century, fraud, voters, political machines

question

The photographer to the right best represents which time period?

answer

the mid to late 1960s

question

How did voter turnout among young people (under 30) in 2008 compare with previous elections?

answer

voter turnout has increased substantially, to above 60 percent

question

The table above supports which of the following statements?

answer

citizens are more likely to register and vote as they age

question

Which of the following citizens is most likely to participate in politics?

answer

a 70 female college professor

question

In the 2008 presidential election, voter turnout reached approximately 62 percent. Which of the following statements best describes this turnout rate?

answer

it is the highest in recent decades but is still lower than turnout rates in most European countries

question

How do the number and frequency of elections in the United States differ from those in most other countries?

answer

The United States hold more elections, and elections are more frequent because we have a federal system

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