question

An independent country in which people share a common culture is called

answer

A nation-state

question

The right to exercise supreme power and authority over a region, a group, or oneself

answer

Sovereignty

question

Which of these is the best example of a public good?

answer

The Mayflower Compact, Highways, Army

question

Which of these is an essential feature of political activity?

answer

Purpose and collective action

question

When people call someone Machiavellian, they usually mean that person is

answer

Cunning and ruthless

question

Which of these individuals is most likely to exercise power without authority?

answer

Doctor

question

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks went to jail rather than give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her action was an example of which of the following?

answer

Civil disobedience

question

Which of the following are considered the basic building blocks of government?

answer

Means of coercion and collecting revenue

question

A ruler's legitimacy depends mainly on which of these factors?

answer

That his/her power/authority are accepted by those governed

question

Which of these is most likely to involve horse trading?

answer

Politicians wanting something

question

Which of the following is the oldest form of government still in use today?

answer

Rome's republic

question

A New England town meeting is an example of

answer

Parliament

question

Nazism is a form of fascism built on the idea of

answer

Racial superiority

question

Socialism began as an attempt to correct which disadvantage of capitalism?

answer

Public ownership of farms and factories

question

Which of these is a common feature of market economies?

answer

Private individuals decide what they want to do

question

In a command economy, who decides how much to produce?

answer

The government

question

Which of these factors most distinguishes dictators from monarchs?

answer

Dictators rule by force

question

In a parliamentary democracy, who chooses the prime minister?

answer

The legislative authority chooses

question

Which kind of economy is most common in the world today?

answer

Mixed economy

question

Which kind of country is most likely to have a federal system of government?

answer

A large country with a diverse population

question

Which of the following best defines the principle of popular sovereignty?

answer

Ultimate source of authority are the people

question

The idea of representative government first developed in ancient

answer

Roman Republic

question

Who is known as the Father of the Constitution and as the principal author of the Bill of Rights?

answer

James Madison

question

Which of these historic documents first established the principle of the rule of law?

answer

Magna Carta or "great Charter"

question

Which complaint was the greatest barrier to ratifying the Constitution?

answer

That the federal would become too powerful

question

Consider the quotations below. "Life, liberty, and property . . ." —John Locke "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness . . ." —Declaration of Independence Both quotations list what our nation's founders believed to be

answer

natural rights

question

Which of these issues at the Constitutional Convention was resolved by what is known as the Great Compromise?

answer

The issue representation in Congress: One house based on population the other on equal representation

question

The Articles of Confederation reflected Americans' fear of

answer

Individuals gaining to much power

question

Which political philosopher favored separate legislative, executive, and judicial branches?

answer

Baron de Montesquieu

question

Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, was influenced by Rousseau's argument that a government should be dissolved if it

answer

breaks the social contract

question

Which of these terms refers to the principle that people accused of a crime must be granted certain legal rights?

answer

Due process

question

The Preamble to the Constitution lists which of the following?

answer

Purpose of government and goals

question

Why did the framers of the Constitution create three separate branches of government?

answer

To prevent one branch from having too much power

question

The first words of the Constitution indicate that power and authority in our system of government come from the

answer

With the people

question

Which of these is the defining characteristic of a federal system of government?

answer

The constitution divides between the national and regional governments

question

Over time, constitutional amendments have extended which right to the groups listed below? • African Americans • women • residents of the District of Columbia • 18-year-olds

answer

Right to vote

question

The Supremacy Clause of the Constitution indicates how to resolve conflicts between

answer

Resolves the conflict between state and federal law

question

Which of these is the best example of constitutional checks and balances?

answer

Allows each branch to monitor and check the power of the others to prevent any abuses

question

How did the decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) strengthen the power of the Supreme Court?

answer

Established a judicial review. Court can declare acts of congress uncontitutional

question

The process of amending the Constitution involves both

answer

congress and state

question

Which of these plays the largest role in interpreting the Bill of Rights?

answer

The Supreme Court

question

Which of these is a civil liberty protected by the Bill of Rights?

answer

birth rights

question

Which of these unpopular forms of expression is protected by the First Amendment?

answer

Freedom of speech: symbolic speech

question

Most Supreme Court decisions applying the Bill of Rights to the states are based on the

answer

Decisions made by the lower courts

question

Which of these acts is protected under the First Amendment?

answer

Freedom of religion, speech, press and assembly

question

Which of these rights has not been subject to incorporation?

answer

right to bear arms and right to a jury trial in civil cases

question

The phrase "You have the right to remain silent" reflects the provision in the Bill of Rights regarding

answer

Miranda rights

question

The term prior restraint refers to which government action?

answer

Attempt by government to prevent publication as broadcast of material considered harmful

question

What decision did the Supreme Court make on the power of cities to regulate peaceful assembly in public places in Hague v. CIO?

answer

set rules for the use of pulic places

question

What is the primary goal of political parties?

answer

To further their ideological agenda by electing their members to office

question

Which of these is the most common form of individual involvement with a political party?

answer

voter

question

How do lobbyists help government officials to function more effectively?

answer

Influence public policy by persuading politicians to support or oppose action on a certain issue

question

The National Women's Party (1913-1930) and the Right to Life Party (1970-present) are examples of which type of third party?

answer

Single Interest Party

question

The idea that political power should be distributed and shared among various groups in society is known as

answer

pluralism

question

Which political party in the United States had the longest continuous existence?

answer

Republican Party

question

Who are the main sponsors of political action committees (PACs)?

answer

Interest groups, corporations, unions

question

Which of these is the best example of grassroots mobilization?

answer

Anti-war protests

question

Which of these is found in a party platform?

answer

Position on important issue

question

Which of these is the first step in the policymaking process?

answer

Issue identification

question

The process by which people form their political attitudes and values is called

answer

Political socialization

question

Which of the following is the best definition of public opinion?

answer

The sum of many individual opinions beliefs or attitudes about a public person or issue

question

Which of the following is the most important reason why a scientific poll is more accurate than a straw poll?

answer

A straw pole is an informal survey and a scientific poll is done with a sampling of people that represent the population of the nation

question

The founders of our country saw a free press as a safeguard against

answer

Corruption and misuses of power

question

To test the appeal of campaign messages, media consultants often use

answer

Focus groups

question

The release of confidential information to the news media by an unnamed source is known as which of the following?

answer

leak

question

How can the company conducting an opinion poll reduce the margin of error?

answer

Use a scientific sampling

question

Which of these persuasive techniques takes advantage of people's desire to conform?

answer

Bandwagon

question

The primary purpose of staged events and photo opportunities is to

answer

Generate free publicity and memorable images

question

How do political analysts determine the voting patterns of women and men?

answer

exit polls

question

The emphasis on elections in the United States most reflects which constitutional principle?

answer

popular sovereignty

question

In which kind of primary election would a registered independent be unable to vote?

answer

Closed primary

question

The most common way people become candidates for public office is through

answer

Self announcement

question

In which type of election is voter turnout likely to be the greatest?

answer

Presidential

question

Which of the following groups benefited most from the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

answer

Black

question

Televised debates and radio ads are examples of which of the following campaign approaches?

answer

Wholesale politics

question

What is the main criticism leveled against the Electoral College system for electing presidents?

answer

It is undemocratic

question

What is the main source of funding for election campaigns?

answer

donation

question

What was one purpose of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, also known as the McCain -Feingold Act?

answer

Clean up campaign financing by banning soft-money

question

Which of these is the most likely reason for a donor to contribute to two opposing campaigns?

answer

To have influence with the winner of the election regardless of who wins.

question

Which of these is the best definition of constituents?

answer

people in the home districts and states of the lawmakers

question

A conference committee is made up of members from both the

answer

the house and the senate

question

Where do most members of Congress begin their political careers?

answer

local politics city council

question

In saying "The power of the speaker of the House is the power of scheduling," Tip O'Neill was referring chiefly to the speaker's power to do which of the following?

answer

Deciding what bills will be debated by a full house and when

question

What determines the number of seats in the Senate?

answer

in the Senate, each state gets two seats

question

Which of the following might apply to state lawmakers but not to members of Congress?

answer

term limits

question

Which of these powers belongs only to the Senate?

answer

the power to hold impeachment trials

question

Which of these groups handles most of the detailed work of lawmaking in Congress?

answer

lawmakers

question

Which of these events triggers reapportionment of seats in the House of Representatives?

answer

if the states population increases or decreases

question

What do the powers of oversight, confirmation, impeachment, ratification, override, and amendment have in common?

answer

they are all ways congress can check the other wo branches of gov.

question

What is meant by logrolling?

answer

trading of votes among legislatures to ensure the passage of different bills

question

A high school junior who works as a messenger in the House or Senate is called a congressional

answer

cogressional page

question

What is the process used in the Senate to end a filibuster called?

answer

cloture

question

In their oath of office, lawmakers swear to support and defend

answer

constitution of the united states

question

Which of these is a key factor in choosing committee chairs?

answer

chosen by majority party

question

What is a Christmas tree bill?

answer

a bill with so many riders attached to it that it seems to offer something to everyone

question

Before a bill can be sent to the president, both chambers of Congress must vote to

answer

to approve the bill in identical form before it goes from capitol hill to the white house for the presidents signature

question

How can Congress override a presidential veto?

answer

two thirds of the members present in each chamber must vote in favor of saving legislation

question

What does a committee or subcommittee do during markup?

answer

the committee or subcommittee "mark-up" or amend the bill

question

Which kind of vote in Congress tells constituents how their lawmakers voted?

answer

roll call vote

question

Who initiated the tradition of addressing the president as "Mr. President"?

answer

started by Thomas Jefferson

question

The position of a lieutenant governor in a state is comparable to that of which position in the federal government?

answer

vice president

question

The president's speechwriters, administrative assistants, and press secretary all work as part of which group?

answer

White House Staff

question

These are the qualifications for seeking the presidency?

answer

Native born, >35yrs old, lived in the country for 14 years

question

Which factor most influences whether a president might choose to use a pocket veto?

answer

whether or not he wants the bill to die

question

What did Andrew Jackson do that led his critics to call him "King Andrew"?

answer

andrew vetoed many bills to stabilize the nations economy

question

Which of these processes allows voters in many states to remove an elected official from office?

answer

impeachment

question

What is the line of presidential succession?

answer

vice president, speaker of the house, president pro tempore of the senate, and then secretary of state

question

All of the following is an example of independent agencies

answer

Postal Service

question

What does a whistle-blower do?

answer

exposes wrong doing within an organization in the hope of stopping it

question

In our judicial system, for which of these is the jury responsible?

answer

impartial verdict

question

What is the purpose of setting bail?

answer

to guarantee that a defendant will return for trail

question

A crime is defined as a wrongful act that

answer

is carried out with intent

question

Which of these is typically a felony?

answer

violent crimes, property crimes, drug crimes, victimless crimes, etc.

question

What is the role of the jury foreman during a trial?

answer

as the chairperson for the jusry. they announce the verdict to court

question

Law enforcement officials must present evidence to a judge in order to do which of the following?

answer

to obtain a search warrent

question

What does a grand jury decide?

answer

wieghs evidence and determine whether a trail is warranted

question

How does restitution differ from other forms of punishment?

answer

restitution means that the defendant has to pay back or make up for whatever losses the victim has sustained.

question

What is the principal advantage to the criminal justice system of allowing plea bargains?

answer

helps keep the court system from clogging up with too many cases

question

The exclusionary rule excludes which of these from use in trials?

answer

evidence that has been seized illegally

question

Which of these does a prosecuting attorney represent?

answer

plaintiff

question

What is an order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send it the records of a case called?

answer

Writ of Certiorari

question

What is the job of an appellate court when it takes a case on appeal?

answer

to check that the court was carried out in a fair manner

question

How does someone become a judge in the federal court system?

answer

gives the president power to appoint federal judges with the "advise and consent of the senate"

question

Which of these established the present system of federal district and circuit courts?

answer

Article III of the Constitution.

question

What is meant by the term burden of proof?

answer

the obligation in a legal case to prove allegations by presenting strong supporting evidence

question

Which of the following is most likely to write an amicus curiae brief?

answer

interest groups use these to let the courts know that issue being decided upon is important to far more people than just the plaintiffs and defandents in the case

question

Which term refers to the person who files a lawsuit in a civil case?

answer

plaintiff

question

Use this quotation to answer the question below.Judges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules, they apply them.The quotation supports which of the following approaches to making judicial decisions?

answer

judges look at the constituion for guidance on all rules

question

What determines which appeals the Supreme Court will hear?

answer

the writ of certiorari is the way that a case can come to the supreme court

question

5th amendment protects

answer

right to grand jury, indictment, no double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, due process of law

question

6th amendment protects

answer

Right to a speedy and fair trial and right to counsel

question

7th amendment protects

answer

Trial by Jury in Civil Cases

question

8th amendment protects

answer

no excessive bail and no cruel or unusual punishments

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