American Democracy
Final Test Solutions
Course Introduction
This course explores the foundational principles, historical development, and current functioning of American democracy. Students will examine the structure of the U.S. government, the Constitution, federalism, and the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The course also analyzes the impact of political parties, interest groups, public opinion, and the media on policymaking and governance. Emphasis is placed on civil rights and liberties, electoral processes, and the challenges facing American democracy in the twenty-first century. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, students gain a comprehensive understanding of democratic ideals and the practical realities of governing in the United States.
Recommended Textbook
GOVT 8 8th Edition by Edward I. Sidlow
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1049 Verified Questions
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Chapter 1: America in the Twenty-First Century
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Q1) To the right of liberalism on the traditional ideological spectrum lies socialism.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) A(n)_________ is a form of government based on the principle that the powers of government should be clearly restricted either through a written document or through wide public understanding.
A)limited government
B)totalitarian dictatorship
C)monarchy
D)autocracyZ
Answer: A
Q3) In a theocracy,the government rules according to religious precepts.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The Constitution
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Q1) In the context of the history of the American government,explain the structure and benefits of colonial legislatures.
Answer: The British colonies in America were under the rule of the British monarchy.Britain,however,was thousands of miles away-it took two months to sail across the Atlantic.Thus,to a significant extent,colonial legislatures carried on the "nuts and bolts" of colonial government.These legislatures,or representative assemblies,consisted of representatives elected by the colonists.The earliest colonial legislature was the Virginia House of Burgesses,established in 1619.By the time of the American Revolution,all of the colonies had representative assemblies.Many had been in existence for more than a hundred years.Through their participation in colonial governments,the colonists gained crucial political experience.Colonial leaders became familiar with the practical problems of governing.They learned how to build coalitions among groups with diverse interests and how to make compromises.Indeed,by the time of the American Revolution in 1776,Americans had formed a complex,sophisticated political system.The colonists benefited from their political experiences.They were quickly able to establish their own constitutions and state systems of government after they declared their independence from Britain in 1776.Eventually,they were able to set up a national government as well.
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Federalism
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Sample Questions
Q1) The government of Aurelia has been exercising the power to conduct elections for almost a century now.The new government in power,however,decides to hand over the rights to conduct elections to the state governments in the country in order to ensure better representation and participation.Which of the following types of federalism does Aurelia exemplify?
A) The new federalism
B) Cooperative federalism
C) Competitive federalism
D) Horizontal federalism
E) Picket-fence federalism
Answer: A
Q2) When Americans talk of the federal government they are referring to the federal system of government,which is made up of both the national government and the state governments.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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Sample Questions
Q1) To be ruled obscene,an expression must:
A) be carried out entirely through words.
B) be concordant with facts.
C) not lack political or scientific value.
D) not result in actual harm.
E) excite unwholesome sexual desire.
Q2) A law will not be considered a violation of the substantive due process if:
A) it is declared null and void by the Congress after it was applied to a particular case.
B) it is approved by the Supreme Court.
C) it is accompanied by a special consideration in written from the Secretary of State.
D) it promotes a compelling or overriding state interest.
E) it is declared during a rebellion.
Q3) Which of the following protects citizens from government actions?
A) Insurrection laws
B) Emergency provisions
C) Quotas
D) Embargos
E) Civil liberties
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Chapter 5: Civil Rights
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Q1) In 1789,Congress designated the native tribes as foreign nations.Which of the following was a consequence of this action?
A) Native Americans had no civil rights under U.S. laws.
B) The government could not sign land treaties with the Native Americans.
C) Native Americans were deported to other countries.
D) The government gave Native Americans the responsibility to manage external trade affairs.
E) Native Americans started the Seven Years' War against Congress.
Q2) World War I (1914-1918)marked a turning point in the battle for women's rights because:
A) it gave women the right to remarry if their husbands were killed or injured during the war.
B) it united women across the world in their efforts toward achieving the common goal of freedom.
C) it paved the path for women to contest in elections.
D) it prohibited men at war from entering into marriages, so women had to fend for themselves.
E) it offered many opportunities for women in the U.S. Navy and the workforce.
Q3) Explain the concept of reverse discrimination.
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Interest Groups
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Q1) If a group stands for something that an individual believes is very important,he or she can gain considerable satisfaction in taking action from within that group.Such satisfaction is referred to as a solidary incentive.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Discuss the difference between public-sector unions and private-sector unions.
Q3) Both the number of PACs (political action committees)and the amount of money PACs spend on elections have declined at an alarming rate in recent years.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Discuss the difference between interest groups and political parties.
Q5) Traditionally,business interest groups have been viewed as staunch supporters of the _____.
A) Federalist Party
B) Democratic Party
C) Communist Party
D) Republican Party
E) Egalitarian Party
Q6) Describe 527 and 501(C)4 organizations.
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Political Parties
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Q1) Which of the following is a potential cause of tipping?
A) Lack of education
B) Absence of independent voters
C) Voter migration between states
D) Increasing polarization of political parties
E) Changing political identities of voters
Q2) The party in government include several levels of people who maintain a political party's strength between elections,make its rules,raise money,organize conventions,help with elections,and recruit candidates.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Briefly explain the reasons why the third parties have found it extremely difficult to compete with the major parties for votes.
Q4) Briefly explain the four major elements of the national party organization.
Q5) Jefferson's Republicans is the party that was later renamed as the Republican Party. A)True
B)False
Q6) Briefly explain the tasks involved in running campaigns.
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Chapter 8: Public Opinion and Voting
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Q1) James Barry is contesting in the upcoming presidential elections.James is quite a popular figure among the youth.He tweets regularly and has around 71.5 million followers on his social networking profile.Which of the following sources of political information is James Barry extensively using to promote himself?
A) Magazine
B) Television
C) Radio
D) The local newspaper
E) The Internet
Q2) In the 2012 presidential elections,Barack Obama:
A) carried the female vote by 55 to 44 percentage points.
B) carried the male vote by 55 to 44 percentage points.
C) won the male vote by a 52 to 45 point margin.
D) lost the female vote by a 40 to 52 point margin.
E) won the female vote by a 52 to 45 point margin.
Q3) To obtain accurate results,professional poll takers must ensure that there is no bias in their polling questions.
A)True
B)False
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Page 10
Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections
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Q1) When the Citizens United decision was handed down,a flood of corporate cash was expected to enter the political system.The ruling did result in more corporate and union spending,but far less than anticipated because _________.A.many companies were reluctant to take stands that might alienate a large number of customersB.many companies were running losses as a result of economic recessionC.political parties refused to accept money from private corporations and unionsD.political parties wanted a more reliable source of funds to finance their ongoing political campaigns
Q2) Who among the following can be described as a political consultant?
A) Volunteer
B) Diplomat
C) Statesman
D) Media adviser
E) Party chairman
Q3) Explain the functions of the electoral college in American presidential elections.
Q4) One way to skirt the rules described in the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)was to contribute to candidates instead of political parties.
A)True
B)False
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Page 11
Chapter 10: Politics and the Media
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Q1) Which of the following is true of news blogs?
A) The cost of maintaining blogs is very high.
B) They pose a threat to mainstream news sources.
C) They are seldom successful in selling advertisements.
D) Blogs are seldom political in nature.
E) It takes a lot of advertising to keep blogs in business.
Q2) Today,at least half of the total budget for major political campaigns is consumed by
A) traditional face-to-face campaigning
B) social media networking
C) advertisements placed on the Internet
D) televised political advertising
E) arranging appearances on television programs
Q3) Which of the following is a reason why radio talk shows are characterized as the Wild West of the media?
A) A huge variety of journalistic conventions are observed.
B) The leading shows are broadcast from western states.
C) Talk-show hosts do not attempt to hide their political biases.
D) The audiences are larger in the West than in any other part of the country.
E) Talk-radio shows only air in the West.
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Chapter 11: The Congress
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Q1) In the context of the bicameral legislature of Congress,the framers:
A) created the House of Representatives to represent the people.
B) fixed the membership of the Senate at 435.
C) fixed the membership of the House of Representatives at 100.
D) created an independent committee to serve as a check on the powers of the House and the Senate.
E) assigned less number of senators to small states than the larger states.
Q2) In any year in which the federal government spends more than it takes in,_____.
A) the resulting deficit adds to the national debt
B) Congress raises taxes and issues zero-interest government bonds
C) U.S. law removes the ceiling on the size of the national debt
D) executives are allowed to exceed the debt ceiling
E) the debt ceiling is modified at a later date to match the excess expenditure
Q3) The presiding officer in the House of Representatives is the:
A) vice president.
B) Speaker of the House.
C) resident commissioner.
D) president pro tempore.
E) House delegate
Q4) In the context of the budgeting process,explain authorization and appropriation.
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Chapter 12: The Presidency
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Q1) President Cooper is a strong advocate of free higher education for all.In an attempt to gain favor from the masses for his legislative agenda,he has been appearing on several news channel interviews to talk about the importance of higher education in the country.He even appeared on last week's episode of "Child Speak," an educational television show for children,to express his vision.From President Cooper's actions,it is evident that he is employing a strategy known as:
A) "going public."
B) "going out."
C) "certiorari."
D) "stare decisis."
E) "working outside office."
Q2) As _____,the president of the United States can veto a bill passed by Congress and call special sessions of Congress.
A) chief diplomat
B) the head of state
C) commander in chief
D) chief legislator
E) the chief executive
Q3) Discuss the responsibilities of the staff of the White House Office.
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Page 14
Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
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Q1) The administrative agencies of the federal government are authorized to directly lobby Congress.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following is an independent executive agency of the federal government?
A) The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)
B) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
C) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
D) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
E) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Q3) A federal agency that engages primarily in commercial activities,produces revenues,and requires greater flexibility than most agencies is known as a(n)_____.
A) executive department
B) government corporation
C) national board of review
D) independent regulatory agency
E) stockholder-owned government-sponsored enterprise
Q4) Discuss the formation of the federal civil service.
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Chapter 14: The Judiciary
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Q1) The appellate court's decision in a case is final if:
A) the case involves a federal question.
B) the prosecuted is charged with contempt of court.
C) a panel of experts reviews the transcript of the trial court's proceedings in the case.
D) a panel of ten jurors unanimously agrees with the ruling.
E) the high court declines to review the case.
Q2) Which of the following is true of policymaking in the United States?
A) Policymaking is the primary function of the trial courts.
B) Federal courts cannot influence policy when they apply the law.
C) Policymaking is an unavoidable function of the federal court.
D) Courts cannot establish policy when they interpret the law.
E) The power of judicial review restricts the Supreme Court from making policies.
Q3) In the context of approaches to legal interpretation,modernists differ from originalists in that they _________.A.believe that the Court should look to the intentions of the foundersB.seek to examine the Constitution in the context of today's societyC.contend that the government should do nothing that is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.D.advocate that the Court should stick strictly to the text of the Constitution.
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Page 16
Chapter 15: Domestic Policy
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Q1) Which of the following best describes domestic policy?
A) Public policy concerning matters of foreign affairs
B) Public policy concerning issues within a national unit
C) Policy that focuses on families and households
D) Policy that encompasses scientific inventions and innovations
E) Policies that concern domestic workers, such as maids and caregivers
Q2) Until recently,support for Keynesianism was relatively bipartisan.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
A) Nuclear fuel
B) Natural gas
C) Coal
D) Petroleum
E) Solar power
Q4) For conservatives,entitlements are an essential part of the social compact that binds people together.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Describe the two problems associated with U.S.health care.
Page 17
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Chapter 16: Foreign Policy
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Q1) The _________ was a war of words,warnings,and ideologies that lasted from the late 1940s through the late 1980s.
A)Social War
B)Civil War
C)Gulf War
D)Cold War
Q2) China considers Taiwan,a former Chinese province,_____.
A) to be a legal part of North Korea
B) to be a threat to China
C) to be an independent nation
D) to be a legal part of China
E) to be a nuclear superpower
Q3) A relatively new phenomenon in the late 1990s and early 2000s was the emergence of nonstate terrorist networks,such as _____.
A) right-wing extremists
B) Basque separatists
C) the Irish Republican Army
D) al Qaeda
E) The Earth Liberation Front
Q4) Explain the Marshall Plan and the policy of containment.
Page 18
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