American Politics Test Bank - 1676 Verified Questions
American Politics
Test Bank
Course Introduction
American Politics offers an in-depth exploration of the structures, processes, and dynamics that shape the political system of the United States. The course examines the Constitution, federalism, the roles and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, political parties, interest groups, public opinion, elections, and policy-making. Students will analyze the historical development of American political institutions, contemporary policy debates, and the impact of social, economic, and cultural factors on governance. Through case studies and critical discussions, the course encourages a deeper understanding of how power is distributed and exercised within the United States and of the ongoing challenges to democracy in America.
Recommended Textbook Government in America 2014 Elections and Updates 16th Edition by by George C. Edwards III
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18 Chapters
1676 Verified Questions
1676 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is the theory that argues that group competition results in a rough approximation of the public interest in public policy?
A) pluralism
B) hyperpluralism
C) balance-of-power theory
D) elite-and-class theory
Answer: A
Q2) A set of values widely shared within a society is referred to as which of the following?
A) government
B) politics
C) public policy
D) political culture
Answer: D
Q3) The national debt is currently about $17 billion.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
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Page 3
Chapter 2: The Constitution
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Sample Questions
Q1) After the Revolutionary War,power in the state legislatures shifted from the wealthy to a broader,more democratic group.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Under the Articles of Confederation,the federal government had broad power to levy taxes.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) The meaning of the Constitution can change through __________.
A) judicial interpretation
B) presidential decree
C) congressional inaction
D) natural law
Answer: A
Q4) John Locke argued that __________ included life,liberty,and property.
Answer: natural law
Q5) The Continental Congress adopted the __________ in 1777.
Answer: Articles of Confederation
Page 4
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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Q1) Any power not specifically delegated to the states by the Constitution is reserved to the national government.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) The U.S. Supreme Court has been vague about which specific privileges the states must make available to all Americans under the privileges and immunities clause.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Funds awarded by the National Science Foundation to university professors are an example of __________ grants.
Answer: project
Q4) Proponents of states' rights believe that the Constitution strictly limits the national government and establishes broad authority for the states.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties and Public Policy
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Sample
Questions
Q1) New York Times v. Sullivan held that there must be proof of which of the following in order to find libel against a public figure?
A) property loss
B) actual malice
C) witnesses
D) a written record
Q2) Which clause prevents the national government from sanctioning an official religion?
A) establishment
B) free exercise
C) full faith and credit
D) equal protection
Q3) What does the Sixth Amendment guarantee to those accused of a crime?
A) assistance of counsel
B) the right to parole
C) reasonable bail
D) a written indictment
Q4) Explain how Gideon v. Wainwright changed how the courts interpreted the Sixth Amendment.
Q5) Discuss the evolution of abortion rights.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: Civil Rights and Public Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) Suffrage is the legal right to vote.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Jim Crow laws required __________ of African Americans and whites.
Q3) How are the Supreme Court decisions in Korematsu v. United States (1944)and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)similar?
A) Both decisions upheld important constitutional principles.
B) Both decisions were positive turning points in the history of American jurisprudence.
C) Both decisions hindered the civil rights of racial or ethnic minorities.
D) Both decisions were important early victories in the struggle for civil rights.
Q4) The passage of the Equal Rights Amendment has helped ensure women's equality in the workplace.
A)True
B)False
Q5) What does the Declaration of Independence say about equality and civil rights? Which parts of the Constitution have been particularly important for groups wishing to expand their rights?
Q6) The __________ Amendment guarantees African Americans the right to vote.
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Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain the relationship between social class and political participation.
Q2) What are Election Day exit polls,and why have they been criticized?
Q3) Why is participation in the census so important?
A) participation indicates the legitimacy of government and of laws passed by Congress
B) changes in the U.S. population affect membership in political parties
C) information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion in federal funding is spent each year
D) information from the census determines tax rates
Q4) Sampling error depends on the __________ of the sample.
Q5) Explain why some critics contend that public opinion polls weaken American democracy.
Q6) Public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision are called __________.
Q7) Which of the following generally increase with age?
A) liberalism and political tolerance
B) candidate loyalty and authoritarianism
C) political participation and suspicion of out-groups
D) political participation and strength of party attachment
Page 8
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Chapter 7: The Mass Media and the Political Agenda
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Sample Questions
Q1) As technology has enabled the media to pass along information with greater speed,news coverage has become __________.
A) more homogenous
B) less thorough
C) more objective
D) less biased
Q2) Based on information in the chapter,if you were a media consultant,what recommendations would you make to a candidate about how to get his or her message out through the mass media?
Q3) What consequences follow the character and quality of media coverage of political news when news organizations are privately owned? How does this differ from the type of coverage provided by publicly owned organizations?
Q4) The increased number of news and infotainment options has resulted in __________ in which media outlets focus on a particular interest and aim at a particular audience.
A) infotainment
B) watchdog journalism
C) narrowcasting
D) selective exposure
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Chapter 8: Political Parties
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Sample Questions
Q1) Third parties can act as "safety valves" for public anger and disappointment.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Party dealignment is associated with __________.
A) an increase in labor unions
B) increasingly politicized evangelical congregations
C) an increase in divided government
D) a rising number of Democrats
Q3) According to the Downs model,candidates are likely to place themselves __________.
A) at the center
B) near the center
C) somewhat close to the extremes
D) as far to the left or right as possible
Q4) The __________ is the site for the writing of the party platform every four years.
Q5) The displacement of the majority party by the minority party is called a party coalition.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 9: Campaigns and Voting Behavior
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is true about states with caucuses?
A) Voters attend open meetings where they express their presidential preferences.
B) The state legislature selects the state's delegates to the national conventions.
C) Party officials select delegates according to their own preferences.
D) Candidates appoint supporters to serve as delegates who are then chosen by the voters to serve as electors during the general election.
Q2) One cost-cutting measure a candidate might come to regret is acting as his or her own campaign manager.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which states should a presidential campaign focus on in the general election?
A) states with a higher percentage of registered voters
B) states with strong economies
C) large states
D) battleground states
Q4) __________ is the belief that citizens should vote in order to support the long-term viability and legitimacy of American democracy.
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11
Chapter 10: Interest Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) Ralph Nader launched the first major __________ group after winning a hefty damage settlement against General Motors.
Q2) Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates?
A) 527 organizations
B) coordinating committees
C) iron triangles
D) PACs
Q3) Which type of organization would find it easiest to overcome the free-rider problem?
A) an environmental organization working to pass climate change legislation
B) a labor union in a state where union membership is optional
C) a trade association for a small industry
D) a national organization fighting for women's rights
Q4) An environmental group works to pass legislation that would decrease air pollution. An individual might not contribute to that group since he or she could enjoy the benefits of breathing clean air without joining the group. This is an example of the __________ problem.
Q5) Discuss the role of interest groups in elections.
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Chapter 11: Congress
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Sample Questions
Q1) The central legislative dilemma for Congress is combining the faithful representation of constituents with making effective public policy. Explore what both supporters and critics contend in their assessments of Congress as it attempts to be both a representative and an objective policymaking institution.
Q2) In the House of Representatives,not only do more than 90 percent of incumbents seeking reelection usually win,but most of them win with more than 60 percent of the vote. Discuss why the rate at which incumbents are reelected to the Senate is lower than at which House members are reelected.
Q3) Caucuses are groups of like-minded interest groups that join forces to lobby Congress.
A)True
B)False
Q4) What is a filibuster? Where,when,and how are filibusters used? How and why did filibuster rules change in 2013? What questions do filibusters raise about the health of American democracy?
Q5) Representing constituents by mirroring their personal,politically relevant characteristics is known as __________ representation.
Q6) Cloture is the only way other senators can end a(n)__________.
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Chapter 12: The Presidency
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Sample Questions
Q1) Why is most news coverage of the president described as "body watch"? What advantages and disadvantages does the president face in regard to dealing with the press?
Q2) The president's chief of staff and press secretary are members of which group?
A) White House staff
B) Office of Administration
C) the cabinet
D) Executive Office of the President
Q3) How might rally events affect presidential politics?
A) Rally events lead to drops in presidential approval ratings, making passage of their agendas more difficult.
B) Rally events cause a long-term increase in presidential approval ratings, practically guaranteeing reelection.
C) Rally events make presidents more politically cautious.
D) Rally events tend to temporarily increase presidential approval ratings, providing presidents with a window of opportunity to press their agenda.
Q4) The __________ is at the top of the hierarchical organization of the White House staff.
Q5) What situations was the Twenty-fifth Amendment enacted to address?
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Chapter 13: The Budget: the Politics of Taxing and Spending
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is the national debt?
A) all of the money Congress has spent
B) all of the money the federal government has borrowed and has not yet repaid
C) the sum of all tax expenditures minus the sum of all tax receipts
D) the sum of all tax receipts minus the sum of all tax expenditures
Q2) Explain why incrementalism paints a picture of the federal budget as constantly growing. What does this tendency say about the ability of Congress to assess how well a program is doing relative to other programs?
Q3) A local government's __________ budget is unaffected by long-term expenditures,such as building new schools.
Q4) Why did the United States keep a large permanent military after World War II?
A) Treaties would not allow an extensive demilitarization.
B) The large veteran population supported peacetime military service.
C) Defense contractors successfully lobbied for an increase in contracts.
D) The Cold War began shortly after World War II ended.
Q5) The biggest slice of the budget pie has shifted from income security expenditures to defense expenditures.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 14: The Federal Bureaucracy
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Sample Questions
Q1) When the U.S. Department of Transportation stipulates how many hours truck drivers can be on the road per week,the department is employing a(n)__________ policy.
Q2) Which of the following is an example of an independent executive agency?
A) the General Services Administration
B) the Department of Health and Human Services
C) the Consumer Product Safety Commission
D) the U.S. Postal Service
Q3) Why do Americans tend to think that red tape is more prevalent than it actually is?
A) Americans tend to notice the bureaucracy only when it is inefficient and not when it works well.
B) Americans unwittingly transfer their negative assessments of private bureaucracies (such as businesses and churches) to the public sphere.
C) Americans generally have poor experiences when dealing with bureaucrats.
D) Red is a more inflammatory color than black.
Q4) Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of privatization.
Q5) The president appoints,but cannot easily dismiss,officials who serve on
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Page 16
Chapter 15: The Federal Courts
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Sample Questions
Q1) In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court first claim the right of judicial review?
A) Chisholm v. Georgia
B) Brown v. Board of Education
C) Dred Scott v. Sandford
D) Marbury v. Madison
Q2) Which of the following limits judicial power?
A) judicial review
B) judicial activism
C) stare decisis
D) life tenure
Q3) How many district courts are in the federal system?
A) five
B) 16
C) 91
D) 412
Q4) Before the justices enter the courtroom to hear the lawyers for each side present their arguments,they have received elaborately prepared written __________ from each party involved.
Q5) Explain the role of stare decisis in Brown v. Board of Education.
Page 17
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Chapter 16: Economic and Social Welfare Policymaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) Elected officials are often unresponsive to the policy preferences of low-income citizens.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following is a possible solution to the long-term problem of solvency in the Social Security program?
A) increase benefits for retirees who have substantial income from other sources
B) increase the minimum retirement age
C) revise the inflation adjustment formula for benefits so that recipients would receive more of a raise every year
D) lower the payroll tax contribution
Q3) Currently,more money is being distributed from the Social Security Trust Fund than is being received through taxes.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Social Security is available to everyone living in the United States,including illegal immigrants.
A)True B)False
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Chapter 17: Policymaking for Health Care, the Environment, and Energy
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Sample Questions
Q1) Medicare is a program that provides health care for __________.
A) the poor
B) retirees
C) the unemployed
D) anyone who lacks health insurance
Q2) Which of the following was passed by Congress in 1965?
A) Affordable Care Act
B) Children's Health Insurance Program
C) Emergency Medical Treatment Act
D) Medicare
Q3) Which of the following is true of the Affordable Care Act?
A) It is a national government takeover of health care.
B) It provides universal coverage to all Americans.
C) It involves a single-payer health care system.
D) It requires all Americans to have health insurance.
Q4) Some uninsured Americans have resorted to "medical __________" to seek health care in cheaper foreign hospitals.
Q5) Why are the uninsured more likely to die of preventable diseases? How would providing health insurance to the uninsured improve their standard of living?
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Chapter 18: National Security Policymaking
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is the primary responsibility of the secretary of defense?
A) homeland security
B) military policy
C) domestic security
D) commander in chief of the armed forces
Q2) Which of the following tactics has Al Qaeda used effectively?
A) détente
B) mutually assured destruction
C) nuclear proliferation
D) terrorism
Q3) What was Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative envisioned to accomplish?
A) protect the United States from nuclear weapons
B) promote democracy by fostering economic development
C) reduce the number of nuclear warheads held by both the United States and the Soviet Union
D) refocus the military on nonconventional warfare
Q4) The United States has successfully reduced the threat of a nuclear Iran through diplomacy.
A)True
B)False
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