Contemporary American Political Issues
Test Preparation
Course Introduction
This course explores the major political issues confronting the United States today, providing students with an in-depth understanding of modern policy debates, institutional dynamics, and the evolving landscape of American governance. Topics include polarization and partisanship, electoral reforms, civil rights, economic inequality, health care, immigration, climate policy, and the impact of media on public opinion. Through analysis of current events and scholarly perspectives, students will critically assess policy challenges and the responses of key political actors, gaining insights into the complexities and consequences of contemporary American politics.
Recommended Textbook
The Challenge of Democracy American Government in Global Politics 13th Edition by Kenneth Janda
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18 Chapters
1303 Verified Questions
1303 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Freedom, Order, or Equality
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75 Verified Questions
75 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Anarchists have gained some visibility in recent years as a result of protests related to
A)the United Nations.
B)NATO.
C)the World Trade Organization.
D)NAFTA.
E)Both the United Nations and NATO.
Answer: C
Q2) Each citizen having one vote demonstrates
A)equality of opportunity.
B)social equality.
C)a republic.
D)mandated freedoms.
E)political equality.
Answer: E
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Page 3
Chapter 2: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 2014,voters in Switzerland approved an initiative to
A)recognize civil rights at a national level.
B)join the European Union.
C)limit immigration.
D)ban involvement in military conflicts.
E)leave the European Union.
Answer: C
Q2) According to the text,does the United States better fit the pluralist model or the majoritarian model,and why?
Answer: According to the text, the United States better fits the pluralist model. This is because the pluralist model emphasizes the presence of multiple groups with competing interests and the ability for these groups to influence the political process. In the United States, there are numerous interest groups representing a wide range of issues and constituencies, and these groups play a significant role in shaping public policy and influencing government decisions. Additionally, the United States has a system of checks and balances, which allows for the representation of diverse interests and prevents any single group from dominating the political process. Overall, the presence of multiple competing groups and the ability for these groups to influence the political process aligns with the characteristics of the pluralist model.
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Page 4
Chapter 3: The Constitution
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Sample Questions
Q1) Federalist No.10 and Federalist No.51 each argue,from different angles,that the constitution combats
A)excessive power in the executive.
B)tyranny.
C)weakness of the states.
D)attacks from foreign nations.
E)the problem of an uninvolved population.
Answer: B
Q2) The primary contribution of the Federalist papers is
A)they serve as the collective writings of theorists.
B)to assert independence from England.
C)their insights into the roots of the American Revolution.
D)their ideas supporting the Bill of Rights.
E)their insight into the reasons for constitutional provisions.
Answer: E
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Chapter 4: Federalism
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Sample Questions
Q1) _________ requires foreigners who are not citizens living in the United States to register with the government and carry their registration papers.
A)U.S. Law
B)Nevada Law
C)Montana Law
D)California Law
E)Oregon Law
Q2) The complexity of the American federal system encourages
A)majoritarian democracy.
B)pluralism.
C)a high level of popular participation.
D)government stagnation.
E)conservative reactions by most registered voters.
Q3) While always a part of the federal arsenal,federal grants-in-aid grew at an astonishing pace
A)during the 1860s.
B)during the 1870s.
C)during the 1890s.
D)during the 1930s.
E)during the 1960s.
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Chapter 5: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
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71 Verified Questions
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Sample Questions
Q1) One of the nation's oldest polls,the __________,was started in the 1930s,and was most notably wrong in 1948 when it predicted that Thomas Dewey,the Republican candidate,would defeat the Democratic incumbent,Harry Truman in the presidential election.
A)Harris Poll
B)Zogby Poll
C)Field Poll
D)CBS Poll
E)Gallup Poll
Q2) The first political institution that young children tend to focus on is the A)president.
B)Congress.
C)Supreme Court.
D)political party system.
E)Constitution.
Q3) Explain how the majoritarian and pluralist models of democracy differ in their assumptions about the role of public opinion in democratic government.
Q4) How are race and ethnicity related to political beliefs and opinion?
Q5) How is education related to attitudes toward social order and economic freedom?
Page 7
Q6) Explain what skewed,bimodal,and normal distributions are.
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Chapter 6: The Media
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Sample Questions
Q1) Describe the history and current influence of radio on American politics.
Q2) It is quite possible that campaign coverage is affected by a(n)__________ among journalists.
A)anti-incumbent bias
B)gender gap
C)age gap
D)income disparity
E)pro-interest group bias
Q3) The traditional division of mass media into _________ has been made problematic by the Internet.
A)print and broadcast
B)audio and visual
C)linkage and reception
D)radio and television
E)words and pictures
Q4) What does research show with respect to the political leanings of major news media reporters?
Q5) Explain what is meant by the media playing the role of gatekeeper.
Q6) How are political blogs influencing news reporting and politics?
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Participation and Voting
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Sample Questions
Q1) Discuss the two major categories of political behaviors that the text indicates comprise conventional political participation.
Q2) Most referenda are placed on the ballot by A)voters.
B)governors.
C)interest groups.
D)judges.
E)legislatures.
Q3) Summarize the expansion of voting rights by describing federal government actions that granted the franchise to those who had been denied suffrage.
Q4) The text defines suffrage and franchise as the right to A)participate. B)speak. C)protest.
D)vote. E)rally.
Q5) Discuss how Americans compare in terms of voter turnout with citizens of other democracies,and one reason your text offers for why this difference may exist.
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Chapter 8: Political Parties
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71 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Most democratic theorists agree that a modern nation-state cannot practice democracy without
A)negative campaigning.
B)unlimited campaign contributions.
C)one dominant party consistently winning national elections.
D)at least two political parties regularly contesting elections.
E)a parliamentary system.
Q2) Which statement about American political parties is false?
A)A person's party identification, once developed, tends to endure.
B)The number of Democrats in the electorate consistently exceeded the number of Republicans until the mid-1990s.
C)Independents outnumber Democratic Party and Republican Party identifiers, combined, in the U.S. electorate.
D)The proportion of Democrats in the electorate has shrunk over time, to the benefit of both Republicans and Independents.
E)Fifty percent of children adopt the same party affiliation as their parents.
Q3) Discuss the functions served by political parties in today's political system.
Q4) Explain how the party reforms of the Republicans and Democrats have differed since the 1970s.
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Chapter 9: Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns
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Sample Questions
Q1) In February 2012,Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul raised the second-most amount of money ($26 million)after Mitt Romney ($56 million)chiefly by using A)television advertising.
B)the Internet.
C)the Democratic Party fundraising machine.
D)media infomercials.
E)a negative campaign strategy.
Q2) In the 2008 presidential election
A)neither Barack Obama nor John McCain agreed to accept public funds for the general election.
B)Barack Obama accepted public funds, but John McCain did not.
C)John McCain accepted public funds, but Barack Obama did not.
D)both Barack Obama and John McCain accepted public funds for the general election, but not in the primary.
E)neither Barack Obama nor John McCain accepted public funds for the general election, but they did accept public funding during their primaries.
Q3) Identify the different types of primary elections and describe their impact on elections and political parties.
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Chapter 10: Interest Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) _________ believe that interest groups further democracy by broadening representation within the system.
A)Majoritarians
B)Elitists
C)Oligarchs
D)Humanitarians
E)Pluralists
Q2) Ultimately it was by means of a __________ that the success of Cesar Chavez's attempt to attain recognition of the United Farm Workers was achieved.
A)grape boycott
B)bombing campaign of farms
C)occupation of the state capitol building in Sacramento, California,
D)refusal to harvest lettuce throughout California
E)high profile group of Hollywood celebrities applying public pressure
Q3) Why has there been a significant increase in Washington,D.C.based health-care lobbyists over the years?
Q4) Describe how Cesar Chavez changed tactics in his attempt to improve working conditions for farm laborers by forming the United Farm Workers Union,and why Catholic clergy supported Chavez.
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Chapter 11: Congress
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Sample Questions
Q1) A vote on a bill in the Senate results in a tie.What would likely be the official outcome of the vote on the bill?
A)The bill would be withdrawn and submitted at a later time, when one additional vote could be secured.
B)The bill would be killed.
C)The president's party would prevail.
D)The parties would reach a compromise in the conference committee.
E)The leadership would canvass members to change the one vote needed for passage.
Q2) In 2013,in response to minority filibusters,Senate Democrats
A)eliminated filibusters for confirmation of presidential nominees other than Supreme Court justices
B)invoked "perpetual cloture," ending the possibility of filibusters
C)agreed to split appointments 50/50 among Republicans and Democrats
D)announced their intent to end legislative recesses until Republicans agreed to limit filibusters
E)changed Senate committee structures so that Republicans would be less represented and would lose influence
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Page 13
Chapter 12: The Presidency
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Sample Questions
Q1) Recent scholarly research demonstrates that energetic and well-planned efforts by presidents to influence public opinion
A)can move public responses to opinion polls by about ten percentage points.
B)are likely to have little effect.
C)are far more effective when they concern foreign policy than domestic policy.
D)are far more effective when they concern domestic policy than foreign policy.
E)only occurs during a president's first year in office.
Q2) Presidential vetoes tend to increase when
A)it is the president's second term.
B)the Supreme Court exercises judicial review with some frequency.
C)members of the House and Senate are facing an election.
D)the legislation involves civil rights.
E)the opposite party controls Congress.
Q3) Describe four major duties and/or powers the Constitution conveys on the president.
Q4) Describe the Cuban missile crisis of 1962,and why this is a good example of a president exercising sound judgment and remaining cool when faced with difficult choices.
Q5) Explain some of the reasons why presidential speeches often fail to influence public opinion.
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Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
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Sample Questions
Q1) The rational-comprehensive model of policymaking is unrealistic because
A)it is difficult for policymakers to define precise values and goals.
B)the selected policy will not always be the most effective means to the goal.
C)comprehensive investigations into all solutions to any specific problem would be too time-consuming.
D)it is difficult for policymakers to define precise values and goals, the selected policy will not always be the most effective means to the goal, and comprehensive investigations into all solutions to any specific problem would be too time-consuming.
E)None of these choices is true.
Q2) Presidents can exert considerable influence over agency policymaking by
A)appointing administrators sympathetic to their policy goals.
B)requiring agencies to submit draft regulations to a White House office.
C)announcing surprise audits of agency budgets.
D)putting pressure on agency heads to fire civil servants who defy the president's wishes.
E)appointing administrators sympathetic to their policy goals and requiring agencies to submit draft regulations to a White House office.
Q3) Describe what the Pendleton Act (1883)was,and how it helped reduce patronage.
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Chapter 14: The Courts
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Sample Questions
Q1) About how many requests for review does the U.S.Supreme Court receive each year?
A)1,500
B)9,000
C)4,000
D)400
E)12,500
Q2) Approximately how many cases does the Supreme Court select each year as worthy of review?
A)More than 500
B)Fewer than 100
C)Fewer than 50
D)More than 1,000
E)Around 600
Q3) One exception to the general rule,which the Supreme Court does not rule out of line with popular opinion,concerns the Court's decisions on
A)gay marriage.
B)federalism.
C)capital punishment.
D)gun control.
E)prayer in public schools.
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Chapter 15: Order and Civil Liberties
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Sample Questions
Q1) In 1791,when the Bill of Rights was ratified,it
A)was made up of fifteen amendments.
B)imposed limits on the national government but not on the state governments.
C)did not include a provision protecting free speech.
D)applied to the states but not to the national government.
E)was intended to be temporary, only having effect until citizens felt comfortable that the government understood and would not interfere with their rights.
Q2) Explain how the Supreme Court interpreted the Ninth Amendment to decide the Griswold v.Connecticut case.
Q3) The Constitution's _____________ clause prevents the government from interfering with religious practice.
A)establishment
B)essential freedoms
C)nondiscrimination
D)free exercise
E)religious freedom
Q4) Give an example of how presidential appointments and ideological shifts on the Supreme Court have affected the Supreme Court's rulings on abortion.
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17
Chapter 16: Equality and Civil Rights
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Sample Questions
Q1) Abigail Fisher brought her lawsuit against the University of Texas arguing that the inclusion of race in university admissions violates
A)the freedom to assemble clause of the First Amendment.
B)the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
C)the Nineteenth Amendment.
D)the double jeopardy clause of the Fifth Amendment.
E)the freedom to assemble clause of the First Amendment and the Nineteenth Amendment.
Q2) The 2010 Arizona law strictly targeting illegal immigrants included all but which of the following provisions?
A)Stepped up local enforcement of federal immigration law.
B)Obligated the police to determine a person's immigration status if there is reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
C)Made it illegal to shelter, hire, or transport illegal aliens in Arizona.
D)Made it a crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying legal documents.
E)All of these choices are true.
Q3) What were the major provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
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Page 18
Chapter 17: Economic Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) A government spending in excess of tax revenues to combat an economic slump is known as
A)net increase.
B)anticipated shortfall.
C)reconciliation.
D)readjustment.
E)deficit financing.
Q2) An example of a regressive tax in America is the A)income tax.
B)Medicare tax.
C)Social Security tax.
D)estate tax.
E)corporation tax.
Q3) By comparison with most other democratic countries,the tax burden on American citizens is higher than ____________ other countries' citizens.
A)almost all
B)about three-fourths
C)about half of
D)about one-fourth
E)almost no
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Chapter 18: Policymaking and Domestic Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the face of Congressional inaction on the DREAM Act,President Obama
A)called a press conference criticizing Congressional leaders for their lack of willingness to take action.
B)asked the Supreme Court to implement the legal provisions of the Act without Congressional approval.
C)instructed immigration officials to stop deporting children who would be eligible under DREAM Act guidelines.
D)was powerless to take unilateral action.
E)implemented all the provisions of the Act by Executive Order.
Q2) Which of the following comprise the largest portion of the impoverished?
A)The elderly
B)Recent retirees
C)Caucasians without high school diplomas
D)Farmers
E)Persons under eighteen years old
Q3) Describe what the New Deal was,and how it was brought about by the Great Depression.
Q4) Identify and define the four stages in the policymaking process.
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