Foundations of American Democracy Final Exam Questions
Course Introduction
Foundations of American Democracy explores the historical, philosophical, and institutional roots of the United States government. The course examines the development of key democratic principles, including liberty, equality, justice, and popular sovereignty, as articulated in foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers. Students will analyze the influences of Enlightenment thought, the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and the evolution of democratic ideals through landmark Supreme Court cases, social movements, and changes in civil rights. By understanding the underpinnings of American democracy, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the enduring challenges and responsibilities of citizenship in a pluralistic society.
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American Government and Politics Today The Essentials 17th Edition by Barbara A. Bardes
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The Democratic Republic
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Q1) The concept of universal suffrage refers to
A) the right of all adults to vote for a representative in government.
B) the right of all citizens to run for office.
C) the right of universal healthcare for all.
D) the belief that all persons deserve a fair trial.
E) a system of relationships between the states.
Answer: A
Q2) The right to vote for all citizens has
A) always been out of reach.
B) expanded over time.
C) been championed by the rich.
D) has always included undocumented immigrants.
E) has always included women.
Answer: B
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Chapter 2: The Constitution
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Q1) The supremacy doctrine asserts the superiority of A) large states over small states.
B) non-slave states over slave states.
C) national law over state law.
D) natural law over man-made law.
E) None of the above is true.
Answer: C
Q2) International agreements between the president and a foreign head of state that do not require legislative approval are known as A) treaties.
B) executive agreements.
C) contracts.
D) memoranda of understanding.
E) executive orders.
Answer: B
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Page 4
Chapter 3: Federalism
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Q1) The police power is
A) the authority to legislate for the health, welfare, safety, and morals of the people.
B) reserved for the federal government to fight terrorism.
C) delegated to the states to make laws not prohibited by the national or state constitutions.
D) the power of local police to stop drivers suspected of being illegal immigrants.
E) Options A and C are true.
Answer: E
Q2) Examples of vertical checks and balances include
A) the reserved powers of the states.
B) administration of many national programs and policies by the states.
C) the requirement that Constitutional amendments be ratified by the states.
D) the power of the national government to shape state policies by federal grant program requirements.
E) All of the above are true.
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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Q1) The Bill of Rights
A) protects individual religious freedom.
B) allows state government to regulate religion.
C) allows the national government to regulate religion.
D) provides for an official state religion.
E) provides protection for street drug use in religious ceremonies.
Q2) If stopped in your car by a police officer, it is best
A) to insist on a lawyer before complying with any instructions to show identification.
B) to behave politely and be prepared to present identification.
C) to explain where you have been and what you have been doing to save time.
D) to ask what criminal activity is going on in the neighborhood so you can assist in the effort to find the perpetrators.
E) to tell the police officer that you give to local police charities.
Q3) Cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited by
A) the separation of powers.
B) judicial review.
C) the Fifth Amendment.
D) the Eighth Amendment.
E) the Tenth Amendment.
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Page 6
Chapter 5: Civil Rights
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Q1) The Civil Rights Acts passed by Congress between 1865 and1875
A) were designed to enforce the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments.
B) implemented the extension of citizenship to anyone born in the United States.
C) made it illegal to use law or custom to deprive anyone of rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution.
D) declared that everyone is entitled to full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations.
E) All of the above are true.
Q2) Describe the consequences of civil rights legislation in terms of political participation of African Americans and other minorities.
Q3) In the 1960s and 1970s, women's groups became divided over issues including A) the Equal Rights Amendment.
B) pornography.
C) abortion rights.
D) Options A and C are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Describe the barriers to voting faced by African Americans after the Civil War.
Q5) Explain the Americans with Disabilities Act and what impact it has had.
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Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
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Q1) Currently, which of the following regions are more supportive of the Democrats than the Republicans?
A) The South and the Rocky Mountain states
B) The South and the Great Plains
C) The Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountain states
D) The Northeast and the West Coast
E) The South, Great Plains, and the Rocky Mountain states
Q2) All of the following are true of public opinion polls \(\bold{except}\)
A) poll results are not equally good or equally believable.
B) knowing what makes a poll accurate is not as important as the results of the poll.
C) polls based on scientific or random samples are the most valid.
D) polls that consist of shopping mall interviews may produce inaccurate results.
E) well-designed polls based on probability samples may result in ninety-five percent accuracy.
Q3) Explain the generalizations that can be made about the swings in political mood of the electorate.
Q4) Describe the significance and possible origins of the gender gap.
Q5) Explore the means by which political socialization occurs in the United States.
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Chapter 7: Interest Groups
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Q1) All of the following are true of interest groups \(\bold{except}\)
A) the structure of American government gives interest groups a number of areas in which to attempt to influence government policies.
B) interest groups attempt to influence government at all levels-local, state, and national.
C) interest groups only seek to influence government through campaign contributions.
D) the First Amendment encourages Americans to form and participate in interest groups.
E) membership in an interest group makes individual opinion appear more powerful.
Q2) The Constitution protects interest groups
A) through the First Amendment's right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
B) through the First Amendment's right to "peaceably assemble."
C) through the Fourth Amendment's protection against illegal search and seizure.
D) through the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination.
E) Options A and B are true.
Q3) Explain the direct techniques used by interest groups.
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Chapter 8: Political Parties
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Q1) In regard to cultural politics which is true?
A) Economic conservatism is associated with higher incomes.
B) Social conservatism is more common among lower income groups.
C) Cultural conservatives view themselves as embattled "ordinary Americans" under threat from liberal, cosmopolitan elites.
D) The election of President Obama and a Democratic Congress magnified conservatives fear, resulting in the Tea Party movement.
E) All the above are true.
Q2) In "Wave Elections"
A) dissatisfaction with the performance of one part or another can produce a wave of support for the other party.
B) the effects of the election results are temporary.
C) support for the major parties realign.
D) the results are landslide victories for Republicans or Democrats.
E) Options A and B are true.
Q3) Explain the differences between the party-in-the-electorate, the party organization, and the party-in-government.
Q4) Explore the role played by third parties in the United States.
Q5) Contrast the two major parties in the United States today.
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Chapter 9: Campaigns, Elections, and the Media
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Q1) Super PACs
A) allow America's millionaires and billionaires to donate unlimited funds to influence elections.
B) are political advertising councils that design political campaigns.
C) are limited to raising no more than ten million dollars per campaign cycle.
D) raise money to run both positive and negative campaign ads.
E) Options A and D are true.
Q2) A party-column ballot is a form of general election ballot
A) that is used by only a few states today.
B) that focuses attention on the office instead of the party.
C) in which the candidates are arranged in one column under their respective party.
D) that was held to be unconstitutional in 1948.
E) in which all candidates for each elective office are grouped under the title of the office.
Q3) Which people are least likely to vote? How does this affect government policies?
Q4) Explain the ways in which new media (Internet, blogs, podcasts) are used in campaigns.
Q5) Explore the strategies devised by interest groups and parties to get around campaign finance reform legislation.
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Chapter 10: The Congress
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Q1) The major function of Congress is
A) enforcing laws.
B) lawmaking.
C) using the impeachment power.
D) investigating other branches of government through oversight.
E) judging whether laws are constitutional.
Q2) The committee in the House that proposes time limitations on debate for bills is called the
A) Debate Committee.
B) Rules Committee.
C) House Ways and Means Committee.
D) Debate and Censure Committee.
E) Issues Committee.
Q3) Explain the causes of the increase in the federal deficit during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
Q4) Explain the functions and rules regarding filibuster, cloture, and reconciliation.
Q5) Explain the roles played by the members of the House and Senate leadership.
Q6) Describe the enumerated or expressed power of Congress.
Q7) Explain how a bill becomes a law.
Page 12
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Chapter 11: The President
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Q1) The president, in the capacity as head of state, is responsible for
A) determining the countries for which the United States will have diplomatic relations.
B) engaging in activities that are largely symbolic or ceremonial in nature.
C) conducting the foreign policy of the country.
D) leading the legislative process by submitting legislation.
E) administering the laws.
Q2) A signing statement
A) is a written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law.
B) usually points to sections of a law that the president thinks may be unconstitutional.
C) must accompany treaties submitted to the Senate by the president when seeking advice and consent.
D) Options A and B are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Q3) Explain the concept of executive privilege and how it has been used by the presidents.
Q4) Analyze the circumstances in which impeachment has been used throughout our history.
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Chapter 12: The Bureaucracy
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Q1) Which of the following is not one of the four major types of structures within the executive branch?
A) Independent regulatory agencies
B) Cabinet departments
C) Privatized bureaucracies
D) Government corporations
E) Independent executive agencies
Q2) Describe three of the four following organizations of the executive branch: cabinet departments, independent executive agencies, independent regulatory agencies, or government corporations.
Q3) The Endangered Species Act is
A) supported by citizens that believe in wildlife preservation.
B) cited by some as an example of infringement on the rights of landowners.
C) an example of the tension between the desire for small government and the desire for benefits large government can provide.
D) an example of a law with bureaucratic implications.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Describe the difference between Sunshine laws and Sunset provisions.
Q5) Describe the different models of bureaucracy.
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Chapter 13: The Courts
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Q1) Should federal judges serve for lifetime or be term-limited? Thoroughly explain your answer.
Q2) Most court cases are decided on precedent because
A) it is important to set a uniform common set of rules for the country.
B) judges would rather play it safe and reuse old decisions.
C) it is easier for recording-keeping purposes.
D) the established body of judge-made law covers all cases that might come up.
E) Options B and C are true.
Q3) Sharia law applied to mediation and arbitration in a divorce within the Muslim community
A) is supreme over state laws if both parties agree.
B) is supreme over the Constitution if both parties agree.
C) is reviewed by a court to determine if the decision is not grossly unfair or undermines public policy.
D) can be applied if one party agrees and the other disagrees.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Describe some of the judicial traditions and doctrines that act as a restraint of the courts.
Q5) Describe the sources of American law.
Q6) Describe the changes to the federal court system in an effort to fight terrorism
Page 15
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Chapter 14: Domestic and Economic Policy
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Q1) Tax loopholes allow individuals and corporations to
A) reduce their taxable income legally.
B) choose the state to which they will pay taxes.
C) register formal complaints to the Internal Revenue Service.
D) pay taxes only on investment income.
E) commit crimes without fear of incarceration.
Q2) Until 2002, the food stamp program imposed an assets test on potential recipients
A) causing those who had an asset like a car or home to be ineligible.
B) making it impossible for many recently unemployed to collect food stamps
C) because the government did not want food prices affected by give aways.
D) Both options A and B are true.
E) Options A, B, and C are true.
Q3) Medicare
A) is the government program set up for the poor.
B) costs the government more than Social Security.
C) was created by President George W. Bush in 2002.
D) is a federal health insurance program that covers Americans over the age of sixty-five.
E) All of the above are true.
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Page 16
Chapter 15: Foreign Policy
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Q1) The set of policies having to do with the U.S. armed forces is called A) the foreign policy process.
B) defense policy.
C) military-industrial policy.
D) foreign assistance policy.
E) diplomacy.
Q2) Moral idealism is a philosophy that
A) sees nations as normally willing to cooperate and agree on moral standards for conduct.
B) mandates noninterference with the internal policies of sovereign nations.
C) supports steps to establish a single world government.
D) sees each nation as acting in its own interest regardless of moral considerations.
E) contends that spreading Christianity ought to be a major goal of U.S. foreign policy.
Q3) Explain the role that China has come to play in the world. How should the United States interact with China?
Q4) Describe the various uprisings in the Arab Spring countries and the outcomes of each revolt to date.
Q5) What problems might there be if the draft was used again in the United States?
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