Foundations of American Government Midterm
Exam
Course Introduction
Foundations of American Government explores the historical, philosophical, and political roots of the United States government. This course examines the development of American political thought, the principles embedded in the Constitution, and the structure and functions of the federal system. Through analysis of key documents, debates, and landmark Supreme Court decisions, students gain an understanding of the separation of powers, federalism, and the roles of citizens in a democratic society. The course also investigates the evolution of civil rights and liberties and encourages critical reflection on the challenges facing American democracy today.
Recommended Textbook MindTapR in Action American Government 1st Edition by Cengage
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
15 Chapters
750 Verified Questions
750 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1212
Page 2
Chapter 1: The Constitution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23968
Sample Questions
Q1) Which Supreme Court case established that Congress had powers implied through the necessary and proper clause?
A) Marbury v. Madison
B) McCullough v. Maryland
C) Brown v. Board of Education
D) Bowers v. Hardwick
Answer: B
Q2) What state did <b><u>not</b></u> have delegates at the Constitutional Convention?
A) New York
B) Rhode Island
C) Pennsylvania
D) New Jersey
Answer: B
Q3) Massachusetts appointed a Committee of Correspondence in response to the A) Sugar Act.
B) Stamp Act.
C) Townsend Act.
D) Intolerable, or Coercive, Acts.
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 3
Chapter 2: Federalism
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23969
Sample Questions
Q1) Today, the United States, India, and Australia all have governments characterized by A) direct democracy.
B) confederal systems.
C) federalism.
D) unitary systems.
Answer: C
Q2) Article I, Section IX of the Constitution
A) prohibits Congress from creating ex post facto laws.
B) contains restrictions only on state powers.
C) prohibits restrictions on federal powers.
D) contains no restrictions on the powers of the state and federal governments.
Answer: A
Q3) McCullough v. Maryland introduced the idea of expanding the powers of Congress to include powers
A) the states chose to give up.
B) that were explicitly listed in the Constitution.
C) the people voted to give Congress.
D) not explicitly listed in the Constitution.
Answer: D
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 4
Chapter 3: Civil Liberties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23970
Sample Questions
Q1) Why did the decision in District of Columbia v. Heller <b><u>not</b></u> apply to other states?
A) The case was heard by a district court and not the Supreme Court.
B) No decisions found by the Supreme Court apply to other states.
C) The District of Columbia is governed by the laws of the federal government.
D) The case was brought to the Court by an individual, not a state.
Answer: C
Q2) Miller v. California led the Supreme Court to develop a three-pronged test to classify obscene material. Which of the following is <b><u>not </u></b>part of the test?
A) The material must be seen as appealing to the prurient interest in the view of the average person applying community standards.
B) The material must depict or describe in a patently offensive manner sexual conduct as defined by applicable federal law.
C) The material, taken as a whole, must show serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
D) The material must intentionally harm someone.
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: Civil Rights
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23971
Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are examples of civil rights <b><u>except</b></u> the right to A) free speech.
B) vote.
C) due process of law.
D) equal protection of laws.
Q2) Quotas are
A) a legal part of affirmative action.
B) not considered a part of lawful affirmative action programs.
C) considered a legal part of affirmative action when applied to anything other than race.
D) considered a legal part of affirmative action only when applied to race.
Q3) The American women's rights movement grew out of the
A) Constitutional Convention.
B) abolitionist movement.
C) Industrial Revolution.
D) American Revolution.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Congress
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23972
Sample Questions
Q1) If a bill is tabled, it means that
A) the committee will vote on it in seven days.
B) it has passed through the committee process.
C) the committee has sent the bill for markup.
D) the committee will consider it at a later time, if at all.
Q2) What portion of the Senate is scheduled for election or reelection in any given election year?
A) Three-fourths
B) Two-thirds
C) One-half
D) One-third
Q3) Which of the following is <b><u>not</b></u> a unique responsibility of the Senate?
A) It starts the process of the federal budget.
B) It approves the president's nominations to the cabinet.
C) It holds the impeachment trial of any federal official.
D) It approves the president's nominations to the federal judiciary.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Presidency and Foreign Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23973
Sample Questions
Q1) How many electors does a state receive?
A) The number of members it has in the House of Representatives
B) The number of members it has in the Senate
C) The number of members it has in Congress
D) The number is not set because it is based on voter turnout.
Q2) Super PACs <b><u>cannot</b></u>
A) send mailings in support of a candidate or issue television commercials.
B) engage in independent campaign activities.
C) coordinate with candidates.
D) make donations to candidates.
Q3) Franklin Delano Roosevelt's original plan for the United States during World War II was to
A) get involved on the side of Axis Powers as soon as possible.
B) keep the country out of the war unless Russia fell.
C) keep the country out of the war.
D) join the war as soon as possible.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Bureaucracy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23974
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following was<b> <u>not</u></b> a federal agency created under the New Deal?
A) The Federal Housing Authority
B) The Interstate Commerce Commission
C) The Social Security Administration
D) The Tennessee Valley Authority
Q2) Who is <b><u>not</b></u> an employee of the federal bureaucracy?
A) A senator
B) An active member of the military
C) A political appointee
D) A civil servant
Q3) It is <b><u>not</b></u> the bureaucrat's role to
A) question the policy goals in performing his or her work assignments.
B) collect fees and issue permits.
C) participate in rulemaking.
D) apply administrative discretion.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: Judiciary
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23975
Sample Questions
Q1) In civil cases, if the defendant is deemed at fault, then a sentence is imposed that usually includes
A) incarceration.
B) financial redress.
C) loss of life.
D) probation.
Q2) How does the president place limits on judicial powers?
A) The president may designate cases appropriate for judicial review.
B) The president confirms appointments to the federal bench.
C) The president enforces decisions made by the federal courts.
D) The president appoints those who sit on the federal bench.
Q3) Which of the following statements is <b><u>true</u> </b>about capital punishment?
A) It exists in all states.
B) It is not legal in any state.
C) It can only be decided by federal courts.
D) It exists in some states.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Public Opinion
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23976
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is<b><u> not</b></u> a method available for understanding public opinion?
A) Focus groups
B) Media content analysis
C) Legislative oversight review
D) Archival content analysis
Q2) Content analysis is traditionally understood to mean careful study of
A) public opinion from particular years.
B) printed or text-based material.
C) media.
D) trending social media.
Q3) George Gallup introduced the use of
A) probability sampling.
B) quota sampling.
C) biased sampling.
D) polling research.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: Interest Groups
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23977
Sample Questions
Q1) Interest groups focus on
A) implementing a specific policy agenda.
B) electoral victories.
C) partisanship and gaining power.
D) ending government conflict.
Q2) What are the two types of donations from interest groups?
A) Sincere and legislative
B) Legislative and corporate
C) Strategic and corporate
D) Sincere and strategic
Q3) Which group is formed by organizations that exist only to promote a particular cause or support an issue?
A) Corporate PAC
B) Nonconnected PAC
C) Connected PAC
D) Labor union PAC
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 12
Chapter 11: Media
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23978
Sample Questions
Q1) Which amendment protects the freedom of the press?
A) The First Amendment
B) The Second Amendment
C) The Third Amendment
D) The Fourth Amendment
Q2) Most media outlets are
A) for-profit businesses.
B) nonprofit businesses.
C) political organizations.
D) public service agencies.
Q3) Which theory is effective for understanding the way that social media and blogs influence public opinion?
A) Minimal effects
B) Priming
C) Framing effects
D) Agenda setting
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 13
Chapter 12: Political Parties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23979
Sample
Questions
Q1) The goal of the 1883 Pendleton Act was to
A) create a more competent bureaucracy.
B) inject prestige into government employment.
C) provide assistance to former government workers.
D) eliminate partisan politics.
Q2) What is the largest component of political parties?
A) Party-in-the-electorate
B) Party-as-organization
C) Party-in-government
D) Party-in-the-two-round-runoff
Q3) According to Anthony Downs, a "team of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election" is the definition of a political
A) campaign structure.
B) convention.
C) machine.
D) party.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Participation
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23980
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is<b><u> not</b></u> included as a primary predictor of political participation in the socioeconomic status (SES) model?
A) Age
B) Income
C) Education
D) Employment
Q2) Which of the following is not one of the three characteristics generally shared by people who participate in unconventional methods of political participation?
A) Distrust of the political system
B) Highly developed sense of group consciousness
C) Strong sense of political efficacy
D) Desire to use representative channels of government
Q3) Which of the following is an argument advanced by opponents of compulsory voting?
A) It is inconsistent with the freedom associated with democracy.
B) It fails to educate those who are not politically active or aware.
C) It shows that decisions made by elected governments are more legitimate.
D) It illustrates that choosing officials has a civic effect on citizens.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
15
Chapter 14: Campaigns and Elections
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23981
Sample Questions
Q1) What famous misstep did Congressman Anthony Weiner make on Twitter?
A) He tweeted inappropriate photos of himself.
B) He live tweeted a secret trip to Afghanistan.
C) He tweeted campaign finance information.
D) He live tweeted details about an upcoming vote.
Q2) Who was the first presidential candidate to reject public funds for the general election campaign?
A) Barack Obama
B) Jimmy Carter
C) Ronald Reagan
D) George Walker Bush
Q3) Which statement about voter initiatives is <b><u>not</u></b> accurate?
A) The effect of initiatives is stronger for congressional elections.
B) Initiatives have a positive effect on voter turnout in both high and low elections.
C) It is clear that initiatives originated long before the beginning of the Progressive era.
D) There may be an overall decline in trust in government as voters are exposed to more popular initiatives.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 16
Chapter 15: Domestic Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/23982
Sample Questions
Q1) Medicare can best be described as a comprehensive health program for Americans who are
A) infants.
B) noncitizens.
C) unemployed.
D) senior citizens.
Q2) The policymaking process is often subject to challenges, particularly during the A) identification and formulation phases.
B) evaluation and implementation phases.
C) identification and evaluation phases.
D) formulation and implementation phases.
Q3) In the United States, the fiscal year runs from
A) January 1 to December 31.
B) April 15 to April 14.
C) October 1 to September 30.
D) May 15 to May 14.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17