Government and Society Final Exam
Course Introduction
This course explores the dynamic relationship between government institutions and the societies they govern, examining how political systems shape and are shaped by social forces. Topics include the foundations of government authority, the impact of public policy on different social groups, the role of citizens and civil society in governance, and contemporary challenges such as globalization, inequality, and technological change. Through both theoretical frameworks and real-world case studies, students will gain a deeper understanding of how government and society interact, cooperate, and sometimes come into conflict in shaping the modern world.
Recommended Textbook
American Government Institutions and Policies 16th Edition by James Q. Wilson
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
20 Chapters
1800 Verified Questions
1800 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/2081
Page 2
Chapter 1: The Study of American Government the Study of
American Government
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41428
Sample Questions
Q1) For what reason does the book justify representative democracy?
A) Deciding wisely on issues is impractical and unlikely, but deciding on leaders is possible.
B) Elites are better at making political decisions.
C) Representative democracy reserves power to important institutions besides the people.
D) The Capitol Building lacks the room for all voters to discuss issues.
E) Direct democracy is subject to emotional whims by voters.
Answer: A
Q2) The sociologist __________ argued that American democracy is dominated by a small "power elite."
A) C. Wright Mills
B) Karl Marx
C) David B. Truman
D) Max Weber
E) Samuel P. Huntington
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: The Constitution the Constitution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41429
Sample Questions
Q1) Discuss the dispute between the Framers and the Antifederalists regarding the need for a bill of rights to be added to the Constitution.
Answer: The Framers of the Constitution had listed rights in the constitution already The Framers were afraid a bill of rights would be redundant and encourage future legislatures to go beyond their enumerated powers.
The Antifederalists believed that, absent a bill of rights, the national government would be too powerful. It needed to be hedged in more.
The Antifederalists also disliked certain aspects of the Constitution in general, ranging from congressional influence on local elections to legal procedures.
Q2) The Framers' primary goal was to create a true democracy. A)True B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Federalism Federalism
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41430
Sample Questions
Q1) The grant-in-aid system began to grow rapidly
A) in the 20th century.
B) in the 19th century.
C) a decade after the U.S. was formed.
D) immediately after the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
E) after September 11, 2001.
Answer: A
Q2) Which of the following countries does NOT have a federal system of government?
A) The United States
B) The United Kingdom
C) Canada
D) Germany
E) Australia
Answer: B
Q3) The text says,"Devolution did not become a revolution." Explain.
Answer: Large federal-state programs were not turned into block grant programs.Spending on most federal and state programs increased.Public support was never very strong.Devolution seems to have resulted in more,not fewer,governmental rules and regulations.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: American Political Culture American Political Culture
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41431
Sample Questions
Q1) How Americans think about the world,including how they think about politics,is largely acquired within the family.
A)True
B)False
Q2) A classic study of America,Germany,Great Britain,Italy,and Mexico found that citizens of __________ had the highest sense of civic duty and civic competence.
A) Italy
B) Germany
C) Mexico
D) Great Britain
E) the United States
Q3) Americans generally agree that taking care of the poor is the government's responsibility.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Compare American political culture to the political culture of other democracies discussed in the text.
Q5) Discuss the four sources of American political culture mentioned in the text.
Q6) Compare and contrast political culture in America and in Japan.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties Civil Liberties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41432
Sample Questions
Q1) Under the Espionage and Sedition Acts of 1917 and 1918,thousands of individuals were prosecuted,imprisoned,or deported.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Supreme Court's current definition of obscenity denies free-speech protection to materials or activities that
A) depict sexuality in a way that is degrading to its subjects.
B) promote violence against women or children.
C) lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
D) present a clear and present danger to community standards of decency.
E) do not appeal to the prurient interest.
Q3) In the __________ decision,the Supreme Court ruled that persons charged with a crime have a right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one.
A) Gideon v. Wainwright
B) Mapp v. Ohio
C) Miranda v. Arizona
D) United States v. Leon
E) Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
Q4) Define libel and outline the basic features of libel law in the United States.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: Civil Rights Civil Rights
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41433
Sample Questions
Q1) Privacy is mentioned only once in the Constitution.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Based on the Supreme Court's decision in Roe,a woman has an unfettered right to an abortion
A) in the first trimester.
B) in the first and second trimesters.
C) in the second trimester.
D) in the second and third trimesters.
E) in the third trimester.
Q3) Under the Defense of Marriage Act,signed by President Clinton,
A) no state could legalize gay marriage.
B) no state could modify the definition of marriage in any significant way.
C) states that allowed gay marriages would lose federal funds.
D) no state would be forced to recognize a same-sex marriage performed in another state.
E) gays and lesbians could marry in federal courts.
Q4) In 1989,the Webster case upheld some state restrictions on abortion.
A)True
B)False
Page 8
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 7: Public Opinion Public Opinion
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41434
Sample Questions
Q1) Christians who attend church weekly are likely to be __________ conservative than those who do not.
A) less fiscally
B) more fiscally
C) neither more nor less
D) less
E) more
Q2) A little less than __________ of white Americans believe that racism is a serious issue in America today.
A) ten percent
B) a quarter
C) half
D) three quarters
E) ninety percent
Q3) The text suggests that it is becoming increasingly difficult to conduct reliable polling with traditional land line methods.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Describe how polls are conducted.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: Political Participation Political Participation
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41435
Sample Questions
Q1) The 2008 presidential election featured a record level of voter turnout among people aged thirty and below.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In recent years,the gap between the VAP and VEP has
A) increased.
B) remained about the same.
C) decreased somewhat.
D) decreased considerably.
E) varied in no consistent way.
Q3) The __________ Amendment states that "the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race,color,or previous condition of servitude."
A) Twelfth
B) Seventeenth
C) Fifteenth
D) Twenty-fifth
E) None of these are correct.
Q4) Identify and describe the six different classifications of U.S.voters.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Political Parties Political Parties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41436
Sample Questions
Q1) Jefferson viewed his party as a temporary arrangement for the purpose of defeating John Adams.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Founders-and George Washington in particular-thought of political parties as
A) the primary means of communication between voters and representatives.
B) "factions" motivated by ambition and self-interest.
C) a necessary element of the democratic political process.
D) a useful device for purposes of recruitment.
E) the logical result of republican principles.
Q3) The two-party system has worked in the United States,but not in Europe,because
A) Americans are more aggressive and less deferential.
B) fewer Americans want to participate in party activities.
C) Americans agree on enough issues to form broad coalitions.
D) Americans are more economically conservative than Europeans.
E) Europeans are less ideological than Americans.
Q4) The New Deal coalition was not preceded by a third-party movement.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: Elections and Campaigns Elections and Campaigns
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41437
Sample Questions
Q1) As in presidential elections,the health of the economy is important to congressional elections.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Soft money is obtained by
A) political parties.
B) incumbents.
C) challengers.
D) party leaders.
E) party leaders' PACs.
Q3) By custom,members of Congress must live in the district that they represent,not just the state.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The effect of gerrymandering on congressional elections is much larger than many claim.
A)True
B)False
Page 12
Q5) Summarize the incumbency advantage for members of the House and Senate.
Q6) What is the "surge and decline" pattern and why does it exist?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 11: Interest Groups Interest Groups
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41438
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is an example of a legislator following a political cue?
A) The legislator responding to public appeals
B) The legislator responding to a material incentive
C) The legislator responding to an organization due to the promise of campaign donations
D) A liberal legislator looking to see whether the AFL-CIO favors a consumer proposal
E) A liberal legislator asking for campaign donations
Q2) The First Amendment's freedom of speech and the right to petition government clauses protect the activities of interest groups.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In practice,the 2007 lobbying reforms have allowed reimbursements for travel by lobbyists if
A) the travel consists of one-day trips.
B) the lobbyists do not initiate the trip.
C) the lobbyists do not make the reservations.
D) the lobbyists do not pick up incidental expenses unrelated to the visit.
E) All of these are correct.
Q4) Explain what earmarks are and how they are related to interest group politics.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 12: The Media the Media
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41439
Sample Questions
Q1) For all their excesses,the sensationalist mass newspapers of the late nineteenth century effected several important changes in the press,including
A) freeing the press from government control.
B) encouraging cultural diversity in U.S. society.
C) limiting the role of technology in journalism.
D) giving greater power to a social elite.
E) giving greater power to a political elite.
Q2) The ability of the media to influence which issues the public uses to assess its political leaders is
A) priming.
B) framing.
C) agenda setting.
D) media bias.
E) watchdog journalism.
Q3) The text suggests that the abandonment of the fairness doctrine gave rise to controversial talk-radio hosts.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Discuss six ways in which the Internet has simplified the work of politicians.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 13: Congress Congress
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41440
Sample Questions
Q1) A bill can be introduced in Congress by
A) any member of the majority party.
B) any member of Congress.
C) any member of Congress or the president.
D) members of the relevant committees only.
E) committee chairpersons only.
Q2) Which is NOT one of the six phases of the U.S.House of Representatives discussed in the text?
A) The Powerful House
B) The Divided House
C) The Speaker Rules
D) The House of Newt
E) The House Revolts
Q3) Most Americans trust the Supreme Court,respect the presidency (whether or not they like the president),and dislike Congress.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Congressional power is exercised primarily by committee chairs.
A)True
B)False
Page 16
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 14: The Presidency the Presidency
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41441
Sample Questions
Q1) The American public tends to think,albeit wrongly,of the presidency as the first branch of government.
A)True
B)False
Q2) This method of staff organization causes confusion and conflict among cabinet secretaries and assistants.
A) Intuitive
B) Pyramidal
C) Circular
D) Ad hoc
E) Linear
Q3) Discuss the history of the presidential veto.In your discussion,acknowledge the role that Andrew Jackson played in shaping how presidents use the veto.What percentage of vetoes have been overridden by Congress?
Q4) If the House of Representatives impeaches the president,the president is automatically removed.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The text asks: "Does gridlock matter?" Summarize the discussion on this topic.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy the Bureaucracy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41442
Sample Questions
Q1) Explain why federal agencies originally emphasized a service role.
Q2) When Congress formally sets aside money for a specific use,it is called a(n)
A) allocation.
B) appropriation.
C) monetary-enhancement measure.
D) fiscal measure.
E) authorization measure.
Q3) The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)was the first federal bureaucratic agency that exercised broad regulatory authority over the economy.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Which of the following was created in 1978 in an attempt to give the president more flexibility in dealing with high-level bureaucrats?
A) Civil Service Reform Commission
B) Merit System Protection Board
C) Senior Executive Service (SES)
D) Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
E) Presidential Task Management Board (PTMB)
Q5) What are some of the effects of constraints on bureaucratic agencies?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 16: The Judiciary the Judiciary
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41443
Sample Questions
Q1) Supreme Court justices did not start serving long terms on the Court until the presidency of Andrew Jackson.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Supreme Court entered its most active period with the arrival of Chief Justice
A) Warren.
B) Rehnquist.
C) Burger.
D) Taft.
E) White.
Q3) The Court of International Trade is a specialized
A) constitutional court.
B) district court.
C) court of appeal.
D) legislative court.
E) supreme court.
Q4) Discuss two reasons why the principle of precedent is so important.
Q5) Carefully explain the background and the Court's ruling in Marbury v.Madison.
Q6) Discuss the structure of the federal court system.
Page 19
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 17: Domestic Policy Domestic Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41444
Sample Questions
Q1) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 did all of the following EXCEPT
A) dramatically reduce the rate of uninsured people.
B) increase health insurance premiums.
C) require Americans to have health care or pay a penalty.
D) provide health care for all who are under 65 and cannot afford it.
E) remove bans on denying insurance because of preexisting conditions.
Q2) Medicaid was created during Franklin Roosevelt's administration.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In this decision,the Supreme Court ruled that states should comply with EPA decisions,even if not explicitly authorized by statute,provided they are reasonable efforts to attain the goal of law.
A) Union Electric Co. v. Environmental Protection Agency
B) Chevron v. National Resources Defense Council
C) Whitman v. American Truck Association
D) Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency
E) Gibbons v. Ogden
Q4) Discuss the unique features of U.S.environmental politics and how these features shape environmental policy.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 18: Economic Policy Economic Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41445
Sample Questions
Q1) Identify the machinery of economic policymaking-sometimes called the "troika." Explain their roles.
Q2) In normal economic times,this economic theory argues that the proper thing for government to do is to have a steady,predictable increase in the money supply at a rate about equal to growth in the economy's productivity.
A) Keynesian economics.
B) Monetarist economics.
C) Economic planning.
D) Supply-side economics.
E) Credit-based economics.
Q3) Discuss the difference between deficit and debt.
Q4) During a presidential election,people who think their own economic circumstances have deteriorated are more likely to vote
A) for no one.
B) Republican.
C) Democratic.
D) for the incumbent.
E) against the incumbent.
Q5) What are the arguments in favor of and against globalization?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 21
Chapter
19: Foreign and Military Policy Foreign and Military Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41446
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following statements about congressional oversight of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)covert activities is true?
A) Congress has no authority to disapprove of such activities.
B) Congress must approve of activities that involve political assassination.
C) Congress must approve of activities that involve military expenditures.
D) Congress has blanket authority to approve or disapprove of such activities.
E) Congress must approve those activities that will extend more than sixty days.
Q2) The president usually takes the leading role on foreign policy issues that are matters of __________ politics.
A) majoritarian
B) interest group
C) entrepreneurial
D) client
E) neo-institutional
Q3) The Weather Underground,which bombed police stations,the Pentagon,and a townhouse,was a radical conservative organization.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Summarize the major provisions of the War Powers Act.
Page 22
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 20: American Democracy, Then and Now
American Democracy, Then and Now
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
90 Verified Questions
90 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/41447
Sample Questions
Q1) What are four consequences of the enlarged scope of governmental action?
Q2) Lyndon Johnson used large liberal Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate to pass his Great Society legislative program.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following policy questions would most likely be asked in the New System?
A) Would a new federal program abridge states' rights?
B) Should the federal government enter a new policy area?
C) How can we fix and pay for an existing policy?
D) Is it legitimate for the federal government to pass certain legislation?
E) None of these are correct.
Q4) All parts of the government are becoming more
A) centralized.
B) bureaucratized.
C) automated.
D) efficient.
E) popular.
Q6) Describe some of the primary features of the Old System of American politics. Page 23
Q5) Describe some of the primary features of the New System of American politics.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 24