Government and Society in the United States Final Exam Questions
Course Introduction
This course explores the complex interactions between government institutions and society in the United States, examining how political structures, policies, and processes both shape and are shaped by American social, economic, and cultural forces. Students will analyze the Constitution, federalism, and the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, while also considering the impact of political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion. The course also delves into issues of civil rights, social movements, and the evolving relationship between citizens and the state, providing a comprehensive understanding of governance and participatory democracy in the U.S. context.
Recommended Textbook
The Enduring Democracy 4th Edition by Kenneth Dautrich
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16 Chapters
1193 Verified Questions
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Chapter 1: The More Things Changethe More They Stay the Same
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Sample Questions
Q1) In political theory, a social contract is __________________________.
A) an agreement to form government and abide by its rules and laws, in return for governmental protection of rights and welfare
B) a civil agreement binding two parties to a monetary promise in exchange for labor
C) a peace accord between two sovereign nations
D) an alliance of racial and ethnic groups within a society with the goal of keeping social order
E) a mediated peace
Answer: A
Q2) Which of the following methods of communication did not affect a U.S. presidential election?
A) television
B) online social media
C) radio
D) "penny press"
E) movable type
Answer: E
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Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution
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Q1) For the purpose of determining representation in the new Congress the slave-holding southern states ____________.
A) were opposed to any enumeration of slaves
B) wanted to count each slave as a whole person
C) refused to ratify the new constitution if slavery was acknowledged
D) demanded extra representation to protect them from slave uprisings
E) wanted additional representation to protect their interests from northern intrusion
Answer: B
Q2) "Separation of powers" is an application of the political philosophy of
A) Hobbes
B) Montesquieu
C) de Tocqueville
D) Rousseau
E) Locke
Answer: B
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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Q1) In response to the National Supremacy period in the early nineteenth century, South Carolina adopted a series of resolutions that _____________________.
A) reaffirmed the supremacy of the national government
B) began the process of removing the state from the United States
C) supported the impeachment of President Jackson
D) adopted the theory of "nullification"
E) abolished the institution of slavery within the state
Answer: D
Q2) An example of a confederation is the __________________.
A) the European Community
B) the United States of America
C) France
D) the United Nations
E) both the European Community and the United Nations
Answer: E
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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Sample Questions
Q1) As a compromise to the prayer in schools ban, many districts instituted "moments of silence." The 1985 Supreme Court case of Wallace v. Jaffree addressed this issue. What was the Court's ruling?
A) The Establishment Clause does not apply to public school policies.
B) Moments of silence are an acceptable way to reintroduce prayer in school.
C) The policy in question was unconstitutional because it encouraged religious prayer.
D) The Court skirted the issue and left the matter to the discretion of each state's courts.
E) Moments of silence are acceptable if led by a student rather than a school official.
Q2) Who makes the determination that a particular action or law is in violation of the free exercise clause of the First Amendment?
A) the president
B) Congress
C) State legislatures
D) the U.S. Supreme Court
E) the voters
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6
Chapter 5: Civil Rights, Equality and Social Movements
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Q1) The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed ______________________.
A) states could not deny the right to vote based on race
B) citizenship of all newly freed slaves
C) the right to veterans' benefits regardless of which side they served in the Civil War
D) the abolition of slavery in all states
E) prohibition against Jim Crow laws and racial segregation
Q2) The subjective biases of male bosses that prevent women from receiving raises and promotions, is known as _______.
A) sexual harassment
B) intermediate scrutiny
C) the glass ceiling
D) gender equality
E) rational basis scrutiny
Q3) Discuss the experiences of women in their historic journey toward civil rights in the United States. Especially note the right to vote, the Equal Rights Amendment, gender discrimination issues, and the removal of gender barriers over the past three decades in business, military, and political arenas.
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Chapter 6: Congress
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Q1) The chairpersons of the powerful congressional committees are ___________________.
A) chosen in a nationwide election
B) elected by the full membership of congress
C) members of the majority party who are appointed by the majority party leadership
D) evenly divided between majority and minority party members
E) appointed based solely on seniority regardless of party affiliation
Q2) What is the minimum age for becoming a U.S. Senator?
A) no age limit
B) 18 years old
C) 25 years old
D) 30 years old
E) 40 years old
Q3) Identify and describe the roles and power of the leaders within each chamber of Congress. How do these leaders obtain their positions? How are leadership positions of the House and senate similar? How are they different?
Q4) Describe the various types of committees in Congress. Explain how Congress uses committees as part of its legislative and oversight processes.
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Chapter 7: The Presidency
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Sample Questions
Q1) Due to the role of the president to receive and meet directly with dignitaries and rulers of other countries on behalf of the United States, the president is designated as
A) head of state
B) head of government
C) commander-in-chief
D) governmental designee
E) chief negotiator
Q2) "Lend-lease" was a _________________.
A) program to provide federal jobs for the unemployed
B) corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
C) policy to sell Britain war supplies in exchange for rights to build military bases on British possessions
D) declaration permitting the United States to intervene in Latin America
E) a policy establishing the ability of the United States to act as the "world's policeman"
Q3) Describe the implied powers and responsibilities of the president; provide specific examples. Explain their constitutional grounding and the Supreme Court's view of the powers.
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Chapter 8: The Federal Bureaucracy
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently a primary unit of which agency?
A) Department of Homeland Security
B) Department of Defense
C) Department of Commerce
D) Congressional Budget Office
E) Federal Bureau of Investigation
Q2) The executive office of the president is an agency of the federal bureaucracy that is managed by the White House chief of staff. Which of the following positions or units is not included in this agency?
A) White House Press Secretary
B) Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
C) National Security Council (NSC)
D) U.S. Secretary of State
E) White House Counsel
Q3) What is the purpose of a federal regulatory agency? Give three examples of regulatory agencies and briefly describe the primary role of each agency.
Q4) Discuss how events since the 1970's have affected the federal bureaucracy. Provide specific examples.
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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Sample Questions
Q1) If a justice agrees with the end result reached by the majority of the court, but disagrees with the reasons offered in the main written opinion, he or she may write a
A) majority opinion
B) concurring opinion
C) dissenting opinion
D) Writ of certiorari
E) amicus curiae brief
Q2) Which of the following is true of judicial review?
A) The constitution clearly provides the Supreme Court with the power of judicial review.
B) Judicial review is a power reserved to the states.
C) Article I delegates the power to Congress.
D) It was established in the case, Marbury v. Madison.
E) It has never been used.
Q3) In Federalist No. 78, Hamilton described the judicial branch of the federal government as the "least dangerous" branch. Describe the ways in which the judicial branch is limited and more circumscribed than the other two branches of government.
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Chapter 10: Public Opinion
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Q1) What happened as a result of the Literary Digest inaccurately predicting the presidential election results of 1936?
A) Alfred Landon became president.
B) The Literary Digest changed its formula for calculating elections predictions.
C) The Literary Digest was put out of business.
D) Americans began to rely more heavily on straw polling.
E) Americans ceased to use public opinion polls to predict presidential elections.
Q2) An unscientific poll that gathers the opinions of people who are conveniently available in a particular gathering place is called a(n) _______________.
A) straw poll
B) election
C) drill
D) public opinion poll
E) generalized public survey
Q3) Define "public opinion" and describe the various ways it has been expressed in American politics. Which of these methods is the predominant method of capturing public opinion today, and why?
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Chapter 11: Interest Groups
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Sample Questions
Q1) How many Americans belong to at least one interest group?
A) only about 1 percent, though the number of interest groups is large
B) approximately 20 percent
C) approximately 50 percent
D) approximately 80 percent
E) nearly 99 percent
Q2) Unlike political parties, interest groups ___________________.
A) focus narrowly on special issues or sets of issues
B) appeal to those whose special interests are advocated by the group
C) do not try to appeal to as many individuals as possible
D) focus narrowly on special issues or sets of issues, appeal to those whose special interests are advocated by the group and do not try to appeal to as many individuals as possible
E) None of these choices is correct.
Q3) What are the three general characteristics of interest groups that may be significant in understanding why some interest groups are more powerful than others? Provide the names of at least two powerful interest groups in America today and, using these characteristics, explain why they are powerful.
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Chapter 12: The Media and American Politics
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Sample Questions
Q1) How did railroad expansion impact the news in the mid-1800s?
A) Railroads owned the newspaper so the increased profits of the railroads allowed expansion of the news outlets.
B) Railroads opened up remote areas, but the areas were controlled by non-American forces and the impact on news dissemination was negative.
C) Railroads had no impact on the media.
D) Expansion of railroads into frontiers and remote areas allowed for mass distribution of newspapers and mail.
E) Railroads were controlled by the dominant political party, which also controlled how and if the news was distributed to remote areas.
Q2) Wire services ______________________________.
A) are the leading newspapers on financial events
B) have a format of brief stories along with colorful graphics and pictures
C) are considered national dailies and are designed to appeal to a national audience
D) cover large metropolitan areas
E) provide a clearinghouse for news as it occurs
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Chapter 13: Political Parties and Voting
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Q1) What were the primary differences between the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican Parties? What were the presidential successes of each party? During what period of time was each a strong political force in American politics?
Q2) In which of the following ways do parties organize the legislative process?
A) Only the members of the majority party may vote on legislation.
B) The majority party will have greater control over the institution, and therefore, more influence over public policy.
C) The majority party may vote on whether the legislature will operate under a unicameral or bicameral system.
D) Members of the majority party elect the president.
E) All of these choices are correct.
Q3) Which of the following ran for president as a third party candidate, under the "Bull Moose" Party, and secured 27 percent of the vote in 1912?
A) Ralph Nader
B) Henry Wallace
C) Millard Fillmore
D) Eugene V. Debs
E) Theodore Roosevelt
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Chapter 14: Campaigns and Elections
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Sample Questions
Q1) Franking privilege allows incumbent members of Congress to ____________________.
A) travel to and from their home state for free
B) never pay taxes
C) mail materials to constituents without paying for postage
D) enjoy free medical and dental benefits
E) garner an extensive financial bonus yearly to go towards a charity of their choice
Q2) Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution not anticipate the first phase of the presidential elections?
A) In that period, two elections were illegal.
B) They did not anticipate that a two-party system would emerge.
C) There was not enough population to warrant an election.
D) The population was so low that it was possible to create a ballot with all names listed.
E) It was very likely an oversight on their part.
Q3) Explain the concept of "battleground states." What role do battleground states play in the presidential election process, and what is their overall effect during a presidential election? Do you think battleground states would still exist if the electoral college was replaced with a national popular vote for selection of the president? Explain.
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Page 16
Chapter 15: American Domestic Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) The amount by which the U.S. government's revenue exceeds its spending in a given fiscal year is referred to as _______________.
A) a budget surplus
B) a balanced budget
C) the national debt
D) inflation
E) a budget deficit
Q2) What is the primary social purpose for the rules and practices of the criminal justice system?
A) to ensure no crime occurs
B) to make it difficult to convict a person charged with a crime
C) to strike a careful balance between maintaining public order and protecting individual freedoms
D) to restrict abuse of police power in the name of crime prevention
E) to protect crime victims
Q3) Define the term fiscal policy. Describe America's evolution of thought with regard to this policy, from laissez-faire, to one based in Keynesian economic theory, to "supply-side economics." Which do you believe is the best approach for America, and why?
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Chapter 16: American Foreign Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following would not be an accurate description of America's isolationist policy prior to its involvement in World War I?
A) The United States refrained from all military engagement during this time.
B) The United States actively opposed imperialist pursuits of other nations.
C) The United States occupied Haiti in 1915 to prevent German influence over the Republic of Haiti.
D) The United States intervened in a dispute in 1895 over the boundaries between Venezuela and British Guiana.
E) The United States fought wars in 1812, 1846, and 1898 on lands that bordered within U.S. boundaries.
Q2) When the United States entered World War I, it joined the war on the side of the Allies. Which of the following countries was not a member of the European Allies?
A) Great Britain
B) France
C) Italy
D) Russia
E) Germany
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