Introduction to American Government Practice Exam
Course Introduction
Introduction to American Government offers a comprehensive overview of the foundational principles, institutions, and processes that define the political system of the United States. This course explores topics such as the Constitution, federalism, the branches of government, civil rights and liberties, electoral processes, political parties, interest groups, and policy making. Students will gain an understanding of how American democracy functions, the roles of various actors within the system, and the challenges and opportunities facing governance in the contemporary era. By analyzing key documents, historical developments, and current events, students will develop critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for civic engagement.
Recommended Textbook
American Government and Politics Today Essentials 2015 2016 Edition 18th Edition by Barbara A.
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16 Chapters
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Chapter 1: The Democratic Republic
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Sample Questions
Q1) The periods after the Pearl Harbor attack and the September 11, 2001 terror attacks are similar in that
A) calls were made to enhance security at the expense of civil liberties.
B) liberties were largely maintained at the expense of national security.
C) the United States declared a war on terrorism.
D) the U.S. government suffered a loss of legitimacy.
E) Both A and C.
Answer: A
Q2) While economic indicators such as employment struggle to recover from the Great Recession, ____________________ have shown significant movement in a positive direction.
A) other economic indicators such as the gap between rich and poor
B) political indicators such as Congressional efficiency
C) religious indicators such as church attendance
D) social indicators such as sexual crimes and teen pregnancies
E) Both B and D.
Answer: D
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Chapter 2: The Constitution
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Q1) The framers of the Constitution set
A) no time limit for the ratification process.
B) a limit of twelve months for the ratification of an amendment.
C) a limit of twenty-four months for the ratification of an amendment.
D) a seven-year limit for the ratification of an amendment.
E) a provision for extensions for ratification.
Answer: A
Q2) The colonies in the New World provided for opportunities to A) promote trade.
B) explore religious freedom.
C) practice limited self-government.
D) implement the social contract.
E) All of the above are true.
Answer: E
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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Sample Questions
Q1) As a result of the Civil War crisis, the Supreme Court
A) was drastically reduced in influence.
B) voted exclusively against the Civil War.
C) gained additional power, along with the state governments.
D) ruled that the initial plan of Congress to reconstruct the South was unconstitutional.
E) None of the above is true.
Answer: A
Q2) Since 2003, federal court rulings, including those by the Supreme Court, have _______________ but have not __________________.
A) generally loosened same-sex marriage restrictions; overruled same-sex marriage bans nationwide
B) banned same-sex marriages; banned same-sex civil unions
C) taken marriage powers away from the states; taken away powers over civil unions
D) given the power over marriage to the federal government; overturned same-sex marriage bans
E) Both B and C.
Answer: A
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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Q1) Explain what symbolic speech is and give examples of Supreme Court decisions on this type of speech.
Q2) The Supreme Court began incorporating the Bill of Rights to the states in 1925, with a case involving ___________, and has done so as recently as 2010, with a case involving ____________.
A) cruel and unusual punishments; due process
B) the right to bear arms; freedom of religion
C) freedom of the press; due process
D) freedom of speech; the right to bear arms
E) freedom of speech; freedom of assembly
Q3) The Miranda rule
A) was overturned by a Supreme Court decision.
B) forbids the admission of illegally seized material evidence at trial.
C) cannot be used to prevent confessions from being introduced as evidence.
D) requires that suspects be read their rights before questioning.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Under which circumstances is the government able to interfere with freedom of speech?
Q5) Explain the positions of those for and those against the Patriot Act.
Q6) What are the Miranda rights? What exceptions have been allowed to these rights?
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Chapter 5: Civil Rights
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Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are true of the 1964 and 1968 Civil Rights Acts <B>except</B>
A) the right to equality of opportunity in employment was included.
B) discrimination in public accommodations was banned.
C) state governments to control school integration were allowed.
D) discrimination in housing was banned.
E) penalties for those attempting to interfere with civil rights workers were provided.
Q2) De facto segregation means
A) segregation because of residential racial patterns and concentration of populations, not because of laws.
B) segregation based on different native languages.
C) racial segregation based on law.
D) segregation of southern European immigrants.
E) segregation to a minor degree.
Q3) Describe the barriers to voting faced by African Americans after the Civil War.
Q4) Describe the significance of the Dred Scott Case and the legal status of slaves in the United States prior to the Civil War.
Q5) Explain the arguments both for and against affirmative action.
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
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Sample Questions
Q1) The distribution of public opinion on an issue can tell us how
A) divided the public is on that issue.
B) possible compromise is on that issue.
C) to fashion a consensus opinion on that issue.
D) Both A and B.
E) Both A and C.
Q2) In recent years
A) businesspersons have moved toward supporting the Democrats.
B) professionals with advanced degrees have moved toward supporting the Democrats.
C) businesspersons have remained largely Democratic.
D) professionals with advanced degrees have remained largely Republican.
E) it has become clear that there is no relationship between whether a person is a businessperson or a professional and the party he or she will endorse.
Q3) Discuss the ways in which public opinion shifts toward left/liberal or right/conservative positions, as a reaction to government itself.
Q4) Explain how demographic influences shape voting behavior.
Q5) Explore the means by which political socialization occurs in the United States.
Q6) Describe the significance and possible origins of the gender gap.
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Chapter 7: Interest Groups
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Q1) Someone who joins an interest group because he or she believes in the ideals of the group and wants a sense of belonging and community with others who share their beliefs is acting for
A) solidary incentives, but not purposive incentives.
B) material incentives, but not solidary incentives.
C) both material and solidary incentives, but not purposive incentives.
D) both purposive and material incentives, but not solidary incentives.
E) both purposive and solidary incentives, but not material incentives.
Q2) A lobbyist is
A) any association of individuals.
B) inevitably affiliated with one of the two major political parties.
C) an individual or organization that attempts to influence legislation and the administrative decisions of government.
D) a member of Congress who challenges the majority position.
E) a member of the congressional leadership who is in a position to shape the legislative agenda in a way that benefits powerful interest groups.
Q3) Describe the categories of economic interest groups and provide examples of each.
Q4) Explain the indirect techniques used by interest groups.
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Page 9
Chapter 8: Political Parties
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Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are true of the election of 2012 <B>except</B>
A) Hispanic voters reached a new high as a percentage of the electorate at 10 percent.
B) President Obama was reelected by a very narrow margin of 1 percent.
C) Republicans lost seats in Congress.
D) Republicans retained control of the U.S. House.
E) President Obama won over 70 percent of Hispanic voters.
Q2) A two-party system
A) is one in which there are only two legal parties.
B) is one in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning.
C) is one in which control of government is divided between two political parties.
D) tends to exist mostly in European democracies.
E) Both A and D.
Q3) Examples of party polarization include all of the following<B> except</B>
A) party-line voting.
B) the end of overlapping party ideologies.
C) the rise of extreme ideology in the Republican Party.
D) the rise of liberal Republicans.
E) All of the above are true.
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Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections
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Q1) Which campaign financing reform was best known for restricting the political activities of civil servants?
A) Corrupt Practices Act
B) Federal Election Campaign Act
C) Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo
D) Hatch Act
E) McCain-Feingold Act
Q2) Reported voter turnout _________ as education __________.
A) increases; decreases
B) randomly swings; increases
C) stabilizes; increases
D) decreases; decreases
E) stabilizes; decreases
Q3) Making political campaign lies illegal could have the effect of A) more honest campaigning.
B) curtailing free speech and political satire.
C) a flurry of lawsuits every election year.
D) Both B and C.
E) All of the above.
Q4) Which people are least likely to vote? How does this affect government policies?
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Chapter 10: The Media
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Q1) Negative advertising can backfire because
A) it may boost the chances of a third candidate.
B) the public may think poorly of a candidate who engages in negative advertising.
C) the public do not pay attention to negative ads.
D) Both A and B.
E) None of the above.
Q2) An individual or organization on the Internet that generates original articles is A) a revenue producer.
B) a content aggregator.
C) a content provider.
D) collecting the bulk of advertising revenue.
E) None of the above.
Q3) Evaluate the transition from traditional to new forms of media and discuss what effects this will have on American politics.
Q4) Assess the effects of media ownership being heavily concentrated in the hands of very few.
Q5) Explain the ways in which new media (Internet, blogs, podcasts) are used in campaigns.
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Chapter 11: The Congress
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Q1) Which of the following is <B>not</B> a function of Congress?
A) spending time serving constituents
B) educating the public through hearings and debates
C) carrying out and executing the laws it has passed
D) representing constituents
E) resolving conflicts between different groups
Q2) All of the following are true of reconciliation <B>except</B>
A) traditionally, the use of reconciliation is rare.
B) budget bills can be handled under special rules that prevent filibusters.
C) reconciliation can be used to circumvent the Constitution.
D) reconciliation is sometimes used when the majority party in the U.S. Senate does not have sixty votes on a measure.
E) under the rules, reconciliation is only to be used on budget matters.
Q3) The annual process in which all federal programs are required to review their programs and submit requests for funding is
A) the executive budgetary process.
B) the fiscal year.
C) the spring review.
D) the fall review.
E) earmarking.
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Chapter 12: The President
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Q1) Which of the following is true?
A) A person born in another country but becomes a U.S. citizen may run for president.
B) A person born in U.S. territories is not considered a natural-born citizen.
C) A person born in the United States but has lived abroad for fourteen years may not become president.
D) A person born in U.S. soil or is born to American parents may become president.
E) All of the above are true.
Q2) The organization created by President Franklin Roosevelt to assist in carrying out major presidential duties is
A) the Executive Office of the President.
B) the Presidential Bureaucratic Office.
C) the Administrative Office of the Executive.
D) the Office of Executive Action.
E) None of the above.
Q3) Explain the concept of executive privilege and how it has been used by the presidents.
Q4) Contrast the importance of the cabinet and the Executive Office of the President.
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Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
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Q1) The Whistleblower Protection Act
A) allows whistleblowers to take time off from their jobs if they are concerned with actions of their supervisors.
B) allows the government to prosecute whistleblowers whose accusations have been unfounded.
C) penalizes federal bureaucrats who participate in political activities.
D) prohibits reprisals against whistleblowers by their superiors.
E) for the first time established a relatively swift method for firing civil servants.
Q2) Which of the following is <b>not</b> 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
Q3) Describe three of the four following organizations of the executive branch: cabinet departments, independent executive agencies, independent regulatory agencies, or government corporations.
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Chapter 14: The Courts
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Q1) If Congress disagrees with a decision of the Supreme Court concerning the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, it can do all of the following <b>except</b>
A) not fund the decision.
B) require that the president veto the decision.
C) pass a new law that negates the Court's ruling.
D) propose an amendment to the Constitution that would negate the Court's ruling.
E) amend an existing law that negates the Court's ruling.
Q2) The doctrine of stare decisis
A) means to reverse the decision of a lower court.
B) says that the court does not have jurisdiction in a case.
C) allows the court to refer a case to the next highest court.
D) is the policy of following precedent established by past decisions to decide cases.
E) means strict interpretation.
Q3) Explain the principle of stare decisis and discuss how it relates to the wide variety of courts in the United States.
Q4) Explain the process by which the U.S. Supreme Court decides to hear cases.
Q5) Explain how the U.S. Supreme Court decides cases and explains its decisions.
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Page 16
Chapter 15: Domestic and Economic Policy
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Q1) Discuss the Arizona immigration legislation. Why was it passed? What measures were struck down by the Supreme Court and why?
Q2) With regard to the issue of oil and energy
A) the United States' dependence on foreign oil is down sharply from just a few years ago.
B) a new technology called fracking is allowing more oil to be extracted from domestic and Canadian sources.
C) fracking can only extract oil, not natural gas.
D) the United States gets nearly 80 percent of its oil and gas from foreign sources.
E) Options A and B are true.
Q3) Theft rates in the United States
A) have declined substantially during the last two decades.
B) are at their highest levels ever.
C) have declined moderately since 1995 after rising rapidly for two decades.
D) have remained constant for thirty years.
E) have risen moderately since 1995 after declining rapidly for two decades.
Q4) Examine the federal budget deficit, why it occurred, and what measures should be taken to bring it down.
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Chapter 16: Foreign Policy
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Q1) The country that can exercise the economic leverage that might bring North Korea back to the negotiating table is
A) the United States.
B) South Korea.
C) Japan.
D) Russia.
E) China.
Q2) National Security Policy is often made based on determinations and recommendations from
A) the Defense Department.
B) the National Security Council.
C) the State Department.
D) Both A and B.
E) All of the above.
Q3) Describe the Bush Doctrine and criticisms of it, and craft an argument for or against this piece of U.S. foreign policy.
Q4) Describe the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the efforts to bring peace to this troubled part of the world.
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