Introduction to Political Science Exam Preparation Guide
Course Introduction
Introduction to Political Science offers students a foundational understanding of the key concepts, theories, and institutions that shape political systems around the world. This course explores the nature and scope of political science as a discipline, examining topics such as power, authority, the state, political ideologies, governance structures, and policy-making processes. Students will analyze the roles of various political actors, including governments, citizens, interest groups, and international organizations, while also assessing contemporary political issues and challenges. Through lectures, discussions, and case studies, the course aims to develop critical thinking and analytical skills essential for understanding the complexities of politics in both domestic and global contexts.
Recommended Textbook
The Enduring Democracy 4th Edition by Kenneth Dautrich
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16 Chapters
1193 Verified Questions
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The More Things Changethe More They Stay the Same
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Sample Questions
Q1) One of the most important reasons for the strength and endurance of the U.S. Constitution is _________________.
A) its flexibility
B) its rigidity
C) the ability of ordinary citizens to change it
D) its declaration that the power of government is supreme
E) that it is steadfast and cannot change
Answer: A
Q2) Natural law is _____________________.
A) an agreement people make with one another to form a government and abide by its rules and laws
B) a form of government in which one political party, group, or person maintains complete control over the nation
C) the extent to which the people afford the government the authority to exercise power
D) that the essence of government is to manage naturally occurring conflicts
E) the rules of conduct inherent in the relationship among human beings
Answer: E
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Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution
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Q1) The Great Compromise provided for a ___________________.
A) bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and a second house selected by the first
B) unicameral legislature with the members selected by each state legislature
C) unicameral legislature elected by the people
D) bicameral legislature elected by the people
E) bicameral legislature with one house elected by the people and the second house chosen by state legislatures
Answer: E
Q2) Hamilton argues that the judiciary is the weakest branch of the government in
A) Federalist No. 15
B) Federalist No. 46
C) Federalist No. 51
D) Federalist No. 70
E) Federalist No. 78
Answer: E
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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Q1) In one state, the civil court settles a dispute concerning assets in the estate of a deceased person. The one who loses the case in civil court cannot go into another state and have that state's civil court revisit the case. This is an example of ____.
A) the power of Congress to intervene and settle disputes between states
B) the difference between the criminal and civil court systems
C) the inability of the federal government to properly intervene in civil disagreements between states
D) the practical application of the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution
E) a breakdown in the civil court system in this nation
Answer: D
Q2) Sovereignty is defined as the _____________________.
A) authority of a governmental unit to make local decisions
B) lack of a centralized government
C) supreme political power of a government to regulate its affairs with outside interference
D) ability to influence public policy by directly electing officeholders
E) absolute lack of government in society
Answer: C
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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Q1) What is the purpose of the establishment clause of the First Amendment?
A) It requires Congress to establish a national religion to be used as a foundation for other religious efforts.
B) It prohibits the display of any religious symbols, gestures, or thoughts at any level of government.
C) It prohibits the government from establishing an official religion for the country.
D) It establishes Christianity as the national religion, in keeping with the beliefs of the founding fathers.
E) It ensures that any and all religious beliefs have equal and full support of the federal government.
Q2) In the 1940s and 1950s, members of the Communist party were convicted for their advocacy of _______, or the overthrow of an existing system of government.
A) passive resistance
B) anarchy
C) internment
D) terrorism
E) sedition
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Page 6
Chapter 5: Civil Rights, Equality and Social Movements
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Q1) One of the largest shifts in professional presence for women has been in the role of lawyers and judges. From 1970 to 1990 these numbers increased from about __________________ percent.
A) 0 to 5
B) 5 to 22
C) 5 to 70
D) 30 to 50
E) 30 to 70
Q2) Since the 1970's, the Supreme Court has applied which standard to sex discrimination cases?
A) The Court has not applied Constitutional protection for sex discrimination cases.
B) Strict Scrutiny
C) Rational Basis
D) Minimum Scrutiny
E) Intermediate Scrutiny
Q3) Compare and contrast the difference between compelling state interest, intermediate scrutiny, and rational basis scrutiny. Explain how the adoption of each standard could affect the chances of a statute being found unconstitutional.
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7
Chapter 6: Congress
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Sample Questions
Q1) The first Congress in North America was _____________.
A) the House of Burgesses
B) the Albany Congress
C) the Charleston Congress
D) the First Continental Congress
E) the Second Continental Congress
Q2) Constitutional qualifications for membership in the House of Representatives include ____________.
A) be at least 21 years of age
B) be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years
C) be a resident of the district they represent
D) never have been convicted of a felony
E) be a U. S. citizen for at least ten years
Q3) The idea that the House of Representatives directly connects voter sentiment with popular representation, was expressed in _________________.
A) Federalist No. 15
B) Federalist No. 46
C) Federalist No. 51
D) Federalist No. 70
E) Federalist No. 78
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Chapter 7: The Presidency
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Q1) The 15 heads of departments, that serve as principal officers also serve as key advisers to the president, form the______________.
A) cabinet
B) budget office
C) economic advisory council
D) G-15
E) accountability office
Q2) Discuss the evolution of executive powers since World War II.
Q3) What are the differences between an executive order and a law? What are the differences between an executive agreement and a treaty? How do executive orders and executive agreements expand the authority and power of the presidency?
Q4) Which of the following was not a policy supported by Thomas Jefferson?
A) that government governs best which governs least
B) purchase of the Louisiana territory from France
C) creation of a national bank
D) scaling back the armed forces
E) eliminating judgeships
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Chapter 8: The Federal Bureaucracy
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Q1) The Department of Justice was established to __________________.
A) increase services and agencies in support of military operations
B) centralize the national economic and monetary system
C) aid in westward expansion of the nation
D) aid the attorney general in prosecuting violators of federal law
E) manage federally owned lands
Q2) Each bureaucratic unit or agency has a written set of rules for carrying out its programs or services. These rules are referred to as ____________.
A) red tape
B) regulations
C) statutes
D) writs
E) implementation cycles
Q3) 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
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Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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Q1) Which of the following may factor into whether justices vote in favor of hearing a case?
A) consistency in the lower courts on the issue
B) if the federal government has intervened in the case
C) in order to transform a precedent
D) the importance of the case
E) all of these choices may factor into the justices' decisions
Q2) Most parties to a federal case start out in one of the 94 __________.
A) state supreme courts
B) circuit courts of appeals
C) federal district courts
D) municipal courts
E) bankruptcy courts
Q3) How does criminal law differ from civil law with regard to charges and punishments?
A) Only criminal law allows for imprisonment as a punishment.
B) Criminal law does not allow for the use of fines as does civil law.
C) The two terms are interchangeable.
D) Civil law grants no authority to sue for monetary damages.
E) An offender cannot be charged with both a criminal and a civil offense.
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Page 11
Chapter 10: Public Opinion
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Q1) Explain "sampling error." Describe the effects of sampling error on a poll, and how an analyst should interpret poll results accordingly. In addition to the sampling error, what are other pieces of information that should be disclosed about a publicly released poll, according to the NCPP?
Q2) 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.
Q3) Why did public opinion polling begin in the United States?
A) the constitution requires polling to be conducted prior to each election
B) people were interested in predicting the outcome of political races
C) citizens wanted to do away with the federal income tax
D) representatives had no way of gathering public opinion
E) researchers wanted to show the ignorance of voters
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Page 12
Chapter 11: Interest Groups
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Q1) Often an issue will gain significant support from across the spectrum of interest groups to the point that it becomes known as a movement. Which of the following would not be considered a social movement in American history?
A) women's rights
B) civil rights
C) child labor laws and child protection
D) prohibition of alcohol
E) upgrading of the military
Q2) An example of an interest group that advocates for environmental issues is the ________________.
A) National Rifle Association (NRA)
B) American Association for Retired People (AARP)
C) People for the American Way
D) Sierra Club
E) Halliburton Corporation
Q3) Compare and contrast the different types of economic interest groups. Distinguish between those functioning on behalf of businesses and those that serve individuals as members. What is the difference between labor unions and professional associations? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
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Page 13
Chapter 12: The Media and American Politics
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Q1) Which of the following is considered a benefit of television and Internet news reporting?
A) to help inform viewers of the political agenda
B) to allow citizens to witness destruction, such as the aftermath of a hurricane
C) to observe an actual battlefield
D) to help keep government accountable to the people
E) all of these choices are correct.
Q2) Which of the following is not considered a form of media?
A) television
B) newspapers
C) the Internet
D) telephone
E) book publishers
Q3) Compare and contrast the different types of mass media, both print (newspapers, magazines, and books) and electronic media (television, radio, the Internet, and movies). How does each type operate to reach its audience? What are the differences, if any, in the audiences of each type?
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Chapter 13: Political Parties and Voting
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Q1) Which of the following is considered a proper role of political parties?
A) The constitutional role of political parties is to balance control of the legislative and executive branches.
B) Political parties control the government, thereby keeping government power in check.
C) The major political parties play a central role in running government, including organizing and providing context to voters.
D) Political parties stir dissent so that citizens do not trust their government too much.
E) Effective political parties successfully eliminate competition.
Q2) Between 1836 and 1856, which political party opposed, and at times defeated, the Democratic Party in presidential elections?
A) Republicans
B) Federalists
C) Know-Nothings
D) Free Soilers
E) Whigs
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Chapter 14: Campaigns and Elections
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Q1) What is the primary benefit for a candidate who emerges as a frontrunner in a political party's campaign for president?
A) The federal government increases the amount of funding for the campaign.
B) Media coverage of the candidate tends to increase significantly.
C) The candidate will automatically be granted a win in the first round of primaries.
D) It guarantees the candidate a spot on the general election ballot.
E) State governments are required at this point to contribute campaign funding for the candidate.
Q2) Discuss the nomination campaign stage of the presidential selection process. How does each state play a role in the process? Be sure to explain the difference between a primary and a caucus, and the effects of frontloading. What is the significance of the nominating conventions?
Q3) Which of the following is not a major source of campaign funding?
A) individual citizens
B) interest groups
C) PACs
D) foreign investors
E) political parties
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Chapter 15: American Domestic Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) 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?
Q2) In the policymaking process, the stage in which a bureaucratic agency translates law action through the adoption of administrative regulations and the regulations and the dedication of agency resources to carry out the policy is called the ________ stage.
A) evaluation
B) formulation
C) adoption
D) recognition-definition
E) implementation
Q3) Provide an understanding of the term monetary policy, and describe the role of the Federal Reserve System. Give an example of a monetary decision or policy made by the Federal Reserve. Who would benefit positively from such a decision? Who would benefit negatively?
Q4) Discuss the status of the United States as a welfare state. How has it evolved? What has it accomplished? How does it differ from European models of the welfare state?
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Chapter 16: American Foreign Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) What was the Cold War and how did it originate? Who were the major players in this era? What roles did NATO and the Warsaw Pact play? How did the Cold War end?
Q2) What has been the response of the presidents since the passage of the War Powers Resolution in 1973?
A) They have willingly complied with the act.
B) Every president has either circumvented or ignored the act.
C) Most presidents have complied with the act but purposely waited until the end of the 60-day period before reporting to Congress.
D) The presidents who have had a cooperative Congress have complied with the act.
E) They have not had to deal with it because the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the executive branch by invalidating the act.
Q3) Explain "internationalism" as a theory of foreign relations. How and when did America adopt a theory of internationalism? Include an understanding of the Marshall Plan, NATO, and the Truman Doctrine in your answer.
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