Introduction to Political Science Pre-Test
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Course Introduction
Introduction to Political Science offers students a foundational understanding of the systematic study of politics, government, and political behavior. This course explores core concepts such as power, authority, state, nation, and citizenship while examining various political systems, ideologies, institutions, and processes. Students will analyze the role of political actors, elections, policymaking, and the impact of globalization on governance. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, learners develop critical thinking skills and gain insights into how political decisions affect societies and shape the world.
Recommended Textbook
The Irony of Democracy An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics 17th Edition by Louis Schubert
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The Irony of Democracy
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Q1) The term for multiple elites that compete and are largely independent of each other is ____________________.
Answer: relative autonomy
Q2) Bill Gates would be considered an Elite in the United States. A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Based on polling data, roughly what percent of Americans believe that their opinion is irrelevant to the elites or the government?
A) 40 %
B) 43%
C) 46%
D) 49%
Answer: D
Q4) In order to pursue their own interests, elites are _______________ groups across government, economic, media, and cultural characteristics.
Answer: independent
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Chapter 2: The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: Us
Political Principles
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Q1) Shay's Rebellion is the event that brought about the Constitutional Convention.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) The Articles of Confederation was adopted in ______________.
A) 1789
B) 1785
C) 1777
D)1787
Answer: C
Q3) The powers granted the federal government under the Constitution that had been lacking under the Articles of Confederation were
A) the regulation of commerce.
B) the ability to levy taxes.
C) the power to create a navy.
D) all of the above.
Answer: D
Q4) _________________ is a legal system built up over generations and even centuries of precedents.
Answer: Common law
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Chapter 3: Elites in America
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Q1) In a free-market economy, most key economic decisions are made by
Answer: corporate elites
Q2) Public policy, according to ________________, reflects an equilibrium of the relative influence of interest groups.
A) elites
B) policy specialists
C) pluralists
D) policy-planning groups
Answer: C
Q3) Bank of America is the largest financial Corporation in America. The largest non-financial corporation in America is _________________.
Answer: Wal-Mart
Q4) Which best describes an open elite system?
A) Social Darwinism
B) Absorption of anti-democratic leaders into the elite
C) Slow and continuous modification of the ruling class
D) Turnover of Representatives and Senators in elections
Answer: C
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Chapter 4: Masses in the United States
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Sample Questions
Q1) Wage stagnation occurred simultaneously with the growth of international trade.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Typically, only 20-35 percent of eligible voters turn out in these elections.
A) Mid-term elections
B) Primary elections
C) City or county elections, when held separately
D) All of the above
Q3) Americans are more patriotic than the citizens of other most countries.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Controlling for inflation, wages have remained stagnant since the 1970s.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The masses in the United States clearly have antidemocratic attitudes; however, Elites tend to show more tolerance and acceptance. Why is there a difference regarding tolerance between classes?
Q6) A major problem with pluralist theory is the notion that the masses control public policy through elections. Explain how and why examining turnout and political knowledge.
Page 6
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Chapter 5: The Media: Elite-Mass Communication
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Q1) Entertainment programming, such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, have become significant sources of political information for younger voters.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In general, how have the media and the media elites changed political campaigns?
Q3) Media owners tend to share the moderate conservatism of the business community whereas news reporters and producers are often clearly left-leaning.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The percentage of people getting their news from online sources has decreased to only 20% in the past few years.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The length of time for the average sound bite for presidential candidates has shrunk to less than _______________.
Q6) Does the media and internet help the political elite or make their lives more difficult? Why?
Q7) Explain the relationship between the media elite and the masses.
Page 7
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Chapter 6: Elections, Parties, and Democracy
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Sample Questions
Q1) What types of contributions are not disclosed to the federal government?
A) hard money
B) contributions under $200
C) soft money
D) contributions from SuperPACS
Q2) The growth of presidential primaries over the last several decades contributed a great deal to the decline in the importance of party organizations.
A)True
B)False
Q3) As more voters identify as independents, ____________ of candidates have become central to many.
A) policy views
B) personal characteristics
C) educational status
D) the individual wealth
Q4) The American party system provides the masses with an effective means to direct public policy.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 7: Elites and Organized Interests
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Q1) Influential lobbyists earn more income than members of Congress.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Oligarchs within interest groups are disproportionately from the ___________________.
Q3) Even though common sense tells them that large, mass membership interest groups cannot deliver a vote, members of Congress are often _______________ by these groups.
A) financially controlled
B) scared
C) intimidated
D) unimpressed
Q4) Interest groups, generally, do a good job representing the poor and uneducated.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Given the fact that different interest groups prefer different parties and candidates, what groups favor Democrats and Republicans?
Q6) The policy positions of ____________________ organizations are often vague and devoid of specific content and thus harmless.
Page 9
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Chapter 8: Congress: the Legislative Elite
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Q1) Reconciled versions of bills that emerge from Conference Committees must represent the views of both houses of Congress.
A)True B)False
Q2) Members of Congress are disproportionately better educated compared to the masses.
A)True B)False
Q3) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid changed the voting rules for confirmations, making only a simple majority necessary for all confirmations.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Most "pork" or additional federal money brought to a Congressmen's district is done by ____________ on bills.
Q5) A ____________________ is a type of fundraising organization used by members of Congress to increase their influence.
Q6) The single most powerful person in the entire Congress is the ____________________.
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Chapter 9: The Presidency
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Q1) Which of the following conflicts was not a formally declared war?
A) The Vietnam War
B) The Korean War
C) The Gulf War
D) All of the above
Q2) The only U.S. president ever to resign from office was
A) Bill Clinton
B) Lyndon B. Johnson
C) Andrew Johnson
D) Richard Nixon
Q3) The experience of the last three presidents shows it is easier for the president to "get things done" when
A) Congress is controlled by democrats.
B) Congress is controlled by republicans.
C) Congress is controlled by the president's party.
D) there is divided government.
Q4) President Bush's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) essentially resulted in the "nationalization" of a number of banks.
A)True
B)False
Page 11
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Chapter 10: Courts: Elites in Black Robes
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Sample Questions
Q1) The majority of criminal cases are decided by A) a jury trial.
B) an appellate court.
C) a bench trial.
D) plea bargain.
Q2) The Court will not formulate a rule of constitutional law broader than required by A) the lower court.
B) the precise facts to which it must be applied.
C) Congress - the Senate in particular.
D) the state courts.
Q3) Gonzales v. Earhart is the Supreme Court case that allowed the partial birth abortion ban to remain constitutional.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Appeal to the Supreme Court is automatic under the Constitution and must be heard.
A)True
B)False
Q5) An appeals court will normally have a panel of____________________ judges on it.
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Chapter 11: The Bureaucratic Elite
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Q1) The portion of the federal budget that is non-entitlement and non-defense is approximately
A) 50 percent
B) 12 percent
C) 25 percent
D) 36 percent
Q2) Income from investments, called capital gains, are taxed at a lower rate than income from employment.
A)True
B)False
Q3) In brief, explain the budget cycle. What branch or bureaucracy has the most impact on budgetary spending?
Q4) "Revolving doors" refers to
A) Washington insiders who are frequently kept out of the political process.
B) Washington insiders who set the agenda that the media cover.
C) Washington insiders who earn more than their counterparts in other cities.
D) Washington insiders who frequently change jobs.
Q5) Describe how the president could use his power to change the bureaucracy. Why is that rarely done by presidents? What could be done currently to make government more efficient?
13
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Chapter 12: Federalism: State and Community Elites
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Q1) An example of the reassertion of federalism in the courts is the case involving the
A) Safe Guns in Schools Act.
B) Brady Bunch Bill.
C) Violence Against Women Act.
D) All of the above are true.
Q2) The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees _____________ to all persons.
A) due process
B) equal opportunity
C) habeas corpus
D) equal access
Q3) The ____________ guarantees the states considerable governing power.
A) Supremacy Clause
B) Ninth Amendment
C) necessary and proper clause
D) Tenth Amendment
Q4) Explain the changes in public opinion and trust between the different levels of government.
Q5) The broad interpretation of the "necessary and proper" clause of the Constitution came in the Supreme Court case of ____________________.
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Chapter 13: Civil Rights: Diversifying the Elite
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Q1) Do you believe that Congress is representative of the population within the United States? Explain why or why not.
Q2) Discuss the differences between the types of feminism and which theory of feminism is the most accurate in describing American society today.
Q3) The leading feminist organization today is the
A) NOW (National Organization for Women).
B) Democratic Party.
C) SCUM (Society to Cut Up Men).
D) DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).
Q4) The Supreme Court case of ____________________ overturned the principle of "separate but equal".
Q5) The proportion of married women who are in the workforce today is about A) 40 percent.
B) 50 percent.
C) 60 percent.
D) 70 percent.
Q6) On average, women will earn roughly ____________ of a man's salary.
Q7) The _____ Amendment in the year_________ guaranteed the women the right to vote.
Q8) The "due process" clause is found in the ________________________.
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Chapter 14: The United States As Global Elite
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Q1) The avoidance of nuclear war through the idea that rational elites would avoid mutual destruction is called
A) rational choice.
B) deterrence.
C) negotiation.
D) peacemaking.
Q2) How does the globalization of the economy affect the U.S. and vice-versa?
Q3) The USA PATRIOT Act was passed in Congress by
A) a strict party vote, with Republicans in favor.
B) a strict party vote, with Democrats in favor.
C) an overwhelming majority in both parties.
D) President Bush pushing Congress to pass it in order to prevent another attack.
Q4) What country leads the world regarding the quality of higher education?
A) United States
B) Great Britain
C) France
D) Germany
Q5) ________________________ stated that "war is a continuation of politics by other means."
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