Political Science 101 Exam Bank
Course Introduction
Political Science 101 introduces students to the systematic study of government, politics, and political behavior. This foundational course examines key political concepts, ideologies, institutions, and processes at the local, national, and international levels. Students will explore topics such as democracy, political participation, public policy, the roles of various branches of government, international relations, and comparative politics. Through readings, discussions, and case studies, the course aims to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deeper understanding of how political systems shape societies and impact daily life.
Recommended Textbook
The Enduring Democracy 4th Edition by Kenneth Dautrich
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16 Chapters
1193 Verified Questions
1193 Flashcards
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Page 2
Chapter 1: The More Things Changethe More They Stay the Same
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61 Verified Questions
61 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following amendments to the U.S. Constitution does not deal with voting rights?
A) Twelfth Amendment.
B) Fifteenth Amendment.
C) Nineteenth Amendment.
D) Twenty-Fourth Amendment.
E) Twenty-Sixth Amendment.
Answer: A
Q2) A government is viewed as legitimate when ___________.
A) there is no opposition to its policies
B) all officials are elected with a majority of the popular vote
C) the affected people recognize the government and allow it to exercise control over them
D) it attempts to make all citizens happy
E) it takes the form of a democracy
Answer: C
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Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution
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79 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Until the mid-1700s, the 13 colonies often had diverse histories and economies, which provided ___________.
A) a strong national unity built upon diversity
B) a unique political environment in which one state's weaknesses were supported by the strengths of another state
C) an environment that was free of jealousies among states
D) little incentive for them to join together to meet shared goals
E) common ground upon which to build consensus
Answer: D
Q2) Which of the following was not part of the colonial government?
A) royal governors
B) governor's council
C) colonial general assembly
D) colonial archbishop
E) both governor's council and colonial general assembly
Answer: D
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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70 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Amendment is a(n)
A) encouragement of the "laboratories of democracy"
B) example of lack of accountability
C) example of strengthening individual liberty through division of powers
D) disadvantage of federalism causing disparate programs for citizens of different states
E) example of a coercive burden on states that rely on federal funding
Answer: E
Q2) The sharp differences in wealth of citizens in different states and consequent variation in taxable resources available for given states' programs are a(n)
A) encouragement of the "laboratories of democracy"
B) example of lack of accountability
C) example of strengthening individual liberty through division of powers
D) disadvantage of federalism causing disparate programs for citizens of different states
E) example of reliance of courts to define the nature of federalism
Answer: D
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
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80 Verified Questions
80 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) "Positive rights" _________________.
A) cannot be denied by a government
B) exist even in the absence of government
C) are "inalienable"
D) are granted by and subject to government authority
E) are based on the natural laws of human society
Q2) Which rights are based on human society and exist even in the absence of formal government?
A) natural rights
B) citizenship rights
C) civil liberties
D) civil rights
E) legal jurisdiction
Q3) The Supreme Court has held state governments accountable to protections in the Bill of Rights, by a process referred to as ______________.
A) incorporation
B) limited liability
C) double indemnity
D) eminent domain
E) legitimation
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Chapter 5: Civil Rights, Equality and Social Movements
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Sample Questions
Q1) The ability to run for office is an example of __________ equality.
A) social
B) economic
C) visible
D) political
E) practical
Q2) Which term refers to equality and fair treatment within the various institutions, both public and private that serve the public at large?
A) political equality
B) social equality
C) economic equality
D) liberty
E) social stratification
Q3) Not until _____ were Native Americans as a whole granted full citizenship by the United States.
A) 1812
B) 1850
C) 1924
D) 1963
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Congress
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74 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) A U.S. House of Representatives member may occasionally vote a certain way on one bill in exchange for a favorable vote on another bill. This process as known as
A) logrolling
B) cloture
C) gerrymandering
D) lobbying
E) overriding a veto
Q2) The U.S. Senate attempt to block a bill from passage by refusing to end discussion is known as a(n) _________.v
A) cloture
B) open rule
C) filibuster
D) tabling
E) flanking
Q3) Explain the duties of each component of Congressional staffing: Congressional agencies, personal staff, and committee staff. Explain the role of each component in Congressional activity, especially legislative activity.
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Chapter 7: The Presidency
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Sample Questions
Q1) As chief legislator of the United States, the president has the power to ____________.
A) negotiate and execute treaties
B) appoint federal judges
C) meet directly with foreign heads of state
D) help set the lawmaking agenda for Congress
E) grant reprieves and pardons
Q2) Presidents frequently issue rules and regulations that carry the force of law, ranging from orders to the armed forces to designation of public lands. Such actions, once thought to be unconstitutional, are called
A) civil prosecution
B) executive orders
C) diplomacy
D) enforcement prerogative
E) executive negotiation
Q3) Describe the president's relationships with the public, Congress, and the media, and how each plays a role in his success as president.
Q4) In what ways does the president play the role of chief legislator? What are the major powers and responsibilities of this role?
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Chapter 8: The Federal Bureaucracy
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74 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is an example of a government corporation?
A) U.S. Postal Service
B) Department of Homeland Security
C) Secret Service
D) State Department
E) Federal Trade Commission
Q2) Which of the following was a factor that accounted for the significant growth in the federal bureaucracy between 1940 and 1975?
A) Johnson's Great Society program
B) devolution
C) the addition of the Department of Homeland Security
D) prohibition
E) creation of the Federal Reserve
Q3) Compare and contrast the following methods of getting control of the federal bureaucracy: privatization, deregulation, and devolution. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each method.
Q4) What is the purpose of a federal regulatory agency? Give three examples of regulatory agencies and briefly describe the primary role of each agency.
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Page 10
Chapter 9: The Judiciary
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not a limitation on the powers of the judicial branch?
A) Federal courts cannot initiate or maintain lawsuits.
B) Federal courts can hear lawsuits that constitute only true cases or controversies.
C) Federal courts may hear lawsuits from parties that only have proper standing.
D) Federal courts must rely on other branches of government for enforcement.
E) Federal courts may not hear cases that arise out of state court cases.
Q2) Which of the following would not be an example of judicial activism?
A) the court striking down several New Deal statutes in the 1930's
B) the court invalidating laws that banned the use of contraceptive devices (1965) and laws outlawing abortion (1973)
C) the court upholding the Affordable Care Act (2012)
D) the court striking down a federal law that banned corporate spending for electioneering (2010)
E) all of the above are examples of judicial activism
Q3) Describe the power of judicial review. Explain the basis for the Court's power of judicial review, for actions over the other branches of the federal government as well as over actions of states. How the Court has used judicial review since the early nineteenth century?
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Chapter 10: Public Opinion
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Sample
Questions
Q1) As one of the framers of our constitution, Alexander Hamilton was very vocal in his fear of "tyranny of the masses," which he believed could lead to instability in governance. Hamilton's answer to this challenge was ___________.
A) a republican form of government, in which the public chooses leaders to run the government, rather than direct democracy
B) to limit the right to vote to the highly educated
C) to limit the number of political parties that were allowed to function in the political arena
D) a single, unified political party in which the party leaders were actually the elected officials
E) a direct democracy form of government, in which all adult males would have a right to directly vote on legislation
Q2) 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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Sample Questions
Q1) Explain the concept of "lobbying." How do interest groups use lobbying as a technique? What important functions does lobbying serve for government and our democratic system?
Q2) 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?
Q3) In the Federalist Papers, James Madison notes that "the latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man." This means _______________________.
A) latex and rubber are appropriate materials for outdoor clothing worn while camping
B) people are naturally drawn toward organization and collective action
C) free speech is antithetical to a proper functioning democracy
D) factions do not naturally occur and therefore should be created by government
E) factions are best expressed in natural surroundings
Q4) Describe the various ways interest groups achieve their goals, including lobbying, supporting candidates in elections, litigation, and persuasion campaigns.
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Page 13
Chapter 12: The Media and American Politics
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the case, FCC v. Pacifica Foundation (1978), the Supreme Court ruled that the
A) FCC could regulate the broadcast media on the criteria of indecent material
B) FCC was unconstitutional
C) FCC was limited in its authority and only had power to license broadcasters
D) First Amendment prohibited any government regulation of the media
E) FCC had unlimited authority to regulate newspaper and Internet content
Q2) Discuss the impact of ownership of the media organizations on media coverage. Does private ownership affect the operation of media outlets? If so, how? How is the Internet a possible alternative to privately-owned media outlets?
Q3) Provide an understanding of the principle functions of the media in American politics, and how each promotes the free flow of information to the public.
Q4) Compare and contrast the different theories assessing the influence of the media on voting decisions: the minimal effects theory, social learning theory, cultivation theory, and agenda setting.
Q5) How has the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted the First Amendment's freedom of the press and applied it to mass media? Give examples of some court cases.
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Page 14
Chapter 13: Political Parties and Voting
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is not a characteristic of a "high stimulus" election?
A) greater levels of media coverage
B) perceptions of a close race
C) higher significance of office
D) the costs of obtaining information about an election outweighing the benefits of making a vote
E) high importance attached to an issue
Q2) The central governing body of the two major American political parties, which oversee the conduct of presidential campaigns and develop strategies for congressional elections, is the ________________________.
A) politburo
B) national committee
C) presidential counsel
D) central bureau
E) Congress
Q3) What were the founders' views of political parties? How did their views change once government began to operate? What is the impact of their views today?
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Chapter 14: Campaigns and Elections
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72 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
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) What effect have televised presidential debates had on election outcomes?
A) The impact of debates is unclear.
B) Research shows that debates are very effective in swaying voter opinion.
C) The majority of the potential voters will change their candidate preference following the debate.
D) Historically the winner of the debates usually wins the presidency.
E) It almost always helps the underdog candidate at the expense of the major candidate.
Q3) How have campaign finance laws evolved? Citing specific examples, describe the ways in which current laws influence campaign finance.
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Chapter 15: American Domestic Policy
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78 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) The budget year for the federal government is _________________.
A) January 1 through December 31
B) the first Monday in November through October 1
C) July 1 through June 30
D) the first Monday in February through October 1
E) October 1 through September 30
Q2) Spending that is not controlled by annual budget decisions, but rather by legislation that establishes eligibility requirements is referred to as
A) mandatory spending
B) outlays
C) discretionary spending
D) budget surplus
E) monetary policy
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?
Q4) Define the term public policy. Describe the five stages of the policymaking process.
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Chapter 16: American Foreign Policy
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Sample Questions
Q1) Though the balance of powers between the legislative and executive branches has been the source of controversies, there are positives to having a presidential dominance over foreign policy. Which of the following is such a positive element?
A) The president has the ability to act quickly and unilaterally to stop the formation of upstart governments that are hostile to U.S. interests.
B) A presidential dominance allows for the U.S. government to act immediately and decisively in response to developments abroad.
C) A large body such as Congress is rarely capable of reaching a suitable solution in the necessary amount of time.
D) Congress rarely gets beyond partisan politics in making decisions on foreign policy, so a strong president needs to act in the place of Congress.
E) Allowing Congress to override presidential prerogatives serves only to encumber the process of responding decisively.
Q2) 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?
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