Principles of American Government Practice Questions
Course Introduction
This course provides an in-depth examination of the foundational principles and structures of American government. Students explore the origins and development of the U.S. Constitution, the federal system, the separation of powers, and the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The course also covers the Bill of Rights, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, and the processes of political participation and policy-making. Emphasis is placed on understanding how these principles shape the functioning of government, influence public policy, and impact the lives of American citizens.
Recommended Textbook
American Government and Politics Today Essentials 2015 2016 Edition 18th Edition by Barbara A.
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
16 Chapters
1120 Verified Questions
1120 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1144 Page 2
Chapter 1: The Democratic Republic
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22428
Sample Questions
Q1) The following statement would be compatible with __________ ideology: "The government should have no role in providing health care for the country. People should provide their own health care."
A) liberal
B) conservative
C) communist
D) socialist
E) extreme liberal
Answer: B
Q2) A government that has the power to make and enforce law but which lacks the acceptance of the people is said to have
A) authority but not legitimacy.
B) legitimacy but not authority.
C) both authority and legitimacy.
D) a democratic form of government.
E) an authoritarian form of government.
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 3
Chapter 2: The Constitution
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22429
Sample Questions
Q1) The Great Compromise
A) was advanced by the delegates from Georgia.
B) proposed a bicameral legislature with equal representation in the Senate.
C) was presented too late to be considered.
D) was proposed by Texas.
E) proposed a unicameral legislature in which each state would have one vote.
Answer: B
Q2) The Jamestown colony was established as
A) a trading post.
B) a military fort.
C) a settlement in Maryland.
D) the first French settlement in the New World.
E) a settlement for religious Separatists.
Answer: A
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
4
Chapter 3: Federalism
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22430
Sample Questions
Q1) State governments have the ________________ but lack the ___________________.
A) enumerated powers; reserved powers
B) reserved powers; concurrent powers
C) concurrent powers; reserved powers
D) reserved and concurrent powers; enumerated and inherent powers
E) reserved and enumerated powers; inherent powers
Answer: D
Q2) An agreement between two or more states is
A) shared governance.
B) an interstate compact.
C) an intrastate treaty.
D) a cooperative agreement.
E) unconstitutional.
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22431
Sample Questions
Q1) Following Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health
A) living wills became common.
B) it was established that life-sustaining treatment can be withdrawn from comatose patients at the simple request of the closest relatives.
C) living wills became unconstitutional.
D) it was established that patients cannot refuse treatment that might save their lives.
E) parents, rather than spouses, were given responsibility for medical decisions regarding comatose persons.
Q2) The 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
A) was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
B) prohibits protestors from blocking entrances to abortion clinics.
C) prohibits protestors from speaking to patients entering abortion clinics.
D) cannot be used to establish "buffer zones" around clinics.
E) Options A and B are true.
Q3) Discuss the recent Supreme Court rulings that are based on the Second Amendment and describe the positions of the pro-gun lobby to further expand gun rights.
Q4) What are the Miranda rights? What exceptions have been allowed to these rights?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 6
Chapter 5: Civil Rights
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22432
Sample Questions
Q1) The population of unauthorized immigrants in the United States is
A) about 500,000 and increasing.
B) about 1 million and stable.
C) about 7 million and declining.
D) about 11 million and stable.
E) about 32 million and increasing.
Q2) Today, there are __________ Native Americans living in the United States.
A) 30 million
B) 13 million
C) 800,000
D) 3.2 million
E) 300 million
Q3) Compared to other racial minorities, Asian Americans are
A) better integrated into American society, with higher incomes.
B) better integrated into American society, but still largely impoverished.
C) poorly integrated into American society, but economically prosperous.
D) poorly integrated into American society, and largely impoverished.
E) None of the above.
Q4) Explain the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education and the impact it had on education and the new problems it created.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22433
Sample Questions
Q1) In presidential elections, manual laborers, factory workers, and union members are
A) more likely to vote for Republican candidates.
B) more likely to vote for Democratic candidates.
C) likely to split their vote between the two major parties.
D) more likely to vote for socialist candidates.
E) more likely to vote for communist libertarian candidates.
Q2) Public confidence in
A) the military has increased likely due to the military's role in the war on terrorism.
B) religion has decreased due to sex scandals.
C) Congress has increased due to the passage of healthcare reform.
D) Options A and B are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Q3) Usually, the Gallup or Roper polls interview
A) people three to four times to ensure accuracy.
B) about 1,500 people in a nationwide sample.
C) over 100,000 people in each random sample for presidential elections.
D) people who have been selected based on their intelligence.
E) using quota samples.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Interest Groups
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22434
Sample Questions
Q1) Explain the direct techniques used by interest groups.
Q2) Identifying and making legislative earmarks public was a key feature of
A) the 1946 lobbying reforms.
B) the 1995 lobbying reforms.
C) the 1995-96 rules of the House and Senate.
D) the 2007 lobbying reforms.
E) Both A and D.
Q3) To influence government and policy, lobbyists commonly engage in all of the following <B>except</B>
A) meeting privately with public officials.
B) testifying before congressional committees.
C) assisting in the drafting of legislation.
D) running for Congress.
E) suggesting nominations for federal courts.
Q4) Groups recognize that the greatest concern of legislators is to
A) support the principles of their political party.
B) be reelected.
C) vote for the ideas of the constituents.
D) be totally informed on issues they will have to vote on.
E) please the congressional leadership.
Page 9
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 8: Political Parties
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22435
Sample Questions
Q1) If we chose candidates through a "top two" bipartisan primary election
A) candidates would have to appeal to a wider range of public opinion.
B) it would increase voter participation.
C) the major political parties might lose some of their influence.
D) it would be the end of the open primary system.
E) All of the above are true.
Q2) George Washington argued that parties were harmful to the United States. Assess his argument, taking a stance either with or against his point of view and providing evidence for your position.
Q3) In primary elections
A) candidates appeal to a wide range of opinion to get votes.
B) candidates tend to make moderate stands on issues.
C) partisan campaigning leads to less overall spending on campaigns.
D) candidates try to appeal to the more extreme members of their party.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Explore the role played by third parties in the United States.
Q5) Describe the importance of independent voters and provide examples of their impact in recent elections.
Q6) Describe the history of political parties in the United States.
Q7) Describe the different functions of political parties in our system.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Campaigns and Elections
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22436
Sample Questions
Q1) When voters can vote in either party primary without disclosing their party affiliation, it is called
A) a closed primary.
B) an open primary.
C) a run-off primary.
D) a blanket primary.
E) a caucus.
Q2) Compare the features of two different types of primary elections and craft an argument in support of one of these.
Q3) Voter registration drives
A) are a non-controversial political activity.
B) became political issue when Acorn, a community organizing group, was accused of violating election laws.
C) operate under very loose laws in Republican-controlled states.
D) are organized by public interest and political organizations in the week before an election.
E) All of the above are true.
Q4) Which people are least likely to vote? How does this affect government policies?
Q5) How has the right to vote been expanded since the Constitution was written?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 11
Chapter 10: The Media
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22437
Sample Questions
Q1) Evaluate the transition from traditional to new forms of media and discuss what effects this will have on American politics.
Q2) The advent of broadband Internet access has led to the rise of
A) a single ISP with a national monopoly.
B) a great deal of competition in the broadband market.
C) ISPs with local monopolies.
D) a single ISP with a national monopoly.,
E) None of the above.
Q3) 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.
Q4) Explain the ways in which new media (Internet, blogs, podcasts) are used in campaigns.
Q5) Evaluate the role of the media in setting the public agenda and argue whether you think it is good or bad for them to have this power.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: The Congress
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22438
Sample Questions
Q1) All of the following are true of the filibuster <B>except</B>
A) it may be ended by invoking cloture.
B) it can sometimes be bypassed by the reconciliation process.
C) the House can overrule a filibuster by a two-thirds supermajority vote.
D) traditionally, filibusters were rare.
E) we have seen a rise in twenty-first-century filibustering.
Q2) The formal declaration by the appropriate congressional committee that a certain amount of funding may be made available to an agency is called
A) authorization.
B) appropriation.
C) allocation.
D) reconciliation.
E) consolidation.
Q3) A sizable majority of ____________ who run for reelection are ____________.
A) House members; defeated in party primaries
B) Senators; defeated in general elections
C) incumbents; defeated in party primaries
D) incumbents; successful
E) None of the above.
Q4) Explain the different types of committees and their functions.
Page 13
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 12: The President
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22439
Sample Questions
Q1) A key difference between the Cold War and current animosity between the United States and Russia is
A) the lack of a major ideological divide.
B) that Russia's actions seem to be nationalist in nature.
C) that Russia is more economically entangled with the West than during the Cold War.
D) Both A and B.
E) All of the above.
Q2) Treaties are subject to _________ before becoming legally binding.
A) judicial review in the Supreme Court
B) ratification by a majority of the states
C) ratification by a majority of both houses of Congress
D) ratification by a two-thirds majority of the Senate
E) Both B and C.
Q3) The Constitution states that the required minimum age for the presidency is
A) twenty-five years.
B) thirty years.
C) thirty-five years.
D) forty years.
E) forty-five years.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 14
Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22440
Sample Questions
Q1) The concept of privatization refers to
A) the replacement of government services with services provided by private firms.
B) federal loan guarantees for small businesses.
C) the hiring practices of the civil service.
D) the replacement of federal government services with state or local government services.
E) reducing the number of levels in the federal hierarchy.
Q2) All of the following statements are true about Sunset legislation <b>except</b>
A) all federal legislation must incorporate Sunset provisions of ten years.
B) legislation with Sunset provisions must be reauthorized at the end of the designated period or the program created by the legislation will end.
C) Sunset provisions were first recommended during the creation of President Roosevelt's New Deal agencies.
D) many state governments have adopted Sunset provisions in legislation.
E) Sunset provisions allow Congress and state legislatures to revisit legislation at a later date to determine if the legislation needs revision or should be abandoned.
Q3) Describe the difference between Sunshine laws and Sunset provisions.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: The Courts
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22441
Sample Questions
Q1) The Supreme Court cases, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McDonald v. Chicago, were victories for the
A) political left.
B) political right.
C) gun control advocates.
D) government reform advocates.
E) Options A and C are true.
Q2) The most common way for the Supreme Court to take care of cases appealed to it is to
A) decide on the case but not give an opinion.
B) refuse to hear a case.
C) grant a mistrial.
D) hear the case.
E) return it to the state court.
Q3) The last step in the decision-making process of the Supreme Court is
A) announcing its decision to the public and the reasons for it.
B) assigning a justice to write an opinion.
C) deciding if the Court will hear the case.
D) hearing oral arguments in the case.
E) asking the lower court to send the records of the case for review.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Domestic and Economic Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22442
Sample Questions
Q1) 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.
Q2) Detail the efforts made during the Obama administration to address environmental problems and the controversy surrounding such efforts.
Q3) Which of the following is <b>not</b> a regressive tax?
A) Social Security tax
B) Medicare tax
C) state sales tax
D) federal income tax
E) local real estate tax
Q4) Assess the advantages and disadvantages of a nation having a substantial immigrant population.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 16: Foreign Policy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
70 Verified Questions
70 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/22443
Sample Questions
Q1) The U.S. war in _____________ was fought against _______________.
A) Afghanistan; al Qaeda and the Taliban regime
B) Iraq; al Qaeda and the Taliban regime
C) Syria; the Hussein regime
D) Iraq; the Assad regime
E) Afghanistan; the Hussein regime
Q2) Describe the Bush Doctrine and criticisms of it, and craft an argument for or against this piece of U.S. foreign policy.
Q3) To which international issues has the United States applied diplomacy instead of military force?
A) the proliferation of nuclear weapons
B) the growing power of China.
C) the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
D) the global economic crisis
E) All of the above.
Q4) Will the relationship between the United States and Russia be substantially different from the relationship that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War? Why or why not?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18