U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam
Course Introduction
U.S. Government and Politics provides an in-depth exploration of the structure, principles, and functions of the American political system. The course examines the foundations of the U.S. Constitution, the roles of the three branches of government, the significance of federalism, and the processes of elections and policy-making. Students analyze the influence of political parties, interest groups, media, and public opinion on government actions, as well as the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Through case studies and current events, the course emphasizes the dynamic nature of American democracy and prepares students to engage thoughtfully in civic life.
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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Sample Questions
Q1) Elites manipulate the masses in order to preserve their own power positions.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) The Ruling Elite Model states that power is widely shared among groups representing different groups.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) The term "circulation of elites" refers to elites moving from one position of power to another.
A)True
B)False Answer: False
Q4) Which is not a consensus value in American democracy?
A) Private property
B) Limited government
C) Equality of outcome
D) Individual liberty
Answer: C
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Chapter 2: The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: Us
Political
Principles
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Q1) Farmers, shopkeepers, and artisans formed the middle class in 1787.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) The Constitution sets up a system where the role of the masses is
A) the basis of government.
B) to participate in decision-making.
C) limited and indirect.
D) repressed by the elite.
Answer: C
Q3) Although the Founding Fathers were considered "elites," there was a basic belief in which of the following?
A) protection of individual liberty
B) equal levels of wealth among all citizens
C) the need to maintain slavery
D) government was a necessary part of human life
Answer: A
Q4) A ____________________ was a small-scale farmer working his own land.
Answer: freeholder
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Chapter 3: Elites in America
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Q1) Which government act brought about the government ability to promote fair trade and prevent unfair or deceptive acts of commerce?
A) Interstate Commerce Act
B) Federal Reserve Act
C) Sherman Antitrust Act
D) Establishment of the Federal Trade Commission
Answer: D
Q2) Elite Theory states that economic elites are distinctly powerful in shaping government policy.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) Due to the risks associated with ___________________, investing in them is limited to the elites.
A) hedge funds
B) foreign currency
C) government bonds
D) private equity stocks
Answer: A
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Page 5
Chapter 4: Masses in the United States
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Q1) The masses in the United States have antidemocratic attitudes but also avoid political activity making our democracy secure.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What U.S. President suspended the writ of habeas corpus (the requirement that authorities bring defendants before a judge and show cause for their detention) during wartime?
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) Franklin Roosevelt
C) George W. Bush
D) John Adams
Q3) Only 10% of all American make financial contributions to a candidate or political party.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Single-issue extremist groups are considered the greatest threat to democracy. Why and give an example of a leftist or rightest extremist group.
Q5) Since the 1970s, income inequality has ______________in America.
Q6) To be truly rich in America, one must be worth __________________.
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Chapter 5: The Media: Elite-Mass Communication
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Q1) Some otherwise qualified people stay out of politics because of fear of embarrassment and invasion of personal privacy by the news media.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What is the only "conservative" news station on television?
A) CNN
B) Fox
C) NBC
D) ABC
Q3) The strongest effect by media elites on the masses is _____________________.
A) cognition and comprehension
B) public opinion
C) behavior
D) attitudes and values
Q4) Does the media and internet help the political elite or make their lives more difficult? Why?
Q5) Young people are more likely to get their campaign news from ____________________ than from evening news shows.
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Q6) In general, how have the media and the media elites changed political campaigns?
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Chapter 6: Elections, Parties, and Democracy
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Q1) ____________________ is the campaign effort to identify and target favorable voters in the electorate.
Q2) Given the role of parties in the electorate, does candidate's policy position and subsequent legislation accurately reflect the policy mandate from the masses?
Q3) What role does political identification play on voting behavior? How does this affect the political parties?
Q4) Primary voters pay little or no attention to candidates for party offices.
A)True
B)False
Q5) Voters for the Democratic Party are disproportionately drawn from A) urbanities.
B) Jews, Catholics, and African Americans.
C) those with annual incomes over $200,000.
D) all of the above.
Q6) What percent of Americans believe that the United States needs a third party?
A) 35%
B) 45%
C) 50%
D) 60%
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Chapter 7: Elites and Organized Interests
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Q1) Liberal causes draw their membership from
A) middle- and upper-class.
B) ethnic minorities.
C) university-educated.
D) All of the above
Q2) Financial reports of lobbyists provide an accurate picture of the lobbying activities in Washington.
A)True
B)False
Q3) The largest number of PACs come from
A) liberal causes.
B) conservative causes.
C) the corporate sector.
D) women's rights interests.
Q4) How does the government try to regulate spending by interest groups? Are these measures effective?
Q5) __________________ are conservative billionaires who spent roughly $86 million in 2012 elections.
Q6) The largest interest group currently in existence in the United States is
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Chapter 8: Congress: the Legislative Elite
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Q1) The second largest ethnic group in America (after whites) is
A) African America.
B) Hispanic or Latino/a.
C) Asian America.
D) none of the above.
Q2) The biggest divide in American politics remains
A) the size and role of the military.
B) the size and role of corporations.
C) the size and role of the budget and spending.
D) the size and role of the government.
Q3) The difference between a legal campaign donation and a bribe is A) bribes specifically require official actions in return.
B) campaign donations do not depend on getting influence.
C) bribes are for larger amounts of money.
D) negligible.
Q4) "Smart money" backs a winner, so most campaign donations go to A) challengers.
B) incumbents.
C) Democrats.
D) Republicans.
Page 10
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Chapter 9: The Presidency
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Q1) When President Obama committed U. S. forces to assisting the overthrow of Dictator Muammar Qaddafi, it demonstrated again
A) how weak the War Powers Act has become as a constraint on Presidential powers.
B) how Congress is reluctant to invoke the War Powers Act.
C) how willing most modern Presidents are to use military force.
D) All of the above
Q2) The Supreme Court has held that the president has "absolute immunity" from A) lawsuits brought by states.
B) civil suits arising out of official duties.
C) Congressional investigations and hearings
D) Subpoenas from other government agencies.
Q3) _____________________ went against his own campaign position and chose to use signing statements once elected president.
Q4) The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act requires all individuals to ________________.
Q5) _________________ gives the president the role of chief legislator, or the ability to initiate and lobby for legislation
Q6) President Clinton was impeached based on the crime of
Page 11
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Chapter 10: Courts: Elites in Black Robes
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Q1) A complainant must have exhausted all remedies available in lower federal courts or state courts before the Supreme Court
A) accepts review of the case.
B) can render a decision in the case.
C) overturns the decision of the Appellate court.
D) accepts the lower court's ruling.
Q2) The Supreme Court is the most elitist institution in American government. A)True
B)False
Q3) Whether or not the Supreme Court takes on a case is determined by A) the Constitution.
B) the legal question presented.
C) the Supreme Court itself.
D) Congress.
Q4) An appeals court will normally have a panel of____________________ judges on it.
Q5) Both parties use the tactic of filibuster to deny or delay the president's choice for Supreme Court justice.
A)True
B)False
Q6) _______________ is the current Chief Justice on the Supreme Court.
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Chapter 11: The Bureaucratic Elite
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Q1) Under former President George W. Bush, capital gains taxes doubled in terms of taxable income.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Congressional Budget Office is the bureaucracy where the budget process begins.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which of the following is an example of a federal bureaucracy?
A) Department of Motor Vehicles
B) Office of Management and Budget
C) Internal Revenue Service
D) All of the above
Q4) There have been ____________ government shutdowns, with longest taking place under President _______________.
Q5) "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.
Page 13
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Chapter 12: Federalism: State and Community Elites
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Q1) Explain the flow of money between the state and federal levels of government. How does this affect state governments and their budgets?
Q2) Voters are less knowledgeable about __________ politics, though they can exercise more direct influence over its policies.
A) state and local
B) national
C) local, but not state
D) international
Q3) The _____________________ is the basis for the extension of the Bill of Rights to all states.
A) Bill of Rights
B) First Amendment
C) Fourteenth Amendment
D) Equal Rights Act
Q4) The Constitution cannot be amended without the consent of A) one-half of the states.
B) two-thirds of the states.
C) three-fourths of the states.
D) four-fifths of the states.
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Chapter 13: Civil Rights: Diversifying the Elite
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Q1) In 2010-2012, what little job growth took place saw most of the jobs go to A) Hispanics.
B) Whites and African Americans
C) men.
D) women.
Q2) The earnings gap between men and women is not considered to be direct discrimination because
A) women in the same job with similar skills and experience as men are generally paid the same.
B) it is a result of a division in the labor market.
C) historically, there has been lower pay for "women's" jobs.
D) All of the above are true.
Q3) The Civil Rights Act of 1964 just barely passed in the House of Representatives. A)True
B)False
Q4) Compare and contrast the role of masses and elites in upholding democratic values in the United States.
Q5) Explain the differences between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. How do these two concepts apply to the masses vs. the elites within American society?
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Chapter 14: The United States As Global Elite
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Q1) Nuclear arms negotiations have eliminated over 80 percent of the number of nuclear weapons at the time of the Cold War.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Explain the two major approaches to international politics - realism and idealism. How did the George W. Bush administrate each of these approaches? How has the Obama administration approached them?
Q3) Explain the role that nuclear power plays in defense and security policy. What has the U.S. done to protect the state against a nuclear threat?
Q4) Why is the Middle East important to U.S. global policy? What is the current role of the U.S. in the Middle East and should this role change?
Q5) NATO was created to counter the aggression of which country?
A) Soviet Union
B) North Korea
C) Vietnam
D) Iraq
Q6) The year of the collapse of communism in Europe was ____________________.
Q7) United States makes up almost ___________of the global economy.
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