U.S. Government and Politics
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Course Introduction
U.S. Government and Politics explores the foundations, structures, and processes of the United States government, emphasizing the Constitution, federalism, and the roles of the three branches of government. The course examines political behavior, participation, and institutions, including the influence of political parties, interest groups, and the media. Students analyze the policymaking process, civil liberties, and civil rights, gaining insight into how governmental decisions affect individuals and communities. Through case studies and current events, learners develop a deeper understanding of the complexities and challenges within the American political system.
Recommended Textbook Government in America People Politics and Policy 2012 Election Edition 16th Edition by George C.
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Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America
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Q1) What determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue?
A) the media
B) public opinion
C) politics
D) public policy
Answer: C
Q2) What are policy impacts?
A) issues that attract serious attention of public officials
B) government institutions that are charged with taking action on political issues
C) the effects that a policy has on people and on society's problems
D) systems of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences
Answer: C
Q3) Those who are inclined to support a(n)__________ role for government argue that government intervention is sometimes the only means of achieving important goals in American society.
Answer: active
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Chapter 2: The Constitution
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Q1) Which of the following debated and drafted the Declaration of Independence?
A) the Common Sense Committee
B) the Continental Congress
C) the Committees of Correspondence
D) the Constitutional Convention
Answer: B
Q2) Describe the views of the Anti-Federalists.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1.Note that the Anti-Federalists were deeply suspicious of a strong national government.
2.Explain that the Anti-Federalists broadly opposed many portions of the new Constitution,including the powers of the executive and the creation of a Supreme Court.
3.Discuss the Anti-Federalists' concerns that the Constitution provided inadequate protections for individual liberties.
4.Describe the Anti-Federalists' desire to have a bill of rights added to the Constitution.
Q3) The __________ favored a weak national government and strong state governments.
Answer: Anti-Federalists
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Chapter 3: Federalism
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Q1) In the 1994 elections,the Republican Party advocated for a(n)__________ of national government authority to state governments.
A) excavation
B) devolution
C) evolution
D) critical evaluation
Answer: B
Q2) Federal mandates are direct judicial orders requiring state governments to comply with the Constitution.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q3) Explain the significance of Gibbons v.Ogden.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1.Explain that the Supreme Court recognized broad congressional power to regulate interstate commerce.
2.Discuss the ways in which Gibbons v.Ogden served as a basis for later rulings that upheld an expansive reading of federal power.
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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties and Public Policy
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Q1) The USA Patriot Act allows the government to __________.
A) read documents sent via the mail
B) collect blood and saliva samples
C) spy on American citizens more easily
D) make audio recordings at all private residences that receive public utilities
Q2) Which of the following Supreme Court cases demonstrates how reluctant the courts are to exercise prior restraint even when national security issues are involved?
A) Barron v. Baltimore
B) Roe v. Wade
C) Near v. Minnesota
D) New York Times v. United States
Q3) Most developed countries use some form of the death penalty.
A)True
B)False
Q4) The __________ rule states that evidence cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not obtained in a constitutional manner.
Q5) Why is freedom of the press essential to democracy?
Q6) Explain the evolution of the incorporation doctrine.
Q7) Why did the Supreme Court suspend capital punishment in 1972?
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Chapter 5: Civil Rights and Public Policy
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Q1) Which of the following accommodations would an employer most likely need to implement in order to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act?
A) hiring a disabled person instead of an equally qualified person without a disability
B) providing better medical insurance for employees who have a disability
C) lowering expectations for the quality of work performed by employees with disabilities
D) installing a ramp and other physical accommodations for someone who uses a wheelchair
Q2) For which of the following would the Supreme Court most likely apply an "intermediate scrutiny" standard of review to determine whether the policy is an unconstitutional violation of the equal protection clause?
A) preventing whites from attending schools designed to serve African American students
B) prohibiting Jewish people from becoming members of a club
C) refusing to promote a Latina when she is the most qualified candidate
D) having different minimum ages for men and women to marry
Q3) Jim Crow laws required __________ of African Americans and whites.
Q4) The __________ Amendment guarantees African Americans the right to vote.
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Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action
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Q1) Many of the commercials that air during the nightly news broadcasts of ABC,CBS,and NBC seem to be for various prescription drugs.What is the most plausible explanation for this fact?
A) Today's generation of young adults is significantly less likely to read newspapers than their elders.
B) Political socialization is more important to governments than to individuals.
C) The median age of viewers of nightly news broadcasts is 63.
D) Children who develop positive feelings toward political authorities grow into adults who are not easily disenchanted with politics.
Q2) Why does the United States have a relatively restrained scope of government compared to most European nations?
A) the predominance of conservatives in the United States
B) the predominance of liberals in the United States
C) the absence of moderates in the United States
D) the absence of pluralist thinking in the United States
Q3) Explain why some critics contend that public opinion polls weaken American democracy.
Q4) What is the significance of family in the process of political socialization?
Q5) Perhaps surprisingly,no __________ gap is evident on the issue of abortion.
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Chapter 7: The Mass Media and the Political Agenda
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Q1) The United States is in an era of high-tech politics.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Top aides to President Clinton leaked his admission of an "inappropriate relationship" to the New York Times in order to gauge the public response to the revelation.Based on the public's response to this __________,Clinton went ahead and admitted the "inappropriate relationship" to the grand jury.
A) beat
B) trial balloon
C) talking head
D) sound bite
Q3) An intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction it generates is called a(n)__________.
A) talking head
B) press release
C) earmark
D) trial balloon
Q4) What is selective exposure? Do you think it is a problem or a strength in today's media? Explain your answer.
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Chapter 8: Political Parties
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Q1) The late 1960s marked the start of __________.
A) dealignment
B) the New Deal coalition
C) the era of good feelings
D) the third-party era
Q2) Which of these is an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge,new coalitions replace old ones,and the majority party may be displaced by the minority party?
A) a critical election
B) a midterm election
C) a coalition election
D) a seismological election
Q3) What is a disadvantage of divided government?
A) It acts as a check and balance across institutions.
B) It often expands the scope of government.
C) It does not allow for clear accountability on policy.
D) It often stunts economic growth.
Q4) Which political era saw the longest period of Republican domination? Explain the origin and demise of party domination during this period.
Q5) What is the responsible party model? Should the United States adopt it?
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Chapter 9: Campaigns and Voting Behavior
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Q1) The 2012 election was the first time that __________ voted at a higher rather than non-Hispanic whites.
A) young citizens
B) single citizens
C) Hispanics
D) African Americans
Q2) Voter turnout increased significantly after Congress enacted the Motor Voter law.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Which states tend to have higher voter turnout?
A) Southern states
B) states with Election Day voter registration
C) large states
D) states with a lot of young voters
Q4) What are "wedge issues" and why would they be important in a tight campaign?
Q5) If there is no majority winner in the Electoral College,then the president is selected by the __________.
Q6) During the __________,candidates woo elected officials,top fundraisers,and skilled political aides.
Page 11
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Chapter 10: Interest Groups
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Q1) Elitists generally argue that __________.
A) all legitimate groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another
B) corporations hold tremendous power
C) the American political terrain is characterized by a dispersion of power
D) the government is run for the benefit of all the people
Q2) What is lobbying?
A) communication as a representative of a group with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy
B) conducting surveys to gauge public opinion on a policy issue
C) convincing potential members to join an interest group by offering them material benefits
D) fundraising for political candidates and educating the public about the activities of government
Q3) Which of the following is an example of a business interest group?
A) the National Rifle Association
B) the American Association of Retired People (AARP)
C) the Chamber of Commerce
D) the National Education Association
Q4) Anti-Vietnam War activists formed __________ interest groups.
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Chapter 11: Congress
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Q1) One thing that helps incumbents win reelection is __________,which might include federal spending projects benefitting state and local governments,businesses,colleges,and other institutions in a congressional district.
A) apportionment
B) casework
C) the pork barrel
D) logrolling
Q2) Representing constituents by mirroring their personal,politically relevant characteristics is known as __________ representation.
Q3) Caucuses are groups of like-minded interest groups that join forces to lobby Congress.
A)True
B)False
Q4) __________ are individuals who already hold office.
Q5) Each state has __________ senators,each of whom serves a __________-year term.
A) two; four
B) two; six
C) four; two
D) four; four
Page 13
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Chapter 12: The Presidency
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Q1) Which of the following statements about presidential approval is accurate?
A) George W. Bush maintained a high approval rating throughout his presidency.
B) Bill Clinton's approval rating was well over 90 percent during his first term.
C) Barack Obama's approval rating was lower in 2012 than when he took office.
D) Ronald Reagan's approval rating was never higher than 50 percent.
Q2) Which institutional resource is closest and most loyal to the president?
A) Executive Office of the President
B) White House staff
C) armed forces
D) National Security Council
Q3) How did the expectations for the vice presidency change starting with Walter Mondale?
A) Presidents are more likely to use their vice presidents as close policy advisers.
B) Vice presidents started to preside over the Senate.
C) Presidents are more likely to select ideologically moderate vice presidents to expand their electoral appeal.
D) Vice presidents started taking the lead in the budgeting process.
Q4) What is a veto? Can a veto be overridden?
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Chapter 13: The Budget: The Politics of Taxing and Spending
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Q1) The rise of the national security state first began with __________.
A) the Civil War
B) World War I
C) the Cold War
D) the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
Q2) Why did the United States keep a large permanent military after World War II?
A) Treaties would not allow an extensive demilitarization.
B) The large veteran population supported peacetime military service.
C) Defense contractors successfully lobbied for an increase in contracts.
D) The Cold War began shortly after World War II ended.
Q3) Federal expenditures have slowly but steadily decreased over the past 15 years.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Taxes that are __________ to the cost of living prevent taxpayers from being bumped into a higher tax bracket due solely to inflation.
Q5) Economists Allan Meltzer and Scott Richard argue that the government grows in a democracy when there is equality of suffrage.Highlight one example that demonstrates how equality of suffrage was responsible for the growth in government size.
Q6) Explain why Congress passes continuing resolutions.
Page 15
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Chapter 14: The Federal Bureaucracy
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Q1) The __________ led to the creation of a merit-based civil service system.
Q2) Which of the following is a primary goal of privatizing government functions?
A) to provide services that the private sector cannot
B) to strengthen government accountability
C) to improve the efficiency of public service delivery
D) to expand the size of the federal bureaucracy
Q3) Which of the following is an example of Max Weber's merit principle?
A) evaluating political candidates based on personal characteristics
B) evaluating political candidates based on work experience
C) hiring bureaucrats based on their ability to do the job
D) evaluating a policy proposal based on its benefits
Q4) In recent years,privatization of government functions to contractors has
A) increased at the federal level
B) provided services more efficiently at the federal level
C) decreased at the state level
D) received greater public support
Q5) How does the president exercise control over the federal bureaucracy?
Q6) Discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of privatization.
Q7) What are independent executive agencies? Provide an example.
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Chapter 15: The Federal Courts
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Q1) Compare and contrast judicial restraint and judicial activism by analyzing how a proponent of each would have decided Brown v.Board of Education.
Q2) What are class action lawsuits?
Q3) The district courts are appellate courts.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Under which chief justice did the Supreme Court establish the power of judicial review?
A) James Madison
B) John Marshall
C) Oliver Wendell Holmes
D) Earl Warren
Q5) A writ of __________ is issued by the Supreme Court when it agrees to hear a case.
A) mandamus
B) prohibition
C) certiorari
D) attachment
Q6) Describe originalism as a judicial philosophy.
Q7) Describe the difference between civil and criminal law.
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Chapter 16: Economic and Social Welfare Policymaking
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Q1) The federal government is using fiscal policy when it cuts __________ in order to boost the economy.
Q2) The percentage of Americans who are seeking work but unable to find it is called
A) the entitlement rate
B) the workforce rate
C) the unemployment rate
D) the underemployment rate
Q3) Elected officials are often unresponsive to the policy preferences of low-income citizens.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Which of the following do Republicans tend to support?
A) demand-side economics
B) government spending to stimulate the economy
C) supply-side economics
D) Keynesian economics
Q5) Monetarists favor using __________ to manage the growth of the money supply in the United States.
Q6) What is fiscal policy? What are the primary tools of fiscal policy?
Page 18
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Chapter 17: Understanding Health Care, Environmental, and Energy Policy
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Q1) Health care costs account for about one-tenth of America's gross domestic product (GDP).
A)True
B)False
Q2) Medicare is a program that provides health care for __________.
A) the poor
B) retirees
C) the unemployed
D) anyone who lacks health insurance
Q3) What is America's most abundant fuel?
A) kerosene
B) petroleum
C) coal
D) natural gas
Q4) Federal regulation has significantly reduced the pollution in the nation's air and water.
A)True
B)False
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Q5) What is a cap-and-trade program? Provide one environmental and one economic argument against the use of cap-and-trade programs.
Chapter 18: National Security Policymaking
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Q1) What is a tariff? Why has the world economy moved from high tariffs and protectionism to lower tariffs and nontariff barriers?
Q2) What general trends are found in U.S.defense spending in the last half-century? How has defense spending become entangled with ideological disputes?
Q3) If Congress does not like the way the president is executing foreign policy,Congress can refuse to appropriate money for the president's policies.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Which of the following is most consistent with the foreign policy of isolationism?
A) a country's refusal to intervene in an armed conflict between two other countries
B) a country's willingness to use diplomatic sanctions to pressure another country to address human rights violations
C) the George W. Bush administration's policy of actively rooting out terrorism before a threat has fully developed
D) multilateral trade agreements
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