U.S. Politics
Final Test Solutions
Course Introduction
U.S. Politics examines the foundations, structures, and processes of the federal government of the United States, including an exploration of the Constitution, federalism, the roles of Congress, the Presidency, and the judiciary. The course also covers the dynamics of elections, political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion. Students will investigate how political decisions are made, the influence of historical and contemporary issues, and the impact of governmental policies on society, while developing critical thinking skills to analyze key debates and developments in the American political landscape.
Recommended Textbook
Politics in America 2014 Elections and Updates Edition 10th Edition by Thomas R. Dye
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
18 Chapters
1885 Verified Questions
1885 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/412 Page 2
Chapter 1: Politics: Who Gets What,When and How 1
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7208
Sample Questions
Q1) Which perspective-elitist or pluralist-should apply to America's defense policy? What about the country's education policy? Explain your answers.
Answer: An ideal response will:
1.Briefly explain/define the pluralist and elitist perspectives.
2.Argue which perspective might apply to defense.Defense is an arena that likely does not have a diversity of interests vying for power and access to decision makers.Defense policy is likely influenced by a few elite interests such as defense contractors and well-informed military related interests,thus an elitist perspective is appropriate.
3.Argue which perspective might apply to education policy.Education policy is likely influenced by a variety of interests.Most adults either have children in schools,had them at one time,or will have them in the future.Accordingly,it is a policy arena that directly affects many people.Thus,many people and interests likely weigh in in this policy arena.Therefore pluralism may be the appropriate perspective here.
Q2) A limited __________ government is one that is itself restrained by law.
Answer: constitutional
Q3) Only __________ decisions can extend to the whole society.
Answer: government
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 3
Chapter 2: Political Culture: Ideas in Conflict
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7209
Sample Questions
Q1) Variations within in a political culture are manifested in ___________.
A)beliefs
B)goals
C)traditions
D)subcultures
Answer: D
Q2) Which of the following statements correctly categorizes the current situation in the United States?
A)America is experiencing decreased income inequality but considerable income mobility.
B)America is experiencing increased income inequality but less income mobility.
C)America is experiencing decreased income inequality and less income mobility.
D)America is experiencing increased income inequality but considerable income mobility.
Answer: D
Q3) Classical liberal economics are centered on the freedom of an individual to pursue political interests.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: The Constitution: Limiting Governmental Power
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7210
Sample Questions
Q1) Judicial review gives __________.
A)Congress the power to review the financial affairs of the federal courts
B)the Supreme Court the power to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional
C)the executive authority the power to review the judiciary for impropriety
D)Congress the ability to overturn judicial rulings
Answer: B
Q2) Why did the Founders call for special ratifying conventions in the states rather than ask state legislatures to ratify the Constitution?
A)The Founders knew that they could get unanimous consent for the Constitution only through such a tactic.
B)The Constitution placed many prohibitions on state power,which the Founders feared would prevent legislatures from ratifying the document.
C)State legislators were not as educated as members of the ratifying conventions and would not have understood Federalist arguments.
D)The Articles of Confederation required such a procedure if a new governing document were to be proposed.
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 4: Federalism: Dividing Governmental Power
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7211
Sample Questions
Q1) The __________ Amendment says that says that those powers not given to the federal government and not prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved for the states and the people.
A)First
B)Eighth
C)Tenth
D)Eleventh
Q2) __________ powers are shared by the federal and state governments.
A)Concurrent
B)Implied
C)Delegated
D)Enumerated
Q3) In __________ preemption,the federal government assumes all regulatory powers in a particular field.
A)total
B)supreme
C)partial
D)standard partial
Q4) Explain two problems of competitive federalism.
Q5) ________ democracy can be found today only in state and local governments.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Opinion and Participation: Thinking and Acting in Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7212
Sample Questions
Q1) Surveys regularly report higher percentages of people saying they voted in an election than the actual number of ballots cast.
A)True
B)False
Q2) What research method involves gathering data about public opinion by questioning a representative sample of the population?
A)evaluation research
B)longitudinal research
C)experimental research
D)survey research
Q3) Although deciding upon voting times,places,equipment,and ballots is the responsibility of state governments,most states pass on this responsibility to which political entity?
A)county governments
B)municipal governments
C)local party operators
D)precinct captains
Q4) __________ is the legal right to vote.
Q5) How informed is public opinion?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 7
Chapter 6: Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7213
Sample Questions
Q1) Ironically,the overwhelmingly large number of political Web sites may wind up
A)making voters even more indifferent than they already are
B)causing voters to return to traditional media outlets for more substantial reporting
C)costing most sitting politicians their jobs as voters learn the truth about them
D)reducing the overall amount of influence of the established political parties
Q2) Findings indicate that __________ have the greatest impact on changing public opinion.
A)trusted television newscasters
B)popular presidents
C)opinion-makers and pundits
D)interest groups
Q3) When newspaper reporters decide that election fraud is the issue to cover,they are setting a political agenda.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Public awareness of a candidate is often referred to as __________ recognition.
Q5) How does political polarization of the media impact our political system?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 8
Chapter 7: Political Parties: Organizing Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7214
Sample Questions
Q1) Political __________ are parties and interest groups that function as intermediaries between individuals and government.
Q2) What promotes party cohesion in contemporary American politics?
A)campaign organization
B)likemindedness
C)party discipline
D)the news media
Q3) The form of change in which a dominant party declines and is replaced by another dominant party is called dealignment.
A)True
B)False
Q4) One of the various ways in which parties contribute to democratic governance is by
A)dividing the electorate
B)narrowing voter choice
C)nominating candidates
D)reducing accountability mechanisms
Q5) Explain how party nominations are made,and how the process has changed over time.Why did this process change?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: Campaigns and Elections: Deciding Who
Governs
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7215
Sample
Questions
Q1) Mitt Romney was at an inherent disadvantage as the challenger during the 2012 presidential election.
A)True
B)False
Q2) In the 2012 election,President Obama was the incumbent,and Mitt Romney was the
A)challenger
B)president-elect
C)debater
D)delegate
Q3) What is soft money?
A)previously unregulated contributions to political parties
B)small campaign donations,generally under $200
C)money a candidate spends on his or her own campaign
D)funds that independent organization spend on a campaign
Q4) Which campaign activity occupies more of a candidate's time than any other?
A)giving speeches
B)raising funds
C)meeting with campaign staff
D)appearing on television
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 10
Chapter 9: Interest Groups: Getting Their Share and More
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7216
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates?
A)527 organizations
B)coordinating committees
C)501(c)3 organizations
D)political action committees
Q2) Political action committees (PACs)are an attractive option for campaign contributions because __________.
A)they are allowed by law to contribute unlimited sums of money to political candidates
B)most other types of contributions were banned by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
C)they combine many individual contributions,attracting more attention from members of Congress
D)PAC contributions are tax deductible
Q3) In recent years,political action committee (PAC)contributions have become increasingly important in federal elections.In light of the influence of PAC money on elections and policy making,is this trend a sign of a healthy democracy,or is it a troubling development?
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 10: Congress: Politics on Capitol Hill
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
104 Verified Questions
104 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7217
Sample Questions
Q1) Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as a trustee of his or her constituency?
A)considering public opinion,then using his or her own best judgment about what is good for the nation as a whole
B)doing whatever is best for reelection
C)following the public opinion of the constituency,regardless of his or her personal viewpoint
D)heeding public opinion in every case,except in matters of personal conscience
Q2) To what has the Democratic dominance of Congress from 1954-1994 been attributed?
A)Democratic candidates appeared more creditable on promises to bring money and jobs to their districts.
B)Many voters considered national rather than local conditions when casting congressional votes.
C)More voters identified themselves as Republicans,but party identification did not play a significant role in congressional voting.
D)Republican congressional candidates enjoyed the many advantages of incumbency.
Q3) Cloture is the only way to end a(n)__________.
Q4) Evaluate the successes and failures of the two parties in Congress.
Q5) After the Speaker,the next most powerful person in the House is the __________.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter 11: The President: White House Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
104 Verified Questions
104 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7218
Sample Questions
Q1) Article II,Section 4 of the Constitution says,"The President,Vice President,and all Civil Officers of the United States,shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for,and Conviction of,Treason,Bribery,or other high crimes and Misdemeanors." Explain what this means.What would your criteria be for impeachment?
Q2) Which of the following statements provides the best characterization of the members of the White House staff?
A)The White House staff is a loose collection of bureaucrats who are loyal to executive agencies.
B)The White House staff is composed of individuals personally and politically close to the president chosen specifically to serve the president's needs.
C)The White House staff is composed of policy specialists who have little personal loyalty to the president.
D)The White House staff is the link between executive agencies in the bureaucracy and Congress.
Q3) The president can approve covert actions without obtaining congressional approval. A)True B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 13
Chapter 12: The Bureaucracy: Bureaucratic Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
104 Verified Questions
104 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7219
Sample Questions
Q1) The president appoints,but cannot dismiss,officials who serve on __________.
Q2) Before 1883,how were government jobs awarded?
A)Jobs were awarded based on an applicants' expertise.
B)Jobs were awarded based on an applicants' personal wealth.
C)Jobs were awarded based on an applicants' performance on entrance exams.
D)Jobs were awarded based on an applicants' loyalty to the party in power.
Q3) A president can fire civil service employees who do not belong to the president's political party.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules and regulations?
A)the Administrative Procedures Act
B)the Freedom of Information Act
C)the Hatch Act
D)the Pendleton Act
Q5) The Social Security Administration rendering a decision about whether an individual was wrongly denied disability payments illustrates the __________ function of the federal bureaucracy.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 14
Chapter 13: Courts Judicial Politics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7220
Sample Questions
Q1) In court rulings,reliance on past decisions to formulate decisions in new cases is known as which of the following?
A)per curiam
B)stare decisis
C)coram nobis
D)amicus curiae
Q2) The solicitor general handles all appeals on behalf of the __________ before the Supreme Court.
Q3) What do presidents look for in selecting a Supreme Court justice?
Q4) A dissenting opinion is written by a justice who agrees with the decision of the majority,but disagrees with the rationale.
A)True
B)False
Q5) The district courts are appellate courts.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Compare and contrast judicial self-restraint and judicial activism by analyzing how a proponent of each would have decided Brown v.Board of Education.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: Politics and Personal Liberty
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7221
Sample Questions
Q1) Which Supreme Court case in 2010 confirmed a 2008 ruling that individuals as well as states have a right to bear arms?
A)McDonald v.Chicago
B)Gideon v.Wainwright
C)Miranda v.Arizona
D)Mapp v.Ohio
Q2) The 2008 amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA)allows warrantless surveillance of which of the following?
A)international calls and e-mails
B)locations of automobiles
C)text messages on employer-paid devices
D)electronic communications within the United States
Q3) Which of the following is responsible for determining whether enough evidence exists to support a conviction against a criminal defendant?
A)trial court
B)defense attorney
C)prosecutor
D)jury
Q4) __________ include profanity,obscenity,and threats.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Politics and Civil Rights
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7222
Sample Questions
Q1) According to the feature box,"The Game,the Rules,the Players: African American Politics in Historical Perspective," report on the three distinct types of political response to the imposition of segregation that grew out of Reconstruction.Paraphrase what political economist Albert Otto Hirschman refers to as "exit,voice,and loyalty."
Q2) What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
A)It was a political and military action by the president intended to help preserve the Union.
B)It was an action that reflected the demands of the people to free slaves living in rebel states.
C)It abolished slavery.
D)It is another name for the Thirteenth Amendment.
Q3) The provision of the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits any state from denying "any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" is known as the __________ clause.
A)due process
B)jurisdiction
C)grandfather
D)equal protection
Q4) Jim Crow laws required __________ of African Americans and whites.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 17
Chapter 16: Politics and the Economy
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7223
Sample Questions
Q1) Monetary economic policy uses the money supply to affect growth in the U.S.economy.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following industries was probably the biggest contributor to the economic crisis that began in 2008?
A)the airline industry
B)the energy industry
C)the investment banking industry
D)the litigation industry
Q3) __________ could include any legal measure,including taking advantage of "loopholes" such as home mortgage deductions or the transfer of money to offshore accounts or "tax shelters."
A)Tax evasion
B)Fiscal policy
C)Tax avoidance
D)Stimulus packages
Q4) When members of Congress talk about the ___________,they are talking about the difference between annual government expenditures and revenues.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 17: Politics and Social Welfare
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
103 Verified Questions
103 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7224
Sample Questions
Q1) Social Security is a means-tested program because it provides benefits to all qualifying individuals.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The Affordable Care Act,colloquially known as Obamacare,involved a federal takeover of the insurance industry.
A)True B)False
Q3) Which of the following is true of the Affordable Care Act,colloquially known as Obamacare?
A)It involves a national takeover of health care.
B)It provides universal coverage to all Americans.
C)It provides universal coverage to all U.S.residents.
D)It requires Americans who are not covered to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.
Q4) Senior citizens are likely to be concerned about potential cuts to the medical program known as ___________.
Q5) Social Security payments have ___________ since the program was created.
Q6) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families replaced the federal program
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 19
Chapter 18: Politics and National Security
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
105 Verified Questions
105 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/7225
Sample Questions
Q1) How might the premise of the Marshall Plan be translated into the language of the war on terror?
A)The United States should focus on humanitarian concerns first,and worry about the war on terror second.
B)The United States should provide only humanitarian aid,not military intervention,as that is the best way to build allies in the fight against terrorism.
C)The United States should aid economically weak nations,as they are more susceptible to terrorism.
D)Rebuilding infrastructure helps trade and increases U.S.economic power in the world,which discourages terrorist attacks on America.
Q2) What event marked the end of the Cold War?
A)détente
B)the collapse of the Soviet Union
C)the signing of the SALT II Treaty
D)the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan
Q3) The __________ was the U.S.effort to help rebuild Western Europe after World War II.
Q4) __________ has the constitutional power to declare war.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 20