Government in America People, Politics, and Policy, 2018 Elections and Updates Edition, 17th Edition

Type:

Test Bank

Government in America People, Resource: Politics, and Policy, 2018 Elections and Updates Edition Edition:

17th Edition

Author(s):

George C. Edwards Martin P. Wattenberg William G. Howell

Test Bank For

Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Seventeenth Edition 2018 Elections and Updates George C. Edwards III Martin P. Wattenberg William G. Howell Prepared by Dennis Plane, Juniata College

Contents Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America Chapter 2: The Constitution Chapter 3: Federalism Chapter 4: Civil Liberties and Public Policy Chapter 5: Civil Rights and Public Policy Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Action Chapter 7: The Mass Media and the Political Agenda Chapter 8: Political Parties Chapter 9: Campaigns and Voting Behavior Chapter 10: Interest Groups Chapter 11: Congress Chapter 12: The Presidency Chapter 13: The Budget: The Politics of Taxing and Spending Chapter 14: The Federal Bureaucracy Chapter 15: The Federal Courts Chapter 16: Economic and Social Welfare Policymaking Chapter 17: Policymaking for Health Care, the Environment, and Energy Chapter 18: National Security Policymaking Policy Roots and Explore the Data Revel-Only Bonus Questions

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1 Introducing Government in America  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

What is the central message of the textbook? a. Power corrupts. b. Politics and government matter. c. U.S. democracy is the best form of government. d. In a democracy, the will of the people will ultimately prevail.

Answer: b Topic: Chapter Introduction Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

What is one way in which younger Americans differ from older Americans? a. Younger Americans are more knowledgeable about politics. b. Younger Americans are more likely to believe that they have much at stake in elections. c. Younger Americans are less interested in politics. d. Younger Americans are less active in their communities.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Introducing Government in America Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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3.

What are the institutions that make a society’s public policy decisions collectively known as? a. political culture b. the courts c. government d. the presidency Answer: c Topic: Government Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4.

Why does a government maintain armed forces? a. to protect its national sovereignty b. to promote justice in the world c. to provide a mechanism for ensuring the collection of taxes d. to provide employment opportunities for the young Answer: a Topic: Government Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Which is a collective good? a. access to freeways [author’s note: some highways where I live have tolls; freeways are free, though] b. medical care c. Social Security d. unemployment insurance Answer: a Topic: Government Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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6.

The ways that citizens get involved in politics constitute __________. a. ideology b. participation c. party d. opinions Answer: b Topic: Politics Learning Objective: 1.2 Define politics in the context of democratic government.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

7.

Which of the following best describes a linkage institution? a. a channel through which people’s concerns become part of the political agenda b. a location where one can express a political opinion c. the formation of a special interest group d. an environment where one learns about the political process Answer: a Topic: People Shape Policy Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

What is the government’s policy agenda? a. the issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail b. the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other political actors c. the issues that are asked about on public opinion polls d. the issues that concern interest groups Answer: b Topic: People Shape Policy Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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9.

What is public policy? a. choices that government makes in response to political issues b. the root causes of political culture c. the public’s political issues as determined by elections d. proposed legislation that is supported by the public Answer: a Topic: Policies Impact People Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

A law passed by Congress and a regulation adopted by an agency are examples of __________. a. collective action b. political knowledge c. public policies d. an informed citizenry Answer: c Topic: Policies Impact People Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11.

Why are the impacts of policies analyzed? a. to determine the extent of financial compensation that will be awarded to the policymakers b. to ensure that policies are consistent with the principles of social justice c. to determine whether a policy has worked and how much it has cost d. to pinpoint which level of government will be responsible for implementing a policy Answer: c Topic: Policies Impact People Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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12.

What is democracy? a. a system that ensures freedom, justice, and peace to all citizens b. a system that perpetuates the status quo and upholds the values of the party in power c. a system of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences d. a system that grants a privileged status to the most active and informed voters Answer: c Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13.

Which of the following most closely exemplifies equality in voting? a. inclusion b. freedom of speech and of the press c. one person, one vote d. universal citizenship Answer: c Topic: Traditional Democratic Theory Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

14.

Free speech and a free press are essential to which principle of traditional democratic theory? a. inclusion b. pluralism c. enlightened understanding d. equality in voting Answer: c Topic: Traditional Democratic Theory Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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15.

Which principle of traditional democratic theory is violated when the wealthy have disproportionate influence over government decisions? a. citizen control of the agenda b. effective participation c. enlightened understanding d. equality in voting Answer: a Topic: Traditional Democratic Theory Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16.

In a democracy, policies should reflect the will of more than half of the voters, which is known as the principle of __________. a. enlightened rule b. pluralism c. representation d. majority rule Answer: d Topic: Traditional Democratic Theory Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

Which theory of American democracy posits that group competition results in a rough approximation of the public interest in public policy? a. pluralism b. elitism c. balance-of-power theory d. elite-and-class theory Answer: a Topic: Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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18.

Which of the following is a central tenet of pluralism? a. Because most citizens fail to pay attention to serious issues, government has become an elite institution. b. Congress is stronger and more influential than the presidency is. c. Many groups vie for power with no one group dominating politics. d. Too many influential groups cripple government’s ability to govern.

Answer: c Topic: Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

Which theory of American democracy contends that American society is divided along class lines? a. pluralism b. policy gridlock c. balance of power d. elitism Answer: d Topic: Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

According to elitism, who has a disproportionate influence over government decisions? a. big business b. state governments c. ordinary citizens d. political parties Answer: a Topic: Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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21.

Which theory of American democracy holds that special interest groups have become so powerful that government is weakened and unable to operate effectively? a. pluralism b. hyperpluralism c. majority rule d. federalism Answer: b Topic: Three Contemporary Theories of American Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

What condition exists when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, yet each may be strong enough to thwart the will of the others? a. collective goods problems b. hyperpluralism c. policy gridlock d. single-issue groups Answer: c Topic: Challenges to Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

23.

A set of values widely shared within a society is referred to as __________. a. government b. politics c. public policy d. political culture Answer: d Topic: American Political Culture and Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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24.

What helps to explain why the United States has a smaller and more limited government than do most other advanced industrialized countries? a. the U.S. preference for laissez-faire economic policies b. the populist nature of U.S. federalism c. the single-member, simple plurality voting system d. the emphasis on egalitarianism in U.S. political culture Answer: a Topic: American Political Culture and Democracy Learning Objective: 1.4 Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

25.

Which of the following is most likely to be said by someone who believes in an active role for government? a. “There is more wisdom in millions of individuals making decisions in their own self-interest than in the government making decisions on their behalf.” b. “If government doesn’t address this problem, who will?” c. “As government expands, liberty contracts.” d. “The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

Answer: b Topic: The Scope of Government in America Learning Objective: 1.5 Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26.

How big is government in the United States? a. The national government spends about $10 billion annually. b. The national government employs almost one million Americans. c. The U.S. military employs more than 500 million soldiers. d. Governments in the United States spend about one-third of the gross domestic product.

Answer: d Topic: How Active Is American Government?

Learning Objective: 1.5 Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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27.

Which statement describes the Trump Administration’s plan for government spending in fiscal year 2019? a. The administration planned to run up an annual deficit. b. The administration planned for an annual surplus. c. The administration planned to eliminate the national debt. d. The administration planned to cut the national debt in half.

Answer: a Topic: How Active Is American Government?

Learning Objective: 1.5 Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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2 The Constitution  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Why is burning the flag is generally permissible? a. It is considered free speech. b. It is a symbol of the United States that Congress has the right to protect. c. It is a form of due process that is explicitly protected by the Bill of Rights. d. Because it is a commercial act, the government cannot regulate it.

Answer: a Topic: Politics in Action: Amending the Constitution Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

2.

Why did the British government impose taxes on the colonies? a. to punish the colonies for the French and Indian War b. to help pay the cost of defending the colonies c. to support the king’s lavish lifestyle d. to support a system of free and efficient public education Answer: b Topic: The Road to Revolution Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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3.

The colonists rebelled against the imposition by the British government of __________. a. taxes b. a military draft c. curfews d. religious laws Answer: a Topic: The Road to Revolution Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

Which of the following urged the colonies to become independent from Britain? a. Common Sense b. Leviathan c. Federalist 10 d. flag burning Answer: a Topic: Declaring Independence Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Which of the following issued the Declaration of Independence? a. the Common Sense Committee b. the Continental Congress c. the Committees of Correspondence d. the Constitutional Convention Answer: b Topic: Declaring Independence Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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6.

What is the name given to the rights that are inherent in all human beings and not dependent on government? a. natural rights b. positive rights c. intrinsic laws d. constitutional law Answer: a Topic: The English Heritage: The Power of Ideas Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

7.

Which of the following is a natural right that is specifically mentioned in the Declaration of Independence? a. liberty b. social equality c. tyranny d. universal suffrage Answer: a Topic: The English Heritage: The Power of Ideas Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8.

According to John Locke, what was the most important purpose of government? a. the education of the people b. the protection of private property c. the advancement of arts and literature d. economic and social equality Answer: b Topic: The English Heritage: The Power of Ideas Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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9.

Which of the following is a statement from the Constitution that was directly influenced by John Locke’s writings? a. “Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed” b. “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union” c. “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Power” d. “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

Answer: a Topic: The American Creed Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10.

Which of the following most directly increases the legitimacy of the U.S. government? a. the right to bear arms b. the divine right c. consent of the governed d. executive privilege Answer: c Topic: The American Creed Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

In what way was the American Revolution conservative? a. There were few casualties on either side during the Revolution. b. The colonists did not seek a great social, political, or economic upheaval. c. The Revolution created enduring class conflicts. d. The colonists fought for a whole new set of rights.

Answer: b Topic: The “Conservative” Revolution Learning Objective: 2.1 Describe the ideas behind the American Revolution and their role in shaping the Constitution.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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12.

What type of legislature did the United States have under the Articles of Confederation? a. a single chamber with membership based on a state’s population b. a single chamber with each state receiving equal power c. a single chamber whose members were appointed by the president d. two chambers with membership based on a state’s population in one and each state receiving equal power in the other Answer: b Topic: The Articles of Confederation Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Which of the following was a problem under the Articles of Confederation? a. The national government was too strong compared to the states. b. Amendments were too easy to ratify. c. Congress imposed excessive taxes. d. Congress lacked the authority to regulate commerce.

Answer: d Topic: The Articles of Confederation Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14.

The Articles of Confederation required __________ consent from the states for ratification. a. plurality b majority c. two-thirds d. unanimous Answer: d Topic: The Articles of Confederation Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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15.

__________ was a protest by Massachusetts farmers to stop foreclosures by state courts. a. The Whiskey Rebellion b. The Boston Tea Party c. The aborted Annapolis meeting d. Shays’s Rebellion Answer: d Topic: Economic Turmoil Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation? a. The Constitution was based on democratic principles; the Articles of Confederation was based on tyrannical principles. b. The Constitution contained strong protections for individual rights; the Articles of Confederation contained strong protections for collective rights. c. The Constitution created a stronger national government than did the Articles of Confederation. d. The Constitution contained stronger safeguards for states’ rights than did the Articles of Confederation.

Answer: c Topic: The Articles of Confederation; Writing a Constitution: The Philadelphia Convention Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure.; 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17.

The U.S. Constitution was adopted in response to the weaknesses of which document? a. The Second Treatise of Civil Government b. Common Sense c. the Declaration of Independence d. the Articles of Confederation Answer: d Topic: Writing a Constitution: The Philadelphia Convention Learning Objective: 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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18.

Which of the following accurately describes the Constitutional Convention? a. The delegates spent most of their time trying to figure out how to revise the Articles of Confederation. b. Many of the delegates were economic elites. c. The Convention was free of significant disagreement. d. The Convention included representatives of the British government.

Answer: b Topic: Gentlemen in Philadelphia Learning Objective: 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

The authors of the Constitution viewed humans as naturally __________. a. compassionate b. empathetic c. self-interested d. communal Answer: c Topic: Philosophy into Action Learning Objective: 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

According to James Madison in Federalist 10, what is the most common source of political conflict? Or, in his words, what is the “most common and durable source of factions”? a. dissatisfaction with government policies b. excessive taxation c. family discord d. the unequal distribution of wealth Answer: d Topic: Philosophy into Action Learning Objective: 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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21.

Which of the following is a reason for the separation of powers? a. to ensure the power of the executive b. to promote the general welfare c. to prevent tyranny by any one branch d. to prevent gridlock in government Answer: c Topic: Philosophy into Action Learning Objective: 2.3 Describe the delegates to the Constitutional Convention and the core ideas they shared.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

22.

Which of the following was part of both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution? a. a congress b. the presidency c. the federal judiciary d. federal taxes Answer: a Topic: The Articles of Confederation; The Equality Issues Learning Objective: 2.2 Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to its failure; 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

23.

What was the subject of the New Jersey Plan? a. the legality of slavery b. the structure of the legislative branch d. the number of Supreme Court justices e. the structure of the executive branch Answer: b Topic: The Equality Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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24.

During the Constitutional Convention, how did Virginia and other large states want representation in Congress to be determined? a. equal representation for each state b. according to the amount of taxes paid to the national government c. according to population d. according to the number of troops contributed to the national army Answer: c Topic: The Equality Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

What did the Connecticut Compromise help to establish? a. the Senate and the House of Representatives b. the federalist system c. an independent judiciary d. universal male suffrage Answer: a Topic: The Equality Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

In most cases, the president is officially selected by __________. a. Congress b. state legislatures c. the Electoral College d. direct popular election Answer: c Topic: The Equality Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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27.

The Constitution limits the government’s ability to suspend writs of habeas corpus. What does this protect individuals against? a. free speech infringement b. taxation of private property c. unlawful detention d. infringement of religious freedom Answer: c Topic: The Individual Rights Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

The Constitution prohibits imposing __________ qualifications for holding national office. a. residency b. age c. religious d. citizenship Answer: c Topic: The Individual Rights Issues Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

What was Madison’s concern regarding tyranny of the majority? a. Tyrants can use brute force to yield desirable policy outcomes despite the wishes of the majority. b. The poorly educated majority could elect the wrong sort of president and Congress. c. Elites could operate tyrannically at great expense to the electoral process. d. A majority of the public could infringe on the rights of a minority.

Answer: d Topic: Thwarting the Tyranny of the Majority Learning Objective: 2.5 Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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30.

What is the feature of the Constitution that allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches? a. weights and measures b. checks and balances c. oversight and influence d. privileges and immunities Answer: b Topic: Thwarting the Tyranny of the Majority Learning Objective: 2.5 Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

Which branch of government is responsible for passing laws? a. bureaucratic b. judicial c. executive d. legislative Answer: d Topic: Thwarting the Tyranny of the Majority Learning Objective: 2.5 Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32.

Which of the following is a form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws? a. republic b. monarchy c. theocracy d. oligarchy Answer: a Topic: The Constitutional Republic Learning Objective: 2.5 Analyze how the components of the Madisonian system addressed the dilemma of reconciling majority rule with the protection of minority interests.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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33.

Which of the following was written to encourage ratification of the Constitution and remains a compelling source for determining the intent of the Framers? a. the Declaration of Independence b. the Federalist Papers c. Common Sense d. Two Treatises on Government Answer: b Topic: Ratifying the Constitution Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Which of the following documents did the Federalists support? a. Marbury v. Madison b. the Constitution c. the Articles of Confederation d. the writ of habeas corpus Answer: b Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

35.

Who was most in favor of a strong state government and a weak national government? a. Daniel Shays b. Gregory Johnson c. Federalists d. Anti-Federalists Answer: d Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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36.

What was the biggest concern about the newly drafted Constitution during the debates over ratification? a. that the Constitution should have required unanimous approval from the states for ratification b. that the Constitution did not sufficiently protect individual liberties c. that the proposed national government would be not be strong enough to protect the new nation d. that the states in present-day Canada were not included in the new nation Answer: b Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which of the following most directly protects individuals’ civil liberties? a. The Second Treatise of Civil Government b. the Federalist Papers c. the Bill of Rights d. the Declaration of Independence Answer: c Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38.

Which of the following is included in the Bill of Rights? a. direct election of the president and Congress b. freedom from want c. “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” d. protection of defendants’ rights Answer: d Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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39.

Which of the following were most likely to oppose the proposed Constitution? a. lawyers b. merchants c. small farmers d. large landowners Answer: c Topic: Federalists and Anti-Federalists Learning Objective: 2.6 Compare and contrast the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in terms of their background and their positions regarding government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

Which of the following is a procedure for amending the Constitution? a. proposed by three-fourths vote in each house of Congress and ratified by twothirds vote in each house during the next session of Congress b. proposed by the president and ratified by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress c. proposed by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress and ratified by conventions in three-fourths of the states d. proposed by a national constitutional convention called by a two-thirds majority of states and ratified by a three-fourths vote in each house of Congress Answer: c Topic: The Formal Amending Process Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

41.

Which of the following is a method for proposing constitutional amendments? a. by a majority of voting-age citizens b. by a majority of state governors c. by a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress d. by a two-thirds vote in a special election called for the purpose of voting on the amendment Answer: c Topic: The Formal Amending Process Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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42.

The meaning of the Constitution can change through __________. a. judicial interpretation b. national referendum c. congressional inaction d. natural law Answer: a Topic: The Informal Processes of Constitutional Change Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

Which of the following resulted from changing political practice rather than from a formal constitutional amendment or judicial interpretation? a. the Equal Rights Amendment b. the two-party system c. the Bill of Rights d. the constitutionally protected right to an abortion Answer: b Topic: The Informal Processes of Constitutional Change Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

44.

How many amendments have been made to the Constitution since its ratification? a. 10 b. 27 c. 436 d. 2,876 Answer: b Topic: The Importance of Flexibility Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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45.

How is voter eligibility determined? a. by Congress b. by states c. by counties d. through the constitutional provision for universal suffrage.

Answer: b Topic: The Constitution and Democracy Learning Objective: 2.8 Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16 ..

3 Federalism  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which of the following is the best definition of federalism? a. a constitutional arrangement by which two or more levels of government share formal authority over the same area and people b. a constitutional arrangement concentrating power in a central government c. a loose association of states created by a strong central government d. a loose association of states with mutually recognized compacts but no central government Answer: a Topic: Defining Federalism Learning Objective: 3.1 Define federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

What kind of government does the United States have? a. confederal b. direct democracy c. federal d. unitary Answer: c Topic: Defining Federalism Learning Objective: 3.1 Define federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

In a(n) __________ government, local and regional governments derive authority from the national government. a. unitary b. bicameral c. confederate d. federal Answer: a Topic: Defining Federalism Learning Objective: 3.1 Define federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4.

What type of government did the United States have before adopting the Constitution? a. confederation b. bicameral c. federal d. unitary Answer: a Topic: Defining Federalism Learning Objective: 3.1 Define federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

Which of the following is a confederation? a. the United States b. the United Nations c. Great Britain d. China Answer: b Topic: Defining Federalism Learning Objective: 3.1 Define federalism and contrast it with alternative ways of organizing a nation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2 ..

6.

How common are federal systems throughout the world? a. Only a few nations have a federal system. b. About half of the nations have a federal system. c. Most nations have a federal system. d. All nations except for Argentina and Botswana have a federal system.

Answer: a Topic: Why Federalism?

Learning Objective: 3.2 Characterize the type of nation typically associated with federalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

Which statement is true about the powers granted to the states in the Constitution? a. Article I, Section 8, says that states have all powers that are necessary to exercise their enumerated powers. b. The Ninth Amendment specifies which powers belong to the states. c. The Constitution is more specific about the powers that states do not have than about those that they do. d. The powers given to states are listed in the Constitution’s implied powers clause.

Answer: c Topic: The Division of Power Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8.

The Constitution denies the states the power to __________. a. coin money b. create courts c. establish schools d. operate prisons Answer: a Topic: The Division of Power Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

Which of the following powers is one that the Constitution denies to the states? a. establishing criminal laws b. entering into treaties c. imposing taxes d. supervising contracts between individuals Answer: b Topic: The Division of Power Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Which of the following is a power that states and the federal government share? a. controlling the money supply b. raising and maintaining an army c. establishing a post office d. taxing Answer: d Topic: The Division of Power Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11.

The preemption of state and local laws by federal laws is based on which clause of the U.S. Constitution? a. supremacy b. due process c. equal protection d. full faith and credit Answer: a Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

What does it mean for federal law to be supreme in conflicts between federal and state law? a. Federal laws are limited by state laws. b. Federal laws are derived from natural law; state laws are not. c. Federal laws are applied first and state laws are applied last. d. State laws cannot conflict with federal laws.

Answer: d Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

__________ helped establish the preeminence of the federal government over the states. a. The Revolutionary War b. The Civil War c. World War I d. The Vietnam War Answer: b Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

According to the Tenth Amendment, to whom do the powers of government belong if they are not given to the federal government? a. Congress or the president b. the states or the people c. the judiciary d. the Constitution or the Bill of Rights Answer: b Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

15.

The Eleventh Amendment __________. a. prevents states from taxing the national bank b. ensures equal protection of the law c. limits the ability of private individuals to sue states d. replaces dual federalism with cooperative federalism Answer: c Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

Which clause of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court interpret in McCulloch v. Maryland as allowing Congress to create a national bank? a. commerce b. necessary and proper c. due process d. equal protection Answer: b Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

What are implied powers? a. those that are necessary and proper for executing the enumerated powers b. those that are explicitly listed in the Constitution c. those that protect individuals’ fundamental freedoms d. those that have been added as amendments to the Constitution Answer: a Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

Which of the following is an implied power of the federal government? a. admitting new states b. establishing a national bank c. declaring war d. establishing federal courts Answer: b Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

19.

The power to regulate immigration is a(n) __________ power. a. federal b. state c. implied d. reserved Answer: a Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

Which of the following is one of Congress’s most important sources of power? a. regulating commerce b. organizing a nation c. defining federalism d. managing intergovernmental relations Answer: a Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

7 ..

21.

In Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court held that Congress has broad authority to regulate __________. a. interstate commerce b. education c. interest rates d. religion Answer: a Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22.

In United States v. Lopez, the U.S. Supreme Court scrutinized the use of which of the following powers as related to the possession of firearms in public schools? a. educational b. national defense c. taxing d. commerce Answer: d Topic: National Supremacy Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

23.

Which clause in the Constitution ensures that judicial decrees and contracts made in one state will be binding and enforceable in another? a. commerce b. full faith and credit c. due process d. equal protection Answer: b Topic: States’ Obligations to Each other Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

8 ..

24.

The Constitution says that states are required to return a person charged with a crime in another state to that state for trial or imprisonment, a practice called __________. a. implied powers b. sequestration c. change of venue d. extradition Answer: d Topic: States’ Obligations to Each Other Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

25.

The privileges and immunities clause prohibits states from discriminating against which of the following? a. the poor b. the federal government c. minority citizens d. citizens of other states Answer: d Topic: States’ Obligations to Each Other Learning Objective: 3.3 Outline the constitutional basis for the division of power between national and state governments, the establishment of national supremacy, and states’ obligations to each other.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

Which type of federalism is characterized by a system of state and national governments with separate authority? a. combined b. cooperative c. dual d. progressive Answer: c Topic: From Dual to Cooperative Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9 ..

27.

Which model of federalism holds that national and state powers should be distinct and that national powers should be interpreted narrowly? a. cooperative federalism b. dual federalism c. progressive federalism d. marble-cake federalism Answer: b Topic: From Dual to Cooperative Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

In __________, powers are shared by the federal and state governments, a type of system likened to a marble cake. a. cooperative federalism b. dual federalism c. a confederal system d. a unitary government Answer: a Topic: From Dual to Cooperative Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29.

The fact that both state and federal governments make transportation policies illustrates __________. a. cooperative federalism b. constitutional government c. a federal government system d. unified government Answer: a Topic: From Dual to Cooperative Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10 ..

30.

What change is most consistent with devolution? a. more focus on foreign policy issues and less focus on domestic issues b. transferring policy responsibility from the federal government to state and local governments c. additional laws that would make it more difficult to obtain an abortion d. balancing the budget Answer: b Topic: Devolution?

Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

Which of the following best exemplifies devolution? a. New Deal legislation b. No Child Left Behind Act c. welfare policy d. Equal Opportunity Act Answer: c Topic: Devolution?

Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

32.

Which would a proponent of devolution be most likely to support? a. additional military schools b. increased discretion for states in how they enforce the Endangered Species Act c. middle-class tax cuts d. single-payer healthcare Answer: b Topic: Devolution?

Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11 ..

33.

Which of the following is an example of fiscal federalism? a. an education task force b. gas mileage requirements c. grants-in-aid d. minimum wage legislation Answer: c Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Which of the following is most likely to be a categorical grant? a. funds provided by Congress to the states for education in general b. funds provided by Congress to the states for substance abuse prevention c. funds provided by Congress to the states for transportation infrastructure d. funds provided by Congress to the states to enhance science education in a low-income area Answer: d Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35.

Why would the federal government include a crossover sanction in a categorical grant? a. to encourage states to do what the federal government wants b. to distribute grant money fairly and equitably across political jurisdictions c. to ensure compliance with the supremacy clause d. to prevent future presidential administrations from terminating the grant Answer: a Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

12 ..

36.

__________ grants allocate federal dollars based on such criteria as population, per capita income, or some other factor. a. Block b. Formula c. Commerce d. Diversified Answer: b Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which of the following is an example of a formula grant? a. the Clean Air Act b. military funding c. a child nutrition program d. congressional salaries Answer: c Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38.

Which of the following is given more or less automatically by the federal government to a state that then has broad discretion in deciding how to spend the money? a. block grants b. categorical grants c. project grants d. formula grants with crosscutting requirements Answer: a Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13 ..

39.

What is a mandate? a. an order from the federal government requiring the states to take a certain action b. an order from a state government requiring a certain federal action c. an order from the federal government prohibiting the states from taking a certain action d. an order from a state government prohibiting a federal action Answer: a Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

40.

Which is an example of a federal mandate? a. The Supreme Court upholds a federal law requiring all citizens to wear a seatbelt while operating a motor vehicle. b. Congress passes a law requiring all states to adopt a sex offender registry system. c. The Environmental Protection Agency sends money to Texas to help with cleanup from a hurricane. d. The Nevada legislature passes a law requiring all public school teachers to spend 20 hours per week preparing students for the state achievement test.

Answer: b Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

41.

Many local school districts complained that the No Child Left Behind Act was a(n) __________ because it did not provide enough funding to implement the law. a. block grant b. unfunded mandate c. categorical grant d. programmatic request Answer: b Topic: Fiscal Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

14 ..

42.

An advantage of federalism is that it allows states to __________. a. restrict civil rights for members of disliked groups b. try public policies to see how well they work c. have uniform policies d. be supreme over the national government Answer: b Topic: Diversity in Policy Learning Objective: 3.5 Explain the consequences of federalism for diversity in public policies among the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

A disadvantage of federalism is that __________. a. the quality of policies can vary from state to state b. states can figure out which policies work best for them c. citizens can choose to live in those areas that have the policies they prefer d. the state governments can nullify laws passed by Congress Answer: a Topic: Diversity in Policy Learning Objective: 3.5 Explain the consequences of federalism for diversity in public policies among the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

44.

Which of the following best describes the death penalty in the United States? a. All death penalty cases are handled by the federal government. b. Some states allow the death penalty and others do not. c. All states allow the death penalty. d. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that all death penalty statutes are unconstitutional.

Answer: b Topic: Diversity in Policy Learning Objective: 3.5 Explain the consequences of federalism for diversity in public policies among the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

15 ..

45.

The Framers adopted a federal system of government partly because they feared __________. a. centralizing power in the national government b. limiting the national government c. regulating interstate commerce d. the power of states Answer: a Topic: Federalism and Democracy Learning Objective: 3.6 Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

46.

How does federalism contribute to democracy? a. It increases citizens’ access to government. b. It increases the gross domestic product. c. It lowers voter turnout. d. It lowers overall tax rates.

Answer: a Topic: Federalism and Democracy Learning Objective: 3.6 Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

47.

In which of the following ways does federalism hinder democracy? a. It increases deliberation about important policy issues. b. It centralizes politics so as to complicate the decision-making process. c. It burdens and confuses citizens with a vast network of governments. d. It allows citizens significantly more opportunities to participate in politics.

Answer: c Topic: Federalism and Democracy Learning Objective: 3.6 Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16 ..

48.

Why has the public typically turned to the national government to address its needs instead of turning to the state governments? a. The states lack the authority to do those things that the national government does, such as create a space agency. b. Citizens have greater trust in the national government than in state governments. c. The national government has more authority and resources to address such problems. d. The Constitution specifies that the public must first take public policy proposals to the national government before taking them to the state governments.

Answer: c Topic: Federalism and the Scope of the National Government Learning Objective: 3.6 Assess the impact of federalism on democratic government and the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17 ..

4 Civil Liberties and Public Policy  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

What did the Supreme Court decide about whether student fees at public universities can be used to sponsor groups that some students find objectionable? a. Such fees unconstitutionally infringe on the freedom of speech of students who do not want their fees spent to support such groups. b. Such fees can only be distributed to groups that do not address political or ideological issues. c. Such fees can only be distributed to those groups for which there is another group with countervailing opinions. d. Such fees are permissible as long as they are distributed in a content-neutral way.

Answer: d Topic: Politics in Action: Free Speech on Campus Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

In Barron v. Baltimore, the Supreme Court held that the Bill of Rights limits __________, not __________, activity. a. federal; state b. state; federal c. commercial; noncommercial d. noncommercial; commercial Answer: a Topic: The Bill of Rights and the States Learning Objective: 4.1 Trace the process by which the courts have applied the Bill of Rights to the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

Gitlow v. New York was fundamental in establishing which doctrine? a. eminent domain b. free exercise c. symbolic speech d. incorporation Answer: d Topic: The Bill of Rights and the States Learning Objective: 4.1 Trace the process by which the courts have applied the Bill of Rights to the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

The incorporation doctrine makes the protections of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states through which of the following amendments? a. Fourth b. Fifth c. Tenth d. Fourteenth Answer: d Topic: The Bill of Rights and the States Learning Objective: 4.1 Trace the process by which the courts have applied the Bill of Rights to the states.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

Which clause of the Constitution prevents the national government from sanctioning an official religion? a. establishment b. due process c. full faith and credit d. equal protection Answer: a Topic: Freedom of Religion Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2 ..

6.

Which is part of the Supreme Court’s test for the constitutionality of religious establishment issues as established in Lemon v. Kurtzman? a. The law must have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion. b. The law must have a parochial legislative purpose. c. The law must take into account local community religious standards. d. The law must foster an excessive government “entanglement” with religion.

Answer: a Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, the Supreme Court upheld a state program providing families with vouchers that could be used to __________. a. pay tuition at religious schools b. get birth control c. seek medical treatment d. receive free or reduced price meals Answer: a Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

What did the Supreme Court find to be unconstitutional under the School District of Abington, Pennsylvania v. Schempp ruling? a. state-mandated Bible recitations b. forced sterilization c. segregated education d. imprisonment without a trial Answer: a Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

3 ..

9.

Which of the following generally is unconstitutional in school? a. political speech b. learning about religion c. free speech d. mandatory prayer Answer: d Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10.

What has the Supreme Court said about prayer in public schools? a. School officials cannot encourage prayer. b. Only silent prayer is allowed in public schools. c. All prayer in public schools is prohibited. d. Prayers at graduation ceremonies are generally permissible.

Answer: a Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

What has the Supreme Court decided about government displays of the Ten Commandments? a. Displays of the Ten Commandments by the government are not permissible, but government can invite private individuals to display the Ten Commandments on public property. b. Displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms are protected as permissible freedom of expression by teachers. c. Displays of the Ten Commandments or other subjects that have religious content or promote a message consistent with a religious doctrine run afoul of the establishment clause. d. Passive displays of the Ten Commandments in historical context may be constitutional.

Answer: d Topic: The Establishment Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

The free exercise clause states that the national government will not interfere with which of the following? a. education b. business practices c. speech d. religious practices Answer: d Topic: The Free Exercise Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13.

Which of the following best represents the reasoning used by the Supreme Court in Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. City of Hialeah, in which the Court overturned a city ordinance prohibiting the ritual killing of animals as part of religious ceremonies? a. Any law banning a religious practice must be passed at the state level, not at the local level. b. People must be free to practice their religion no matter what it involves. c. A government that permits other forms of killing animals may not ban sacrifices. d. The establishment clause protects the city’s ordinance.

Answer: c Topic: The Free Exercise Clause Learning Objective: 4.2 Distinguish the two types of religious rights protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14.

Prohibiting a newspaper from publishing a story critical of the government is an example of __________. a. probable cause b. prior restraint c. the Roth test d. symbolic speech Answer: b Topic: Prior Restraint Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

5 ..

15.

Near v. Minnesota was a landmark Supreme Court case involving which of the following? a. exclusionary rule b. due process clause c. prior restraint d. free exercise clause Answer: c Topic: Prior Restraint Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

16.

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 Answer: d Topic: Prior Restraint Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

During World War I, the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Charles T. Schenck, ruling that government can limit speech that __________. a. is critical of the government b. qualifies as prior restraint c. creates a clear and present danger d. qualifies as hate speech Answer: c Topic: Free Speech and Public Order Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

In Roth v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court held that, to be considered __________, material must be utterly without social importance. a. legal b. obscene c. hate speech d. fighting words Answer: b Topic: Obscenity Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

19.

Why is it hard to enforce obscenity laws? a. It is hard to determine what is lewd or offensive. b. The Supreme Court has never addressed the issue. c. There are few statutes or ordnances prohibiting obscenity. d. The government must demonstrate that the work, taken as a whole, contains “literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

Answer: a Topic: Freedom of Expression Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

20.

A false and malicious written statement could be considered __________; the same statement spoken aloud could be considered __________. a. slander; defamation b. slander; libel c. libel; defamation d. libel; slander Answer: d Topic: Libel and Slander Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

7 ..

21.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan held that there must be proof of which of the following in order to find libel against a public figure? a. property loss b. actual malice c. witnesses d. a written record Answer: b Topic: Libel and Slander Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that government workers who choose not to join unions cannot be required to help pay for collective bargaining; such payments __________. a. violate the rights of union members to assemble with whomever they choose b. infringe on freedom of speech because they may force workers to endorse political messages with which they disagree c. violate the commerce clause by requiring unions to represent non-union workers during collective bargaining d. are not content-neutral and favor workers over managers Answer: b Topic: Compelled Speech Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

23.

According to the Supreme Court, can a state require “crisis pregnancy centers” to provide information about abortion? a. Yes, because states can regulate the time, place, and manner of such speech. b. Yes, because clients are not required to read the information in order to receive services. c. No, the requirement violates the centers’ freedom of speech. d. No, the requirement is an excessive government entanglement in the free exercise of legitimate religious practice.

Answer: c Topic: Compelled Speech Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8 ..

24.

How did the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission affect campaign spending? a. It upheld Congress’s restrictions on political spending as established in the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. b. It upheld Congress’s limits on campaign contributions and political spending by business interests. c. It struck down limits on spending on political broadcasts by labor unions and corporations. d. It struck down laws that require political campaigns to disclose the names of contributors.

Answer: c Topic: Campaign Spending Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

Which freedom is most closely associated with the rights to parade, picket, and protest? a. assembly b. speech c. press d. petition the government for a redress of grievances Answer: a Topic: Right to Assemble Learning Objective: 4.4 Describe the rights to assemble and associate protected by the First Amendment and their limitations.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

Which potential law is most likely to be constitutional? a. Citizens cannot conceal guns that they carry in a crowded place. b. Citizens cannot use guns for self-defense. c. Citizens must keep trigger locks on guns that they carry in public. d. Only those in the military can own a gun.

Answer: a Topic: Right to Bear Arms Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe the right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment and its limitations.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

9 ..

27.

Which Supreme Court case upheld an individual’s right to have a gun in his or her home for self-defense? a. Griswold v. Connecticut b. Gideon v. Wainwright c. Miranda v. Arizona d. District of Columbia v. Heller Answer: d Topic: Right to Bear Arms Learning Objective: 4.5 Describe the right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment and its limitations.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

28.

The Bill of Rights protects citizens from __________. a. exposure to hate speech b. unreasonable search and seizure c. economic inequality d. trial by jury Answer: b Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

If a police officer has a reasonable belief that someone is engaged in criminal activity, that officer can stop and frisk the suspect __________. a. only if that person gives consent b. only if the officer plans to arrest that person c. without getting a warrant d. only if there are three witnesses Answer: c Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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30.

Which rule bars the use of illegally seized evidence at trial? a. double jeopardy b. right to pay c. prior restraint d. exclusionary Answer: d Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

31.

Which government searches are prohibited by the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution? a. warrantless searches b. stop-and-frisk searches c. unreasonable searches d. searches without the consent of the person being searched Answer: c Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

32.

The USA Patriot Act enhances the government’s ability to do which of the following? a. examine private records b. take personal property c. imprison citizens without trial d. issue pardons for those accused of war crimes Answer: a Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

33.

As amended in 2008, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows government officials to use broad warrants for surveillance of which of the following? a. text messages on employer-paid devices b. locations of automobiles c. the communications of foreign suspects d. the hard drives of personal computers and laptops Answer: c Topic: Searches and Seizures Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Miranda rights require that the police inform suspects that they have which of the following rights? a. to make a phone call b. to a quick and speedy trial c. to a jury trial d. to speak to an attorney Answer: d Topic: Self-Incrimination Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35.

Which of the following best describes entrapment, which the courts have determined to be prohibited under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution? a. when individuals are not read their due process rights b. when individuals are coerced into making statements during interrogations c. when individuals are coerced to commit crimes d. when individuals are not notified of their right to remain silent Answer: c Topic: Self-Incrimination Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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36.

Which right is guaranteed to those accused of a crime? a. the right to counsel b. the right to parole c. the right to bail d. the right to select the judge who will preside at your trial Answer: a Topic: The Right to Counsel Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

37.

The double jeopardy clause prevents an individual who is acquitted of a crime from __________. a. seeking the assistance of an attorney b. being tried again for the same crime c. asserting innocence d. benefiting financially from that crime Answer: b Topic: Trials Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38.

Which of the following rights does a criminal defendant have? a. the right to a trial within 48 hours of arrest b. the right to a lawyer at no cost to the defendant c. the right to determine the jury that will decide his or her case d. the right to know potentially exonerating evidence Answer: d Topic: Trials Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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39.

When a defendant in a criminal case agrees to plead guilty in exchange for concessions from the prosecutor, the case has been resolved by __________. a. a civil trial b. peremptory challenges c. plea bargaining d. the exclusionary rule Answer: c Topic: Trials Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

40.

What has the Supreme Court said about the rights of detainees held by the U.S. government at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba? a. Congress can revoke detainees’ bills of attainder. b. Detainees do not have the right to assistance of counsel because they are not on U.S. soil. c. Detainees are not subject to U.S. laws or treaties because they are illegal enemy combats and not prisoners of war. d. Detainees have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.

Answer: d Topic: Trials Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

41.

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 was ruled unconstitutional because it violated detainees’ rights to __________. a. an appeal b. habeas corpus c. bills of attainder d. motions for summary judgment Answer: b Topic: Trials Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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42.

Opponents of the death penalty argue that it is unconstitutional because it __________. a. ensures due process b. is cruel and unusual punishment c. it violates the establishment clause d. is a form of unreasonable search and seizure Answer: b Topic: Cruel and Unusual Punishment Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

What is the status of the death penalty in the United States? a. It was prohibited by the Supreme Court because its implementation was deemed to be cruel and unusual punishment. b. In Gregg v. Georgia, it was deemed appropriate in some cases. c. It is temporarily on hold while the Supreme Court determines whether it discriminates against minorities. d. It was outlawed by Congress during President Barack Obama’s first year in office.

Answer: b Topic: Cruel and Unusual Punishment Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

44.

The Supreme Court overturned a Connecticut law that prohibited the use of contraception by relying on the implied constitutional right to __________. a. sexual freedom b. family c. commerce d. privacy Answer: d Topic: Is There a Right to Privacy?

Learning Objective: 4.7 Outline the evolution of a right to privacy and its application to the issue of abortion.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

15 ..

45.

Which of the following created the right to privacy? a. the judiciary b. the bureaucracy c. the president d. the legislature Answer: a Topic: Is There a Right to Privacy?

Learning Objective: 4.7 Outline the evolution of a right to privacy and its application to the issue of abortion.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

46.

In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court find that a woman’s right to have an abortion is protected by the implied constitutional right to privacy? a. Board of Regents of University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth b. Gitlow v. New York c. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan d. Roe v. Wade Answer: d Topic: Controversy over Abortion Learning Objective: 4.7 Outline the evolution of a right to privacy and its application to the issue of abortion.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

47.

According to Roe v. Wade, what could a state do if it wanted to limit a woman’s right to an abortion during her first trimester? a. The state could do very little to limit a woman’s right to an abortion. b. The state could discourage such abortions by enacting regulations. c. The state could ban the abortion unless the mother’s life was in danger. d. The state could ban all such abortions.

Answer: a Topic: Controversy over Abortion Learning Objective: 4.7 Outline the evolution of a right to privacy and its application to the issue of abortion.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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48.

The Supreme Court has ruled that states can limit abortions if the regulations do not pose __________. a. an inconvenient truth b. any additional constraints c. a prior restraint d. an undue burden Answer: d Topic: Controversy over Abortion Learning Objective: 4.7 Outline the evolution of a right to privacy and its application to the issue of abortion.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

49.

Which statement best expresses the outcome of conflicts involving civil liberties in the United States? a. When individuals attempt to express themselves and the government tries to constrain them, the individuals usually win. b. Individuals must be prepared to make sacrifices so that government can protect civil liberties. c. Because civil liberties are essential to democracy, the majority’s wishes must take precedence in any debate involving civil liberties. d. Individuals are free to express themselves in any way they wish; the government cannot constrain or otherwise restrict them.

Answer: a Topic: Civil Liberties and the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 4.8 Assess how civil liberties affect democratic government and how they both limit and expand the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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5 Civil Rights and Public Policy  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

What event in Montgomery, Alabama, kicked off a massive protest phase of the civil rights movement? a. the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education b. Homer Plessy’s arrest for using a segregated railway car c. Rosa Parks’s arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus d. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Launching the Civil Rights Movement Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2.

What sort of equality do Americans tend to support? a. equal rewards b. equal results c. equal opportunity d. equal distribution of property Answer: c Topic: Conceptions of Equality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

What provision of the Fourteenth Amendment has served as the principle tool used to win equality for certain groups? a. the all men are created equal clause b. the equal protection clause c. the privileges and immunities clause d. the Equal Rights Amendment Answer: b Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

Adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment was an attempt to guarantee which of the following to former slaves? a. property b. debt forgiveness c. economic equality with whites d. citizenship rights Answer: d Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

Which of the following policies would be the most likely to be examined by the Supreme Court using the inherently suspect standard to determine its constitutionality? a. Male and female student athletes cannot compete on the same basketball team at the university level. b. Businesses cannot discriminate against gays and lesbians in hiring and promotion decisions. c. Those without a college degree are not eligible for upper-level civil service jobs. d. Only African American students can attend a charter school that operates in an economically depressed neighborhood.

Answer: d Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2 ..

6.

If you thought you were receiving an inferior public education because of your ethnicity, which part of the Constitution would you rely on most heavily to justify your case? a. the Equal Rights Amendment b. the Thirteenth Amendment c. the Fourteenth Amendment d. the Nineteenth Amendment Answer: c Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7.

How do the inherently suspect and reasonable standards differ? a. The inherently suspect standard relies on observation; the reasonableness standard relies on data. b. Under the inherently suspect standard, a law is presumed to be valid; under the reasonableness standard, a law is presumed to be invalid. c. The inherently suspect standard is a higher threshold for determining whether a law is constitutional. d. The inherently suspect standard evaluates whether a law is rationally connected to a legitimate government goal; the reasonableness standard evaluates whether a law is the least restrictive way to achieve that goal.

Answer: c Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8.

To which of the following would the Supreme Court most likely apply the intermediate scrutiny standard of review to determine whether it 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. specifying a different minimum age for men to marry than for women to marry Answer: d Topic: The Constitution and Inequality Learning Objective: 5.1 Differentiate the Supreme Court’s three standards of review for classifying people under the equal protection clause Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3 ..

9.

In Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court declared that African Americans were __________. a. separate but equal b. citizens c. eligible to vote d. property or chattel Answer: d Topic: Slavery Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

In the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, the Supreme Court held that __________. a. only Congress could ban slavery b. black men were citizens but black women were not c. the Missouri Compromise was unconstitutional d. slavery was immoral and unnecessary Answer: c Topic: Slavery Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

What was reconstruction? a. the struggle for newly freed slaves to gain the right to vote, especially in the South b. the gradual elimination of both Black Codes and Jim Crow laws c. the refusal of Southern states to abide by the Fourteenth Amendment until forced to do so by the Supreme Court d. the period after the Civil War when the South was occupied by the federal government Answer: d Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4 ..

12.

Which of the following happened during reconstruction? a. Most African American men were banned from holding political office because they did not own property. b. Many former Confederate soldiers and officers held public office and restricted the rights of former slaves. c. Most African Americans moved to northern cities. d. Many African American men held state and federal offices.

Answer: d Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Which requirement would be considered a Jim Crow law? a. Only residents are allowed to vote in municipal elections. b. Movie theaters must be racially segregated. c. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average to attend a public university. d. Colleges must provide equal programming for men and women.

Answer: b Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Apply What You Know

14.

According to the Supreme Court’s decisions in the Civil Rights Cases (1883), in which of the following areas could racial discrimination occur? a. juries b. hotels c. post offices d. running for office Answer: b Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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15.

In the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, what rationale did the Supreme Court rely on when deciding that segregation in transportation was permissible? a. Segregation in public facilities was not unconstitutional as long as the separate facilities were substantially equal. b. Segregation was important for maintaining social order, a prerequisite for racial equality. c. Jim Crow laws helped African Americans to achieve equality by building character through overcoming adversity. d. The equal protection clause applied only to the actions of the federal government, not to actions of private businesses and individuals.

Answer: a Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16.

What strategy did civil rights activists use to fight against school segregation? a. boycotts b. protests c. lawsuits d. marches and rallies Answer: c Topic: Equal Education Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

17.

What was the Supreme Court’s justification for its decision in Brown v. Board of Education? a. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 overturned the separate-but-equal doctrine. b. The separate-but-equal doctrine was never intended to apply to people. c. The quality of life for African Americans in the South had deteriorated considerably since the adoption of the separate-but-equal doctrine. d. School segregation violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection.

Answer: d Topic: Equal Education Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

18.

Which of the following is an example of de jure segregation? a. Jim Crow laws b. the tendency for churches to be racially homogeneous c. the small number of African American senators d. sequestering a jury to ensure a fair trial Answer: a Topic: Equal Education Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19.

The freedom riders used civil disobedience to help end which form of discrimination in the South? a. lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan b. racial segregation c. racial quotas d. voter discrimination Answer: b Topic: The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

20.

Which of the following does the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ban? a. poll taxes and grandfather clauses b. racial discrimination in public accommodations c. nonviolent resistance d. discrimination based on sexual orientation Answer: b Topic: The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

21.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was designed to overturn which of the following? a. integration b. Jim Crow laws c. nonviolent resistance d. Reconstruction Answer: b Topic: The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

22.

How are the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 similar? a. They both were enacted quickly and easily. b. They both passed the inherently suspect test administered by the Supreme Court. c. They both addressed equal rights for African Americans. d. They both addressed equal rights for women.

Answer: c Topic: The Civil Rights Movement and Public Policy Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

23.

Why did Southern legislatures enact literacy tests? a. to grant citizenship to all those whose grandfathers lived in the United States b. to prevent women from voting c. to prevent African Americans from voting d. to limit the employment opportunities available to African Americans Answer: c Topic: Voting Rights Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24.

Why did states enact poll taxes? a. to raise revenue for the government b. to ensure that only people who really want to vote would do so c. to get around the Fifteenth Amendment d. to enfranchise former slaves Answer: c Topic: Voting Rights Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

25.

After reconstruction, which of the following was used to prevent African Americans from having a meaningful impact on the outcome of elections? a. Jim Crow laws b. white primaries c. minority-majority districts d. affirmative action Answer: b Topic: Voting Rights Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9 ..

26.

Which of the following resulted from the Voting Rights Act and subsequent amendments and court decisions? a. an increase in the number of minority-majority districts b. the elimination of voter registration requirements c. purges of voter rolls due to nonvoting d. nearly universal voter turnout Answer: a Topic: African Americans’ Civil Rights Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

27.

Why did Congress pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965? a. the Supreme Court had determined that only the national government could regulate elections b. to make it easier for African Americans to register to vote c. because Congress was afraid the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. would lead a boycott of white businesses if the legislation was not passed d. to prevent the race riots from spreading from African American neighborhoods into traditionally white neighborhoods Answer: b Topic: African Americans’ Civil Rights Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

28.

Poverty and health issues are particularly acute among which minority group? a. African Americans b. Native Americans c. Women d. Hispanic Americans Answer: b Topic: Native Americans Learning Objective: 5.3 Relate civil rights principles to progress made by other ethnic groups in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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29.

In Hernandez v. Texas, the Supreme Court expanded the civil liberties of __________. a. school-age children who are not U.S. citizens b. the disabled c. Hispanics d. Native Americans Answer: c Topic: Hispanic Americans Learning Objective: 5.3 Relate civil rights principles to progress made by other ethnic groups in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

30.

In 1944, what did the Supreme Court decide in Korematsu v. United States regarding the internment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry living on the Pacific Coast of the United States? a. It was legally permissible. b. It was unconstitutional, and Japanese Americans must be duly and immediately compensated. c. It did not pass the strict scrutiny test, and the internment was promptly terminated. d. It was unconstitutional, but it was too late to do anything about it.

Answer: a Topic: Asian Americans Learning Objective: 5.3 Relate civil rights principles to progress made by other ethnic groups in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

How are the Supreme Court decisions in Korematsu v. United States (1944) and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) similar? a. Both decisions upheld important constitutional principles. b. Both decisions were positive turning points in the history of American jurisprudence. c. Both decisions limited the civil rights of racial or ethnic minorities. d. Both decisions were important early victories in the struggle for civil rights.

Answer: c Topic: Reconstruction and Segregation; Asian Americans Learning Objective: 5.2 Trace the evolution of protections of the rights of African Americans and explain the application of nondiscrimination principles to issues of race; 5.3 Relate civil rights principles to progress made by other ethnic groups in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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32.

What was the primary goal of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention? a. the prohibition of alcohol b. women’s rights c. rights for former slaves d. ending the Civil War Answer: b Topic: Rights of Women Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

33.

What was the primary objective of the women’s suffrage movement? a. broad gender equality b. the right to own property c. equal pay for equal work d. the right to vote Answer: d Topic: The Battle for the Vote Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34.

When did women across the country achieve the constitutionally guaranteed right to vote? a. during the Civil War b. immediately after the Civil War c. at the same time that black males won the right to vote d. decades after black males won the right to vote Answer: d Topic: The Battle for the Vote Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

35.

How has the Equal Rights Amendment affected women’s civil rights? a. It has ensured that men and women are treated equally in the workplace. b. It has ensured that the courts evaluate gender discrimination using the inherently suspect test. c. It has eliminated gender discrimination in the military. d. It has had little effect because it was not adopted.

Answer: d Topic: The “Doldrums”: 1920–1960 Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

36.

Based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Reed v. Reed, which of the following laws would most likely be overturned? a. Twenty percent of university admissions slots are reserved for high school leaders. b. Police officers must retire at 70 years old. c. Men can vote at 17 years of age; women cannot vote until age 18. d. Pilots must have perfect vision to obtain a license.

Answer: c Topic: The Second Feminist Wave Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

37.

What does the Equal Pay Act of 1963 mandate? a. Men and women doing the same job at the same workplace must receive equal pay. b. The wage gap between men and women must be eliminated. c. Those in traditionally female occupations must receive the same pay as those in traditionally male occupations. d. Women employees must be given paid maternity leave.

Answer: a Topic: Women in the Workplace Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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38.

What is the status of women in the military? a. Women can only serve as civilians in the military. b. Women can serve in the military but cannot serve in combat roles. c. Women can serve in the military but only in units that are segregated by gender. d. Women have the same rights to serve in the military that men have.

Answer: d Topic: Women in the Workplace Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

39.

Which of the following situations would most likely be a violation of Title IX? a. an election jurisdiction that does not provide bilingual ballots when there is a large bilingual community b. a legal prohibition on hiring women for positions that are known to be hazardous to women’s reproductive health c. a college that spends significantly more on sports programs for men than for women d. an employer who systematically pays women less than men for doing comparable work Answer: c Topic: Women in the Workplace Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

What definition has the Supreme Court used to determine whether there is sexual harassment in the workplace? a. a workplace environment in which women earn the same salary as men for performing comparable work b. a workplace environment in which women are unable to perform their jobs c. a workplace environment that would reasonably be perceived as hostile or abusive d. a workplace environment that causes severe psychological injury Answer: c Topic: Sexual Harassment Learning Objective: 5.4 Trace the evolution of women’s rights and explain how civil rights principles apply to gender issues.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14 ..

41.

Which of the following accommodations would an employer most likely need to implement 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 Answer: d Topic: Civil Rights and People with Disabilities Learning Objective: 5.5 Summarize the struggles for civil rights of older Americans, persons with disabilities, and LGBT Americans.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

42.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) primarily enhanced the civil liberties of __________. a. disabled Americans b. Asian Americans c. American Indians d. gays and lesbians Answer: d Topic: LGBT Rights Learning Objective: 5.5 Summarize the struggles for civil rights of older Americans, persons with disabilities, and LGBT Americans.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

Recent debates about the rights of transgender Americans have centered on which issues? a. participation in collegiate sports and adoption b. marriage rights and employment nondiscrimination c. insurance coverage and homelessness d. bathroom access and military service Answer: d Topic: LGBT Rights Learning Objective: 5.5 Summarize the struggles for civil rights of older Americans, persons with disabilities, and LGBT Americans.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

15 ..

44.

Which of the following affirmative action programs would be a clear violation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)? a. considering race as a factor in university admissions decisions b. considering how an applicant would contribute to the diversity of the university c. setting aside a certain percentage of admissions slots for African American students d. admitting some minority applicants with lower academic achievement than some rejected white applicants Answer: c Topic: Affirmative Action Learning Objective: 5.6 Trace the evolution of affirmative action policy and assess the arguments for and against it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

45.

In Adarand Constructors v. Peña, the Supreme Court determined that __________. a. affirmative action policies must be scrutinized using the same suspect standard that is used for other policies classifying people by race b. affirmative action policies are subject to an intermediate standard whereby they are presumed to be permissible c. affirmative action policies may be broadly tailored to accomplish a compelling government interest d. affirmative action policies must be designed to address past discrimination without taking into account race, ethnicity, religion, or creed Answer: a Topic: Affirmative Action Learning Objective: 5.6 Trace the evolution of affirmative action policy and assess the arguments for and against it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

46.

Which of the following arguments would most likely be made by an opponent of affirmative action policies? a. Unaddressed past discrimination causes perpetual inequality. b. Discrimination is a natural part of the human experience. c. Affirmative action discriminates on the basis of race or gender. d. Diversity helps Americans better understand each other.

Answer: c Topic: Affirmative Action Learning Objective: 5.6 Trace the evolution of affirmative action policy and assess the arguments for and against it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16 ..

47.

What is the status of affirmative action in college admissions after the Supreme Court decisions in the two cases involving the University of Michigan, Gratz v.

Bollinger (2003) and Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)? a. Affirmative action policies may be permissible, but they cannot involve racebased quotas or numerical point systems. b. Affirmative action policies are assumed to be unconstitutional unless the university can demonstrate the need to promote racial tolerance. c. Affirmative action policies must ensure that all racial and ethnic groups are represented in accordance with the population of the nation as a whole. d. All forms of affirmative action are unconstitutional because they unfairly favor some people over others based on skin color.

Answer: a Topic: Affirmative Action Learning Objective: 5.6 Trace the evolution of affirmative action policy and assess the arguments for and against it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

48.

Majority rule is most likely to conflict with __________. a. the principle of equality b. individual liberty c. consent of the governed d. natural law Answer: b Topic: Civil Rights and Democracy Learning Objective: 5.7 Establish how civil rights policy advances democracy and increases the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17 ..

6 Public Opinion and Political Action  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

What is demography? a. the science of population changes b. an “actual enumeration” of the population c. the distribution of the population’s beliefs about politics and policy issues d. an accounting of what the American people believe Answer: a Topic: The American People Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2.

Why is participation in the Census important? a. participation indicates the legitimacy of government and of laws passed by Congress b. changes in the U.S. population affect membership in political parties c. information the Census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion in federal funding is spent each year d. information from the Census determines tax rates Answer: c Topic: The American People Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

1 ..

3.

Which is the largest minority group in the United States? a. Asians b. Hispanics c. Native Americans d. African Americans Answer: b Topic: The Immigrant Society Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4.

What was the effect of the 1924 Johnson-Reed Immigration Act that established immigration quotas based on national origin? a. The flow of immigrant families with children decreased. b. The flow of low-income immigrant families from Mexico increased. c. Most new immigrants were being reunited with family in the United States. d. Most new immigrants were from northwestern Europe.

Answer: d Topic: The American People Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

5.

What is the foundation of current U.S. immigration policy? a. quotas based on country of origin b. admission of the best and the brightest c. admission of those in the most dire economic circumstances d. family unification Answer: d Topic: The Immigrant Society Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2 ..

6.

Politicians who believe that America’s competitiveness in the globalized economy would be best served by allocating a substantial percentage of immigrant visas to people with special talents would want to revise the __________. a. Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act b. birthright citizenship clause of the Constitution c. Dream Act d. Simpson-Mazzoli Act Answer: a Topic: The Immigrant Society Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7.

Someone who thinks that the United States should reorient its immigration policy toward enhancing economic development would be most in favor of granting an immigrant visa to which of the following people? a. a Turkish national with a promising new manufacturing process b. the parents of a neurobiologist who is a permanent legal resident from South Korea c. a former Syrian army officer who is now a refugee d. a student-athlete from New Zealand who plays basketball and hopes to coach professionally in the future Answer: a Topic: The American People Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8.

What is a principal provision of the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli Act? a. Employers must document the citizenship of their employees. b. State and local police must perform roadside immigration checks. c. The president must apprehend and deport legal and illegal immigrants if their home country is at war with the United States. d. University admissions offices can only admit U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.

Answer: a Topic: The Immigrant Society Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

Which of the following statements about immigration in the United States is true? a. At current rates, non-Hispanic whites will represent less than half of the population by the middle of the twenty-first century. b. In recent years, illegal immigrants have outnumbered legal immigrants. c. The Department of Homeland Security estimates that 5 percent of the nation’s illegal immigrants are from Mexico. d. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that immigrants represent 30 percent of the nation’s population.

Answer: a Topic: The American Melting Pot Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Why do seats in the House of Representatives need to be reapportioned? a. The number of seats each state has in the House is based on a state’s population, which changes over time. b. The majority party in the House of Representatives is determined by each state’s proportion of party-affiliated voters. c. The Constitution requires that each state’s taxes be proportional to the size of its population. d. Each congressional district must be redrawn to reflect changes in the state’s population.

Answer: a Topic: The Regional Shift Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

11.

What are the main socializing agents? a. government, the media, and religious institutions b. political parties, neighbors, and teachers c. the media, schools, and family d. politicians, corporations, and interest groups Answer: c Topic: How Americans Learn About Politics: Political Socialization Learning Objective: 6.2 Explain how the agents of socialization influence the development of political attitudes.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4 ..

12.

Which statement about the consumption of political news via television and newspapers is accurate? a. Those with less education consume more news than do those with more education. b. Older people consume more political news than do younger people. c. Men consume considerably more political news than do women. d. West Coast residents consume more political news than do East Coast residents.

Answer: b Topic: The Process of Political Socialization Learning Objective: 6.2 Explain how the agents of socialization influence the development of political attitudes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Many of the commercials that air during the nightly news broadcasts of ABC, CBS, and NBC seem to be for prescription drugs. What is the most plausible explanation for this fact? a. Today’s generation of young adults is significantly more likely to read newspapers than their elders are. b. Political socialization is more important to governments than to individuals. c. Most people who watch these programs are quite elderly. d. Children who develop positive feelings toward political authorities grow into adults who are not easily disenchanted with politics.

Answer: c Topic: The Process of Political Socialization Learning Objective: 6.2 Explain how the agents of socialization influence the development of political attitudes.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14.

Which of the following generally increase with age? a. liberalism and political tolerance b. candidate loyalty and authoritarianism c. political participation and suspicion of out-groups d. political participation and strength of party attachment Answer: d Topic: Political Learning over a Lifetime Learning Objective: 6.2 Explain how the agents of socialization influence the development of political attitudes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

15.

What technique is the key to the accuracy of public opinion polls? a. indexing b. font selection c. random sampling d. in-person interviews Answer: c Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

Assume that Howard uses proper sampling techniques to draw a sample of 1,000 Hispanic Floridians. Javier uses identical sampling techniques to draw a sample of 2,000 Hispanic Floridians. Each sample is surveyed about proposed immigration reform and its impact on Hispanics living in the state. Given the information presented in this scenario, which statement is true? a. Given the size of their samples, Howard and Javier will likely underestimate the impact of immigration reform on Florida’s Hispanic population. b. Given the size of their samples, Howard and Javier will likely overestimate the impact of immigration reform on Florida’s Hispanic population. c. Howard and Javier can correctly assume that the sampling error for both surveyed samples will be the same. d. Javier can be more confident in the results of his survey than Howard can be in the results of his survey.

Answer: d Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

6 ..

17.

To determine what percentage of families with children would use school vouchers to send their children to charter schools, what population needs to be sampled? a. women with children b. citizens in the school district c. parents who are dissatisfied with the local school district d. parents of school-age children Answer: d Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

18.

In a random sample of 1,000 high school students, 29 percent indicated that they had read the Declaration of Independence at least once, with a sampling error of 4 percent. Which statement is true? a. It is likely that more than 33 percent of the population have read the Declaration of Independence. b. It is likely that less than 25 percent of the population have read the Declaration of Independence. c. It is likely that between 25 and 33 percent of the population have read the Declaration of Independence. d. It is likely that 29 percent of the population have read the Declaration of Independence at least once.

Answer: c Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19.

Which statement about the 1936 Literary Digest poll that predicted Roosevelt’s defeat is true? a. The poll oversampled those with higher income. b. The poll oversampled heavily Democratic groups. c. The poll excluded owners of automobiles. d. The poll undersampled middle-class voters who owned telephones.

Answer: a Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

20.

Which of the following is a disadvantage of conducting a public opinion survey over the phone? a. Unlisted numbers cannot be reached by those conducting telephone surveys. b. Federal law prohibits the use of automated random-digit-dialing programs to unlisted numbers. c. People are substantially less willing to participate in polls over the telephone than in person. d. Independents are less willing to participate in polls over the telephone than are partisans.

Answer: c Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

21.

How do Knowledge Networks ensure that their Internet surveys are accurate? a. A representative sample is recruited via phone and incentivized to participate online. b. Advertisements are placed on a wide variety of websites to recruit a broad spectrum of the population. c. Respondents are approached at Internet cafés around the county. d. Respondents are only paid if they provide the answers that those paying for the poll hope to receive.

Answer: a Topic: How Polls Are Conducted Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

How do politicians use public opinion polls? a. to decide how to vote on legislation b. to determine what policies to pursue c. to pander to whims of the public d. to shape their message and win public support for policies the politicians support Answer: d Topic: The Role of Polls in American Democracy Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8 ..

23.

According to Russell Neuman, what is the “paradox of mass politics”? a. The U.S. political system works as well as it does despite the public’s lack of political knowledge. b. The public’s lack of consensus on matters of public policy nonetheless results in public policies with which most Americans are content. c. The growing polarization of public opinion typically results in centrist officeholders who make moderate policies. d. Politicians pander to the public’s policy preferences, but the public typically does not reelect politicians who enact the public’s preferred policies.

Answer: a Topic: What Polls Reveal About Americans’ Political Information Learning Objective: 6.3 Describe public opinion research and modern methods of polling.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24.

Which of the following viewpoints is more likely to be held by a political liberal than by a political conservative? a. The United States should stop letting criminals hide behind the law. b. Prayer belongs in school. c. Taxes and spending should be kept low. d. Government should expand regulations of the economy in the public interest.

Answer: d Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

25.

Which do conservatives generally favor? a. fewer military interventions b. a larger scope of government c. freer rein for the private sector d. public policies that provide a broad social safety net Answer: c Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9 ..

26.

How do liberals differ from conservatives? a. Liberals are more likely than conservatives to envision a wide scope for the central government, often involving policies that aim to promote military intervention. b. Liberals are more likely than conservatives to envision a wide scope for the central government, often involving policies that aim to promote equality. c. Among people over the age of 30, slightly more are liberal than are conservative. d. Conservatives are more likely than liberals to want to increase taxes to eliminate the debt and the deficit.

Answer: b Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the values of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

27.

Why is the scope of government in the United States more restrained than in most European countries? a. Conservatism is more popular in the United States than in Europe. b. The United States is more liberal than is Europe. c. There are fewer public policy problems in the United States than in Europe. d. The United States has a pluralist political system in which private charities look after the disadvantages, while pluralism in Europe is fairly rare.

Answer: a Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

28.

How does lower voter turnout among young citizens affect the composition of those who show up at the polls? a. Conservatives are overrepresented at the polls. b. Young citizens are overrepresented at the polls. c. Democrats are overrepresented at the polls. d. Liberals are overrepresented at the polls.

Answer: a Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

10 ..

29.

Women are more likely than men to cast their ballots for which type of candidate? a. A Democratic candidate who supports higher levels of spending on the military as opposed to spending on social services b. A Republican candidate who supports higher levels of spending on the military as opposed to spending on social services c. A Democratic candidate who supports higher levels of spending on social services as opposed to spending on the military d. A Republican candidate who supports higher levels of spending on social services as opposed to spending on the military Answer: c Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

30.

What aspect of religion has the biggest influence on political ideology? a. the degree to which religion is important in one’s life b. the denomination with which one is affiliated c. whether the individual has been baptized d. which version of the Bible the church uses Answer: a Topic: What Americans Value: Political Ideologies Learning Objective: 6.4 Compare and contrast the principles of conservatism and liberalism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

Which best describes American voters? a. Few think of politics in terms of which party supports which groups. b. A declining percentage of them use ideology when making political decisions. c. Most organize their attitudes using a liberal/conservative scale. d. Few use ideology when making political evaluations.

Answer: d Topic: The Influence of Political Ideology on Political Behavior Learning Objective: 6.5 Assess the influence of political ideology on political attitudes and behaviors.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

32.

According to Morris Fiorina, which statement best describes the extent of a culture war in the United States? a. Hyperpolarization in the general public has led to an entrenched culture war. b. While small groups of activists are engaged in a culture war, most Americans are fairly moderate. c. The current culture war is a product of increasing mass-level polarization and decreasing political knowledge and interest. d. The United States is in the midst of a culture war in which half of the population is pitted against the other half.

Answer: b Topic: The Influence of Political Ideology on Political Behavior Learning Objective: 6.5 Assess the influence of political ideology on political attitudes and behaviors.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

33.

How is political participation defined? a. all the activities used by citizens to socialize their children to the political process b. all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue c. voting and all precursor activities necessary to casting an informed vote d. those activities that expand the capacity of individuals (or groups) to exert their political will Answer: b Topic: How Americans Participate in Politics Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34.

Which of the following accurately describes voter participation in the United States? a. A majority of Americans vote in a majority of elections. b. More Americans vote in local elections than in national elections. c. Many Americans do not vote, especially in local elections. d. Americans generally do not vote because U.S. political culture does not value political participation.

Answer: c Topic: How Americans Participate in Politics Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

35.

Which of the following is a form of conventional political participation? a. donating money to a charity for homeless veterans b. working as a caseworker in a social services agency c. compiling a statistical analysis on the demographic factors of students enrolled at a local community college d. calling one’s representative to express an opinion about pending legislation Answer: d Topic: How Americans Participate in Politics Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

36.

Which of the following is a form of unconventional political participation? a. running for public office as a third-party candidate b. signing a petition in a school parking lot c. gathering signatures for a proposed ballot measure d. staging a sit-in Answer: d Topic: How Americans Participate in Politics Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

37.

In which of the following forms of participation are Americans most likely to engage? a. contributing money to a campaign b. contributing money to a party c. attending a campaign rally d. contacting government officials Answer: d Topic: Conventional Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

38.

What is the typical aim of protests in the United States? a. affecting public policy change b. overthrowing the government c. influencing voting behavior d. informing the public about the candidates Answer: a Topic: Protest as Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13 ..

39.

What is most typically the immediate aim of most political protests? a. increasing voter participation b. attracting media attention c. reducing the need to address certain problems d. inciting violence Answer: b Topic: Protest as Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

How does civil disobedience differ from a protest? a. Civil disobedience involves violence; a protest is peaceful. b. Civil disobedience is involuntary; a protest is voluntary. c. Civil disobedience involves intentionally breaking a law; a protest is a lawful means of getting media attention. d. Civil disobedience involves unintentionally breaking a law; a protest involves intentionally breaking a law.

Answer: c Topic: Protest as Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

41.

“Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” penned by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1963, is a classic defense of __________. a. civil disobedience b. conscientious objection c. political violence d. tax resistance Answer: a Topic: Protest as Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

42.

Americans are more likely than Europeans to __________. a. support liberal causes b. protest c. vote d. contact politicians Answer: d Topic: How Americans Participate in Politics Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts 14 ..

43.

Which statement about conventional political participation in the United States is accurate? a. African Americans are much less likely to participate than are whites. b. Those with higher incomes are more likely to participate than those with lower incomes. c. Asians are more likely to participate than are African Americans. d. Hispanics and Asians who are newer immigrants are more likely to vote than Hispanics and Asians who are not.

Answer: b Topic: Class, Inequality, and Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

44.

If the poor participated at higher levels in the political process, what might happen? a. Government workers would likely unionize. b. Government services would likely be privatized. c. Government programs to help individuals invest their Social Security income would likely be higher on the political agenda. d. Government programs to alleviate economic inequality would likely be higher on the political agenda.

Answer: d Topic: Class, Inequality, and Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

45.

Who are politicians most likely to ignore? a. constituents registered with the other political party b. the wealthy c. nonvoters d. business interests Answer: c Topic: Class, Inequality, and Participation Learning Objective: 6.6 Identify the ways that people may participate in politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

15 ..

46.

According to Republicans, which of the following is one of the biggest problems with U.S. government? a. Schools do not teach enough science. b. Too many Americans evade taxes. c. The scope of government is too wide. d. The United States is not sufficiently welcoming to immigrants.

Answer: c Topic: Public Attitudes Toward the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 6.7 Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

47.

Which statement about U.S. attitudes toward the scope of government is true? a. A majority of Americans favor having unlimited government. b. There are more Americans who think that the government should do more than there are Americans who think that the government should do less. c. There are more Americans who think that the government should do less than there are Americans who think that the government should do more. d. A majority of Americans never think about the scope of government.

Answer: c Topic: Understanding Public Opinion and Political Action Learning Objective: 6.7 Analyze how public opinion about the scope of government guides political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16 ..

7 The Mass Media and the Political Agenda  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which statement accurately describes President Trump’s tweets? a. They definitely get his message out. b. They have been carefully vetted by a cadre of advisors. c. Trump reserves Twitter for conveying only the most important or pressing messages. d. The media seldom reports on his tweets because they are not considered to be newsworthy.

Answer: a Topic: Politics in Action: The Twitter Presidency Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

Which statement best describes news coverage of the 2016 presidential election? a. News coverage of Trump was much more negative than news coverage of Clinton. b. News coverage of Clinton was much more negative than news coverage of Trump. c. News coverage of both Trump and Clinton was overwhelmingly negative. d. News coverage of both Trump and Clinton was fairly neutral.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: The Twitter Presidency Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

What is the main purpose of a media event? a. to make a profit b. to inform the public c. to attract media coverage d. to criticize biased media coverage Answer: c Topic: The Mass Media Today Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

Which best describes the press’s relationship with Franklin D. Roosevelt? a. The press was deferential and respectful to Roosevelt. b. The press was investigatory and hostile to Roosevelt. c. The press was frustrated with Roosevelt’s secrecy and reclusiveness. d. The press was an active participant in Roosevelt’s efforts to mislead the public about the New Deal.

Answer: a Topic: The Development of Mass Politics Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

5.

Which of the following events had the largest impact on the change in the media from unchallenged acceptance of what politicians say to skepticism? a. World War II b. the election of George W. Bush c. the Monica Lewinsky scandal d. the Vietnam War Answer: d Topic: The Development of Media Politics Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

What do journalists typically use to uncover political scandals? a. beat reporting b. gatekeeping functions c. investigative journalism d. narrowcasting Answer: c Topic: The Development of Media Politics Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

News coverage of political campaigns tends to focus on __________? a. the role played by political parties b. the campaign as a horse race c. crowd size at media events d. the candidates’ policy positions Answer: b Topic: The Development of Media Politics Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

Which statement accurately describes a trend in U.S. newspapers? a. Newspaper circulation has remained fairly constant in recent years. b. Newspaper readership has increased in recent years as more readers switch to online newspaper platforms. c. Revenue from newspaper advertising has decreased in recent years. d. Most newspapers make considerable revenue from selling Internet subscriptions.

Answer: c Topic: The Print Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

Which federal agency regulates the use of the airwaves? a. Federal Trade Commission b. Equal Opportunity Commission c. Federal Communications Commission d. Department of Media Communications Answer: c Topic: Government Regulation of Electronic Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

10.

The primary interest of publicly owned media is __________. a. reducing recidivism b. serving the public interest c. promoting the government d. entertaining viewers Answer: b Topic: Government Regulation of Electronic Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

What does the equal time rule mandate? a. Media must sell advertising time to all candidates if it sells advertising time to any candidate. b. News broadcasts must be at least 30 minutes long to be considered a public service. c. The media must give an equal amount of time to the general election and to the primary election. d. Journalists are expected to give government officials an opportunity to respond to negative information before the initial story is published.

Answer: a Topic: Government Regulation of Electronic Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

Which of these is an example of a broadcast news source? a. ABC b. Washington Post c. Associated Press d. CNN Answer: a Topic: From Broadcasting to Narrowcasting: The Rise of Cable and Cable News Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13.

Which of the following is an example of narrowcasting? a. the tendency of the media to focus on the negative b. a reliance on hyper-specialized experts for quotations to be included in news stories c. a TV channel’s focus on a particular subject matter d. the reluctance of the major media outlets to cover cultural issues like abortion or gay marriage Answer: c Topic: From Broadcasting to Narrowcasting: The Rise of Cable and Cable News Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Which news source do younger Americans consume at higher rates than older Americans do? a. newspapers b. infotainment c. cable news d. public radio Answer: b Topic: From Broadcasting to Narrowcasting: The Rise of Cable and Cable News Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

__________ is the tendency for viewers to seek news that aligns with their existing ideas. a. Narrowcasting b. Investigative journalism c. Selective exposure d. Logrolling Answer: c Topic: From Broadcasting to Narrowcasting: The Rise of Cable and Cable News Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

16.

Which statement accurately describes media ownership in the United States? a. Most media outlets are publically owned. b. Most media outlets are owned by corporate conglomerates. c. Most media owners are liberal. d. Most media outlets are owned by nonprofit corporations seeking to advance the public interest.

Answer: b Topic: Private Control of the Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

The primary interest of most U.S. media is __________. a. making a profit b. in-depth, investigative reporting c. presenting diverse perspectives d. informing the public Answer: a Topic: Private Control of the Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

How has television news changed in recent years? a. The quality of news reporting has increased considerably in an attempt to sway more viewers and more advertisers. b. There has been an increase in the number of foreign news stories as the economy has expanded due to economic globalization. c. Media organizations have cut back on their foreign bureaus and on international news. d. Television news is increasingly viewed as a public service that benefits the nation as a whole by generating goodwill with viewers.

Answer: c Topic: Private Control of the Media Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

19.

Which of the following tends to be the focus of television news? a. entertainment b. policy analysis c. congressional decision making d. ordinary events Answer: a Topic: Reporting the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

What story is most likely to be covered on television news? a. a truck filled with eggs crashes into a breakfast restaurant b. a change to the types of feed that can be fed to dairy cows c. an analysis of a how tax policy favors alpaca ranchers at the expense of cattle ranchers d. an in-depth exploration of the candidates’ policy positions regarding the importation of Vietnamese catfish Answer: a Topic: Reporting the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7 ..

21.

Which of these would a major TV network be least likely to show? a. ambassadors fighting at the United Nations b. talking heads discussing the details of an infrastructure bill c. the aftermath of a major natural disaster d. footage of a domestic terrorist attack Answer: b Topic: Reporting the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

22.

In covering military conflicts, the majority of TV news stories usually originate from correspondents posted at __________, including the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department. a. wire services b. networks c. trial balloons d. beats Answer: d Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23.

What results from beat reporting? a. Politicians receive more favorable coverage than they would otherwise. b. The public is kept in the dark about the inner workings of the beat. c. Media companies save money by pooling resources. d. Reporters become specialists in the area that they cover.

Answer: d Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media coverage.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

24.

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 Answer: d Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media coverage.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

25.

Trial balloons are used for which of the following? a. drumming up support for a candidate or policy b. assessing a political reaction c. exposing media bias d. boosting the newsworthiness of an event Answer: b Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

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 reaction 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 Answer: b Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most attention.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Apply What You Know

9 ..

27.

Politicians and journalists have a(n) __________ relationship: Politicians rely on journalists to get out their message, and journalists rely on politicians to keep them in the know. a. parasitic b. symbiotic c. cooperative d. antagonistic Answer: b Topic: Finding the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

28.

How has technology affected news coverage? a. Coverage has become more homogenous. b. Coverage has become less thorough. c. Coverage has become more objective. d. Coverage has become focused on policy.

Answer: b Topic: Presenting the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

When television news covers politicians’ speeches, they tend to do so using __________. a. trial balloons b. sound bites c. beats d. investigative journalism Answer: b Topic: Presenting the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

30.

What is the overriding bias in the news? a. a liberal bias b. a conservative bias c. a bias in favor of whatever draws the largest audience d. a bias that tends to put the president in a good light Answer: c Topic: Bias in the News Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media coverage.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

The effects of agenda setting by media are particularly strong among __________. a. politically knowledgeable citizens who trust the media b. first-time voters c. younger citizens who still live at home d. those who receive government benefits such as Social Security or Medicaid Answer: a Topic: The News and Public Opinion Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion and political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

32.

Which of the following is a potential concern about agenda setting by the media? a. It can select stories that alter the priorities Americans attach to policy problems. b. It can diminish the media’s effect on the public opinion. c. It can discourage citizens from voting by focusing on the imperfections of the democratic system. d. It can hinder the public’s ability to know what issues are important.

Answer: a Topic: The News and Public Opinion Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion and political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

11 ..

33.

The “minimal effects hypothesis” suggested that the media have a minimal effect on __________. a. public opinion b. politicians’ issue positions c. Americans’ consumption of newspapers d. policy outcomes Answer: a Topic: The News and Public Opinion Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Which of the following can result from agenda setting by the media? a. Politicians may hone their fundraising skills. b. The FCC may deny a broadcast license. c. The public may evaluate political leaders differently. d. The media may endorse losing candidates.

Answer: c Topic: The News and Public Opinion Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion and political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

35.

During a 1976 presidential debate, President Ford mistakenly said that the Soviet Union did not dominate Eastern Europe. The statement was given much press coverage, and polls indicated that most viewers did not recognize the error until they learned of it on the news. What effect did this news coverage have on public opinion? a. It made Ford more personally likable. b. It made Ford seem less vulnerable. c. It allowed Ford to steer the agenda to his strengths. d. It made Ford seem less qualified.

Answer: d Topic: The News and Public Opinion Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion and political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

36.

Which of the following best describes a policy agenda? a. the collective campaign promises of the two major-party candidates during the last presidential election cycle b. those issues that are actively being debated by government officials and other political actors at any given time c. all those issues that have been passed by at least one house of Congress but have not yet been enacted into law d. those issues that interest groups want government to address but that government officials would rather avoid Answer: b Topic: Policy Entrepreneurs and Agenda Setting Learning Objective: 7.4 Describe how politicians use the media to communicate with the electorate.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

All policy entrepreneurs __________. a. work for the government b. try to get their issues enacted c. lobby d. draft legislation Answer: b Topic: Policy Entrepreneurs and Agenda Setting Learning Objective: 7.4 Describe how politicians use the media to communicate with the electorate.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

38.

Policy entrepreneurs are people who invest __________ in an issue. a. their life savings b. financial expertise c. political capital d. scant attention Answer: c Topic: Policy Entrepreneurs and Agenda Setting Learning Objective: 7.4 Describe how politicians use the media to communicate with the electorate.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13 ..

39.

Civil rights activists in the 1960s used the media to show Americans the unjust treatment of minorities, successfully placing the civil rights issue on the __________. a. policy entrepreneur’s schedule b. policy agenda c. press conference d. news beat Answer: b Topic: Policy Entrepreneurs and Agenda Setting Learning Objective: 7.4 Describe how politicians use the media to communicate with the electorate.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

The media act as key linkage institutions between __________. a. the public and policymakers b. the executive and the legislative branches c. shareholders and stakeholders d. entertainment and information Answer: a Topic: Understanding the Mass Media Learning Objective: 7.5 Assess the impact of the mass media on the scope of government and democracy in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

41.

What do network executives blame for the superficiality in media reporting? a. cable news b. social media c. the Internet d. the public Answer: d Topic: Democracy and the Media Learning Objective: 7.5 Assess the impact of the mass media on the scope of government and democracy in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

8 Political Parties  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which of the following is a benefit of party polarization? a. Polarization increases the willingness of parties to reach compromises. b. Polarized parties make it easier to find a middle ground. c. Polarized parties make it easier for voters to distinguish between Democrats and Republicans. d. Polarized parties reduce congressional workload.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Party Polarization on Immigration Policy Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

2.

Which of the following functions is typically performed by rank-and-file members of U.S. political parties? a. drafting legislation b. recruiting candidates c. nominating candidates d. organizing campaigns Answer: c Topic: The Meaning of Party Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

What is the core function of a political party? a. to reflect people’s public policy preferences b. to develop a policies that advocate for social change c. to win elections d. to protect civil rights Answer: c Topic: The Meaning of Party Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understanding the Concepts

4.

The __________ is the formal structure of the political party that sets rules for party operations, pursues electoral victories, and keeps the party running between elections. a. party as an organization b. party as provider c. party in the electorate d. party in government Answer: a Topic: The Meaning of Party Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

What is the party in the electorate? a. party officers who seek to educate the public on key party stances b. public officials who are registered with a political party c. voters active in the business of the party d. all citizens who claim to be a member of a political party Answer: d Topic: The Meaning of Party Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6.

Which of the following is a benefit of political parties? a. Parties polarize the electorate. b. Parties reduce the need for voter to participate in elections. c. Parties stifle meaningful policy debates. d. Party labels act as cues that help voters decide between candidates.

Answer: d Topic: Tasks of the Parties Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

2 ..

7.

Part of Anthony Downs’s rational-choice model is that __________. a. voters want to maximize the chance that their preferred policies will be adopted by government b. logic and reason always prevail in the American electorate c. party identity will lose its importance over the next 100 years d. voters are acting rationally when they vote against their self-interest Answer: a Topic: Parties, Voters, and Policy: The Downs Model Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

According to the Downs model, candidates are ideologically likely to place themselves __________. a. at the center b. near the center c. somewhat close to the extremes d. as far to the left or right as possible Answer: b Topic: The Meaning of Party Learning Objective: 8.1 Identify the functions of political parties.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9.

Younger voters are most likely to identify as __________. a. Libertarians b. Democrats c. Independents d. Republicans Answer: c Topic: The Party in the Electorate Learning Objective: 8.2 Determine the significance of party identification in America today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

10.

Who are most likely to engage in ticket splitting? a. nonvoters b. Democrats c. Independents d. Republicans Answer: c Topic: The Party in the Electorate Learning Objective: 8.2 Determine the significance of party identification in America today.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12.

Which statement best describes party machines in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries? a. Party machines provided policy support to rural citizens in exchange for votes. b. Party machines provided jobs to urban citizens in exchange for votes. c. Party machines disenfranchised loyal supporters and provided patronage to disloyal supporters. d. Party machines provided cash handouts to loyal rural voters in exchange for jobs.

Answer: b Topic: Local Parties Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

What best explains the demise of party machines? a. congressional reforms that outlawed “smoke-filled rooms” b. Keynesian economic reforms that increased individual wealth c. judicial reforms that ended the “pay to play” system of assigning public defenders d. progressive reforms that eliminated most patronage-based hiring Answer: d Topic: Local Parties Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

4 ..

14.

Which has partly filled the void left by the decline of the urban party machine? a. labor unions b. corporations c. family farmers and small business owners d. county political party organizations Answer: d Topic: Local Parties Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

15.

What is the primary disadvantage of open primaries? a. The other party can “raid” the primary to vote for the least viable candidate. b. Open primaries may result in the election of more extreme candidates. c. The presence of too many candidates on the ballot can confuse voters. d. Open primaries give too much power to those who reside outside of the district.

Answer: a Topic: The 50 State Party Systems Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16.

Who has ultimate authority over the national party organizations? a. the state party organizations b. the national conventions c. the president d. the parties in government Answer: b Topic: The National Party Organizations Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

17.

When can a party change its platform? a. after the census b. at the start of each fiscal year c. during its national party convention d. at the start of each new presidential administration Answer: c Topic: The National Party Organizations Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

18.

Who runs the national party organizations between conventions? a. the parties in the electorate b. the state party organizations c. the party’s congressional caucus d. the party’s national committee Answer: d Topic: The National Party Organizations Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

How is the national chair of the president’s party selected? a. elected in the primary during midterm election years b. selected by the president and routinely ratified by the national committee c. selected by the governors belonging to the president’s party d. elected by the congressional delegation of the party that controls the presidency Answer: b Topic: The National Party Organizations Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

20.

Which statement best describes the likelihood of presidential candidates keeping their promises once elected to office? a. Presidents seldom deliver on their policy promises. b. Presidents only deliver on their symbolic promises; they do not deliver on their substantive promises. c. Presidents sometimes deliver on their minor promises but almost never deliver on their major promises. d. Presidents often deliver on their policy promises.

Answer: d Topic: The Party in Government: Promises and Policy Learning Objective: 8.4 Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

21.

What is a party platform? a. the groups of voters who come together to form and support a political party and its candidates b. all those officeholders who share the same party affiliation c. the set of issues being debated in Congress at any given time d. a party’s stated policy goals Answer: d Topic: The Party in Government: Promises and Policy Learning Objective: 8.4 Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

In a __________ election, new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party may be displaced by the minority party. a. critical b. midterm c. coalition d. primary Answer: a Topic: Party Eras in American History Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

23.

How are critical elections and party realignments interrelated? a. A party realignment is a larger version of a critical election. b. A party realignment is a smaller version of a critical election. c. A party realignment occurs before one or more critical elections. d. A party realignment occurs as a result of one or more critical elections.

Answer: d Topic: Party Eras in American History Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

24.

Which were the two main political parties from the 1830s to the 1850s?

Prominent leaders in one party included Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

Prominent leaders in the other party included Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, William Henry Harrison, and Zachary Taylor. a. Republicans and Democratic-Republicans b. Federalists and Jeffersonians c. Democrats and Whigs d. Democrats and Democratic-Republicans Answer: c Topic: 1828–1856: Jackson and the Democrats Versus the Whigs Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

25.

The years 1860–1928 saw the dominance of which party? a. Democratic-Republicans b. Democrats c. Federalists d. Republicans Answer: d Topic: 1860–1928: The Two Republican Eras Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

8 ..

26.

The shift in political coalitions that stemmed from the 1896 presidential election resulted in __________. a. a Democratic president b. a party dealignment c. a party realignment d. the New Deal coalition Answer: c Topic: 1860–1928: The Two Republican Eras Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

27.

A major party realignment occurred during __________. a. Watergate scandal b. the Affordable Care Act c. the New Deal d. the war on terror Answer: c Topic: 1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

Which president forged the New Deal coalition? a. Lyndon Johnson b. William McKinley c. Franklin Roosevelt d. Harry Truman Answer: c Topic: 1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29.

Which demographic group was a key part of the New Deal coalition? a. African Americans b. rural voters c. the wealthy d. Protestants Answer: a Topic: 1932–1964: The New Deal Coalition Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9 ..

30.

The New Deal coalition fell apart when __________ shifted from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. a. urbanites b. Catholics and Jews c. Asians and Hispanics d. Southern conservatives Answer: d Topic: 1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Government Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

Which Democrats did Richard Nixon try to bring over to the Republican Party? a. Southern conservatives b. African Americans c. young political activists d. pro-choice women Answer: a Topic: 1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

32.

The late 1960s marked the start of __________. a. dealignment b. the New Deal coalition c. the era of unified party government d. the gold standard Answer: a Topic: 1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

33.

What is the primary 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.

Answer: c Topic: 1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

10 ..

34.

Party dealignment is associated with __________. a. an increase in labor unions b. increasingly politicized evangelical congregations c. an increase in the occurrence of divided government d. a rising number of Democrats Answer: c Topic: 1968–Present: Southern Realignment and the Era of Divided Party Learning Objective: 8.5 Trace the evolution of political parties in America.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35.

What important role do third parties play in American democracy? a. They mobilize some voters who would otherwise not participate. b. They frequently win elections in crucial swing states. c. They simplify citizens’ choices on Election Day. d. They draft most legislation that is eventually enacted by one of the major parties.

Answer: a Topic: Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Learning Objective: 8.6 Evaluate the role of minor parties in the U.S. electoral system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

36.

What does Ralph Nader’s 2000 presidential election bid illustrate regarding third parties? a. Third parties often win. b. Third parties often receive more media attention than do the major political parties. c. Third parties usually spend more time and money on campaigns than do the major political parties. d. Third-party candidates can influence campaign issues and outcomes.

Answer: d Topic: Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Learning Objective: 8.6 Evaluate the role of minor parties in the U.S. electoral system.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

11 ..

37.

European democracies have more parties in positions of political power than does the United States because of their use of __________. a. party platforms b. winner-take-all systems c. critical elections d. proportional representation Answer: d Topic: Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Learning Objective: 8.6 Evaluate the role of minor parties in the U.S. electoral system.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

38.

Why are coalition governments so prevalent in parliamentary systems? a. Parliamentary systems are nonpartisan, but coalition governments can often act much like parties. b. The winner-take-all system that is used in parliamentary systems encourages coalition governments. c. Coalition governments discourage third parties. d. In a multiparty system with proportional representation, single parties usually do not win a majority of the seats.

Answer: d Topic: Third Parties: Their Impact on American Politics Learning Objective: 8.6 Evaluate the role of minor parties in the U.S. electoral system.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

39.

The responsible party model implies that parties should __________. a. adhere to the party platform b. make the best decisions for the country despite what public opinion suggests. c. use more patronage d. be more accountable to interest group demands Answer: a Topic: Understanding Political Parties Learning Objective: 8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

40.

Advocates of the responsible party model believe parties should craft a platform, candidates should run on that platform, and the majority party should __________. a. implement it b. refine it according to officeholders’ preferences c. compromise to get the job done d. do whatever is necessary to stay in the majority Answer: a Topic: Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern?

Learning Objective: 8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

41.

Critics of the responsible party model claim that __________. a. it has contributed to the vilification of the word compromise b. it causes unneeded tension between Democrats and Republicans c. it is not subject to constitutional constraints d. legislators should be able to prioritize their constituency over their party Answer: d Topic: Democracy and Responsible Party Government: How Should We Govern?

Learning Objective: 8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

42.

Why is the scope of government more restrained in the United States than in Europe? a. The United States has a weaker party system. b. Both major U.S. political parties favor a strong social safety net. c. European countries use winner-take-all elections to prevent coalition governments that typically restrain the scope of government. d. The strong party structure found in the United States thwarts efforts to expand the scope of government.

Answer: a Topic: American Political Parties and the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 8.7 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of responsible party government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

13 ..

9 Campaigns and Voting Behavior  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which best describes American presidential campaigns? a. corrupt and unsavory b. long and arduous c. cheap and efficient d. focused on policy details and questions of implementation Answer: b Topic: Politics in Action: How Running for Office Can Be More Demanding Than Governing Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

The Democratic and Republican candidates for president are formally nominated at the __________. a. national party committees b. presidential primaries and caucuses c. Electoral College d. national party conventions Answer: d Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

How did the McGovern–Fraser Commission make the delegate selection process of the Democratic Party more representative and open to input from the public? a. by requiring delegate selection procedures to be open to all party members b. by increasing the number of delegates chosen c. by weakening the power of registered party members to choose convention delegates d. by encouraging the use of presidential caucuses rather than primaries Answer: a Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

How did Democrats change the superdelegate system after the 2016 election in response to complaints that the existing structure benefitted Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders? a. Votes by superdelegates will count as three-fifths of a vote. b. The number of superdelegates was cut in half. c. Superdelegates will only be able to vote if there is a deadlocked convention. d. Only states that use caucuses will be allowed to have superdelegates.

Answer: c Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Who wins the invisible primary? a. the candidate who raises the most money and receives the most support from political elites b. the candidate who wins the Iowa primary and the New Hampshire caucus c. the Democratic candidate who wins the most superdelegates during the primary election d. the media outlet that is the first to report election outcomes Answer: a Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Which statement about caucus states is accurate? a. The state legislature selects the state’s delegates to the national conventions. b. Party officials select delegates according to their own preferences. c. Voters attend open meetings where they express their presidential preferences. d. Candidates appoint supporters to serve as delegates who will attend the national convention.

Answer: c Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

If you were running a presidential campaign, you would want to allow plenty of time for your candidate to __________. a. travel extensively in Iowa before the caucuses b. visit major cities in California during the general election campaign c. meet the people in small towns in Texas d. go door-to-door greeting voters in New York Answer: a Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8.

Of the following people, who is most likely to participate in a presidential caucus? a. someone who works two jobs b. a single mom c. someone who is an independent d. a party activist Answer: d Topic: Competing for Delegates Learning Objective: 9.1 Evaluate the fairness of the presidential primary and caucus system.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3 ..

9.

Why is the Internet becoming more important than direct mail for campaign fundraising? a. Online contributions are not submitted to personal income taxes, but contributions solicited through direct mail are taxable. b. The Internet is more likely to reach Americans in their homes than is direct mail. c. It is cheaper to raise money online than through direct mail. d. By law, Internet fund-raising can begin several months before direct mail fundraising.

Answer: c Topic: The High-Tech Media Campaign Learning Objective: 9.2 Describe campaign methods and strategies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

10.

On a campaign, whose job is it to work with reporters to help candidates get the sort of press coverage they desire? a. the pollster b. the campaign manager c. the press secretary d. an advance worker Answer: c Topic: Organizing the Campaign Learning Objective: 9.2 Describe campaign methods and strategies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

Which of the following is a requirement of the Federal Election Campaign Act? a. All campaign funds must be spent on advertising. b. Candidates for Congress must contribute at least 10 percent of their net worth to the campaign. c. Congressional campaigns cannot accept contributions of less than $5,000 from individual citizens. d. All candidates for federal office must disclose who contributed money to their campaigns.

Answer: d Topic: Regulations on Campaign Contributions Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

In 2018, the largest amount an individual could legally contribute to a presidential candidate’s campaign was __________. a. $100 b. $500 c. $2,700 d. $25,000 Answer: c Topic: Regulations on Campaign Contributions Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13.

Before being banned in 2002 by the McCain–Feingold Act, unlimited monetary contributions that were earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising were known as __________. a. hard money b. soft money c. matching funds d. support funds Answer: b Topic: Regulations on Campaign Contributions Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

14.

__________ was an unintended result of changes to the Federal Election Campaign Act that allowed parties to raise and spend unlimited money on voter registration and other party-building activities. a. Party discretionary funding b. The party expenditure exemption c. Soft money d. Walking-around money Answer: c Topic: Regulations on Campaign Contributions Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

15.

What did the Supreme Court determine to be permissible in Citizens United v.

Federal Election Commission? a. unlimited corporate contributions to groups that make independent expenditures b. limits on campaign spending in the interest of ensuring a competitive election c. public financing for presidential campaigns d. restrictions on freedom of speech in the interest of promoting civil campaign discourse Answer: a Topic: Regulations on Campaign Contributions Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

Why would someone contribute money to a 501(c) group? a. to ensure that the money is used on advertising b. to avoid having his or her name disclosed as a donor c. so that the funds would be matched by the federal government d. to make a contribution using someone else’s name or under a false identity Answer: b Topic: Regulations on Independent Political Expenditures Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17.

Which statement accurately describes the role that money played in the 2016 presidential election? a. The campaign that spent the most money won the election. b. Hillary Clinton’s campaign spent less money than did Donald Trump’s campaign. c. Donald Trump’s campaign raised more money from outside groups than did Hillary Clinton’s campaign. d. Donald Trump’s campaign spent less money than Hillary Clinton’s campaign spent.

Answer: d Topic: Does Money Buy Victory?

Learning Objective: 9.3 Identify how the financing of federal campaigns is regulated and evaluate the influence of money in elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

6 ..

18.

A campaign is most likely to __________. a. convince citizens who gave money to one candidate to vote for the other candidate b. convert voters c. change voters’ minds about who to vote for d. reinforce voters’ preferences for candidates Answer: d Topic: The Impact of Campaigns Learning Objective: 9.4 Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

__________ is the phenomenon that people’s beliefs often guide what they pay attention to and how they interpret events. a. Suffrage b. Policy voting c. Selective perception d. Frontloading Answer: c Topic: The Impact of Campaigns Learning Objective: 9.4 Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

Research suggests that political campaigns are most likely to successfully convert voters when they __________. a. use “wedge” issues on which the other party is divided b. make appeals based on party affiliation c. make unrealistic promises d. buy radio and Internet advertisements Answer: a Topic: The Impact of Campaigns Learning Objective: 9.4 Determine why campaigns have an important yet limited impact on election outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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21.

In which of the following countries is voter turnout lowest? a. Australia b. Belgium c. United States d. Denmark Answer: c Topic: Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22.

Which of the following helps to explain why voter turnout is lower in the United States than in most other established democracies? a. The United States holds fewer elections. b. The United States elects fewer officeholders. c. The United States has midweek elections. d. The United States has more moderate political parties.

Answer: c Topic: Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

23.

Which of the following is a cost of voting? a. political efficacy b. civic duty c. becoming informed d. an election that is decided by a single vote Answer: c Topic: Deciding Whether to Vote Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

24.

Which person would be most likely to vote? a. someone who thinks that both candidates are moderate b. someone with a low sense of civic duty c. someone with a high sense of political efficacy d. someone who sees few differences between the candidates Answer: c Topic: Deciding Whether to Vote Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8 ..

25.

Which statement indicates a high level of political efficacy? a. “I should vote to honor those who sacrificed their lives to make America free.” b. “Voting is so easy that there is no excuse for not voting.” c. “My vote can make a difference.” d. “Democracy is only democratic if citizens participate in the process.”

Answer: c Topic: Deciding Whether to Vote Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26.

Which of the following makes it harder to vote? a. frontloading b. the Motor Voter Act c. Election Day voter registration laws d. voter ID laws Answer: d Topic: Registering to Vote Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

27.

Which of the following would be most likely to increase voter turnout in the United States? a. holding more elections b. making voter registration easier c. electing more officeholders d. minimizing the differences between the parties Answer: b Topic: Registering to Vote Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

9 ..

28.

Which group is more likely to vote? a. those with low income b. those who are older c. ethnic minorities d. college students Answer: b Topic: Who Votes?

Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

Why are people with more education more likely to vote? a. Education depresses political efficacy. b. Education increases intolerance. c. Education helps voters recognize differences between the candidates. d. Education enables voters to calculate the probability that their vote will decide the election.

Answer: c Topic: Who Votes?

Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

30.

Why are married people more likely than single people to vote? a. Married couples have more free time. b. Married people are less likely to have a college degree. c. Married couples receive a tax break if both spouses vote. d. Married people have closer ties to their community.

Answer: d Topic: Who Votes?

Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

31.

Which of the following groups is overrepresented among voters? a. government workers b. people who are single c. younger citizens d. minorities Answer: a Topic: Who Votes?

Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

32.

Why do winning candidates claim a mandate even though political scientists generally discredit the mandate theory of elections? a. Politicians think that political scientists do not understand how things actually work. b. Voters do not necessarily prefer all of the winning candidate’s issue positions. c. Winning candidates want to justify their policy proposals by claiming that the public supports them. d. Winning candidates are not well versed in the political science literature.

Answer: c Topic: How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions Learning Objective: 9.6 Analyze why people vote as they do.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

33.

How does party identification simplify the voting process? a. It enables voters to select from a wider array of candidates. b. It cues voters to which candidates they are likely to prefer. c. It eliminates the need to produce a photo identification in order to vote. d. It reduces the policy differences between the candidates.

Answer: b Topic: Party Identification Learning Objective: 9.6 Analyze why people vote as they do.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Why is it sometimes difficult for citizens to engage in policy voting? a. Competing candidates usually have the same positions on issues. b. Candidates are often intentionally vague about their issue stances. c. The media tend to overwhelm voters with policy information. d. Election officials prevent using policy-based voter guides in the voting booth.

Answer: b Topic: Policy Voting Learning Objective: 9.6 Analyze why people vote as they do.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

11 ..

35.

Which group was most likely to vote for Donald Trump in 2016? a. Jews b. Hispanics c. younger voters d. Non-Hispanic whites Answer: d Topic: 2016: An Election Like No Other Learning Objective: 9.6 Analyze why people vote as they do.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

36.

Which group voted most heavily for Donald Trump in 2016? a. Jews b. Hispanics c. white fundamentalist Christians d. those under 30 years old Answer: c Topic: 2016: An Election Like No Other Learning Objective: 9.6 Analyze why people vote as they do.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which is overrepresented in the Electoral College? a. North Dakota b. New York c. California d. states that use primary elections to select their candidates Answer: a Topic: The Last Battle: The Electoral College Learning Objective: 9.7 Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

12 ..

38.

Why do presidential candidates tend to focus their efforts on battleground states? a. Battleground states have the most Electoral College votes. b. Battleground states have more electors than they would deserve if electors were allocated by population. c. Candidates focus on battleground states in order to increase their media exposure. d. The expected result in battleground states is so close that they could conceivably be won by either of the major candidates.

Answer: d Topic: The Last Battle: The Electoral College Learning Objective: 9.7 Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

39.

If the president were selected by popular vote instead of by the Electoral College, which of the following cities would a presidential campaign be least likely to visit? a. Miami, Florida b. Green Bay, Wisconsin c. New York, New York d. Chicago, Illinois Answer: b Topic: The Last Battle: The Electoral College Learning Objective: 9.7 Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

How would switching to direct election of the president affect non-battleground states like Texas? a. Texas would receive more attention from candidates trying to win votes in major population centers. b. Texas would receive less attention from candidates because it would no longer be a battleground state. c. Texas would receive very little attention from candidates because it would remain a safe state. d. Texas would likely become a safe state for the Democratic Party.

Answer: a Topic: The Last Battle: The Electoral College Learning Objective: 9.7 Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13 ..

41.

Because there is barely any time between the end of one campaign and the beginning of the next, some people have called the American electoral process __________. a. “the endless commercial” b. “the permanent campaign” c. “the road to nowhere” d. “perpetual overtime” Answer: b Topic: Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?

Learning Objective: 9.8 Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the U.S. system of campaigns and elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

42.

One of the downsides to the American system of presidential campaigns and elections is that __________. a. party leaders select candidates in smoke-filled rooms b. a person who might be an excellent president could be discouraged from running because the process is so onerous c. voters are largely ignored in the process d. candidates who spend the most money are always the winners Answer: b Topic: Are Nominations and Campaigns Too Democratic?

Learning Objective: 9.8 Assess the advantages and disadvantages of the U.S. system of campaigns and elections.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14 ..

10 Interest Groups  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Why did the proposed federal soda tax fail to become law? a. The president vetoed it. b. The soda industry lobbied against it. c. The imposition of the soda tax would not raise sufficient revenue. d. The imposition of the soda tax would not improve public health.

Answer: b Topic: Politics in Action: How the Beverage Industry Mobilized to Stop a Sugar Tax Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

2.

A(n) __________ is an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. a. corporation b. interest group c. iron triangle. d. free rider Answer: b Topic: The Role of Interest Groups in Politics Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

What is a key difference between interest groups and political parties? a. Interest groups try to influence elections, but only parties run candidates for office. b. Interest groups are policy generalists; parties are policy specialists. c. Interest groups make appeals to the entire electorate; parties make appeals to only enough of the electorate to win elections. d. There are fewer interest groups than political parties.

Answer: a Topic: The Role of Interest Groups in Politics Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

4.

What is one reason that interest groups have proliferated over the past halfcentury? a. Developments in technology made it easier to engage in interest group activities. b. The increasing power of political parties led to more interest group formation. c. A decrease in the scope of government brought out interest groups seeking to protect their interests. d. Legal restrictions on lobbying activities were lifted as part of the New Deal.

Answer: a Topic: The Role of Interest Groups in Politics Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

5.

Which statement expresses a pluralist belief? a. Only wealthy interests have influence over government decisions. b. Government decisions reflect the preferences of elites. c. A rough approximation of the public interest emerges from competition between groups. d. Policymakers care more about public opinion than about interest group preferences.

Answer: c Topic: Pluralism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Critics of pluralism have noted that __________. a. government decisions reflect the balance of competing interests in society b. power is concentrated in the hands of the few c. individuals with shared grievances usually form interest groups to press their demands upon government d. the formation of one group typically stimulates the formation of an opposing group Answer: b Topic: Elitism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

7.

Elitists generally argue that __________. a. all legitimate groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another b. large corporations hold tremendous political 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 Answer: b Topic: Elitism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

Which of the following is hyperpluralists’ main criticism of the interest group system? a. Government is too deferential to interest groups’ demands. b. Interest groups are too weak to have much influence in government. c. Elected officials are unresponsive to requests from interest groups. d. Labor unions tend to dominate over other types of interest groups.

Answer: a Topic: Hyperpluralism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

Which is an essential element of an iron triangle? a. a collective good b. a government agency c. a nonprofit organization d. a union shop Answer: b Topic: Hyperpluralism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

10.

What is the main goal of each element of an iron triangle? a. abolishing free-riders b. creating more opportunities for collective action c. fostering democratic deliberation d. protecting its self-interest Answer: d Topic: Hyperpluralism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

11.

According to critics of interest group influence in the United States, what is a consequence of hyperpluralism? a. reduced agency budgets b. termination of government programs c. contradictory and confusing policy d. growth in the number of political parties Answer: c Topic: Hyperpluralism Learning Objective: 10.1 Explain the origins of interest groups in America and the theories of their role in our democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

4 ..

12.

The __________ occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group’s efforts. a. free-rider problem b. right-to-work principle c. collective goods conundrum d. lobbying disclosure requirement Answer: a Topic: The Surprising Effectiveness of Small Groups Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13.

To overcome the free-rider problem, many interest groups offer selective benefits that __________. a. consist of policies that the interest groups support b. are given to members of Congress in return for their support on legislation c. are given only to group members d. are given directly to other interest groups with a similar goal Answer: c Topic: The Surprising Effectiveness of Small Groups Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy

14.

Which of the following is an example of the free-rider problem? a. a political action committee contributing to candidates from both major political parties b. an elected official relying on information from lobbyists c. an environmentalist deciding not to join an environmental group but appreciating the group’s environmental stewardship d. an environmental group disagreeing with a business group on policy goals to pursue Answer: c Topic: The Surprising Effectiveness of Small Groups Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

5 ..

15.

Which potential group would find it easiest to overcome the free-rider problem? a. environmentalists b. workers in states where union membership is optional c. a small industry d. advocates for women’s rights Answer: c Topic: The Surprising Effectiveness of Small Groups Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16.

What does intensity contribute to the success of an interest group? a. Intensity often leads groups to advocate for more than they can realistically get, and the final result is that they get nothing. b. Intense interest group members often scare away other potential members with less intense beliefs. c. Politicians are more likely to listen to a group showing intensity. d. Intensity weeds out the free riders in a group, resulting in a more heterogeneous group.

Answer: c Topic: Intensity Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17.

Which of the following is most likely to form a single-issue interest group? a. abortion opponents b. consumer advocates c. good government advocates d. opponents of big government Answer: a Topic: Intensity Learning Objective: 10.2 Analyze the factors that make some interest groups more successful than others in the political arena.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

6 ..

18.

What is lobbying? a. communicating, 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. fund-raising for political candidates and educating the public about the activities of government Answer: a Topic: Lobbying Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

Which of the following are lobbyists required to do? a. limit the number of hours the lobbyist works during a single session of Congress b. join Common Cause, the labor union representing lobbyists c. be employed by a political action committee d. file a report detailing the sources of all lobbying income Answer: d Topic: Lobbying Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

What benefit can lobbyists offer elected officials? a. Lobbyists can be used as intermediaries to accept illegal campaign contributions. b. Lobbyists can help elected officials meet their legally mandated quotas for meetings with constituents. c. Lobbyists can supplement the meager salaries of elected officials. d. Lobbyists can help elected officials win reelection.

Answer: d Topic: Lobbying Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

21.

Which of the following is a typical way for lobbyists to attempt to influence members of Congress? a. by offering them money to vote a particular way. b. by filing amicus curiae briefs c. by organizing protests and demonstrations on Capitol Hill d. by providing specialized expertise Answer: d Topic: Lobbying Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

Which person is a lobbyist most likely to contact? a. a typical citizen b. a journalist c. an elected official who does not agree with the lobbyist d. an elected official who is in general agreement with the lobbyist Answer: d Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23.

Which of the following raise money from individuals and distribute campaign contributions to political candidates? a. community-service groups b. pluralists c. iron triangles d. political action committees (PACs) Answer: d Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

8 ..

24.

What are political action committees (PACs) seeking when they give campaign contributions? a. illegal kickbacks b. public recognition for their contributions to society c. access to officeholders d. publicity for nonprofit organizations Answer: c Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

In which of the following might political action committees (PACs) invest their contributions in order to maximize their political influence? a. members of the minority party in Congress b. challengers c. incumbents d. presidential candidates Answer: c Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

26.

Why are campaign contributions so important for interest groups seeking to influence government? a. Legislators only meet with interest groups that offer campaign contributions. b. Members of Congress are better listeners when hearing from interests that financially supported their campaigns. c. Groups can offer contributions in return for favorable votes on pending legislation. d. Organizations seeking to offer input on a political party’s platform are required to make campaign contributions.

Answer: b Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

9 ..

27.

Generally speaking, political action committee (PAC) contributions have __________. a. become more important in congressional elections b. decreased for incumbents but increased for challengers and open seats c. become less important in federal elections and more important in state elections d. become less important Answer: a Topic: Electioneering Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

What is an amicus curiae brief? a. a written argument submitted to a court in support of one side of a case b. an internal memo circulated among interest group leaders that briefs them on the details of a court case c. a petition submitted to Congress in support of or opposition to a judicial nominee d. a petition submitted to an executive branch agency that requests a review of the agency’s decision Answer: a Topic: Litigating Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29.

An interest group might file an amicus curiae brief in order to shape policy through __________. a. grassroots lobbying b. the electoral process c. an executive branch agency d. the judicial branch Answer: d Topic: Litigating Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

30.

How might interest groups use the courts to try to shape policy? a. through letter-writing campaigns addressed to particular judges b. by nominating candidates for office who will change disliked policies c. by filing class action lawsuits d. by meeting privately with judges to express their views on cases Answer: c Topic: Litigating Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

How has social media affected interest groups? a. Social media has made it easier for interest groups to mobilize potential group members. b. Social media has made it easier for interest groups to reach voters who opposed the group’s agenda so that those voters can be converted. c. Social media accounts can be mined for data about the public’s policy preferences. d. Social media’s penchant for privacy has made it harder for interest groups to connect with voters.

Answer: a Topic: Social Media and Going Public Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

32.

How might an interest group attempt to shape public opinion about an issue that is important to the group? a. by making campaign contributions to incumbents b. by making campaign contributions to challengers c. by conducting public opinion polls d. by running television ads Answer: d Topic: Social Media and Going Public Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

11 ..

33.

Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers? a. public interest groups b. political action committees c. right-to-work organizations d. labor unions Answer: d Topic: Economic Interests Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34.

Which of the following is an example of a labor group? a. the National Rifle Association b. the American Association of Retired People (AARP) c. the AFL-CIO d. the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Answer: c Topic: Economic Interests Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35.

What do right-to-work laws require? a. that workers have amicus curiae briefs b. that workers have the right to engage in collective bargaining c. that workers join the union d. that workers cannot be forced to join a union that represents them Answer: d Topic: Economic Interests Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

36.

Which of the following is expected to weaken labor unions? a. rapidly shrinking income inequality that reduces the need for labor union activities b. legislation enacted in several states that outlaws all labor union activities in those states c. a recent Supreme Court decision that nonmembers cannot be required to pay unions for collective bargaining activities d. increasing hostility to labor unions by the Democratic Party Answer: c Topic: Economic Interests Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which statement about campaign contributions made by corporate PACs to candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives is true? a. In each race, corporate PACs direct their donations to support whichever candidate most closely shares their ideological values. b. Corporate PACs give most of their contributions to Democrats. c. A majority of corporate PAC contributions to House candidates go to the candidates of the majority party. d. Corporate PACs give most of their money to those running for open seats.

Answer: c Topic: Types of Interest Groups Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

38.

Which of the following interest groups is an example of an equality interest? a. the United Auto Workers b. the National Organization for Women c. the World Wildlife Fund d. Common Cause Answer: b Topic: Equality Interests Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13 ..

39.

What are public interest lobbies? a. all groups that conducts research and analysis on public policy issues b. all groups that express their political views publicly c. all groups that work to benefit society as a whole d. all groups that represent workers within a particular industry.

Answer: c Topic: Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

40.

Which of the following is an example of a public interest lobby? a. a consumer group b. the American Beverage Association c. a labor union d. a group representing alpaca ranchers Answer: a Topic: Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

41.

What tactic are consumer groups most likely to employ as a means for effecting policy change? a. persuading consumers to join business groups to affect change from the inside b. using unconventional methods to gain media attention c. urging consumers to make politically motivated purchasing decisions d. developing new products that are marketed so as to ridicule recalcitrant policymakers Answer: c Topic: Consumer and Other Public Interest Lobbies Learning Objective: 10.4 Identify the various types of interest groups and their policy concerns.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

14 ..

42.

Which theory is most closely aligned with James Madison’s beliefs about interest groups? a. liberalism b. elitism c. pluralism d. hyperpluralism Answer: c Topic: Interest Groups and Democracy Learning Objective: 10.5 Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

Which of the following argue that the formation of so many influential interest groups has made it increasingly difficult to accomplish major policy change in Washington? a. elitists b. single-issue groups c. hyperpluralists d. labor unions Answer: c Topic: Interest Groups and Democracy Learning Objective: 10.5 Evaluate how well Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

15 ..

11 Congress  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which statement best summarizes the public’s view of Congress? a. Congress as a whole is doing what the public wants even though individual members of Congress are not. b. Individual members of Congress are doing what their constituents want, but Congress as a whole is not. c. The public generally likes Congress because of its penchant for gridlock. d. The public is increasingly more approving of Congress as the scope of government gradually expands.

Answer: b Topic: Politics in Action: Governing in Congress Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

2.

Members of Congress are generally __________ than the general population. a. less partisan b. less well paid c. happier d. wealthier Answer: d Topic: The Members Learning Objective: 11.1 Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

Which of the following persons would be eligible to be a member of the U.S. House of Representatives? a. someone who is age 30 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen as a teenager b. someone who is age 23 and a natural-born U.S. citizen c. someone who is age 68 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years before d. a noncitizen who is age 35 and has permanent residency in the United States Answer: a Topic: The Members Learning Objective: 11.1 Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

4.

Which group is most underrepresented in Congress? a. African Americans b. whites c. Hispanics d. women Answer: d Topic: The Members Learning Objective: 11.1 Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

What is substantive representation? a. representation of groups that provide subsistence for their campaign coffers but not for their policy preferences b. representation of the interests of groups of which they themselves are not members c. representation of people and interests they like personally by voting for legislation that benefits those people d. representation of constituents by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics Answer: b Topic: The Members Learning Objective: 11.1 Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

What is one reason that there are not more women in Congress? a. Women with children are less ambitious about running for office. b. Women who run for the House of Representatives usually lose. c. Women voters are reluctant to vote for women candidates for fear of being stereotyped. d. Women must be perceived as less qualified (and therefore less threatening) than men in order to win the support of crucial independent voters.

Answer: a Topic: Why Aren’t There More Women in Congress?

Learning Objective: 11.1 Characterize the backgrounds of members of Congress and assess their impact on the ability of members of Congress to represent average Americans.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

Which of the following is an advantage congressional incumbents possess in seeking reelection over challengers? a. outsider status b. publically funded reelection campaigns c. progressive taxes d. visibility in their districts Answer: d Topic: The Advantages of Incumbency Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

Which task is an example of casework? a. analysis of an incumbent’s policy positions before a debate b. analysis of water quality in a district c. helping a constituent resolve a problem involving the Veterans Administration d. giving political speeches at a political party convention Answer: c Topic: The Advantages of Incumbency Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

3 ..

9.

How does the pork barrel aid the district of a member of Congress? a. by diverting unallocated funds to another government agency b. by bringing federal funds and projects to a district c. by increasing government revenue through private market investment d. by taxing corporations less so they provide health insurance for employees Answer: b Topic: The Advantages of Incumbency Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Which statement expresses one advantage incumbents have in winning reelection? a. The House engages in reapportionment before each election in order to shore up districts for marginal incumbents. b. Very little casework needs to be done by incumbents, while challengers are sometimes overwhelmed by the need to do casework. c. The best potential challengers are often scared off by the thought of competing against a powerful incumbent. d. Majority and minority whips work tirelessly to ensure that citizens vote for the incumbent.

Answer: c Topic: The Advantages of Incumbency Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

How must states draw their congressional districts? a. without regard to party b. without regard to race or ethnicity c. with equal population across districts d. so as to create as much electoral competition as practical Answer: c Topic: The Advantages of Incumbency Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

When is a congressional incumbent most likely to be defeated? a. between major political tidal waves b. after a state legislature redraws congressional district boundaries c. when the challenger is involved in a scandal d. when the presidential candidate belongs to the same party as the congressional incumbent Answer: b Topic: Defeating Incumbents Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13.

Which of the following would increase turnover in congressional membership? a. term limits b. credit claiming c. franking privileges d. incumbency advantage Answer: a Topic: Stability and Change Learning Objective: 11.2 Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

What form of legislature does the United States have? a. bicameral b. unicameral c. parliamentary d. appointed Answer: a Topic: American Bicameralism Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

How is the number of seats a state has in the House of Representatives determined? a. equal representation by state b. two-party vote distribution in the last presidential election c. population d. determined by the majority party at the time the Census is conducted Answer: c Topic: American Bicameralism Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

16.

Which best describes power in the Senate? a. out-of-control b. overwhelming c. decentralized d. hierarchical Answer: c Topic: American Bicameralism Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

17.

Who presides over the House of Representatives and plays a crucial role in determining committee assignments and leadership roles and assigning bills to committees? a. the majority leader b. the president of the House c. the member with the most seniority d. the Speaker of the House Answer: d Topic: Congressional Leadership Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

In the House of Representatives, who is the Speaker’s primary partisan ally? a. majority leader b. majority whip c. minority leader d. president pro tempore Answer: a Topic: Congressional Leadership Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

19.

The vice president of the United States is the ceremonial leader of the Senate.

Who is the most prominent partisan leader of the Senate? a. majority leader b. majority whip c. president of the Senate d. Speaker Answer: a Topic: Congressional Leadership Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

What do whips do? a. act as official spokespersons for their chambers b. vote in case of a tie c. meet with members of the president’s cabinet d. persuade party members to support the party’s priorities Answer: d Topic: Congressional Leadership Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

21.

What is the vice president’s only constitutionally defined job? a. to look after the “Good and the Welfare of We the People” b. to represent the president at official state functions c. to preside over the Electoral College d. to serve as president of the Senate Answer: d Topic: Congressional Leadership Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

Most of the work of Congress happens __________. a. during recess b. in committees c. on the floor d. through hearings Answer: b Topic: The Committees and Subcommittees Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

23.

A committee created to reconcile differences in versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate is called a(n) __________ committee. a. arbitration b. conference c. standing d. appropriations Answer: b Topic: The Committees and Subcommittees Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

8 ..

24.

How are Senate committee chairs generally selected? a. by popular vote b. according to seniority c. according to talent and expertise d. according to tact and decorum Answer: b Topic: Committees and Subcommittees Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

What might a group of members of Congress do if they have a common desire to influence public policies involving an issue of mutual interest? a. form a caucus b. abandon seniority c. create a committee d. hire a staff agency Answer: a Topic: Caucuses: The Informal Organization of Congress Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26.

What is a congressional staff member most likely to spend time doing? a. exercise oversight of the bureaucracy b. lobbying c. fundraising d. casework Answer: d Topic: Congressional Staff Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

9 ..

27.

The __________ makes economic projections about the performance of the economy, the costs of proposed policies, and the economic effects of taxing and spending alternatives. a. Congressional Budget Office b. Government Accountability Office c. House Ways and Means Committee d. Senate Banking Committee Answer: a Topic: Congressional Staff Learning Objective: 11.3 Assess the roles of leaders, political parties, and committees in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

28.

In the House of Representatives, a bill goes to the Rules Committee __________. a. after it goes to a conference committee b. after it is approved by its full committee c. after it is debated in the full House d. before it is amended or rewritten in its full committee Answer: b Topic: Agenda Setting Learning Objective: 11.4 Describe the process of lawmaking in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

What path is a bill most likely to take once it has been submitted to the House of Representatives? a. The bill is approved by the subcommittee and then the committee, before being sent to the leadership, which determines next steps. b. The bill is approved by the standing committee, then the subcommittee, then the Rules Committee, and then the full chamber. c. The bill is approved by the standing committee and then the subcommittee but does not make it past the Rules Committee. d. The bill is sent to a standing committee and then to a subcommittee but does not make it past this point.

Answer: d Topic: The Committees at Work: Legislation Learning Objective: 11.4 Describe the process of lawmaking in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

30.

Congress missed the fact that various agencies with responsibility for supervising the banking industry were negligent in identifying looming financial problems that led to the recession of 2008–2009. This suggests a failure of __________. a. the seniority system b. jurisdiction fragmentation c. oversight d. floor debate Answer: c Topic: The Committees at Work: Oversight Learning Objective: 11.4 Describe the process of lawmaking in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31.

A filibuster can be ended through __________; it requires the approval of __________ senators. a. abrogation; fifty-one b. censure; fifty-five c. cloture; sixty d. discharge; sixty-seven Answer: c Topic: Floor Debate and the Filibuster Learning Objective: 11.4 Describe the process of lawmaking in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32.

Party leaders sometimes use __________ legislation that includes many issues in an effort to create a winning coalition that will support passage of the bill. a. ad hoc b. conference c. orthodox d. omnibus Answer: d Topic: Unorthodox Lawmaking Learning Objective: 11.4 Describe the process of lawmaking in Congress.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

33.

Which action is the most efficient and effective way for a president to shape legislation? a. threatening to veto legislation if it is not changed to the president’s liking b. spending ten minutes on the phone with each legislator in an attempt to win support for the president’s policy initiatives c. shepherding bills the president favors through each step of the legislative process d. ensuring that the president’s legislative agenda does not overlap with the platform of the congressional party in power Answer: a Topic: Presidents and Congress: Partners and Protagonists Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

34.

No Republicans voted for President Obama’s health care reform plan, and no Democrats voted for President Trump’s tax plan. What does this illustrate? a. partisan polarization in Congress b. the incumbency advantage c. the filibuster d. cloture Answer: a Topic: Party, Ideology, and Constituency Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35.

How have congressional parties changed in recent decades? a. Both parties have shifted toward the ideological left. b. The parties have depolarized. c. Within each party, moderates have increasingly replaced extremists. d. Each party has become internally more homogeneous.

Answer: d Topic: Party, Ideology, and Constituency Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

36.

Some believe that legislators should act as __________ who use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people. a. delegates b. trustees c. partisans d. politicos Answer: b Topic: Influences on congressional decision making.

Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

37.

Which example best demonstrates a legislator acting as an instructed delegate? a. A legislator uses his or her best judgment. b. A legislator does whatever is in the best interest of his or her constituents. c. A legislator follows the public opinion of his or her constituents. d. A legislator does what is in the best interest of his or her party.

Answer: c Topic: Influences on congressional decision making.

Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

38.

When is lobbying more likely to be successful? a. when lobbying against change b. when lobbying for an environmental group c. immediately before an election d. during congressional scandals Answer: a Topic: Lobbyists and Interest Groups Learning Objective: 11.5 Describe the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13 ..

39.

Where is malapportionment particularly acute? a. the Dutch Senate b. the U.S. Senate c. the U.S. House of Representatives d. the seniority system Answer: b Topic: Congress and Democracy Learning Objective: 11.6 Assess Congress’s role as a representative body and the impact of representation on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

40.

How might the nature of Congress contribute to an increasing scope of government? a. There is bipartisan consensus that economic prosperity increases when the scope of government expands, giving both parties an incentive to increase the scope of government. b. Congress is bound by numerous checks and balance that work together to amplify compromises that result in additional government services. c. Reelection provides an incentive for Congress to be responsive to public demands, but responsiveness often results in establishing new programs. d. Congress delegates budget decisions to the president, who is always eager to spend tax dollars on programs that will help him or her get reelected.

Answer: c Topic: Congress and Democracy Learning Objective: 11.6 Assess Congress’s role as a representative body and the impact of representation on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14 ..

12 The Presidency  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which statement best describes Americans’ expectation about their presidents? a. Americans want a powerful president who can do good but dislike the idea of having power concentrated in the presidency. b. Americans want an authoritative president who believes in communitarianism. c. Americans believe that presidents should be compassionate in international relations and aggressive in domestic affairs. d. Americans expect presidents to be flexible when dealing with Congress but strict when dealing with the states, Answer: a Topic: Great Expectations Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

2.

Which is the most common characteristic of U.S. presidents? a. being a Protestant b. being a state governor c. being a farmer d. being a businessman Answer: a Topic: Who They Are Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

Which citizen is ineligible to become president? a. a natural-born citizen b. someone who is 37 years old c. someone who has lived in the United States for 20 years d. someone who has already been elected president twice Answer: d Topic: How They Got There Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4.

How are vacancies in the vice presidency filled? a. New vice presidents are nominated by the president and approved by both houses of Congress. b. New vice presidents are selected in a national special election called for that purpose. c. New vice presidents are selected by a vote of the Electoral College. d. Vacancies in the vice presidency are not filled; they remain vacant until the next presidential election.

Answer: a Topic: How They Got There Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

How can a president be removed from office? a. The House impeaches the president by a majority vote; the Supreme Court convicts with a two-thirds vote. b. The Senate impeaches the president by a majority vote; the House convicts with a two-thirds vote. c. The House impeaches the president by a majority vote; the Senate convicts with a two-thirds majority. d. The Supreme Court impeaches the president with a majority vote; the chief justice presides over a Senate trial that convicts with a two-thirds majority.

Answer: c Topic: How They Got There Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Which event is most likely to result in presidential impeachment? a. a president playing a game of poker in the White House b. a president’s poor performance c. a president’s decision to invade a country solely to increase his or her public support d. a president encouraging interest groups to pressure Congress to pass a bill Answer: c Topic: How They Got There Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7.

What was Watergate? a. an ill-fated attempt by members of the Richard Nixon campaign to tamper with ballots during the 1968 presidential election b. the event that led to the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew during the Richard Nixon administration c. the scandal involving the illegal sale of government documents by members of the Richard Nixon administration d. the events that led to Richard Nixon’s resignation under the threat of impeachment Answer: d Topic: How They Got There Learning Objective: 12.1 Characterize the expectations for and the backgrounds of presidents and identify paths to the White House and how presidents may be removed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

Which is a constitutional power that the president shares with the Senate? a. making treaties b. declaring war c. granting pardons d. receiving foreign ambassadors Answer: a Topic: Constitutional Powers Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

Which judicial power belongs to the president? a. determining the Supreme Court’s docket b. nominating federal judges c. establishing the jurisdiction of the federal courts, including the Supreme Court d. determining the constitutionality of judicial acts Answer: b Topic: Constitutional Powers Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Why has the power and responsibility of the presidency increased? a. increased use of the line-item veto b. decreased agency budgets, giving the president increased budgetary discretion c. a recent federal law making the president commander in chief of the armed forces d. increased prominence of the United States on the world stage Answer: d Topic: The Expansion of Power Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

11.

Which statement is a frequent criticism of Donald Trump? a. He has engaged in electronic surveillance of civilians without obtaining a warrant. b. He has frequently used drones to kill civilians. c. He lacks respect for the rule of law. d. He is too calculated in his decision making.

Answer: c Topic: Perspectives on Presidential Power Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

How is a president different from a prime minister? a. Presidents are elected by voters; prime ministers are selected by the legislature. b. Presidents receive more loyalty from their party supporters in the legislature than do prime ministers. c. Presidents are less likely than prime ministers to face divided government. d. Presidents have more legislative skills and experience than do prime ministers.

Answer: a Topic: President or Prime Minister?

Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

13.

What tool allows presidents to make regulations regarding how legislation will be implemented and carries the force of law? a. executive orders b. executive privilege c. presidential succession d. presidential appointments Answer: a Topic: Running the Government: The Chief Executive Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Who breaks a tie in the Senate? a. president of the United States b. vice president of the United States c. Speaker of the House d. Senate majority leader Answer: b Topic: The Vice President Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

Historically, vice presidential candidates have often been chosen to __________. a. help establish the president’s agenda b. mentor the president c. placate a significant party constituency d. lure a primary election challenger away from running on his or her own Answer: c Topic: The Vice President Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

How have recent presidents used their vice presidents? a. as policy advisers and for important diplomacy b. to preside over the day-to-day functions of the Senate c. as liaisons with moderate constituents d. as budget leaders Answer: a Topic: The Vice President Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

What best describes the president’s cabinet? a. the White House staff who ensure that the president has the necessary information and expertise to make well-informed decisions b. the members of the Executive Office of the President who collaborate with the president to make important policy decisions c. the “central nervous system” that makes the White House operate seamlessly d. a group of executive branch heads who are too concerned with representing their departments’ interests to be able to advise the president from a broad perspective Answer: d Topic: The Cabinet Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

What is the role of the National Security Council? a. to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisers b. to keep the president and his or her family secure c. to administer the armed forces d. to provide the president with national security policy advice from the opposing party’s perspective Answer: a Topic: The Executive Office of the President Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

Which office or official reviews the legislative proposals of executive agencies and assesses their budgetary implications and consistency with the president’s agenda? a. Department of the Treasury b. Office of Management and Budget c. Department of Commerce d. chief of staff Answer: b Topic: The Executive Office of the President Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

Which part of the executive branch is closest and most loyal to the president? a. Executive Office of the President (EOP) b. White House staff c. armed forces d. National Security Council Answer: b Topic: The White House Staff Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

7 ..

21.

The president’s chief of staff and press secretary are members of the __________. a. White House staff b. Council of Economic Advisors c. the cabinet d. Executive Office of the President Answer: a Topic: The White House Staff Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

Which best describes recent First Ladies? a. They have played a more active policymaking role than have their husbands. b. They have sat on the president’s cabinet. c. They have advocated for one or more specific issues. d. Their main responsibility is to be a hostess for White House gatherings.

Answer: c Topic: The First Lady Learning Objective: 12.3 Describe the roles of the vice president, cabinet, Executive Office of the President, White House staff, and First Lady.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

23.

Why do presidents need to gain support for their policies from officials in the other branches of government instead of enacting them outright? a. because Congress cannot debate legislation without approval from the president b. because the Constitution does not give the president any powers to influence public policy c. because the Constitution established a system of shared powers d. because the president has diminishing power over the course of his or her administration Answer: c Topic: Presidential Leadership of Congress: The Politics of Shared Powers Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

24.

In which way do modern presidents differ from the intentions of the Framers? a. Modern presidents are considerably less democratic than the Framers intended. b. Modern presidents have considerably less influence over their political parties than the Framers intended. c. Modern presidents are more influential in the legislative process than the Framers intended. d. Modern presidents are more subservient to the will of Congress than the Framers intended.

Answer: c Topic: Chief Legislator Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

25.

Which statement about vetoes is accurate? a. Vetoes are not official until they are ratified by either house of Congress. b. The number of vetoes has been increasing in recent years. c. Congressional Republicans eliminated pocket vetoes at the insistence of Donald Trump. d. Bills that are not signed or vetoed become law after 10 days unless Congress has adjourned.

Answer: d Topic: Chief Legislator Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

26.

Why is it necessary for presidents to act as party leaders in order to accomplish their policy goals? a. They must do so to gain public support for their policy goals and to win reelection. b. The frequency of congressional elections places the president’s policy objectives in jeopardy, necessitating strong party leadership. c. The political parties lack an enumeration of policies that each party wishes to enact; without presidential leadership, the parties are rudderless. d. Members of Congress from the president’s party cannot always be counted on to support the president’s agenda.

Answer: d Topic: Party Leadership Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

9 ..

27.

What can a president do to be a more effective leader of his party in Congress? a. enact legislation that the public likes b. increase congressional salaries c. campaign for his party’s candidates in midterm elections d. shorten presidential coattails Answer: c Topic: Party Leadership Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

28.

An __________ is the perception that the voters strongly support the president and his or her policies. a. electoral mandate b. approval rating c. executive order d. executive agreement Answer: a Topic: Public Support Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29.

Why does the perception of an electoral mandate matter in presidential politics? a. It improve the president’s legislative vision. b. It makes it harder for presidents to get their legislative agenda enacted by Congress. c. It offers legitimacy and credibility to the proposals of a recently elected president. d. It enables the president to hire and fire bureaucrats with less interference from Congress.

Answer: c Topic: Public Support Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

10 ..

30.

To get his or her legislative agenda, a skilled president might __________. a. allow Congress to establish the legislative agenda so that Congress will be more likely to enact the president’s agenda to return the favor b. unveil top policy priorities at the end of his or her term so that members of Congress will enact them quickly before Congress recesses c. offer to support a spending project in every congressional district in exchange for members’ votes for the president’s legislative agenda d. bargain with members of Congress who are unlikely to support the president’s legislative agenda without additional enticement Answer: d Topic: Legislative Skills Learning Objective: 12.4 Assess the impact of various sources of presidential influence on the president’s ability to win congressional support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31.

Who takes the lead in crafting national security policy? a. the president b. Congress c. the cabinet d. the vice president Answer: a Topic: The President and National Security Policy Learning Objective: 12.5 Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between the president and Congress in this arena.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

32.

Which power belongs exclusively to the president? a. ratifying treaties b. declaring war c. extending diplomatic recognition to foreign governments d. proposing public policy Answer: c Topic: Chief Diplomat Learning Objective: 12.5 Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between the president and Congress in this arena.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

33.

How can Congress check the president’s war powers? a. extending diplomatic recognition to foreign governments b. terminating relations with other nations c. determining the military’s budget d. negotiating executive agreements with foreign heads of state Answer: c Topic: War Powers Learning Objective: 12.5 Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between the president and Congress in this arena.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

Why did Congress enact the War Powers Resolution? a. to officially declare war against Vietnam b. to enhance the president’s power to use the military c. to clarify that the president has the authority to resolve war, while only the Senate can declare war d. to give Congress a greater voice in the decision to introduce U.S. troops into hostilities Answer: d Topic: War Powers Learning Objective: 12.5 Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between the president and Congress in this arena.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35.

Which statement best describes the roles played by Congress and/or the president in making national security policy? a. The president solely determines national security policy. b. The president leads national security policymaking, but Congress exercises some influence. c. Congress solely determines national security policy. d. Congress leads national security policymaking, but the president exercises some influence.

Answer: b Topic: Working with Congress Learning Objective: 12.5 Analyze the president’s powers in making national security policy and the relationship between the president and Congress in this arena.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

12 ..

36.

When presidents appear on television, they are trying to __________. a. boost television ratings b. shape public opinion c. improve national security policy d. influence the bureaucracy Answer: b Topic: Going Public Learning Objective: 12.6 Identify the factors that affect the president’s ability to obtain public support.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Why do presidents want high approval ratings? a. High approval ratings reduce presidential flexibility in enacting his or her policies. b. High ratings make it harder for members of Congress to vote for policies their constituents do not like. c. High ratings make it easier to achieve the president’s agenda. d. High approval ratings increase the likelihood that Congress will increase domestic spending.

Answer: c Topic: Presidential Approval Learning Objective: 12.6 Identify the factors that affect the president’s ability to obtain public support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

38.

Which of the following is a “rally event”? a. George H. W. Bush’s reelection after the Gulf War b. Richard Nixon’s approval ratings during Watergate c. George W. Bush’s surge in popularity after the 9/11 terrorist attacks d. Ronald Reagan’s decision to seek a second term Answer: c Topic: Presidential Approval Learning Objective: 12.6 Identify the factors that affect the president’s ability to obtain public support.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13 ..

39.

What aspect of the presidency is the press most likely to report on? a. the detailed process by which the executive branch operates b. what the president is doing c. the details of the president’s public policy proposals d. analysis of the president’s public policy proposals Answer: b Topic: Nature of News Coverage Learning Objective: 12.7 Characterize the president’s relations with the press and news coverage of the presidency.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

When might someone be particularly concerned about an expansion of presidential power? a. in times of relative peace and prosperity b. in times of economic crisis c. during presidential election years d. when he or she opposes the president’s agenda Answer: d Topic: The Presidency and Democracy Learning Objective: 12.8 Assess the role of presidential power in the American democracy and the president’s impact on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14 ..

13 The Budget: The Politics of Taxing and Spending  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

What causes the government to shut down? a. a debt limit that is too high b. successive budget surpluses c. Congress’s inability to pass a spending bill d. a joint resolution passed by both houses of Congress Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: The Messy Politics of Budgeting Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

Which statement illustrates American attitudes toward the budget? a. Americans want to decrease taxes, decrease spending, and balance the budget. b. Americans want to increase taxes, decrease spending, and balance the budget. c. Americans want to keep taxes low, maintain or increase spending, and balance the budget. d. Americans want to keep taxes low, decrease spending, and run a budget surplus.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: The Messy Politics of Budgeting Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

Which of the following is an excise tax? a. tax levied on corporate income b. tax levied on personal income c. tax levied on the consumption of a certain good d. tax levied on the top 2 percent of income earners Answer: c Topic: Federal Revenue and Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4.

Who pays income taxes? a. federal and state governments b. corporations and individuals c. universities and churches d. all U.S. citizens Answer: b Topic: Personal and Corporate Income Tax Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

In recent years, more than 40 percent of Americans paid no federal income tax.

This is partly explained by the fact that the income tax is __________. a. regressive b. progressive c. proportional d. flat Answer: b Topic: Personal and Corporate Income Tax Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

2 ..

6.

What is the largest source of government revenue in the United States? a. taxes collected on individual income b. taxes collected on business and corporate income c. Social Security and other payroll taxes d. taxes levied on the manufacture, transportation, sale, or consumption of a good Answer: a Topic: Personal and Corporate Income Tax Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

7.

How are social insurance taxes collected? a. Most Americans pay them with credit cards, but they can also be paid in person at local tax offices. b. Employees mail payments each month, and tax collectors are responsible for tracking down those who do not comply. c. They are collected once a year by local and state governments. d. They are deducted from employee paychecks and matched by the employer.

Answer: d Topic: Social Insurance Taxes Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

What does the federal government do when it is unable to cover its expenditures? a. sells bonds b. indexes taxes to the cost of living c. automatically increases taxes d. invests in pork projects with high rates of return Answer: a Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

3 ..

9.

Which is an example of intragovernmental debt? a. money borrowed from foreign governments b. money borrowed from Social Security revenue and used for general spending c. money borrowed from private corporations to purchase government bonds d. money borrowed from citizens who purchase government bonds Answer: b Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10.

The deficit is the amount by which a given year’s spending exceeds that year’s __________. a. appropriations b. tax expenditures c. revenue d. national debt Answer: c Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

What happens to the budget deficit each year? a. It is added to the national debt. b. It becomes a tax expenditure. c. It results in a tax increases commensurate with the size of the deficit. d. It results in automatic spending cuts the following year.

Answer: a Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4 ..

12.

What is the national debt? a. all of the money Congress has spent b. the accumulation of debt over time c. the sum of all tax expenditures minus the sum of all tax receipts d. the sum of all tax receipts minus the sum of all tax expenditures Answer: b Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

How big is the national debt? a. hundreds of thousands of dollars b. millions of dollars c. billions of dollars d. trillions of dollars Answer: d Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

14.

Who holds the majority of the federal government’s public debt? a. foreign investors b. U.S. citizens c. corporations d. banks Answer: a Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

Which event is most likely to increase budget deficits? a. hard economic times b. a presidential election c. a stock market boom d. larger-than-expected government revenue Answer: a Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

16.

Which of the following limits how much the federal government may borrow? a. debt ceiling b. capital budget c. tax expenditure d. budget resolution Answer: a Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

17.

Which statement most accurately describes the federal capital budget in the United States? a. It is used to pay for Social Security. b. It is used for infrastructure projects such as roads and bridges. c. It is used to fund tax expenditures. d. The federal government does not have a capital budget.

Answer: d Topic: Borrowing Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

Which of the following is a tax expenditure? a. appropriations bills b. authorization bills c. lower tax rates for stock and real estate profits d. estate taxes Answer: c Topic: Taxes and Public Policy Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19.

How might the federal government encourage certain activities? a. collect a budget surplus for engaging in desired activities b. attach a tax penalty for engaging in desired activities c. decrease subsidies for engaging in desired activities d. lower tax rates for engaging in desired activities Answer: d Topic: Taxes and Public Policy Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

Who is least likely to benefit from a tax expenditure? a. corporations b. lower-income citizens c. middle-income citizens d. upper-income citizens Answer: b Topic: Taxes and Public Policy Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

21.

How big is the tax burden in the United States compared with that of other developed democracies? a. The U.S. tax burden is about the same as it is in other developed democracies. b. The U.S. tax burden is larger than the average tax burden in other developed democracies. c. The U.S. tax burden is fairly modest. d. The United States has the largest tax burden of all other developed democracies.

Answer: c Topic: Taxes and Public Policy Learning Objective: 13.1 Describe the sources of funding for the federal government and assess the consequences of tax expenditures and borrowing.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22.

Why did the United States keep a large permanent military after World War II? a. to comply with the treaty that ended World War II, which prohibited demilitarization b. to appease the large veteran population that supported peacetime military service c. defense contractors successfully lobbied for an increase in contracts d. to fight the Cold War, which began shortly after World War II Answer: d Topic: The Rise of the National Security State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

23.

Who profits from the military-industrial complex? a. Congress b. the president c. defense contractors d. taxpayers Answer: c Topic: The Rise of the National Security State Learning Objective: 13.4 Assess the impact of democratic politics on budgetary growth and of the budget on scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

24.

What was the Social Security Act of 1935 designed to do? a. ensure that retirees could continue the lifestyle they had then they were working b. allow workers to retire at age 55 c. keep seniors out of poverty d. balance the budget by collecting more in Social Security taxes than were paid in benefits Answer: c Topic: The Rise of the Social Service State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

Which is the largest social policy of the federal government? a. Social Security b. drug rehabilitation c. assistance for the poor d. food subsidies Answer: a Topic: The Rise of the Social Service State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

26.

What was added to the Social Security system in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs? a. retirement benefits for railroad workers b. health insurance for the elderly c. unemployment insurance d. housing assistance Answer: b Topic: The Rise of the Social Service State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9 ..

27.

Which of the following has been the most recent expansion to the Social Security system? a. Medicare b. disability insurance c. prescription drug coverage d. hospital coverage Answer: c Topic: The Rise of the Social Service State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

Which of the following poses a threat to the system for funding Social Security? a. higher birthrates b. longer life expectancy c. higher social insurance taxes d. larger working population Answer: b Topic: The Rise of the Social Service State Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult

29.

What is a consequence of incrementalism? a. the tendency for budgets to increase modestly from year to year b. income tax rates that increase incrementally as income increases c. laws that prohibit spending increases except in times of emergency d. the tendency for the national debt to increase in large increments every year Answer: a Topic: Incrementalism Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

30.

In what sense is Social Security spending “uncontrollable”? a. Congress determines how much it will spend for Social Security each year. b. Social Security spending varies according to how much money is available in the Social Security Trust Fund. c. Congress has enacted laws that make Social Security payments automatic for all those who are eligible. d. Social Security requires funding from excise taxes that are unpredictable from year to year.

Answer: c Topic: “Uncontrollable” Expenditures Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

31.

Which budget actor does the president oversee? a. Ways and Means Committee b. Finance Committee c. Congressional Budget Office d. Office of Management and Budget Answer: d Topic: Budgetary Politics Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

32.

What is the role of the Congressional Budget Office? a. to determine a binding annual budget and a ten-year, non-binding budget estimate framework b. to write regulations that implement the federal budget c. to determine the viability of presidential policy initiatives d. to advise Congress on the consequences of its budget decisions Answer: d Topic: Budgetary Politics Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

33.

What is the role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)? a. to monitor what agencies do with their budgets b. to propose the budget for Congress c. to propose new bills to implement the president’s agenda d. to write tax codes based on changes in law Answer: a Topic: Budgetary Politics Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate

34.

By law, the __________ must submit a budget proposal to Congress each February. a. president b. Office of Management and Budget c. Government Accountability Office d. Finance Committee Answer: a Topic: The President’s Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35.

A(n) __________ is an act of Congress that establishes or changes a government program. a. authorization bill b. appropriations bill c. continuing resolution d. budget resolution Answer: a Topic: Congress and the Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

12 ..

36.

Which of the following best describes budgets under the Trump presidency? a. budget surpluses b. balanced budgets c. decreased budget deficits d. increased budget deficits Answer: d Topic: Congress and the Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

What does a budget resolution do? a. authorizes Congress to create a program b. resolves differences between the president’s budget and Congress’s budget c. extends the deadline for appropriations bills d. establishes the government’s total spending limits Answer: d Topic: Congress and the Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

38.

A(n) __________ is an act of Congress that funds programs established by authorization bills. a. joint proclamation b. appropriations bill c. budget resolution d. omnibus bill Answer: b Topic: Congress and the Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

13 ..

39.

What is the purpose of continuing resolutions? a. to allow agencies to continue to spend money even when Congress has not met its budgetary timetable b. to spend money despite presidential vetoes c. to combine multiple authorization bills to increase the chance of passage d. to ensure that the federal budget is balanced except in emergencies Answer: a Topic: Congress and the Budget Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

Some argue that government grows in a democracy due to the “equality of suffrage.” What does this mean? a. Everyone has a vote, regardless of income; a person who is less well-off can use his or her vote to expand government programs. b. Economically disadvantaged voters will support increased defense spending during both peacetime and war. c. An individual voter’s power is determined by his or her condition at birth. d. Disabled veterans support reducing the influence of the military-industrial complex.

Answer: a Topic: Democracy and Budgeting Learning Objective: 13.4 Assess the impact of democratic politics on budgetary growth and of the budget on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

41.

Since 1980, a focus on __________ in the United States has resulted in policymaking that could be considered the “politics of scarcity,” in which the federal government lacks funding to expand programming. a. tax cuts b. pork barrel projects c. subsidies d. tax expenditures Answer: a Topic: The Budget and Scope of Government Learning Objective: 13.4 Assess the impact of democratic politics on budgetary growth and of the budget on scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

14 The Federal Bureaucracy  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Why does the U.S. government have at least fifteen agencies that regulate food? a. Food can be regulated more efficiently when many agencies are involved in completing the task. b. The systems for producing food are so complex that it would be nearly impossible to regulate food production without using so many agencies. c. Congress created the system in a piecemeal fashion without concern for how the system works as a whole. d. The U.S. government is committed to inspecting all food before it reaches the consumer—a gargantuan task that requires many agencies to complete.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Regulating Food Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

Which of Max Weber’s characteristics of bureaucracy is illustrated by a government agency in which authority resides with the agency director? a. administrative discretion b. the merit principle c. task specialization d. hierarchical authority structure Answer: d Topic: Politics in Action: Regulating Food Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1 ..

3.

According to Max Weber, which of the following is a characteristic of a bureaucracy? a. inefficiency b. transparency c. consensus making d. task specialization Answer: d Topic: Politics in Action: Regulating Food Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

Which of the following is an application of the 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 Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Regulating Food Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

5.

Which statement about the bureaucracy is most accurate? a. Americans are generally satisfied with those bureaucrats they interact with. b. The number of federal bureaucrats is increasing rapidly. c. Most federal bureaucrats work in Washington, D.C. d. Public bureaucracies are inefficient.

Answer: a Topic: Some Bureaucratic Myths and Realities Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Why do Americans tend to think that red tape is more prevalent than it actually is? a. Americans tend to notice the bureaucracy only when it is inefficient and not when it works well. b. Americans unwittingly transfer their negative assessments of private bureaucracies (such as businesses and churches) to the public sphere. c. Americans generally have poor experiences when dealing with bureaucrats. d. Red is a more inflammatory color than black.

Answer: a Topic: Some Bureaucratic Myths and Realities Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

7.

Under the spoils system, who was awarded jobs in the federal bureaucracy? a. those who scored highest on aptitude tests b. those who did not affiliate with a political party c. those who previously served in the military d. those who helped candidates win election Answer: d Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8.

Which of the following was a consequence of the spoils system? a. The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who often lacked expertise. b. There was low turnover in the federal bureaucracy between presidential administrations. c. There was little government corruption. d. Voter turnout was lower.

Answer: a Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

3 ..

9.

How did the Pendleton Act reform the system of hiring and firing federal employees? a. It required hiring and firing decisions to be based on partisan loyalty rather than merit. b. It required hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than partisan loyalty. c. It continued to allow hiring based on merit but made firing federal employees easier. d. It continued to allow hiring based on partisan loyalty but made firing federal employees more difficult.

Answer: b Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Which action are federal employees prohibited from doing? a. adjudicating legal disputes b. exercising administrative discretion c. running for partisan office d. running voter registration drives Answer: c Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11.

What do the Pendleton Civil Service Act and the Hatch Act have in common? a. Both reduce administrative discretion. b. Both increase bureaucratic fairness. c. Both enhance presidential control of the federal bureaucracy. d. Both streamline the administrative rule making process Answer: b Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

4 ..

12.

The first step in obtaining a civil service job is likely to be __________. a. taking a test b. helping on a political campaign c. donating to campaign coffers d. networking with civil service workers Answer: a Topic: Civil Servants Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13.

What does the president consider to be the most important criterion when making political appointments to the bureaucracy? a. longevity at the agency before appointment b. loyalty to the president c. educational attainment d. substantive expertise Answer: b Topic: Political Appointees Learning Objective: 14.1 Describe the federal bureaucrats and the ways in which they obtain their jobs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Cabinet secretaries are chosen by __________ and approved by __________. a. the president; the Senate b. the president; the House of Representatives c. the president; the Supreme Court d. the Senate; the president Answer: a Topic: Cabinet Departments Learning Objective: 14.2 Differentiate the four types of agencies into which the federal bureaucracy is organized.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

Independent regulatory commissioners are __________. a. elected b. part of the president’s cabinet c. selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate d. easily fired Answer: c Topic: Independent Regulatory Commissions Learning Objective: 14.2 Differentiate the four types of agencies into which the federal bureaucracy is organized.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

Which of the following agencies is most removed from presidential control? a. the Department of Defense b. the Department of Justice c. the General Services Administration d. the Federal Reserve Board Answer: d Topic: Independent Regulatory Commissions Learning Objective: 14.2 Differentiate the four types of agencies into which the federal bureaucracy is organized.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17.

What does a government corporation do? a. charges for services that could be provided by private entities b. invests in the stock market c. assesses taxes d. evaluates potential public policies Answer: a Topic: Government Corporations Learning Objective: 14.2 Differentiate the four types of agencies into which the federal bureaucracy is organized.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

Which of the following is a function of the federal bureaucracy? a. issuing executive orders b. issuing executive agreements c. implementing laws passed by Congress d. implementing state statutes Answer: c Topic: What Implementation Means Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

What is implementation? a. the process of translating policy goals and objectives into an operational program b. a set of procedures executive branch agencies must follow when issuing rules c. the process by which government agencies settle legal disputes d. a set of rules enforcing government agreements with private contractors Answer: a Topic: What Implementation Means Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

How do standard operating procedures influence bureaucratic decision making? a. They promote uniform application of rules. b. They promote administrative discretion. c. They promote close coordination with Congress on implementation decisions. d. They promote coordination across agencies on implementation decisions.

Answer: a Topic: Why the Best-Laid Plans Sometimes Flunk the Implementation Test Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

21.

__________ is the authority of administrators in the federal bureaucracy to make choices concerning the best way to implement policies. a. Administrative adjudication b. Administrative discretion c. Administrative division of labor d. Executive control Answer: b Topic: Why the Best-Laid Plans Sometimes Flunk the Implementation Test Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22.

Under what circumstance are bureaucrats most likely to exercise administrative discretion? a. when an agency is creating environmental regulations b. when an agency is under congressional investigation c. when an agency is implementing rules that do not quite fit a particular case when an agency is proposing legislation Answer: c Topic: Why the Best-Laid Plans Sometimes Flunk the Implementation Test Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23.

The Department of Homeland Security was established to overcome which bureaucratic shortcoming? a. the excessive influence of iron triangles b. failure of various agencies to follow standard operating procedures c. fragmentation of policies related to domestic security d. paralyzing fear of doing the wrong thing Answer: c Topic: Why the Best-Laid Plans Sometimes Flunk the Implementation Test Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

24.

The use of private contractors by the federal government has __________. a. increased b. made the government more efficient c. reduced costs d. resulted in higher trust in government Answer: a Topic: Privatization Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

What 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 Answer: c Topic: Privatization Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

Which statement describes a drawback of privatization of government functions? a. Privatization reduces the ability to scrutinize government functions. b. The bidding process involves too many rules. c. Privatized services employ too many bureaucrats. d. Privatized service delivery is often too slow.

Answer: a Topic: Privatization Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

9 ..

27.

Which of the following contributed to the successful implementation of the Voting Rights Act? a. The policy was widely supported by policymakers and the public. b. The policy required only minor changes in how states ran their elections. c. The goals of the policy were clearly stated and there were adequate means to achieve them. d. The policy was implemented slowly and received nearly unanimous support in Congress.

Answer: c Topic: A Case Study of Successful Implementation: The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

28.

Which institution grants bureaucracies the authority to issue regulations? a. the General Accounting Office b. Congress c. the president d. the Internal Revenue Service Answer: b Topic: Bureaucracies as Regulators Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

29.

What role is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking when it sets limits on air pollution from power plants? a. regulation b. budgetary c. oversight d. antidiscrimination Answer: a Topic: Regulation in the Economy and in Everyday Life Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10 ..

30.

Which of the following is a means of enforcing a regulation? a. sending inspectors to evaluate compliance b. charging higher taxes to those not in compliance c. deploying the armed forces to force compliance d. sending members of Congress to assess the need for new legislation Answer: a Topic: Regulation in the Economy and in Everyday Life Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31.

__________ is an approach to regulation in which the government tells business how to meet certain goals, makes sure these directions are followed, and punishes those who do not follow the orders. a. The spoils system b. Command-and-control policy c. The executive order d. The issue network system Answer: b Topic: Two Types of Regulatory Activity Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32.

A(n) __________ regulates industries using market-like strategies such as rewards. a. patronage system b. iron triangle c. executive order d. incentive system Answer: d Topic: Two Types of Regulatory Activity Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11 ..

33.

How do command-and-control policies differ from incentive systems? a. Command-and-control policies use market-like strategies, whereas incentive systems do not. b. Command-and-control policies are typically more efficient than incentive systems. c. Command-and-control policies are typically more equitable than incentive systems. d. Command-and-control policies typically focus on punishing those who violate the law, whereas incentive systems often include rewards.

Answer: d Topic: Two Types of Regulatory Activity Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

34.

Those who believe that regulations on business and industry are too numerous and too complex are most likely to favor the policy of __________. a. patronage b. command-and-control systems c. executive orders d. deregulation Answer: d Topic: Deregulation Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

35.

Why do its proponents argue that deregulation is good public policy? a. Deregulation protects consumers by guarding against inflation and price gouging. b. Deregulation addresses fundamental flaws in the free-market economy. c. Eliminating costly regulations makes U.S. products more competitive in the world marketplace. d. Without as many regulations, workers will be less likely to be injured in workplace accidents.

Answer: c Topic: Deregulation Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

12 ..

36.

What can presidents do in an attempt to control the bureaucracy? a. The president can mandate that Congress change laws that contribute to bureaucratic inefficiency. b. The president can bypass the bureaucracy entirely by directly contracting with private industry to implement policies. c. The president can hire and fire any bureaucrat at will. d. The president can issue executive orders telling the bureaucracy how to implement a law.

Answer: d Topic: Presidents Try to Control the Bureaucracy Learning Objective: 14.5 Identify the means of controlling the bureaucracy and assess the role of iron triangles.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which statement best describes the president’s influence over agency budgets? a. The president has final say over all department budgets but has no control of the budgets of independent agencies. b. The president proposes agency budgets through the Office of Management and Budget but depends on Congress for appropriations of federal money. c. The president has sole authority to determine executive administrative budgets. d. The president has no authority in the budgeting process.

Answer: b Topic: Presidents Try to Control the Bureaucracy Learning Objective: 14.5 Identify the means of controlling the bureaucracy and assess the role of iron triangles.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

38.

Who are the three main players in an iron triangle? a. Congress, the president, and the courts b. businesses, interest groups, and political action committees c. politicians, candidates, and bureaucrats d. bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees Answer: d Topic: Iron Triangles and Issue Networks Learning Objective: 14.5 Identify the means of controlling the bureaucracy and assess the role of iron triangles.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13 ..

39.

Which statement describes a way in which it is difficult for bureaucracies to be responsive to the people? a. Bureaucrats are few and far between. b. Bureaucrats must answer to Congress. c. Bureaucrats are less representative of the people than are members of Congress. d. Bureaucrats are not elected.

Answer: d Topic: Bureaucracy and Democracy Learning Objective: 14.6 Assess the role of unelected bureaucrats in American democracy and the impact of the bureaucracy on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

Which statement about the size of the federal bureaucracy over the past 40 years is accurate? a. The bureaucracy has grown modestly. b. The bureaucracy has grown exponentially. c. The bureaucracy has shrunk. d. The bureaucracy has shrunk relative to the size of the population.

Answer: d Topic: Bureaucracy and the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 14.6 Assess the role of unelected bureaucrats in American democracy and the impact of the bureaucracy on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

15 The Federal Courts  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Which argument would be made by an advocate for the Supreme Court playing a more aggressive policymaking role? a. Judicial decisions should be made by Congress when practical and by the president when necessary. b. The judiciary should stick to settling routine disputes. c. The judiciary can look out for the needs of the powerless whose interests are seldom met by the rest of government. d. The judiciary should leave policymaking to the elected branches.

Answer: c Topic: Politics in Action: Finding Justice in the Supreme Court Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2.

Which type of law involves the violation of the legal rights of one individual toward another? a. civil b. natural c. common d. maritime Answer: a Topic: The Nature of the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

What is common law? a. the accumulation of judicial decisions about legal issues b. laws passed by legislatures c. disputes between two parties d. issues capable of being settled as a matter of law Answer: a Topic: The Nature of the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

In which courts are the majority of cases tried? a. federal b. district c. state d. appellate Answer: c Topic: The Nature of the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Which of the following must plaintiffs have to challenge a law in court? a. evidence of corruption b. a class action suit c. standing to sue d. appellate jurisdiction Answer: c Topic: Participants in the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

In which legal proceedings are a small number of people permitted to sue on behalf of all other people in similar circumstances? a. habeas corpus petitions b. justiciable disputes c. class action suits d. bankruptcy proceedings Answer: c Topic: Participants in the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

Which of the following is a way that interest groups attempt to influence the Supreme Court’s decisions? a. exercising senatorial courtesy b. filing standing to sue briefs c. lobbying legislators d. filing amicus curiae briefs Answer: d Topic: Participants in the Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.1 Identify the basic elements of the American judicial system and the major participants in it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

How are legislative courts different from constitutional courts? a. Legislative court judges are more partisan. b. Legislative courts have wider jurisdiction. c. Legislative courts cannot exercise judicial review. d. Legislative courts use juries consisting of other judges.

Answer: c Topic: The Structure of the Federal Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

What is the basic organizational structure of the federal court system? a. Courts with appellate jurisdiction are the lowest tier, the Supreme Court is the highest tier, and courts with original jurisdiction are in between. b. Courts of federal claims are the lowest tier, the constitutional court is the highest tier, and legislative courts are in between. c. Courts of appeals are the lowest tier, the Supreme Court is the highest tier, and legislative courts are in between. d. District courts are the lowest tier, the Supreme Court is the highest tier, and courts of appeals are in between.

Answer: d Topic: The Structure of the Federal Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

__________ is the authority of a court to hear a case first, thus determining the facts of the case. a. Original jurisdiction b. Judicial review c. Jurisprudence d. Confirmation Answer: a Topic: The Structure of the Federal Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11.

Only a(n) __________ court can review the decisions of a lower court. a. trial b. original c. legislative d. appellate Answer: d Topic: The Structure of the Federal Judicial System Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

In which federal courts are trials typically conducted? a. circuit courts b. district courts c. courts of appeals d. the Supreme Court Answer: b Topic: District Courts Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Which court hears appeals directly from federal independent regulatory commissions? a. court of appeals b. legislative courts c. district court d. U.S. Supreme Court Answer: a Topic: Courts of Appeals Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Which of the following is a major responsibility of the Supreme Court? a. amending unconstitutional laws b. maintaining state supremacy in law c. resolving conflicts between the political parties d. ensuring that laws are interpreted in the same way throughout the nation Answer: d Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

15.

Which case would the Supreme Court be most likely to hear on appeal from a state court? a. a case arising under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction b. a can involving the interpretation of a state law c. a case involving a federal question d. a case that exactly three Supreme Court justices want to hear Answer: c Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16.

Which of the following is within the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? a. federal criminal matters b. tax disputes c. cases initially heard in legislative courts d. cases involving states as states Answer: d Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

Which of the following are most commonly heard by the U.S. Supreme Court? a. federal habeas corpus cases b. original jurisdiction cases c. civil actions from lower federal courts d. criminal cases from state courts Answer: c Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.2 Outline the structure of the federal court system and the major responsibilities of each component.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

Who nominates judges to the U.S. district courts? a. the president b. the House of Representatives c. the Senate d. the Supreme Court Answer: a Topic: The Politics of Judicial Selection Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

Federal district court judges are appointed to __________ terms. a. 3-year b. 10-year c. 20-year d. lifetime Answer: d Topic: The Politics of Judicial Selection Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

20.

Which of the following must confirm all federal judges? a. the House of Representatives b. the Supreme Court c. the Senate d. the states Answer: c Topic: The Politics of Judicial Selection Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7 ..

21.

Which would senatorial courtesy typically allow? a. A Democratic senator from Oklahoma blocks a judicial nomination made by a Democratic president to a vacant seat in Kentucky. b. A Republican senator from Oklahoma blocks a judicial nomination made by a Republican president to vacant seat in Kentucky. c. A Democratic senator from Oklahoma blocks a judicial nomination made by a Republican president to a vacant seat in his home state. d. A Republican senator from Oklahoma blocks a judicial nomination made by a Republican president to a vacant seat in her home state.

Answer: d Topic: The Lower Courts Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

22.

Which of the following best describes the confirmation process for recent Supreme Court nominees? a. bipartisan b. almost nonexistent c. sometimes contentious d. routine affairs Answer: c Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8 ..

23.

Which accurately describes President Trump’s Supreme Court nominations through 2018? a. Both were confirmed with fairly close votes that were mostly along party lines. b. Neither was confirmed due to opposition within the Republican Party. c. One nominee was confirmed, but the other nominee was not confirmed due to late-arising sexual assault allegations. d. Trump did not have the opportunity to make any Supreme Court nominations during his first two years in office.

Answer: a Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24.

Under which of the following circumstances would a presidential nominee to the Supreme Court have the most trouble being confirmed? a. when the House is opposed to the nominee’s ideology b. when a president nominates a woman c. when a president makes a nomination at the beginning of his or her term d. when a president’s party does not control the Senate Answer: d Topic: The Supreme Court Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

25.

A president’s judicial nominees are most likely to be __________. a. governors or other statewide elected officials b. members of the president’s political party c. Catholic d. women Answer: b Topic: Criteria for Selection Learning Objective: 15.4 Describe the backgrounds of judges and justices and assess the impact of background on their decisions.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9 ..

26.

Which court has the most control over the cases it hears? a. federal district courts b. trial courts c. state courts of original jurisdiction d. the U.S. Supreme Court Answer: d Topic: Accepting Cases Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

27.

What happens to most requests for Supreme Court review? a. The appeals receive a majority of votes in conference and are granted review. b. The appeals receive four or more votes in conference and are granted review. c. The appeals are denied in conference and review is not granted. d. The appeals are placed on the docket for consideration by the Supreme Court.

Answer: c Topic: Accepting Cases Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

Who represents the federal government in appeals to the Supreme Court? a. attorney general b. president c. solicitor general d. Senate Answer: c Topic: Accepting Cases Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

29.

The Supreme Court issues __________, which are essentially written statements containing the legal reasoning behind the Court’s decisions. a. opinions b. amicus curiae briefs c. statutory constructions d. judicial implementations Answer: a Topic: The Process of Decision Making Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

30.

Which of the following is written by a justice who voted with the majority but has an alternative legal basis for the decision? a. concurring opinion b. dissenting opinion c. majority opinion d. stare decisis opinion Answer: a Topic: The Process of Decision Making Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

How and whether judicial decisions are translated into actual policy is known as judicial __________. a. implementation b. adjudication c. legislation d. intention Answer: a Topic: Implementing Court Decisions Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11 ..

32.

When a court bases a decision on a previous court decision, it is relying on the principle of __________. a. originalism b. stare decisis c. statutory construction d. amicus curiae Answer: b Topic: The Basis of Decisions Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

33.

Which of the following limits a judge’s decision-making authority? a. judicial review b. judicial activism c. stare decisis d. life tenure Answer: c Topic: The Basis of Decisions Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

34.

Which approach to judicial decision making would a Supreme Court justice be using if he or she argued that the Court cannot consider what is just or fair; it should only consider what the Framers meant when they wrote a given passage? a. judicial restraint b. originalism c. stare decisis d. judicial activism Answer: b Topic: The Basis of Decisions Learning Objective: 15.5 Outline the judicial process at the Supreme Court level and assess the major factors influencing decisions and their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

12 ..

35.

What is the power of the courts to determine whether the actions of the other branches are constitutional? a. original jurisdiction b. strict construction c. judicial review d. stare decisis Answer: c Topic: The Courts and Public Policy: A Historical Review Learning Objective: 15.6 Trace the Supreme Court’s use of judicial review in major policy battles in various eras of American history.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

36.

In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court first exercise judicial review? a. Chisholm v. Georgia b. Brown v. Board of Education c. Dred Scott v. Sandford d. Marbury v. Madison Answer: d Topic: John Marshall and the Growth of Judicial Review Learning Objective: 15.6 Trace the Supreme Court’s use of judicial review in major policy battles in various eras of American history.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

37.

Why did Franklin Roosevelt propose expanding the number of Supreme Court justices? a. President Roosevelt was concerned that several justices were too old to serve on the Supreme Court but was concerned about his image if he simply fired justices due to their age. b. President Roosevelt recognized that the workload of the Supreme Court was becoming unbearable and wanted to spread the work among additional justices. c. President Roosevelt wanted to ensure that there would be an odd number of Supreme Court justices so that fewer decisions would end in a tie vote. d. President Roosevelt was unhappy with recent Supreme Court decisions and wanted to change the composition of the Court so that it would be more sympathetic to his policies.

Answer: d Topic: The “Nine Old Men” Learning Objective: 15.6 Trace the Supreme Court’s use of judicial review in major policy battles in various eras of American history.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

13 ..

38.

Which Court was active in shaping public policy in a liberal direction? a. the Rehnquist Court b. the Warren Court c. the Roberts Court d. the Burger Court Answer: b Topic: The Warren Court Learning Objective: 15.6 Trace the Supreme Court’s use of judicial review in major policy battles in various eras of American history.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

39.

A judge who believes in deferring to the decisions of elected representatives believes in __________. a. judicial activism b. the attitudinal model of decision making c. originalism d. judicial restraint Answer: d Topic: The Scope of Judicial Power Learning Objective: 15.7 Assess the role of unelected courts and the scope of judicial power in American democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

Proponents of which judicial philosophy believe that it is appropriate for judges to make bold policy decisions when doing so is necessary to address pressing societal needs? a. judicial restraint b. strict constructionism c. judicial activism d. originalism Answer: c Topic: The Scope of Judicial Power Learning Objective: 15.7 Assess the role of unelected courts and the scope of judicial power in American democracy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

16 Economic and Social Welfare Policymaking  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

When it comes to strengthening the economy, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to prioritize __________. a. fighting inflation b. progressive taxation c. tax increases d. spending increases Answer: a Topic: Economic Policymaking Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2.

The unemployment rate is best understood as __________. a. the rate at which Americans lose their jobs b. the percentage of Americans who are out of the workforce c. the percentage of Americans seeking work who are unable to find it d. the number of available jobs per 60,000 households Answer: c Topic: Two Major Worries: Unemployment and Inflation Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

1 ..

3.

Inflation is best understood as __________. a. an expansion of the gross domestic product b. an expansion of the money supply c. an increase in the prices for goods and services d. an increase in federal taxes Answer: c Topic: Two Major Worries: Unemployment and Inflation Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

4.

The consumer price index can be used to measure _____. a. income distribution b. the gross national product c. inflation d. money supply Answer: c Topic: Two Major Worries: Unemployment and Inflation Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

Which of the following has been the largest contributor to bouts of inflation in recent decades? a. the inaugurations of new presidents b. technological innovations c. soaring prices for energy d. wars or other significant military conflicts Answer: c Topic: Two Major Worries: Unemployment and Inflation Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Laissez-faire economics holds which of the following to be true? a. The government should raise interest rates during a recession. b. The government should refrain from intervening in the economy. c. The government should actively work to reduce unemployment. d. The government should lower interest rates during a recession.

Answer: b Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

If you support laissez-faire economic policies, you would generally favor __________. a. a reduction in economic regulation by the federal government b. an increase in taxes assessed by state governments c. an increase in economic regulation by state governments d. an increase in tariffs assessed on imported goods Answer: a Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

8.

Which government actor influences interest rates by controlling the money supply? a. Congress b. the Council of Economic Advisors c. the Social Security Board of Trustees d. the Federal Reserve Board Answer: d Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

If the Federal Reserve Board wanted to slow the rate of economic growth, it would most likely __________. a. encourage the president to lower taxes b. increase interest rates c. increase the money supply d. lower capital gains rates Answer: b Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10.

__________ is an economic theory holding that the supply of money is the key to a nation’s economic health and that too much cash and credit in circulation produces inflation. a. Fiscalism b. Keynesian c. Monetarism d. Reaganomics Answer: c Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11.

Which of the following strategies would monetarists believe should be pursued during inflationary periods? a. Congress should increase spending. b. Congress should raise taxes on citizens. c. The Federal Reserve should lower interest rates. d. The Federal Reserve should raise interest rates.

Answer: d Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4 ..

12.

Which of the following is an example of monetary policy? a. decreasing federal spending b. increasing food and drug regulations c. increasing income taxes on wealthy Americans d. the Federal Reserve Board buying government bonds Answer: d Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

13.

A main goal of fiscal policy is to __________. a. affect how much money is available to foreign governments for investment b. use taxes and government spending to help stimulate or slow the economy c. determine how much interest the government will pay on the federal debt d. stimulate the economy by increasing the number of imports into the United States Answer: b Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Keynesian economic theory holds which of the following to be true? a. Increasing tax rates will stimulate the economy. b. Government spending should focus primarily on social welfare. c. Fiscal policy is used to stimulate the supply of goods. d. Government should stimulate the economy when it is lagging.

Answer: d Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5 ..

15.

In an economic slowdown, Keynesian economic theory would advocate increasing __________. a. taxes b. government employment c. the unemployment rate d. interest rates Answer: b Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

16.

The stimulus package that Congress enacted shortly after Barack Obama became president is most consistent with which economic theory? a. laissez-faire economics b. Keynesian economics c. supply-side economics d. monetarism Answer: b Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

17.

Which of the following do Republicans tend to support? a. progressive taxes b. government spending to stimulate the economy c. supply-side economics d. Keynesian economics Answer: c Topic: Policies for Controlling the Economy Learning Objective: 16.1 Identify the main policy tools that American government can employ to address economic problems, and contrast Keynesian and supply-side economics.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

6 ..

18.

What federal program is designed to provide medical insurance for the poor in the United States? a. Medicaid b. Medicare Part A c. Medicare Part B d. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Answer: a Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

19.

A(n) __________ program provides government benefits to qualified citizens regardless of need. a. welfare b. entitlement c. means-tested d. New Deal Answer: b Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

20.

Who benefits the most from America’s most expensive entitlement programs? a. employees b. the poor c. the elderly d. parents with young children Answer: c Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7 ..

21.

A government program that provides benefits only to individuals who qualify based on specific needs is a(n) __________ program. a. entitlement b. regulatory c. discretionary d. means-tested Answer: d Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

22.

What distinguishes a means-tested program from a social insurance program? a. A means-tested program extends benefits based on age categories, while a social insurance program provides benefits based on immediate need. b. A means-tested program extends benefits only to the elderly, while a social insurance program extends benefits to everyone. c. A social insurance program extends benefits only to the working poor, while a means-tested program extends benefits to everyone, regardless of social class. d. A social insurance program provides benefits to those who have paid into the program, while a means-tested program provides benefits based on demonstrated need.

Answer: d Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

23.

Which statement is most in line with conservatives’ perception of poverty? a. Means-tested anti-poverty programs can encourage laziness among the poor. b. Means-tested welfare programs help people navigate difficult circumstances. c. Poverty results from societal failures. d. Poverty is mostly a rural problem, especially in Appalachia.

Answer: a Topic: Types of Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.2 Compare and contrast entitlement and means-tested social welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8 ..

24.

Which statement about social mobility in the United States is accurate? a. There is less social mobility in the United States than in most other democracies. b. Americans like to think that social mobility cannot happen in the United States, but evidence suggests that it is prolific. c. Social mobility helps to explain the recent decrease in economic inequality. d. Social mobility is hindered by the belief that hard work is not necessary in the “land of opportunity.”

Answer: a Topic: Income, Poverty, and Public Policy Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

Increasing income inequality in the United States is increasingly contributing to __________. a. complacency and dependency b. laissez-faire economic policies c. proportional taxation d. relative deprivation Answer: d Topic: Who’s Getting What?

Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

26.

Why is it problematic to use the official poverty line to determine the threshold for living in poverty? a. The formula is based on food costs, which have declined relative to other expenses. b. Most Americans do not understand how to calculate the poverty line. c. The official poverty line assumes that women are taking care of the home while men are working. d. Many Americans exaggerate the extent of their poverty in order to be eligible for benefits.

Answer: a Topic: Who’s Poor in America?

Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

9 ..

27.

What has contributed the most to declining poverty among the elderly? a. the feminization of poverty b. proportional taxation c. Social Security and Medicare d. supply-side economics Answer: c Topic: Who’s Poor in America?

Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

28.

Which group has the highest poverty rate? a. the elderly b. Asians and Hispanics c. central-city residents d. unmarried women and their children Answer: d Topic: Who’s Poor in America?

Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

29.

A __________ tax is one by which the government takes a greater share of the income of the rich than of the poor. a. progressive b. proportional c. regressive d. sales Answer: a Topic: How Public Policy Affects Income Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

10 ..

30.

A __________ tax is one in which the burden falls relatively more heavily on low-income groups than on wealthy taxpayers. a. progressive b. regressive c. proportional d. income Answer: b Topic: How Public Policy Affects Income Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

31.

Who directly benefits from the Earned Income Tax Credit? a. all those with earned income b. businesses that hire welfare recipients c. all workers d. low-income workers Answer: d Topic: How Public Policy Affects Income Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

32.

Which is an accurate statement about Social Security? a. It is a program that makes transfer payments from the government to retirees. b. It is a means-tested program. c. It provides housing assistance to the elderly. d. It is funded by property taxes.

Answer: a Topic: How Public Policy Affects Income Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

33.

What social problem are means-tested programs typically designed to alleviate? a. unemployment b. poverty c. family disintegration d. educational discrepancies Answer: b Topic: How Public Policy Affects Income Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

34.

In what way are the perceptions of welfare recipients often inaccurate? a. Americans overestimate the percentage of welfare recipients who are African American. b. Americans falsely believe that most welfare recipients are mentally ill. c. Americans falsely believe that most welfare recipients lack reliable transportation. d. Americans underestimate the poverty faced by welfare recipients.

Answer: a Topic: “Welfare” as We Knew It Learning Objective: 16.4 Trace the changes over time in major federal welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

35.

What was emphasized in the welfare reform law that Congress passed in 1996? a. expanding welfare assistance programs to include more needy families b. drug testing for welfare recipients c. long-term income security d. work requirements for welfare recipients Answer: d Topic: Ending Welfare as We Knew It: The Welfare Reform of 1996 Learning Objective: 16.4 Trace the changes over time in major federal welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

36.

Which was a result of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act? a. Welfare recipients were permitted to continue receiving benefits until they found a job. b. The average annual cost for prescription drugs was slashed. c. Unemployment rates were cut in half. d. Welfare rolls declined.

Answer: d Topic: Ending Welfare as We Knew It: The Welfare Reform of 1996 Learning Objective: 16.4 Trace the changes over time in major federal welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

Which statement describes a reason why welfare programs in the United States are unpopular? a. Americans are generally uncompassionate. b. Americans tend to think that U.S. welfare programs are not generous enough. c. Many Americans believe that access to welfare benefits contributes to increased immigration. d. Welfare programs tend to increase inflation and decrease exports.

Answer: c Topic: Ending Welfare as We Knew It: The Welfare Reform of 1996 Learning Objective: 16.4 Trace the changes over time in major federal welfare programs.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

38.

What is the primary source of funding for Social Security? a. sales taxes b. payroll taxes c. property taxes d. income taxes Answer: b Topic: The Growth of Social Security Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13 ..

39.

Which of the following places a major strain on the Social Security System? a. Americans are living longer. b. Americans are retiring earlier. c. Individuals’ Social Security benefits increase at the same rate that their incomes increased while working. d. Social Security is decreasing in popularity.

Answer: a Topic: The Growth of Social Security Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

40.

Which contributes to the financial concerns about Social Security? a. The rate of Social Security payroll taxes will continue to decrease unless Congress changes the law. b. The number of current retirees contributing to the fund will continue to increase as more seniors continue working after traditional retirement age. c. Too few workers are contributing to Social Security for the number of retirees. d. The Social Security Trust Fund must repay the money it borrowed from the Treasury but lacks the funds to do so.

Answer: c Topic: The Growth of Social Security Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

41.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Social Security is that __________. a. the benefits being paid out are too generous b. retirees have a hard time paying the payroll taxes c. there will not be enough money to pay full benefits to future retirees d. the Social Security Trust Fund invests too heavily in the stock market Answer: c Topic: The Growth of Social Security Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

42.

What Social Security reform did George W. Bush propose? a. raise the maximum contribution that workers pay into the system b. revise the inflation adjustment formula for benefits so that recipients would receive a larger raise every year c. gradually decrease the age by which people would be entitled to benefits d. allow workers to invest some of their Social Security contributions into private investment accounts Answer: d Topic: Social Security: Living on Borrowed Time Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

43.

Which of the following is a possible solution to the long-term problem of solvency in the Social Security program? a. increase benefits for retirees who have substantial income from other sources b. increase the minimum retirement age c. revise the inflation adjustment formula for benefits so that recipients would receive a larger increase d. lower payroll tax contributions Answer: b Topic: Reforming Social Security Learning Objective: 16.5 Outline how America’s Social Security program works and the challenge of keeping it financially solvent in the coming years.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

44.

Which country provides the shortest paid parental leave for a two-parent family? a. France b. Switzerland c. Germany d. the United States Answer: d Topic: Social Welfare Policy Elsewhere Learning Objective: 16.6 Distinguish American social welfare policy from that of other established democracies.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

15 ..

45.

How does the U.S. social welfare policy compare to those of European democracies? a. The United States has less generous social welfare policies. b. The United States has more generous social welfare benefits. c. Social welfare programs are about the same in the United States as in Europe. d. The United States relies on the government to run its social welfare programs, while Europeans rely primarily on religious institutions and charities.

Answer: a Topic: Social Welfare Policy Elsewhere Learning Objective: 16.6 Distinguish American social welfare policy from that of other established democracies.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

46.

How do Americans tend to view social welfare needs? a. as problematic enough to accept high taxes b. as unavoidable consequences of others’ actions c. as individual concerns d. as a governmental responsibility Answer: c Topic: Social Welfare Policy Elsewhere Learning Objective: 16.6 Distinguish American social welfare policy from that of other established democracies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

47.

Which action is generally the most difficult to achieve? a. ensuring that Social Security revenues are sufficient to cover Social Security costs b. expanding a government benefit c. creating a new government benefit d. withdrawing a government benefit Answer: d Topic: Democracy and Economic and Social Welfare Policies Learning Objective: 16.7 Assess the impact of economic and social welfare policies on democracy and the scope of government in America.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16 ..

48.

What is currently causing the amount of government spending to increase? a. poor economic management by the Federal Reserve Board b. the growth in social welfare spending for programs like Social Security and Medicare c. frequent and lingering episodes of inflation d. increasingly regressive taxes and rising energy costs Answer: b Topic: Economic and Social Welfare Policies and the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 16.7 Assess the impact of economic and social welfare policies on democracy and the scope of government in America.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

17 ..

17 Policymaking for Health Care, the Environment, and Energy  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

How does life expectancy in the United States compare to that of other developed nations? a. It is lower. b. It is about the same. c. It is slightly higher. d. It is much higher.

Answer: a Topic: Health Care Policy Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

Which statement accurately describes health care spending in the United States? a. The United States spending about $3.5 million every year on health care, accounting for about 1.8 percent of the gross domestic product. b. High health care spending helps to explain why the United States has such low infant mortality rates. c. A higher percentage of the U.S. population has health insurance than in any other country with a developed economy. d. The United States spends a greater share of its wealth on health care than does any other country.

Answer: d Topic: The Cost of Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

1 ..

3.

Which statement explains a reason why the United States relies more heavily on expensive, high-tech medical treatments as compared to European countries? a. Americans spend more time in the hospital. b. The United States relies more heavily on doctors to provide health care services. c. The United States has a single-payer health care system. d. U.S. health care costs are paid from a mixture of sources, leaving no single source primarily responsible for controlling health care costs.

Answer: d Topic: The Cost of Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

4.

The U.S. health care system tends to emphasize __________. a. reductions in health care costs b. advances in medical technology c. reductions in administrative costs d. equality of care Answer: b Topic: The Cost of Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Which situation is most likely to create an incentive for doctors to perform unnecessary procedures? a. a fee-for-service health insurance policy b. free market health care c. a single-payer system d. a health maintenance organization Answer: a Topic: The Cost of Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

2 ..

6.

When did health insurance become linked to employment? a. the Progressive Era b. the New Deal c. World War II d. the Obama administration Answer: c Topic: Access to Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate

7.

Who is the least likely to have health insurance in the United States? a. children and young adults b. those on Medicare and Medicaid c. the elderly d. working men Answer: a Topic: Access to Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8.

Which statement describes a reason why universal health care was not adopted in the United States when it was first proposed more than 60 years ago? a. Liberals wanted insurance provided only by private companies. b. The American Medical Association opposed what it called “socialized medicine.” c. Members of Congress already had health care. d. Americans who lacked health insurance were afraid that private employers would no longer provide coverage.

Answer: b Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

3 ..

9.

Which of the following is an argument in favor of enacting national health insurance in the United States? a. Patients would have more individual control over their health care. b. All Americans would have access to health care. c. A national insurance program would ensure fair competition among private insurers. d. A national insurance program would rely more heavily on the private market to lower the cost of providing health care.

Answer: b Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

10.

Medicare provides health care for __________. a. the poor b. the elderly c. the unemployed d. anyone who lacks health insurance Answer: b Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11.

The most rapidly increasing part of the federal budget is __________. a. Medicare b. Medicaid c. the Children’s Health Insurance Program d. the Affordable Care Act Answer: a Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4 ..

12.

How has the federal government limited Medicare costs? a. raising the eligibility age b. requiring patients to obtain a supplemental private plan c. capping the total expenditures per patient d. reducing the fees it pays to doctors and hospitals Answer: d Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Which statement explains one reason why health care policy in the United States favors the elderly? a. American political culture places a heavy emphasis on respecting your elders. b. AARP is a powerful lobby. c. A majority of Congress is elderly. d. The elderly have greater financial resources to use to influence public policy.

Answer: b Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

14.

Who is the primary beneficiary of Medicaid? a. the self-employed b. full-time workers c. seniors d. the poor Answer: d Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5 ..

15.

How is Medicaid funded? a. The federal government pays for more than half; the states pay for the rest. b. Medicaid is funded entirely by user premiums. c. Payroll taxes cover about half of the costs; sales taxes pay for the rest. d. Doctors end up covering most Medicaid costs in exchange for generous reimbursement rates for Medicare patients.

Answer: a Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) targets __________. a. children whose families are currently enrolled in Medicare b. children whose families cannot afford private insurance but do not qualify for Medicaid c. children whose families are currently enrolled in an HMO d. children whose families do not make enough money to receive Medicaid Answer: b Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

What problem is most directly addressed by the Affordable Care Act? a. Medicare leaves too many health care expenses for the elderly to pay out of their own pockets. b. The single-payer system was so popular that wait times at health clinics were quite long. c. There are too many uninsured Americans. d. Employer-sponsored health insurance unnecessarily restricts patients’ choice of doctors.

Answer: c Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Difficult

6 ..

18.

Which element of the Affordable Care Act resulted in more Americans receiving health insurance? a. nationalization of primary care providers b. nationalization of the prescription drug industry c. Medicare privatization d. Medicaid expansion Answer: d Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

19.

Which provision is part of the Affordable Care Act? a. Young adults up to 26 years old receive health care through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. b. All employers must provide health insurance for employees who work at least 30 hours a week. c. All Americans who do not have private insurance receive free treatment and local doctors and hospitals. d. Health insurance companies are prohibited from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions.

Answer: d Topic: The Role of Government in Health Care Learning Objective: 17.1 Outline the problems of health care in America and the role of government in health care.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

20.

What argument is most often given by opponents of strong air and water pollution controls? a. Such controls ignore wildlife conservation issues. b. Such controls make it hard for private entities to create stricter standards. c. Such controls fall disproportionately on the poor. d. Such controls reduce economic growth.

Answer: d Topic: Environmental Policy Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7 ..

21.

What are environmental impact statements? a. assessments of how the proposed implementation of policies will affect the environment b. assessments of the economic impacts of environmental regulations c. statements that detail how proposed improvements to the built environment will benefit taxpayers d. statements that discuss the impact of environmental regulations for commercial interests Answer: a Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

22.

Who has been most likely to oppose federal clean air mandates? a. environmentalists b. parents of young children c. farmers and ranchers d. car manufacturers Answer: d Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

23.

How well has the United States been able to control waterway pollution? a. Nearly 100% of U.S. lakes and rivers are safe for fishing and drinking. b. Existing laws have been effective in reducing pollution in rivers and lakes that are entirely within a state’s borders but have been ineffective in reducing pollution in rivers and interstate lakes. c. Despite numerous pieces of legislation designed to address waterway pollution, the problem is worse today than it was 30 years ago. d. Existing laws have significantly reduced pollution that flows directly into waterways but have not effectively controlled runoff from places like lawns and farms.

Answer: d Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts 8 ..

24.

Which of the following poses the greatest threat to endangered species? a. economic development b. immigration c. Superfund sites d. renewable energy Answer: a Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

Which of the following is an argument for relaxing regulations designed to protect manatees? a. The manatee has been on the endangered species list for a long time. b. The manatee population has been increasing. c. Manatees have no natural predators. d. Manatees are often injured by boat propellers.

Answer: b Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

26.

What is the Superfund? a. a fund to reduce carbon emissions b. a fund to explore domestic energy sources c. a fund to cover those without health insurance d. a fund to clean up hazardous waste sites Answer: d Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

9 ..

27.

28.

29.

Why does the NIMBY problem arise? a. Everyone wants quality, low-cost health care even though health care is inherently expensive. b. It is hard to predict where energy resources will be discovered. c. Citizens typically want governments to provide services to their neighborhoods but do not want to pay to provide services to others’ neighborhoods. d. The costs of storing or disposing of hazardous waste are not equally distributed.

Answer: d Topic: Environmental Policies in America Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It Which of the following best describes a cap-and-trade system? a. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions without government intervention by rewarding companies that self-regulate to remain competitive. b. It rewards states for enacting stricter environmental standards than required by the national government. c. It restricts fossil fuel industry lobbyists from making campaign contributions, thereby allowing members of Congress to vote for climate change regulations without fear of electoral consequences. d. It limits emissions and uses market-based incentives for businesses to more efficiently use energy.

Answer: d Topic: Global Warming Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts How has the Trump administration addressed global warming? a. by aligning U.S. policies with scientific evidence b. by joining with world leaders to find mutually beneficial solutions c. by scaling back U.S. commitments to address the problem d. by subsidizing the efforts of other countries to address the problem Answer: c Topic: Global Warming Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

30.

31.

32.

Which statement accurately describes energy in the United States? a. Petroleum is the most abundant domestic energy resource, but we use more natural gas than anything else. b. Nuclear energy is the most abundant domestic energy resource, but we use more renewable sources than anything else. c. Coal is the most abundant domestic energy resource, but we use more petroleum than anything else. d. Natural gas is the most abundant domestic energy resource, but we use more nuclear energy than anything else.

Answer: c Topic: Energy Policy Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It Which statement best articulates a disadvantage of U.S. dependence on foreign oil? a. The need for oil is expected to decline during the next two decades, threatening trade relations with other nations. b. Foreign oil is of a lower quality than domestic oil. c. Using foreign oil results in increased pollution in the United States due to the possibility of oil spills. d. The United States is at the mercy of other nations with which we might not always have a good relationship.

Answer: d Topic: Energy Policy Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It How reliant is the United States on imported oil? a. The United States no longer relies on foreign oil because it produces more than 90 percent of the oil it uses domestically. b. The United States has depleted all of its oil reserves and now imports nearly all of the oil it needs c. The United States imports less than one-third of its oil, which is considerably less than it imported a couple of decades ago. d. The majority of oil used in the United States is imported, much of it from the Middle East.

Answer: c Topic: Petroleum and Natural Gas Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts 11 ..

33.

What does the United States do to minimize the negative economic effects of a sudden disruption in the oil supply? a. The federal government directs nearly all of its energy subsidies to renewable projects which are more reliable sources of energy. b. The United States has a bilateral agreement with Canada for assistance dealing with such an occurrence. c. The federal government maintains stockpiles of crude oil and heating oil that can be quickly released. d. The United States relies entirely on domestic energy sources.

Answer: c Topic: Petroleum and Natural Gas Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

34.

What has been the effect of hydraulic fracturing? a. increased Superfund payments and disbursements b. reduced reliance on fossil fuels c. increased availability on renewable energy d. increased production of and lower prices for natural gas and oil Answer: d Topic: Petroleum and Natural Gas Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35.

Both Barack Obama and Donald Trump expanded oil exploration __________. a. in national parks b. offshore c. in urban areas d. in poor counties Answer: b Topic: Petroleum and Natural Gas Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12 ..

36.

What is the main concern about nuclear energy? a. ease of converting nuclear energy to nuclear weaponry b. technical feasibility c. environmental impact d. cost Answer: c Topic: Energy Policy Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

What is the potential for renewable energy to contribute to the U.S. energy supply in the foreseeable future? a. Renewable energy cannot play an expanded role because it already contributes a lot. b. Renewable energy is unlikely to play a significant role. c. Renewable energy is likely to enhance domestic energy supplies considerably. d. Renewable energy has a modest potential for transportation fuels but a great potential for electricity generation.

Answer: b Topic: Renewable Sources of Energy Learning Objective: 17.3 Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each of the principal sources of energy in the United States.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

38.

What do health care, environmental, and energy issues have in common? a. They all involve human health and welfare. b. They are issues that policymakers care about but that the public does not. c. They are nontechnical issues on which ordinary Americans can have informed opinions. d. They can be addressed effectively while maintaining the current scope of government.

Answer: a Topic: Understanding Health Care, Environmental, and Energy Policy Learning Objective: 17.4 Assess the role of democratic politics in making health care, environmental, and energy policy and the effect of these policies on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13 ..

39.

How might the public evaluate and respond to a technical policy issue? a. asking the bureaucracy to make the policy decisions without input from the public b. additional time studying the details of the policy alternatives c. increased participation by younger citizens who are more adept with technology d. increased reliance on interest groups that are better able to tackle technical policy issues Answer: d Topic: Democracy, Health Care, and Environmental Policy Learning Objective: 17.4 Assess the role of democratic politics in making health care, environmental, and energy policy and the effect of these policies on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

Which of the following would cause the largest increase in the scope of government? a. repealing the Affordable Care Act b. deregulating domestic natural gas production c. addressing global warming d. shifting environmental regulation from the government to private industry Answer: c Topic: The Scope of Government and Health Care, Environmental, and Energy Policy Learning Objective: 17.4 Assess the role of democratic politics in making health care, environmental, and energy policy and the effect of these policies on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

14 ..

18 National Security Policymaking  Multiple-Choice Questions 1.

Who is the main force behind U.S. foreign policy? a. Congress b. the president c. the State Department d. the National Security Council Answer: b Topic: American Foreign Policy: Instruments, Actors, and Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

Which of the following is most consistent with the concept of diplomacy? a. counterintelligence b. threats to use the military c. negotiation d. armed confrontation Answer: c Topic: Instruments of Foreign Policy Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

1 ..

3.

Which of the following accurately describes the United Nations? a. The UN is an international organization formed immediately after World War I in an effort to avoid another world war; it consistently renounces war and respects human and economic freedoms. b. The UN was created in 1945 as an international peacekeeping organization that, over time, has not always succeeded at making or keeping peace. c. The UN was formed in the late 1930s as an international peacekeeping organization and has remained isolationist from the start. d. The UN is composed of fewer than 100 member nations and focuses exclusively on peacekeeping operations.

Answer: b Topic: Actors on the World Stage Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

4.

Which of the following countries is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council? a. Germany b. India c. Spain d. United States Answer: d Topic: Actors on the World Stage Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

5.

Why was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization formed? a. to provide mutual defense for the United States and Western Europe b. to promote free trade between the United States and Western Europe c. to help rebuild war-torn Europe after World War II d. to enhance democratic government in newly industrializing countries Answer: a Topic: Actors on the World Stage Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2 ..

6.

Which of the following countries is a member of NATO? a. Russia b. China c. Japan d. Canada Answer: d Topic: Actors on the World Stage Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

7.

Why have multinational corporations become forces to be reckoned with in nearly all nations? a. They routinely use their money to buy government officials’ votes. b. They better understand the dangers of globalization than do most elected officials. c. They encourage isolationist policies in order to get complete control of domestic governments and markets. d. They account for a large portion of the global economy and have voiced strong opinions about government and economics.

Answer: d Topic: Actors on the World Stage Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

8.

Which of the following is a responsibility of the State Department? a. command of the military b. space exploration c. protecting the president d. diplomacy Answer: d Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

3 ..

9.

What is the primary responsibility of the secretary of defense? a. homeland security b. military policy c. terrorism prevention d. commander in chief of the armed forces Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10.

Who serves on the Joint Chiefs of Staff? a. the cabinet secretaries b. the commanding officers of each of the armed services c. the president’s foreign policy advisers d. the secretary of defense, the secretary of homeland security, and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

11.

With whom is the president most likely to consult for advice about how to best use the various branches of the armed services? a. the Central Intelligence Agency b. the director of national intelligence c. the secretary of homeland security d. the Joint Chiefs of Staff Answer: d Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

4 ..

12.

Which of the following organizations contains a broad array of the president’s foreign policy advisers, including the secretary of defense, the secretary of state, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the director of national intelligence? a. the Department of Homeland Security b. NATO c. the National Security Council d. the Central Intelligence Agency Answer: c Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

13.

Who is the president’s chief adviser on intelligence matters across the executive branch? a. the director of the Central Intelligence Agency b. the director of national intelligence c. the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff d. the National Security Agency Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14.

Which statement best describes the conflict that has sometimes existed between the National Security Council (NSC) and others within the national security establishment? a. Because the NSC always integrates advice from other cabinet departments, most national security analysts see the NSC as having little independent value. b. The NSC usually works hand-in-hand with the State and Defense Departments in covert operations. c. Because the NSC was created after September 11, 2001, many in the State and Defense Departments do not respect the limited experience of the NSC. d. The NSC has sometimes competed with cabinet departments such as State and Defense.

Answer: d Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

5 ..

15.

Which statement about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is accurate? a. The CIA is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution as being exempt from federal law as long as it is acting in the name of national security. b. The CIA is in charge of the various other agencies in the intelligence community. c. The CIA has sometimes become involved in other nations’ internal affairs. d. The primary mission of the CIA is to gather intelligence on American citizens.

Answer: c Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

16.

Which of the following claims comes from the CIA and was used as justification for the 2003 war in Iraq? a. Iraq attacked Israel in 2002 with SCUD missiles and was threatening to do so again. b. Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. c. Saddam Hussein had provided considerable funding to Osama bin Laden. d. Saddam Hussein had permitted Osama bin Laden to use Iraq for training terrorists.

Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

17.

Which agency is focused on global surveillance, including electronic eavesdropping, and had reports about some of its operations leaked by Edward Snowden? a. the Department of Defense b. the secretary of state c. the Central Intelligence Agency d. the National Security Agency Answer: d Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

6 ..

18.

Why did Congress enact a law that provided for a director of national intelligence? a. to help the director of the Central Intelligence Agency combat the growing threat posed by weapons of mass destruction b. to better coordinate the large number of people working in diverse intelligence agencies c. to decentralize authority within the intelligence community to prevent competition between agencies d. because the previous organizational structure of the intelligence community encouraged the various agencies to do too much of their work collaboratively, which led to groupthink Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

19.

The Senate can exercise influence over foreign policy through its power to __________. a. command the armed forces b. receive diplomats c. ratify treaties d. recognize the sovereignty of foreign countries Answer: c Topic: American Foreign Policy: Instruments, Actors, and Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

7 ..

20.

What can Congress do to influence foreign policy if it is not satisfied with the way the president has handled foreign policy? a. Congress can fire ambassadors who are not executing foreign policy according to Congress’s wishes. b. Congress can reduce appropriations for executing the president’s foreign policy. c. Congress can command the military to execute foreign policy according to Congress’s wishes. d. Congress can replace the secretary of state with someone who will implement foreign policy according to Congress’s wishes.

Answer: b Topic: The Policymakers Learning Objective: 18.1 Identify the major instruments and actors in making national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

21.

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 Answer: a Topic: Isolationism Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

22.

Who instituted the Marshall Plan and who benefited directly from it? a. The Soviet Union instituted the Marshall Plan to benefit Germany. b. Germany instituted the Marshall Plan to benefit itself. c. The United Nations instituted the Marshall Plan to benefit Germany, Italy, and Japan. d. The United States instituted the Marshall Plan to benefit Europe.

Answer: d Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

8 ..

23.

How did the Cold War start? a. It began after World War II when there was a shortage of coal and heating fuel in Europe. b. It started when the United States established the Truman Doctrine at the end of World War II, which left Eastern European countries “in the cold” by requiring that they defend themselves. c. It began after all of Eastern Europe fell under Soviet domination after World War II, prompting fears that the Soviets would spread communism. d. It started when the Truman Doctrine froze all military alliances according to their pre-World War II configurations.

Answer: c Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24.

What was the foreign policy of containment designed to prevent? a. nuclear proliferation b. the spread of Soviet influence c. terrorism d. the Cold War Answer: b Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate

25.

Which of the following best describes the nuclear arms race between the world’s two superpowers during the 20th century? a. the rapid efforts of world governments to arm and thereby protect Eastern European countries from attack by the Soviet Union in the wake of World War II b. a tense relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s, during which each side was intent on procuring more weapons than the other c. the U.S. and Soviet race in the early twenty-first century to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction to unstable governments d. the efforts to rapidly reduce the number of nuclear weapons held by the United States and the Soviet Union Answer: b Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts 9 ..

26.

During the height of the Cold War and in light of the principle of mutual assured destruction, what would the United States likely have done if it had discovered that the Soviet Union had previously unknown stockpiles of nuclear weapons? a. negotiate a bilateral nuclear nonproliferation agreement b. engage in a military conflict with the Soviet Union c. stockpile additional nuclear weapons in the United States d. extend diplomatic immunity to the Soviet Union Answer: c Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

27.

The United States engaged in which military conflict to fight communism? a. World War I b. World War II c. the Vietnam War d. the war on terrorism Answer: c Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

Ronald Reagan believed that his Strategic Defense Initiative would __________. a. protect the United States from nuclear weapons b. promote democracy by fostering economic development c. reduce the number of nuclear warheads held by both the United States and the Soviet Union d. refocus the military on nonconventional warfare Answer: a Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

10 ..

29.

What event marked the end of the Cold War? a. the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis b. the collapse of the Soviet Union c. the signing of the SALT II Treaty d. the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan Answer: b Topic: The Cold War Learning Objective: 18.2 Outline the evolution of and major issues in American foreign policy through the end of the Cold War. Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

30.

Which statement about terrorism is accurate? a. Terrorism usually involves military personnel and military targets. b. Terrorism is often designed to demoralize and frighten a country’s population or government. c. Terrorism is usually financed by a government. d. Only nongovernmental political actors engage in terrorism.

Answer: b Topic: The Spread of Terrorism Learning Objective: 18.3 Explain the major obstacles to success in the war on terrorism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

31.

Which of the following tactics has Al Qaeda used effectively? a. détente b. mutually assured destruction c. nuclear proliferation d. terrorism Answer: d Topic: Afghanistan and Iraq Learning Objective: 18.3 Explain the major obstacles to success in the war on terrorism.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

11 ..

32.

Combat troops were introduced in Iraq under __________ and withdrawn under __________. a. Bill Clinton; George H. W. Bush b. Bill Clinton; George W. Bush c. George H. W. Bush; Barack Obama d. George W. Bush; Barack Obama Answer: d Topic: Afghanistan and Iraq Learning Objective: 18.3 Explain the major obstacles to success in the war on terrorism.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

33.

One of the primary purposes of the military action in Afghanistan was to __________. a. prevent the spread of communism b. remove the Taliban regime c. protect Iraq from Afghani military attacks d. retaliate for the bombing of the USS Cole Answer: b Topic: Afghanistan and Iraq Learning Objective: 18.3 Explain the major obstacles to success in the war on terrorism.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

During which of the following events did U.S. military spending constitute the highest percentage of federal spending? a. the Vietnam War b. the Gulf War c. the war in Iraq d. the war in Afghanistan Answer: a Topic: Defense Spending Learning Objective: 18.4 Identify the major elements of U.S. defense policy.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

12 ..

35.

Which of the following has Donald Trump strengthened or increased? a. NATO b. military spending c. the Iran nuclear deal d. the Paris Agreement Answer: b Topic: Defense Spending Learning Objective: 18.4 Identify the major elements of U.S. defense policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

36.

Which statement describes a reason why the United States is considered to be predominant in terms of military capabilities? a. The United States spends less on defense than does any other industrialized democracy yet gets superior results. b. The United States has tremendous military might without possessing nuclear weapons. c. The United States has the world’s dominant air force and the only navy with worldwide operations. d. The United States relies on the military to implement both foreign and domestic policy.

Answer: c Topic: Defense Spending Learning Objective: 18.4 Identify the major elements of U.S. defense policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

37.

What is an advantage of using soft power to achieve foreign policy objectives? a. Soft power takes full advantage of U.S. military prowess. b. Soft power is particularly adept at dealing with rogue nations. c. Resolutions reached through the use of soft power are more durable. d. Soft power does not rely on military coercion to accomplish foreign policy goals.

Answer: d Topic: The Challenging Role of Military Power Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

13 ..

38.

Which statement best describes the world’s superpowers since the end of World War II? a. The United States has been the sole superpower since the end of World War II. b. The United States and the Soviet Union were rival superpowers until the end of the Cold War, when the United States became the sole superpower. c. The United States and the Soviet Union were rival superpowers until the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the United States and Russia became rival superpowers. d. The United States and the Soviet Union were the only two rival superpowers until the end of the Cold War, when China also became a rival superpower.

Answer: b Topic: The Changing Role of Military Power Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

39.

How has recent U.S. foreign policy regarding Iran and North Korea been similar? a. It has been largely focused on economic development. b. It has been largely driven by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. c. It has been driven by the abundant natural resources each country possesses. d. It has been largely driven by concerns over nuclear weapons.

Answer: d Topic: Nuclear Proliferation Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

40.

What is the status of the multilateral agreement involving the United States and Iran? a. Iran violated the agreement almost immediately by supporting the North Korean nuclear weapons program. b. Iran has dismantled its nuclear program, and the United States now provides military protection. c. Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement. d. The agreement was never enacted because Barack Obama thought that it would be too easy for Iran to cheat.

Answer: c Topic: Nuclear Proliferation Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

14 ..

41.

Why has the United States tried to deal with the threat from Iran with diplomacy, rather than military options? a. Diplomacy is likely to succeed since the Islamic world trusts and respects the United States. b. Diplomacy is likely to isolate Iran, thereby removing the threat. c. Military action could lead to further radicalization of Muslims and possible terrorist retaliation. d. Military action would be less likely to succeed and could harm the cooperative approach taken by Iran toward the United States and its allies.

Answer: c Topic: Nuclear Proliferation Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

42.

Which of the following helps to explain why a country’s economy may be negatively affected by an economic crisis in another country? a. a negative balance of trade b. a positive balance of trade c. isolationism d. interdependency Answer: d Topic: The International Economy Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

43.

Why did the United States join the North American Free Trade Agreement? a. to lower trade barriers b. to lure Mexican manufacturing jobs to the United States to take advantage of cheaper labor c. to slow down the pace of globalization d. to make it harder for Japanese cars to compete in the American marketplace Answer: a Topic: The International Economy Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

15 ..

44.

Which statement describes the result of a balance-of-trade deficit? a. The value of the dollar increases, so Americans can buy more goods from other countries for the same amount of money. b. The value of the dollar declines, so Americans have to pay more for goods from other nations. c. The value of the dollar declines, which makes American products more expensive abroad, thereby decreasing our exports. d. The value of the dollar increases, making American products cheaper abroad, thereby increasing our exports.

Answer: b Topic: The International Economy Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

45.

Which of the following is an example of a situation in which economic sanctions accomplished the goal in implementing them? a. economic sanctions levied against Iran that led to a 2015 agreement regarding nuclear weapons b. the grain embargo on the Soviet Union in 1980 in retaliation for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan c. the sanctions against Cuba to oust the Marxist dictator d. sanctions imposed on Russia to keep it out of Crimea Answer: a Topic: The International Economy Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

46.

What has been the reaction to Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement? a. Several state and local governments announced plans to fight climate change, despite Trump’s announcement. b. Domestic and world leaders were jubilant. c. Congress immediately enacted legislation to force the Trump administration to live up to U.S. commitments to address climate change. d. The public supported the president because the environment is perceived as a true international crisis.

Answer: a Topic: Environment Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts 16 ..

47.

Which statement accurately describes U.S. foreign aid? a. Americans greatly overestimate the amount that is spent on foreign aid. b. Most foreign aid programs are aimed at providing medical care and other services in less-developed nations. c. Foreign aid primarily consists of various loan programs that provide favorable interest rates and preferential trade agreements for nations that lower trade barriers. d. Foreign aid primarily consists of advice from the U.S. government to lessdeveloped nations in Africa and Asia.

Answer: a Topic: Foreign Aid Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

48.

Which of the following is an example of foreign aid? a. the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade b. the International Monetary Fund c. the North American Free Trade Agreement d. the Peace Corps Answer: d Topic: Foreign Aid Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

49.

Which statement is an accurate description of U.S. foreign and defense policy? a. Foreign and defense policy contribute substantially to the scope of government; it consumes one-fifth of the federal budget and employs 2 million people. b. Foreign and defense policy contribute substantially to the scope of government because it is driven largely by public opinion and democratic impulses. c. Foreign and defense policy contribute modestly to the scope of government by increasing the number of contractors who work to advance federal policies. d. Foreign and defense policy contribute modestly to the scope of government; while politicians spend considerable time addressing constituents’ concerns, Congress appropriates very little money on it.

Answer: a Topic: National Security Policymaking and the Scope of Government Learning Objective: 18.6 Assess the role of democratic politics in making national security policy and the role of national security policy in expanding government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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Policy Roots and Explore the Data Revel-Only Bonus Questions  Questions 1.

How has the gap between the rich and the poor in the United States changed in the past 50 years?

Answer: The gap has widened markedly. While income has increased across the board, it has increased much more substantially for the rich.

Topic: The Constitutional Roots of Inequality Learning Objective: 2.4 Categorize the issues at the Constitutional Convention and outline the resolutions reached on each type of issue.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

2.

How did the unity of the Democrats and that of the Republicans in each house change between the ratification of the Civil War amendments and that of the post–Civil War amendments?

Answer: The parties were much less unified by the time Congress voted on the post–Civil War amendments.

Topic: How Frequently Should We Amend the Constitution?

Learning Objective: 2.7 Explain how the Constitution can be formally amended and how it changes informally.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

3.

An exploration of the data reveals that George W. Bush and Al Gore each won about the same percentage of the popular vote and the same percentage of votes in the Electoral College. Why, then, is so much more of these maps of the United States colored red for Republican rather than blue for Democrat?

Answer: George W. Bush did better in less-populated rural areas, while Al Gore did well in the densely populated urban areas.

Topic: The Election of 2000: Bush v. Gore Learning Objective: 2.8 Assess whether the Constitution establishes a majoritarian democracy and how it limits the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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4.

How has federalism affected the standardized tests that schoolchildren must take? a. Each state submits to the national government the content it deems important; the national government aggregates this information and creates a national standardized test. b. Each state decides for itself whether or not to have standardized tests because public education is not an enumerated power given to Congress by the Constitution. c. The national government determines the content of standardized tests, and each state must administer the test and report the results to the national government. d. The national government mandates that schools administer standardized tests, but each state determines its own testing regime.

Answer: d Topic: Diversity in Standardized Testing in Public Education Under Federalism Learning Objective: 3.4 Characterize the shift from dual to cooperative federalism and the role of fiscal federalism in intergovernmental relations today.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

5.

Which of the following regions of the United States is most likely to administer the death penalty? a. the Northeast b. the Upper Midwest c. the South d. the West Coast and Pacific states Answer: c Topic: Should Whether You Live Depend on Where You Live?

Learning Objective: 3.5 Explain the consequences of federalism for diversity in public policies among the states.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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6.

To what extent do performing artists have the right to include lewd lyrics or actions in their performances? a. Artists have the right to include lewd lyrics or actions in their performances, but that right can be limited by the bureaucracy when the performance is broadcast on radio or television. b. Artists have the right to include lewd lyrics or actions in their performances, but that right can be limited by the bureaucracy when the performance is distasteful. c. Artists have the right to include lewd lyrics or actions in their performances, but that right can be limited by Congress when the performance is distasteful. d. Artists have the right to perform, but they do not have the right to include lewd lyrics or actions in their performances.

Answer: a Topic: Deciphering the Meaning of Free Speech Learning Objective: 4.3 Differentiate the rights of free expression protected by the First Amendment and determine the boundaries of those rights.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

7.

How does the racial composition of the population of people who are executed in the United States compare with the racial composition of the U.S. population? a. Hispanics are overrepresented among those who are executed, but African Americans are not. b. African Americans are overrepresented among those who are executed, but Hispanics are not. c. Both Hispanics and African Americans are overrepresented among those who are executed. d. The racial composition of the population of people who are executed is consistent with the racial composition of the U.S. population.

Answer: b Topic: Is the Death Penalty Racially Biased?

Learning Objective: 4.6 Characterize defendants’ rights and identify issues that arise in their implementation.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

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8.

How might protests against the police in U.S. cities, including Ferguson, Missouri, be a residual effect of the 1956 Interstate Highways Act? Answer: The construction of the interstate highway system affected a disproportionate number of low-income, inner-city neighborhoods with large African American populations. These highways, which divided urban neighborhoods along class and racial lines, further isolated and segregated black communities and further entrenched poverty. These issues are at the heart of protests against the police in American cities.

Topic: Covert Racism and the Highway to Discrimination Learning Objective: 5.7 Establish how civil rights policy advances democracy and increases the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

9.

What is the most common type of immigration to the United States? a. employment sponsored b. family sponsored c. refugees d. political asylum seekers Answer: b Topic: Should Immigration Be Based More on Skills Than Blood?

Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

10.

Describe the political feedback loop that helps to support Social Security.

Answer: Since the enactment of Social Security, organized interests, such as those who receive Social Security benefits, have emerged and grown around this program. These interests advocate for the continuation of Social Security, thus completing a feedback loop.

Topic: Social Security and Political Feedback Loops Learning Objective: 6.1 Identify demographic trends and their likely impact on American politics.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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11.

How has the digital divide changed since 2000?

Answer: In 2000, about 20 percent of those without a high school degree used the Internet, while almost 80 of those with a bachelor’s degree used the Internet, making the digital divide nearly 60 percentage points. By 2016, the gap had shrunk to about 30 percentage points as everyone across education levels used the Internet more.

Topic: What Should Be Done About the Digital Divide?

Learning Objective: 7.1 Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

12.

In your opinion, is embedded journalism likely to enhance citizens’ understanding of war?

Answer: Answers will vary. Some may argue that embedded journalists provide the public with better access and a better perspective on a particular news story.

Others may argue that embedded journalists simply offer the military another way to control a story.

Topic: Embedded Journalism Learning Objective: 7.2 List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

13.

How does the consumption of political information by younger Americans compare with that of Americans who are 30 years of age or older?

Answer: Younger Americans consume less political news and are more likely to rely on the Internet and social media for information about politics.

Topic: How News Consumption of Presidential Campaigns Differs by Age Group Learning Objective: 7.3 Analyze the impact of the media on public opinion and political behavior.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Analyze It

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14.

As suggested by the data, why are young Pennsylvanians less likely to vote than are young Michiganders?

Answer: Pennsylvania has a closed primary, which allows only Democrats and Republicans to vote. Michigan has an open primary, which allows Democrats and Republicans to vote but also welcomes independent and third-party voters. Since young people are more often independent voters, they have more opportunities to participate in elections in Michigan.

Topic: Should Political Parties Choose Their Nominees in Open or Closed Primaries?

Learning Objective: 8.3 Describe the structure of political parties at the national, state, and local level.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

15.

How did Bernie Sanders shape the official platform of the 2016 Democratic Party?

Answer: Sanders appointed people to the party’s platform committee who shared his policy objectives. These committee members exerted influence on the process and won several concessions to include policies that Sanders favored.

Topic: Party Platforms Learning Objective: 8.4 Evaluate how well political parties generally do in carrying out their promises.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

16.

How might the McGovern–Fraser reforms following the 1968 Democratic National Convention have contributed to the election of Donald Trump in 2016?

Answer: The McGovern–Fraser reforms diminished the influence of political elites in the presidential nomination process by requiring the use of primaries and caucuses to select convention delegates. In 2016, it did not matter that Donald Trump lacked support from Republican elites as long as he kept winning Republican primaries and caucuses—which he did.

Topic: Trump Wins the Presidency Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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17.

What knowledge does one gain through formal education that makes it easier to vote?

Answer: Answers will vary. The data presented here show that, through formal education, citizens learn about political ideologies and that Republicans are more conservative than Democrats. This knowledge makes it easier for citizens to decide who to vote for on Election Day. In addition, college students learn how to register for classes, a skill that makes it easier to register to vote.

Topic: Education Level as a Predictor of Voter Turnout Learning Objective: 9.5 Identify the factors that influence whether people vote.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

18.

Was the state where you live a battleground state in 2016? How might this help to explain how much of a presence the presidential candidates had in your state during the 2016 presidential campaign?

Answer: Answers will vary. The battleground states were Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. These battleground states saw a greater presence from the presidential candidates than did non-battleground states.

Topic: Battleground States Learning Objective: 9.7 Evaluate the fairness of the Electoral College system for choosing the president.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Apply What You Know

19.

Which U.S. House candidates did the political action committee representing Major League Baseball tend to give its money to between 2004 and 2014?

Answer: The Major League Baseball PAC gave money to candidates from both political parties, but it gave more of its money to whichever party was in power that year. When Republicans were in the majority (2004, 2006, 2012, and 2014), Republican candidates received more money. Democrats received more money in 2008 and 2012, when they were in power.

Topic: Principles of PAC Behavior: Major League Baseball: An Illustration Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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20.

How have contributions to Democrats and Republican candidates by political action committees changed from 1999 to 2016?

Answer: PAC contributions to Republican candidates have doubled, from $95 million in 1999–2000 to $202 million in 2015–2016. PAC contributions to Democratic candidates have also increased, though not quite as dramatically: from $98 million to $149 million. For both parties, this is a sizeable increase.

Topic: Should PACs Be Eliminated?

Learning Objective: 10.3 Analyze the methods and activities that interest groups use to influence political outcomes.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

21.

What has contributed to AARP’s success in protecting Social Security? a. There has been an increase in the number of workers paying Social Security taxes in proportion to the number of retirees receiving benefits. b. AARP receives more than half of its income from the government and uses that money to lobby for continued Social Security benefits. c. AARP is a small interest group whose membership has rather intense opinions. d. It is easier to protect existing government benefits than it is to change benefits.

Answer: d Topic: Social Security and the AARP Learning Objective: 10.5 Evaluate how well James Madison’s ideas for controlling the influence of interest groups have worked in practice.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

22.

Which of the following has contributed significantly to the recent increase in student debt? a. Colleges cut administrative positions, resulting in students taking longer to graduate. b. Congress expanded eligibility for federal student loans, resulting in more Americans attending college. c. Deteriorating infrastructure has caused high dropout rates, resulting in large debt loads borne by dropouts with few marketable skills. d. Students are taking out excessive loans for entertainment expenses or to pay off credit cards.

Answer: b Topic: Student Debt in America Learning Objective: None Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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23.

How does the number of contested and open-seat elections vary according to whether a state has term limits?

Answer: States that have term limits are more likely to see contested elections in which there is a major party opponent. States with term limits are also more likely to see open-seat elections in which there is no incumbent running.

Topic: Should We Impose Term Limits on Members of Congress?

Learning Objective: 11.2: Identify the principal factors influencing the outcomes of congressional elections.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

24.

On what basis did the courts overturn Trump’s executive orders that banned some travel to the United States? a. The executive orders violated the First Amendment’s establishment clause by singling out people based on religion. b. The executive orders were unconstitutional on their face because the president does not have the power to make policies related to immigration. c. The executive orders were unconstitutionally vague. d. The executive orders hindered the ability of law enforcement to exercise a legitimate state interest.

Answer: a Topic: Political Checks on Trump’s Immigration Ban Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

25.

What might explain Donald Trump’s high success rating in getting Congress to enact his legislative agenda?

Answer: Answers will vary. Some will argue that Trump is successful because Republicans controlled both house of Congress during his first two years in office.

Topic: Should We Increase the President’s Legislative Powers?

Learning Objective: 12.2 Evaluate the president’s constitutional powers and the expansion of presidential power.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

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26.

Why does Congress enact earmarks?

Answer: Earmarks are congressionally mandated spending projects. Legislators have an incentive to add earmarks to spending bills to bring federal projects and federal funds to their home districts. This helps members of Congress get reelected.

Topic: Earmarks and the Short-lived Line-item Veto Learning Objective: 13.2 Analyze federal expenditures and the growth of the budget.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

27.

In absolute dollars and as a percentage of gross domestic product, how large is the total external debt of the United States compared with that of other countries?

Answer: In absolute U.S. dollars, the U.S. debt is trillions of dollars larger than that of other countries. As a percentage of gross domestic product, U.S. debt is comparable to that of several other countries and considerably smaller than that of Japan.

Topic: Balancing the Budget: Top Countries by Total External Debt, 2014 Learning Objective: 13.3 Outline the budgetary process and explain the role that politics plays.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

28.

Which statement accurately describes how the value of federal contracts has changed since 2005? a. Defense-related contracts have skyrocketed while non-defense related contracts have stayed about the same. b. Both defense-related contracts and non-defense-related contracts have increased. c. Total federal contracts have increased even though defense-related contracts have decreased. d. Total federal contracts have decreased even though defense-related contracts have increased.

Answer: c Topic: Should the Federal Bureaucracy Contract Out to Private Organizations?

Learning Objective: 14.3 Identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of bureaucratic implementation of public policy.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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29.

How is bureaucratic rulemaking about climate change different under Donald Trump than it was under Barack Obama?

Answer: Barack Obama directed the bureaucracy to address climate change; it did so by enacting the Clean Power Plan. Donald Trump and his appointee to head the Environmental Protection Agency have been scaling back regulations implemented under Obama and designed to address climate change.

Topic: Bureaucratic Rulemaking on Climate Change Learning Objective: 14.4 Describe how bureaucracies regulate and assess deregulation and alternative approaches to regulation.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

30.

George W. Bush nominated John Roberts to the Supreme Court and Barack Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor. In hindsight, how satisfied are these former presidents likely to be with their picks?

Answer: Bush is likely disappointed in Roberts, who started out right of center but has become more centrist over time. Obama is likely pleased with Sotomayor, who started out left of center and has become more liberal over time.

Topic: The Changing Ideological Orientations of Supreme Court Justices Learning Objective: 15.3 Explain the process by which judges and justices are nominated and confirmed.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Apply What You Know

31.

Which president was the first to have lasting success in limiting child labor?

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt Topic: Protections for Child Labor Learning Objective: 15.6 Trace the Supreme Court’s use of judicial review in major policy battles in various eras of American history.

Difficulty Level: Easy Skill Level: Remember the Facts

32.

Which statement best describes how family income changed from 2010 to 2013? a. The income of nonwhites nearly caught up to the income of whites. b. The young got richer, and the old got poorer. c. The rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. d. The rich got richer, and everyone else’s income level stayed the same.

Answer: d Topic: The Continuing Rise of Income Inequality Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

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33.

Since 1968, what has happened to the nominal and inflation-adjusted minimum wage?

Answer: The nominal wage has increased, while the inflation-adjusted minimum wage has decreased.

Topic: Should Congress Increase the Minimum Wage?

Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

34.

What helps to explain why African American women are less likely to survive breast cancer? a. African Americans are genetically predisposed to breast cancer. b. African Americans have not had equitable access to health care. c. African Americans are more susceptible to “white flight,” a known cancercausing condition that hinders the regeneration of white blood cells. d. African Americans are less likely to eat a balanced diet and to exercise.

Answer: b Topic: Redlining and America’s Wealth Gap Learning Objective: 16.3 Assess the extent of economic inequality in America and the role of government in lessening it.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

35.

How has government spending to protect threatened or endangered species changed since 1990?

Answer: Spending increased every year until 2013, when it decreased somewhat.

Topic: Spending to Preserve Threatened and Endangered Species Learning Objective: 17.2 Analyze the conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection, and identify the major national environmental protection policies.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts

36.

What contributed to the Flint water crisis? a. lax bureaucratic oversight b. corporate greed c. water shortages d. an exceptionally hot summer Answer: a Topic: Flint Water Crisis Learning Objective: 17.4 Assess the role of democratic politics in making health care, environmental, and energy policy and the effect of these policies on the scope of government.

Difficulty Level: Moderate Skill Level: Understand the Concepts 12 ..

37.

What explains the difference between U.S. support for Israel and U.S. support for the Palestinians?

Answer: The United States gives significantly more foreign aid to Israel than to Palestine because the U.S. public tends to side with Israel. In one poll, 62 percent of Americans were sympathetic toward the Israelis while only 16 percent were sympathetic toward the Palestinians. In addition, powerful interest groups lobby on behalf of Israel but not Palestine. The Israeli government also has a track record of military success in the region.

Topic: Aid to Israel Learning Objective: 18.5 Analyze the evolving challenges for U.S. national security policy.

Difficulty Level: Difficult Skill Level: Analyze It

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