American Government Flashcards
1
Q
The Supreme Court’s Brown vs Board of Education decision of 1954
A. led to the establishment of a personal “right to privacy”
B. ordered the racial desegregation of public schools
C. ended laws against homosexual activity between consenting adults
D. Protected journalist who criticized public officials
E. help that a right to physician assisted suicide did not exist in the Consitution
A
B. ordered the racial desegregation of public schools
2
Q
A person who votes based on what a candidate says he or she will do in the future is said to be
A. engaging in retrospecting voting
B. responding to attack ads
C. responding to contrast ads
D. engaging in prospective voting
E. responding to name recognition
A
D. engaging in prospective voting
3
Q
Should presidential candidates receive an equal number of electoral votes, the election is decided by
A. the legislatures of Maine and Nebraska
B. a constitutional convention
C. the House of Representative
D. the Senate
E. the Supreme Court
A
C. the House of Representatives
4
Q
“A form of government in which the people (defined broadly include all adults or narrowly to exclude women and slaves, for example) are the ultimate political authority.” These words best define what political arrangement?
A. Republicanism
B. Democracy
C. One person, one vote
D. Constitutional monarchy
E. Mobocracy
A
B. Democracy
5
Q
New England’s town meetings are examples of
A. a parliamentary system
B. oligarchy
C. direct democracy
D. democratic socialism
E. concurrence
A
C. Direct democracy
6
Q
Under the pen name “Publius,” Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote
A. the Federalist Papers
B. the Anti-Federalist papers
C. Common Sense
D. Leviathan
E. Second Treatise on Government
A
A. The Federalist Papers
7
Q
in the seventeenth century, the signers of which of the following documents agreed to live under the colony’s recognized authority and to wait for a royal charter, such as the Virginians had?
A. the Mayflower Compact
B. the Magna Carta
C. The Federalist
D. The English Bill of Rights
E. The Marshall Plan
A
A. The Mayflower Compact
8
Q
A person who believes that the government should do what the majority of people in the country want to do is advocating
A. libertarianism
B. pluralist theory
C. popular sovereignty
D. elite theory
E. majoritarianism
A
E. majoritarianism
9
Q
The purpose of the electoral college is to
A. dedcide in disputes between the executive and judiciary branches
B. choose the US president
C. break tie votes in the Senate
D. promote higher education
E. Regulate state election policies
A
B. choose the US president
10
Q
In the debates over the Constitution, federalists and anti-federalists spoke of factions the way we today speak of
A. delegates
B. earmarks
C. executive orders
D. interest groups
E. caucuses
A
D. Interest groups
11
Q
the US constitution requires that political authority be divided among the three branches of government. This is referred to as
A. the separation of powers
B. checks and balances
C. cloture
D. stare decisis
E. the wall of separation
A
A. the separation of powers
12
Q
The English philosopher whose words are heavily drawn on in the Declaration of Independence was
A. Thomas Hobbes
B. John Locke
C. Edmund Burke
D. David Hume
E. Adam Smith
A
B. John Locke
13
Q
Insofar as the Constitution is concerned, members of Congress receive payment for their work from
A. their political parties
B. their stat legislatures
C. the US Treasury
D. political gifts
E. interest groups
A
C. the US Treasury
14
Q
The Vice President of the United States is the president of what government body?
A. Federal judiciary
B. Senate
C. House of Representatives
D. Department of Homeland Security
E. Military
A
B. Senate
15
Q
What is the minimum age specified in the Constitution for members of the House of Representatives ?
A. 18
B. 20
C. 25
D. 28
E. 30
A
C. 25
16
Q
The Constitution specifically empowers Congress to coin money, declare war, and admit new stares into the Union. These powers are referred tp as
A. national powers
B. implied powers
C. elastic powers
D. inferential powers
E. enumerated powers
A
E. enumerated powers
17
Q
In which of the nation’s founding documents could one point to an “elastic clause” to justify the existence of large government agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services?
A. The articles of Confederation
B. the Federalist Number 10
C. The Bill of Rights
D. The Constitution
E. Marbury v. Madison
A
D. The Constitution
18
Q
The Tenth Amendment to the constitution states that government powers “not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States,” are reserved for the
A. courts
B. political parties
C. state legislatures only
D. state legislatures and the people
E. State legislature, the people, and the courts
A
D. State legislatures and the people
19
Q
The term administrative discretion refers to which of the following
A. the president sets the nation’s political agenda
B. congress sets guidelines for government agencies to follow
C. One chamber of Congress fails to pass a bill that does pass in the other chamber
D. Standing committees determine what bills will and will not receive attention
E. Federal courts can declare unconstitutional laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents
A
B. Congress sets guidelines for government agencies to follow
20
Q
The Real ID Act of 2005 was an example of
A. a block grant
B. an unfunded mandate
C. a categorical grant
D. cooperative federalism
E. Project Head Start
A
B. an unfunded mandate
21
Q
Senators have the power to “talk a bill to death.” What is the formal term for this procedure?
A. Filibuster
B. Concurrence
C. Cloture
D. Anarchism
E. Gridlock
A
A. Filibuster
22
Q
A piece of legislation proposed to Congress is called
A. docket
B. an earmark
C. a bill
D. casework
E. a lobby
A
C. a bill
23
Q
What do unanimous consent agreements accomplish?
A. They move legislation quickly through the House committee system
B. They provide for political party unanimity at nominating conventions
C. They meld various concurrent opinions into a single document
D. They provide for unanimous votes in the senate
E. The end debate in the Senate
A
E. They end debate in the Senate
24
Q
When voting for presidential candidates, residents of the states are saying that they want their state’s Electoral College votes to go to that candidate. This is an example of
A. indirect democracy
B. nullification
C. logrolling
D. tyranny of the majority
E. eminent domain
A
A. indirect democracy
25
An interest group perceives a problem and then works to encourage legislation that addresses the problem. Interest groups can legally promote their agendas by doing all of the following EXCEPT
A. paying a legislature in exchange for a vote in favor of the interest group
B. using the interest group's legislative power to swing the vote
C. writing letters to the president
D. using letters, emails , or phone calls to get the legislator's attention
E. organizing peaceful protests
A. Paying a legislator in exchange for a vote in favor of the interest group
26
When a bill has passed through a subcommittee, a full committee, and both Congressional houses, the president can still kill the bill via veto. What must happen for a presidential veto to be overturned?
A. A two-thirds vote must occur in both Congressional chambers
B. a presidential veto cannot be overturned
C. A two-thirds vote must occur in the Senate alone
D. The president's cabinet may override his decision with a majority vote
E. a two-thirds vote must occur in the House of Representative
A. a two-thirds vote must occur in both Congressional chambers
27
If a president neither signs nor vetoes a piece of legislation within 10 days and Congress remains in session, what becomes of the bill?
A. it is pocket vetoed
B. it becomes law
C. it is referred to the states
D. it is returned to the relevant Congressional standing committees
E. It is referred to the courts
B. it becomes law
28
Gerrymandering referred to the
A. political agreements made in Congressional committees to facilitate a bill's success
B. creation of a Conversion district to ensure the election of a person from a certain political party or ethnic or racial group
C. process of negotiation between the White house and Congress on proposed legislation
D. process that leads to a constitutional amendment
E. ways minorities were historically prevented from voting
B. creation of a Congressional district to ensure the election of a person from a certain political party or ethnic or racial groups
29
Which of the following can most easily practice home style
A. Presidents
B. Democratic senators
C. Republican senators
D. Members of the House of Representatives
E. Department secretaries, such as the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
D. Members of the House of Representative (Home style referee to appeals to local interests- House members represent smaller numbers so its easier)
30
A Congressperson's franking privileges pertain to
A. international travel related to official business
B. official mail
C. the right to subpoena government officials
D. access to the Congressional gym
E. immunity fro prosecution for things said in the course of a debate
B. official mail
31
Agreements between the United States and foreign nations can be made by a president’s administration, but for the agreement to go into effect it must have the concurrence of
A. a majority of the Senate
B. a majority of the House and Senate
C. two-thirds of the Senate alone
D. two-thirds of both Congressional chambers
E. two-thirds of the president’s cabinet members
C. two-thirds of the Senate alone
32
The highest person in the military’s chain of command is the
A. chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
B. majority leader of the Senate
C. director of the Central Intelligence Agency
D. Speaker of the House of Representatives
E. U.S. president
E. US president
33
Through the years, different presidents have held different levels of power vis-à-vis Congress, but the Constitution’s framers wanted the U.S. president to
A. have power equivalent to the Speaker of the House
B. have power equivalent to the chief justice of the Supreme Court
C. have power equivalent to that of England’s monarchs
D. have power that could check, but also could be checked by, other branches of government
E. have political power equivalent to the four largest state governors
D. have power that could check, but also could be checked by, other branches of government
34
Presidents can shape the nation's legislative agenda in all the following ways EXCEPT
A. requiring the Vice President, as president of the Senate, to participate in Senate votes
B. spelling out a legislative agenda in a State of the Union address
C. as leader of his (or her) political party, shaping the legislative direction oof that party in Congress
D. using or threatening to use the veto
E. lobbying Congress members
A. requiring the Vice President, as president of the Senate, to participate in Senate votes
35
In times of national emergency, or when the government needs to act quickly and flexibly, Congress has done what with its federal powers?
A. Delegated them to the president
B. Delegated them to the courts
C. Delegated them to the state legislatures
D. Delegated them to local jurisdictions
E. Delegated them to town mayors
A. Delegated them to the president
36
According to the Constitution, the Vice President gains the presidency if the president dies or is incapacitated. According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if both the president and Vice President are incapacitated, who rises to the presidency?
A. the president pro tempore of the Senate
B. the most senior member of the majority party in the Senate
C. The speaker of the House of Representatives
D. the mayor of Washington DC
E. the Secretary of State
C. the speaker of the House of representative
37
According to a Supreme Court decision in 2008, the Second Amendment
A. should be understood to apply alone to state militias, that is, the National Guard
B. should be understood to apply to individuals and their right to possess firearms
C. allows for the right of the people to assemble peaceably and to make grievances known to the government
D. allows for the free exercise of religion
E. prohibits “excessive bail” to be imposed on an arrested person
B. should be understood to apply to individuals and their right to possess firearms
38
The Bill of Rights' establishment clause
A. establishes the right against self incrimination
B. gives the people right to protest against government establishments
C. prohibits the federal government from promoting one religion as the religion of the state
D. establishes that people cannot be held after arrest without an indictment being brought against them
E. established that powers not expressly given to the government are left to the states or the people
C. prohibits the federal government from promoting one religion as the religion of the state
39
The Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale (1962)
A. made abortion legal across the country
B. made laws against contraception illegal
C. allowed the president to pursue anticommunist measures in Vietnam
D. eliminated prayer organized by public schools
E. required the desegregation of public schools
D. eliminated prayer organized by public schools
40
Charles Schenck was arrested and charges with the federal crime of trying to inhibit military recruitment in a time of war. What was the Supreme Court's decision in the resulting case, Schenck v United States (1919)
A. Schenck's right to speak and act against the war was protected by the First Amendment, though within vague limits
B. Schenck's speech and actions has presented a public danger in a time of war, and his conviction was upheld
C. Schenck, not being a citizen, was deported before the case was decided
D. A sharply divided court allowed Schencl's antiwar speech in the abstract but not when aimed at individuals who might be recruited
E. The right to freedom of speech is absolute and the government was wrong to arrest him
B. Schenck's speech and action has presented a public danger in a time of war, and his conviction was upheld
41
Which of the following acts, signed by President Bill Clinton, resulted in a balanced budget and a surplus for the first time since the end of the 1960s?
A. Budget and Impoundment Control Act
B. Gramm-Rudman Act
C. Balanced Budget Act
D. Patriot Act
E. Budgetary Restraint and Fiscal Responsibility Act
C. Balanced Budget Act
42
The effect of the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland was to
A. strengthen federal power at the expense of state power
B. strengthen state power at the expense of federal power
C. strengthen the Senate at the expense of the House
D. strengthen the House at the expense of the Senate
E. strengthen the presidency at the expense of Congress
A. strengthen federal power at the expense of state power
43
The theory of sampling relies on which of the following key factors?
A. Random selection, sample size, and variation
B. Skewed, bimodal, and normal distributions
C. Mean, median, and mode
D. Traits, sentiment, and sample size
E. Demographics, geography, and political affiliation
A. Random selection, sample size, and variation
44
Each of the following is a kind of third party EXCEPT
A. an economic protest party
B. an ideological party
C. an issue party
D. a verification party
E. a factional party
D. a verification party
45
By tradition, before a president nominates a person to serve as a federal judge, the president ensures that the senators from the candidate’s home state support his or her nomination. This is referred to as
A. pluralism
B. Congress’s seniority system
C. a primary
D. presidential succession
E. senatorial courtesy
E. senatorial courtesy
46
The Grand Old Party (GOP) is a lesser-used name for what political party?
A. Democratic
B. Republican
C. Whig
D. Reform
E. Libertarian
B. Republican
47
Which of the following presidential candidates from the last two decades of the twentieth century is most closely associated with raising the issue of the federal government's budget deficit ?
A. Ross Perot
B. George H. W. Bush
C. Bill Clinton
D. John Kerry
E. John Edwards
A. Ross Perot
48
The States' Rights Democratic Party, also called the Dixiecrat Party, spilt from the Democratic Party in 1948 because it opposes
A. the New Deal
B. racial desegregation
C. war with China
D. war with Germany
E. the Democratic Party's reluctance to pursue civil rights legislation
B. racial desegregation
49
All of the following are reasons two major parties dominate American politics EXCEPT
A. American voters tend to be centrist in their political outlook
B. Victory in electoral college votes pushes the political system toward two parties
C. Congressional seats are winner take all
D. Campaign financing is biased against third parties
E. Several state constitutions prohibit more than two political parties
E. Several state constitutions prohibit more than two political parties
50
What twentieth century presidential candidate received fewer votes than his opponent but still won the election ?
A. Harry Truman
B. Woodrow Wilson
C. John F Kennedy
D. Gerald Ford
E. George W Bush
E. George W Bush
51
Marble cake federalism is a term political scientists use to describe
A. dual federalism
B. unitary federalism
C. cooperative federalism
D. sovereign federalism
E. Layer cake federalism
C. Cooperative federalism
52
Which act forbade discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, or national origin?
A. Voting Rights Act of 1965
B. Civil Rights Act of 1964
C. Civil Rights Act of 1968
D. Fair Treatment Act
E. Equal Protection Act
B. Civil Rights Act of 1964
53
What Supreme Court case nullified state laws that made first-trimester abortion illegal?
A. Plessy v. Ferguson
B. Stenberg v. Carhart
C. Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
D. Roe v. Wade
E. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
D. Roe v. Wade
54
Who was the first female speaker of the House of Representatives?
A. Condoleezza Rice
B. Sarah Palin
C. Hillary Rodham Clinton
D. Sandra Day O’Connor
E. Nancy Pelosi
E. Nancy Pelosi
55
The tendency of different races to live in separate communities and, thus to attend different schools is referred to as
A. de jure segregation
B. racial profiling
C. Jim Crow
D. de facto segregation
E. busing
D. de facto segregation
56
The political system that divides political power between states and a federal government is referred to as
A. socialism
B. right wing
C. federalism
D. democracy
E. sovereignty
C. federalism
57
The Fifteenth Amendment made it unconstitutional to prevent citizens from voting based on race or skin color. Which of the following is an example of an initiative set up by some states to continue to prevent African Americans from voting?
A. affirmative action
B. apartheid
C. Jim Crow laws
D. Busing
E. Poll taxes
E. Poll taxes
58
Which of the following acts penalized employers who hired illegal immigrants and gave amnesty to most of the undocumented aliens in the country?
A. Volstead Act
B. Immigration and Nationality Act
C. Homeland Labor Act
D. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
E. Patriot’s Initiative
D. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
59
How many votes are necessary for a unanimous consent agreement to be passed in the Senate?
A. three quarter majority
B. two thirds majority
C. 100 percent
D. 70 Percent
E. 90 percent
C. 100 percent
60
All of the following programs were part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and war on poverty programs EXCEPT
A. Medicare
B. Medicaid
C. Project Head Start
D. Social Security
E. Housing and Urban Development
D. Social Security
61
Which of the following types of federal funding do states prefer?
A. Categorical grants
B. Block grants
C. Unfunded mandates
D. Loans
E. Fiscal grants
B. Block grants
62
For a case to be heard in the Supreme Court, the Court must issue a call for a lower court to sent to the Supreme Court the records related to the case. This call is referred to as a(n)
A. amicus curiae brief
B. court secondary appeal
C. manifest subpoena
D. writ of certiorari
E. request of formal appeal
D. writ of certiorari
63
What Supreme Court case in 1966 guaranteed that no individual “shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself”?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Duncan v. Louisiana
C. Gideon v. Wainwright
D. Roe v. Wade
E. Marbury v. Madison
A. Miranda v. Arizona
64
The Bill of Rights guarantees all of the following EXCEPT
A. the freedom of religion
B. the right to a fair trial
C. powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states
D. the right to bear arms
E. the right of women to vote
E. the right of women to vote
65
Which of the following is NOT true of state militias?
A. They are established to enforced the will of the people
B. They are used to put down insurrections
C. They have been superseded by the National Guard
D. They are supposed to resist invasions
E. They are discusses in Article 1 of the constitution
A. They are established to enforce the will of the people
66
To prevent jurors form hearing about a trial in the media, judges will sometimes impose what restriction on journalists?
A. gag order
B. writ of prevention
C. discretionary order
D. order of cessation
E. Noncompliance order
A. gag order
67
the Supreme Court's power to determine what is and what is not constitutional is referred to as
A. judicial temperament
B. senatorial courtesy
C. judicial activism
D. judicial review
E. judicial implementation
D. judicial review
68
All of the following are examples of legal symbolic expression EXCEPT
A. burning a draft card
B. burning a flag
C. libeling of a congressman in a newspaper editorial
D. wearing a black armband in protest of war
E. wearing a T-shirt that reads, “The president is a fool”
A. burning a draft card
69
Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used against a defendant. This principle is known as the
A. Miranda Rule
B. exclusionary rule
C. solicitor's rule
D. majority rule
E. trial rule
B. exclusionary rule
70
in 1992, an independent ran for president. He advocated anti-incumbency and challenged the government to deal with the federal budget deficit. This candidate showed that third parties can provide a political outlet for dissident voters. His name was
A. Ralph Nader
B. Ross Perot
C. James Weaver
D. William Jennings Bryan
E. Eugene Debs
B. Ross Perot
71
A theory of government that “emphasizes government-directed equalization of wealth and government control of industry” is referred to as
A. democracy
B. communism
C. theocracy
D. monarchy
E. socialism
E. socialism
72
Which of the following is NOT related to political activity on behalf of gender equality?
A. Equal Rights Amendment
B. Equal Pay Act
C. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
E. Faragher v. City of Boca Raton
D. Gibbons v, Ogden
73
Which of the following courts is responsible for granting government agents the authority to pose surveillance on suspected spies?
A. trial courts
B. FISC
C. appellate courts
D. circuit courts
E. common law courts
B. FISC
74
Which of the following terms revers to a potential check on federal judicial power?
A. review
B. Implementation
C. Restraint
D. Temperament
E. Activism
B. Implementation
75
In the Mayflower Compact, we see the emergence of two enduring principles important to the American political system: (1) a willingness to live under the rule of law and (2)
A. a bicameral legislature
B. separation of powers
C. checks and balances
D. separation of church and state
E. government by the consent of the governed
E. government by the consent of the governed
76
Civil liberties are freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Because civil liberties set limits on the extent to which the government can control citizens' affairs, they are sometimes referred to as
A. civil rights
B. inalienable rights
C. negative rights
D. Positive rights
E. key rights
C. negative rights
77
Which of the following cases stressed government neutrality toward religion?
A. Agostini v Felton
B. Zelmon v Simmons-Harris
C. Engle v Vitale
D. Lynch v Donnelly
E. Lemon V Kurtzman
A. Agostini vs. Felton
78
According to a Supreme Court decision, the clear and present danger test prohibited what type of action?
A. Speaking against the government during wartime
B. Expressing a threatening, countercultural idea
C. Symbolically protesting a federal decision
D. Using provocative language that upsets the peace
E. Speaking publicly about how to prevent potential terrorist threats
A. Speaking against the government during war time
79
Which of the following allowed President Lyndon Johnson to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the US and to prevent further aggression"?
A. War Powers Act
B. Anticipatory Defense Act
C. Hanoi Resolution
D. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
E. Truman Doctrine
D. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
80
Which of the following was called for in the Virginia Plan?
A. A bicameral legislature with representatives based on population
B. Equal state representation in a unicameral legislature
C. Political power sharing between the president and Supreme Court chief justice
D. A two-person presidency
E. A one-year presidency
A. A bicameral legislature with representatives based on population
81
What has been called “the most penetrating commentary ever written on the [U.S.] Constitution”?
A. Federalist Number 10
B. The Federalist Papers
C. Common Sense
D. Federalist Number 51
E. Three-fifths Compromise
B. The Federalist Papers
82
Which of the following was created in 1887 to "regulate railroads that moved good and services from one state to another"?
A. Bureau of Indian Affairs
B. Surface Transportation Board
C. Bureau of Indian Education
D. Interstate Commerce Commission
E. Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution
D. Interstate Commerce Commission
83
According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, all of the following are basic requirements for citizenship for immigrants in the United States EXCEPT
A. the ability to function in English
B. basic knowledge of American history and government
C. commitment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution
D. a period of continuous residence in the United States
E. memorization of the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem
E. memorization of the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem
84
Which of the following institutions produces the paper currency for the US?
A. Federal Reserve System
B. US Mint
C. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
D. Federal Reserve banks
E. US Patent and Trademark Office
C. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
85
Congress has the power to do all of the following EXCEPT
A. regulate an army and navy
B. declare war
C. finance military operations
D. supply military operations for up to five years
E. raise an army
D. supply military operations for up to five years
86
According to pollsters who sample populations,
A. traits of individuals within majority groups reflects the views of minority groups
B. polling can significantly affect the outcome of national and state elections
C. traits of individuals within representative groups reflect the views of the group
D. US polls generally reflect the views of most Western countries
E. sampling results can change drastically in the span of a few decades
C. traits of individuals within representative groups reflect the views of the group
87
The term political socialization refers primarily to which of the following?
A. The social structure within the Senate and House of Representatives
B. Cooperation, communication, and collaboration among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
C. Political discussion among peers and colleagues
D. The tendency for children to share political views with parents
E. The tendency for individuals to undergo shifts in political affiliation during a university education
D. The tendency for children to share political views with parents
88
Which of the following voters is LEAST likely to favor Republican candidates?
A. A voter who is a religion conservative
B. A voter who opposes taxation, regulation, and welfare programs
C. A voter who opposes abortion
D. A voter who lives in a small town
E. A voter who supports a small military
E. a voter who supports a small military
89
What polling term is used to describe a situation in which a large majority of Americans favor or oppose an issue?
A. Normal distribution
B. Skewed distribution
C. Bimodal distribution
D. Weighted distributed
E. Stable distribution
B. Skewed distribution
90
Which of the following statements is NOT tru?
A. Members of Congress cannot be arrested while Congress is in session except for treason, felony, and breach of peace
B. Members of Congress cannot be prosecuted outside Congress for words spoken during congressional speeches and debates
C. Members of Congress cannot be appointed to civil offices created during a contemporaneous term in congress
D. Members of Congress cannot hold office for more than 24 years
E. Members of Congress are compensated for their labor from the US Treasury
D. Members of Congress cannot hold office for more than 24 years
91
The Constitution gives the power of formal initiating tax legislation to which of the following
A. the people
B. the president
C. the Senate
D. The Supreme Court
E. The House of Representatives
E. The House of Representatives
92
Regarding U.S. taxes, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT
A. Americans pay some of the highest taxes in the world
B. U.S. income tax is progressive
C. sales taxes are regressive
D. estate taxes are progressive
E. employers are required to match what each of their employees pays in Medicare and Social Security taxes
A. Americans pay some of the highest taxes in the world
93
The main fiscal duties of Congress are
A. minting currency and regulating the stock market
B. regulating the stock market and collecting taxes
C. collecting taxes and import duties, borrowing money, and paying the nation’s debts
D. borrowing money, paying the nation’s debts, and regulating the stock market
E. regulating corporations and minting currency
C. collecting taxes and import duties, borrowing money, and paying the nation’s debts
94
All of the following provide the government with financial resources EXCEPT
A. tariffs and duties
B. public debt
C. payroll taxes
D. bonds
E. hidden taxes
B. public debt
95
The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 had which of the following results?
A. It changed the fiscal year from January 1 through December 31, to October 1 through September 30.
B. It standardized the accounting procedures and rules for U.S. business and corporations.
C. It required Congress to formulate spending bills and seek presidential approval.
D. It required that all U.S. corporations submit to budgetary and fiscal regulation.
E. It required that the president prepare the budget and seek Congressional approval.
E. It required that the president prepare the budget and seek Congressional approval.
96
Where in the Constitution does Congress locate its authority to oversee governmental bodies not mentioned in the Constitution, such as the Department of Education?
A. Necessary and proper clause
B. Unwritten constitution
C. Bill of Rights
D. Execution clause
E. Admissions clause
A. Necessary and proper clause
97
Powers claimed by the president but NOT expressly called for in the Constitution are called
A. executive powers
B. inherent powers
C. delegated powers
D. inferential powers
E. trustee powers
B. inherent powers
98
Which of the following stipulates that Congress may NOT put in place an official religion?
A. Neutrality clause
B. Establishment clause
C. free exercise clause
D. Second Amendment
E. Exclusionary rule
B. Establishment Clause
99
The redistricting in the states of seats for the U.S. House of Representatives is determined by
A. the House Rules Committee
B. federal judges
C. the executive branch
D. census figures on state populations
E. the Department of the Interior
D. census figures on state populations
100
Sometimes the federal government hands over to commercial enterprises work formerly foes by government employees. This is known as
A. privatization
B. deregulation
C. devolution
D. bureaucracy
E. specialization
A. privatization
101
The Pendleton Act of 1883 was the first law to do what?
A. Eliminate civil service jobs
B. End a president's tenure in office (in this case, James Garfield's)
C. Ban political bribes in the workplace
D. Purposefully provide civil service jobs for the poor
E. Make some governmental jobs off-limits to patronage
E. Make some governmental jobs off-limits to patronage
102
Which of the following statements about federal elections is accurate?
A. Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 3 years, and senators every 6 years.
B. Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 4 years, and senators every 4 years.
C. Presidents are elected every 2 years, representatives every 2 years, and senators every 4 years.
D. Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 4 years, and senators every 6 years.
E. Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 2 years, and senators every 6 years.
E. Presidents are elected every 4 years, representatives every 2 years, and senators every 6 years.
103
Which of the following, within various executive departments, write and enforce rules that regulate some element of industry?
A. Government corporations
B. Independent regulatory commissions
C. Independent agencies
D. Secretarial committees
E. Rule administrations
B. Independent regulatory commissions
104
The US Postal service is a government corporation that sells services, thus generating
A. workers
B. federal government revenue
C. its own revenue
D. outside criticism
E. competing industry
C. its own revenue
105
Organizations within the federal bureaucracy ensure that congressional legislation, presidential policies, and court decisions are adhered to. This process is referred to as
A. rule administration
B. rule adjudication
C. rule making
D. administrative discretion
E. federal registration
A. rule administration
106
The policy making relationship between lobbyist, Congress, and the federal bureaucracy in which everyone involved wins is calls
A. the brass ring
B. the federal lifeboat
C. bureaucratic imperialism
D. the iron triangle
E. reciprocal bureaucracy
D. the iron triangle
107
In the 1990s, welfare programs funded by the federal government were largely given to the states to administer. this is an example of
A. privatization
B. deregulation
C. devolution
D. bureaucracy
E. specialization
C. devolution (turning over functions done by feds to states and locals)
108
Which of the following are sometimes referred to collectively as the fourth branch of government?
A. Voters
B. The president’s advisors
C. The media
D. Recent immigrants
E. Nonprofit organizations
C. The media
109
An easily digestible policy statement is often referred to as
A. infotainment
B. a sound bite
C. a talking point
D. hold and hold
E. condensed news
C. a talking point
110
During elections, the media tend to focus on who is winning, who is losing, and the gamesmanship of campaigning. What is this journalistic style called?
A. Board-game journalism
B. Sensationalism
C. Horse-race journalism
D. Infotainment
E. Contest journalism
C. Horse-race journalism
111
What is the substance of the television hypothesis?
A. Television makes one feel informed when he or she really isn’t.
B. A story’s newsworthiness depends on television viewership.
C. Human interest stories related to politics trump serious policy reflection.
D. “If it bleeds, it leads,” that is, violence trumps intelligent news coverage.
E. Most television news is market-driven journalism.
A. Television makes one feel informed when he or she really isn’t.
112
Within the Supreme Court, the "rule of four" describes the number of justices needed to
A. overturn previous case precedent
B. confirm a prospective chief justice
C. end the oral arguments of a given case
D. agree to a change in the numeric composition of the Supreme Court
E. accept a case for judicial review
E. Accept a case for judicial review
113
The signing of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 dramatically increased the number of
A. immigrants from Ireland and Britain
B. immigrants from Canada and Scandinavia
C. illegal immigrants
D. immigrants from Asia and Latin America
E. Republicans
D. immigrants from Asia and Latin America
114
The political philosophy that calls for the government to do what most people in the country want is
A. majoritarianism
B. pluralism
C. liberalism
D. libertarianism
E. monetarism
A. majoritarianism
115
Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government was empowered to do all of the following EXCEPT
A. regulate coinage
B. create and operate a postal system
C. regulate Indian affairs
D. declare war
E. draft soldiers for national service
E. draft soldiers for national service
116
In an effort to define what is meant by bureaucracy, German sociologist Max Weber suggests that bureaucracies share five characteristics. Which of these is NOT among them?
A. They specialize and divide labor.
B. They follow a clear chain of command.
C. They are staffed by professionals.
D. They have fairly flexible rules.
E. They maintain written records.
D. They have fairly flexible rules.
117
In many ways, the American Bill of Rights is reminiscent of an earlier Bill of Rights put into effect in
A. France
B. Spain
C. Holland
D. England
E. Germany
D. England
118
The philosopher whose work most influenced the thinking of the Constitution’s framers about political checks and balances and separation of political powers was
A. Machiavelli
B. Montesquieu
C. Montaigne
D. Mill
E. Montcalm
B. Montesquieu
119
What important American document begins with the words, "We the people of the United States ..."?
A. Bill of Rights
B. Declaration of Independence
C. Mayflower Compact
D. US Constitution
E. Articles of Confederations
D. US Constitution
120
Each of the following is an example of direct democracy EXCEPT
A. a recall
B. a proposition
C. a class action
D. an initiative
E. a referendum
C. a class action
121
Which body of colonial leaders devised the Articles of Confederation?
A. The Association
B. House of Representatives
C. Senate
D. First Continental Congress
E. Second Continental Congress
E. Second Continental Congress
122
Where the media deliver infotainment in place of serious reflection on policy matters, they are inducing in what?
A. Horse race journalism
B. public inquiry
C. the television hypothesis
D. Market driven journalism
E. Human interest priority
D. Market driven journalism
123
a typical hour of programming on a 24 hour news channel includes more opinion on news than actual news proper, which has led to a growing number of pundits. What are pundits?
A. uninformed people
B. Cynics
C. news grazers
D. an attentive policy elite
E. Professional commentators
E. Professional commentators
124
Those in the media who choose what is ultimately published or broadcast are called
A. filters
B. gatekeepers
C. bloggers
D. news grazers
E. colanders
B. gatekeepers
125
In the case of a tie vote in the Senate, to whom does the Constitution give the deciding vote?
A. President
B. Vice president
C. Speaker of the House of Representatives
D. Majority party whip
E. Chief justice of the Supreme Court
B. Vice president
126
According to the Constitution, federal tax legislation must be formally initiated in
A. the White House
B. the state legislatures
C. the Office of Management and Budget
D. the Senate
E. the House of Representatives
E. the House of Representatives
127
The basic purpose of political action committees (PACs) is to
A. tend to legislative business on matters that regularly arises in Congress
B. review the judicial decisions of federal district courts
C. pool funds and donate them to political candidates
D. reconcile differences between bills passed in the House and the Senate
E. vote for candidates at a political party’s national convention
C. pool funds and donate them to political candidates
128
Which twentieth century US president was impeached in the House of Representatives for lying in a court and obstruction of justice?
A. Calvin Coolidge
B. Lyndon Johnson
C. Richard Nixon
D. Ronald Reagan
E. Bill Clinton
E. Bill Clinton
129
When bureaucrats in certain agencies try to protect their agencies’ interests, and thus their own careers, it is sometimes called
A. white-collar war
B. bureaucratic imperialism
C. issue networking
D. interested bureaucracy
E. bureaucratic polarization
B. bureaucratic imperialism
130
The Voting Rights Act of 1982
A. gave the right to vote to 18 year olds
B. disallowed poll taxes
C. disallowed literacy tests for prospective voters
D. encourages the creation of congressional districts in which racial minorities would comprise majorities
E. allowed non registered voters to register and vote on the same day
D. encourages the creation on congressional district in which racial minorities would comprise majorities
131
Which of the following presidents regularly appears at the top of rankings for presidential greatness?
A. Abraham Lincoln
B. Franklin Roosevelt
C. George Washington
D. Theodore Roosevelt
E. Harry Truman
A. Abraham Lincoln
132
Each of the following gives incumbents an advantage over challengers for political office EXCEPT
A. unlimited time to speak in either chamber of Congress
B. press releases
C. name recognition
D. taxpayer funded travel budgets
E. franking privileges
A. unlimited time to speak in either chamber of congress
133
Insofar as the Constitution is concerned, the purpose of the census is to
A. determine the ethnic and linguistic makeup of the nation
B. reapportion the number of a state’s U.S. senators
C. reapportion the number of a state’s U.S. representatives
D. determine where Federal Reserve banks should be located
E. modify the number of judges sitting on the Supreme Court
C. reapportion the number of a state’s U.S. representatives
134
the constitution gives the power to declare war to the Congress. The last time Congress formally declared war was during the
A. Spanish American War
B. First World War
C. Second World War
D. Vietnam War
E. Gulf War
C. Second World War
135
Washington, D.C.’s delegate to Congress has what kind of power?
A. Full voting powers
B. The power to vote in committees but not in the full chamber
C. The power to vote in the full chamber but not in committees
D. Power limited to advising voting members
E. No voting power, except in the case of a tie among Congress members
B. The power to vote in committees but not in the full chamber
136
The Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from doing all the following EXCEPT
A. passing ex post facto laws
B. imposing taxes on goods from southern states imported into northern states
C. spending money from the treasury that is not expressly accounted for in legislation
D. assigning to anyone a formal title of nobility
E. initiating tax legislation
E. initiating tax legislation
137
What 1992 court case upheld a Pennsylvania law requiring pre abortion counseling a 24 hour waiting period, and what parental or judicial permission for girls under 18
A. Roe v Wade
B. Webster v Reproductive Health Services
C. Planned Parenthood v Casey
D. Griswold v Connecticut
E. Stenberg v Carhart
C. Planned Parenthood v Casey
138
What key feminist goal has been introduced into every Congress since 1982?
A. Equal Pay Act of 1963
B. Federal legislation requiring nationwide access to late-term abortions
C. Federal legislation requiring equal numbers of women and men in universities
D. Title VII
E. Equal Rights Amendment
E. Equal Rights Amendment
139
Formed in 1970, which arm of the executive branch assists the president with the process of preparing a national budget
A. The Office of Management and Budget
B. The Congressional Budget Office
C. The Federal Reserve
D. The Treasury Department
E. The Commerce Department
A. The Office of Management and Budget
140
Congressional standing committees
A. endure through congressional sessions
B. are formed to deal with temporary matters
C. pertain only to tax matters
D. pertain only to military matters
E. are formed to prepare parties for elections
A. endure through congressional sessions
141
In the United States, the state and national governments work together to solve problems. This form of government interaction is called
A. cooperative federalism
B. distributive federalism
C. power sharing
D. layer-cake federalism
E. unitive government
A. cooperative federalism
142
How often does the constitution require the president to "give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union"
A. Every year
B. Every six months
C. from time to time
D. at least twice during a presidential term
E. a minimum of six times during a presidential term
C from time to time
143
the US president nominates ambassadors to foreign countries, but the ambassadorship must have consent of
A. the senate alone
B. the House alone
C. two thirds of the state legislatures
D. a majority in the House and Senate
E. a majority of state governors
A. the senate alone
144
Beginning in the mid-1970s, fast-track authority was
A. granted by political parties to candidates to streamline the candidate nomination process
B. abused by Congressional members seeking financial contributions
C. put out of use due to chronic abuses
D. granted to the president by Congress to streamline the process of making trade deals with other nations
E. considered unconstitutional as a result of federal court decisions
D. granted to the president by Congress to streamline the process of making trade deals with other nations
145
When President George W. Bush ordered, without the consent of Congress, the establishment of military commissions to try captives captured in Iraq and Afghanistan, he was theoretically relying on what kind of powers derived from the war powers given to the president by the Constitution?
A. Executive powers
B. Initiative powers
C. Inherent powers
D. Sovereign powers
E. Exclusionary powers
C. Inherent powers
146
Each of the following is an example of an executive order EXCEPT
A. President Bill Clinton’s establishment of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexuals in the military
B. President Harry Truman’s desegregation of the military
C. President Dwight Eisenhower’s sending of troops into Arkansas to desegregate Little Rock High School
D. President Gerald Ford’s pardon of ex-President Richard Nixon for any crimes that he may have committed
E. President George W. Bush’s establishment of a White House office of faith-based initiatives
D. President Gerald Ford’s pardon of ex-President Richard Nixon for any crimes that he may have committed
147
Which of the following is NOT included in the Executive Office of the President?
A. Office of Management and Budget
B. National security advisor
C. Presidential chief of staff
D. Federal Reserve System
E. Council of Economic Advisors
D. Federal Reserve System
148
Which of the following statements about vice presidents is MOST accurate?
A. The framers of the Constitution envisioned vice presidents would hold more power and influence than they actually have had, especially since the Civil War.
B. The Constitution requires presidents to consult with vice presidents before vetoing legislation.
C. Until the election of 1896, House speakers moved to the position of vice president following a presidential election.
D. Vice presidents were more influential in the early twentieth century than they were in the late twentieth century.
E. Vice presidents were more influential in the late twentieth century than they were in the early twentieth century.
E. Vice presidents were more influential in the late twentieth century than they were in the early twentieth century.
149
All of the following can prevent current presidential cabinets from being effective advisory bodies EXCEPT
A. congressional rules that limit a cabinet’s advisory authority
B. the large sizes of modern cabinets
C. the fact that cabinet members tend to know a lot about their areas of expertise but not about all matters confronting a president
D. the fact that cabinet members are sometimes chosen to add racial or geographic diversity to the cabinet, not necessarily because they are close to the president
E. the reality that presidents have large personal staffs that they can turn to for advice
A. congressional rules that limit a cabinet’s advisory authority
150
Which of the following does NOT appear in the First Amendment
A. free exercise of religion
B. are exercise of speech
C. Freedom of the press
D. freedom of trade
E. freedom to petition the government
D. freedom of trade
151
At what point was the Bill of Rights added to the U.S. Constitution?
A. Just before the Revolution began
B. At the same time as the Articles of Confederation
C. During the debates over the ratification of the Constitution
D. During the second term of George Washington’s presidency
E. During Reconstruction, following the Civil War
C. During the debates over the ratification of the Constitution
152
A smoker who likes to light up while talking with friends at the table after a meal may know little about a candidate except that she supports laws banning smoking in public places. When the smoker votes against the candidate, he is acting on the
A. issue framing principle
B. self-interest principle
C. lifestyle-effect principle
D. generational principle
E. political trust principle
B. self-interest principle
153
In Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), the Supreme Court set out guidelines that, if followed, would theoretically keep government support of religious institutions—schools, for example—within the bounds of the First Amendment. All of the following are included in the Court’s guidelines EXCEPT
A. a requirement that information about religions different from that of the institution being assisted be made available
B. a requirement that the basic purpose receiving the assistance be secular
C. the basic effect of the activity receiving support should not advance religion
D. the basic effect of the activity receiving support should not stand in the way of religious practice
E. the assistance must not entangle government in religion
A. a requirement that information about religions different from that of the institution being assisted be made available
154
In 2005, the Supreme Court decided cases involving the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings in Texas and Kentucky, the results of which
A. allowed the display of the commandments in Texas and Kentucky because they reflect the religious heritage of most Americans
B. disallowed the displays since they suggested state support for religion
C. allowed the displays because they were accompanied by other, secular texts
D. determined that both displays successfully met the “Lemon test”
E. allowed one display and disallowed another display
E. allowed one display and disallowed another display
155
In the 1800s, before reforms were set in place, which of the following gave political victors the ability to give jobs to friends and supporters?
A. Civil service
B. Spoils system
C. Pendleton system
D. Personal benefits system
E. Weighted system
B. Spoils system
156
What is the most severe form of discipline that congressional members can receive from the Congress?
A. Censure
B. A critical letter from an ethics committee
C. Expulsion from Congress
D. A prison sentence
E. Revocation of franking privileges
C. Expulsion from Congress
157
If a bill passes both houses of Congress, it will often go to a committee made up of members of both houses to iron out differences in the two bills. The committee that does this work is a
A. rules committee
B. conference committee
C. appropriations committee
D. ways and means committee
E. ethics committee
B. conference committee
158
Which of the following was NOT an independent or third-party candidate for president?
A. Ralph Nader
B. John Anderson
C. Theodore Roosevelt
D. Strom Thurmond
E. Jimmy Carter
E. Jimmy Carter
159
Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the power relationship between the federal and state governments since the 1980s?
A. An increase in the power of the federal government at the expense of the state governments
B. Equality in sharing of powers between the federal and state governments
C. Devolution of power from the federal government to the states
D. Power struggles between the federal and state governments that have led to national gridlock
E. A dramatic shift of power from the states to the federal government
C. Devolution of power from the federal government to the states
160
Which of the following is a presidential appointee within the Justice Department who regularly makes legal arguments to the Supreme Court on behalf of the U.S. government?
A. Attorney General
B. Solicitor General
C. Inspector General
D. Chief U.S. Marshal
E. U.S. Office of Special Counsel
B. Solicitor General
161
Which of the following documents that helped to make the U.S. Constitution possible came first?
A. English Bill of Rights
B. American Bill of Rights
C. Magna Carta
D. Second Treatise on Government
E. Spirit of the Laws
C. Magna Carta
162
Americans who believe that political power should be held close to home advocate
A. federal rights
B. states’ rights
C. implied powers
D. assumed powers
E. provisional rights
B. states’ rights
163
What clause in the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate trade?
A. Enhancement clause
B. Regulation clause
C. Common market clause
D. Commerce clause
E. Gibbons clause
D. Commerce clause
164
Which of the following led the federal government to take precedence over state governments in the twentieth century?
A. Civil rights
B. Severance rights
C. Affirmative rights
D. Representative rights
E. Procedural rights
A. Civil rights
165
The political notion that all Americans should have a chance in life to succeed is encapsulated in the term
A. civil rights
B. freedom of choice
C. equality of outcome
D. equal opportunity
E. affirmative action
D. equal opportunity
166
The Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) put in place the doctrine of
A. separate but equal
B. federal action against lynching
C. equal voting rights
D. affirmative action
E. de jure integration
A. separate but equal
167
Which of the following spurred the process of desegregation in the southern and some midwestern states?
A. Plessy v. Ferguson
B. Desegregation of the military
C. No Child Left Behind
D. Busing
E. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
E. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
168
A writer for the Partisan Review writes a story few will read, but one reader is a national radio host who discusses the article on the air. Thus, the original writer actually does reach many people. What term below BEST applies to this process?
A. Gatekeeping
B. Two-step flow of communication
C. News grazing
D. Fireside politics
E. Step-ladder communication
B. Two-step flow of communication
169
The first president to use radio effectively was
A. Franklin Roosevelt
B. Richard Nixon
C. John Kennedy
D. Lyndon Johnson
E. Harry Truman
A. Franklin Roosevelt
170
Which of the following outlawed discrimination in most kinds of housing?
A. Fair Housing Act of 1965
B. Voting Rights Act of 1965
C. Civil Rights Act of 1968
D. Civil Rights Act of 1964
E. Equal Opportunity Act of 1968
C. Civil Rights Act of 1968
171
Which of the following seeks to encourage underrepresented or minority groups to apply for employment positions?
A. The House Equal Action Committee
B. Jim Crow legislation
C. The Twenty-sixth Amendment
D. Tariffs
E. Affirmative action
E. Affirmative action
172
Which of the following established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
A. Voting Rights Act of 1965
B. Civil Rights Act of 1964
C. Equal Access Act of 1965
D. Women’s Rights Act of 1974
E. Civil Rights Act of 1968
B. Civil Rights Act of 1964
173
Which of the following terms refers to the perceived barrier preventing women from advancing in the workplace?
A. Glass ceiling
B. Back door
C. Good boys’ wall
D. Picket fence
E. High wall of separation
A. Glass ceiling
174
Griswold v. Connecticut set the stage for which controversial 1973 Supreme Court case?
A. Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
B. Planned Parenthood v. Casey
C. Stenberg v. Carhart
D. Roe v. Wade
E. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
D. Roe v. Wade
175
Why can’t one hope to master the rules and regulations of the federal bureaucracy?
A. Few are legally able to know what they are.
B. Many of them are outdated and irrelevant.
C. They change often.
D. They are usually written in code.
E. They would fill hundreds of volumes.
E. They would fill hundreds of volumes.
176
If the Republicans have control of the White House and the Democrats have control of Congress (one or both houses), the government is said to be
A. split
B. divided
C. under administrative discretion
D. under bureaucratic adjudication
E. provisional
B. divided
177
Which president launched a “war on poverty”?
A. Harry Truman
B. Lyndon Johnson
C. John Kennedy
D. Gerald Ford
E. Richard Nixon
B. Lyndon Johnson
178
The primary purpose of the Interstate Commerce Commission was to
A. regulate railroads that moved goods and services from one state to another
B. build infrastructures such as railroads and highways that linked one state to another
C. collect tariffs and duties on interstate commerce
D. regulate interstate oil pipelines
E. dig canals connecting major rivers and lakes to enhance trade
A. regulate railroads that moved goods and services from one state to another
179
The first Supreme Court case to apply the First Amendment’s language on freedom of speech to a state law was
A. Abrams v. United States (1919)
B. Gitlow v. New York (1925)
C. Cohen v. California (1971)
D. Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969)
E. Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942)
B. Gitlow v. New York (1925)
180
Which of the following presidents is most associated with the substantial reform of federal government welfare programs?
A. Calvin Coolidge
B. Harry Truman
C. Lyndon Johnson
D. George H.W. Bush
E. Bill Clinton
E. Bill Clinton
181
Each of the following is a reason that working for the federal government is attractive EXCEPT
A. high job security
B. good wages relative to the private workplace
C. good health insurance benefits
D. annual food allowances
E. good pension benefits
D. annual food allowances
182
The Joint Chiefs of Staff comprise
A. the nation’s economic leaders
B. the appointed heads of the federal departments such as the Department of the Interior
C. the committee that brings Senate and House bills into agreement
D. leading military officials
E. the federal judiciary
D. leading military officials
183
What is the hopper?
A. The box into which members of the House of Representatives drop proposed legislation
B. The person who reports to the House when a bill has passed in the Senate
C. The file into which the president places legislation he has vetoed
D. A political indictment brought against a federal judge
E. The date given for a congressional election
A. The box into which members of the House of Representatives drop proposed legislation
184
The purpose of congressional special elections is to
A. determine whether a majority or supermajority of votes is needed to pass a bill
B. break a tied presidential election
C. appoint a replacement for the president pro tempore
D. fill a seat vacated when an election is not under way
E. override a president’s veto
D. fill a seat vacated when an election is not under way
185
Members of which of the following parties would be least likely to support a federal government program that taxed middle-class Americans in order to give the poor free access to a college education?
A. Libertarian Party
B. Green Party
C. Democratic Party
D. Republican Party
E. Prohibition Party
A. Libertarian Party
186
When a president sends a budget to the Congress, all of the following are included EXCEPT
A. tariff legislation
B. budget outlays
C. receipts
D. general economic statements
E. budget authority
A. tariff legislation
187
Which Republican president altered the nation’s political landscape by attracting many Democratic voters?
A. Franklin Roosevelt
B. John Kennedy
C. Ronald Reagan
D. Dwight Eisenhower
E. Gerald Ford
C. Ronald Reagan
188
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the protections of minority rights even while allowing the majority to rule. Which amendment to the Constitution most supports the protection of minority rights?
A. First Amendment
B. Second Amendment
C. Fifth Amendment
D. Eighth Amendment
E. Tenth Amendment
A. First Amendment
189
All of the following are major agents of political socialization except:
A. Family
B. Peers
C. Communities
D. Pollsters
E. Teachers
D. Pollsters
190
What is the first formal step in the hearing of a case by the U.S. Supreme Court?
A. The Court asks the solicitor general to present the case.
B. Justices on the Court begin doing research on the case.
C. Attorneys make oral arguments before the Court.
D. The Court issues a writ of certiorari to lower courts.
E. The justices of the Court meet and discuss their opinions on the case.
D. The Court issues a writ of certiorari to lower courts.
191
All of the following features of U.S. politics support the dominance of the two-party system except:
A. Campaign finance laws
B. Electoral College
C. Winner-take-all system
D. Political realignments
E. Pragmatism by voters
D. Political realignments
192
Which two political parties were the first to emerge in the United States?
A. Whigs and Federalists
B. Democrats and Republicans
C. Whigs and Democratic Republicans
D. Federalists and Free Soilers
E. Democratic Republicans and Federalists
E. Democratic Republicans and Federalists
193
The purpose of the filibuster is to
A. help senators gain desirable committee seats.
B. delay or prevent the passage of laws.
C. overturn a presidential veto.
D. win support for a new bill.
E. keep cloture proceedings from taking place.
B. delay or prevent the passage of laws.
194
“The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”
A. Federalism
B. Popular sovereignty
C. Direct democracy
D. Checks and balances
E. Minority rights
D. Checks and balances
195
Which Supreme Court case created the “clear and present danger” rule to test the limits of free speech?
A. Schenck v. United States
B. Miranda v. Arizona
C. Engle v. Vitale
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
E. Plessy v. Ferguson
A. Schenck v. United States
196
Which of the following is NOT a power granted to Congress?
A. Levy taxes
B. Declare war
C. Establish courts
D. Suspend habeas corpus
E. Govern the federal district
D. Suspend habeas corpus
197
Which term best describes a polling distribution in which a graph of responses resembles a bell curve?
A. Skewed distribution
B. Normal distribution
C. Bimodal distribution
D. Pluralist distribution
E. Stable distribution
B. Normal distribution
198
The chief of staff and national security advisor are both part of the
A. Office of the First Lady.
B. U.S. Congress.
C. line of presidential succession.
D. armed forces.
E. Executive Office of the President.
E. Executive Office of the President.
199
The U.S. Constitution introduced the idea of federalism to divide power between/among
A. the federal bureaucracy and elected officials.
B. the national and state governments.
C. the president and the members of his Cabinet.
D. the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
E. the three branches of government.
B. the national and state governments.
200
On July 2, 1864, Congress passed the Wade-Davis Bill. Congress adjourned, and Lincoln did not sign the bill. Why did the bill fail to become law?
A. By not signing the bill, Lincoln exercised the pocket veto.
B. The congressional adjournment nullified the bill’s passage.
C. Congress lacked the votes to overcome Lincoln’s veto.
D. Presidents must always sign bills for them to become law.
E. Lincoln was assassinated before the bill could become law.
A. By not signing the bill, Lincoln exercised the pocket veto.
201
Which of these gives an example of a consensus opinion? (Source: All figures from Gallup)
A. In 2012, 44% of all Americans opposed repealing a recent health care law.
B. During 2009 and 2010, Congress averaged an approval rating of 25%.
C. In 2011, 94% of Americans said that they had “some” or “a great deal” of confidence in the military.
D. In December of 2011, 49% of Republicans said that they were excited about the next year’s presidential election.
E. During the winter of 2012, an average of 45% of Americans thought the president was doing a good job.
C. In 2011, 94% of Americans said that they had “some” or “a great deal” of confidence in the military.
202
What was one way that the Fourteenth Amendment expanded rights in the United States?
A. By formally banning the institution of slavery
B. By overturning Jim Crow laws in the South
C. By granting equal protection under the law to African Americans
D. By affirming voting rights for African Americans
E. By outlawing segregation in schools and other public places
C. By granting equal protection under the law to African Americans
203
The act of seeking to influence members of government to support certain issues or policies is known as
A. lobbying.
B. groupthink.
C. swift-boating.
D. censure.
E. fast-tracking.
A. lobbying.
204
What is the main reason that the use of political action committees (PACs) has grown since the 1970s?
A. Campaign finance laws prevent individuals from giving large amounts of money directly to candidates.
B. Public financing is available only to candidates who have raised a certain amount of money in 20 states.
C. Tax regulations no longer require PACs to pay taxes on advertisements that are not formally for any particular candidate.
D. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act made it easier for PACs to raise and spend money in elections.
E. The Federal Election Committee has encouraged PACs to fund elections because of a lack of public financing.
A. Campaign finance laws prevent individuals from giving large amounts of money directly to candidates.
205
Which type of federalism is closest to that laid out in the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution?
A. Dual federalism
B. Cooperative federalism
C. Layer-cake federalism
D. Marble-cake federalism
E. Sovereign federalism
A. Dual federalism
206
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known collectively as the
A. Magna Carta.
B. Preamble to the Constitution.
C. Articles of Confederation.
D. Bill of Rights.
E. Federalist Papers.
D. Bill of Rights.
207
Politicians must pay attention to public opinion primarily because
A. political salaries are linked to job performance.
B. public opinion usually determines what laws are passed.
C. the idea of majority rules requires politicians to follow the public’s will.
D. otherwise people may decide not to reelect them.
E. polling companies contribute a great deal of money to campaigns.
D. otherwise people may decide not to reelect them.
208
How did the Seventeenth Amendment change the process of U.S. government?
A. It gave women the right to vote.
B. It required parties to hold primary elections.
C. It allowed for the direct election of senators.
D. It barred poll taxes and literacy tests.
E. It guaranteed African American suffrage.
C. It allowed for the direct election of senators.
209
On which concept of U.S. government did the Supreme Court overturn the doctrine of “separate but equal” established in Plessy v. Ferguson?
A. Due process
B. Equal protection
C. Federalism
D. Minority rights
E. Checks and balances
B. Equal protection
210
Which of the following is an example of progressive taxation?
A. Sales taxes
B. Social Security taxes
C. Poll taxes
D. Medicare taxes
E. Income taxes
E. Income taxes
211
Offices of the federal bureaucracy are often concerned with
A. managing foreign relations.
B. lobbying federal lawmakers.
C. making rules and regulations.
D. setting income tax policy.
E. determining federal budgets.
C. making rules and regulations.
212
This structure of government established in the U.S. Constitution is known as
A. federalism.
B. bureaucracy.
C. majority rule.
D. representative democracy.
E. separation of powers.
E. separation of powers.
213
How do different members of the U.S. government work together to make and approve treaties?
A. The House of Representatives make treaties, and the president approves them.
B. The president makes treaties, and the Senate approves them.
C. The vice-president and president make treaties but need no outside approval.
D. The president makes treaties, and the Supreme Court approves them.
E. The Senate makes treaties, and the president approves them.
B. The president makes treaties, and the Senate approves them.
214
Historically, major political parties have been able to exercise their authority mostly by
A. writing national and state laws and policies.
B. contributing money to various candidates.
C. nominating candidates for public office.
D. requiring members to vote the party line.
E. conducting voter registration drives.
C. nominating candidates for public office.
215
High approval ratings can benefit a president in which of the following ways?
A. By encouraging the passage of laws the president supports
B. By easing a president’s relations with members of the opposing party
C. By contributing to widespread support for a divided government
D. By helping the president have greater credibility on a global scale
E. By ensuring a first-term president’s reelection to a second term
A. By encouraging the passage of laws the president supports
216
Which of the following is an example of the system of checks and balances set up by the U.S. Constitution?
A. A state government protests an unfunded mandate from the federal government.
B. A president commits troops to 60 days of action under the War Powers Act.
C. The U.S. Senate denies confirmation of a presidential appointee.
D. Voters approve an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
E. The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a case tried earlier in U.S. District Court.
C. The U.S. Senate denies confirmation of a presidential appointee.
217
All of the following forms of voting are in use in the United States except:
A. Paper ballot
B. Internet voting
C. Punch-card ballot
D. Electronic voting
E. Optical scan ballot
B. Internet voting
218
Which of these was an effect of the Watergate scandal?
A. Americans began to trust the government again after Vietnam.
B. Voter turnout levels increased through the rest of the 1970s.
C. The U.S. Congress limited executive power with the War Powers Act.
D. Nixon was reelected to a second term in 1972.
E. U.S. cynicism about the federal government increased noticeably.
E. U.S. cynicism about the federal government increased noticeably.
219
How did the ruling in Barron v. Baltimore affect the United States?
A. It limited the power of lower courts to challenge rulings.
B. It expanded voting rights for women and African Americans.
C. It barred the use of Jim Crow laws and poll taxes in the South.
D. It established the supremacy of the federal government over the states.
E. It stated that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government
E. It stated that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government
220
Which statement best explains why this bill eventually became law?
A. The U.S. Constitution favors majority rule in lawmaking.
B. Historically, most laws have been passed without bipartisan support.
C. Democrats propose most laws relating to health care.
D. Independents’ support is vital to the passage of laws in the United States.
E. Republican leaders could not mobilize enough of their members’ support to block the law.
A. The U.S. Constitution favors majority rule in lawmaking.
221
Which statement best explains the voter turnout rates shown in this chart?
A. Legal changes made voting more difficult during the 1970s and early 1980s.
B. High-stimulus elections tend to generate greater voter interest and raise turnout.
C. Voter registration drives during the 1980s greatly increased the number of registered voters.
D. Elections that result in a change of political control of the White House attract the most voters.
E. Voter turnout levels are closely related to changing population levels.
B. High-stimulus elections tend to generate greater voter interest and raise turnout.
222
An election in which Republicans can help choose Democratic nominees and vice versa is known as a/an
A. runoff primary.
B. open primary.
C. caucus primary.
D. closed primary.
E. presumptive primary.
B. open primary.
223
Which of the following two U.S. institutions have the formal power to legislate?
A. Senate and president
B. Federal agencies and House of Representatives
C. Supreme Court and federal agencies
D. House of Representatives and Senate
E. President and Supreme Court
D. House of Representatives and Senate
224
Which Supreme Court case affirmed the power of judicial review?
A. Gideon v. Wainwright
B. Brown v. Board of Education
C. Marbury v. Madison
D. Mapp v. Ohio
E. McCulloch v. Maryland
C. Marbury v. Madison
225
Which of the following is most closely associated with a tendency to vote for liberal Democratic candidates and issues?
A. High level of education
B. Being male
C. Residence in the South
D. High level of income
E. Membership in an evangelical religion
A. High level of education
226
What is a faithless elector?
A. A caucus delegate who votes for whichever candidate he or she prefers without regard for local voters
B. A member of Congress who breaks from the party line to support legislation introduced by the other party
C. A member of the Electoral College who abstains from voting in a presidential election because he or she does not like any candidate
D. A party official who disregards the ideas of other party leaders during the primary nominating process
E. A member of the Electoral College who votes for a candidate other than the one he or she has pledged to vote for
E. A member of the Electoral College who votes for a candidate other than the one he or she has pledged to vote for
227
Those who argued for the inclusion of a series of defined individual liberties as a condition for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution drew inspiration largely from the
A. Mayflower Compact.
B. Declaration of Independence.
C. Magna Carta.
D. English Bill of Rights.
E. Second Treatise on Civil Government.
D. English Bill of Rights.
228
Which of these is the original constitutionally assigned duty of the vice-president?
A. Overseeing the executive bureaucracy
B. Serving as president of the Senate
C. Breaking ties in the House of Representatives
D. Assuming office if the president dies
E. Making treaties on behalf of the president
B. Serving as president of the Senate
229
Which of the following positions is at the top of the leadership of the House of Representatives?
A. Whip
B. Speaker
C. Majority leader
D. Vice-president
E. Minority leader
B. Speaker
230
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are an example of a/an
A. political action committee.
B. splinter party.
C. 527 committee.
D. political machine.
E. issue party.
C. 527 committee.
231
Which statement best describes the relationship between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?
A. The Articles of Confederation outlined the rights that were to be included in the U.S. Constitution.
B. The U.S. Constitution sought to correct the problems caused by the Articles’ limitations on the powers of the national government.
C. The Articles of Confederation granted so much power to the national government that the states demanded a new Constitution.
D. The U.S. Constitution was essentially created as an amendment to the Articles of Confederation.
E. The Articles and the Constitution both emphasized the power of the states over the national government.
B. The U.S. Constitution sought to correct the problems caused by the Articles’ limitations on the powers of the national government.
232
In the United States, the use of due process of law most directly assures that citizens
A. cannot be imprisoned without a fair trial.
B. have the right to file suit in court.
C. are given a public defender if they cannot afford a lawyer.
D. must follow local, state, and federal laws.
E. may directly vote for or against the passage of laws.
A. cannot be imprisoned without a fair trial.
233
The chairperson of a standing congressional committee is generally determined by
A. the population of a congressperson’s state.
B. party membership and seniority.
C. open ballot of all committee members.
D. personal expertise and application.
E. random selection by lot.
B. party membership and seniority.
234
In the United States, third parties often serve all of the following functions except:
A. Engaging in mainstream governance
B. Influencing the outcomes of elections
C. Drawing public attention to specific problems
D. Giving dissatisfied voters a voice
E. Shaping major party platforms
A. Engaging in mainstream governance
235
In politics, to what does the term revolving door refer?
A. The high level of turnover among members of the federal agencies that are part of the executive branch
B. The relationships among federal organizations, congressional committees, and special interest groups
C. The network that develops among groups who advocate for shared interest but have no common causes
D. The practice of bureaucrats becoming lobbyists to the agencies for which they once worked
E. The short terms and frequent reelection losses of members of the House of Representatives
D. The practice of bureaucrats becoming lobbyists to the agencies for which they once worked
236
How did James Madison try to address the issue of pluralism while framing the U.S. Constitution?
A. He worked to ensure that all racial groups and women could have equal legal rights.
B. He suggested including a clause to keep political power exclusively in the hands of a small minority.
C. He sought to limit the influence of factions so that they could not put their own interests ahead of the national interest.
D. He opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights to prevent too many ideas from clouding the national discussion.
E. He attempted to include concessions to all of the interest groups involved in the writing of the Constitution.
C. He sought to limit the influence of factions so that they could not put their own interests ahead of the national interest.
237
Presidents can create policies that carry the force of law without congressional approval by
A. issuing executive orders.
B. laying out goals in the State of the Union.
C. employing fast-track authority.
D. exercising judicial review.
E. appointing new department heads.
A. issuing executive orders.
