Chapter 17: Foreign Policy

Question 1

To which of the following does diplomacy refer?
a. Being inoffensive and politically correct
b. A philosophy that sees nations as normally willing to cooperate
c. Formal public meetings held by heads of government
d. Relations between countries, including the settling of disputes and conflicts among nations by peaceful and non-military methods
e. The way the armed forces are deployed

Answer 1

Relations between countries, including the settling of disputes and conflicts among nations by peaceful and non-military methods

Question 2

Which of the following best describes how the foreign policy environment has changed since World War II?
a. It is much clearer who the enemies of the U.S. are.
b. It is less clear who the enemies of the U.S. are.
c. The U.S. economy is unrivaled and stands alone.
d. The U.S. military is perceived as a protector and is welcomed abroad.
e. When crises occur abroad, countries look for local solutions instead of turning to the U.S.

Answer 2

It is less clear who the enemies of the U.S. are.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes foreign policy?
a. Providing economic assistance and aid to countries in need
b. Settling conflicts among nations by peaceful means
c. Setting external goals and devising the techniques and strategies to achieve them
d. Accomplishing regime change in other nations through covert action
e. Providing experts in various fields to developing countries

Answer 3

Setting external goals and devising the techniques and strategies to achieve them

Question 4

When a country settles a dispute with another country using peaceful means instead of resorting to war, it is an example of which of the following?
a. Arbitrage
b. Diplomacy
c. Collective bargaining
d. Isolationism
e. Expansionism

Answer 4

Diplomacy

Question 5

To whom does the National Security Council report?
a. The joint chiefs of staff
b. CIA
c. Congress
d. State Department
e. President

Answer 5

President

Question 6

A summit meeting among heads of state would be an example of what type of foreign policy action?
a. Intelligence activity
b. Security policy
c. Covert action
d. Diplomacy
e. All of these are correct.

Answer 6

Diplomacy

Question 7

Which of the following types of assistance involves sending engineers and agricultural experts to foreign countries to help those countries develop these industries?
a. Technical
b. Economic
c. Military
d. Covert
e. Digital

Answer 7

Technical

Question 8

Which of the following types of policy is concerned primarily with the safety and defense of a country?
a. Technical assistance
b. National security
c. Intelligence activities
d. Foreign policy
e. Trade policy

Answer 8

National security

Question 9

Which of the following would U.S. defense policy be responsible for detailing?
a. Authorizations and appropriations from Congress for the defense budget
b. Procedures for maintaining a secure border for the country
c. Economic aid being delivered to foreign nationals
d. Estimates of enemy industrial capacity
e. Types of armed forces units that are necessary

Answer 9

Types of armed forces units that are necessary

Question 10

How would you compare national security policy and defense policy?
a. Defense policy is a subset of national security policy.
b. Defense policy includes national security policy.
c. Defense policy is designed to protect U.S. political integrity.
d. Defense policy is based on determinations from many federal agencies.
e. Defense policy directs the scale and size of the U.S. diplomatic corps.

Answer 10

Defense policy is a subset of national security policy.

Question 11

After the leaders of the nation’s military forces and the secretary of defense, who has the greatest influence on defense policy?
a. Congressional decision makers and the president
b. Congressional decision makers and defense contractors
c. Congressional decision makers and the defense bureaucracy
d. Defense contractors and the National Security Council
e. The State Department and civilian defense experts

Answer 11

Congressional decision makers and defense contractors

Question 12

How is foreign policy defined?
a. The nation’s external goals and the techniques and strategies to achieve them
b. The formal agreements that are approved by the United Nations
c. Interactions with other countries that are not related to economics or politics
d. The treaties that are ratified by the Senate
e. The way the armed forces are deployed

Answer 12

The way the armed forces are deployed

Question 13

Constitutional authority Edwin S. Corwin once observed that the U.S. Constitution created an “invitation to struggle” between the president and Congress for control over the foreign policy process. Why do you think the Framers did this?
a. The Framers believed that spirited debate always produced the best solution.
b. One of the Framers’ greatest fears was the concentration of political power.
c. The Framers did not foresee this consequence when they created the Constitution.
d. The Framers did not believe that foreign policy would be important given the small size of the new republic.
e. The Framers were deeply divided on this issue, and the Constitutional wording is a result of the best possible compromise.

Answer 13

One of the Framers’ greatest fears was the concentration of political power.

Question 14

. What conclusion can be drawn from the historical record of undeclared wars and covert actions by the U.S. military and intelligence agencies?
a. Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief in a limited way.
b. Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief dynamically and broadly.
c. Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief to be primarily ceremonial.
d. Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief to be subject to oversight and direction by Congress.
e. Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief to be collaborative with top leaders of all military branches.

Answer 14

Presidents have interpreted their role as Commander in Chief dynamically and broadly.

Question 15

Characterize the use of executive agreements in foreign policy, especially as they compare to treaties.
a. Executive agreements have a short history and have played a minor role compared to treaties.
b. Executive agreements have accounted for only 5 percent of understandings with other nations since World War II.
c. Executive agreements have accounted for 95 percent of understandings with other nations since World War II.
d. Executive agreements are generally avoided because their details cannot be kept secret like treaties.
e. Compared to treaties, executive agreements are the more formal of the two arrangements and require additional steps for approval.

Answer 15

Executive agreements have accounted for 95 percent of understandings with other nations since World War II.

Question 16

The Trump administration imposed both travel bans and travel restrictions for a variety of reasons, including national security and pandemic response. On what Constitutional power do you think the White House bases their authority?
a. The president’s Constitutional designation as Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States in Article II, Section 2
b. Broad authority to control U.S. foreign affairs inferred from Article II of the Constitution
c. The power to make treaties subject to confirmation by the Senate in Article II, Section 2
d. The power to recognize foreign governments by receiving their ambassadors in Article II, Section 3
e. The power to appoint ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls in Article II, Section 2

Answer 16

Broad authority to control U.S. foreign affairs inferred from Article II of the Constitution

Question 17

The White House can tap into several informal techniques that provide enhanced superiority in foreign policy leadership. Which of the following informal techniques do you think is most powerful?
a. The president’s access to strategic intelligence
b. The president’s influence with Congress for funding foreign policy programs
c. The president’s ability to influence public opinion
d. The president’s ability to commit the nation to peace treaties
e. The president’s access to back-channel communications with foreign leaders

Answer 17

The president’s ability to influence public opinion

Question 18

Why do you think the War Powers Resolution Act has been relatively ineffective in scaling back the war powers of the president?
a. The president has followed the provisions of the Act, but Congress has not provided timely approval.
b. The president has followed the provisions of the Act, but Congress has always given approval.
c. The president has rejected the provisions of the Act, and Congress has not responded further.
d. The president has interpreted the provisions of the Act in a way that is inconsistent with Congress’ original intent.
e. Congress never had any intention of enforcing the Act but simply wanted to make a statement regarding Nixon’s secret invasion of Cambodia.

Answer 18

The president has interpreted the provisions of the Act in a way that is inconsistent with Congress’ original intent.

Question 19

Characterize the role of the national security advisor as it relates to the president.
a. Since World War II, every president has relied heavily on the national security advisor.
b. Since World War II, no president has relied at all on the national security advisor.
c. Since World War II, some presidents rely on the national security advisor more than others.
d. Since World War II, reliance on the national security advisor by the president has increased steadily.
e. Since World War II, reliance on the national security advisor by the president has decreased steadily.

Answer 19

Since World War II, some presidents rely on the national security advisor more than others

Question 20

Which of the following is true of the Department of Defense?
a. It is smaller than the State Department.
b. It was created to gather all military activities under one department.
c. It is headed by the military joint chiefs of staff.
d. It has consistently grown under every president.
e. It is staffed entirely by uniformed personnel.

Answer 20

It was created to gather all military activities under one department.

Question 21

Within the U.S. government, which executive agency has primary authority over foreign affairs?
a. Senate
b. North American Trade Organization
c. Central Intelligence Agency
d. State Department
e. White House Executive Office

Answer 21

State Department

Question 22

By passing the War Powers Resolution Act, Congress established limits on the powers of the president in setting foreign and defense policy following which of the following wars?
a. World War II
b. Revolutionary War
c. Vietnam War
d. World War I
e. Korean War

Answer 22

Vietnam War

Question 23

The National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation gather information about the capabilities and intentions of foreign governments. Performing those activities makes the two organizations part of which of the following foreign policy functions?
a. Economic advisory activities
b. Intelligence activities
c. Covert operations
d. Diplomacy
e. Defense policy

Answer 23

Intelligence activities

Question 24

Which of the following foreign policy roles is the State Department most concerned with?
a. Intelligence activities
b. Trade policy
c. Covert action
d. Diplomacy
e. Defense policy

Answer 24

Diplomacy

Question 25

The attentive public refers to which of the following?
a. That portion of the general public that is more interested in foreign affairs
b. Individuals who have attended college
c. Elites in business, education, and other fields
d. Members of the public who oppose the government’s foreign policy initiatives
e. Members of the public who support the government’s foreign policy initiatives

Answer 25

That portion of the general public that is more interested in foreign affairs

Question 26

What is the mutually beneficial relationship between the armed forces and defense contractors referred to as?
a. Arms race
b. Iron Curtain
c. Military-industrial complex
d. Shadow Pentagon
e. Permanent war economy

Answer 26

Military-industrial complex

Question 27

The Pentagon’s strongest support for increased military expenditures has been from which of the following groups?
a. Arms suppliers and defense contractors
b. Members of the military and citizens who work in the defense industry
c. Members of Congress whose districts or states benefit economically from military bases or contracts
d. Presidents and members of Congress who identify with the Republican Party
e. Foreign countries that depend on the United States for military support and assistance in defending their borders

Answer 27

Members of Congress whose districts or states benefit economically from military bases or contracts

Question 28

Which of the following countries is the world’s largest arms supplier?
a. United States
b. Russia
c. China
d. Czech Republic
e. Israel

Answer 28

United States

Question 29

Why do you think defense-contracting firms have such a powerful influence on U.S. defense policy?
a. Defense-contracting firms provide high-paying jobs for our economy.
b. Defense-contracting firms can leverage sales to foreign countries to influence policy.
c. Defense-contracting firms operate out of the spotlight of publicity.
d. Defense-contracting firms often have retired military officers as key executives.
e. Defense-contracting firms don’t hire the best lobbyists.

Answer 29

Defense-contracting firms often have retired military officers as key executives.

Question 30

The Cold War was an ideological, political, and economic confrontation between which of the following two powers?
a. France and Germany
b. Britain and France
c. United States and Japan
d. United States and China
e. United States and the Soviet Union

Answer 30

United States and the Soviet Union

Question 31

After World War I, the United States returned to a foreign policy based primarily on which of the following?
a. Isolationism
b. Interventionism
c. Unilateralism
d. Globalization
e. Multilateralism

Answer 31

Isolationism

Question 32

The Cold War refers to a conflict between the United States and its democratic allies, and which set of countries?
a. The “Asian Tigers”
b. The Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan
c. The Soviet Union and communist-allied countries
d. South America and leftist guerrillas
e. The European Union

Answer 32

The Soviet Union and communist-allied countries

Question 33

When did the last vestige of American isolationism end?
a. The Great Depression
b. World War II
c. Entry into the UN
d. When France and the United States signed a mutual alliance pact
e. Korean War

Answer 33

World War II

Question 34

The Cold War refers to the confrontation between the United States and what other country (countries) after World War II?
a. West Germany
b. France
c. The Soviet Union and communist-allied countries
d. Japan
e. Italy

Answer 34

The Soviet Union and communist-allied countries

Question 35

President Barack Obama’s support of the Libyan and Egyptian democracy movements was based on which of the following types of foreign policy perspective?
a. Expansionism
b. Interventionism
c. Isolationism
d. Moralism
e. Realism

Answer 35

Moralism

Question 36

President Trump’s declaration of an “America First” element in his foreign policy was at odds with the sentiments of many foreign policy experts for what reason?
a. It elevated moralist foreign policy over realist foreign policy.
b. It elevated realist foreign policy over moralist foreign policy.
c. It announced a return to mercantilist foreign policy.
d. It seemed to signal a decrease in global engagement.
e. It appeared to mark a return toward isolationism.

Answer 36

It elevated realist foreign policy over moralist foreign policy.

Question 37

How can you reconcile the avoidance of entangling alliances with the active expansionist policy of the 1800s?
a. America, at this point in history, was not important enough to attract alliances with other countries.
b. The Founders generally trusted European governments and saw no need for formal alliances.
c. By expanding toward oceans, the U.S. guaranteed its protection without alliances.
d. The U.S. military was strong enough to expand U.S. territory without the need for European alliances.
e. European alliances were out of reach because the U.S. treasury had been depleted by expansionism.

Answer 37

By expanding toward oceans, the U.S. guaranteed its protection without alliances.

Question 38

The United States chose not to join the League of Nations due to what sentiment that has recurred many times since?
a. The United States didn’t want to relinquish decision making power to a world body.
b. The United States didn’t want to commit to a long-term alliance.
c. The United States didn’t want to spend American dollars on defending foreign countries.
d. The United States didn’t want to commit to a peacemaking organization because arms sales are crucial to the U.S. economy.
e. The United States objected to the League’s location in Geneva.

Answer 38

The United States didn’t want to relinquish decision making power to a world body.

Question 39

The increased use of drones to track down and dispose of terrorists is an example of which of the following types of foreign policy perspective?
a. Expansionism
b. Interventionism
c. Isolationism
d. Moralism
e. Realism

Answer 39

Realism

Question 40

The United States’ increased reliance on military technology for strength has led to what weakness?
a. The U.S. military’s technology leads the public to believe that war casualties are now avoidable and unacceptable.
b. The U.S. military has advanced weaponry much farther than necessary for today’s global challenges.
c. The U.S. military is not prepared for long ground engagements.
d. The U.S. military is unable to find technologically qualified soldiers.
e. The U.S. military has become financially unsupportable within the U.S. budget.

Answer 40

The U.S. military is not prepared for long ground engagements.

Question 41

Currently, which of the following is the greatest concern in U.S. and Iranian relations?
a. Iran’s assistance to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan
b. Iran’s secret development of a nuclear capability
c. Iran’s treatment of American citizens living and working in Iran
d. Iran’s closed society that forbids Iranians from traveling outside of Iran
e. The U.S. treatment of Iranian citizens living and working in the United States

Answer 41

Iran’s secret development of a nuclear capability

Question 42

Which of the following is compatible with the internationally recognized solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute?
a. The Palestinians to be resettled in Jordan with full compensation
b. Israel to yield the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinians in return for security guarantees and Palestinian abandonment of any right of return to Israel proper
c. Israelis and Palestinians to join a single state in which all citizens have equal rights, an equal vote, and equal access to government resources
d. Israel to yield the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinians; both Israelis and Palestinians may settle in either country
e. Israel to yield all territory not granted to it by the UN in 1948, including all of Jerusalem

Answer 42

Israel to yield the West Bank and Gaza Strip to the Palestinians in return for security guarantees and Palestinian abandonment of any right of return to Israel proper

Question 43

In January 2006, which of the following groups, known for calling for the destruction of Israel, won a majority of the seats in the Palestinian legislature?
a. Hamas
b. Fatah
c. Arab-Aryan Society
d. Kurdish People’s Liberation Front
e. Hezbollah

Answer 43

Hamas

Question 44

What movement that arose in 2011 and 2012 was focused on replacing authoritarian regimes in the Middle East?
a. Amnesty Now
b. Operation Desert Storm
c. Arab Spring
d. Operation Enduring Freedom
e. ISIS

Answer 44

Arab Spring

Question 45

Which of the following is one of the biggest security challenges facing the United States with regard to Syria?
a. How to decide which rebel groups should receive weapons since some are supported by terror groups
b. How to address the attack on the U.S. embassy in September 2012
c. How to investigate allegations of chemical weapon use on the Syrian people by the Assad regime
d. How to restrict Russia’s involvement in resolving issues in Syria
e. Whether to support the government of President Assad

Answer 45

How to decide which rebel groups should receive weapons since some are supported by terror groups

Question 46

Which of the following instilled a protective attitude from the United States toward the rest of the Western Hemisphere?
a. The Emancipation Proclamation
b. NATO
c. The New Deal
d. The Monroe Doctrine
e. NAFTA

Answer 46

The Monroe Doctrine