Government Quiz #1

Question 1

What do governments do?

Answer 1

1) Maintain the national defense
2) provide public goods(clean air)
3) Provide order(have police powers)
4) Socialize the young into political culture
5) collect taxes to pay for the services they provide

Question 2

What four key institutions make policy at the national level?

Answer 2

Congress, President, Courts, and Federal Administrative Agencies

Question 3

Political Participation

Answer 3

refers to the ways in which people get involved in politics (protests and civil disobedience vs voting lobbying)

Question 4

What are single-issue groups?

Answer 4

interest groups whose members will vote on a single issue such as pro-life and pro-choice that ignore a politician’s stand on everything except abortion.(NRA)

Question 5

What are the 5 steps of the policymaking system?

Answer 5

2. when people confront gov officials with problems they expect them to solve, they are trying to influence the government policy agenda
3. a political issue arises when people disagree about a problem or about a public policy choice
4. the end product of government and politics is public policy
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Question 6

Three contemporary theories of democrcy

Answer 6

Pluralist theory, elite and class theory, hyperpluralism

Question 7

5 elements of political culture

Answer 7

1.Liberty,
Egalitarianism( all people are equal and deserve rights)
Individualism interests of the individual should achieve precedence over the state or a social group,
, Laissez-faire economics,
Populism(minority should have rights no matter what)

Question 8

What type of government would you prefer?

Answer 8

I do enjoy the government that America practices today as it relates to our basic freedoms. However, America currently faces a variety of issues that prevents advancement. I believe that part of this is due to corruption within the government. Also, I would want a government with politicans that are able to introduce new ideas to advance America rather than focus on wedge issues. A large part of this is due to the fact that extremist politicians seem to be promoted. I would want a government that is more invested into helping advance the country in science and technolgy, and education.
Everyone should have rights and their voice should be heard even if it is the minority.

Question 9

Pluralist vs Hyperpluralist

Answer 9

In a pluralistic model of government, special-interest groups such as women’s rights organizations and workers’ unions are able to pool their individual political power in the form of votes and money. This collective power can then be used to influence key politicians, encouraging them to legislate in a way favorable to the special-interest group.
In a hyperpluralistic model, however, too many special-interest groups are competing for political power. When so many special-interest groups are seeking a voice, conflicts arise in the things they want. For example, a number of strong anti-abortion groups seek a voice in the government, but they are countered by an equally powerful pro-choice lobby. Because their desires are exactly opposite and neither group is willing to compromise, the only choice elected officials have if they want to prevent either side from moving against them politically is to do nothing. As a result, neither side gets what it wants.

Question 10

What are the key linkage institutions between citizen preferences and government agenda

Answer 10

1. In a democratic society, parties, elections, interest groups, and the media are key linkage institutions between the preferences of citizens and the government policy agenda

Question 11

Three policy making institutions?

Answer 11

5.policymakers stand at the core of political system, working within the three policymaking institutions established by the US Constitution; the congress, presidency, and the courts