Judicial System Final Exam

Question 1

For every dollar an American citizen earns, the U.S. government takes _____ and decides how to spend it.

a. 8 cents
b. 18 cents
c. 28 cents
d. 38 cents
e. 48 cents

Answer 1

c. 28 cents

Question 2

A representative who is performing the role of a trustee is

a. only representing the needs of his or her constituents.
b. supporting the president on all of his legislative programs.
c. acting on conscience or representing the broad interests of the entire society.
d. supporting his or her political party.
e. representing other members of Congress.

Answer 2

c. acting on conscience or representing the broad interests of the entire society

Question 3

A representative who is performing the role of an instructed delegate is

a. primarily representing the wishes of his or her constituents.
b. supporting the president on all of his legislative programs.
c. representing the broad interests of the entire society.
d. supporting his or her political party.
e. representing other members of Congress.

Answer 3

a. primarily representing the wishes of his or her constituents.

Question 4

Casework is

a. logrolling.
b. constituent service.
c. lawmaking.
d. oversight.
e. providing advice and consent.

Answer 4

b. constituent service.

Question 5

Incumbents develop a hillstyle in order to

a. represent the desires and demands of the constituents in their home district.
b. produce a favorable image with constituents.
c. keep one bill on the floor for an extended period of time.
d. promote policies and their career aspirations.
e. pass a bill specifically for their home district.

Answer 5

d. promote policies and their career aspirations.

Question 6

The enumerated powers of Congress are powers

a. expressly given to that body in the Constitution.
b. that Congress has created by passing legislation.
c. that have been created by decisions of the Supreme Court.
d. that are imprecise and are usually disputed by strong presidents.
e. that follow implicitly from the United States existing as one nation among many.

Answer 6

a. expressly given to that body in the Constitution.

Question 7

The largest occupational group among members of Congress is

a. lawyers.
b. educators.
c. businesspersons.
d. lobbyists.
e. clergy.

Answer 7

A. Lawyers

Question 8

Most major-party candidates for Congress are placed on the general-election ballot as the result of a

a. party caucus.
b. party convention.
c. party committee.
d. direct primary.
e. petition drive.

Answer 8

d. direct primary.

Question 9

Which of the following is true?

a. One of the few states in which gerrymandering no longer occurs is New York, where legislation enacted by the state legislature prohibits such practices.
b. The strategy of dividing the opposing party’s supporters into different districts is known as “packing.”
c. Partisan redistricting almost inevitably works to the detriment of incumbents.
d. The Supreme Court has been unwilling to review the constitutionality of legislative plans to redraw congressional districts.
e. Although the Supreme Court has been willing to review the constitutionality of redistricting plans, its most recent decisions have upheld redistricting plans in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Answer 9

e. Although the Supreme Court has been willing to review the constitutionality of redistricting plans, its most recent decisions have upheld redistricting plans in Pennsylvania and Texas.

Question 10

The average Senate office on Capitol Hill employs about

a. 5 people.
b. 30 people.
c. 100 people.
d. 250 people.
e. 500 people.

Answer 10

b. 30 people.

Question 11

The Speaker of the House

a. is a symbolic position that does not provide power to make decisions.
b. is picked by the president.
c. has to perform duties in a non-partisan fashion.
d. is the leader of the majority party.
e. is the vice president.

Answer 11

d. is the leader of the majority party.

Question 12

An important function of the House majority leader is to

a. report all progress of legislation to the President.
b. walk the bill through the Senate, providing the bill has passed the House.
c. provide opposition to the Speaker.
d. act as spokesperson for the majority party in the House.
e. preside over meetings of the House.

Answer 12

d. act as spokesperson for the majority party in the House.

Question 13

Democratic members of Congress from moderate districts who sometimes vote with Republicans and who are frequently pursued by Republican leaders are known as

a. bicameralists.
b. Blue Dog Democrats.
c. logrolling democrats.
d. pork barrelers.
e. trustees.

Answer 13

b. Blue Dog Democrats.

Question 14

Most people who study the decision-making process in Congress agree that the single best predictor for how a member will vote is his or her

a. party affiliation.
b. affiliation with organized interest groups.
c. length of time in Congress.
d. age.
e. region.

Answer 14

a. party affiliation.

Question 15

After a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee,

a. the committee is required to pass the bill on to the entire house.
b. the committee is not allowed to make changes in the wording of the bill.
c. the committee may hold hearings to explore the merits of the bill.
d. the committee is required to refer the bill to a subcommittee.
e. the committee is required to consult with the President’s official legislative liaison.

Answer 15

c. the committee may hold hearings to explore the merits of the bill.

Question 16

The actual passage of a bill setting the funds that an agency can spend is called a(n)

a. authorization.
b. appropriation.
c. allocation.
d. reconciliation.
e. consolidation.

Answer 16

b. appropriation.

Question 17

President Bush’s Executive Order (E.O. 13233) regarding the release of presidential documents significantly altered the Presidential Records Act by

a. placing the burden of releasing the documents on presidential libraries.
b. shifting the burden of gaining the release of the documents to the public.
c. making sitting presidents approve all document releases.
d. reducing the cost to the public of acquiring the documents.
e. requiring Congress provide “advice and consent” for document releases.

Answer 17

b. shifting the burden of gaining the release of the documents to the public.

Question 18

Presidents tend to have

a. low legislative success rates at the beginning of their administrations with a steep increase in the middle and then a decline at the end.
b. high legislative success rates throughout their administrations as they pursue their role as Chief Legislator.
c. low legislative success rates throughout their administrations as Congress checks and balances them.
d. no consistent pattern in their legislative success rates.
e. high legislative success rates at the beginning of their administrations with a steep decline at the end.

Answer 18

e. high legislative success rates at the beginning of their administrations with a steep decline at the end.

Question 19

In most democratic governments, the head of state is

a. the chief executive officer of the nation.
b. an office without any significant duties.
c. the prime minister.
d. someone other than the chief executive.
e. the chief justice or other top judicial official.

Answer 19

d. someone other than the chief executive.

Question 20

As chief executive, the president is constitutionally bound to

a. enforce laws, treaties, and court orders.
b. submit a balanced budget to Congress.
c. inform Congress prior to any military action.
d. oversee actions of state governments.
e. honor pronouncements of the United Nations.

Answer 20

a. enforce laws, treaties, and court orders.

Question 21

If the president uses a veto, he or she

a. must submit legislation that would accomplish the same goal but through a different means.
b. cannot use another veto for ten working days.
c. must have the approval of the Senate majority leader and the Speaker of the House.
d. must return the bill to Congress with a veto message.
e. cannot be overridden by Congress.

Answer 21

d. must return the bill to Congress with a veto message.

Question 22

Expressed powers include which of the following?

a. Constitutional and inherent powers
b. Constitutional and statutory powers
c. Statutory and implied powers
d. Implied and legal powers
e. Legal and inherent powers

Answer 22

b. Constitutional and statutory powers

Question 23

“Going public” means that the president

a. goes to the public and over the heads of the members of Congress.
b. goes to the Washington community and over the heads of the members of Congress.
c. refrains from invoking executive privilege.
d. puts pressure on members of Congress by threatening to release details about their private lives.
e. publicizes information that was formerly classified.

Answer 23

a. goes to the public and over the heads of the members of Congress.

Question 24

The Office of Management and Budget

a. helps Congress write the budget.
b. helps the president prepare the annual budget.
c. has the power to revise the budget passed by Congress.
d. is rarely newsworthy in modern times.
e. is an innovation introduced by the George W. Bush administration.

Answer 24

b. helps the president prepare the annual budget.

Question 25

The Chief of Staff

a. is the President’s personal secretary.
b. directs the White House Office and advises the president.
c. is the senior officer of the combined military.
d. serves at the pleasure of the president’s Cabinet.
e. is the director of the Executive Office of the President.

Answer 25

b. directs the White House Office and advises the president.

Question 26

Presidential candidates have asked individuals to join the ticket as a vice presidential candidate for all of the following reasons except

a. to balance the ticket by region or political philosophy.
b. to serve as president if the president dies.
c. to reinforce one of the presidential candidate’s strong points.
d. to campaign for the presidential candidate.
e. to serve as a co-president.

Answer 26

e. to serve as a co-president.

Question 27

______ and ______ tied in the Electoral College in 1800.

a. Thomas Jefferson; John Adams
b. Thomas Jefferson; Aaron Burr
c. Thomas Jefferson; James Madison
d. John Adams; Aaron Burr
e. John Adams; James Madison

Answer 27

b. Thomas Jefferson; Aaron Burr

Question 28

Which President vetoed the War Powers Resolution only to have it pass anyway as Congress overturned the veto?

a. Harry S. Truman
b. Dwight D. Eisenhower
c. Richard Nixon
d. Andrew Johnson
e. Gerald Ford

Answer 28

c. Richard Nixon

Question 29

Which of the following is not true regarding the Obama’s administration as Chief Diplomat?

a. President Obama made several trips overseas.
b. President Obama desired a more cooperative approach to foreign policy.
c. President Obama desired a more unilateral approach to foreign policy.
d. In 2010, Obama signed a treaty with Russia for a joint reduction of long-range nuclear weapons.
e. The proposed START treaty was ratified by the Senate in May of 2010.

Answer 29

c. President Obama desired a more unilateral approach to foreign policy.

Question 30

President _______ suspended civil liberties and called state militias into national service.

a. Truman
b. Nixon
c. Ford
d. Kennedy
e. Lincoln

Answer 30

e. Lincoln

Question 31

The seizure of the nation’s steel mills by President _________ was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

a. Truman
b. Nixon
c. Ford
d. Kennedy
e. Lincoln

Answer 31

a. Truman

Question 32

In 1824 the House of Representatives selected ____ even though ____ had more electoral and popular votes

a. William H. Crawford; Andrew Jackson
b. William H. Crawford; John Quincy Adams
c. Andrew Jackson; John Quincy Adams
d. John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson
e. John Quincy Adams; William H. Crawford

Answer 32

d. John Quincy Adams; Andrew Jackson

Question 33

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), which audits and reviews executive branch agencies and is sometimes called “Congress’ watchdog,” is

a. part of Congress’ effort through the Pendleton Act to promote a merit system.
b. part of the executive branch and is headed by the Comptroller General.
c. headed by the judiciary’s Solicitor General.
d. part of the legislative branch and is headed by the Comptroller General.
e. one of the legislative branch’s independent executive agencies.

Answer 33

b. part of the executive branch and is headed by the Comptroller General.

Question 34

Bureaucracy is the name given to

a. a large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions.
b. any organization that has major problems when attempting to accomplish its goals.
c. a group of people who work to enforce policies in a way that prevents quick results.
d. any large branch of a government that has power to interpret laws.
e. government organizations, but not corporate or university ones.

Answer 34

a. a large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions.

Question 35

According to Max Weber, a bureaucracy should be all of the following except

a. apolitical.
b. made up of unspecialized staff to avoid delay in policy implementation.
c. an organization where decisions are based on logic and analysis.
d. an organization that makes promotions on the basis of merit, not politics.
e. an organization that applies similar decisions to similar situations.

Answer 35

b. made up of unspecialized staff to avoid delay in policy implementation.

Question 36

A federal, state, or local government unit created by legislative bodies to administer and enforce specific laws and to perform a specific function is known as a(n)

a. private bureaucracy.
b. autonomous agency.
c. regulatory agency.
d. cabinet department.
e. administrative agency.

Answer 36

e. administrative agency.

Question 37

_________ were set up because Congress felt it was unable to handle the complexities and technicalities required to carry out specific laws in the public interest.

a. Cabinet departments
b. Independent executive agencies
c. Independent regulatory commissions
d. Government corporations
e. Courts of limited jurisdiction

Answer 37

c. Independent regulatory commissions

Question 38

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) are examples of

a. cabinet departments.
b. government corporations.
c. independent regulatory agencies.
d. independent executive agencies.
e. corporations subject to regulation.

Answer 38

d. independent executive agencies.

Question 39

The merit system refers to

a. the selection and promotion of government employees on the basis of examinations.
b. a system of checks on Congress intended to prevent discrimination.
c. a process of selecting policies based on their value.
d. a system that was used for hiring bureaucrats under Andrew Jackson.
e. using work experience in lieu of educational qualifications when applying for federal positions.

Answer 39

a. the selection and promotion of government employees on the basis of examinations.

Question 40

The Hatch Act

a. prohibits federal employees from active involvement in political campaigns.
b. was enacted to prohibit members of Congress from simultaneously serving in other federal positions.
c. allows the president broad control over the federal bureaucracy.
d. established the principle of employment on the basis of open competitive examinations.
e. established a merit system during the Civil War.

Answer 40

a. prohibits federal employees from active involvement in political campaigns.

Question 41

“Performance-based budgeting,” in which agency funding is linked to actual agency performance, was established in the ______ administration.

a. Harry S. Truman
b. John F. Kennedy
c. Ronald Reagan
d. Bill Clinton
e. George W. Bush

Answer 41

e. George W. Bush

Question 42

The iron triangle is

a. the three branches of government.
b. the CIA, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
c. the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice.
d. an alliance of related interest groups, Congressional committees, and bureaucracy.
e. a term for the constitutional barriers to regulation.

Answer 42

d. an alliance of related interest groups, Congressional committees, and bureaucracy.

Question 43

Which of the following is true?

a. The Supreme Court has ruled that the military should not be allowed to privatize its activities because of national security concerns.
b. The fall of the Berlin Wall prompted a dramatic increase in military spending.
c. Although private contractors are used by the U.S. military throughout the world, it has been determined that private contractors cannot be trusted in Iraq.
d. With the number of active duty troops on the decline, the Pentagon argues that it must rely on private contractors to pick up the slack.
e. The dramatic increase in the number of active duty troops makes the decision of the Pentagon to rely on private contractors even more difficult to justify or understand.

Answer 43

d. With the number of active duty troops on the decline, the Pentagon argues that it must rely on private contractors to pick up the slack.

Question 44

Which model of bureaucracy explains that top-level bureaucrats will always try to expand, or at least avoid any reductions in, the size of their budgets?

a. Weberian Model
b. Acquisitive Model
c. Monopolistic Model
d. Spoils Model
e. Merit Model

Answer 44

b. Acquisitive Model

Question 45

Which of the following has not been suggested as a way to control the federal bureaucracy?

a. A return to the spoils system
b. Report cards prepared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
c. Cutting a poorly performing program’s budget
d. Evaluation of agencies by the general public
e. Congress making it easier to fire civil servants

Answer 45

a. A return to the spoils system

Question 46

A “whistleblower” is a person who

a. does not accomplish his or her tasks by the end of a day.
b. brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or illegal action.
c. is hired in excess of the true labor requirements of an agency.
d. is a person who serves in the position of an ombudsman.
e. leaks the contents of a presidential speech to the press before it is given.

Answer 46

b. brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or illegal action.

Question 47

The “Government in the Sunshine Act” required that

a. all federal agencies that are run by committees conduct their business regularly in public session.
b. all federal agencies will terminate after five years unless Congress grants the agency an extension.
c. all federal agencies hold at least half of their public meetings outside of Washington, D.C.
d. at least 40 percent of upper-level positions within an agency be filled by females or ethnic minorities.
e. all federal agency meetings on personnel problems or court proceedings be held in public session.

Answer 47

a. all federal agencies that are run by committees conduct their business regularly in public session.

Question 48

The Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) are all examples of

a. cabinet departments.
b. government corporations.
c. independent regulatory agencies.
d. independent executive agencies.
e. corporations subject to regulation.

Answer 48

c. independent regulatory agencies.

Question 49

The ability of the Supreme Court to “say what the law is” is more formally known as

a. judicial review.
b. judicial activism.
c. limited jurisdiction.
d. strict construction.
e. general jurisdiction.

Answer 49

a. judicial review.

Question 50

Most American law is based on

a. the doctrines of Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher.
b. the ideas of Thomas Paine, an American patriot and legal scholar.
c. Roman law.
d. the English legal system.
e. the Bible.

Answer 50

d. the English legal system.

Question 51

The federal court derives its power from _____ and is organized according to _____.

a. Article III of the Constitution; Congressional legislation
b. Congressional legislation; Article III of the Constitution
c. stare decisis; Article IV of the Constitution
d. the Fifth Amendment; Congressional legislation
e. executive order; precedent

Answer 51

a. Article III of the Constitution; Congressional legislation

Question 52

A brief filed by a third party who is not directly involved in the litigation but who has an interest in the outcome of a case is called

a. a class-action brief.
b. an amicus curiae brief.
c. a writ of certiorari.
d. a civil brief.
e. a procedural motion.

Answer 52

b. an amicus curiae brief.

Question 53

. If a case is affirmed, it

a. means the case cannot be appealed to a higher court.
b. is sent back to the court that heard the case.
c. means the decision is valid and must stand.
d. will result in a new trial for the defendant.
e. is accepted as a case that the Supreme Court will hear.

Answer 53

c. means the decision is valid and must stand.

Question 54

A court opinion reflecting the views of most of the judges is called a

a. unanimous opinion.
b. dissenting opinion.
c. concurring opinion.
d. majority opinion.
e. universal opinion.

Answer 54

d. majority opinion.

Question 55

A dissenting opinion can be important because

a. it represents the position of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
b. it is the statement of the defendant’s attorney to the Court.
c. in criminal law it must be carried out by local police.
d. it often forms the basis of the arguments used later to reverse the majority opinion in a similar case.
e. it means that the case cannot be used as a precedent.

Answer 55

d. it often forms the basis of the arguments used later to reverse the majority opinion in a similar case.

Question 56

The power of the courts to determine whether a law or action by the other branches of government is constitutional is called

a. judicial review.
b. appellate review of fact.
c. precedent.
d. the writ of judicial appeal.
e. habeas corpus.

Answer 56

a. judicial review.

Question 57

The philosophy that the Supreme Court should actively check the other branches of government when they exceed their authority is known as

a. broad constructionism.
b. judicial activism.
c. judicial restraintism.
d. judicial review.
e. strict constructionism.

Answer 57

b. judicial activism.

Question 58

Under our constitutional system, federal judges

a. are elected by the people of the United States.
b. are nominated by the president and then confirmed by majorities in both the House and Senate.
c. are nominated by the president and then confirmed by two-thirds of the House and the Senate.
d. are selected by the president, serve for a year, and then the Senate and the House vote on whether they will continue on the bench.
e. are nominated by the president and confirmed by a majority of the Senate.

Answer 58

e. are nominated by the president and confirmed by a majority of the Senate.

Question 59

Which of the following is true?

a. Tragically, William H. Rehnquist was able to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for less than a year when he was struck by cancer.
b. There is some reluctance to impose term limits on members of the U. S. Supreme Court since no other democratic nation in the world utilizes such term limits.
c. Most commentators accept the reality that imposing term limits on Supreme Court judges would result in the loss of independence for these judges.
d. One of the main problems associated with term limits for Supreme Court judges is the fear that these individuals would time their departure from the Court for political purposes.
e. From 1789 to 1970 the average Supreme Court justice served only fifteen years and left the Court at age 68, whereas since 1970 the average tenure is more than 25 years and retirement age is closer to 80.

Answer 59

e. From 1789 to 1970 the average Supreme Court justice served only fifteen years and left the Court at age 68, whereas since 1970 the average tenure is more than 25 years and retirement age is closer to 80.

Question 60

Which of the following is true?

a. In a five to four majority, the Supreme Court held that enemy combatants did not have the right to challenge their detention in front of a federal court.
b. After President Obama took office in 2009, he announced that the prison at Guantanamo would be closed within a year.
c. Congress was unwilling to fund a prison in the United States to hold suspected terrorists.
d. It has been difficult to find countries to accept some of the remaining prisoners who might be released.
e. As of 2010, about 200 prisoners remain in the Cuban facility awaiting trial or release.

Answer 60

a. In a five to four majority, the Supreme Court held that enemy combatants did not have the right to challenge their detention in front of a federal court.

Question 61

Obstructing the administration of justice or bringing the court into disrespect is considered

a. civil contempt.
b. criminal contempt.
c. federal contempt.
d. contempt of court.
e. judicial contempt.

Answer 61

b. criminal contempt.

Question 62

Failing to comply with a court’s order for the benefit of another is considered

a. civil contempt.
b. criminal contempt.
c. federal contempt.
d. contempt of court.
e. judicial contempt.

Answer 62

a. civil contempt.

Question 63

Which of the following is not a reason a Supreme Court would take a case?

a. If legal questions have been decided differently by various lower courts
b. If a lower court’s ruling conflicts with an existing Supreme Court ruling
c. If an issue could have significance beyond the parties to dispute
d. If the president pressures the Court to take the case
e. If the solicitor general pressures the Court to take the case

Answer 63

d. If the president pressures the Court to take the case

Question 64

In a strong mayor system of city government the

a. mayor is selected from the city council.
b. city manager is often the most influential executive position.
c. mayor directs the daily operations of the city.
d. city manager is often accused of cronyism and setting inferior standards.
e. city council is the most powerful elected body.

Answer 64

c. mayor directs the daily operations of the city.

Question 65

Obstacles to reorganizing state executive branches for greater efficiency include

a. the belief that most governmental functions should remain political rather than administrative.
b. an unwillingness by voters and legislatures to concentrate on giving too much authority with the governor.
c. the voters’ belief that it is wrong to elect multiple state officers.
d. the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court has declared every state reorganization plan to be unconstitutional.
e. the fact that voters in most states have indicated in polls that they don’t care about things like governmental efficiency.

Answer 65

b. an unwillingness by voters and legislatures to concentrate on giving too much authority with the governor.

Question 66

The procedure enabling voters to remove an elected official from office before his or her term has expired is known as a(n)

a. Cooley’s Rule.
b. Dillon’s Rule.
c. initiative.
d. recall.
e. referendum.

Answer 66

d. recall.

Question 67

Which of the following statements is true regarding state ethics and campaign finance reform?

a. States have struggled to enact and enforce ethics legislation.
b. The Federal Elections Commission oversees state ethics and campaign regulations.
c. States are consistent in how they regulate campaign contributions and the disclosure of donors.
d. Almost all states require candidates to report the amount and purpose of individual expenditures.
e. State reporting requirements have greatly decreased in recent years.

Answer 67

a. States have struggled to enact and enforce ethics legislation.

Question 68

A New England town

a. is a municipality with reduced powers.
b. combines the roles of city and county into one unit.
c. is a judicial district.
d. must consist exclusively of built-up districts.
e. must have a population of at least 10,000.

Answer 68

b. combines the roles of city and county into one unit.

Question 69

In the mayor-administrator plan the

a. voters elect the mayor as a political leader; and the mayor selects an administrator, who functions under the mayor.
b. members of the council serve as managers.
c. city council appoints a professional, who acts as the chief executive.
d. mayor and administrator are elected on separate tickets.
e. mayor handles routine administrative tasks.

Answer 69

a. voters elect the mayor as a political leader; and the mayor selects an administrator, who functions under the mayor.

Question 70

An increasingly popular way for states to raise general-fund money is

a. state-owned banks.
b. state lotteries.
c. interest income.
d. tuition increases.
e. state-owned tobacco stores.

Answer 70

b. state lotteries.

Question 71

Which of the following is true?

a. Since 2001 states have enjoyed an unprecedented level of economic prosperity and financial well-being.
b. The sales tax and the income tax are largely immune from changes in the economic environment.
c. Vermont is the only state that has a constitution that requires a balanced budget.
d. States face the economic challenge of paying rising health-insurance premiums for governmental employees.
e. The economic troubles of states have become even worse since 2004.

Answer 71

d. States face the economic challenge of paying rising health-insurance premiums for governmental employees.

Question 72

Which of the following is not true?

a. The federal government allocates 4 percent of its budget to education.
b. Because of high expenditures, state and local governments are producing well-educated students.
c. Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act because state and local governments are failing to produce well-educated kids.
d. The Obama administration wants to modify the No Child Left Behind Act.
e. The Obama administration does not want to repeal the provision of No Child Left Behind, which requires states to have more consistent standards for schools and to test student achievement.

Answer 72

b. Because of high expenditures, state and local governments are producing well-educated students.

Question 73

Which state with immense population growth and propensity to develop smog in the coastal areas has been much stricter about emission controls for automobiles than the federal government?

a. New York
b. Texas
c. California
d. Florida
e. Washington

Answer 73

C. California

Question 74

A proposal by the state legislature that is submitted to the voters of the state for their approval is known as a(n)

a. consolidation.
b. home ruling.
c. initiative.
d. recall.
e. referendum.

Answer 74

e. referendum.

Question 75

Municipalities often rely heavily on financial assistance from

a. state and federal governments.
b. charitable foundations.
c. the Interstate Commerce Tax Collection Association.
d. county governments.
e. loans from foreign governments.

Answer 75

a. state and federal governments.

Question 76

The referendum is

a. a method used by lawyers to avoid the state court system.
b. only used at the federal level, and only when two-thirds of both chambers agree on an issue.
c. a proposal by the state legislature that is submitted to the voters of the state for their approval.
d. the long ballot that is used in a majority of the states.
e. another name for initiative.

Answer 76

c. a proposal by the state legislature that is submitted to the voters of the state for their approval.

Question 77

The states have a general police power, meaning states

a. can create limited armed forces.
b. have the exclusive right to undertake law enforcement activities.
c. can regulate its citizens in the area of safety, health, welfare, and morals.
d. can enforce laws without interference from the federal government.
e. have the power to collect taxes.

Answer 77

c. can regulate its citizens in the area of safety, health, welfare, and morals.

Question 78

The doctrine of stare decisis means

a. to reverse the decision of a lower court.
b. that the court does not have jurisdiction in a case.
c. to refer a case to the next highest court.
d. to stand on the decided cases.
e. strict interpretation.

Answer 78

d. to stand on the decided cases.

Question 79

Interest groups play an important role in our judicial system because

a. they have the opportunity to veto judicial nominations.
b. they help to fund the judicial review board.
c. Madison stipulated their role in Federalist #10.
d. they bring to trial cases of discrimination, civil liberties cases, and more than a third of cases involving business matters.
e. they frequently are defendants in class-action suits.

Answer 79

d. they bring to trial cases of discrimination, civil liberties cases, and more than a third of cases involving business matters.

Question 80

The FISA court

a. can issue warrants without revealing the information used to justify the warrant.
b. can deprive American citizens of their citizenship.
c. can rule laws enacted by Congress to be unconstitutional.
d. can strike certain provisions from the Constitution.
e. can direct the president to take certain actions in order to protect national security.

Answer 80

a. can issue warrants without revealing the information used to justify the warrant.

Question 81

Senatorial courtesy allows a senator for the president’s political party to veto a judicial appointment in his/her state by issuing

a. Censure.
b. a blue slip.
c. a pink slip.
d. a senatorial veto.
e. formal condemnation.

Answer 81

B. A blue slip