political science final review

Question 1

True or False

Medicaid is now the largest program co-funded by the federal government and the states.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

True of False

Today, restrictions on foreign oil imports continue and unlimited freedom has been extended to oil companies to drill wherever they please.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

True or False

Today, nearly half of the federal budget goes to two broad classes of social welfare spending social security and healthcare.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The American divide over global warming exists mainly because

Answer 4

many prominent Republicans, including the president, have questioned global warming

Question 5

The three primary domestic policy domains are

Answer 5

social welfare, business regulation, and environmental protection.

Question 6

The Social Security Act became a law in

Answer 6

1935

Question 7

Which book raised public awareness about DDT?

Answer 7

Silent Spring

Question 8

True or False

America has been slower than other nations to embrace the welfare state.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

The creators of Medicare and Medicaid designed the programs to support millions of Americans.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

The passage of the Medicare bill was made possible by

Answer 10

a Democratic landslide in the 1964 elections.

Question 11

The amount the government spends in excess of what it takes in each year is called the

Answer 11

national debt

Question 12

The total value of all a nation’s goods and services produced each year is called

Answer 12

gross domestic product

Question 13

In the 2008 presidential election, 71% of people who said that their financial situation had gotten worse voted for

Answer 13

Barrack Obama

Question 14

Americans generally support higher taxes that

Answer 14

are paid by someone else

Question 15

When there is an economic downturn, this economic theory argues that the government should pump money into the economy by spending more than it collects in taxes.

Answer 15

Keynesian economics

Question 16

The executive agency in charge of economic forecasting and preparing the president’s annual economic report to Congress is the

Answer 16

Council of Economic Advisers

Question 17

This federal organization is primarily responsible for monetary policy.

Answer 17

Federal Reserve

Question 18

The fiscal year goes from

Answer 18

October 1 to September 30

Question 19

True or False

Americans generally do not support increasing taxes on millionaires.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

True or False

Voters frequently endorse three inconsistent policieslower taxes, less debt, and new programs.

Answer 20

True

Question 21

The president is clearly the dominant figure when foreign policy is of a(n)

Answer 21

majoritarian nature

Question 22

The constitutional power to declare war and to regulate commerce with other nations is vested in

Answer 22

Congress

Question 23

When it comes to international diplomacy and the use of troops, the American president is

Answer 23

strong

Question 24

True or False

Since the passage of the War Powers Act, almost every president has sent troops abroad without explicit congressional authorization.

Answer 24

True

Question 25

The nation grew isolationist in the aftermath of World War I.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

Political polarization among the American public was most prominent in

Answer 26

the war in Iraq

Question 27

The American public and foreign policy leaders are most divided on the issue of

Answer 27

expanding economic aid to other countries

Question 28

True or False

America’s general bent toward isolationism and attitudes about the War in Europe changed dramatically with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

Answer 28

True

Question 29

What is the typical effect of foreign crises on the president’s approval rating?

Answer 29

They increase the president’s approval rating, even if the crisis was partially or wholly the president’s fault.

Question 30

True or False

The president’s national security adviser and the National Security Council (NSC) controls the State Department.

Answer 30

False

Question 31

True or False

All members of both houses of the California legislature are subject to reelection every two years.

Answer 31

False

Question 32

California’s legislature is

Answer 32

bicameral

Question 33

The largest single source of revenue for California cities today is

Answer 33

service charges

Question 34

Which of the following did the Progressives introduce to California politics?

a. the Public Utilities Commission
b. nonpartisan elections
c. direct democracy
d. all of the above

Answer 34

all of the above

Question 35

Unincorporated areas are governed by

Answer 35

the county

Question 36

Passage of the state budget occurs with

Answer 36

a simple majority in both chambers of the state legislature

Question 37

In a “top-two” primary election,

Answer 37

voters can vote for candidates of any party on the ballot

Question 38

True or False

The California Supreme Court automatically reviews all death penalty cases.

Answer 38

True

Question 39

Which of the following officials becomes acting governor when the governor is out of state or disabled?

Answer 39

lieutenant governor

Question 40

What is the term used to describe making policy through court decisions rather than through the legislative or electoral process?

Answer 40

judicial activism