PSCI 130 Final Multiple Choice Flashcards
In the 1800s, Alexis de Tocqueville visited the United States to conduct research on its ___ and he used his findings to help explain the success of democracy in the United States.
Prison system
A political culture exists where___
There is a patterned and sustained way of thinking about political and economic life
According to cross-national surveys, the French and British are far more likely than Americans to believe in the importance of ___ equality for all citizens.
Economic
Of the five important elements associated with the American view of the political system, the text suggests Americans are “preoccupied” with ___
Liberty
All of the following are basic elements of U.S. political culture EXCEPT
a. economic equality
b. democracy
c. individual responsibility
d. civic duty
economic equality
____is the element found in the American view of the political system that says Americans generally feel people ought to help others out when they can.
a. Civic duty
b. Liberty
c. Equality
d. Democracy
Civic duty
The widely-shared commitment to economic individualism in the U.S. may help explain how the American public thinks about particular public policies, especially when analyzing ___
a. care for the elderly
b. care for the disabled
c. those on welfare
d. the needs of children
Those on welfare
Compared to other nations, Americans are most likely to believe in the value of ___
a. accepting external forces as they come
b. hard work
c. social harmony
d. economic equality
Hard work
A classic study of political culture in five nations found that citizens of ___ had a stronger sense of civic duty than the others.
a. Italy
b. Germany
c. Mexico
d. US
d. the US
___ is a belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs
Civic duty
Compared to the average European, the average American is more likely to ___
a. question the existence of G-d
b. separate religion and politics
c. acknowledge clear standards of right and wrong
d. condemn students wearing religious symbols at public schools
c. acknowledge clear standards of right and wrong
The text suggests that although there has been no official religion established in the United States, the culture has been influenced considerably by Protestantism, especially in its ___ form.
a. Puritan
b. Episocolotan
c. Baptism
d. Methodist
Puritan
Which of the following characterizes Max Weber’s Protestant ethic?
a. forgiveness
b. questioning the law
c. observing traditional ceremonies
d. hard work
d. hard work
In the United States, most people, regardless of their job, think of themselves as ___
a. wealthy
b. elitist
c. middle class
d. poor
c. middle class
One definition of class consciousness is ___
a. thinking of oneself who has interests in opposition to management
b. thinking of oneself who is a team player with interests that coincide with those around them
c. believing most relationships, at home and at work, are egalitarian
d. believing a variety of interests have legit claim when it comes to decision making
a. thinking of oneself who has interests in opposition to management
The text suggests public confidence in government has been in steady decline by and large since the ___
a. end of the 1930s
b. early 1940s
c. mid 60’s
d. late 70s
c. mid 60’s
Scholar Robert Putnam argues that the more ___ a community has, the greater the level of trust among its members, and the easier it is to achieve common goals outside of government.
social capital
The primary goal of the American Revolution was
Liberty
Under the Articles of Confederation, amendments had to ___
a. be supported by all 13 states
b. be written by at least 3 different states
c. be submitted to the national judiciary for approval
d. have the approval of half the state governors
a. be supported by all 13 states
Each of the following statements regarding government under the Articles of Confederation is correct EXCEPT ___
a. there was no national judiciary system
b. disputes between states on state petition could be settled by congress
c. the national government could levy taxes
d. national government could not regulate commerce
c. the national government could levy taxes
Shays’s Rebellion occurred as a result of the ___ government being too weak.
(which state)
Massachussets
Locke suggested that the chief limitation on government should derive from the fact that it ___
a. is created by the consent of the governed
b. has checks and balances
c. is separated into various branches
d. was not found in the state of nature
a. is created by the consent of the governed
The Virginia Plan called for ___
a. 3 branches of government, strongest is the executive, president have most power in appoint members
b. 3 branches, strongest legislative, consist of 2 houses who choose exec
c. amending old articles of confed to strengthen national government and still protect interests of small states
d. amending old articles of confed to strengthen national government and weaken states representation in congress
b. 3 branches, strongest legislative, consist of 2 houses who choose exec
The Great Compromise addressed the problem of ___
a. judicial review
b. representation in congress
c. defining unalienable rights
d. amending old articles of confed.
b. representation in congress
The Great Compromise finally allocated representation on the basis of ___
a. population in both houses
b. equality in both houses
c. population in house and statewide equality in senate
d equality in house and pop in senate
c. population in house and statewide equality in senate
The Framers attempted to create a government best described as a(n) ___
a. democracy
b. tyranny
c. aristocracy
d. republic
d. republic
The power of the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional is referred to as ___
a. judicial review
b. federalism
c. reserved power
d. separation of power
a. judicial review
Government authority shared by national and local governments is referred to as ___
Federalism
Those powers that are given exclusively to the states are ___ powers.
a. enumerated
b. reserved
c. concurrent
d. democratic
b. reserved
Collecting taxes, building roads, borrowing money, and maintaining courts are powers shared by national and state governments, or ___ powers.
a. enumerated
b. reserved
c. concurrent
d. democratic
c. concurrent
While Aristotle believed in the power of _________, James Madison believed in the power of _________ when governing the people.
a. virtue; self-interest b. self-interest; virtue
c. nature; industry
d. simplicity; industry
a. virtue; self-interest
According to Madison, the separation of powers and the division between the states and national government would work because of ___
a. higher moral code
b. nature of self interest
c. simplicity
d. lack of diversity within states
b. nature of self interest
The opponents of the new Constitution argued for a weak national government, and they were known as___
anti-federalists
Madison argued in Federalist No.10 and No. 51 that liberty is safest in ___ republics.
Large
Which of the following statements is correct?
a. The Bill of Rights limits the power of state governments over citizens.
b. The original Bill of Rights was proposed and written by President Washington.
c. The Bill of Rights limits the power of the federal government over citizens.
d. The Bill of Rights responds to concerns about loss of liberties brought up in state ratifying conventions.
c. The Bill of Rights limits the power of the federal government over citizens.
The Great Compromise guaranteeing two senators to each state favored _________ states; the three-fifths compromise favored the _________ states.
a. northern; large
b. southern; large
c. large; northern
d. small; southern
d. small; southern
For the Founders, federalism was a device to___
a. protect personal liberty
b. provide efficient local administration
c. encourage citizen participation
d. guarantee equality
a. protect personal liberty
___ provides that the powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
a. First amendment
b. tenth amendment
c. Fed 46
d. Fed 10
b. tenth amendment
When interpreting the Constitution, Jefferson and, later, Madison called for ___
a. broadly defined national government superior to state governments
b. increased protection for minority groups
c. respect for majority decisions
d. strictly limited national government that gives most power to the states
d. strictly limited national government that gives most power to the states
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court upheld the right of Congress to create a(n)___ even though that specific power is nowhere mentioned in the Constitution.
a. income tax
b. factory
c. army
d. bank
d. bank
Which of the following was used to establish the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland?
a. the “necessary and proper” clause
b. Federalist No. 10
c. the doctrine of nullification
d. freedom of the press
a. the “necessary and proper” clause
The doctrine of nullification refers to ___
a. power of congress to veto state laws that violate US const
b. claimed authority of the states to declare a federal law void for violating US const
c. Power of President to veto state laws for violating US const
d. authority of President to dissolve congress and call for new election
b. claimed authority of the states to declare a federal law void for violating US const
The idea that national government and states are both equally supreme but should be kept separate is known aa ___
a. Emancipation Proclamation
b. dual federalism
c. reserved powers
d. federal noninterference
b. dual federalism
In United States v. Lopez (1995), the Supreme Court ruled that Congress overstepped its power to regulate commerce by prohibiting ___ in a school zone.
a. guns
b. adult bookstores
c. cigarette sales
d. alcohol sales
a. guns
In United States v. Morrison, the Supreme Court overturned the ___
a. Virginia and Kentucky resolutions
b. Fair Farming Act
c. Safe Railways Act
d. Violence against women act
d. Violence against women act
Which procedure, which is in effect in more than 20 states, permits voters to remove an elected official from office?
a. logrolling
b. referendum
c. initiative
d. recall
d. recall
Beginning in the 1960s, federal grants to states were increasingly based on ___
a. demands of individual states
b. what state officials believed to be important state needs
c. power of organized interest groups
d. what federal officials perceived to be national needs
d. what federal officials perceived to be national needs
A categorical grant is a transfer of federal funds designed for___
a. private sector
b. specific purposes
c. the accomplishment of broad goals
d. personal use of local governors or mayors
b. specific purposes
___ are terms set by the national government that states must meet if they are to receive certain federal funds.
a. conditions of aid
b. mandates
c. grants in aid
d. federal controls
a. conditions of aid
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants are called ___
a. conditions of aid
b. mandates
c. grants in aid
d. federal controls
b. mandates
Which of the following statements about mandates is correct?
a. Most mandates concern civil rights and environmental protection.
b. The federal government defers the power of interpreting the language in mandates to the states.
c. Federal funds are always provided to states to carry out mandated policies.
d. Most mandates concern technological research and education reform.
a. Most mandates concern civil rights and environmental protection.
The 1980s and 1990s Republican effort to pass on to the states many federal functions is known as ___
a. realignment
b. marble-cake federalism
c. devolution
d. net-institutionalism
c. devolution
Conflicts in civil liberties often arise because___
a. majoritarian politics
b. US Const is vague on issues of individual rights
c. Bill of Rights lists several competing rights
d. policy entrepreneurs rarely operate in the Civil Rights arena
c. Bill of Rights lists several competing rights
The key clauses in the Fourteenth Amendment are the ___
a. due process and necessary and proper clauses
b. necessary and proper and establishment
c. due process and equal protection
d. equal protection and establishment
c. due process and equal protection
In the Gitlow case, the Supreme Court held that___
a. no state could take private property without paying just compensation
b. rights should be applied to the states in order to maintain a scheme of ordered liberty
c. federal guarantees of free speech and free press also apply to the states
d. federal ban on slavery applies to states too.
c. federal guarantees of free speech and free press also apply to the states
Which term best describes the manner in which the Supreme Court has applied the Bill of Rights to the states?
a. selective incorporation
b. complete incorporation
c. exclusion
d. incorporation
a. selective incorporation
The First Amendment establishes ___
a. freedom of expression and freedom of religion
b. right to bear arms and right to trial by jury
c. abolishment of slavery and defines citizen
d. freedom of religion and prior restraint
a. freedom of expression and freedom of religion
The definition of prior restraint is ___
a. restriction of speech presenting a clear and present danger
b. censorship of a publication
c. written defamation of character
d. acknowledgment of liability related to free press
b. censorship of a publication
In order to decide how far Congress could go to restrict freedom of speech, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes introduced the ___ test.
a. constitutionality
b. clear-and-present danger
c. lemon
d. fundamental present rights
b. clear-and-present danger
Which of the following statements about hate crimes is TRUE?
a. The display of an odious symbol is always punishable by law.
b. To be punished for a hate crime, the bigotry must result in direct, physical harm.
c. It is illegal for a group of Nazis to parade through a Jewish community if the community resists it.
d. The First Amendment protects speech that abstractly advocates violence and produces forthcoming lawless action.
b. To be punished for a hate crime, the bigotry must result in direct, physical harm.
Written defamation of character is known as ___
a. slander
b. obscenity
c. incitement
d. libel
d. libel
It is much harder to win a libel suit if you are a(n) ___
a. ordinary citizen
b. public figure
c. convicted felon
d. young adult
b. public figure
___ is not protected by the First Amendment.
a. Obscenity
b. Freedom of religion
c. assembly
d. The press
a. Obscenity
One form of symbolic speech permitted by the Supreme Court is___
a. burning your draft card
b. politcal assassination
c. bombing of public facilities
d. flag burning
d. flag burning
The two clauses of the First Amendment that deal with religion are concerned with ___
a. free exercise and establishment
b. establishment and separation
c. seperation and prohibition
d. prohibition and free exercise
a. free exercise and establishment
The historical source for the “wall of separation” between church and state comes from ___
a. Writings of Thomas Jefferson
b. Series of debates in the first Congress
c. Bill of Rights
d. McCulloh vs. Maryland
a. Writings of Thomas Jefferson
The ___ holds that evidence gathered in violation of the Constitution cannot be used in a trial.
a. 8th Amendment
b. Patriot Act
c. exclusionary rule
d. good faith exception
c. exclusionary rule
Mapp v. Ohio was a notable constitutional decision because it ___
a. limited the exclusionary rule to federal government
b. used the exclusionary rule to enforce constitutional guarantees
c. applied exclusionary rule to federal officers
d. limited scope of exclusionary rule to searches of private homes
b. used the exclusionary rule to enforce constitutional guarantees
In 1978, the ___ was passed, which required the president to go before a special court to obtain approval for electronic eavesdropping on those thought to be foreign spies.
a. Espionage Act
b. Internal Security Act
c. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
d. USA Freedom Act
c. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
The ___ Amendment seemed to guarantee equal rights for all, regardless of race.
14th
In 1880, the Supreme Court deemed serving on a jury could not be denied on racial grounds as it is a(n) ___
a. privileged practice
b. civic duty
c. public accommodation
d. essential right of citizenship
d. essential right of citizenship
The Court’s landmark decision in Plessy v. Ferguson began when an individual challenged a law requiring blacks and whites to ___
a. occupy separate train cars
b. attend separate public schools
c. play in separate parks
d. use separate restrooms
a. occupy separate train cars
When racial integration was an unpopular cause, the NAACP used___ as its battleground.
a. the Supreme Court
b. politcal parties
c. state legislatures
d. voting booth
a. the Supreme Court
Which of the following statements about Brown v. Board of Education is correct?
a. It upheld separate but equal practices.
b. It outlawed government-imposed segregation.
c. It was a 5–4 decision.
d. It eliminated racial segregation.
b. It outlawed government-imposed segregation.
As its rationale for the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court relied primarily on ___.
a. the intent of the framers of the 14th amendment
b. public humiliation
c. social science evidence
d. narrow interpretation of the US Const
c. social science evidence
The difference between de facto and de jure segregation is that the former _________, while the latter _________.
a. arises from administrative practices; results from informal social patterns
b. is required by law; does not result from the law
c. existed in the past; continues in the present
d. does not result from the law; is required by law
d. does not result from the law; is required by law
Peacefully violating a law and accepting punishment, such as Rosa Parks’s arrest, is known as ___
a. civil disobedience
b. adversative method
c. violent protest
d. intermediate scrutiny
a. civil disobedience
The___ Amendment made clear that no state may deny the right to vote on the basis of sex.
a. 15th
b. 19th
c. 20th
d. 21st
b. 19th
Laws affecting race are subject to _________ scrutiny. Laws affecting gender are subject to _________ scrutiny.
a. public; private
b. narrow; strict
c. intermediate; narrow
d. strict; intermediate
d. strict; intermediate
In the Virginia Military Institute case, the Court required a single-sex school to supply ___ for excluding the other gender.
a. a notable basis
b. a compelling reason
c. an exceedingly persuasive justification
d. a rational basis
c. an exceedingly persuasive justification
The Court has allowed all of the following provisions regulating abortion EXCEPT ___
a. 24 hour waiting periods
b. consent of at least one parent (for teenagers)
c. the consent of a married woman’s husband
d. distribution of pamphlets and information to women considering the procedure
c. the consent of a married woman’s husband
Giving people an equal chance to succeed is known as equality of ___
a. opportunity
b. results
c. institution
d. diversity
a. opportunity
Supporters of equality of opportunity consider affirmative action to be a form of___
a. police power
b. integration
c. designed equality
d. reverse discrimination
d. reverse discrimination
Which of the following statements regarding racial discrimination resulted from the Supreme Court decision in the case involving a small construction company named Adarand?
a. Because of America’s history of racial discrimination, a law promoting racial preference need only be reasonable.
b. Only racial discrimination with the purpose to hurt a racial minority is subject to strict scrutiny.
c. All racial discrimination, whether it’s helping or hurting a minority, is subject to strict scrutiny.
d. All racial discrimination, whether it’s helping or hurting a minority, is subject to intermediate scrutiny.
c. All racial discrimination, whether it’s helping or hurting a minority, is subject to strict scrutiny.
In Lawrence v. Texas, the Court decided ___
a. it is legal for states to ban sexual contact between persons of the same sex
b. a private organization may ban gays from its membership
c. a private organization may not discriminate against gays
d. state laws may not ban sexual relations between same-sex partners
d. state laws may not ban sexual relations between same-sex partners
In United States v. Windsor, the constitutionality of ___ was questioned
a. California’s proposition 8
b. the Defense of Marriage Act
c. mandatory busing
d. the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
b. the Defense of Marriage Act
Originally, Northern support for civil rights was gained by the perception that ___.
a. civil rights were already observed in the North, so it was just to enforce them in the South
b. civil rights were inevitable throughout the US
c. civil rights were a legal responsibility which was being unconstitutionally ignored by the rebellious South
d. civil rights simply involved an unfair contest between Southern whites and Southern blacks.
d. civil rights simply involved an unfair contest between Southern whites and Southern blacks.
The definition of authority is ___
a. the right to use power
b. the manner in which power is spread
c. the use of power for good causes
d. the desire to have power
a. the right to use power
___ authority means that the right to exercise power is vested in a governmental office.
a. Persuasive
b. Public
c. Formal
d. Federal
c. Formal
A town meeting where all adult citizens gather annually to vote on issues is the embodiment of ___ democracy
a. direct
b. representative
c. parliamentary
d. communal
a. direct
Representative democracy is sometimes disapprovingly referred to as the ___ theory of democracy.
a. limited
b. aristocratic
c. elitist
d. authoritarian
c. elitist
A political system is nondemocratic to the extent that it ___
a. allows civil and politic freedoms
b. denies equal voting rights to part of its society
c. permits the assembly and organization of its people
d. encourages a competitive struggle for the people’s vote
b. denies equal voting rights to part of its society
According to the ___ view of how power is distributed, appointed officials run everything despite the efforts of elected officials and the public to control them.
a. class
b. pluralist
c. bureaucratic
d. power elite
c. bureaucratic
Issues that people believe require governmental action refers to a ___
a. class view
b. conflict
c. politcal value
d. politcal agenda
d. politcal agenda
The 1954 Supreme Court decision to desegregate schools was met with ___
a. opposition by the other branches of government
b. mandatory governmental compliance and action by President Eisenhower
c. no response from the Executive and Legislative branches of government
d. no response from the American people
b. mandatory governmental compliance and action by President Eisenhower
The ___ of a proposed policy is any burden that people believe they must bear if the policy is enacted.
a. benefit
b. politics
c. cost
d. perception
c. cost
Which of the following is NOT an example of a widely distributed benefit?
a. subsidies to farmers
b. low crime rates
c. decreased pollution
d. increased national security
a. subsidies to farmers
In ___ politics, a policy is proposed in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays.
a. majoritarian
b. interest group
c. entrepreneurial
d. client
d. client
When a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or her own proposal, it is known as ___
a. legislative trading
b. log-rolling
c. entrepreneurial politics
d. pork-barrel legislation
b. log-rolling
Most major pieces of social legislation reflect ___ politics.
a. interest group
b. client
c. majoritarian
d. entrepreneurial
c. majoritarian
The definition of a lobbyist is ___
a. an organization that recruits members from whom it obtains camp gain contributions
b. a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of an interest group
c. the leader of a factory or industrial union
d. an elected official who frequently compromises on policy
b. a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of an interest group
The incentive for large, mass-membership unions arose as the result of ___
a. farming production that was resilient against outside forces
b. craft guilds in small groups of workers
c. WWII
d. mass-production industry operated by large corporations
d. mass-production industry operated by large corporations
The American Textile Manufacturers Institute represents southern textile mills. This is an example of a(n) ___ interest.
a. institutional
b. educational
c. membership
d. private
a. institutional
When the incentives to join an organization emphasize a sense of pleasure, status, or companionship, the incentives are said to be ___
a. purposive
b. material
c. ideological
d. solidary
d. solidary
National interest groups offering ___ incentives often have to be organized into small local units because this type of incentive occurs with face-to-face contact.
a. purposive
b. material
c. free rider
d. solidary
d. solidary
The Illinois Farm Bureau offers its members a chance to buy farm supplies at discount prices, market their products through cooperatives. Such benefits to members are called ___ incentives.
a. purposive
b. material
c. party
d. solidary
b. material
The most visible public-interest lobbies also tend to ___
a. pursue low-level goals
b. be highly controversial
c. be classified as moderate
d. offer material incentives
b. be highly controversial
When the purpose of an organization, if attained, will principally benefit nonmembers, it is customary to call the group a ___
a. public interest lobby
b. social movement
c. politcal action committee
d. free rider
a. public interest lobby
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an example of a feminist organization whose membership incentives are primarily ___
a. material
b. purposive
c. solidary
d. sociological
b. purposive
The major union movement in the United States coincided with the ___
a. Kennedy assassination
b. Watergate scandal
c. Great Depression
d. Civil war
c. Great Depression
Today, union membership rate is largely composed of___
a. start-up companies
b. factory workers
c. women reentering the work force
d. government workers
d. government workers
An earmark is a provision of a law that___
a. provides a direct benefit to a client
b. cannot be provided in writing
c. is supported by broad legislative majorities
d. results from the interaction between lobbyists and Supreme Court justices
a. provides a direct benefit to a client
Although Congress officially banned earmarks in 2011, members of Congress still work to influence government agencies associated with special funds in a process called ___
a. loopholing
b. appropriating or allocating
c. grassroots lobbying
d. letter marking or phonemarking
d. letter marking or phonemarking
With the individualistic nature of Congress and modern technology, more and more interest groups are turning to a(n) ___ strategy
a. insider
b. outsider
c. private
d. cultivation
b. outsider
As people leave the federal government to take more lucrative positions, there is concern that this “revolving door” may ___
a. result in the country having fewer qualified people in political power
b. mean longer terms for incumbents
c. lead to a lack of a stable government due to high turnover rate
d. give private interest an improper influence on government decisions
d. give private interest an improper influence on government decisions
The activity of lobbyists is protected by the ___ Amendment
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 5th
d. 10th
a. 1st
The most significant legal constraints on interest groups come from ___
a. the current federal lobbying law
b. language in the original Const
c. the tax code and campaign finance laws
d. citizen liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights
c. the tax code and campaign finance laws
Political scientists think of parties as consisting of the following parts EXCEPT ___
a. a set of leaders
b. an individual leader
c. an organization
d. a label
b. an individual leader
One reason that today’s political parties in the United States are weaker than in Europe is that, in the United States, ___
a. politcal party organizations are highly centralized
b. local party leaders rarely have as much power as national ones
c. voters, not party leaders, select people to run for office
d. Congress serves the right to select the chief executive of government
c. voters, not party leaders, select people to run for office
The first organized political party in American history was ___
a. made up of the followers of Jefferson
b. organized by Alexander Hamilton
c. a deviate of the Federalists
d. ruled unconstitutional by the SC
a. made up of the followers of Jefferson
The distinct feature of the Jacksonian party system was___
a. mass politcal participation
b. strict registration laws
c. the popularity of the caucus system
d. establishing the Australian ballot
a. mass politcal participation
___ replaced caucuses in nominating presidential candidates.
a. Popular vote from a slate of candidates drawn up by the 2 national parties
b. Party conventions
c. Delegates selected by state legislatures
d. A parliamentary system
b. Party conventions
Each of the following statements about Democrat William Jennings Bryan is correct EXCEPT ___
a. His candidacy effectively ended the split in ideologies between North and South
b. He alienated voters in the northeastern states
c. He attracted voters in the South and Midwest
d. His candidacy strengthened the Republican Party
a. His candidacy effectively ended the split in ideologies between North and South
The early 20th century ___ favored primary elections to replace nominating conventions, strict voter registration requirements, and civil service reform.
a. Republicans
b. Federalists
c. Whigs
d. Progressives
d. Progressives
A period when a lasting shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties is called a___
a. plurality
b. split ticket
c. realignment
d. solidary incentive
c. realignment
Which of the following was the major issue in the 1860 realignment period?
a. Suffrage
b. Crime
c. The electoral college
d. Slavery
d. Slavery
There are two main types of primary elections: _________ primaries and _________ primaries.
a. closed; open
b. Democrat; Republican
c. left; right
d. federal; civilian
a. closed; open
The one major election where the nomination occurs via a convention is the___
a. incumbent convention for candidates trying to remain in office
b. national convention to nominate presidential candidates
c. challenger convention to nominate all levels of political offices
d. independent convention for third parties to challenge the two major parties
b. national convention to nominate presidential candidates
A ___ is a party leader or elected official who becomes a delegate to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses.
a. greenback
b. partisan
c. super-delegate
d. sponsored party
c. super-delegate
The ___ Act made it illegal for federal civil service employees to take an active part in political management or political campaigns
a. Volstead
b. Ford
c. Hatch
d. Singleton
c. Hatch
A(n) ___ is a voter’s stable, long-term attachment to a political party.
a. politcal philosophy
b. ideology
c. faction
d. partisan identification
d. partisan identification
The following is true of self-identified Independents EXCEPT ___
a. most tend to lean towards one party or the other
b. they consist of about 10% of the public
c. they find negative valence in the word “Independent”
d. they are not beholden to a particular party
c. they find negative valence in the word “Independent”
The minor parties that have persisted are ___ parties.
a. economic-protest
b. ideological
c. one-issue
d. conservative
b. ideological
The minor parties that have probably had the greatest influence on public policy have been ___ parties, such as the Mugwumps and Bull Moose parties, among others
a. union
b. ethnicity-based
c. factional
d. philosophical
c. factional
The _________ Party, while not a national party, appears to have had influence within the _________ Party, particularly in the 2010 congressional midterm elections.
a. Tea; Republican
b. Libertarian; Republican
c. Socialist; Democratic
d. Green; Democratic
a. Tea; Republican
One reason that public policy often differs from public opinion is that ___
a. The US Constitution places many checks on the influence of public opinion
b. public opinion polling tends to express the opinions of the political elite
c. public opinion is easy to gauge, whereas the effectiveness of public policy is not
d. the public is less likely to follow public policy
a. The US Constitution places many checks on the influence of public opinion
The first major studies of public opinion and voting, published in the 1940s, found that ___
a. most Americans were well informed about politics even though they did not vote regularly
b. most Americans voted regularly and were well informed about politics
c. a small group of Americans voted, but they were not well informed about politics
d. a small group of Americans were informed about politics, but most Americans were not
d. a small group of Americans were informed about politics, but most Americans were not
Most high school students share the same political party identification as___
a. their peers
b. their teachers
c. their parents
d. their religious leaders
c. their parents
The ___ assumes a young person’s political outlook is influenced by the political environment in which they come of age
a. gender gap year
b. majoritarian politics theory
c. impressionable years hypothesis
d. age gap theory
c. impressionable years hypothesis
Which statement about differences in the opinions of men and women is INCORRECT?
a. Men are more likely to favor laws supporting same-sex marriage.
b. Men are more likely to support recent military interventions.
c. Women are more likely to support universal health care.
d. Women are more likely to see social welfare issues as important.
a. Men are more likely to favor laws supporting same-sex marriage.
___ are now the nation’s largest minority group
a. Latinos
b. African Americans
c. Asians
d. Native Americans
a. Latinos
Compared to certain nations of Western Europe, Americans are an especially ___ people.
a. elite
b. disadvantaged
c. religious
d. politically liberal
c. religious
It is suggested that Americans view the concept of “social classes” in their country with a sense of ___
a. embarrassment
b. apathy
c. pride
d. unawareness
a. embarrassment
Although this changed dramatically in the next decade, in the 1950s, V.O. Key found that people holding professional jobs had more _________ views on social welfare policy and more _________ views on foreign policy than manual workers.
a. internationalist; isolationist
b. liberal; isolationist
c. conservative; internationalist
d. liberal; conservative
c. conservative; internationalist
___ is an individual’s identification with and attachment to a political party
a. Ideology
b. Partisanship
c. Interest group politics
d. Political socialization
b. Partisanship
A consistent set of beliefs about what policies government ought to pursue is referred to as___
a. political efficacy
b. public opinion
c. party sorting
d. politcal ideology
d. politcal ideology
Individuals with a disproportionate share of political power are called___
a. hegemons
b. politcal elites
c. bipartisan
d. lobbyists
b. politcal elites
A ___ vote of the House and Senate is needed to override a presidential veto
a. three-fifths
b. unanimous
c. two thirds
d. one half
c. two thirds
Deducing a political position while not being informed of the intricacies of every issue is an example of___
a. heuristics
b. rational decision making
c. politcal ideology
d. blind party loyalty
a. heuristics
___ advocates are perhaps the best-known example of a minority being more politically engaged and active than the majority
a. Immigration control
b. Same-sex marriage
c. Gun control
d. Environmental regulation
c. Gun control
Several studies have shown that government policy is often more responsive to the preferences of___
a. the economic elite
b. the president
c. grassroots campaigns
d. everyday citizens
a. the economic elite
Compared to other democratic nations, the United States government___
a. restricts the press more
b. restricts the press less
c. controls offensive statements made by citizens
d. oversees more publicy-owned media outlets
b. restricts the press less
In the early years of the Republic, newspapers were financially supported by___
a. local advertising
b. payments from aspiring writers and journalists
c. subsidies from the government or a political party
d. mass circulation
c. subsidies from the government or a political party
Created in 1848, the ___ provided stories to a variety of newspapers, meaning it could not afford to be partisan or biased; it had to present the facts objectively
a. Associated Press
b. Government Printing Office
c. Washington Post
d. Gazzette of the US
a. Associated Press
For all their excesses, the sensationalist mass-readership newspapers of the late 19th century brought about several important changes in the press, including___
a. establishing the feasibility of a press free from government control
b. encouraging cultural diversity in the US society
c. limiting the role of technology in jounralism
d. giving greater power to the social elite
a. establishing the feasibility of a press free from government control
During the turn of the century, the popularity of national magazines of opinion reflected the___
a. American public’s desire for sensationalism
b. taste for political reform
c. middle-class support for yellow journalism
d. lower-class beliefs in the progressive movement
b. taste for political reform
While the advent of radio and television gave politicians another venue for getting in touch with the public, one disadvantage of this new media was___
a. its inherent tendency toward sensationalism
b. it gave the public more opportunities to find fault
c. people felt that TV was fiction-based
d. people could choose to ignore the broadcast
d. people could choose to ignore the broadcast
Information leaked to the media to test public reaction to a possible policy is called ___
a. an insider story
b. a roll call
c. a trial balloon
d. loaded language
c. a trial balloon
The dominant source of news for most Americans is ___
a. radio
b. Internet
c. TV
d. Newspapers
c. TV
___ is defined as consuming only those news stories with which one already agrees
a. Selective hearing
b. Horse-race journalism
c. Selective exposure
d. Agenda-setting
c. Selective exposure
As gatekeeper, the national media___
a. shapes the public agenda by covering some stories, but not others
b. helps decide who is winning and losing in Washington politics
c. keeps track of and helps form political reputations
d. has an instinctive desire to investigate personalities and expose scandals
a. shapes the public agenda by covering some stories, but not others
___ describes the way in which the media, by focusing on some aspects of an issue, shapes how people view that issue.
a. Framing
b. Elevating
c. Balanced reporting
d. Priming
a. Framing
Which role does the national media play when it focuses on who is ahead in the polls rather than on the issues?
a. referee
b. gatekeeper
c. watchdog
d. scorekeeper
d. scorekeeper
The following are reasons journalists devote so much time to polls, strategy, and tactics, EXCEPT ___
a. substantive reporting is viewed as exciting
b. readers enjoy those types of stories
c. it does not require in-depth reporting
d. the press appears independent of poetical elites
a. substantive reporting is viewed as exciting
Today’s media tends to focus on _________ and _________ stories.
a. positive; substantive
b. negative; sensationalistic
c. sensationalistic; positive
d. substantive; negative
b. negative; sensationalistic
Over time, American confidence in the press has___
a. improved
b. growth marginally more positive
c. declined
d. remained the same
c. declined
The federal government sought a restraining order against the New York Times to prevent it from publishing___
a. The Pentagon Papers
b. Accounts of Japanese Americans detained in US concentration camps during WWII
c. secret grand jury findings on the Watergate scandal
d. reports of Reagan’s arms-for-hostages dealings
a. The Pentagon Papers
The abandonment of the fairness doctrine permitted___
a. liberals to have more access to mainstream media
b. small business owners to restrict media access
c. the rise of controversial talk radio
d. politicians to regulate media more directly
c. the rise of controversial talk radio
The equal time rule relates to political candidates’ use of___
a. government resources
b. free postage
c. politcal contributions
d. broadcast advertising
d. broadcast advertising
Which constitutional amendment extended the right to vote to those 18 years and older?
a. Twenty-sixth Amendment
b. Fifteenth Amendment
c. Nineteenth Amendment
d. Fourteenth Amendment
a. Twenty-sixth Amendment
If a researcher insists on using VEP statistics, as opposed to VAP statistics, in a study of voter turnout, he or she is probably concerned about___
a. creating a balance between males and females in the data
b. removing political party bias
c. removing individuals from the data who are actually ineligible to vote
d. having a more reliable estimate of the number of voters across time
c. removing individuals from the data who are actually ineligible to vote
Which of the following statements accurately characterizes voting registration in the United States and most of Europe?
a. In most of Europe, registration is automatically done by the government; in the United States, the burden of registration falls on the individual voter.
b. In the United States, registration is free; in most of Europe, registration is costly.
c. The United States and most of Europe have very similar registration processes; both involve individual voters registering themselves.
d. In the United States, registration is automatically done by the government; in most of Europe, the burden of registration falls on the individual voter.
a. In most of Europe, registration is automatically done by the government; in the United States, the burden of registration falls on the individual voter.
Joining civic associations, supporting social movements, and writing to legislators, are examples of___
a. conflicts of interest
b. participating in politics
c. politcal disease
d. avoiding political involvement
b. participating in politics
Federal elections are always held in___
a. November
b. January
c. May
d. September
a. November
Which amendment states that the “right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”?
a. Seventeenth Amendment
b. Twelfth Amendment
c. Twenty-fifth Amendment
d. Fifteenth Amendment
d. Fifteenth Amendment
Literacy tests, poll taxes, and a grandfather clause were all devices used to___
a. expand the American electorate
b. keep the poor from voting
c. keep blacks from voting
d. allow women to vote
c. keep blacks from voting
The grandfather clause was implemented to give voting rights to___
a. property owners
b. freed slaves
c. whites who were illiterate or poor
d. all males over the age of 21
c. whites who were illiterate or poor
The ___ suspended the use of literacy tests and provided criminal penalties for interfering with the right to vote.
a. 19th Amendment
b. Voting Rights Act
c. Smith v. Allwright case
d. Civil Rights Act
b. Voting Rights Act
The first elections in which all persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one were able to vote were held in___
a. 1972
b. 1956
c. 1844
d. 1896
a. 1972
One view of the apparent decline in voter turnout suggests that the parties ceased functioning as___
a. organizations which represent a particular view point
b. organizations to mobilize the mass of voters
c. organization controlled by leaders
d. organizations that promote candidates
b. organizations to mobilize the mass of voters
During the 19th century, voting ballots were printed by ___
a. the state legislatures
b. Congress
c. the courts
d. political parties
d. political parties
Which of the following statements regarding the Australian ballot is INCORRECT?
a. It was printed by the people.
b. It replaced party-printed ballots.
c. It was of uniform size and shape.
d. It was cast in secret.
a. It was printed by the people.
A ___ requires citizens to show a government-issued photo ID in order to vote
a. Voter identification law
b. motor voter law
c. constitutional requirement
d. poll tax
a. Voter identification law
The most common form of political participation is___
a. contributing money
b. voting
c. volunteering
d. contacting public officials
b. voting
Participation in politics is driven by all of the following factors EXCEPT___
a. being asked to participate
b. access to resources
c. experiences with government programs
d. diminished civic skills
d. diminished civic skills
A meeting of party followers in which party delegates are selected is known as a___
a. caucus
b. primary
c. PAC
d. campaign
a. caucus
___voting is more common among political junkies.
a. Split-ticket
b. Retrospective
c. Prospective
d. Uniformed
c. Prospective
In the 2012 presidential campaign, ___ was the single biggest expense.
a. campaign advertising
b. touring swing states
c. rally planning
d. transportation
a. campaign advertising
Two shared features of most modern televised campaign ads are _________ and _________.
a. an appeal to emotions; making a negative attack
b. happy platitudes; truthfulness
c. emphasizing the opposing candidate’s leadership; sharing no information
d. attacking a candidate; appealing for campaign funds
a. an appeal to emotions; making a negative attack
The most loyal voters in the Democratic coalition are___
a. African Americans
b. women
c. Catholics
d. Latinos
a. African Americans
In 1911, Congress decided the House should be fixed at ___ members
a. 50
b. 100
c. 435
d. 500
c. 435
___ require(s) reapportionment of Congress every ten years
a. The Supreme Court
b. The Constitution
c. State laws
d. Executive Office of the President
b. The Constitution
When districts are drawn in a bizarre or unusual shape to assist candidates, it is called___
a. malapportionment
b. reappointment
c. regression
d. gerrymandering
d. gerrymandering
Most of the money for congressional candidates comes from___
a. PACs
b. major corporations
c. small businesses
d. individuals
d. individuals
As a result of the Watergate investigation, a new law affecting___was passed
a. television advertising
b. campaign financing
c. local elections
d. executive privilege
b. campaign financing
___refer(s) to money spent towards supporting or opposing a candidate that is not coordinated with or made at the direction of the candidate’s wishes
a. Independent expenditures
b. Soft money
c. Nonpartisan funds
d. Unaffiliated expenditures
a. Independent expenditures
Soft money refers to___
a. funds raised by individuals to support certain candidates
b. money spent on advertising, as long as it has a positive message
c. money obtained by political parties to be used for party activities
d. funds raised for challenges, not incumbents
c. money obtained by political parties to be used for party activities
Following the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, 527 organizations became popular as a way to___
a. allow individual states to provide campaign funding to a candidate
b. permit soft money expenditures that were once made by political parties
c. offer PACs an alternative when completing annual tax returns
d. set limits on presidential campaign costs
b. permit soft money expenditures that were once made by political parties
___ are social welfare organizations that can spend no more than 50 percent of their money on politics.
a. 501(c)4 groups
b. 504(c)3 groups
c. 527 organizations
d. Super PACs
a. 501(c)4 groups
Which of the following is sometimes referred to as a “dark money” group?
a. 527 organizations
b. 501(c)4 group
c. Super PAC
d. 501(c)3 group
b. 501(c)4 group
By design, unless accompanied by ___, American elections rarely produce changes of magnitude
a. a national crisis
b. a dark money fund
c. a close popular vote
d. emergence of a third party
a. a national crisis
___ , the greatest single enlargement of federal authority since 1860, was produced as a result of the election of 1932
a. The New Frontier
b. The New Deal
c. The Truman Doctrine
d. The Great Society
b. The New Deal
Which aspect of the government did the Framers of the Constitution consider the “first branch”?
a. Supreme Court
b. Congress
c. Media
d. President
b. Congress
When discerning the differences between a congress and a parliament, it is helpful to understand the basis of the word parliament, which is___
a. “public grouping”
b. “to talk”
c. “to listen
d. “a coming together”
b. “to talk”
Members of the U.S. Congress _________ the head of the executive branch of government, making them _________ powerful than their parliamentary counterparts.
a. select; less
b. do not select; more
c. do not select; less
d. select; more
b. do not select; more
???
The term bicameral, used to describe the U.S. legislature, means that the legislature___
a. has two chambers or parts
b. is selected every 2 years
c. consists of both committees and a main body
d. is based on a system of checks and balances
a. has two chambers or parts
Under the original U.S. Constitution, members of the Senate, unlike members of the House, were selected by___
a. direct elections
b. the presdient
c. state legislatures
d. primary runoffs
c. state legislatures
A filibuster is___
a. a vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators
b. a political district in which candidates elected to the Senate win in close elections
c. a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
d. a prolonged speech, or series of speeches, made to delay action in a legislative assembly
d. a prolonged speech, or series of speeches, made to delay action in a legislative assembly
Today, it takes ___ senators to cut off debate.
a. 50
b. 51
c. 60
d. 67
c. 60
A marginal district is one in which ___
a. the winner in an election gets less than 55% of the vote
b. the constituency is made up of largely minority groups
c. voters are not clear as to which candidate is the incumbent
d. an incumbent is running virtually unopposed
a. the winner in an election gets less than 55% of the vote
In the organizational view of congressional voting, members of Congress rely primarily on ___ to cast their vote
a. race
b. their seniority
c. their legal education
d. their political parties
d. their political parties
In the Senate, a___ helps party leaders stay informed about what the party members are thinking
a. whip
b. senate
c. joint committee
d. president pro tempore
a. whip
The ___ is the most important person in the House of Representatives
a. majority leader
b. Speaker
c. whip
d. floor leader
b. Speaker
A ___ is an association of members of Congress created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest
a. caucus
b. bloc
c. committee
d. party
a. caucus
A ___ committee is made up of representatives and senators appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of a bill before final passage
a. joint
b. standing
c. conference
d. select
c. conference
The text suggests that the real work of Congress occurs___
a. during a fillibuster
b. in committees
c. on the campaign trail
d. in lobbying organizations
b. in committees
Members of Congress are more likely to deal with one another through _________ than through _________.
a. joint efforts in committee meetings; comments in the media
b. comments in the media; joint efforts in committee meetings
c. personal contact; staff intermediaries
d. staff intermediaries; personal contact
d. staff intermediaries; personal contact
Congress would rely on a ___ resolution to settle housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses
a. concurrent
b. simple
c. joint
d. discharge
a. concurrent
A ___ vote involves the members of the House of Representatives standing and being counted
a. voice
b. teller
c. roll-call
d. division
d. division
Which of the following statements regarding conference reports is NOT correct?
a. They can be accepted or rejected, but not amended.
b. They must be signed or vetoed by the president.
c. No decision can be made unless approved by the majority of each delegation.
d. They typically favor the view of the House.
d. They typically favor the view of the House.
Once the president vetoes a bill, it___
a. is thrown out and cannot be reconsidered for another six months
b. returns to the house of origin, where an effort can be made to override the veto
c. is then directly voted on by the people and can thus be overridden
d. cannot be amended
b. returns to the house of origin, where an effort can be made to override the veto
The franking privilege allows members of Congress to___
a. mail letters to their constituents free of charge
b. override a vote that doesn’t represent their consittuents
c. return campaign fund
d. earmark legislation for their constituents’ benefit
a. mail letters to their constituents free of charge
The majority of nations with party competition which are headed by a directly-elected president are in ________, and most of those using the democratic alternative of a prime minister as chief executive are in _________.
a. Africa; Western Europe
b. North America; South America
c. South America; Eastern Europe
d. North and South America; Western Europe
d. North and South America; Western Europe
In the United States, a unified government occurs when___
a. the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
b. the same party controls the White House and the House of Represenatives
c. one party controls the White House and another party controls Congress
d. there are no filibusters, and legislation is easily passed
a. the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
Compared to a British prime minister, an American president has___ability to decide what laws get passed
a. less
b. more
c. equal
d. little or no
a. less
The first plan suggested at the Constitutional Convention called for the president to be chosen by___
a. state legislatures
b. Congress
c. popular election
d. Supreme Court
b. Congress
All of the following are powers of the president alone EXCEPT the power to___
a. serve as commander-in-chief of the armed forces
b. grant reprieves and pardons for federal offenses (except impeachment)
c. appoint ambassadors, judges, and high officials
d. take care that the laws be faithfully executed
c. appoint ambassadors, judges, and high officials
The ___ is a process whereby electors, not citizens, from each state vote for the next president and vice president
a. state caucus
b. political convention
c. electoral college
d. national committee selection
c. electoral college
Within the electoral college, small states were protected by receiving a minimum of ___ electoral votes no matter how small the population.
a. ten
b. six
c. three
d. two
c. three
The Twenty-second Amendment formally limits presidents to ___ term(s) in office
a. one
b. two
c. three
d. four
b. two
The president’s persuasive powers are aimed at three audiences. Which of the following is NOT one of those audiences?
a. fellow politicians and leaders in Washington
b. the media
c. party activists and officeholders outside Washington
d. the public
b. the media
The “bully pulpit” is a phrase referring to the ___ advantageous power to guide or mobilize the American public
a. Senate’s
b. president’s
c. supreme court’s
d. media’s
b. president’s
Which of the following statements regarding signing statements is NOT correct?
a. President Obama has used them despite campaigning against their use.
b. They appeared early in history, as far back as the presidency of James Monroe.
c. Members of Congress generally favor such statements.
d. They can block the enforcement of a law Congress has passed.
c. Members of Congress generally favor such statements.
In a(n)___ structure of staff organization, cabinet secretaries and assistants report directly to the president.
a. intuitive
b. pyramid
c. circular
d. ad hoc
c. circular
The ___ method of staff organization poses the risk of isolating or misinforming the president
a. intuitive
b. pyramid
c. circular
d. ad hoc
b. pyramid
Unlike cabinet members in a parliamentary system, U.S. cabinet officers___
a. all come from the legislature
b. often alternate between jobs in federal government and ones in the private sector
c. are typically full-time career politicians
d. often make strong alliances with the White House staff
b. often alternate between jobs in federal government and ones in the private sector
An impeachment charge must be approved by a majority of___
a. the Senate
b. the Supreme Court
c. US House of Representatives
d. US registered voters
c. US House of Representatives
Which of the following is NOT an accurate characterization of “bureaucracy”?
a. must be responsive to public demands
b. can include a large corporation, a university or a government agency
c. a large, complex organization
d. authority divided among several managers
a. must be responsive to public demands
Government by ___ refers to the idea that Washington pays state and local governments and private groups to staff and administer federal programs
a. laissez-faire
b. proxy
c. discretionary authority
d. appropriation
b. proxy
The shift in the primary role of the federal bureaucracy that occurred between 1861 and 1901 was from ________ to _________.
a. commerce; regulation
b. regulation; service
c. economic regulation; tax regulation
d. federal services; state services
b. regulation; service
Between 1816 and 1861, the number of federal employees increased eightfold, in large part because of increased demands on traditional functions, most notably in___
a. foreign affairs
b. Social Security office
c. the railroads
d. the Post Office
d. the Post Office
___ is an economic theory that says government should not regulate or interfere with commerce.
a. Laissez-faire
b. Government by proxy
c. Removed bureaucracy
d. Discretionary authority
a. Laissez-faire
Which Amendment allowed for a federal income tax?
a. Fourteenth
b. Sixteenth
c. Thirteenth
d. Fifteenth
b. Sixteenth
The federal civil service system was designed to recruit people based on ___
a. merit
b. education
c. patronage
d. wealth
a. merit
___ is the ability of appointed officials to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws
a. Regulatory authoirty
b. Government by proxy
c. Discretionary authority
d. Appropriation
c. Discretionary authority
A Postal Service worker or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent would typically be part of the federal bureaucracy known as___
a. the excepted service
b. Schedule C positions
c. the merit service
d. the competitive service
a. the excepted service
The Pendleton Act of 1883 started___
a. the electoral college
b. federal income taxes
c. state patronage
d. the merit system
d. the merit system
Anyone who is removed from the Senior Executive Service is guaranteed___
a. ten years of salary as part of a separation agreement
b. training for the corporate world
c. a job elsewhere in government
d. health befits for up to ten years
c. a job elsewhere in government
When Congress is dealing with an appropriation, it is focusing on___
a. international monetary policy
b. money formally set aside for a specific use
c. budgeting for trade deficits
d. authorizing tax reform
b. money formally set aside for a specific use
A(n)___ is a requirement that an executive decision must lie before Congress for a specified period before it takes effect.
a. one house vote
b. appropriation
c. duplication
d. legislative veto
d. legislative veto
Each of the following statements regarding congressional investigations is correct EXCEPT:
a. the investigative power is not mentioned in the Constitution.
b. persons who ignore subpoenas cannot be punished for contempt.
c. Congress many compel a person to appear by issuing a subpoena.
d. investigations should not be for the sole purpose of exposing a private individual’s personal affairs.
b. persons who ignore subpoenas cannot be punished for contempt.
___refers to complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done.
a. Red tape
b. Iron triangle
c. Duplication
d. Imperialism
a. Red tape
___ is the right of the federal courts to declare laws of Congress and acts of the executive branch unconstitutional
a. Opinion of the Court
b. A litmus test
c. Political advocacy
d. Judicial review
d. Judicial review
The ___ approach is the method holding that judges should confine themselves to applying those rules stated in or clearly implied by the language of the Constitution
a. activist
b. judicial restraint
c. conservative
d. liberal
b. judicial restraint
The___approach argues that judges should discover the general principles underlying the Constitution and its often vague language, amplify those principles on the basis of some moral or economic philosophy, and apply them to cases.
a. activist
b. judicial restraint
c. conservative
d. liberal
a. activist
Which of the following statements concerning the Founders and the courts is INCORRECT?
a. Most Founders did not expect the Supreme Court to have the power of judicial review.
b. The Founders did not expect federal courts to play a large role in federal policymaking.
c. The Founders did not mention judicial review in the Constitution.
d. The Founders expected that the courts would find and apply existing law, not make it.
a. Most Founders did not expect the Supreme Court to have the power of judicial review.
In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court held that___
a. states could tax a federal bank and Congress could supersede state rulings
b. states could tax a federal bank and the Court could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional
c. the Court could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional and Congress could supersede state rulings
d. the federal government had the power to regulate intrastate commerce and states could tax a federal bank
c. the Court could declare an act of Congress unconstitutional and Congress could supersede state rulings
The Dred Scott case proved to be a catalyst for___
a. federal tax law revision
b. the separation of church and state
c. the Civil War
d. The Suffrage movement
c. the Civil War
From the end of the Civil War to the 1930s, the Supreme Court was primarily occupied with___
a. the civil rights of former slaves
b. economic regulation by government
c. the rights of the criminally accused
d. First Amendment freedoms
b. economic regulation by government
From 1937 to 1974, the Supreme Court focused on overturning acts of Congress that___
a. violated personal political liberties
b. regulated business
c. expanded federal power to regulate the economy
d. restricted states’ rights
a. violated personal political liberties
One basic difference between a constitutional court and a legislative court is that___
a. constitutional court judges handle cases that need not be decided by the SC
b. constitutional court judges cannot be fired
c. legislative court judges are not confirmed by the Senate
d. legislative court judges cannot be fired
b. constitutional court judges cannot be fired
Senatorial courtesy is an especially important consideration in nominations to___
a. legislative courts
b. courts of appeals
c. district courts
d. constitutional courts
c. district courts
The litmus testing of a judicial candidate is a test of the candidate’s ___
a. professional qualifications
b. ideology
c. political apsiriations
d. political knoweldge
b. ideology
When the Supreme Court issues a ___, it means four justices have agreed to hear a lower-court case
a. blue slip
b. writ of certiorari
c. in forma paurperis
d. class-action suit
b. writ of certiorari
Standing, in a federal court, refers to___
a. law enabling plaintiffs to collect costs from the defendant if the defendant loses
b. an examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge
c. a brief, unsigned court opinion
d. a legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit
d. a legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit
Under the rules governing standings, you cannot sue the government without its consent under the doctrine of___
a. sovereign immunity
b. stare decisis
c. diplomatic immunity
d. national supremacy
a. sovereign immunity
The famous Brown v. Board of Education case, in which the Supreme Court found that Linda Brown was denied equal protection of the laws due to segregation of Topeka public schools, is an example of___
a. hypothetical damages
b. a class-action suit
c. a politcal question
d. amicus curiae
b. a class-action suit
The ___ decides what cases the government will appeal from lower courts and personally approves every case the government presents to the Supreme Court.
a. solicitor general
b. attorney general
c. deputy attorney general
d. chief justice
a. solicitor general
All of the following justices are part of the Court’s “conservative bloc” EXCEPT___
a. Samuel Alito
b. John Roberts
c. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
d. Clarence Thomas
c. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The principle of precedent, or the informal rule of “let the decision stand,” is known as___
a. per curiam
b. stare decisis
c. amicus
d. immunity
b. stare decisis
A judicial order known as a remedy is set forth when a judge___
a. hears a cade during appeal
b. reverses existing law
c. feels he or she cannot be impartial
d. believes something to be wrong
d. believes something to be wrong
Which of the following does NOT represent a check on the judiciary by Congress?
a. Congress can alter the number of judicial positions in the federal judiciary.
b. Congress can alter the jurisdiction of lower federal courts.
c. Congress can impeach judges.
d. Congress can merely ignore Constitutional provisions if a majority concur.
d. Congress can merely ignore Constitutional provisions if a majority concur.
