During the administrations of the first president, George Washington, and the second
president, John Adams,
A.Supreme Court rulings had a tremendously negative effect on presidential and other
federal powers.
B.state governments willingly surrendered powers to the federal government as
recognition of its superiority.
C.states’ rights and powers were supreme and uncontested.
D.the federal government cautiously but consistently increased its powers and reach.
E.the new nation came very close to anarchy and collapse.
Which theory says that public policy largely results from a variety of interest groups
competing with one another to promote laws that benefit members of their respective
groups?
A.cooperativism
B.majoritarianism
C.pluralism
D.capitalism
E.legalism
Approximately what percentage of Americans report that they have contributed money
to a political campaign?
A.less than 1 percent
B.5 percent
C.20 percent
D.30 percent
E.65 percent
Which state is the only one that does not have a bicameral legislature?
A.Alaska
B.Wyoming
C.Nebraska
D.New York
E.Texas
Ideological individuals who advocate that diplomacy rather than military action should
be the preferred means of protecting U.S. interests abroad are often referred to as
A.hawks.
B.republicans.
C.realists.
D.socialists.
E.isolationists.
The most common method used to determine public opinion is
A.a nationwide election.
B.the sales reports from nationwide marketing agencies.
C.the public opinion poll.
D.the Nielsen television ratings.
E.telephone and email contacts to the White House Press Office.
The Declaration of Independence states that when a government created by “the consent
of the governed” fails to protect their rights, the people have the right to
A.hold the president and Congress criminally liable.
B.file a lawsuit in the federal courts.
C.turn to the state governments for relief.
D.alter or abolish such government.
E.file actions in state courts against the federal government.
Who is considered the most influential justice to ever serve on the Supreme Court?
A.John Jay
B.Thurgood Marshall
C.John Marshall
D.Warren Burger
E.Oliver Wendell Holmes
A governor decides that he wants to explore a run for president. After six months the
prospective candidate cannot seem to generate any widespread interest or raise funds so
he drops out of consideration for the presidential election. This scenario is an example
of which of the presidential processes?
A.prenomination
B.nomination
C.national convention
D.general election
E.Electoral College
Especially aggressive and strict forms of law enforcement will likely cut down on
crime; however, what is another unintended impact of such a policy?
A.Police officers tend to be injured.
B.Police officers begin to act like a military force.
C.The cost to taxpayers is high and law-abiding citizens lose some of their individual
freedoms as well.
D.Innocent people are found guilty.
E.Too many people go to prison.
The most common structure for local governments is modeled on the executive and
legislative branches of the federal and 50 state governments. This is referred to as the
A.bicameral form of government.
B.republican form of government.
C.mayoral dominance form of government.
D.commission form of government.
E.mayor-council form of government.
When were the first television advertisements sold to major party candidates in a
presidential election?
A.1920
B.1932
C.1940
D.1952
E.1960
The twentieth century brought about significant changes in the presidency as evidenced
by Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Roosevelt, just in the first half
of the century. The “imperial presidency” is often noted as having taken root during this
era. What is meant by this term?
A.The president becomes a dictator and takes total control of the government.
B.The president assumes powers to act independently of Congress under certain
circumstances and to make significant decisions related to national security.
C.The office of president comes to be viewed as royalty with all its trappings.
D.The sons of presidents also assume the position, thus creating a de facto aristocracy.
E.The president becomes the uncontested leader of the free world.
A popular vote that, if successful, overturns legislation that is already passed at the state
or local level is referred to as a(n)
A.primary election.
B.referendum.
C.initiative.
D.electoral sweep.
E.recall.
During the Constitutional Convention of 1787 the final compromise of the state
delegations concerning slavery was
A.that slavery would be abolished.
B.that slavery would be declared as immoral and would be phased out over the next 30
years.
C.that slavery was of no significance in the new nation.
D.that a slave would be counted as a whole person for the purpose of representation in
Congress.
E.that a slave would count as three-fifths of a whole person for the purpose of
representation in Congress.
The primary argument of supply-side economic theory is
A.that too much demand for services will cause the supplier side to crash.
B.that there must be a supply of goods before there is a demand.
C.that high taxes take money out of the economy that would otherwise be invested in
goods and services.
D.that high taxes give government the funds it needs to stimulate the economy.
E.that the capitalist system is self-destructive.
A short-term decline in the economy characterized by sagging investment, falling
production, and increasing unemployment is called
A.a recession.
B.a depression.
C.inflation.
D.stagnation.
E.deflation.
According to Chief Justice John Marshall, ” the power to tax involves the power to
_______.”
A.inhibit states from promoting the general welfare
B.shirk the states’ constitutional obligations
C.facilitate interstate commerce
D.destroy
E.grow
The satisfaction that a group member receives from interacting with like-minded
individuals for a particular cause is referred to as
A.purposive benefit.
B.material benefit.
C.fraternity.
D.solidarity benefit.
E.bonding.
The primary function of state courts is
A.dispute resolution
B.making policy decisions
C.setting the agenda
D.hearing criminal cases
E.tax appropriation
How did the media assist in the ratification process of our U.S. Constitution in the
1780s?
A.Newspapers of the time were very objective, offering front-page articles for both
supporters and dissenters to debate their stances on ratification.
B.The media actually acted as antagonists during this process, as they were intent on
exposing on the weaknesses of the proposed Constitution.
C.Newspapers involved themselves in the partisan fights between Federalists and
Anti-Federalists over ratification by publishing news stories and editorial articles.
D.The British government successfully shut down the media during the Revolutionary
War so this was not a factor in the ratification process.
E.The media were incapable of assuming any roles in a political debate during this
time.
Philosophers such as John Locke argued that a body of law existed that predates the
formal creation of society and government. Locke argued that such laws are god-given,
exist within human beings from the time they are born, and are intrinsic in human
nature. This concept is referred to as
A.statutory law.
B.common law.
C.biblical law.
D.natural law.
E.moral law.
Though there was a 25 percent decline in the number of newspapers over the past
century, how many daily newspapers are still published in the United States today?
A.nearly 100
B.about 250
C.about 700
D.about 1,500
E.about 10,000
Following a war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848, the United States acquired
considerable territories and land. Which of the following modern states or parts of states
was NOT acquired by the United States as a result of the Mexican War?
A.Nevada
B.California
C.Florida
D.Texas
E.Wyoming
Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act?
A.because President Johnson misled Americans about the progress of the Vietnam War
B.because the president needs to have considerable discretion when waging war
C.to prevent future congresses from cutting off funding for military activities
D.to justify the use of military force against Iraq
E.to boost the morale of the Vietnam veterans
The amount of money that a government agency is authorized to spend in a single year
is called
A.revenue.
B.outlay.
C.budget authority.
D.bidding.
E.fiscal distribution.
As president, Abraham Lincoln thrived due to a rare combination of factors. Seen in
retrospect as an endearing historical figure, Lincoln was nonetheless an aggressive
politician. Which of the following was NOT one of the actions taken by Lincoln?
A.He suspended the writ of habeas corpus.
B.He spent U.S. Treasury funds without approval of Congress.
C.He ordered a military blockade of southern ports while Congress was in recess.
D.He ordered the states to provide 75,000 soldiers for battle.
E.He encouraged and nurtured a cooperative relationship between the executive and
legislative branches.
Which of the following would NOT be considered a factor in the general election
campaign?
A.whether an incumbent is running
B.who is picked for the number two position on the ticket
C.how advertising campaigns are waged
D.the presidential debates
E.how early the primary elections were held
What was the primary purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
A.It removed any artificial barrier to voter participation, including literacy tests and poll
taxes.
B.It required African Americans to prove that they are descendants of slaves before
being allowed to register to vote.
C.It made all elections a function of the federal government instead of the states.
D.It ensured an African American senator from every state within 50 years.
E.It reinstated the racial restrictions on voter registration, especially in southern states.
Many scholars use which of the following as a general definition of public opinion?
A.the official results of an election
B.the summation of individual opinions on any particular topic or issue
C.the results of a Gallup opinion poll
D.the views of elected officials as to the direction of the nation
E.the collective political preferences of the majority of citizens
The Framers divided foreign policy powers between
A.the Democrats and the Republicans.
B.Congress and the Supreme Court.
C.Congress and the president.
D.the president and the Supreme Court.
E.the states and the federal government.