Which of the following would NOT be included in a list of “new media”?
A.cell phones
B.DVDs
C.fax machines
D.cable television
E.magazines
If a young child is asked to identify a photograph of the current President of the United
States, what would account for his/her selection of George Washington’s image?
A.game theory
B.prisoner’s dilemma
C.Stockholm syndrome
D.historical propaganda
E.political socialization
By the 1930s the federal bureaucracy had grown significantly. In response, President
Roosevelt in 1936 created the Brownlow Commission. What was the purpose of this
commission?
A.to identify funding sources in order to expand the federal government’s reach
B.to investigate ways in which the president could circumvent the powers of Congress
C.to reduce the number of federal agencies
D.to investigate how to make the growing bureaucracy more efficient and more
responsive to the president
E.to expand U.S. military powers throughout Europe and Asia
By far the most significant result of the Annapolis Convention in September 1786 was
A.a call to all 13 states to attend a convention in Philadelphia the following May to
create a constitution for the federal government.
B.the emergence of Alexander Hamilton as a leader.
C.the formation of the Supreme Court.
D.the solidification of George Washington’s power as president of the United States.
E.its location.
The period spanning roughly 1837 to 1937 is considered by many scholars as a period
of dual federalism. This period included the tenure of Chief Justice Roger Taney until
the early years of President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal. Why is this era
referred to as dual federalism?
A.During this time the state courts and the federal courts had equal powers and
jurisdiction.
B.The jurisdiction between the state and federal governments was hard to differentiate.
C.The Supreme Court refused to give Congress the discretionary authority it enjoyed
during earlier eras, yet the Court did not return to the doctrine of state sovereignty.
D.The Supreme Court made rulings that returned our nation to a period that was twice
as committed to a strong central government.
E.The pendulum would constantly swing between state powers and federal powers.
What was the significance of Ralph Nader’s work in the 1960s and 1970s?
A.Nader was a Socialist candidate for president who turned many Americans toward his
ideology.
B.Nader recruited a small army of young college graduates to advance Socialist causes
in the United States.
C.Nader was a staunch defender of growing corporate influence in the United States
following the war.
D.Nader was an influential consumer advocate who recruited young activists to
successfully challenge the safety and health problems created by large corporations
during this era.
E.Nader led the student takeovers of many of the university campuses during this era in
protest of American involvement in Vietnam.
Which of the following would NOT be considered a role of elementary and primary
schools in the development of political values?
A.respect for authority
B.legitimacy of political institutions
C.patriotism
D.development of religious beliefs
E.capitalism
Under the _______ Amendment, the police may search things in plain view.
A.Third
B.Fourth
C.Fifth
D.Sixth
E.Eighth
In the twentieth century the Supreme Court became increasingly more willing to protect
individuals against intrusive state actions. What instrument gave the Supreme Court this
authority?
A.the Civil Rights Act of 1871
B.the Alien and Sedition Acts
C.the First Amendment, which guaranteed freedom of speech
D.the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed due process of law by the states
E.the free exercise clause
During Page and Shapiro’s 1992 study, they also investigated the link between public
opinion and public policy. What was their finding?
A.The public expects its elected representatives to seek its opinion before developing
public policy.
B.There is very little correlation between public opinion and public policy.
C.When public opinion shifts, a corresponding shift in public policy is likely to follow.
D.Since public opinion is impossible to be accurately determined, public opinion cannot
be impacted.
E.Divisive partisan politics have the impact of creating impasse, whereby public
opinion becomes irrelevant to enactment of public policy.
The federal Cabinet-level agency that has the primary charge of protecting the nation
from terrorism and responding to emergency situations is the
A.State Department.
B.Central Intelligence Agency.
C.Department of Homeland Security.
D.Department of Justice.
E.Department of Defense.
The U.S. presidential election takes place every four years on the
A.first Tuesday in November.
B.second Tuesday in November.
C.the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
D.the Tuesday after the second Monday in November.
E.third Tuesday in November.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is
A.a ratio that is based on market values that is used by insurance companies to set rates
on businesses.
B.a government comparison of prices across major department stores.
C.the total of all annual sales in the private retail sector.
D.an index of prices for goods and services regularly traded in the economy.
E.a government issued tool for fixing prices in the private sector.
Approximately what percentage of Americans recently reported religion as an important
part of their lives?
A.10 percent
B.20 percent
C.30 percent
D.50 percent
E.80 percent
Which of the following scenarios exemplifies the President’s role as chief of state?
A.Obama’s reception for the Super Bowl Champions
B.Nixon’s trip to China in 1972
C.Eisenhower’s use of troops to integrate public schools in Little Rock, Arkansas
D.Clinton’s effort to reform the welfare system
E.George W. Bush’s order to use military force in Afghanistan
An election that results in a clear shifting of voter preferences from one party to
another, or that clearly solidifies a party’s unity, is referred to as a
A.realigning, or critical, election.
B.divisive, or polarizing, election.
C.party election, or political sweep.
D.party overthrow.
E.sectionalization.
Which of the following would NOT be included in a list of values that have been
traditionally instilled in individuals through religion and religious institutions?
A.individualism
B.strong work ethic
C.support of capitalism
D.sense of morality and moral purpose
E.partisanship
What is meant by “open seat election”?
A.Voters from either party can vote for any candidate.
B.Anyone can file as a candidate for the seat.
C.Neither candidate is an incumbent.
D.Neither candidate has declared a party affiliation.
E.Non-registered citizens may still cast votes if they prove residency.
In the early days of American democracy, state legislatures chose electors who then cast
two votes for president of the United States. Why cast two votes?
A.One vote was for their state and the other vote for the other states.
B.If voters rejected the electors’ first choice, then the second place finisher became the
winner.
C.If one candidate was ruled as ineligible, it would not be necessary to hold another
election.
D.The candidate with the most votes became president, while the second-place
candidate became the vice president.
E.To ensure that the vote totals were the same.
What was the practical purpose for publication of The Federalist essays in 1788?
A.to allow an avenue for posting opposing political viewpoints
B.to act as a political party platform for the Federalist party
C.to explain and defend the new Constitution and to urge its ratification
D.to expose the immorality inherent in eighteenth-century society
E.to advocate for James Madison’s campaign for president
An executive order of the president
A.is not enforceable.
B.serves as a recommendation of legislation for Congress to consider.
C.has the effect of law.
D.is a type of presidential veto.
E.determines how much funding the president’s policy priorities will receive.
Which of the following best describes the relationship of interest groups to political
candidates and elections?
A.Interest groups represent the primary funding mechanism for political parties.
B.Interest groups are de facto political parties in that their functions are identical.
C.Interest groups do not field candidates but have a vested interest in political parties,
their candidates, and electoral outcomes, while political parties are created in order to
field candidates for elective office and to influence policy development.
D.Interest groups and political parties are mutually exclusive since their purposes and
motives are opposites.
E.Interest groups are strictly regulated by law, whereas political parties have little or no
restrictions.
At the time the Constitution was adopted, which of the following powers was not
granted to the federal government?
A.The power to levy a national income tax.
B.The power to make all laws necessary and proper to execute the enumerated powers.
C.The power to coin money.
D.The power to conduct foreign relations.
E.The power to declare war.
Observers often list the first stage of a presidential election as the pre-nomination
campaign that occurs shortly after a presidential election is concluded. What occurs
during this phase?
A.The candidates for the next presidential election must be selected so that they have
the full four years to campaign.
B.Political parties hold primary elections to determine who they can accept as possible
candidates.
C.The president appoints committees from each party to begin searching for his
competitors in the next election.
D.Possible candidates begin to test the waters, raise money, attract media attention, and
try to sway support of influential party members.
E.The political parties hold their national conventions to plot the campaign for the next
four years.
Which of the following is a check by the legislative branch on the powers of the
executive branch?
A.Congress may rule that a presidential action is unconstitutional
B.The Supreme Court may veto presidential orders.
C.The Supreme Court recommends legislation to the judicial branch that is assured to
pass constitutional muster.
D.The president may veto a law passed by the legislative branch.
E.The Senate must consent to all presidential appointees to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives is the
A.Speaker of the House.
B.Majority Leader of the House.
C.Majority Whip.
D.Sergeant at Arms.
E.Vice President of the United States.
What is the most common method used to amend the U.S. Constitution?
A.by a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress
B.by simple majority of the voters of the United States
C.by approval from two-thirds of the state legislatures and the signature of the president
D.by voter approval and the ruling of the Supreme Court on its constitutionality
E.by two-thirds of both chambers of Congress or two-thirds of state legislatures, then
ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures
The responsibility for administering all elections lies with
A.city governments working with the federal government.
B.county governments.
C.the states, with the assistance of local governments.
D.the federal and state courts.
E.the federal government.
The era of cooperative federalism was rooted in the Great Depression struggles of the
late 1930s. How did cooperative federalism differ from the previous era of dual
federalism?
A.Cooperative federalism acted as a return to the strict doctrine of state powers.
B.Cooperative federalism increased the powers of the federal government when
necessary, but retained basic state powers.
C.Cooperative federalism was an arrangement whereby the state governments were
allowed to approve all Supreme Court rulings.
D.The Supreme Court had no authority under the dual federalism arrangement so the
state governments cooperatively granted the Court its necessary powers.
E.State supreme courts continued to be the supreme authority in the national
government structure.
Which of the following best describes the frequency with which vetoes are overridden?
A.Vetoes are rarely overridden.
B.About one-fourth of all vetoes are overridden.
C.About half of all vetoes are overridden.
D.Vetoes are frequently overridden during divided government.
E.Vetoes are frequently overridden when the presidency and Congress are controlled by
the same party.
Historically the news media have been effective as checks against governmental power
and have been trusted by most Americans. Because of their protections by the First
Amendment and their ability to check governmental powers, the media are often
referred to as
A.the agitator.
B.the fourth branch of government.
C.the government’s police.
D.the mediator of government.
E.the voice of the people.
Public support for interest groups is varied. James Madison, especially in his Federalist
No. 10, argued that
A.interest groups are good for society because they give citizens alternative methods of
influencing government.
B.interest groups, because they are dangerous, should be banned by legislation.
C.interest groups could not be eliminated without destroying liberty itself.
D.interest groups lead to insurrection in government.
E.interest groups are harmless methods of building camaraderie and fellowship among
citizens.
Native Americans, who suffered the forcible loss of their tribal lands, received full
citizenship rights as United States citizens in
A.1787.
B.1800.
C.1865.
D.1924.
E.1970.
Which government agency created in the early 1970s is charged with establishing
workplace safety standards and enforcing them?
A.Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
B.Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
C.Employment Security Commission (ESC)
D.Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
E.Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)