The first woman to be speaker of the U.S. House is
A.Shirley Chisholm.
B.Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
C.Nancy Pelosi.
D.Olympia Snow.
E.Dianne Feinstein.
What is the purpose of the Federal Communication Commission’s “equal time rule”?
A.It mandates the amount of time that a station is allowed to broadcast politically
oriented programs.
B.It mandates that media outlets must give free time to the government to advocate for
its tax-supported programs.
C.It mandates radio and television stations to sell or give equal amounts of air time to
all political candidates who want to broadcast advertisements.
D.It restricts the amount of political advertising that a newspaper may carry in
comparison to television.
E.It requires a station to allot equal time slots to every candidate who is running for
political office regardless of party affiliation.
What is the primary social purpose for the rules and practices of the criminal justice
system?
A.to incarcerate criminal offenders and keep the streets safe for innocent citizens
B.to make it difficult to convict a person charged with a crime
C.to strike a careful balance between maintaining public order and protecting individual
freedoms
D.to restrict abuse of police power in the name of crime prevention
E.to protect crime victims
The government established under the Articles of Confederation was unable to ensure
that states abided by
A.The Treaty of Paris.
B.The Great Compromise.
C.Second Treatise on Civil Government.
D.The Townshend Acts.
E.The Virginia Plan.
One major factor that served as a catalyst to lift the United States out of the Great
Depression of the 1930s was
A.the onset of World War II.
B.the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.
C.a major depression in Europe.
D.federal deregulation.
E.an increased education level nationwide.
As the courts and legislatures cleared the books of laws that legalized racial
discrimination, affirmative action developed in the 1970s as a new tactic. What was its
purpose?
A.It required that the employment process be color-blind and that race not be
mentioned.
B.It required that the federal government’s agencies approve all employment decisions
to ensure compliance.
C.It intentionally encouraged lawsuits against private companies as a way of bringing
them into compliance.
D.It created a remedy for discriminatory hiring practices of the past and present
whereby preference, in certain circumstances, could be given to minorities.
E.It created policies that made it more difficult to hire or promote a white employee.
________ caused Americans to question the policy agenda of the containment doctrine.
A.World War II
B.The Korean War
C.The Vietnam War
D.The invasion of Panama
E.The invasion of Iraq
If one state does not have a death penalty, can that state refuse to return a fugitive to
face a possible death penalty in another state?
A.Yes. It is a moral obligation.
B.No. According to Article IV of the U.S. Constitution, states must respect and uphold
the extradition laws of other states.
C.No. Congress has approved the death penalty for all states.
D.No. Death penalty cases take precedent over other criminal cases.
E.Yes. But this is true only if the federal court intervenes and orders the prisoner’s
transfer.
In Schenck v. U.S. (1919), the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could ban certain
types of speech if they promote
A.efforts to overthrow the government.
B.a threat to law and order.
C.seditious acts.
D.a clear and present danger to society.
E.disparaging remarks about government policies.
What term is used to encompass all of a nation’s activities that are directed at
conducting relations with other countries, including military operations and diplomatic
activities?
A.international exchange
B.defense policy
C.foreign policy
D.comprehensive policy
E.state of the union
Arms limitation treaties and reduced tensions with the Soviet Union in the 1970s gave
way to increased tensions and confrontations in the early 1980s. President Reagan
outlined a new initiative called the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars,” as
the press dubbed it. What was the basic goal of SDI?
A.The United States, it was later determined, intended to launch pre-emptive attacks on
the Soviet Union from outer space using SDI.
B.The SDI would take the realm of war into space versus the earth’s surface, thus future
war would destroy only equipment and not lives.
C.There would be an antimissile system based on the use of lasers and particle beams to
shoot down Soviet nuclear missiles in outer space.
D.The SDI was to be a military base on the moon that could launch stealth responses to
threats on earth.
E.There would be no need for infantry units, as military actions would be fought from
vast distances using virtual technologies.
Out of World War II emerged two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union,
which became locked into a half-century struggle of indirect hostilities. This struggle
was referred to as
A.the Communist resistance.
B.American expansionism.
C.the Russo-European War.
D.the Cold War.
E.the East-West alliance.
From 4 percent of all Americans in 1900 to ____ today, Americans over 65 years of age
make up a rapidly growing demographic group with considerably increased political
influence.
A.5 percent
B.8 percent
C.13 percent
D.25 percent
E.40 percent
The first political “talk show” was
A.distributed on news reel to movie theaters prior to World War II.
B.Joe Pyne’s show in 1950 on KABC radio.
C.Walter Cronkite’s news broadcasts of the 1960s on ABC television.
D.developed with the advent of cable news, such as CNN, in the 1970s.
E.Meet the Press on television in the 1960s.
After the Constitutional Convention, those who opposed the drive for ratification were
known as the
A.Whigs.
B.Republicans.
C.Anti-Federalists.
D.Tories.
E.Federalists.
Which agency has the primary responsibility for most foreign relations contacts and
policy programs?
A.Department of Homeland Security
B.Attorney General’s Office
C.Department of Defense
D.Department of State
E.United States Embassies
An interesting “fatal characteristic” of some white abolitionists such as William Lloyd
Garrison, who published the abolitionist periodical The Liberator, was that
A.they did not have the political clout to complete the task.
B.these abolitionists were martyred for their beliefs.
C.because they were white, many slaves did not trust them and would not cooperate.
D.even these abolitionists, though opposed to slavery, did not believe that freed slaves
should have the same full citizenship rights of white citizens.
E.their work sparked outrage and ignited lynchings and other criminal acts.
When the U.S. Senate enters into endless debate as a procedural tactic to block a vote
on the Senate floor, other senators may call for a(n) _____ vote, which immediately
ends debate and forces a vote on the issue.
A.filibuster
B.cloture
C.closed rule
D.open rule
E.censure
In regard to the powers of the federal government, which of the following was an
important aspect of the Fifteenth Amendment?
A.The amendment removed the powers of the state governments to regulate voting and
gave all of the powers to the federal government.
B.The state governments came together to remove any influence that the federal
government had over voting.
C.It gave the federal government total control over the regulation of slavery.
D.It granted addition and important powers to the federal government to enforce voting
rights over the states.
E.It prohibited the federal government from intervening in state laws and regulations.
Which of the following is NOT a primary reason that size of membership makes an
interest group more effective?
A.The larger the membership, the more direct benefits to each member.
B.A large membership has an advantage in raising funds to support its activities.
C.Large membership alone makes elected leaders responsive to a group’s concerns.
D.There is “power in numbers.”
E.It is recognized that a large membership can exert influence by endorsing, or refusing
to endorse, a particular candidate.
The Department of Commerce and Labor was established by ________ to oversee and
regulate intolerable labor practices and employer-employee relations.
A.Abraham Lincoln
B.James A. Garfield
C.Teddy Roosevelt
D.Franklin Delano Roosevelt
E.Dwight Eisenhower
Voter registration in the United States
A.is automatic at age 18.
B.must be done by the individual.
C.is required by law for everyone over age 21.
D.is not necessary for college students who wish to vote.
E.was made more difficult by the Motor Voter Act.
Political action committees (PACs) were established in 1974 by the
A.Clayton Act.
B.Simmons and Gardner Act.
C.Lobbying Disclosure Act.
D.Open Government Act.
E.Federal Election Campaign Act.
Which of the following is a primary argument by supporters of the current system of
American health care in which most patients secure health care insurance on their own?
A.The government cannot be trusted to make medically related decisions.
B.Overall it keeps taxes lower.
C.This system allows more choice in doctors and facilities than citizens in most other
parts of the world.
D.Other federal initiatives such as Medicaid are very ineffective.
E.It is the less expensive alternative.
What is the constitutional authority under which presidents have waged war?
A.The Constitution specifies that the president declares war.
B.The Constitution calls the president to be commander in chief.
C.In Baker v. Carr, the Supreme Court declared that the constitutional Authority to
wage war is implied by the penumbras of Article I, Section 8 and Article III, Section 3.
D.The Bill of Rights gives the president authority to “protect and defend the
Constitution by whatever means necessary.”
E.Presidents have relied on the executive privilege clause to justify waging war.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, membership from each state is based upon
A.political party strength.
B.appointment by the governor.
C.equal representation from each state.
D.population of the state.
E.amount of funding allotted by the previous Congress.
What effect did the events of September 11, 2001 have on Muslim Americans?
A.The events strengthened their power in the United States.
B.The events led to Congress forbidding the practice of Islam in the United States.
C.Muslim Americans were identified and placed into an internment camp in
Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
D.The USA Patriot Act was enacted by Congress and many Muslim Americans felt that
such laws single them out as a special source of worry and scrutiny.
E.They were made to reaffirm their allegiance to the United States.
Though never explicitly intended, which of the following has been a positive benefit of
the competition for power between the two major parties?
A.Competition has been successful in keeping the government weak and under control.
B.The struggles between the two parties have kept third parties from confusing the
goals of democracy.
C.Competition has proven to be a significant check against tyranny.
D.The two parties have been able to retain control of the government in the proper
hands.
E.Most observers doubt that there are any positive benefits from political parties.
Abolitionists worked toward
A.a rapid end to slavery.
B.abolishing suffrage rights for women.
C.guaranteeing the continued existence of slavery in any new state added to the union.
D.the emancipation of women.
E.repealing the Civil War Amendments.
Political philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed that the essence of government is
A.to make all people happy to the extent that this is possible.
B.to manage naturally occurring conflicts.
C.to repress any opposition to the legitimate government.
D.that it has no moral authority.
E.to produce wealth for every human being.
In 2003 the U.S. Supreme Court revisited the Bakke decision in the case of Grutter v.
Bollinger. What was the Court’s ruling in this 2003 case concerning affirmative action?
A.It reversed Bakke and stated that such programs punish non-minorities who played no
role at all in the original discriminatory practices.
B.It ruled that the racial divide that exists in this country may be exacerbated by
affirmative action.
C.It ruled that affirmative action programs are explicit racial classifications, and as such
they violate the principle of a “color-blind” society.
D.It ruled that economically privileged African Americans who do not need such
assistance may benefit at the expense of less privileged African Americans who have
greater needs.
E.It reaffirmed the ruling in Bakke that allows race to be used as one of several positive
factors in the admission process.
From what sources does the U.S. Supreme Court receive its appeals?
A.All appeals are forwarded from the federal system’s lower appellate courts.
B.Nearly all cases are appealed from the state courts.
C.Most cases are referred to the Supreme Court by the executive branch.
D.About half of the cases heard by the Supreme Court come from federal appellate
courts and the other half come from the fifty state supreme courts.
E.The majority of Supreme Court appellate cases originated in the military courts.
What is a “think-tank”?
A.a government trust fund that supplies scholarships for low income youth
B.a military intelligence agency
C.an organization that does intensive research and problem solving, either on behalf of
other entities, or on their own
D.a group of college professors that form associations to influence law
E.a slang term using a slight to refer to a large university
Eliminating government oversight and laws concerning certain activities, resulting in
less government intervention, is referred to as
A.bureaucracy.
B.downsizing.
C.outsourcing.
D.deregulation.
E.privatization.
Compare and contrast the spoils system with a merit-based system. What are the
advantages and disadvantages of each system? Which system would you prefer? Why?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Discuss the direct impact of the 1964 Civil Rights Act on the rights of African
Americans.
Answer:Answers may vary.
How is the number of electoral votes determined for each state? Many states have
debated changes to the process by which electoral votes are awarded. Can such changes
be made and, if so, what are options?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
In the United States there are nearly 90,000 local government entities. What are some of
the different forms of local government? What is the role of these entities within their
state governments?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
The U.S. Supreme Court plays a unique role in the American system of federalism.
What was the Court’s role during the national supremacy period? How had its role
changed by the new federalism period? Overall, how has it been utilized over the years
in the struggles over federalism?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Discuss the criteria for nominating Supreme Court justices and the process by which the
nominees are confirmed. How has the process changed in recent years?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
The Supreme Court has clearly refused to halt the use of the death penalty in the United
States. However, through various opinions the Court has made a number of exceptions
to its finding that the death penalty is not unconstitutional. List and discuss some of
these exceptions.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
What are some of the reasons that certain interest groups are more powerful than
others? Name several of the most powerful interest groups in existence today. What
factors may have led to their rise in American politics?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
What is meant by “divided government”? Describe how divided government, though it
sounds negative, may actually have a very beneficial effect on a democracy.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Discuss the concept of “power of the incumbency.” What is meant by the term? Do you
feel that it is a realistic phenomenon? What advantages would an incumbent have over
an inexperienced challenger?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Describe the impact of entitlements on the budgetary process.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Discuss the role of the executive branch in foreign policy making
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Article III of the U.S. Constitution creates the judicial branch and the U.S. Supreme
Court, yet it describes little as to the powers of the Court. Describe the case of Marbury
v. Madison (1803) and the reasons for its importance. Discuss its impact on checks and
balances among the branches of government.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
Discuss the impact of third parties in American political history. Have they generally
been successful? Describe some of the most significant third-party presidential
campaigns.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
The U.S. Constitution provides that the vice president is next in the line of succession to
the president should the president leave office early or become unable to perform
official duties. Historically, what has been the role of the vice president and the
relationship to the president? How have those roles changed in the past 30 years?
Answer:
Answers may vary.
What is meant by political socialization? What is meant by primacy tendency? Describe
how the following agents of political socialization impact the opinions and preferences
of an individual: family, friends and peers, schools, media, and religion.
Answer:
Answers may vary.
All fifty states have certain commonalities. Name several elements that are common
among all states. Describe how states differ in their governmental structure and give at
least two examples. What is the purpose of state constitutions, and how do they differ?
Answer:
Answers may vary.