Question 1

Describe how the quality of justice compares across state court systems.

Accepted Answer

The quality of justice in the state court systems is uneven.The state courts do not have enough resources to handle adequately the staggering load of cases thrust on them.Long delays are common,placing pressure on these systems to reduce the caseload through plea bargains and other mechanisms that increase the likelihood of arbitrary outcomes.Many judges,particularly those who operate in the lower courts,are poorly informed about the laws they are asked to apply.A few are downright incompetent,having acquired their positions simply because they had the political connections or name recognition to win a judicial election.Still,most states have made efforts in recent decades to raise the performance level of their court systems.

Question 2

The largest number of government employees work for

Accepted Answer

A) the federal government. 
B) state governments. 
C) local governments. 
D) the diplomatic corps. 
E) the military. 
A) the federal government. 
B) state governments. 
C) local governments. 
D) the diplomatic corps. 
E) the military. C

Question 3

The oldest form of local government in the United States is the

Accepted Answer

A) county government. 
B) municipal government. 
C) school district. 
D) special district. 
E) township government. 
A) county government. 
B) municipal government. 
C) school district. 
D) special district. 
E) township government. A

Question 4

Trends in state legislatures during recent decades include

Accepted Answer

A) longer sessions and increased pay for legislators. 
B) expansion in the size and professionalism of legislative staffs. 
C) a growing popularity of term limits as a means of restoring a citizen legislature. 
D) all of these: longer sessions and increased pay for legislators; expansion in the size and professionalism of legislative staffs; and the growing popularity of term limits as a means of restoring a citizen legislature. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) longer sessions and increased pay for legislators. 
B) expansion in the size and professionalism of legislative staffs. 
C) a growing popularity of term limits as a means of restoring a citizen legislature. 
D) all of these: longer sessions and increased pay for legislators; expansion in the size and professionalism of legislative staffs; and the growing popularity of term limits as a means of restoring a citizen legislature. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations noted that state legislatures

Accepted Answer

A) have become less functional in recent years. 
B) were less accountable to the public than ever before. 
C) were equipped with greater information handling capacity than their predecessors. 
D) were less representative than ever before. 
E) were less efficient than ever before. 
A) have become less functional in recent years. 
B) were less accountable to the public than ever before. 
C) were equipped with greater information handling capacity than their predecessors. 
D) were less representative than ever before. 
E) were less efficient than ever before.

Question 6

Explain the major sources of revenue for both state and local governments,and address the major constraint upon their ability to generate revenue.

Accepted Answer

States get most of their revenue from tw

Question 7

Instead of counties,________ has parishes and ________ has boroughs.

Accepted Answer

A) Louisiana; Alaska 
B) Washington; Oregon 
C) Maine; New Hampshire 
D) South Carolina; Florida 
E) Montana; Wyoming 
A) Louisiana; Alaska 
B) Washington; Oregon 
C) Maine; New Hampshire 
D) South Carolina; Florida 
E) Montana; Wyoming

Question 8

Of the executive officials other than the governor,typically the most powerful is the

Accepted Answer

A) attorney general. 
B) state treasurer. 
C) secretary of state. 
D) lieutenant governor. 
E) education commissioner. 
A) attorney general. 
B) state treasurer. 
C) secretary of state. 
D) lieutenant governor. 
E) education commissioner.

Question 9

Upwards of ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state courts.

Accepted Answer

A) 95 
B) 70 
C) 50 
D) 25 
E) 10 
A) 95 
B) 70 
C) 50 
D) 25 
E) 10

Question 10

A legislative measure placed on a statewide ballot by citizens who have collected a sufficient number of signatures by petition is called

Accepted Answer

A) a referendum. 
B) a recall. 
C) a citizens' bill. 
D) a charter. 
E) an initiative. 
A) a referendum. 
B) a recall. 
C) a citizens' bill. 
D) a charter. 
E) an initiative.

Question 11

About three-fourths of local revenue comes from

Accepted Answer

A) sales taxes. 
B) excise taxes. 
C) personal income taxes. 
D) property taxes. 
E) lottery profits. 
A) sales taxes. 
B) excise taxes. 
C) personal income taxes. 
D) property taxes. 
E) lottery profits.

Question 12

Which is a true statement about the commission system of municipal government?

Accepted Answer

A) Each commissioner is a member of the local council,and has executive and legislative functions. 
B) It has gained favor in recent decades. 
C) It tends to have very strong chief executives. 
D) Most large cities in the U.S.employ this governing system. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) Each commissioner is a member of the local council,and has executive and legislative functions. 
B) It has gained favor in recent decades. 
C) It tends to have very strong chief executives. 
D) Most large cities in the U.S.employ this governing system. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 13

Identify and describe the four forms of municipal government.

Accepted Answer

The traditional and most common type of

Question 14

Compared to the U.S.Constitution,state constitutions are typically

Accepted Answer

A) longer and less flexible. 
B) shorter and more flexible. 
C) longer and more flexible. 
D) shorter and less flexible. 
E) older. 
A) longer and less flexible. 
B) shorter and more flexible. 
C) longer and more flexible. 
D) shorter and less flexible. 
E) older.

Question 15

The longest state constitution still in effect today belongs to the state of

Accepted Answer

A) Vermont. 
B) Alabama. 
C) Louisiana. 
D) Maine. 
E) Idaho. 
A) Vermont. 
B) Alabama. 
C) Louisiana. 
D) Maine. 
E) Idaho.

Question 16

Explain how the strength of competition between the major parties affects state and local public policy.

Accepted Answer

Party competition has an important impac

Question 17

The traditional and most common form of municipal government is the

Accepted Answer

A) mayor-council system. 
B) commission system. 
C) city manager system. 
D) chief executive officer (CEO)system. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) mayor-council system. 
B) commission system. 
C) city manager system. 
D) chief executive officer (CEO)system. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 18

With regard to their legislative branch of government,

Accepted Answer

A) states are required by the Constitution to have a bicameral legislature. 
B) states are not required by the Constitution to have a bicameral legislature,but all of them do so. 
C) all but one of the states have a bicameral legislature. 
D) all states have a bicameral legislature,with the exception of those admitted to the Union since the Twentieth Amendment,which allows the choice of a unicameral legislature. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) states are required by the Constitution to have a bicameral legislature. 
B) states are not required by the Constitution to have a bicameral legislature,but all of them do so. 
C) all but one of the states have a bicameral legislature. 
D) all states have a bicameral legislature,with the exception of those admitted to the Union since the Twentieth Amendment,which allows the choice of a unicameral legislature. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 19

In most states,judges are

Accepted Answer

A) appointed by the governor. 
B) appointed by the legislature. 
C) elected by the people. 
D) appointed by a special judicial selection commission. 
E) appointed by the state supreme court. 
A) appointed by the governor. 
B) appointed by the legislature. 
C) elected by the people. 
D) appointed by a special judicial selection commission. 
E) appointed by the state supreme court.

Question 20

The sale of hard liquor in Utah was opposed for many years because of

Accepted Answer

A) philosophical conflicts between the governor and the state's legislature. 
B) the large numbers of Mormons who objected to liquor sales. 
C) the argument that liquor tax revenue would be insufficient to pay for the social costs of drunk driving. 
D) philosophical conflicts between the state legislature and state supreme court. 
E) the objections of wine and beer distributors to the sale of hard liquor. 
A) philosophical conflicts between the governor and the state's legislature. 
B) the large numbers of Mormons who objected to liquor sales. 
C) the argument that liquor tax revenue would be insufficient to pay for the social costs of drunk driving. 
D) philosophical conflicts between the state legislature and state supreme court. 
E) the objections of wine and beer distributors to the sale of hard liquor.

Describe how the quality of justice compares across state court systems.

The largest number of government employees work for

The oldest form of local government in the United States is the

Trends in state legislatures during recent decades include

The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations noted that state legislatures

Explain the major sources of revenue for both state and local governments,and address the major constraint upon their ability to generate revenue.

Instead of counties, has parishes and has boroughs.

Of the executive officials other than the governor,typically the most powerful is the

Upwards of ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state courts.

A legislative measure placed on a statewide ballot by citizens who have collected a sufficient number of signatures by petition is called

About three-fourths of local revenue comes from

Which is a true statement about the commission system of municipal government?

Identify and describe the four forms of municipal government.

Compared to the U.S.Constitution,state constitutions are typically

The longest state constitution still in effect today belongs to the state of

Explain how the strength of competition between the major parties affects state and local public policy.

The traditional and most common form of municipal government is the

With regard to their legislative branch of government,

In most states,judges are

The sale of hard liquor in Utah was opposed for many years because of

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Exam 18: State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

Describe how the quality of justice compares across state court systems.

The largest number of government employees work for

The oldest form of local government in the United States is the

Trends in state legislatures during recent decades include

The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations noted that state legislatures

Explain the major sources of revenue for both state and local governments,and address the major constraint upon their ability to generate revenue.

Instead of counties,________ has parishes and ________ has boroughs.

Of the executive officials other than the governor,typically the most powerful is the

Upwards of ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state courts.

A legislative measure placed on a statewide ballot by citizens who have collected a sufficient number of signatures by petition is called

About three-fourths of local revenue comes from

Which is a true statement about the commission system of municipal government?

Identify and describe the four forms of municipal government.

Compared to the U.S.Constitution,state constitutions are typically

The longest state constitution still in effect today belongs to the state of

Explain how the strength of competition between the major parties affects state and local public policy.

The traditional and most common form of municipal government is the

With regard to their legislative branch of government,

In most states,judges are

The sale of hard liquor in Utah was opposed for many years because of

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

Instead of counties, has parishes and has boroughs.