Question 1

States with intense political party competition are more likely to

Accepted Answer

A) pursue policies that benefit a wider range of groups. 
B) have lower rates of voter turnout. 
C) ignore the poorest groups. 
D) have corrupt bureaucrats. 
E) have corrupt judges. 
A) pursue policies that benefit a wider range of groups. 
B) have lower rates of voter turnout. 
C) ignore the poorest groups. 
D) have corrupt bureaucrats. 
E) have corrupt judges.

Question 2

Which of the following is true of constitutional initiatives?

Accepted Answer

A) Most states use constitutional initiatives as a method of amending state constitutions. 
B) They are placed on a popular ballot when two-thirds of the state legislature vote for the proposed initiative. 
C) A citizen or group can place a proposed amendment on the ballot in the next election if enough signatures are acquired. 
D) If a proposed amendment gets majority support in the election vote,it is then voted on by the state legislature. 
E) If a proposed amendment gets majority support in the election vote,it must be approved by the governor to become a full amendment. 
A) Most states use constitutional initiatives as a method of amending state constitutions. 
B) They are placed on a popular ballot when two-thirds of the state legislature vote for the proposed initiative. 
C) A citizen or group can place a proposed amendment on the ballot in the next election if enough signatures are acquired. 
D) If a proposed amendment gets majority support in the election vote,it is then voted on by the state legislature. 
E) If a proposed amendment gets majority support in the election vote,it must be approved by the governor to become a full amendment.

Question 3

Many states use the sales tax,which

Accepted Answer

A) places a relatively heavy burden on lower-income citizens. 
B) is usually applied to mortgage payments,which bring in the largest percentage of revenue from sales taxes. 
C) accounts for about half of state revenue for all states combined. 
D) is a progressive tax. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) places a relatively heavy burden on lower-income citizens. 
B) is usually applied to mortgage payments,which bring in the largest percentage of revenue from sales taxes. 
C) accounts for about half of state revenue for all states combined. 
D) is a progressive tax. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 4

Which of the following is true about school districts in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

A) Most districts are run by the mayor or city council. 
B) Most districts in the U.S.resemble comparable districts found in Europe. 
C) Most districts are run by local,independent school boards. 
D) Most districts are run by administrators appointed by state governments. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) Most districts are run by the mayor or city council. 
B) Most districts in the U.S.resemble comparable districts found in Europe. 
C) Most districts are run by local,independent school boards. 
D) Most districts are run by administrators appointed by state governments. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

The Fifteenth Amendment

Accepted Answer

A) preserved the control by states over education policy. 
B) protected states from undue policy influence by the federal government. 
C) prohibited states from denying suffrage on the basis of race. 
D) compelled states to respect the laws of other states. 
E) gave the federal government the authority to regulate commerce between states. 
A) preserved the control by states over education policy. 
B) protected states from undue policy influence by the federal government. 
C) prohibited states from denying suffrage on the basis of race. 
D) compelled states to respect the laws of other states. 
E) gave the federal government the authority to regulate commerce between states.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of local elections?

Accepted Answer

A) Most communities have an elected town or city council,which then appoints a mayor. 
B) In most states,no party labels appear on the ballot. 
C) Most school boards are appointed but are then subject to approval by local ballot. 
D) Voting in local elections is subject to registration laws developed by the county or municipality. 
E) Turnout for local elections in most states hovers around 40 percent. 
A) Most communities have an elected town or city council,which then appoints a mayor. 
B) In most states,no party labels appear on the ballot. 
C) Most school boards are appointed but are then subject to approval by local ballot. 
D) Voting in local elections is subject to registration laws developed by the county or municipality. 
E) Turnout for local elections in most states hovers around 40 percent.

Question 7

The policy area that accounts for the largest portion of state and local government spending is

Accepted Answer

A) public education. 
B) public welfare. 
C) law enforcement. 
D) public health and hospitals. 
E) garbage collection. 
A) public education. 
B) public welfare. 
C) law enforcement. 
D) public health and hospitals. 
E) garbage collection.

Question 8

Police power emanates from the ________ Amendment of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) Tenth 
B) Fifteenth 
C) Sixth 
D) Fourteenth 
E) Fourth 
A) Tenth 
B) Fifteenth 
C) Sixth 
D) Fourteenth 
E) Fourth

Question 9

Unlike the nation's chief executive,most state chief executives have the power to

Accepted Answer

A) initiate the budget. 
B) head the bureaucracy. 
C) appoint judges. 
D) use the line-item veto. 
E) appoint blue-ribbon panels. 
A) initiate the budget. 
B) head the bureaucracy. 
C) appoint judges. 
D) use the line-item veto. 
E) appoint blue-ribbon panels.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of state governorships?

Accepted Answer

A) Roughly half the states impose a two-term limit on their governors. 
B) Roughly half the states restrict their governors to a single term. 
C) Governors have lost power in recent decades as a result of the growing complexity of legislative issues. 
D) The initiation of the state budget resides with the state legislature in nearly every state,and with the governor in only a handful. 
E) The state constitutional model for weak governors no longer applies in any of the states. 
A) Roughly half the states impose a two-term limit on their governors. 
B) Roughly half the states restrict their governors to a single term. 
C) Governors have lost power in recent decades as a result of the growing complexity of legislative issues. 
D) The initiation of the state budget resides with the state legislature in nearly every state,and with the governor in only a handful. 
E) The state constitutional model for weak governors no longer applies in any of the states.

Question 11

With programs such as TANF and food stamps,

Accepted Answer

A) states have discretionary authority over benefit and eligibility levels,but must operate within federal guidelines. 
B) states have discretionary authority over benefit and eligibility levels and are not subject to federal guidelines. 
C) states have discretionary authority over benefit levels but not eligibility levels,which are set at the federal level. 
D) states have discretionary authority over eligibility levels,but not benefit levels,which are set at the federal level. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) states have discretionary authority over benefit and eligibility levels,but must operate within federal guidelines. 
B) states have discretionary authority over benefit and eligibility levels and are not subject to federal guidelines. 
C) states have discretionary authority over benefit levels but not eligibility levels,which are set at the federal level. 
D) states have discretionary authority over eligibility levels,but not benefit levels,which are set at the federal level. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 12

The Missouri Plan provides for

Accepted Answer

A) a review of the qualifications of potential judges by a judicial selection commission. 
B) the governor to select a judge from a short list of candidates submitted by a selection commission. 
C) an approval vote by the electorate after the judge has served a trial period. 
D) all of these: a review of the qualifications of potential judges; the governor to select a judge from a short list of candidates submitted by a selection commission; and an approval vote by the electorate after a trial period. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) a review of the qualifications of potential judges by a judicial selection commission. 
B) the governor to select a judge from a short list of candidates submitted by a selection commission. 
C) an approval vote by the electorate after the judge has served a trial period. 
D) all of these: a review of the qualifications of potential judges; the governor to select a judge from a short list of candidates submitted by a selection commission; and an approval vote by the electorate after a trial period. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 13

A major reason why state and local governments are constrained in their ability to generate revenue through taxation is

Accepted Answer

A) an insufficient tax base. 
B) competition from other states and localities. 
C) federal government restrictions on state and local income tax rates. 
D) judicial restrictions on state and local income tax rates. 
E) inadequate enforcement staff. 
A) an insufficient tax base. 
B) competition from other states and localities. 
C) federal government restrictions on state and local income tax rates. 
D) judicial restrictions on state and local income tax rates. 
E) inadequate enforcement staff.

Question 14

Regarding the judicial branch in each state,it is true that

Accepted Answer

A) each state has its own separate court system. 
B) the states have both trial courts and appellate courts. 
C) most states have district-level courts and a supreme court. 
D) states vary in their methods of selecting judges. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) each state has its own separate court system. 
B) the states have both trial courts and appellate courts. 
C) most states have district-level courts and a supreme court. 
D) states vary in their methods of selecting judges. 
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 15

The broad power of state governments to regulate health,safety,and morals of the citizenry is called

Accepted Answer

A) express power. 
B) police power. 
C) public welfare power. 
D) implied power. 
E) commerce power. 
A) express power. 
B) police power. 
C) public welfare power. 
D) implied power. 
E) commerce power.

Question 16

In most instances,the disparity in public spending among a state's school districts is largely a result of differences in

Accepted Answer

A) the wealth of communities. 
B) the allocation of state aid to local schools. 
C) the proportion of local schools that are private as opposed to public; where there are a lot of private schools,the unused revenue is diverted to poorer public schools. 
D) urban and rural areas. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) the wealth of communities. 
B) the allocation of state aid to local schools. 
C) the proportion of local schools that are private as opposed to public; where there are a lot of private schools,the unused revenue is diverted to poorer public schools. 
D) urban and rural areas. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 17

Townships differ from municipalities in that townships

Accepted Answer

A) are composed of county subdivisions. 
B) have a greater population density. 
C) do not have lawmaking power. 
D) are governed by a council of elected officials. 
E) are mostly governed by city managers. 
A) are composed of county subdivisions. 
B) have a greater population density. 
C) do not have lawmaking power. 
D) are governed by a council of elected officials. 
E) are mostly governed by city managers.

Question 18

The state of Wisconsin recently staged a(n)________ for its Republican governor,Scott Walker.

Accepted Answer

A) occupy protest 
B) by-election 
C) vote of confidence 
D) recall election 
E) ballot initiative 
A) occupy protest 
B) by-election 
C) vote of confidence 
D) recall election 
E) ballot initiative

Question 19

The chief instrument by which a state governs its local units is the

Accepted Answer

A) ordinance. 
B) county. 
C) constitution. 
D) civil code. 
E) charter. 
A) ordinance. 
B) county. 
C) constitution. 
D) civil code. 
E) charter.

Question 20

According to the U.S.Constitution,the states

Accepted Answer

A) cannot interfere with the lawful exercise of national authority. 
B) must provide their citizens with a republican form of government. 
C) must comply with legitimate national laws. 
D) must respect the laws of other states. 
E) All these answers are correct. 
A) cannot interfere with the lawful exercise of national authority. 
B) must provide their citizens with a republican form of government. 
C) must comply with legitimate national laws. 
D) must respect the laws of other states. 
E) All these answers are correct.

States with intense political party competition are more likely to

Which of the following is true of constitutional initiatives?

Many states use the sales tax,which

Which of the following is true about school districts in the U.S.?

The Fifteenth Amendment

Which of the following is true of local elections?

The policy area that accounts for the largest portion of state and local government spending is

Police power emanates from the ________ Amendment of the U.S.Constitution.

Unlike the nation's chief executive,most state chief executives have the power to

Which of the following is true of state governorships?

With programs such as TANF and food stamps,

The Missouri Plan provides for

A major reason why state and local governments are constrained in their ability to generate revenue through taxation is

Regarding the judicial branch in each state,it is true that

The broad power of state governments to regulate health,safety,and morals of the citizenry is called

In most instances,the disparity in public spending among a state's school districts is largely a result of differences in

Townships differ from municipalities in that townships

The state of Wisconsin recently staged a(n)________ for its Republican governor,Scott Walker.

The chief instrument by which a state governs its local units is the

According to the U.S.Constitution,the states

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

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Exam 18: State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

States with intense political party competition are more likely to

Which of the following is true of constitutional initiatives?

Many states use the sales tax,which

Which of the following is true about school districts in the U.S.?

The Fifteenth Amendment

Which of the following is true of local elections?

The policy area that accounts for the largest portion of state and local government spending is

Police power emanates from the ________ Amendment of the U.S.Constitution.

Unlike the nation's chief executive,most state chief executives have the power to

Which of the following is true of state governorships?

With programs such as TANF and food stamps,

The Missouri Plan provides for

A major reason why state and local governments are constrained in their ability to generate revenue through taxation is

Regarding the judicial branch in each state,it is true that

The broad power of state governments to regulate health,safety,and morals of the citizenry is called

In most instances,the disparity in public spending among a state's school districts is largely a result of differences in

Townships differ from municipalities in that townships

The state of Wisconsin recently staged a(n)________ for its Republican governor,Scott Walker.

The chief instrument by which a state governs its local units is the

According to the U.S.Constitution,the states

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