Question 1

What role is money in politics believed to play in the declining health of American democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  With super-PACs, it has become easier for a few individuals to have a disproportionate influence on the political system. 
B)  Not everyone has an equal opportunity to run as a candidate for office, which goes against core American values. 
C)  Vast amounts of money have become necessary to get laws passed through the hyper-partisan, gridlocked Congress. 
D)  Presidents have become less responsive to the desires of the American people and more responsive to super-PACs. 
A)  With super-PACs, it has become easier for a few individuals to have a disproportionate influence on the political system. 
B)  Not everyone has an equal opportunity to run as a candidate for office, which goes against core American values. 
C)  Vast amounts of money have become necessary to get laws passed through the hyper-partisan, gridlocked Congress. 
D)  Presidents have become less responsive to the desires of the American people and more responsive to super-PACs.

Question 2

Which statement accurately distinguishes between representative and direct forms of democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Citizens have an unmediated role in policymaking in a direct democracy, but do not in a representative democracy. 
B)  The president is selected by the people through a popular vote in a representative democracy and by a slate of electors in a direct democracy. 
C)  In a direct democracy, citizens are given little say in the policies and regulations that govern them, unlike in a representative democracy. 
D)  Citizens in a direct democracy are subject to the tyranny of the minority, while those in a representative democracy are subject to majority rule. 
A)  Citizens have an unmediated role in policymaking in a direct democracy, but do not in a representative democracy. 
B)  The president is selected by the people through a popular vote in a representative democracy and by a slate of electors in a direct democracy. 
C)  In a direct democracy, citizens are given little say in the policies and regulations that govern them, unlike in a representative democracy. 
D)  Citizens in a direct democracy are subject to the tyranny of the minority, while those in a representative democracy are subject to majority rule.

Question 3

Which system of government would be considered a direct democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saudi Arabia, which is ruled by a royal family based on principles of sharia law 
B)  Ancient Greece, which allowed citizens to control policies, laws, and the court system 
C)  France, which consists of a parliamentary form of government that represents the people 
D)  Mexico, which holds regular elections for the election of representatives to the federal government 
A)  Saudi Arabia, which is ruled by a royal family based on principles of sharia law 
B)  Ancient Greece, which allowed citizens to control policies, laws, and the court system 
C)  France, which consists of a parliamentary form of government that represents the people 
D)  Mexico, which holds regular elections for the election of representatives to the federal government

Question 4

Which word is derived from the Greek for "rule by the people"?

Accepted Answer

A)  republic 
B)  oligarchy 
C)  democracy 
D)  authority 
A)  republic 
B)  oligarchy 
C)  democracy 
D)  authority

Question 5

What is popular sovereignty, and how did it help shape the formation of the U.S. Constitution? Given what you know about popular sovereignty, why did the Founders opt for a representative democracy instead of a direct democracy?

Accepted Answer

Popular sovereignty is the idea that the

Question 6

Which part of the Constitution does the best job of summarizing the goals of the American government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Article I 
B)  the First Amendment 
C)  the preamble 
D)  the Bill of Rights 
A)  Article I 
B)  the First Amendment 
C)  the preamble 
D)  the Bill of Rights

Question 7

Which is a factor that often contributes to a nation's political culture?

Accepted Answer

A)  the primary exported goods 
B)  the average wealth of its citizens 
C)  its citizens' common ancestry 
D)  its arts, music, and celebrities 
A)  the primary exported goods 
B)  the average wealth of its citizens 
C)  its citizens' common ancestry 
D)  its arts, music, and celebrities

Question 8

Which factor has contributed to the United States' perceived decline as an economic superpower?

Accepted Answer

A)  the tariffs foreign nations have placed on U.S. goods 
B)  the dollar's significant loss of exchange value 
C)  the increased national debt of the United States 
D)  the lack of healthy international trade agreements 
A)  the tariffs foreign nations have placed on U.S. goods 
B)  the dollar's significant loss of exchange value 
C)  the increased national debt of the United States 
D)  the lack of healthy international trade agreements

Question 9

According to Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, what happens if a government fails to respect the natural rights inherent to humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  The government will descend into chaos and anarchy. 
B)  The governed may change or overthrow their government. 
C)  The government will no longer be seen as powerful. 
D)  The government must promise to protect them in future. 
A)  The government will descend into chaos and anarchy. 
B)  The governed may change or overthrow their government. 
C)  The government will no longer be seen as powerful. 
D)  The government must promise to protect them in future.

Question 10

Why is natural law seen as superior to the laws made by a government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural law guides animals and other natural environments, which humans cannot control. 
B)  Natural law is required for a government to form its own laws, policies, and regulations. 
C)  Natural law is an explicit part of religious traditions, which are beyond the control of any government entity. 
D)  Natural law is inherent to all human beings and is more fundamental than any man-made law. 
A)  Natural law guides animals and other natural environments, which humans cannot control. 
B)  Natural law is required for a government to form its own laws, policies, and regulations. 
C)  Natural law is an explicit part of religious traditions, which are beyond the control of any government entity. 
D)  Natural law is inherent to all human beings and is more fundamental than any man-made law.

Question 11

Which requirement must be met in order for a social contract to be valid?

Accepted Answer

A)  The government must agree to protect its citizens no matter the cost. 
B)  The people must agree to overthrow the government if it becomes tyrannical. 
C)  The government must protect the rights of the people it is governing. 
D)  The people must agree to police themselves and one another. 
A)  The government must agree to protect its citizens no matter the cost. 
B)  The people must agree to overthrow the government if it becomes tyrannical. 
C)  The government must protect the rights of the people it is governing. 
D)  The people must agree to police themselves and one another.

Question 12

The ability of Congress to make legislation that requires stricter background checks on all firearms purchases, and the president's responsibility to sign or veto that bill is an example of the government's ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  authority 
B)  social contract 
C)  legitimacy 
D)  power 
A)  authority 
B)  social contract 
C)  legitimacy 
D)  power

Question 13

Updates to the U.S. Census to include questions about ethnicity and to allow respondents to select more than one racial category are all efforts to better ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  understand the diversity of the United States 
B)  discriminate against racial and ethnic minority groups 
C)  determine who is and who is not a legal U.S. citizen 
D)  improve affirmative action programs 
A)  understand the diversity of the United States 
B)  discriminate against racial and ethnic minority groups 
C)  determine who is and who is not a legal U.S. citizen 
D)  improve affirmative action programs

Question 14

Which feature of the American system of government reflects the value of limited government?

Accepted Answer

A)  the system of checks and balances between the three branches of government 
B)  the establishment of the Electoral College to select the president 
C)  the election of representatives to advocate for citizens' interests at the federal level 
D)  the ability for anyone to get involved in the political system at various levels 
A)  the system of checks and balances between the three branches of government 
B)  the establishment of the Electoral College to select the president 
C)  the election of representatives to advocate for citizens' interests at the federal level 
D)  the ability for anyone to get involved in the political system at various levels

Question 15

Which is an example of a theocracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  Saudi Arabia, which is controlled primarily by the Saudi royal family 
B)  The Vatican City, which is led by the Pope and run by various members of the Catholic church 
C)  France, which holds regular elections for the selection of representatives in government 
D)  North Korea, in which leader Kim Jong-un holds absolute control over all citizens 
A)  Saudi Arabia, which is controlled primarily by the Saudi royal family 
B)  The Vatican City, which is led by the Pope and run by various members of the Catholic church 
C)  France, which holds regular elections for the selection of representatives in government 
D)  North Korea, in which leader Kim Jong-un holds absolute control over all citizens

Question 16

Briefly explain what government is and why it is necessary. According to the philosophy of Jean Jacques-Rousseau, what is the role of government in society? Be sure to mention the concept of the social contract in your response.

Accepted Answer

Government is the collection of public i

Question 17

As the textbook points out, concerns about the decline in the health of American democracy are likely the result of historical patterns that have re-emerged in recent years and are not actually indicators of a declining democracy. Do you agree with this argument? If so, why? If not, elaborate upon the points made in the text as to why the political and socioeconomic conditions in recent years signal a true decline in American democracy.

Accepted Answer

I agree with the argument that concerns

Question 18

What does it mean when a government is said to have authority?

Accepted Answer

A)  The government can infringe upon people's rights. 
B)  The government has instilled fear in its citizens. 
C)  The government has the ability to enforce laws. 
D)  The government has the ability to make laws. 
A)  The government can infringe upon people's rights. 
B)  The government has instilled fear in its citizens. 
C)  The government has the ability to enforce laws. 
D)  The government has the ability to make laws.

Question 19

Who is responsible for the concept of natural rights?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jean-Jacques Rousseau 
B)  John Locke 
C)  Thomas Hobbes 
D)  Alexis de Tocqueville 
A)  Jean-Jacques Rousseau 
B)  John Locke 
C)  Thomas Hobbes 
D)  Alexis de Tocqueville

Question 20

What is the main function of government in a nation?

Accepted Answer

A)  enforcing strict laws to ensure that there is no crime, no matter the cost of doing so 
B)  making sure there is stability and order within the nation and to protect its citizens 
C)  keeping citizens subdued enough so as to infringe upon their rights without worry of revolt 
D)  establishing a standing military to protect the citizens of a nation from foreign threats 
A)  enforcing strict laws to ensure that there is no crime, no matter the cost of doing so 
B)  making sure there is stability and order within the nation and to protect its citizens 
C)  keeping citizens subdued enough so as to infringe upon their rights without worry of revolt 
D)  establishing a standing military to protect the citizens of a nation from foreign threats

What role is money in politics believed to play in the declining health of American democracy?

Which statement accurately distinguishes between representative and direct forms of democracy?

Which system of government would be considered a direct democracy?

Which word is derived from the Greek for "rule by the people"?

What is popular sovereignty, and how did it help shape the formation of the U.S. Constitution? Given what you know about popular sovereignty, why did the Founders opt for a representative democracy instead of a direct democracy?

Which part of the Constitution does the best job of summarizing the goals of the American government?

Which is a factor that often contributes to a nation's political culture?

Which factor has contributed to the United States' perceived decline as an economic superpower?

According to Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, what happens if a government fails to respect the natural rights inherent to humans?

Why is natural law seen as superior to the laws made by a government?

Which requirement must be met in order for a social contract to be valid?

The ability of Congress to make legislation that requires stricter background checks on all firearms purchases, and the president's responsibility to sign or veto that bill is an example of the government's ______.

Updates to the U.S. Census to include questions about ethnicity and to allow respondents to select more than one racial category are all efforts to better ______.

Which feature of the American system of government reflects the value of limited government?

Which is an example of a theocracy?

Briefly explain what government is and why it is necessary. According to the philosophy of Jean Jacques-Rousseau, what is the role of government in society? Be sure to mention the concept of the social contract in your response.

What does it mean when a government is said to have authority?

Who is responsible for the concept of natural rights?

What is the main function of government in a nation?

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights, Equality, and Social Movements

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Interest Groups

The Media and American Politics

Political Parties and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

American Public Policy

Filters

Exam 1: Introduction to the Enduring-Democracy

What role is money in politics believed to play in the declining health of American democracy?

Which statement accurately distinguishes between representative and direct forms of democracy?

Which system of government would be considered a direct democracy?

Which word is derived from the Greek for "rule by the people"?

What is popular sovereignty, and how did it help shape the formation of the U.S. Constitution? Given what you know about popular sovereignty, why did the Founders opt for a representative democracy instead of a direct democracy?

Which part of the Constitution does the best job of summarizing the goals of the American government?

Which is a factor that often contributes to a nation's political culture?

Which factor has contributed to the United States' perceived decline as an economic superpower?

According to Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, what happens if a government fails to respect the natural rights inherent to humans?

Why is natural law seen as superior to the laws made by a government?

Which requirement must be met in order for a social contract to be valid?

The ability of Congress to make legislation that requires stricter background checks on all firearms purchases, and the president's responsibility to sign or veto that bill is an example of the government's ______.

Updates to the U.S. Census to include questions about ethnicity and to allow respondents to select more than one racial category are all efforts to better ______.

Which feature of the American system of government reflects the value of limited government?

Which is an example of a theocracy?

Briefly explain what government is and why it is necessary. According to the philosophy of Jean Jacques-Rousseau, what is the role of government in society? Be sure to mention the concept of the social contract in your response.

What does it mean when a government is said to have authority?

Who is responsible for the concept of natural rights?

What is the main function of government in a nation?

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights, Equality, and Social Movements

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Interest Groups

The Media and American Politics

Political Parties and Voting

Campaigns and Elections

American Public Policy

Filters