Question 1

Political scientists who adopt science as the best means to gain useful knowledge about politics and government are most interested in

Accepted Answer

A)  Identifying which form of government is best 
B)  Constructing empirical theories and testing explanation of why politics works the way it does 
C)  Normative theory 
D)  Using the scientific method to indoctrinate students 
A)  Identifying which form of government is best 
B)  Constructing empirical theories and testing explanation of why politics works the way it does 
C)  Normative theory 
D)  Using the scientific method to indoctrinate students B

Question 2

Behavioral models of politics emphasize the role of ________________________ in shaping political attitudes and behavior.

Accepted Answer

A)  Biological factors 
B)  Utility maximization 
C)  Socialization and learning 
D)  Identification with social groups 
A)  Biological factors 
B)  Utility maximization 
C)  Socialization and learning 
D)  Identification with social groups C

Question 3

Which of the following characteristics differentiates government from other organizations that resolve conflict?

Accepted Answer

A)  Using the power of admonitions 
B)  Teaching certain beliefs 
C)  Legitimate use of coercion 
D)  Resolving conflicts over values 
A)  Using the power of admonitions 
B)  Teaching certain beliefs 
C)  Legitimate use of coercion 
D)  Resolving conflicts over values C

Question 4

Questions that can be answered by careful observation and measurement can be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  Empirical 
B)  Normative 
C)  Impossible 
D)  Rare 
A)  Empirical 
B)  Normative 
C)  Impossible 
D)  Rare

Question 5

State voters are asked to approve a ballot initiative legalizing beer sales in Flagship University Stadium. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

A)  Representative democracy 
B)  Direct democracy 
C)  Oligarchy 
D)  Purposive benefits 
A)  Representative democracy 
B)  Direct democracy 
C)  Oligarchy 
D)  Purposive benefits

Question 6

Government can be defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  The institution with the authority to make binding decisions for all of a society 
B)  One of the institutions authorized to make decisions for all of society 
C)  Both a and b 
D)  Neither a nor b 
A)  The institution with the authority to make binding decisions for all of a society 
B)  One of the institutions authorized to make decisions for all of society 
C)  Both a and b 
D)  Neither a nor b

Question 7

Political science can never be "scientific" because human behavior is too erratic to be explained by scientific theories.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Research suggesting that Republicans and Democrats perceive the world very differently represents which of the following "models" of political behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  Rational choice 
B)  Evolutionary and biological 
C)  Behavioral 
D)  Sociological 
A)  Rational choice 
B)  Evolutionary and biological 
C)  Behavioral 
D)  Sociological

Question 9

One problem with rational choice theory is that externalities resulting from individual choices may generate less than optimal outcomes for the greater group.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Misinformation in politics can be attributed to

Accepted Answer

A)  "Alternative facts" 
B)  A sense of "truthiness" 
C)  Fake news 
D)  All of the above 
A)  "Alternative facts" 
B)  A sense of "truthiness" 
C)  Fake news 
D)  All of the above

Question 11

A "theory" is most accurately defined as a "hunch" or "guess" about something.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Although the heart of democracy is about process, substance counts too.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies

Accepted Answer

A)  Contribute to an intractable and hostile environment in which government officials cannot make decisions 
B)  Must be avoided at all cost in order to prevent outbursts of violence from ordinary citizens 
C)  Are common, and even desirable, in a functioning pluralist democracy 
D)  Is infrequent, and does not hinder government officials from making decisions 
A)  Contribute to an intractable and hostile environment in which government officials cannot make decisions 
B)  Must be avoided at all cost in order to prevent outbursts of violence from ordinary citizens 
C)  Are common, and even desirable, in a functioning pluralist democracy 
D)  Is infrequent, and does not hinder government officials from making decisions

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT considered a basic form of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Oligarchy 
B)  Constitutional monarchy 
C)  Democracy 
D)  Autocracy 
A)  Oligarchy 
B)  Constitutional monarchy 
C)  Democracy 
D)  Autocracy

Question 15

When researchers find clear empirical evidence to support their theories, we say that the theory has been "proven."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  A ballot initiative 
B)  Congress 
C)  An opinion poll 
D)  The presidential election 
A)  A ballot initiative 
B)  Congress 
C)  An opinion poll 
D)  The presidential election

Question 17

All of the following are basic goals of science EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  Description 
B)  Explanation 
C)  Prescription 
D)  Prediction 
A)  Description 
B)  Explanation 
C)  Prescription 
D)  Prediction

Question 18

Democracy always produces the best possible outcomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Democracies do not necessarily produce the best policy outcomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

As a core democratic principle, majority rule is more important than

Accepted Answer

A)  Political freedom 
B)  Political equality 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Political freedom 
B)  Political equality 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above

Political scientists who adopt science as the best means to gain useful knowledge about politics and government are most interested in

Behavioral models of politics emphasize the role of ________________________ in shaping political attitudes and behavior.

Which of the following characteristics differentiates government from other organizations that resolve conflict?

Questions that can be answered by careful observation and measurement can be described as

State voters are asked to approve a ballot initiative legalizing beer sales in Flagship University Stadium. What is this an example of?

Government can be defined as

Political science can never be "scientific" because human behavior is too erratic to be explained by scientific theories.

Research suggesting that Republicans and Democrats perceive the world very differently represents which of the following "models" of political behavior?

One problem with rational choice theory is that externalities resulting from individual choices may generate less than optimal outcomes for the greater group.

Misinformation in politics can be attributed to

A "theory" is most accurately defined as a "hunch" or "guess" about something.

Although the heart of democracy is about process, substance counts too.

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies

Which of the following is NOT considered a basic form of government?

When researchers find clear empirical evidence to support their theories, we say that the theory has been "proven."

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?

All of the following are basic goals of science EXCEPT:

Democracy always produces the best possible outcomes.

Democracies do not necessarily produce the best policy outcomes.

As a core democratic principle, majority rule is more important than

The American Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

The Mass Media and Politics

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Elections

Political Participation and Voting Behavior

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Federal Judiciary

Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy

Filters

Exam 1: The Basics of Democracy

Political scientists who adopt science as the best means to gain useful knowledge about politics and government are most interested in

Behavioral models of politics emphasize the role of ________________________ in shaping political attitudes and behavior.

Which of the following characteristics differentiates government from other organizations that resolve conflict?

Questions that can be answered by careful observation and measurement can be described as

State voters are asked to approve a ballot initiative legalizing beer sales in Flagship University Stadium. What is this an example of?

Government can be defined as

Political science can never be "scientific" because human behavior is too erratic to be explained by scientific theories.

Research suggesting that Republicans and Democrats perceive the world very differently represents which of the following "models" of political behavior?

One problem with rational choice theory is that externalities resulting from individual choices may generate less than optimal outcomes for the greater group.

Misinformation in politics can be attributed to

A "theory" is most accurately defined as a "hunch" or "guess" about something.

Although the heart of democracy is about process, substance counts too.

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies

Which of the following is NOT considered a basic form of government?

When researchers find clear empirical evidence to support their theories, we say that the theory has been "proven."

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?

All of the following are basic goals of science EXCEPT:

Democracy always produces the best possible outcomes.

Democracies do not necessarily produce the best policy outcomes.

As a core democratic principle, majority rule is more important than

The American Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Interest Groups

Political Parties

The Mass Media and Politics

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

Elections

Political Participation and Voting Behavior

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Federal Judiciary

Core Democratic Principles and Public Policy

Filters