Exam 1: Introduction: Making Sense of Government and Politics

On the eve of World War II,the National Socialist (Nazi)Party rose to power in Germany and consolidated its hold on political institutions by effectively striking down any significant opposition through violence and intimidation.Nazi Germany achieved almost absolute control over every facet of its citizens' lives.In terms of limits on governmental power,the political system of Nazi Germany would most accurately be categorized as:

A public good is any service provided by the government.

A tribal council that meets occasionally to advise the chief has all the essential elements of a government.

The United States is a representative democracy.

The two questions that motivate the discovery of order in the chaos of politics are "What do we observe?" and "Why?"

When governments are limited in terms of how control is exercised,these governments are said to have:

The term politics is defined as the decisions reached by democratic processes.

What historical developments helped create modern democratic government?

Political scientists would most accurately classify a governing system that recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it as:

Suppose that a certain government may increase taxes on its citizens only if both chambers in its legislature agree to the increase with a two-thirds majority.This restriction on government power exemplifies a:

Explain the rationale for representative democracy.

A public good is a benefit that neighbors or members of a group cannot be kept from enjoying once it has been provided.

Discuss the dark side of representative democracy in terms of principal-agent problems.

On the small island nation of Tamazia,the small but elite group of purple-spotted Tamazians,who own most of the land on the more fruitful north side,have invaded the less productive southern sections of the island.Now,they have taken control of all political institutions.Consequently,the pink-spotted and green-spotted Tamazians who make up the majority of the island inhabitants have to submit to the will of the purple-spotted Tamazians.This new government on the island nation of Tamazia would most correctly be classified as:

Governments have historically included which two basic components?

Free riding occurs in collective action settings because:

What are the two fundamental questions that allow us to find patterns and order in the chaos of politics?

Explain the trade-offs involved in democracy.

The struggle over who gets what,when,and how is known as:

If the populace has some influence over decision making,the government is most likely: