Deck 1: Introducing Government in America

Question 1

Questions 1 and 2 refer to the following graph. Source: Authors' analysis of 1972-2012 American National Election Studies data.
Based on the graph,how did political participation among 18-29 year olds and 65+ year olds change between 1972 and 2012?

A)The two groups were equally politically involved at that time.-Consider This: Younger Americans reported infrequently following politics at high levels around 2000.
B)Younger Americans grew more politically apathetic,and older Americans less so.
C)Older Americans were more disenchanted with the government than younger Americans.
D)Both older and younger Americans consider themselves highly politically engaged.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What most closely exemplifies equality in voting?

A)inclusion -Consider This: The government must extend rights of citizenship to all people subject to its laws.Voting is one of these rights.
B)freedom of speech and of the press
C)one person,one vote
D)universal citizenship

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Source: U.S.Census Bureau Current Population Surveys.

-Based on the graph,which of the following statements is accurate?

A)A higher percentage of young people turned out to vote in 2008 than older people.
B)The number of older people who vote fluctuates more than younger people.
C)A higher percentage of older people vote in midterm elections than young people.
D)Voter participation is not affected by the type of election.-Consider This: For both older and younger Americans,higher percentages vote in presidential than midterm elections.

Answer 3

A higher percentage of older people vote in midterm elections than young people.

Question 4

“Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
--Patrick Henry, 1775


-Based on the graph,what is the relationship between income and political participation?

A)People who earn lower incomes tend to vote in more than others
B)The middle class had the highest voter turnout in the 2012 election.-Consider This: Middle class voters came out in greater numbers than lower income voters,but they were outpaced by the nation's highest earners.
C)The nation's highest earners had the highest voting percentages.
D)There is no apparent correlation between income and participation.

Question 5

How does government usually protect its national sovereignty?

A)by maintaining armed forces
B)by maintaining schools,libraries,hospitals,and highways-Consider This: Providing goods and services is an essential function of government,but it does not protect national sovereignty.
C)by collecting taxes
D)by politically socializing the young

Question 6

“Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
--Patrick Henry, 1775


-Which of the following best exemplifies Patrick Henry's ideas?

A)License plates in Washington,
B)New Hampshire license plates that say,"Live Free or Die."
C)America neither has nor ever had laws of primogeniture.
D)Thomas Jefferson's statement that "all men are created equal."-Consider This: This is an example of egalitarianism more than liberty.

Question 7

What best describes a linkage institution?

A)a channel through which people's concerns become part of the political agenda
B)a location to express a political opinion-Consider This: Linkage institutions provide avenues for political participation and transmit Americans' preferences to policymakers.
C)the formation of a special interest group
D)an environment where one learns about the political process

Question 8

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last measure of full devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

--Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863


-Which of the following is an accurate statement about democracy in the U.S.?

A)The people have a direct role in governmental decision making.-Consider This: It would be incredibly inefficient if the entire population needed to vote on laws and policies anytime new statues were needed.
B)The size of the population makes direct democracy impossible.
C)Democracy has given way to dynastic rule in the U.S.
D)Everyone's interests are reflected in all laws passed by Congress.

Question 9

What makes up the government's policy agenda?

A)all of the issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail-Consider This: Candidates are likely to campaign only on the issues that voters care about,but these issues may not be of national concern and so they may not appear on the policy agenda.
B)the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other political actors
C)the issues that are asked about on public opinion polls
D)the issues that concern single-issue interest groups

Question 10

How does our government respond to the priorities of its people?

A)through linkage institutions-Consider This: While linkage institutions are channels through which people's concerns reach policymakers,these institutions on their own do not address the priorities of the people because they do not create policy.
B)through political science
C)through political tolerance
D)through a policymaking system

Question 11

What determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue?

A)the media-Consider This: The media focuses on the whole of this term,usually the candidates,voters,and parties.
B)public opinion
C)politics
D)public policy

Question 12

Which principle asserts that,in a democracy,policies should reflect the will of more than half of the voters?

A)enlightened rule
B)pluralism-Consider This: Pluralism emphasizes that all groups with shared interests have a voice in policymaking with no single group dominating.
C)representation
D)majority rule

Question 13

“Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
--Patrick Henry, 1775


-Which of the following statements about liberty is most accurate?

A)The idea of liberty is deeply ingrained throughout U.S.history.
B)Americans only began to understand liberty during the Red Scare.
C)All Americans have similar ideas about what liberty entails.-Consider This: Americans are incredibly diverse,and have different ideas about what liberty means and the freedoms to which people are entitled.
D)Liberty is unrestrained in the United States.

Question 14

Source: U.S.Census Bureau Current Population Surveys.

-Which of the following reasons might explain the trend in the graph?

A)Older people have more access to information than young people.
B)No major political candidates have paid attention to younger voters.
C)Modern political issues have no effect on older people.-Consider This: Many of the same issues that drew older voters to the polls,like Social Security and Medicare,continue to be debated today.
D)Young people haven't lived in a time when most people paid attention to politics.

Question 15

Which principle of traditional democracy theory is violated in circumstances in which the wealthy have influence over the government's policy agenda that far exceeds what would be expected based on their numbers?

A)citizen control of the agenda
B)effective participation-Consider This: Effective participation means that citizens have equal means for political participation,but it does not refer to which groups of people the government will most influence the policy agenda.
C)enlightened understanding
D)equality in voting

Question 16

What are the institutions that make public policy decisions for a society collectively known as?

A)political culture
B)the courts
C)government
D)Congress-Consider This: Congress is one of the institutions that make public policy decisions that influence how we live.

Question 17

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last measure of full devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

--Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863


-How is "government by the people,for the people" practiced in the U.S.?

A)a system that ensures freedom,justice,and peace to all citizens-Consider This: The term democracy is often used alongside other terms like freedom,justice,and peace because citizens are involved in forming the government.
B)a system that perpetuates the status quo and upholds the values of the party in power
C)a system that selects policymakers and organizes government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences
D)a system that grants a status of privilege to the most active and informed voters

Question 18

The ways in which people get involved in politics make up their political __________.

A)ideology
B)participation
C)party-Consider This: Individual citizens get involved in politics because they understand that public policy choices made by governments affect them in significant ways and joining a party is just one way to get involved.
D)opinions

Question 19

What are policy impacts?

A)issues that attract serious attention of public officials-Consider This: Translating people's desires into effective public policy is the goal of public officials,and analyzing the impact the policy has had determines whether the policy is effective.
B)government institutions that are charged with taking action on political issues
C)the effects that a policy has on people and on society's problems
D)systems of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences

Question 20

Source: Authors' analysis of 1972-2012 American National Election Studies data.

-Which of the following is a potential danger of lack of political interest?

A)authoritarian government
B)voting along party lines-Consider This: People who are disengaged from politics often do not vote at all.
C)class division
D)an uninformed citizenry

Question 21

In the United States,pluralism suggests which of the following?

A)Because most citizens fail to pay attention to serious issues,government has become an elite institution.
B)Congress is stronger and more influential than the presidency.
C)Many groups vie for power with no one group dominating politics.
D)Too many influential groups cripple government's ability to govern.-Consider This: Hyperpluralism suggests that the fragmented nature of our government,with overlapping jurisdictions,finds itself serving too many group interests.

Question 22

Which theory argues that special interest groups have essentially become sovereign,and the government is merely their servant?

A)pluralism
B)hyperpluralism
C)majority rule-Consider This: Majority rule says that the interests of the majority must be represented in government,but the government system is fragmented,making it difficult for the majority to be represented.
D)federalism

Question 23

A law passed by Congress and the adoption of a regulation by an agency are examples of which of the following?

A)collective action-Consider This: Congress passes laws and agencies adopt regulations in response to problems or political issues.
B)red tape
C)public policies
D)government rule

Question 24

What kind of public policy involves the legislative enactment of taxes and expenditures?

A)budgetary choice
B)regulation
C)court decision
D)congressional statute?-Consider This: A congressional statute refers to a law passed by Congress that impacts the public,such as the Affordable Care Act's requirement to obtain health insurance.

Question 25

To which principle of traditional democratic theory are free speech and a free press essential?

A)inclusion-Consider This: Rights such as free speech and free press are necessary for a marketplace of ideas.
B)effective participation
C)enlightened understanding
D)equality in voting

Question 26

Preference for which of the following economic policies helps to explain why the U.S.has a smaller and more limited government than do most other advanced industrialized countries?

A)laissez-faire
B)populist-Consider This: Populism isn't directly related to economic policies,but it does champion the political legitimacy of the "little people" over the elite.
C)pluralist
D)egalitarian

Question 27

What condition occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy,yet each may be strong enough to thwart the will of the others?

A)divided government
B)Hyperpluralism-Consider This: Government is weakened because of the plethora of groups.
C)policy gridlock
D)separation of powers

Question 28

Which theory contends that American society is divided along class lines?

A)pluralism
B)policy gridlock-Consider This: The diversity of the American people is reflected in the diversity of the interests represented in the political system.When interests conflict and no majority exists,policy gridlock occurs.
C)balance of power
D)elitism

Question 29

What is an example of a collective good?

A)clean air
B)medical care
C)a college education-Consider This: A collective good is a good or service provided by the government that all receive and cannot be denied to anyone person or groups.By this definition,a college education is not a collective good.
D)food stamps

Question 30

From which of the following did the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq result?

A)a regulation
B)a budgetary choice
C)a congressional statute-Consider This: Congress does have significant foreign and defense policymaking papers but determining troop movement and withdrawal,or say bombing ISIS targets,is usually conducted by the Executive branch.
D)a presidential action

Question 31

Who is at the center of all theories of elitism?

A)big business
B)Congress
C)ordinary citizens
D)political parties-Consider This: While pluralism argues that political parties are available for all to join to influence government,elitism argues that an upper-crust elite pulls the strings of government.

Question 32

Which of the following refers to a set of values widely shared within a society?

A)government
B)politics-Consider This: Democracy depends on the people to function,and shared values are essential for effective governance.
C)public policy
D)political culture

Question 33

What is public policy?

A)all government decisions
B)the root causes of political culture
C)the public's political issues-Consider This: Public policies are responses to political issues,actions which address various problems.
D)only legislation enacted by Congress