Deck 1: Introduction to the Enduring-Democracy

Question 1

What is significant about the following characteristics of the 2020 election: calls for impeachment, the abolishment of the Electoral College, and packing of the Supreme Court, and increased support for democratic socialist policies?

A) Not much, since elections throughout history have faced similar issues and proposals.
B) The 2020 election will be the first time candidates have called for eliminating the Electoral College.
C) No candidate has outright supported democratic socialism in the United States before Bernie Sanders.
D) Prior to 2020, it was considered a courtesy not to attack the current sitting president.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which is one of President Donald Trump's accomplishments?

A) an overhaul of the health care system
B) tax cuts and deregulation
C) reforms of the election process
D) appointing three Supreme Court justices

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which statement best encapsulates the experience of diversity in America?

A) Diversity has a minor influence on the experience of American politics.
B) America can be characterized as a post-racial country.
C) Diversity in America has fluctuated over the course of its history.
D) America continues to have struggles over the question of diversity.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

As history shows, it is critical for presidential candidates to make effective use of new technologies during their campaigns. Which is an example of the use of new technologies and methods of communication during the 2020 election?

A) Kamala Harris' participation in a televised debate on CNN in July 2019
B) Elizabeth Warren's attendance at the Iowa State Fair in August 2019
C) Tulsi Gabbard's appearance on a popular YouTube podcast show in May 2019
D) Joe Biden's organization of a campaign rally in Iowa in August 2019

Question 5

President Obama was able to successfully use breakthrough technology (social media and social networking sites) during his campaign. Which other presidential candidate pioneered the use of new technology to win the presidency?

A) Theodore Roosevelt
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) John F. Kennedy
D) Donald Trump

Question 6

What is it called when a society has no government?

A) anarchy
B) socialism
C) communism
D) capitalism

Question 7

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 ______.

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 8

Why is it sometimes difficult for a nation to welcome a growing diverse population?

A) Most nations are homogenous and are not used to any diversity of race or ethnicity.
B) Increasing diversity requires change on the part of the government and society as a whole.
C) Diversity of race and ethnicity poses a threat to the established systems of a nation.
D) More diversity in a nation means more legislation to protect certain minority classes.

Question 9

What is one reason some view President Trump as a polarizing figure?

A) They believe he is too relaxed on the issue of illegal immigration.
B) He involved the United States in a costly and deadly war.
C) His economic policies have caused the economy to suffer.
D) They believe he has increased racial tensions in America.

Question 10

The next U.S. Census will be conducted in 2020. There have been debates over whether or not to include a question that asks about which characteristic?

A) sexual orientation
B) gender identification
C) ethnicity
D) citizenship

Question 11

Which is an example of how the struggles with diversity today are similar to those in American history?

A) refusal to admit certain demographics into colleges
B) segregation of public facilities based on race
C) calls to ask about citizenship on the U.S. Census
D) strict, merit-based immigration policies

Question 12

What is government?

A) the agreement people make to follow the rules within a nation made and enforced by an authority
B) the organization of people who have the desire to rule over others and strictly enforce laws
C) the group of powerful agencies in a country that rule citizens in that country through coercion
D) the collection of public institutions within a nation that make and enforce laws for citizens to follow

Question 13

Why have the Democrats come out in full-force in both the 2018 midterm elections and in the race to become the nominee for the 2020 election against Donald Trump?

A) to prevent him from confirming any justices to the Supreme Court
B) to put an end to the political polarization that his presidency has created
C) to oppose Trump's policies and what they see as his illegitimate victory
D) to make sure that he will be impeached if he fails to win re-election

Question 14

Suppose a candidate running for president in 2024 wants to make sure that she can reach the younger generations that are just reaching voting age. She wants to better communicate her policy positions and share what it is like on the campaign trail. What is the best way for her to reach this audience and gain support from younger voters?

A) visit colleges and universities in battleground states to speak and hold meet-and-greets
B) develop several advertisements directed toward younger people to air on television
C) use Facebook to post photos and write captions about her family life
D) post photos and videos about the campaign on Instagram and discuss policies on Twitter

Question 15

What motivation do presidential candidates have to utilize new technologies during their campaign?

A) New technologies tend to be cheaper and more cost-effective for campaigns.
B) Candidates can communicate better with voters and take control of their public image.
C) Historically, the candidates who use emerging technologies have won the presidency.
D) Use of new technologies has been successful for both charismatic and uncharismatic candidates.

Question 16

Which statement best summarizes the concept of a social contract?

A) People enter into an agreement with one another to not commit crimes so as to avoid having to form a government.
B) The government has a responsibility to preserve and protect the social freedoms of the people it is governing.
C) It is up to the people to keep a lookout for those who might be breaking the law and punish anyone who violates the laws.
D) People agree with one another to form a government, as long as the government protects their rights.

Question 17

How did Barack Obama's use of social media in his 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns influence the campaign process for others running for public office?

A) His success with social media has not been duplicated, with many candidates opting to stick to traditional campaign methods.
B) Social media is now widely used by candidates to raise money, communicate policy proposals, and mobilize voters.
C) Candidates now use social media for information they can use in attack ads and during debates.
D) Many candidates use social media for personal reasons, but have generally not used it for professional campaign purposes.

Question 18

The 2020 presidential election can be best described as ______.

A) critical
B) corrupt
C) illegitimate
D) polarizing

Question 19

What is the main function of government in a nation?

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

Question 20

Which president made revolutionary use of the radio to win the 1932 election?

A) Franklin D. Roosevelt
B) Herbert Hoover
C) Rutherford B. Hayes
D) Woodrow Wilson

Question 21

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

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 22

How is a government's power different than its authority?

A) Power is what allows a government to get individuals to obey the laws, while authority is what allows the government to make laws in the first place.
B) Power allows a government to make laws for its citizens to obey, whereas authority is required to enforce those laws.
C) Power is what allows the government to protect the rights of citizens, while authority can be abused to infringe upon rights.
D) Power is what makes a government legitimate, whereas a government only has authority once it as seen as legitimate.

Question 23

Which option summarizes the authoritarian type of government?

A) a government in which the people hold most of the control
B) a government in which a royal family rules over subjects
C) a government that is ruled according to a particular religion
D) a government in which one entity exercises absolute control

Question 24

Why is it critical for a government to be recognized as legitimate by its people?

A) Legitimacy is required in order for a government to shift toward a more authoritarian style of governing.
B) Legitimacy gives the appearance of a strong government and helps ward off foreign attacks.
C) Legitimacy helps a government expand its power and influence in times of need or crisis.
D) Legitimacy is what gives the government the right and ability to make and enforce rules.

Question 25

Which is an example of a theocracy?

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 26

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

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 27

Who is responsible for the concept of natural rights?

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

Question 28

What is the relationship between the concept of natural law and the legitimacy of a government?

A) In order for a government to be seen as legitimate, it must agree to respect people's natural rights.
B) A government that is illegitimate does not have the authority to compromise natural law.
C) A legitimate government is one that forms laws based around the basic principles of natural rights.
D) If a government does not observe natural law, a society will descend into anarchy.

Question 29

Which statement best reflects the concept of natural law, as proposed by John Locke?

A) People agree to be ruled by a government in return for the protection of their rights.
B) All humans are born with an inherent respect for their surrounding environment.
C) Everyone is born with certain rights that the government cannot violate.
D) Individuals are natural beings that cannot be governed by a centralized power.

Question 30

A group of citizens have just declared their independence from a tyrannical government and are now in the process of establishing a new government that will better protect their rights and freedoms. This group of people intends to use the United States Constitution as a model for their new constitution, but they also want to learn more about its foundational principles. Whose works should they read to better understand its foundations?

A) John Locke
B) Alexis de Tocqueville
C) Thomas Jefferson
D) Harold Lasswell

Question 31

What is the primary distinction between an oligarchy and a democracy?

A) In an oligarchy, religious figures have greater control, whereas a democracy is ruled by the upper class.
B) In an oligarchy, one single person has control over all functions of government, whereas that power is distributed in a democracy.
C) In an oligarchy, a royal family has control over the governing system, while religious institutions have control in a democracy.
D) In an oligarchy, a select class of people hold most of the power, whereas all citizens hold power in a democracy.

Question 32

The way in which institutions are organized to make rules and policies, as well as how those institutions are influenced, is known as ______.

A) government
B) politics
C) authority
D) legitimacy

Question 33

Authority differs from power in that ______.

A) it is the source of a government's legitimacy
B) people obey it out of respect rather than fear
C) refers to the government's ability to enforce laws
D) it is seen as providing cohesion to the social contract

Question 34

How might a nation like Saudi Arabia, in which a royal family rules the nation based on the principles found within the Qur'an - the central text for the Islam religion - be best classified?

A) as a complete theocracy
B) as an authoritarian regime
C) as a theocratic monarchy
D) as a representative democracy

Question 35

Why is the United States government able to maintain its strength, stability, and influence?

A) It is seen as highly legitimate.
B) It is an authoritarian government.
C) It has a significant amount of power.
D) It is free from corrupt practices.

Question 36

In Ancient Greece, policies and laws were formed by a sovereign body of citizens, and arguments that arose within the governing system were resolved in popular courts, where a jury made up of randomly selected citizens would hear the cases. This system of governance was run completely by the people, making it a(n) ______.

A) democracy
B) oligarchy
C) theocracy
D) monarchy

Question 37

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

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 38

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 ______.

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

Question 39

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

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 40

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

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

Question 41

According to the text, which core value defines American political culture?

A) majority rule
B) Christianity
C) common ancestry
D) collective responsibility

Question 42

What is the relationship between natural law and majority rule?

A) Natural law recognizes that hierarchy inherently forms among humans, which leads to majority rule.
B) Natural law posits that those in the majority are stronger and thus have greater power over others.
C) Natural law preserves the rights and liberties of those in the minority, which checks abuses of majority rule.
D) Natural law suggests that the will to survive forces those in the minority to accept the will of the majority.

Question 43

How is popular sovereignty reflected in the representative democracy form of government?

A) Those who live in a representative democracy have transferred their sovereignty to the government.
B) A representative democracy allows the people to have direct influence over policies.
C) In a representative democracy, the people have the power to select who they are governed by.
D) The people of a representative democracy have the right to change policies and laws at any time.

Question 44

Why is majority rule considered one of the foundational values of American political culture?

A) Majority rule is the guiding principle for the United States' form of direct democracy.
B) It is the basis for popular sovereignty, which is a core principle of the United States.
C) The Founders believed that majority rule was critical to checking the power of a government.
D) Majority rule has historically been used to expand the power of the federal government in America.

Question 45

Why is political culture in the United States different than that in other nations?

A) The United States encompasses a large territory, making it difficult to form a cohesive political outlook.
B) The United States is more partisan in nature than other nations, and this inhibits a cohesive political culture.
C) The United States is the only nation with a republican form of government, which makes its politics unique.
D) The United States does not have a common ancestry, while most other nations do.

Question 46

The preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins with the phrase "We the People," which acknowledges that the people are the ultimate source of power for a government. This idea is consistent with which theory?

A) anarchy
B) authoritarianism
C) nationalism
D) popular sovereignty

Question 47

What motive did the Founders have to create a system of government that encouraged conflict and competition among citizens?

A) A government that suppressed naturally occurring conflicts was sure to become tyrannical.
B) They believed conflict and competition would keep citizens prepared for future wars.
C) Conflict and competition were free-market ideals that the Founders were in favor of.
D) A government that constantly policed its citizens would lead to certain anarchy.

Question 48

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

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

Question 49

Which system of government would be considered a direct democracy?

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 50

How is the United States' republican form of government reflected in its political institutions?

A) through the presidential election, where the winner of the popular vote becomes president
B) through the amendment process, where citizens vote on whether to ratify an amendment
C) through referendum votes, where citizens directly choose to enact a policy at the local level
D) through midterm elections, where citizens elect their representatives for the House and Senate

Question 51

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

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 52

The experiences that colonists had under the rule of the tyrannical King George III led to the emergence of which core value that forms American political culture?

A) diversity of population
B) authoritarianism
C) majority rule
D) limited government

Question 53

The functioning of many early New England colonies relied on local town hall meetings where citizens would make governmental decisions after discussions and votes were held. Which core value of American political culture do these early instances speak to?

A) majority rule
B) individualism
C) diversity
D) equality of opportunity

Question 54

Which option best describes political culture?

A) the values and beliefs about the role of government that are widely held by citizens
B) the intersection of politics with the social values and popular culture of a nation
C) the diverse culture that results from people of different backgrounds starting a new nation
D) the common background that people have within a nation that guides their politics

Question 55

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

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

Question 56

Which philosopher's ideas have contributed significantly to American political culture?

A) Immanuel Kant
B) Aristotle
C) Voltaire
D) Thomas Hobbes

Question 57

Which nation is the most likely to have a political culture based on a common ancestry?

A) Canada, which encompasses French heritage as well as several immigrant cultures
B) Russia, which has a history of communist regimes that is shared across generations
C) The United States, which was built upon several immigrant cultures
D) Algeria, which has a mix of French, African, and Muslim heritage due to colonization

Question 58

Which core value of American political culture is the result of America's lack of a common ancestry?

A) limited government
B) diversity
C) individualism
D) equality of opportunity

Question 59

In Canada, regular elections are held for the people to select public officials who will represent and advocate for their interests in the national parliament. Which type of government is this known as?

A) direct democracy
B) representative democracy
C) authoritarian theocracy
D) democratic monarchy

Question 60

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

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 61

Maria is concerned that the heightened hostilities between members of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party will lead to gridlock whereby the president will expand his power to fulfill his policy goals by taking executive action. Why should Maria not worry too much about this?

A) The Founders built in a mechanism to keep the government functioning during partisan times.
B) History shows that even in polarizing times like the Civil War, American democracy has endured.
C) The Constitution allows for citizens to directly impeach a president who expands his powers too much.
D) The president is prohibited from signing executive orders during times of divided government.

Question 62

What can the various economic recessions and depressions throughout United States history signal about capitalism?

A) Such cyclical economic conditions show that one major event does not mean capitalism is dead.
B) These hard economic times have strengthened the system of capitalism in the United States.
C) A history of several economic recessions and the Depression suggest capitalism is a volatile system needing reform.
D) Such economic hardships indicate that a socialist economic system would be far more successful.

Question 63

In the 2016 presidential race, Hillary Clinton raised approximately $1.2 billion for her campaign, while Donald Trump raised approximately $646 million. The result of that election suggests that ______.

A) money raised must be spent wisely on a campaign
B) it is a waste of resources to focus on fundraising
C) money influences the popular but not the Electoral College vote
D) the influence of money on politics can only go so far

Question 64

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

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 65

What is one example of the harmful effect partisan gridlock has on the American democracy?

A) the failure to pass of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
B) the government shutdown from December 2018 through January 2019
C) the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018
D) the 2018 midterm election results, which led to a divided government

Question 66

One of the foundational principles of the United States is the idea of free markets and individuals working hard towards their own success. The 2008 financial crisis and success of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries caused concerns that ______.

A) America would no longer be a global superpower
B) interest groups would exert undue influence on politics
C) heightened partisan attitudes would cause crippling gridlock
D) the American brand of capitalism is on the decline

Question 67

According to the text, why is the United States likely to remain an economic superpower?

A) The value of the dollar has increased significantly.
B) China's rate of growth has slowed in recent years.
C) Russia is in the midst of a severe economic depression.
D) The United States' national debt is decreasing.

Question 68

Which nation has threatened the United States' position as an economic superpower?

A) China
B) Canada
C) Mexico
D) Russia

Question 69

Why might partisan gridlock in Congress suggest a decline in the health of American democracy?

A) Party-line voting and increasing hostility between parties impedes the policymaking process.
B) Increased animosity leads to policies aimed at hurting the other party rather than benefiting the nation.
C) Congress's failure to make policy due to partisan differences expands the president's power.
D) Hyper-partisan attitudes and behaviors cause Americans to view the government as less legitimate.

Question 70

Which impact does continued immigration from other countries have on the American political culture?

A) Immigration strengthens the American cultural value of diversity.
B) Immigration increases the population, which contributes to majority rule.
C) Immigration tends to strengthen the sense of individualism among Americans.
D) Immigration and the policies related to it keep the government limited and in check.

Question 71

The Great Recession of 2008 saw unemployment rates reach 10 percent in October 2009 before declining in response to the economic policies of the Federal Reserve and President Obama. Not even ten years later, the unemployment rate in July 2019 reached 3.7 percent under President Trump. What does this suggest?

A) Capitalism is a dangerous economic system that creates quick, volatile changes that hurt Americans.
B) Only socialist economic policies can combat the negative effects of capitalist economic policies.
C) Conservative fiscal and monetary policies tend to have a harmful effect on the economy.
D) Harsh economic periods signal neither the end of capitalism nor a declining democracy.

Question 72

Affirmative action programs in place in colleges and universities give preference to candidates in racial, ethnic, and gender minorities to offset the history of discrimination in America. Those who support affirmative action programs defend them on the basis that they help level the playing field. This is reflective of which core American value?

A) individualism
B) equality of opportunity
C) diversity
D) limited government

Question 73

What was the result of the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United v. FEC?

A) It allowed for candidates to accept unlimited contributions and make unlimited expenditures without disclosing it to the FEC.
B) It struck down as unconstitutional a law that prohibited candidates from running negative ads attacking their opponents.
C) It restricted the amount of money individuals, groups, and corporations could contribute to a candidate's campaign.
D) It allowed certain groups to accept unlimited contributions for the purpose of spending money on behalf of a candidate.

Question 74

In the early years of America, the Puritans who settled in the colonies were committed to a strong work ethic and believed that one's success in life was that person's responsibility. This Puritan belief provides the foundation for which American value?

A) democracy
B) equality of opportunity
C) capitalism
D) individualism

Question 75

Which recent event caused concerns that capitalism in America is dead?

A) the 2008 financial crisis
B) the Great Depression
C) the drying up of the Social Security trust fund
D) the election of Donald Trump as president

Question 76

Which is an indicator that the United States will remain an economic superpower?

A) the quick recovery from the 2008 financial crisis
B) the tariffs implemented by President Trump on China in 2019
C) the fact that similar concerns arose in the 1960s with Japan
D) the increased economic health of China

Question 77

What is the relationship between the American value of individualism and the economic system of capitalism in America?

A) According to individualism, everyone must look out for one another, which is reflected in capitalism.
B) The ideas that make up the value of individualism run counter to the capitalist economy.
C) Individualism supports the notion of free markets and individual effort toward achieving success.
D) The capitalist economy that has created the American welfare state is based on individual efforts.

Question 78

Which argument justifies the idea that the influence of money on politics does not mean American democracy is in decline?

A) More and more campaign finance restrictions are being implemented to cut down on such influence.
B) Those who donate significant amounts to a campaign do so for the greater benefit of democracy.
C) Money has always influenced politics, and arguably more so for most of American history.
D) American democracy was built to withstand the influence of money on policymaking and politics.

Question 79

The idea that partisan disagreement fuels democracy by enabling the public to express their opinion through elections is known as the ______.

A) responsive theory of democracy
B) republican democracy theory
C) polarization theory
D) public response theory

Question 80

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

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