Deck 1: Introduction: Making Sense of Government and Politics

Question 1

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

A)procedural limits
B)substantive limits
C)primary restrictions
D)secondary restrictions
E)tertiary restrictions

Answer 1

A

Question 2

When governments are severely limited in terms of what they are permitted to control,these governments are said to have:

A)procedural limits
B)substantive limits
C)primary restrictions
D)secondary restrictions
E)tertiary restrictions

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The following question is an example of a(n)________ question in political science: "Should a majority of Latinos support the Democratic Party in presidential elections?"

A)empirical
B)analytical
C)normative
D)fundamental
E)policy

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The limitation on government power in the United States that prohibits Americans from being forced to quarter troops in their homes is an example of a:

A)procedural limit
B)substantive limit
C)primary restriction
D)secondary restriction
E)tertiary restriction

Question 5

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

A)"Who governs?" and "How do they govern?"
B)"Who runs for office?" and "Who wins?"
C)"What do we observe?" and "Why?"
D)"What is government?" and "Who runs it?"
E)"Why do we need government?" and "Who runs it?"

Question 6

Autocracy can best be defined as rule by:

A)all
B)one
C)few
D)many
E)self-executing laws

Question 7

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:

A)oligarchic
B)autocratic
C)democratic
D)constitutional
E)totalitarian

Question 8

What is the general term used to describe the formal political arrangement by which a land and its people are ruled?

A)formalism
B)government
C)authoritarianism
D)constitutionalism
E)monarchism

Question 9

A form of government in which a single individual-king,queen,or dictator-rules is known as:

A)a unigarchy
B)an oligarchy
C)an autocracy
D)totalitarianism
E)authoritarianism

Question 10

In many nations in Europe,South America,Asia,and Africa,the law imposes few real limits,but the government is nevertheless kept in check by other political and social institutions that it is unable to control but must come to terms with.Examples include autonomous territories,an organized church,organized business groups,or organized labor unions.Such governments are generally called:

A)autocratic
B)totalitarian
C)authoritarian
D)constitutional
E)democracies

Question 11

States and tribal councils are examples of which set of institutions and procedures?

A)governments
B)formal institutions
C)legislative bodies
D)democracy
E)bureaucracies

Question 12

The following question is an example of a(n)________ question in political science: "Which political party do a majority of Latinos support in presidential elections?"

A)empirical
B)analytical
C)normative
D)fundamental
E)policy

Question 13

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:

A)procedural limit
B)substantive limit
C)primary restriction
D)secondary restriction
E)tertiary restriction

Question 14

Under the rule of King George,the English colonies in America exemplified the governmental system known as:

A)a unigarchy
B)an oligarchy
C)an autocracy
D)totalitarianism
E)a democracy

Question 15

The kind of rule in which the power of government has only minimal legal limits but is effectively restrained by other social,religious,or economic institutions is called:

A)autocratic
B)totalitarian
C)authoritarian
D)constitutional
E)democracy

Question 16

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

A)pluralistic
B)autocratic
C)constitutional
D)representative
E)democratic

Question 17

A system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process,usually through the selection of key public officials,is called:

A)democratic
B)pluralistic
C)constitutional
D)oligarchic
E)totalitarian

Question 18

The following question is an example of a(n)________ question in political science: "Why do a majority of Latinos support the Democratic Party in presidential elections?"

A)empirical
B)analytical
C)normative
D)fundamental
E)policy

Question 19

When a small group of landowners,military officers,or wealthy merchants controls most of the governing decisions,the government is said to be a(n):

A)theocracy
B)oligarchy
C)autocracy
D)meritocracy
E)democracy

Question 20

Which term describes a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of government?

A)pluralism
B)democracy
C)monarchy
D)representative government
E)constitutional government

Question 21

Efforts to gain power,influence those in power,bring new people to power,or throw out the old leaders are forms of:

A)autocracy
B)pluralism
C)democracy
D)interest-group bargaining
E)politics

Question 22

Free riding occurs in collective action settings because:

A)usually some individuals do not have an interest in the public good
B)the diversity of motives means not everyone wants to achieve the same goal
C)irrationality is prevalent in society
D)people do not know what the price of public goods really ought to be
E)individuals may be able to enjoy the benefit of others' efforts without contributing themselves

Question 23

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:

A)autocratic
B)dictatorial
C)democratic
D)authoritarian
E)totalitarian

Question 24

A good that may be enjoyed by anyone,if provided,and that may not be denied to anyone once it has been provided is called a(n):

A)public good
B)private good
C)universal good
D)externality
E)negative good

Question 25

The relationship between a representative and his or her constituents in which constituents essentially "hire" the representative to act on their behalf is known as a(n):

A)master-slave dilemma
B)collective action problem
C)principal-agent relationship
D)employee-employer dichotomy
E)director-directed puzzle

Question 26

In addition to competition,politics also involves:

A)collaboration and cooperation
B)individual decisions to join organizations
C)random events
D)biological processes
E)personal characteristics

Question 27

Your instructor decides to give the class one very hard exam question.The entire class may work together to answer the question since the instructor just wants the correct answer;she does not care how the class arrives at the answer or who contributes to answering the question.The final answer that is submitted will be graded,and all students will receive the same grade.In one sense,the exam grade is a ________ since all students will benefit and cannot be denied a grade,regardless of their individual contributions to answering the question.

A)selective good
B)private good
C)public good
D)retail good
E)wholesale good

Question 28

What is an example of a public good?

A)clean air
B)garbage collection service
C)shoes sold at a shoe store
D)groceries sold at a grocery store
E)home-grown vegetables given from one person to another

Question 29

In American representative democracy,citizens are considered to function as:

A)agents
B)delegates
C)principals
D)specialists
E)experts

Question 30

Why does the "dark side" of principal-agent relationships exist?

A)Agents are often not rational.
B)Institutions sometimes force principal-agent relationships "underground."
C)Principals often force agents to do things against their will.
D)The interests of the agent and the principal may not be well aligned.
E)The principals usually do not know what they are doing.

Question 31

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

A)government
B)politics
C)authoritarianism
D)lobbying
E)redistribution

Question 32

For which of the following reasons is government NOT necessary?

A)to provide public goods
B)to provide national defense
C)to maintain order
D)to provide private goods
E)to protect property

Question 33

Your instructor has organized the class into groups of three students each and assigned each group a research project on different aspects of the workings of Congress.Regardless of the individual contributions of each member of the group,all three students of each group will receive the same grade based on the quality of the project.After numerous attempts to organize the group to work on the project,you realize the third student in your group will not participate.Instead,you and the second student get together to finish the project since both of you are very concerned about your final grade in the class.However,you are both angry that the third student is going to benefit from your hard work without contributing.Had the instructor told each group that each student's grade on the project would be based on their individual contributions,which problem would the instructor have avoided?

A)a delegation problem
B)an empirical problem
C)a collective action problem
D)a free-rider problem
E)a principal-agent problem

Question 34

The rules and procedures that provide incentives for political behavior (thereby shaping politics)are called:

A)institutions
B)communities
C)social culture
D)planning agendas
E)classifications

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a reason that rulers were forced to give ordinary citizens a greater voice in public affairs?

A)internal conflict
B)external threat
C)economic recession
D)promotion of national unity
E)promotion of national development

Question 36

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)totalitarian
B)monarchical
C)authoritarian
D)constitutional
E)democratic

Question 37

The conflicts and struggles over the leadership,structure,and policies of government are called:

A)government
B)politics
C)derision
D)lobbying
E)war

Question 38

Which term describes rules and procedures that provide incentives for political behavior,and thereby shape policies?

A)institutions
B)communities
C)social culture
D)planning agenda
E)classifications

Question 39

Governments have historically included which two basic components?

A)coercion and revenue collection
B)coercion and social services
C)police and military
D)taxes and welfare
E)revenue collection and social services

Question 40

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

Question 41

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

Question 42

When large numbers of people have some influence over government decision making,the government is said to be constitutional.

Question 43

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

Question 44

Internal conflicts and external threats have led rulers to give ordinary citizens less of a voice in public affairs.

Question 45

When a small group of individuals controls most of the governing decisions,a government is said to be an oligarchy.

Question 46

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

Question 47

Institutions do the public's business while relieving communities of having to reinvent collective action each time it is required.

Question 48

The conflicts and struggles over the leadership,structure,and policies of government are called politics.

Question 49

Is government a threat to freedom,or is it necessary to protect freedom?

Question 50

Governments that are generally unrestrained by law but in which leaders are kept in check by other political or social institutions are called authoritarian governments.

Question 51

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

Question 52

Explain the rationale for representative democracy.

Question 53

The Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin was an example of a totalitarian regime.

Question 54

A nation where all political authority is vested in a single individual has a totalitarian government.

Question 55

Describe various forms of government in terms of who governs and the limitations on governmental power.

Question 56

A public good is any service provided by the government.

Question 57

The United States is a representative democracy.

Question 58

Because the agent's preferences sometimes differ from those of the principal,usually the principal entirely eliminates the agent's prospective deviations by spelling out the agent's actions in a detailed contract.

Question 59

Explain why American government is so complex.Can order be found in the apparent chaos of politics?

Question 60

A government may be as simple as a tribal council.

Question 61

What historical developments helped create modern democratic government?

Question 62

What kinds of free-rider problems do we encounter in our everyday lives? How does government help solve the free-rider problem?

Question 63

Explain the trade-offs involved in democracy.