Question 1

The Bill of Rights

Accepted Answer

A) reduced the restrictiveness of constitutionalism. 
B) enhanced the powers of the executive. 
C) further checked the power of the majority. 
D) enhanced the majoritarian nature of government. 
E) restricted the power of corporate influence in the government.

Question 2

In which of the following ways is the U.S.free-market system distinct from European economies?

Accepted Answer

A) its lack of regulatory intervention 
B) its lack of intervention through taxation 
C) its lack of intervention through spending policies 
D) the extent to which private transactions determine the allocation of economic costs and benefits 
E) the extent to which it exercises regulatory intervention by altering interest rates

Question 3

What are some of the barriers to critical thinking in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some of the barriers to...

Question 4

Which of the following is a major barrier to critical thinking?

Accepted Answer

A) citizens' unwillingness to make the effort 
B) lack of access to governmental institutions 
C) elite control of political power resources 
D) failure of politicians and government institutions to communicate policy details to the public 
E) lack of access to news media sources outside of sensationalist television or Internet content

Question 5

Which of the following is a difference between communism and socialism,as described by the text?

Accepted Answer

A) Under socialism,the government owns some firms,but under communism the government does not own any major assets. 
B) Under communism,the government assumes total management of the economy,whereas under socialism,the government does not try to manage the overall economy. 
C) Under socialism,the economy operates mainly through private transactions,but under communism,the government owns a number of major industries and tries to provide for people's basic economic needs. 
D) Under communism,the government manages the economy completely but does not attempt to provide for people's basic needs; under socialism,the government does not manage the economy completely,but does attempt to provide for people's basic needs. 
E) Under socialism,the government owns more industries than a communist government does,but it provides less direct benefit for individuals' welfare.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes deception in American politics?

Accepted Answer

A) It has always been a part of American politics. 
B) It has greatly increased in the last two decades. 
C) It first became notable during the Nixon administration. 
D) The Civil War era saw a marked increase in deceptive politics. 
E) The U.S.has remained remarkably free of deception in politics,as compared to other democracies.

Question 7

The Greek words demos and kratis together mean

Accepted Answer

A) majority rule is sacred. 
B) the people rule. 
C) government is good. 
D) politics is immoral. 
E) the king is good.

Question 8

What era in American politics is notable for a high level of bipartisanship?

Accepted Answer

A) 1945-1960 (post-WWII) 
B) 1865-1877 (Reconstruction) 
C) 1992-2000 (Clinton era) 
D) 1900-1917 (pre-WWI) 
E) 2016-present (Trump era)

Question 9

To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?

Accepted Answer

A) the majoritarian nature of the voting and election system 
B) the ability of any individual to aspire to high political office 
C) the judicial nature of American politics,in which any individual can challenge powerful interests 
D) the engrained nature of individualism,from freedom of expression to fair-trial protections 
E) the ability of the individual to join in labor unions and interest groups to pursue his or her political and financial self-interests

Question 10

Define politics,power,and authority.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define politics,power,and authority....

Question 11

Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent

Accepted Answer

A) activist organizations. 
B) labor unions. 
C) business firms. 
D) foreign-based political action groups. 
E) nonprofit organizations.

Question 12

French philosopher Michel Foucault referred to politics as "________."

Accepted Answer

A) like making sausage 
B) the burden of citizens 
C) a means to an end 
D) war by other means 
E) a necessary evil

Question 13

Which of the following statements about cultural or political beliefs in America is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A) America's origins as a wilderness society led to the belief that government is responsible for providing material assistance to its citizens. 
B) Americans place a greater emphasis than Europeans on personal advancement through education. 
C) Americans have traditionally favored a free-market economy. 
D) America has a strong individualistic culture. 
E) America's individualistic culture has not proven to be an absolute barrier to government assistance programs.

Question 14

In an oligarchy,

Accepted Answer

A) the state is run by corporate interests and companies instead of individuals. 
B) control rests with a small group of popularly elected individuals. 
C) control rests with a single individual,such as a dictator. 
D) control rests with a small group,such as military officers or a few wealthy families. 
E) the state controls all aspects of individuals' lives,including family relations and the practice of religion.

Question 15

Individualism is the idea that

Accepted Answer

A) individuals should be free to act and think as they choose. 
B) all individuals are equal in their moral worth. 
C) people are the ultimate source of governing authority. 
D) people should take initiative and be self-sufficient. 
E) there should be formal limits on citizens' power.

Question 16

As described in the text,________ is a defining characteristic of America politics.

Accepted Answer

A) the widespread sharing of power 
B) the supremacy of the elite 
C) a continual striving for equality 
D) a resistance to all forms of socialism 
E) an unequal distribution of power

Question 17

Which of the following best characterizes Americans' knowledge of public affairs today?

Accepted Answer

A) Millennials are better informed than older generations by a wide margin. 
B) Americans are consistently shown to be among the most well-informed citizens when compared to other democracies. 
C) Most Americans today are far better informed than previous generations,though knowledge levels are still rather low. 
D) Most Americans are woefully uninformed,a situation similar to that found by early opinion polls. 
E) Baby boomers have been shown to be the most well-informed generation,but younger generations know little about public affairs.

Question 18

How could one argue that America is not run by a small power elite?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How could one argue that America is...

Question 19

________ is the ability of persons,groups,or institutions to influence political developments.

Accepted Answer

A) Apathy 
B) Politics 
C) Power 
D) Liberty 
E) Political culture

Question 20

Enormous concentrations of wealth and power exist in the U.S.private sector,primarily in the hands of

Accepted Answer

A) the largest labor unions. 
B) elite political families such as the Kennedys and the Bushes. 
C) middle-class Americans. 
D) small businesses. 
E) large corporations.

Exam 1: Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen