Deck 1: Introducing Government in America

Question 1

According to Michael Delli Carpini and Scott Keeter,all of the following are strong reasons for staying informed about political affairs EXCEPT

A)fostering civic virtue.
B)helping citizens identify policies that will benefit them.
C)easing the burden placed on journalists and media organizations charged with educating the public.
D)promoting active participation in politics.
E)helping citizens incorporate policy information into their voting behavior.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The theory that argues that group competition results in a rough approximation of the public interest in public policy is

A)hyperpluralist theory.
B)balance-of-power theory.
C)elite-and-class theory.
D)pluralist theory.
E)bureaucratic theory.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Americans' preferences and interests are communicated to policymakers in government through linkage institutions.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The political philosophy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites is known as

A)liberalism.
B)laissez-faire.
C)libertarianism.
D)populism.
E)pluralism.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways that America may be experiencing a culture war,as understood by Wayne Baker?

A)A loss over time of traditional values associated with religion
B)A loss over time of traditional values associated with family life
C)An unfavorable comparison with the citizens of other countries in terms of key values such as patriotism
D)The division of society into opposed groups with irreconcilable moral differences
E)The growth of more centrist positions among the American population

Question 6

Increased technical knowledge of complex contemporary issues casts doubt on the traditional democratic notion that ordinary citizens have the good sense to reach sound political judgments around which government can act.

Question 7

Elite theory contends that class is the major dividing line in politics and that the upper-class elite pull the strings of government.

Question 8

The condition occurring when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy is called

A)divided government.
B)hyperpluralism.
C)policy gridlock.
D)separation of powers.
E)federalism.

Question 9

Which of the following is true of the United States?

A)Social Security consumes a greater share of the national budget than does defense spending.
B)National defense consumes a greater share of the national budget than does Social Security spending.
C)Medicare spending is the single largest item in the federal budget.
D)Aid to state and local governments consumes the largest share of the federal budget.
E)National defense spending consumes the largest share of the federal budget.

Question 10

That the U.S.government is more limited and smaller than other advanced industrialized countries is a reflection of the strength of _________ economic policies.

A)populist
B)pluralist
C)laissez-faire
D)elitist
E)corporatist

Question 11

The principle that,in a democracy,choosing among alternatives requires the majority's desire to be respected is called

A)majority rule.
B)minority rights.
C)representation.
D)pluralism.
E)enlightened understanding.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes a linkage institution?

A)A channel through which people's concerns become a political agenda
B)A location to express a political opinion
C)Formation of a special interest group
D)An environment where one learns about the political process
E)A gathering of people to represent a public opinion

Question 13

A law passed by Congress and the adoption of a regulation by an agency are both examples of

A)public policies.
B)interest groups.
C)red tape.
D)exercises in public opinion.
E)majoritarian politics.

Question 14

Public goods are things that everyone shares,such as clean air.

Question 15

A set of values widely shared within a society is referred to as

A)liberalism.
B)political culture.
C)public policy.
D)politics.
E)government.

Question 16

Since 2008,the number of young Americans aged 18-29 has exceeded older Americans on measures of political engagement.

Question 17

The closer the correspondence between representatives and their electoral majority,the closer the approximation of democracy.

Question 18

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a year in a nation are collectively referred to as

A)gross domestic product (GDP).
B)national debt.
C)national deficit.
D)laissez-faire economics.
E)national surplus.

Question 19

Linkage institutions are

A)political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda.
B)issues that attract serious attention of public officials.
C)branches of government charged with taking action on political issues.
D)choices that governments make in response to political issues.
E)systems of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about youth participation in the U.S.is TRUE?

A)More than one-half of Americans under the age of 30 say that they rarely follow politics.
B)Young people score higher on political knowledge surveys than do older Americans.
C)Younger Americans are more likely to vote than are older Americans.
D)Young people today score better on political knowledge tests than did young people in the early 1970s.
E)All of these are true.

Question 21

Pluralism is a political philosophy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites.

Question 22

The media usually focus on the ____ of politics.

A)"who"
B)"what"
C)"when"
D)"how"
E)"why"

Question 23

Harold Lasswell's definition of politics is

A)"who gets what,when,and how."
B)"what gets done,then,and now."
C)the authoritative allocation of the gross national product,or GNP.
D)voting in a duly constituted election.
E)joining a political party.

Question 24

Who claimed that there has never been,nor ever will be,a people who are politically ignorant and free?

A)Thomas Jefferson
B)Franklin D. Roosevelt
C)Ronald Reagan
D)Bill Clinton
E)George W. Bush

Question 25

Which of the following is an example of a linkage institution?

A)Political parties
B)Interest groups
C)Elections
D)The media
E)All of these are examples of linkage institutions.

Question 26

Which of the following statements is TRUE of the relationship between age and political knowledge as suggested by data from the National Election Studies?

A)Americans aged 45-65 had higher levels of political knowledge in 2008 than in 1972.
B)Americans younger than age 30 had higher levels of political knowledge in 2008 than they did in 1972.
C)Since 1972,all Americans' political knowledge has decreased.
D)Since 1972,all Americans' political knowledge has increased.
E)Americans age 65 and older display higher levels of political knowledge in 2008 than they did in 1972.

Question 27

Public policy

A)is specifically defined as government action.
B)only relates to democracies.
C)is not relevant unless it is coupled with political culture.
D)includes all decisions and nondecisions made by government.
E)only emerges through formal legislative procedures.

Question 28

The who of politics includes voters,candidates,groups and parties; the what refers to the

A)media organizations that cover voters,candidates,groups,and parties.
B)institutions that respond to voters,candidates,groups,and parties.
C)substance of politics and government-benefits and burdens.
D)procedures through which voters,candidates,groups,and parties get what they want.
E)winners and losers.

Question 29

Which of the following is TRUE of voter turnout in the United States?

A)The youth vote in 2008 erased the age gap in voter turnout between young Americans and older Americans.
B)The youth surge in the 2008 election was due in large part to increased turnout among minorities; for the first time ever,young African Americans had a higher turnout rate than did young whites.
C)Turnout rates for the young have generally been going up,while turnout among people over 65 years of age has generally been going down since 1972.
D)Young adults age 18-29 report higher levels of interest in keeping up with politics when compared to older adults.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 30

Which of the following statements helps explain the link between youth voter turnout and changes in media communication and technology?

A)The current generation is the first to grow up in a media environment with few shared experiences.
B)The proliferation of television channels makes it easier for young Americans to avoid exposure to politics.
C)Most young Americans have not developed habits of following the news.
D)Young people today have never known a time when most citizens paid attention to major political events.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 31

Patrick Henry's famous utterance,"Give me liberty or give me death!" is an example of Americans' belief in egalitarianism as a central component to the American creed.

Question 32

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society are collectively called

A)government.
B)the separation of powers.
C)federalism.
D)power.
E)politics.

Question 33

The __________ describes those issues that attract serious attention from public officials and policymakers.

A)backburner
B)policy agenda
C)bureaucracy
D)policymaking process
E)gatekeeper

Question 34

When interests conflict,which they often do,no coalition may be strong enough to form a majority and establish policy-this can lead to a policy gridlock.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a policymaking institution according to your textbook?

A)Congress
B)The presidency
C)The courts
D)The bureaucracy
E)The media

Question 36

An example of a public good is

A)national defense.
B)a toll road.
C)food stamps.
D)a college education.
E)medical care.

Question 37

Most Americans are proud of the United States in its fair and equal treatment of all groups.

Question 38

Another name for a law passed by Congress is a(n)

A)budgetary choice.
B)regulation.
C)bill.
D)congressional statute.
E)presidential action.

Question 39

______ is the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time.

A)Democracy
B)The policymaking system
C)A constellation
D)The bureaucracy
E)Government

Question 40

According to Michael Delli Carpini and Scott Keeter,political knowledge is important because it

A)fosters civic virtues.
B)helps citizens identify policies that would benefit them.
C)promotes active participation in politics.
D)All of the above are true.
E)None of the above is true.

Question 41

What unites Americans more than anything else according to your textbook?

A)The president
B)Their political culture
C)Participation in elections
D)A belief in group politics
E)Liberal attitudes toward immigration

Question 42

The U.S.troop surge in Afghanistan resulted from a

A)congressional statute.
B)presidential action.
C)court decision.
D)budgetary choice.
E)regulation.

Question 43

The relationship between groups and the government in hyperpluralist theory is

A)strong government and strong groups.
B)weak groups and strong government.
C)weak groups,strong elites,and weak government.
D)strong groups and weak government.
E)too few groups result in the creation of many governments.

Question 44

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)The authors of the U.S. Constitution were wary of democracy and doubted the ability of ordinary Americans to make informed judgments about what government should do.
B)Most people in most democracies around the world believe that although democracy has its faults,it is the best form of government.
C)Government "by the people" is literally impossible in the U.S.
D)Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.
E)All of these are true.

Question 45

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

A)Equality in voting
B)Effective participation
C)Enlightened understanding
D)Inclusion
E)Citizen control of the agenda

Question 46

Pluralist theory suggests that,in the United States,

A)society is governed by an upper-class elite.
B)too many influential groups cripple government's ability to govern.
C)many groups vie for power with no one group dominating politics.
D)Congress is stronger and more influential than the presidency.
E)because most citizens fail to pay attention to serious issues,government has become an elite institution.

Question 47

Robert Dahl's note that in the U.S."all active and legitimate groups in the population can make themselves heard at some crucial stage in the process" is an expression of which theory of democracy?

A)Pluralist theory
B)Elite theory
C)Class theory
D)Hyperpluralist theory
E)Bureaucratic theory

Question 48

Escalating campaign costs pose a challenge to contemporary American democracy because

A)candidates have become dependent on PACs,which represent specific economic interests rather than the American people as a whole.
B)candidates may be more likely to pay attention to PACs because they depend on PAC contributions for reelection.
C)candidates' reliance on PACs and PAC contributions makes them more likely to get involved in single-issue politics.
D)the influence of PAC money on the electoral process widens the gap between democratic theory and the reality of democracy in America.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 49

The basic principles of traditional democratic theory include all of the following EXCEPT

A)equality in voting.
B)effective participation.
C)government control of information.
D)inclusion.
E)citizen control of the agenda.

Question 50

The diversity of the American people is reflected in a great diversity of interests,which may pose a challenge to democracy to the extent that

A)it leads to lower levels of political participation.
B)it contributes to policy gridlock.
C)interests conflict and,thus,each interest uses its influence to thwart others.
D)it makes it more difficult for government to deliver policies that are responsive to all citizens' needs and interests.
E)All of these are true.

Question 51

The notion that,in politics,the desires of the people should be replicated in government through the choices of elected officials is called

A)minority rights.
B)majority rules.
C)representation.
D)pluralism.
E)political participation.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a contemporary theory of democracy?

A)Hyperpluralism
B)Class theory
C)Democratic centralism
D)Pluralism
E)Elite theory

Question 53

PAC stands for

A)partisan assistance commission.
B)party affairs council.
C)policy advisory committee.
D)politically active constituency.
E)political action committee.

Question 54

Hyperpluralists believe that the dominant players in American politics are

A)groups.
B)government officials.
C)the media.
D)rich individuals.
E)poor individuals

Question 55

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

A)Congressional statute
B)Presidential action
C)Court decision
D)Budgetary choice
E)Regulation

Question 56

According to hyperpluralists,the increasing caseloads of federal and state courts demonstrate

A)the high status of attorneys in the United States.
B)the inability to control the bureaucracy in implementing policy.
C)that groups are more likely to appeal to different institutions in order to gain policy benefits.
D)the expanding scope of government in the United States.
E)the increasing complexity of our social networks.

Question 57

Which principle of traditional democracy theory is violated in circumstances in which the wealthy have influence far exceeding what would be expected based on their numbers?

A)Equality in voting
B)Effective participation
C)Enlightened understanding
D)Inclusion
E)Citizen control of the agenda

Question 58

The well-known phrase,"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal," in the Declaration of Independence is a statement of the principle of

A)communism.
B)egalitarianism.
C)individualism.
D)libertarianism.
E)republicanism.

Question 59

The recent proliferation of interest groups would be seen as a positive development to proponents of ____ theory.

A)pluralist
B)elite
C)class
D)hyperpluralist
E)bureaucratic

Question 60

At the center of all theories of elite domination of politics is

A)big business.
B)the Congress.
C)the nouveau riche.
D)the Trilateral Commission.
E)the president.

Question 61

The Supreme Court ruling that individuals have a constitutional right to own a gun is an example of public policy made through a congressional statute.

Question 62

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Compared to most other economically developed nations,the U.S. devotes a smaller percentage of its resources to government.
B)The United States,more than Western European democracies,displays a preference for free markets.
C)The U.S.,more than Western European democracies,displays a preference for limited government.
D)The United States,more than Western European democracies,displays a preference for more generous social welfare benefits.
E)All of these are false.

Question 63

The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society are collectively known as government.

Question 64

In the United States,egalitarianism includes

A)equality of condition.
B)equality of opportunity.
C)the absence of monarch and aristocracy.
D)Both b and c are true.
E)None of the above is true.

Question 65

One of the basic functions of government is to socialize young citizens into the political system through schooling.

Question 66

Highways and public parks are examples of public goods.

Question 67

Pluralist theory holds that because so many groups compete for power in the United States,none has a majority say and,therefore,public policy roughly approximates the public interest.

Question 68

Governments have little incentive to provide public goods.

Question 69

The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda are known as linkage institutions.

Question 70

Most public policies are made by a single policymaking institution.

Question 71

A recent study of college freshmen found that fewer than one-half said that "keeping up with politics" was an important priority for them.

Question 72

Which president said,"As government expands,liberty contracts"?

A)Richard Nixon
B)Ronald Reagan
C)Jimmy Carter
D)Bill Clinton
E)Barack Obama

Question 73

Patrick Henry's exclamation,"Give me liberty or give me death," was an expression of which element of the American creed?

A)Liberty
B)Egalitarianism
C)Individualism
D)Populism
E)Laissez-faire

Question 74

Elite theory maintains that who holds office in Washington is of marginal consequence; the corporate giants always have the power.

Question 75

One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is

A)liberalism.
B)pluralism.
C)judicial review.
D)capitalism.
E)individualism.

Question 76

There is a significant gap between the young (under the age of 25)and the elderly (over the age of 65)on measures of political interest,knowledge,and participation.

Question 77

According to James Q.Wilson,an "intense commitment to a candidate,a culture,or an ideology that sets people in one group definitively apart from people in another,rival group" is a definition of

A)socialization.
B)polarization.
C)reification.
D)liberalism.
E)laissez-faire economics.

Question 78

Young people are more likely to be politically informed than are older Americans.

Question 79

The idea that the desires of the people should be replicated in government through the choices of elected officials is the idea of representation.

Question 80

Free speech and a free press are essential to enlightened understanding.