Question 1

Critical thinking involves

Accepted Answer

A) determining what can be reasonably believed and using that information to reach a thoughtful conclusion. 
B) establishing your stance on an issue and then gathering information to support that stance. 
C) logically attacking positions with which you disagree by using all the tools at your disposal. 
D) finding the "middle of the road," even on issues about which you have strong beliefs. 
E) focusing on defending your position rather than refuting others' positions. 
A) determining what can be reasonably believed and using that information to reach a thoughtful conclusion. 
B) establishing your stance on an issue and then gathering information to support that stance. 
C) logically attacking positions with which you disagree by using all the tools at your disposal. 
D) finding the "middle of the road," even on issues about which you have strong beliefs. 
E) focusing on defending your position rather than refuting others' positions. A

Question 2

Individuals tend to interpret information in ways that reinforce what they already believe.Which term refers to this tendency?

Accepted Answer

A) confirmation bias 
B) critical thinking 
C) straw man fallacy 
D) intuition 
E) discrimination 
A) confirmation bias 
B) critical thinking 
C) straw man fallacy 
D) intuition 
E) discrimination A

Question 3

To what degree is American democracy majoritarian,and what are the limits to that majoritarianism?

Accepted Answer

Majoritarianism exists where the majority effectively determines what government does.The American democratic system of government is designed to give the people,through popular election of their representatives,control over the issues dealt with by the government and how the government responds to those issues.There are,however,limits to majoritarianism; the larger public takes an interest in only a few of the many issues dealt with by the government.Most policies result from pressure by the few groups that are directly affected by that issue.Also,elected leadership can choose to make decisions that are unpopular with the majority.

Question 4

What is a major limit on majoritarianism,as suggested by the text?

Accepted Answer

A) The public as a whole takes an interest in only a few of the hundreds of policy decisions that U.S.officials make each year. 
B) The public lacks access to the information required to take informed political action on most issues dealt with by the government each year. 
C) The actions of special interest groups are ultimately more influential than the voting power of the public. 
D) The rapid turnover of government officials and members of the legislature prevents the majority public from making a sustained effort for any single issue. 
E) The most power tends to reside with a wealthy minority of the voting public,preventing the majority public from setting the issue agenda. 
A) The public as a whole takes an interest in only a few of the hundreds of policy decisions that U.S.officials make each year. 
B) The public lacks access to the information required to take informed political action on most issues dealt with by the government each year. 
C) The actions of special interest groups are ultimately more influential than the voting power of the public. 
D) The rapid turnover of government officials and members of the legislature prevents the majority public from making a sustained effort for any single issue. 
E) The most power tends to reside with a wealthy minority of the voting public,preventing the majority public from setting the issue agenda.

Question 5

The average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States and Europe reflect a greater influence of which of the following in the United States,when compared to Europe?

Accepted Answer

A) majoritarianism 
B) elitism 
C) corporate power 
D) judicial action 
E) constitutionalism 
A) majoritarianism 
B) elitism 
C) corporate power 
D) judicial action 
E) constitutionalism

Question 6

Describe the differences between how Americans define themselves and how other,older nations define what it means to be a part of their nations' political identity.

Accepted Answer

Other people take their identity from th

Question 7

West Virginia,the state with the lowest percentage of college graduates in the United States,

Accepted Answer

A) is indicative of Americans' relative indifference to higher education. 
B) is evidence of the general truth that the states with the highest percentage of college graduates are located between the Rockies and the Mississippi River. 
C) is one of seven U.S.states with fewer than five institutions of higher learning. 
D) demonstrates how closed higher education in the United States is compared to the rest of the world. 
E) has a higher proportion of college graduates than most European countries. 
A) is indicative of Americans' relative indifference to higher education. 
B) is evidence of the general truth that the states with the highest percentage of college graduates are located between the Rockies and the Mississippi River. 
C) is one of seven U.S.states with fewer than five institutions of higher learning. 
D) demonstrates how closed higher education in the United States is compared to the rest of the world. 
E) has a higher proportion of college graduates than most European countries.

Question 8

What is the likely result of spending hours listening to partisan talk shows?

Accepted Answer

A) misinformation 
B) liberalism 
C) pragmatism 
D) well-rounded political views 
E) a distaste for politics 
A) misinformation 
B) liberalism 
C) pragmatism 
D) well-rounded political views 
E) a distaste for politics

Question 9

What has democracy come to mean in practice?

Accepted Answer

A) pluralistic government through the combination of popularly elected representatives and the influence of interest groups 
B) oligarchic government through a legislature chosen through popular election 
C) elitist control through interest group politics 
D) pluralism through the election of representatives and the influence of corporate interests 
E) majority rule through the free and open election of representatives 
A) pluralistic government through the combination of popularly elected representatives and the influence of interest groups 
B) oligarchic government through a legislature chosen through popular election 
C) elitist control through interest group politics 
D) pluralism through the election of representatives and the influence of corporate interests 
E) majority rule through the free and open election of representatives

Question 10

Which of the following is an accurate description of the prevalence of college education in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A) Among adults 25 years of age and older,roughly half are college graduates. 
B) Among adults 25 years of age and older,nearly one in three is a college graduate. 
C) Every U.S.state has at least twenty colleges or universities within its borders. 
D) Despite having a much higher rate of colleges and universities per capita than European countries,the U.S.has a lower rate of college graduation per capita. 
E) Although the U.S.has a lower number of colleges and universities per capita than Europe,it has a much higher rate of college graduation per capita. 
A) Among adults 25 years of age and older,roughly half are college graduates. 
B) Among adults 25 years of age and older,nearly one in three is a college graduate. 
C) Every U.S.state has at least twenty colleges or universities within its borders. 
D) Despite having a much higher rate of colleges and universities per capita than European countries,the U.S.has a lower rate of college graduation per capita. 
E) Although the U.S.has a lower number of colleges and universities per capita than Europe,it has a much higher rate of college graduation per capita.

Question 11

The United States has certain rules in place to keep politics within peaceful bounds.These rules include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) autocracy. 
B) democracy. 
C) constitutionalism. 
D) free markets. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) autocracy. 
B) democracy. 
C) constitutionalism. 
D) free markets. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 12

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

Accepted Answer

A) a guarantee of freedom of speech. 
B) a division of governmental authority into three branches. 
C) checks and balances among the three branches of government. 
D) restrictions against the power of corporations to influence the election process. 
E) term limits for elected officials to reduce their power. 
A) a guarantee of freedom of speech. 
B) a division of governmental authority into three branches. 
C) checks and balances among the three branches of government. 
D) restrictions against the power of corporations to influence the election process. 
E) term limits for elected officials to reduce their power.

Question 13

What new policy was established by the U.S.Supreme Court's landmark Gideon v.Wainwright ruling?

Accepted Answer

A) the right to trial by jury 
B) the need to charge an arrested suspect with a specific crime within 24 hours of arrest 
C) the requirement that police read a suspect his or her rights before or during arrest 
D) government provision of free legal counsel to the accused if they are too poor to hire a lawyer 
E) the practice of allowing a suspect out on bail until the time of the trial 
A) the right to trial by jury 
B) the need to charge an arrested suspect with a specific crime within 24 hours of arrest 
C) the requirement that police read a suspect his or her rights before or during arrest 
D) government provision of free legal counsel to the accused if they are too poor to hire a lawyer 
E) the practice of allowing a suspect out on bail until the time of the trial

Question 14

In a constitutional system,

Accepted Answer

A) there are no restrictions on the lawful uses of power,as long as this power is obtained by majority rule. 
B) there are lawful restrictions on a government's power. 
C) the economy is based on the free enterprise system. 
D) officials govern according to the traditions established by their predecessors. 
E) all citizens have absolute free speech rights. 
A) there are no restrictions on the lawful uses of power,as long as this power is obtained by majority rule. 
B) there are lawful restrictions on a government's power. 
C) the economy is based on the free enterprise system. 
D) officials govern according to the traditions established by their predecessors. 
E) all citizens have absolute free speech rights.

Question 15

According to the Declaration of Independence,governments get their "just powers" from

Accepted Answer

A) "God Almighty." 
B) "the consent of the governed." 
C) "the various factions." 
D) "the teachings of Jesus Christ." 
E) "the benevolence of a just king." 
A) "God Almighty." 
B) "the consent of the governed." 
C) "the various factions." 
D) "the teachings of Jesus Christ." 
E) "the benevolence of a just king."

Question 16

In a democratic society,who or what is responsible for personal development?

Accepted Answer

A) the education system 
B) political parties 
C) the progressive being 
D) the individual 
E) parents,ministers,and political leaders 
A) the education system 
B) political parties 
C) the progressive being 
D) the individual 
E) parents,ministers,and political leaders

Question 17

The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called

Accepted Answer

A) politics. 
B) government. 
C) elitism. 
D) socialism. 
E) communism. 
A) politics. 
B) government. 
C) elitism. 
D) socialism. 
E) communism.

Question 18

In politics,what is an echo chamber?

Accepted Answer

A) an environment in which people only hear what they want to hear 
B) a space for open debate 
C) a "safe" zone,usually online 
D) a willful removal of oneself from political discussions or information 
E) a rabidly partisan news outlet 
A) an environment in which people only hear what they want to hear 
B) a space for open debate 
C) a "safe" zone,usually online 
D) a willful removal of oneself from political discussions or information 
E) a rabidly partisan news outlet

Question 19

Which of the following describes socialism as practiced today in Sweden?

Accepted Answer

A) The government does not attempt to manage the overall economy but owns a number of major industries and provides for people's basic economic needs. 
B) The government manages the overall economy through ownership of most major industries,and it does not allow private property. 
C) The economy operates almost exclusively on private transactions. 
D) The government does little to manage the economy and owns no major industries,serving mainly to provide for people's basic economic needs. 
E) Firms are largely free to make their own production,distribution,and pricing decisions,and individuals depend largely on themselves for economic security. 
A) The government does not attempt to manage the overall economy but owns a number of major industries and provides for people's basic economic needs. 
B) The government manages the overall economy through ownership of most major industries,and it does not allow private property. 
C) The economy operates almost exclusively on private transactions. 
D) The government does little to manage the economy and owns no major industries,serving mainly to provide for people's basic economic needs. 
E) Firms are largely free to make their own production,distribution,and pricing decisions,and individuals depend largely on themselves for economic security.

Question 20

The United States' economy operates primarily as a

Accepted Answer

A) free-market system. 
B) free-market system with major elements of socialism. 
C) socialist system with some free-market elements. 
D) socialist system. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) free-market system. 
B) free-market system with major elements of socialism. 
C) socialist system with some free-market elements. 
D) socialist system. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Critical thinking involves

Individuals tend to interpret information in ways that reinforce what they already believe.Which term refers to this tendency?

To what degree is American democracy majoritarian,and what are the limits to that majoritarianism?

What is a major limit on majoritarianism,as suggested by the text?

The average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States and Europe reflect a greater influence of which of the following in the United States,when compared to Europe?

Describe the differences between how Americans define themselves and how other,older nations define what it means to be a part of their nations' political identity.

West Virginia,the state with the lowest percentage of college graduates in the United States,

What is the likely result of spending hours listening to partisan talk shows?

What has democracy come to mean in practice?

Which of the following is an accurate description of the prevalence of college education in the United States?

The United States has certain rules in place to keep politics within peaceful bounds.These rules include all of the following EXCEPT

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

What new policy was established by the U.S.Supreme Court's landmark Gideon v.Wainwright ruling?

In a constitutional system,

According to the Declaration of Independence,governments get their "just powers" from

In a democratic society,who or what is responsible for personal development?

The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called

In politics,what is an echo chamber?

Which of the following describes socialism as practiced today in Sweden?

The United States' economy operates primarily as a

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters

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

Critical thinking involves

Individuals tend to interpret information in ways that reinforce what they already believe.Which term refers to this tendency?

To what degree is American democracy majoritarian,and what are the limits to that majoritarianism?

What is a major limit on majoritarianism,as suggested by the text?

The average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States and Europe reflect a greater influence of which of the following in the United States,when compared to Europe?

Describe the differences between how Americans define themselves and how other,older nations define what it means to be a part of their nations' political identity.

West Virginia,the state with the lowest percentage of college graduates in the United States,

What is the likely result of spending hours listening to partisan talk shows?

What has democracy come to mean in practice?

Which of the following is an accurate description of the prevalence of college education in the United States?

The United States has certain rules in place to keep politics within peaceful bounds.These rules include all of the following EXCEPT

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

What new policy was established by the U.S.Supreme Court's landmark Gideon v.Wainwright ruling?

In a constitutional system,

According to the Declaration of Independence,governments get their "just powers" from

In a democratic society,who or what is responsible for personal development?

The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called

In politics,what is an echo chamber?

Which of the following describes socialism as practiced today in Sweden?

The United States' economy operates primarily as a

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties,candidates,and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Presidency: Leading the Nation

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Income,welfare,and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

Filters