Question 1

Explain the idea of government as a social contract.

Accepted Answer

The idea of government as a social contract is a political theory that suggests that the legitimacy of government and the authority it holds over its citizens is based on an implicit agreement or contract between the rulers and the ruled. This concept was popularized by philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

According to this theory, individuals in a society agree to give up some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of a government in exchange for protection of their rights and the maintenance of social order. This agreement forms the basis of the social contract, where citizens consent to be governed in order to ensure their own safety and well-being.

In essence, the government is seen as a product of the collective will of the people, and its power is derived from the consent of the governed. If the government fails to uphold its end of the social contract by abusing its power or infringing on the rights of its citizens, then the people have the right to revoke their consent and alter or abolish the government.

Overall, the idea of government as a social contract emphasizes the mutual obligations and responsibilities between the rulers and the ruled, and it serves as a foundational principle for modern democratic governance.

Question 2

The constitutional division of power horizontally, into layers, is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  confederacy. 
B)  separation of powers. 
C)  unitary government. 
D)  federalism. 
E)  majoritarianism. 
A)  confederacy. 
B)  separation of powers. 
C)  unitary government. 
D)  federalism. 
E)  majoritarianism. B

Question 3

__________ is a set of beliefs that holds people, not the government, responsible for their own well-being.

Accepted Answer

A)  Pluralism 
B)  Populism 
C)  Majoritarianism 
D)  Libertarianism 
E)  Individualism 
A)  Pluralism 
B)  Populism 
C)  Majoritarianism 
D)  Libertarianism 
E)  Individualism E

Question 4

Gains in civic interest lead to broader public involvement, which in turn

Accepted Answer

A)  decrease the size of government. 
B)  highlight interest group agendas. 
C)  advance equality. 
D)  lead to less partisanship. 
E)  establish income equality. 
A)  decrease the size of government. 
B)  highlight interest group agendas. 
C)  advance equality. 
D)  lead to less partisanship. 
E)  establish income equality.

Question 5

_________ is the idea that citizens become involved in order to help foster civil society.

Accepted Answer

A)  Self-interest 
B)  Political socialization 
C)  Public goods 
D)  Civic interest 
E)  Partisanship 
A)  Self-interest 
B)  Political socialization 
C)  Public goods 
D)  Civic interest 
E)  Partisanship

Question 6

__________ , on the left end of the political spectrum, favor(s) government efforts to increase equality, which includes higher taxes on the wealthy and greater provision of social benefits to support those in need.

Accepted Answer

A)  Moderates 
B)  Populists 
C)  Libertarians 
D)  Conservatives 
E)  Liberals 
A)  Moderates 
B)  Populists 
C)  Libertarians 
D)  Conservatives 
E)  Liberals

Question 7

Which of the following is true regarding college costs?

Accepted Answer

A)  College affordability is a concern for all college students. 
B)  Both private and public college costs have slightly decreased in the last decade. 
C)  Congress has done nothing to fund financial aid for higher education. 
D)  College affordability is the most talked-about issue on the current political agenda. 
E)  Both private and public college costs have  remained stable over the last decade. 
A)  College affordability is a concern for all college students. 
B)  Both private and public college costs have slightly decreased in the last decade. 
C)  Congress has done nothing to fund financial aid for higher education. 
D)  College affordability is the most talked-about issue on the current political agenda. 
E)  Both private and public college costs have  remained stable over the last decade.

Question 8

James Madison argued that size and diversity were assets to our new nation because competing interests, which he called _______, would check one another.

Accepted Answer

A)  factions 
B)  political parties 
C)  syndicalists 
D)  majoritarians 
E)  revolutionary vanguard 
A)  factions 
B)  political parties 
C)  syndicalists 
D)  majoritarians 
E)  revolutionary vanguard

Question 9

Explain the concepts of equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. How do they differ?

Accepted Answer

Equality of opportunity and equality of

Question 10

Ideological frameworks start to crystallize when people are in their

Accepted Answer

A)  early childhood. 
B)  teens. 
C)  early twenties. 
D)  late thirties. 
E)  senior years. 
A)  early childhood. 
B)  teens. 
C)  early twenties. 
D)  late thirties. 
E)  senior years.

Question 11

Madison and the other Framers saw pure democracy, where people ruled directly, as a place where

Accepted Answer

A)  well - reasoned, rational individuals would govern for the good of all . 
B)  a small group of self - interested people w ould govern for their own benefit . 
C)  passions would outweigh judgments about the common good. 
D)  benevolent kings would rule in the interest of their subjects. 
E)  group consensus would lead to rational policy results. 
A)  well - reasoned, rational individuals would govern for the good of all . 
B)  a small group of self - interested people w ould govern for their own benefit . 
C)  passions would outweigh judgments about the common good. 
D)  benevolent kings would rule in the interest of their subjects. 
E)  group consensus would lead to rational policy results.

Question 12

According to the U.S. Constitution, power is channeled into three different branches of government: __________ , __________ , and __________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  executive; economic; legislative 
B)  legislative; executive; judicial 
C)  judicial; legislative; military 
D)  executive; federal; legislative 
E)  judicial; domestic; foreign 
A)  executive; economic; legislative 
B)  legislative; executive; judicial 
C)  judicial; legislative; military 
D)  executive; federal; legislative 
E)  judicial; domestic; foreign

Question 13

__________ is the intentional action by government to achieve a goal.

Accepted Answer

A)  Public policy 
B)  Party identification 
C)  Public opinion 
D)  Political ideology 
E)  Political culture 
A)  Public policy 
B)  Party identification 
C)  Public opinion 
D)  Political ideology 
E)  Political culture

Question 14

Compare self-interest to civic interest.

Accepted Answer

Self-interest refers to the pursuit of o

Question 15

Define political culture, and briefly explain the differences in political culture between the United States and Europe.

Accepted Answer

Political culture refers to the attitude

Question 16

In addition to valuing liberty, the Framers also crafted the Constitution to reflect the value(s) of

Accepted Answer

A)  equalization of property and political participation. 
B)  strict social equality. 
C)  balance, control and order. 
D)  majority rule and majority rights. 
E)  universal suffrage. 
A)  equalization of property and political participation. 
B)  strict social equality. 
C)  balance, control and order. 
D)  majority rule and majority rights. 
E)  universal suffrage.

Question 17

Discuss how the rule of law protects minority rights.

Accepted Answer

The rule of law protects minority rights

Question 18

Which of the following is true regarding evaluation of the American political system?

Accepted Answer

A)  The public's trust of government institutions is low. 
B)  Political institutions are generally unstable. 
C)  Poverty is declining in the U.S. 
D)  Political polarization is declining in the U.S. 
E)  Voter turnout is higher in the U.S. than most other democracies. 
A)  The public's trust of government institutions is low. 
B)  Political institutions are generally unstable. 
C)  Poverty is declining in the U.S. 
D)  Political polarization is declining in the U.S. 
E)  Voter turnout is higher in the U.S. than most other democracies.

Question 19

A policy-making process in which those with a numerical majority hold the authority is called

Accepted Answer

A)  diffused. 
B)  elitist. 
C)  majoritarian. 
D)  pluralist. 
E)  diversified. 
A)  diffused. 
B)  elitist. 
C)  majoritarian. 
D)  pluralist. 
E)  diversified.

Question 20

Explain the purpose of public policy.

Accepted Answer

The purpose of public policy is to addre

Explain the idea of government as a social contract.

The constitutional division of power horizontally, into layers, is known as

__________ is a set of beliefs that holds people, not the government, responsible for their own well-being.

Gains in civic interest lead to broader public involvement, which in turn

_________ is the idea that citizens become involved in order to help foster civil society.

__________ , on the left end of the political spectrum, favor(s) government efforts to increase equality, which includes higher taxes on the wealthy and greater provision of social benefits to support those in need.

Which of the following is true regarding college costs?

James Madison argued that size and diversity were assets to our new nation because competing interests, which he called _______, would check one another.

Explain the concepts of equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. How do they differ?

Ideological frameworks start to crystallize when people are in their

Madison and the other Framers saw pure democracy, where people ruled directly, as a place where

According to the U.S. Constitution, power is channeled into three different branches of government: , , and __ .

__________ is the intentional action by government to achieve a goal.

Compare self-interest to civic interest.

Define political culture, and briefly explain the differences in political culture between the United States and Europe.

In addition to valuing liberty, the Framers also crafted the Constitution to reflect the value(s) of

Discuss how the rule of law protects minority rights.

Which of the following is true regarding evaluation of the American political system?

A policy-making process in which those with a numerical majority hold the authority is called

Explain the purpose of public policy.

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The News and Social Media

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Voting and Participation

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Economic Domestic and Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 1: Gateways to American Democracy

Explain the idea of government as a social contract.

The constitutional division of power horizontally, into layers, is known as

__________ is a set of beliefs that holds people, not the government, responsible for their own well-being.

Gains in civic interest lead to broader public involvement, which in turn

_________ is the idea that citizens become involved in order to help foster civil society.

__________ , on the left end of the political spectrum, favor(s) government efforts to increase equality, which includes higher taxes on the wealthy and greater provision of social benefits to support those in need.

Which of the following is true regarding college costs?

James Madison argued that size and diversity were assets to our new nation because competing interests, which he called _______, would check one another.

Explain the concepts of equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. How do they differ?

Ideological frameworks start to crystallize when people are in their

Madison and the other Framers saw pure democracy, where people ruled directly, as a place where

According to the U.S. Constitution, power is channeled into three different branches of government: __________ , __________ , and __________ .

__________ is the intentional action by government to achieve a goal.

Compare self-interest to civic interest.

Define political culture, and briefly explain the differences in political culture between the United States and Europe.

In addition to valuing liberty, the Framers also crafted the Constitution to reflect the value(s) of

Discuss how the rule of law protects minority rights.

Which of the following is true regarding evaluation of the American political system?

A policy-making process in which those with a numerical majority hold the authority is called

Explain the purpose of public policy.

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The News and Social Media

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Voting and Participation

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Economic Domestic and Foreign Policy

Filters

According to the U.S. Constitution, power is channeled into three different branches of government: , , and __ .