Question 1

________ is the core political value most highly prioritized by American conservatives.

Accepted Answer

A)  Democracy 
B)  Liberty 
C)  Equality 
D)  Family 
E)  Justice 
A)  Democracy 
B)  Liberty 
C)  Equality 
D)  Family 
E)  Justice B

Question 2

What is the difference between a value and an ideology? Describe some of the characteristics and beliefs that define both liberalism and conservatism in contemporary American politics. What are the main differences between these two ideologies in terms of their emphasis on core American values? What are their points of agreement?

Accepted Answer

A value is a principle or standard that is considered important or desirable. It is a belief or attitude about what is right, good, or important in life. Values are often deeply held and can influence a person's behavior and decision-making.

An ideology, on the other hand, is a set of beliefs or principles that form the basis of a political, economic, or social system. It is a comprehensive vision or worldview that shapes a person's understanding of the world and their place in it.

In contemporary American politics, liberalism and conservatism are two dominant ideologies that shape the beliefs and policies of political parties and individuals.

Liberalism is characterized by a belief in the importance of individual rights and freedoms, social equality, and government intervention to address social and economic issues. Liberals tend to support policies such as universal healthcare, environmental protection, and progressive taxation. They emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusivity and advocate for government programs to support those in need.

Conservatism, on the other hand, is characterized by a belief in limited government intervention, free-market capitalism, traditional values, and a strong national defense. Conservatives tend to prioritize individual responsibility, personal freedom, and traditional family values. They advocate for lower taxes, deregulation, and a strong military.

In terms of their emphasis on core American values, liberalism tends to prioritize equality, social justice, and diversity, while conservatism emphasizes individual liberty, personal responsibility, and traditional values.

The main differences between these two ideologies lie in their approach to government intervention, economic policies, and social issues. Liberals generally support a more active role for government in addressing social and economic inequalities, while conservatives advocate for limited government intervention and free-market solutions.

Despite their differences, there are points of agreement between liberalism and conservatism. Both ideologies value freedom and individual rights, although they may prioritize different aspects of freedom. They also share a commitment to the well-being and prosperity of the American people, although they may have different ideas about how to achieve these goals.

Overall, the differences between liberalism and conservatism reflect differing beliefs about the role of government, the economy, and social issues, but both ideologies are rooted in a desire to promote the values and interests of the American people.

Question 3

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Accepted Answer

A)  must be at least 50 percent of the targeted population. 
B)  need be only 25 percent of the targeted population. 
C)  need be only 10 percent of the targeted population. 
D)  must be representative in that the views of those in the sample must accurately and proportionately reflect the views of the whole population. 
E)  must be based on all the registered voters in the targeted population. 
A)  must be at least 50 percent of the targeted population. 
B)  need be only 25 percent of the targeted population. 
C)  need be only 10 percent of the targeted population. 
D)  must be representative in that the views of those in the sample must accurately and proportionately reflect the views of the whole population. 
E)  must be based on all the registered voters in the targeted population. D

Question 4

Which of the following was NOT part of the George W. Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Accepted Answer

A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions 
A)  presidential speeches 
B)  press conferences 
C)  press releases 
D)  media appearances by administration officials 
E)  donations to academic institutions

Question 5

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton administration's attempts to influence public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Clinton administration officials used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives. 
B)  No attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives were made by Clinton administration officials. 
C)  Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration. 
D)  Clinton administration officials almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts. 
E)  Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts. 
A)  Clinton administration officials used techniques similar to those used in election campaigns to bolster popular enthusiasm for White House initiatives. 
B)  No attempts to influence public support for White House initiatives were made by Clinton administration officials. 
C)  Clinton refused to employ any political consultants or pollsters in his administration. 
D)  Clinton administration officials almost never communicated with representatives from the departments of the executive branch about how to coordinate the president's public relations efforts. 
E)  Despite the advice of some of his supporters, Clinton refused to establish a political "war room" to plan his administration's public relations efforts.

Question 6

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  validity quotient 
B)  reliability quotient 
C)  sample 
D)  quota 
E)  hypothesis 
A)  validity quotient 
B)  reliability quotient 
C)  sample 
D)  quota 
E)  hypothesis

Question 7

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information. 
B)  the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums. 
C)  the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches, ideas, and votes. 
D)  the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication. 
E)  the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television. 
A)  important changes in copyright and patent laws that have restricted Americans' access to free information. 
B)  the competition between varying opinions and ideas that are aired in public forums. 
C)  the use of opinion pollsters who market a politician's speeches, ideas, and votes. 
D)  the explosion of information brought on by the Internet and other advances in electronic communication. 
E)  the elimination of government regulations on broadcast media such as radio and television.

Question 8

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Accepted Answer

A)  political socialization. 
B)  ideological education. 
C)  brainwashing. 
D)  value enhancing. 
E)  attitudinal evolution. 
A)  political socialization. 
B)  ideological education. 
C)  brainwashing. 
D)  value enhancing. 
E)  attitudinal evolution.

Question 9

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Accepted Answer

A)  Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints. 
B)  Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing and the greatest publicity. 
C)  The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones. 
D)  Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints. 
E)  Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas. 
A)  Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints. 
B)  Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing and the greatest publicity. 
C)  The most popular ideas are usually the most moderate ones. 
D)  Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints. 
E)  Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and, therefore, are most successful in the marketplace of ideas.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT true about current trends in public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Citizens with more political knowledge can differentiate between information that is congruent with their political beliefs and information that is not more so than other citizens. 
B)  Public opinion can be easily manipulated and fickle. 
C)  Support for abortion rights has been relatively unchanged over the past decade. 
D)  More Americans favor gun control today than in the 1990s. 
E)  A majority of Americans support same sex marriage today. 
A)  Citizens with more political knowledge can differentiate between information that is congruent with their political beliefs and information that is not more so than other citizens. 
B)  Public opinion can be easily manipulated and fickle. 
C)  Support for abortion rights has been relatively unchanged over the past decade. 
D)  More Americans favor gun control today than in the 1990s. 
E)  A majority of Americans support same sex marriage today.

Question 11

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ________ while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  liberals; conservatives 
B)  conservatives; liberals 
C)  libertarians; conservatives 
D)  liberals; libertarians 
E)  libertarians; liberals 
A)  liberals; conservatives 
B)  conservatives; liberals 
C)  libertarians; conservatives 
D)  liberals; libertarians 
E)  libertarians; liberals

Question 12

Which of the following statements about public opinion in America is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Political knowledge is fairly high in America. 
B)  Citizens with low levels of knowledge are generally better able to evaluate new information and determine its relevancy to their beliefs. 
C)  Citizens with high levels of knowledge are generally better able to evaluate new information to determine its relevancy to their beliefs. 
D)  Almost 90 percent of Americans can name their U.S. senators and U.S. representatives. 
E)  Poor Americans are vocal proponents of higher levels of social welfare spending. 
A)  Political knowledge is fairly high in America. 
B)  Citizens with low levels of knowledge are generally better able to evaluate new information and determine its relevancy to their beliefs. 
C)  Citizens with high levels of knowledge are generally better able to evaluate new information to determine its relevancy to their beliefs. 
D)  Almost 90 percent of Americans can name their U.S. senators and U.S. representatives. 
E)  Poor Americans are vocal proponents of higher levels of social welfare spending.

Question 13

The increased importance that politicians have placed on public opinion polls over the last 50 years is due partly to

Accepted Answer

A)  The fact that public opinion polling is provided to political leaders free of charge. 
B)  The fact that the Supreme Court has struck down a number of state and federal laws that made public opinion polling illegal. 
C)  The fact that it has become very difficult for political leaders to experience public opinion directly. 
D)  The fact that media organizations no longer cover political issues as much as they once did. 
E)  The fact that protections for freedom of speech have increased dramatically. 
A)  The fact that public opinion polling is provided to political leaders free of charge. 
B)  The fact that the Supreme Court has struck down a number of state and federal laws that made public opinion polling illegal. 
C)  The fact that it has become very difficult for political leaders to experience public opinion directly. 
D)  The fact that media organizations no longer cover political issues as much as they once did. 
E)  The fact that protections for freedom of speech have increased dramatically.

Question 14

In recent years, partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

Accepted Answer

A)  had no noticeable effect on the partisan composition of the Congress. 
B)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the Congress. 
C)  reduced the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
D)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
E)  increased the number of liberal Republicans and all but eliminated conservative Democrats from the Congress. 
A)  had no noticeable effect on the partisan composition of the Congress. 
B)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans in the Congress. 
C)  reduced the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
D)  increased the number of conservative Democrats and all but eliminated liberal Republicans from the Congress. 
E)  increased the number of liberal Republicans and all but eliminated conservative Democrats from the Congress.

Question 15

A liberal would most likely support

Accepted Answer

A)  an expansion in governmental social services. 
B)  an increase in the federal military budget. 
C)  prayer in the public schools. 
D)  a ban on abortions. 
E)  a reduction in foreign aid for poor countries. 
A)  an expansion in governmental social services. 
B)  an increase in the federal military budget. 
C)  prayer in the public schools. 
D)  a ban on abortions. 
E)  a reduction in foreign aid for poor countries.

Question 16

________ support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.

Accepted Answer

A)  Liberals 
B)  Conservatives 
C)  Socialists 
D)  Internationalists 
E)  Isolationists 
A)  Liberals 
B)  Conservatives 
C)  Socialists 
D)  Internationalists 
E)  Isolationists

Question 17

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  a push poll. 
B)  a bandwagon poll. 
C)  a saliency illusion. 
D)  a selection bias. 
E)  a nonresponse bias. 
A)  a push poll. 
B)  a bandwagon poll. 
C)  a saliency illusion. 
D)  a selection bias. 
E)  a nonresponse bias.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are smaller today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
B)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are greater today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
C)  The differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans have always been the same throughout American history and have not become more intense over the last forty years. 
D)  Republicans and Democrats have similar opinions on all political issues with the exception of national security. 
E)  The political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public are unaffected by the opinions of party leaders. 
A)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are smaller today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
B)  Differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans on a wide variety of policy questions are greater today than during any other period in the last forty years. 
C)  The differences between the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans have always been the same throughout American history and have not become more intense over the last forty years. 
D)  Republicans and Democrats have similar opinions on all political issues with the exception of national security. 
E)  The political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public are unaffected by the opinions of party leaders.

Question 19

A socialist is someone who believes that

Accepted Answer

A)  government should be very active in providing universal health care but very inactive in all other spheres. 
B)  government should be very active in providing universal education but very inactive in all other spheres. 
C)  government should be very active in promoting national defense but very inactive in all other spheres. 
D)  government should be very active in many spheres in order to reduce economic and social inequality. 
E)  government is wasteful and should be limited to as few spheres of activity as possible. 
A)  government should be very active in providing universal health care but very inactive in all other spheres. 
B)  government should be very active in providing universal education but very inactive in all other spheres. 
C)  government should be very active in promoting national defense but very inactive in all other spheres. 
D)  government should be very active in many spheres in order to reduce economic and social inequality. 
E)  government is wasteful and should be limited to as few spheres of activity as possible.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Due to its size and power, the government is always successful at influencing public opinion. 
B)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because the news media frequently disputes its claims. 
C)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because interest groups frequently dispute its claims. 
D)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because there are often conflicts within the government about what should be done. 
E)  Modern presidents focus a great deal of attention on shaping public opinion to boost support for their policy agendas. 
A)  Due to its size and power, the government is always successful at influencing public opinion. 
B)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because the news media frequently disputes its claims. 
C)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because interest groups frequently dispute its claims. 
D)  Despite its size and power, the government has trouble influencing public opinion because there are often conflicts within the government about what should be done. 
E)  Modern presidents focus a great deal of attention on shaping public opinion to boost support for their policy agendas.

________ is the core political value most highly prioritized by American conservatives.

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Which of the following was NOT part of the George W. Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton administration's attempts to influence public opinion?

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the ________.

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Which of the following is NOT true about current trends in public opinion?

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by .

Which of the following statements about public opinion in America is true?

The increased importance that politicians have placed on public opinion polls over the last 50 years is due partly to

In recent years, partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

A liberal would most likely support

________ support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

A socialist is someone who believes that

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is FALSE?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 6: Public Opinion

________ is the core political value most highly prioritized by American conservatives.

In public opinion surveys, a sample of the total population

Which of the following was NOT part of the George W. Bush administration's effort to maintain support for its war on terror?

Which of the following best characterizes the Clinton administration's attempts to influence public opinion?

The small group selected by pollsters to represent the entire population is called the ________.

The concept of a marketplace of ideas refers to

The process by which underlying political values are formed is known as

Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions?

Which of the following is NOT true about current trends in public opinion?

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ________ while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by ________.

Which of the following statements about public opinion in America is true?

The increased importance that politicians have placed on public opinion polls over the last 50 years is due partly to

In recent years, partisan realignment in the South and congressional redistricting have

A liberal would most likely support

________ support abortion rights and oppose state involvement with religious institutions.

When George W. Bush supporters called conservative white voters during the 2000 South Carolina Republican primary to ask if they would be more or less likely to vote for John McCain if they knew that he had fathered an illegitimate black child, it was an example of

Which of the following statements about the political opinions of Democrats and Republicans in the public is most accurate?

A socialist is someone who believes that

Which of the following statements about governmental public relations efforts is FALSE?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Opposition to legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by while support for legalized abortion is a position most likely supported by .