Question 1

In comparison with much of the rest of the world, how are Americans distinctive?

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans do not define themselves as independents. 
B)  Americans do not think of themselves as members of a social class. 
C)  Americans, in Democratic households, do not support conservative social policies. 
D)  Americans, in unaffiliated households, do not support conservative economic policies. 
E)  Americans in union households support Republican policies and candidates over Democratic policies and candidates. 
A)  Americans do not define themselves as independents. 
B)  Americans do not think of themselves as members of a social class. 
C)  Americans, in Democratic households, do not support conservative social policies. 
D)  Americans, in unaffiliated households, do not support conservative economic policies. 
E)  Americans in union households support Republican policies and candidates over Democratic policies and candidates.

Question 2

Compare and contrast the different agents of political socialization.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define politi

Question 3

Which type of survey question is best suited to addressing concerns about errors in public opinion polling resulting from difficulty in measuring intensity?

Accepted Answer

A)  questions with simple yes-or-no options 
B)  questions with approve-or-disapprove options 
C)  questions with five to seven options, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree 
D)  questions with interviewee-bias measures built in 
E)  questions with demographic-information measures built in 
A)  questions with simple yes-or-no options 
B)  questions with approve-or-disapprove options 
C)  questions with five to seven options, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree 
D)  questions with interviewee-bias measures built in 
E)  questions with demographic-information measures built in

Question 4

What was the principal concern of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and other Founders of our national government with respect to public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  that public opinion would undermine the supremacy of the legislature 
B)  that public opinion would be susceptible to radical and frequent shifts 
C)  that public opinion would too closely mirror public policies 
D)  that public opinion would be immoveable in times of crisis 
E)  that public opinion would lead the people to prefer policies inconsistent with presidential power 
A)  that public opinion would undermine the supremacy of the legislature 
B)  that public opinion would be susceptible to radical and frequent shifts 
C)  that public opinion would too closely mirror public policies 
D)  that public opinion would be immoveable in times of crisis 
E)  that public opinion would lead the people to prefer policies inconsistent with presidential power

Question 5

Who famously described public opinion as "that great compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling, right feeling, [and] obstinacy"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alexander Hamilton 
B)  Walter Lippmann 
C)  James Madison 
D)  Sir Robert Peel 
E)  Sir William Penn 
A)  Alexander Hamilton 
B)  Walter Lippmann 
C)  James Madison 
D)  Sir Robert Peel 
E)  Sir William Penn

Question 6

Why did 78 percent of the people oppose the idea of sending U.S. troops to Bosnia, in 1994, as peacekeepers?

Accepted Answer

A)  The majority of Americans, then as now, embrace pure isolationism. 
B)  The majority of Americans, then as now, embrace pure multilateralism. 
C)  The operation looked harmless at the time. 
D)  The operation was not supported by the president at the time, only by Congress. 
E)  The threat to the United States did not appear tangible at the time. 
A)  The majority of Americans, then as now, embrace pure isolationism. 
B)  The majority of Americans, then as now, embrace pure multilateralism. 
C)  The operation looked harmless at the time. 
D)  The operation was not supported by the president at the time, only by Congress. 
E)  The threat to the United States did not appear tangible at the time.

Question 7

How do we know that the opinions of people who call in to radio talk shows are not typical of most Americans?

Accepted Answer

A)  As a sample, they are unrepresentative of the whole population, 
B)  As a sample, they are perfectly random. 
C)  As a sample, they lack intensity. 
D)  As a sample, their opinions are ill formed. 
E)  As a sample, their views are subject to frequent shifts. 
A)  As a sample, they are unrepresentative of the whole population, 
B)  As a sample, they are perfectly random. 
C)  As a sample, they lack intensity. 
D)  As a sample, their opinions are ill formed. 
E)  As a sample, their views are subject to frequent shifts.

Question 8

What distinguishes economic conservatives from economic liberals?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define econom

Question 9

Political scientists refer to the process by which individuals acquire core beliefs and political attitudes as political assimilation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

In comparison with much of the rest of the world, how are Americans distinctive?

Compare and contrast the different agents of political socialization.

Which type of survey question is best suited to addressing concerns about errors in public opinion polling resulting from difficulty in measuring intensity?

What was the principal concern of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and other Founders of our national government with respect to public opinion?

Who famously described public opinion as "that great compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling, right feeling, [and] obstinacy"?

Why did 78 percent of the people oppose the idea of sending U.S. troops to Bosnia, in 1994, as peacekeepers?

How do we know that the opinions of people who call in to radio talk shows are not typical of most Americans?

What distinguishes economic conservatives from economic liberals?

Political scientists refer to the process by which individuals acquire core beliefs and political attitudes as political assimilation.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 5: Public Opinion

In comparison with much of the rest of the world, how are Americans distinctive?

Compare and contrast the different agents of political socialization.

Which type of survey question is best suited to addressing concerns about errors in public opinion polling resulting from difficulty in measuring intensity?

What was the principal concern of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and other Founders of our national government with respect to public opinion?

Who famously described public opinion as "that great compound of folly, weakness, prejudice, wrong feeling, right feeling, [and] obstinacy"?

Why did 78 percent of the people oppose the idea of sending U.S. troops to Bosnia, in 1994, as peacekeepers?

How do we know that the opinions of people who call in to radio talk shows are not typical of most Americans?

What distinguishes economic conservatives from economic liberals?

Political scientists refer to the process by which individuals acquire core beliefs and political attitudes as political assimilation.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters