Question 1

In 2012, defense spending totaled nearly:

Accepted Answer

A)  $100 million. 
B)  $740 billion. 
C)  $100 trillion. 
D)  $500 trillion. 
A)  $100 million. 
B)  $740 billion. 
C)  $100 trillion. 
D)  $500 trillion. B

Question 2

A presidential veto can be overridden by a:

Accepted Answer

A)  simple majority in each house. 
B)  three-quarters majority in each house. 
C)  two-thirds majority in each house. 
D)  simple majority in the Senate but a five-eighths majority in the House. 
A)  simple majority in each house. 
B)  three-quarters majority in each house. 
C)  two-thirds majority in each house. 
D)  simple majority in the Senate but a five-eighths majority in the House. C

Question 3

What is the structure of the U.S. government as established by the Constitution? Why is the U.S. government both a democracy and a republic?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution divides the national government into three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. The executive branch is charged with the execution of laws and the administration of public affairs. Headed by the president, there is also the vice president, Cabinet, and numerous agencies and commissions that help enforce laws and carry on the activities necessary for a modern government to exist. The legislative branch is vested with the power to enact and legislate law. The Congress is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The judicial branch of the government interprets the laws and is headed by the Supreme Court. This court, and others beneath it, interpret laws passed by Congress and the Constitution itself. The U.S. is both a democracy and a republic because it is headed by a president that is elected but also has decisions made by elected officials and is thus a representative democracy.

Question 4

The founding fathers, though desiring a central government strong enough to govern, feared too great a concentration of power and attempted to devise a means for preventing the abuse of power.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

James Madison was an opponent of the principle of the separation of powers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The United States has a(n):

Accepted Answer

A)  living constitution. 
B)  fixed constitution. 
C)  written constitution which cannot be amended. 
D)  oral constitution. 
A)  living constitution. 
B)  fixed constitution. 
C)  written constitution which cannot be amended. 
D)  oral constitution.

Question 7

The federal Constitution is easy to amend.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Concurrent powers are those powers belonging:

Accepted Answer

A)  only to the states. 
B)  only to the national government. 
C)  to both the national and state governments. 
D)  to foreign governments. 
A)  only to the states. 
B)  only to the national government. 
C)  to both the national and state governments. 
D)  to foreign governments.

Question 9

What are the four major constitutional principles of the U.S. government? Why and how is each principle important?

Accepted Answer

The four major constitutional principles

Question 10

In 2002, euro coins and currency went into circulation; how many members of the EU adopted this currency?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 members. 
B)  12 members. 
C)  27 members. 
D)  18 members. 
A)  10 members. 
B)  12 members. 
C)  27 members. 
D)  18 members.

Question 11

The United States has a parliamentary form of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

For legal purposes, the Constitution of the United States means whatever the:

Accepted Answer

A)  chief executive says it means. 
B)  Speaker of the House says it means. 
C)  president and vice president think it means. 
D)  Supreme Court says it means. 
A)  chief executive says it means. 
B)  Speaker of the House says it means. 
C)  president and vice president think it means. 
D)  Supreme Court says it means.

Question 13

Evaluate the democratic political process in the United States. What are the major elements and problems in the U.S. political process? Consider parties, elections, elites, pressure groups and the military-industrial complex.

Accepted Answer

The political process in the U.S. has be

Question 14

The writers of the Constitution clearly intended the three branches of government to be completely independent of each other.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

American voters have a much higher percentage of voter participation in elections than voters in Britain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

One of the great problems under federalism is how to divide powers between the central government and the states.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The Constitutional Convention succeeded because the delegates:

Accepted Answer

A)  were always in complete agreement with each other. 
B)  were unwilling to compromise. 
C)  agreed that the large states should dominate the government. 
D)  were willing to compromise. 
A)  were always in complete agreement with each other. 
B)  were unwilling to compromise. 
C)  agreed that the large states should dominate the government. 
D)  were willing to compromise.

Question 18

The function of the courts is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  make the law. 
B)  write laws which are proposed in Congress. 
C)  act as a presidential advisory board. 
D)  interpret the law and apply it in individual cases. 
A)  make the law. 
B)  write laws which are proposed in Congress. 
C)  act as a presidential advisory board. 
D)  interpret the law and apply it in individual cases.

Question 19

Political Action Committees (PACs) began:

Accepted Answer

A)  as a result of the revised 1974 federal election laws. 
B)  in the 1830s to stop corruption. 
C)  in the Civil War period to block foreign intervention. 
D)  before World War I to help U.S. soldiers. 
A)  as a result of the revised 1974 federal election laws. 
B)  in the 1830s to stop corruption. 
C)  in the Civil War period to block foreign intervention. 
D)  before World War I to help U.S. soldiers.

Question 20

The press, or fourth estate, has freedom inherent in the constitution and is also free from influence from private pressure groups and businesses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 15: Democratic Government in the United States

In 2012, defense spending totaled nearly:

A presidential veto can be overridden by a:

What is the structure of the U.S. government as established by the Constitution? Why is the U.S. government both a democracy and a republic?

The founding fathers, though desiring a central government strong enough to govern, feared too great a concentration of power and attempted to devise a means for preventing the abuse of power.

James Madison was an opponent of the principle of the separation of powers.

The United States has a(n):

The federal Constitution is easy to amend.

Concurrent powers are those powers belonging:

What are the four major constitutional principles of the U.S. government? Why and how is each principle important?

In 2002, euro coins and currency went into circulation; how many members of the EU adopted this currency?

The United States has a parliamentary form of government.

For legal purposes, the Constitution of the United States means whatever the:

Evaluate the democratic political process in the United States. What are the major elements and problems in the U.S. political process? Consider parties, elections, elites, pressure groups and the military-industrial complex.

The writers of the Constitution clearly intended the three branches of government to be completely independent of each other.

American voters have a much higher percentage of voter participation in elections than voters in Britain.

One of the great problems under federalism is how to divide powers between the central government and the states.

The Constitutional Convention succeeded because the delegates:

The function of the courts is to:

Political Action Committees (PACs) began:

The press, or fourth estate, has freedom inherent in the constitution and is also free from influence from private pressure groups and businesses.

Social Science and Its Method

Human Origins

Origins of Western Society

Society, Culture, and Cultural Change

Geography, Demography, Ecology, and Society

Technology and Society

Psychology, Society, and Culture

The Family

Religion

Education

Social and Economic Stratification

Stratification, Minorities, and Discrimination

The Functions and Forms of Government

Governments of the World

The Organization of Economic Activities

The Economy, Government, and Economic Challenges Facing the United States

International Political Relations

International Economic Relations

The Political Economies of Developing Countries

International Institutions and the Search for Peace

Filters