Question 1

It is important for Americans to have political knowledge so that they

Accepted Answer

A)  will be able to determine who is or is not un-American. 
B)  will not suffer from "political efficacy." 
C)  will be better able to assess their own interests when making political choices. 
D)  will be better able to judge the legitimacy of other nations. 
E)  will feel a stronger sense of patriotism. 
A)  will be able to determine who is or is not un-American. 
B)  will not suffer from "political efficacy." 
C)  will be better able to assess their own interests when making political choices. 
D)  will be better able to judge the legitimacy of other nations. 
E)  will feel a stronger sense of patriotism.

Question 2

The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not political or legal institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ______ regime.

Accepted Answer

A)  totalitarian 
B)  authoritarian 
C)  democratic 
D)  oligarchic 
E)  monarchic 
A)  totalitarian 
B)  authoritarian 
C)  democratic 
D)  oligarchic 
E)  monarchic

Question 3

What is the most important check on majority rule in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  popular sovereignty 
B)  pluralism 
C)  the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights 
D)  laissez-faire 
E)  "one person, one vote" 
A)  popular sovereignty 
B)  pluralism 
C)  the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights 
D)  laissez-faire 
E)  "one person, one vote"

Question 4

While most Americans share similar political values, how they interpret those values in practice often differs radically. Describe some of the conflicts that arise in politics when broadly defined values are implemented in governmental policies. What are some of the controversies that have arisen over the meaning of equality? Over the meaning of liberty?

Accepted Answer

One of the conflicts that arise in polit

Question 5

At the time of the Founding, approximately ______ percent of non-Native American inhabitants of the thirteen states were of European ancestry.

Accepted Answer

A)  25 
B)  50 
C)  65 
D)  80 
E)  98 
A)  25 
B)  50 
C)  65 
D)  80 
E)  98

Question 6

Because of the United States' diversity of races, ethnicities, and religions, Americans do not share a common political culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Many of the most critical dilemmas of American politics involve conflicts over the way commonly held values are put into practice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The term laissez-faire means

Accepted Answer

A)  fair trade. 
B)  laziness is folly. 
C)  hard work. 
D)  leave alone. 
E)  equal treatment. 
A)  fair trade. 
B)  laziness is folly. 
C)  hard work. 
D)  leave alone. 
E)  equal treatment.

Question 9

Property restrictions on the right to vote were eliminated in 1920.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Disputes over affirmative action demonstrate that

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans disagree over the public's legitimate role in ensuring the equality of opportunity. 
B)  Americans are generally supportive of equality of results. 
C)  economic liberties are more important than democracy. 
D)  Americans have stopped valuing democracy. 
E)  Americans strongly support laissez-faire capitalism. 
A)  Americans disagree over the public's legitimate role in ensuring the equality of opportunity. 
B)  Americans are generally supportive of equality of results. 
C)  economic liberties are more important than democracy. 
D)  Americans have stopped valuing democracy. 
E)  Americans strongly support laissez-faire capitalism.

Question 11

Political analysts have identified a decline in the trust citizens put in their government. Why is trust such an important trait for politics? In what ways is it helpful for levels of trust to be high? What are some of the causes of the decline in trust? How might trust be regained?

Accepted Answer

Trust is an essential trait for politics

Question 12

Today, the federal government is

Accepted Answer

A)  nonexistent in the lives of most Americans. 
B)  a small institution that enacts a small number of programs touching on very few aspects of American life. 
C)  an enormous institution that enacts a large number of programs touching on nearly every aspect of American life. 
D)  an enormous institution that enacts a small number of programs touching on very few aspects of American life. 
E)  an enormous institution that is legally banned from regulating economic activities. 
A)  nonexistent in the lives of most Americans. 
B)  a small institution that enacts a small number of programs touching on very few aspects of American life. 
C)  an enormous institution that enacts a large number of programs touching on nearly every aspect of American life. 
D)  an enormous institution that enacts a small number of programs touching on very few aspects of American life. 
E)  an enormous institution that is legally banned from regulating economic activities.

Question 13

Recent polls reveal that more than three-fourths of Americans could identify two members of the president's cabinet.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

If the government were controlled by a small group of wealthy landowners and corporate leaders, this would be best described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  oligarchy. 
B)  autocracy. 
C)  authoritarian regime. 
D)  totalitarian state. 
E)  monarchy. 
A)  oligarchy. 
B)  autocracy. 
C)  authoritarian regime. 
D)  totalitarian state. 
E)  monarchy.

Question 15

The demand that there be no taxation without representation is a good example of what political reform of the eighteenth century?

Accepted Answer

A)  the decline of popular influence on government 
B)  more popular influence on government 
C)  the decline in citizenship 
D)  the spread of autocracy 
E)  greater attention to the economic effects of politics 
A)  the decline of popular influence on government 
B)  more popular influence on government 
C)  the decline in citizenship 
D)  the spread of autocracy 
E)  greater attention to the economic effects of politics

Question 16

An autocracy exists when

Accepted Answer

A)  the government is controlled by a single individual. 
B)  the government is controlled by a small but powerful group of people. 
C)  the constitution of a government is followed strictly. 
D)  the government is controlled by one dominant religious group. 
E)  citizens play a significant part in government by electing key public officials. 
A)  the government is controlled by a single individual. 
B)  the government is controlled by a small but powerful group of people. 
C)  the constitution of a government is followed strictly. 
D)  the government is controlled by one dominant religious group. 
E)  citizens play a significant part in government by electing key public officials.

Question 17

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Distrust threatens the government's ability to attract good workers to the public sector. 
B)  Distrust makes people less willing to pay the taxes necessary for public activities. 
C)  Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political campaigns, and running for office. 
D)  Distrust weakens the government's ability to help people in times of crisis. 
E)  Distrust weakens the government's ability to defend our national interest in the world economy. 
A)  Distrust threatens the government's ability to attract good workers to the public sector. 
B)  Distrust makes people less willing to pay the taxes necessary for public activities. 
C)  Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political campaigns, and running for office. 
D)  Distrust weakens the government's ability to help people in times of crisis. 
E)  Distrust weakens the government's ability to defend our national interest in the world economy.

Question 18

The National Origins quota system

Accepted Answer

A)  allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. 
B)  allowed only a small quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but a large quota of immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. 
C)  allowed the same quota of new immigrants from every country around the world. 
D)  abolished the quota system for immigrants from certain countries. 
E)  outlawed all immigration from European countries. 
A)  allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. 
B)  allowed only a small quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but a large quota of immigrants from eastern and southern European countries. 
C)  allowed the same quota of new immigrants from every country around the world. 
D)  abolished the quota system for immigrants from certain countries. 
E)  outlawed all immigration from European countries.

Question 19

The Founders

Accepted Answer

A)  explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were enough to protect political freedom. 
B)  explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed in pluralism. 
C)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed direct democracy was a better form of government than representative democracy. 
D)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were not enough to protect political freedom. 
E)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed it was the only way to guarantee political equality. 
A)  explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were enough to protect political freedom. 
B)  explicitly outlawed political protest in the Constitution because they believed in pluralism. 
C)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed direct democracy was a better form of government than representative democracy. 
D)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed elections were not enough to protect political freedom. 
E)  provided protections for political protest in the Constitution because they believed it was the only way to guarantee political equality.

Question 20

How does the United States Constitution create a system that underrepresents urban areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  It provides representation based on population in the House of Representatives. 
B)  It provides each state with two senators regardless of population. 
C)  It provides for a system of direct democracy at the federal level. 
D)  It requires the federal government to spend the same amount of money in rural and urban areas of the country. 
E)  It requires that the federal government impose higher taxes on people living in urban areas of the country. 
A)  It provides representation based on population in the House of Representatives. 
B)  It provides each state with two senators regardless of population. 
C)  It provides for a system of direct democracy at the federal level. 
D)  It requires the federal government to spend the same amount of money in rural and urban areas of the country. 
E)  It requires that the federal government impose higher taxes on people living in urban areas of the country.

Exam 1: American Political Culture

It is important for Americans to have political knowledge so that they

The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not political or legal institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ______ regime.

What is the most important check on majority rule in the United States?

At the time of the Founding, approximately ______ percent of non-Native American inhabitants of the thirteen states were of European ancestry.

Because of the United States' diversity of races, ethnicities, and religions, Americans do not share a common political culture.

Many of the most critical dilemmas of American politics involve conflicts over the way commonly held values are put into practice.

The term laissez-faire means

Property restrictions on the right to vote were eliminated in 1920.

Disputes over affirmative action demonstrate that

Political analysts have identified a decline in the trust citizens put in their government. Why is trust such an important trait for politics? In what ways is it helpful for levels of trust to be high? What are some of the causes of the decline in trust? How might trust be regained?

Today, the federal government is

Recent polls reveal that more than three-fourths of Americans could identify two members of the president's cabinet.

If the government were controlled by a small group of wealthy landowners and corporate leaders, this would be best described as a(n)

The demand that there be no taxation without representation is a good example of what political reform of the eighteenth century?

An autocracy exists when

Which of the following is not an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government?

The National Origins quota system

The Founders

How does the United States Constitution create a system that underrepresents urban areas?

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

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

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Parties and Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

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