Question 1

Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been linked to the

Accepted Answer

A)  idea of privacy. 
B)  idea of limited government. 
C)  idea of unlimited government. 
D)  idea of economic equality. 
E)  Articles of Confederation. 
A)  idea of privacy. 
B)  idea of limited government. 
C)  idea of unlimited government. 
D)  idea of economic equality. 
E)  Articles of Confederation.

Question 2

What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government?

Accepted Answer

A)  legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote 
B)  the right of revolution and the spread of socialism 
C)  debt relief for the poor and the right of citizens to hold office 
D)  the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution 
E)  the growth in ethnic and religious diversity 
A)  legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote 
B)  the right of revolution and the spread of socialism 
C)  debt relief for the poor and the right of citizens to hold office 
D)  the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution 
E)  the growth in ethnic and religious diversity

Question 3

In American political culture, economic freedom means

Accepted Answer

A)  low inflation. 
B)  job security. 
C)  capitalism. 
D)  the absence of income taxes. 
E)  a government-controlled stock market. 
A)  low inflation. 
B)  job security. 
C)  capitalism. 
D)  the absence of income taxes. 
E)  a government-controlled stock market.

Question 4

According to the text, democracy functions best when

Accepted Answer

A)  all citizens are members of a political party. 
B)  a majority of citizens vote in every election. 
C)  citizens are informed. 
D)  all candidates for office are highly educated. 
E)  all candidates for office are wealthy. 
A)  all citizens are members of a political party. 
B)  a majority of citizens vote in every election. 
C)  citizens are informed. 
D)  all candidates for office are highly educated. 
E)  all candidates for office are wealthy.

Question 5

Constitutional democracies were often found throughout ancient Greece.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Why did the Progressives support women's suffrage in the early twentieth century?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Progressives were a group dominated by women. 
B)  The Progressives wanted to make the United States as democratic as possible. 
C)  The Progressives believed women would support their reform movement. 
D)  The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit upper-class northerners. 
E)  The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit lower-class southerners. 
A)  The Progressives were a group dominated by women. 
B)  The Progressives wanted to make the United States as democratic as possible. 
C)  The Progressives believed women would support their reform movement. 
D)  The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit upper-class northerners. 
E)  The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit lower-class southerners.

Question 7

According to the text, what were the essential documents of the American Founding?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 
B)  the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta 
C)  the Constitution and the Magna Carta 
D)  the Constitution and the Mayflower Compact 
E)  the Mayflower Compact and the Magna Carta 
A)  the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution 
B)  the Declaration of Independence and the Magna Carta 
C)  the Constitution and the Magna Carta 
D)  the Constitution and the Mayflower Compact 
E)  the Mayflower Compact and the Magna Carta

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the United States Census is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The census has always counted every person living within the boundaries of the United States regardless of race or ethnicity. 
B)  The census has always categorized people in one of five racial groups: Native Americans, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, and Whites. 
C)  The census has never categorized people by race or ethnicity. 
D)  Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity have changed significantly throughout American history. 
E)  The current census does not allow people to identify themselves as a member of more than one racial group. 
A)  The census has always counted every person living within the boundaries of the United States regardless of race or ethnicity. 
B)  The census has always categorized people in one of five racial groups: Native Americans, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, and Whites. 
C)  The census has never categorized people by race or ethnicity. 
D)  Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity have changed significantly throughout American history. 
E)  The current census does not allow people to identify themselves as a member of more than one racial group.

Question 9

When a single ruler controls all government power, it is called an oligarchy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

How is a decline in political efficacy likely to matter for the health of American democracy?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is likely to lead to an increase in political participation and a renewed interest in political life. 
B)  It is likely to lead to a decline in political participation and a withdrawal from political life. 
C)  It is likely to lead to less dishonesty by elected representatives. 
D)  It is likely to lead to more initiatives and ballot referenda. 
E)  It is likely to lead to a stronger belief in the values of liberty and equality. 
A)  It is likely to lead to an increase in political participation and a renewed interest in political life. 
B)  It is likely to lead to a decline in political participation and a withdrawal from political life. 
C)  It is likely to lead to less dishonesty by elected representatives. 
D)  It is likely to lead to more initiatives and ballot referenda. 
E)  It is likely to lead to a stronger belief in the values of liberty and equality.

Question 11

What observation did philosopher Immanuel Kant make in his 1795 essay "Toward Perpetual Peace"?

Accepted Answer

A)  The only way to achieve peace is by promoting more religion. 
B)  Perpetual peace is an impossible dream because people are blinded by narrow self-interest. 
C)  The best route to peace is through strategic balance of power between the United States and major European nations. 
D)  Democratic regimes seldom make war on each other. 
E)  Autocratic regimes seldom make war on each other. 
A)  The only way to achieve peace is by promoting more religion. 
B)  Perpetual peace is an impossible dream because people are blinded by narrow self-interest. 
C)  The best route to peace is through strategic balance of power between the United States and major European nations. 
D)  Democratic regimes seldom make war on each other. 
E)  Autocratic regimes seldom make war on each other.

Question 12

According to the text, which of the following is not a necessary part of the knowledge a citizen must possess?

Accepted Answer

A)  the candidates running for office and their policy proposals 
B)  the structures of government 
C)  the political process 
D)  democratic principles 
E)  the economic interests of other citizens 
A)  the candidates running for office and their policy proposals 
B)  the structures of government 
C)  the political process 
D)  democratic principles 
E)  the economic interests of other citizens

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The United States has a greater gap in income between the poorest and richest than any other developed nation. 
B)  The gap between the rich and the poor can be explained by American support of oligarchy. 
C)  American politics is structured by centuries-long class antagonism. 
D)  Income gaps between Americans are small compared with those in other developed nations. 
E)  The United States has a smaller gap in income between the poorest and richest than any other developed nation. 
A)  The United States has a greater gap in income between the poorest and richest than any other developed nation. 
B)  The gap between the rich and the poor can be explained by American support of oligarchy. 
C)  American politics is structured by centuries-long class antagonism. 
D)  Income gaps between Americans are small compared with those in other developed nations. 
E)  The United States has a smaller gap in income between the poorest and richest than any other developed nation.

Question 14

The struggle of competing interest groups for governmental influence is called

Accepted Answer

A)  pluralism. 
B)  direct action politics. 
C)  direct democracy. 
D)  oligarchy. 
E)  grassroots mobilization. 
A)  pluralism. 
B)  direct action politics. 
C)  direct democracy. 
D)  oligarchy. 
E)  grassroots mobilization.

Question 15

The term bourgeoisie is associated with a person from the lowest social classes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

If a government led by a dictator was replaced with a government where a large number of citizens exercised influence over decision making, this change would be best characterized as a:

Accepted Answer

A)  shift from an autocracy to an oligarchy. 
B)  shift from an oligarchy to an autocracy. 
C)  shift from a democracy to an oligarchy. 
D)  shift from a democracy to an autocracy. 
E)  shift from an autocracy to a democracy. 
A)  shift from an autocracy to an oligarchy. 
B)  shift from an oligarchy to an autocracy. 
C)  shift from a democracy to an oligarchy. 
D)  shift from a democracy to an autocracy. 
E)  shift from an autocracy to a democracy.

Question 17

Affirmative action is very controversial because

Accepted Answer

A)  Americans argue about whether it promotes or restrains equality. 
B)  it is inherently an undemocratic way of achieving liberty. 
C)  some argue that it limits political equality in order to promote cost-effectiveness. 
D)  it is a legacy of the Jim Crow years. 
E)  some argue that it undermines popular sovereignty. 
A)  Americans argue about whether it promotes or restrains equality. 
B)  it is inherently an undemocratic way of achieving liberty. 
C)  some argue that it limits political equality in order to promote cost-effectiveness. 
D)  it is a legacy of the Jim Crow years. 
E)  some argue that it undermines popular sovereignty.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the role of money in American politics is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Money often determines who runs for office. 
B)  Money can exert a significant influence on who wins and who loses elections. 
C)  Money can affect what politicians do once they are in office. 
D)  Money has become more important due to the decline of locally based political parties. 
E)  Money was not important in politics until the 1960s. 
A)  Money often determines who runs for office. 
B)  Money can exert a significant influence on who wins and who loses elections. 
C)  Money can affect what politicians do once they are in office. 
D)  Money has become more important due to the decline of locally based political parties. 
E)  Money was not important in politics until the 1960s.

Question 19

Which of the following is not a reason for the declining levels of trust in the United States in recent years?

Accepted Answer

A)  revelations about the faulty information that led up to the war in Iraq 
B)  the government's inability to get the economy moving following the recession of 2008 
C)  an increase in the knowledge of how government operates 
D)  the bitter congressional battle over raising the national debt limit in 2011 
E)  ongoing concern about the war in Iraq during the Bush administration 
A)  revelations about the faulty information that led up to the war in Iraq 
B)  the government's inability to get the economy moving following the recession of 2008 
C)  an increase in the knowledge of how government operates 
D)  the bitter congressional battle over raising the national debt limit in 2011 
E)  ongoing concern about the war in Iraq during the Bush administration

Question 20

What is the principal difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the responsiveness to popular opinion 
B)  the number of people in charge 
C)  the level of wealth of the rulers 
D)  international diplomatic recognition 
E)  the strength of the military 
A)  the responsiveness to popular opinion 
B)  the number of people in charge 
C)  the level of wealth of the rulers 
D)  international diplomatic recognition 
E)  the strength of the military

Exam 1: American Political Culture

Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been linked to the

What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government?

In American political culture, economic freedom means

According to the text, democracy functions best when

Constitutional democracies were often found throughout ancient Greece.

Why did the Progressives support women's suffrage in the early twentieth century?

According to the text, what were the essential documents of the American Founding?

Which of the following statements about the United States Census is most accurate?

When a single ruler controls all government power, it is called an oligarchy.

How is a decline in political efficacy likely to matter for the health of American democracy?

What observation did philosopher Immanuel Kant make in his 1795 essay "Toward Perpetual Peace"?

According to the text, which of the following is not a necessary part of the knowledge a citizen must possess?

Which of the following statements is true?

The struggle of competing interest groups for governmental influence is called

The term bourgeoisie is associated with a person from the lowest social classes.

If a government led by a dictator was replaced with a government where a large number of citizens exercised influence over decision making, this change would be best characterized as a:

Affirmative action is very controversial because

Which of the following statements about the role of money in American politics is not accurate?

Which of the following is not a reason for the declining levels of trust in the United States in recent years?

What is the principal difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?

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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