POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
1.
The disappearance of the line between campaigning and governing is known as
a.
the 24 hour news cycle.
b. the poll driven life.
c.
the permanent campaign.
d. government by polls.
e.
the campaignment.
2.
Aristotle was concerned that democracy could degenerate or pervert itself into a form of government in
which
a.
a few leaders take over by means of military power or membership in a single political party.
b. government behaves much as a selfish mob, reacting without reflection and jumping to conclusions
without due deliberation.
c.
people would have to spend their entire lives attending meetings, debating, and voting in order to
consider and decide all the questions that come up for their consideration and no work would get done,
causing economic collapse.
d. people would delegate power to representatives to make government decisions.
e.
leaders were chosen by virtue of their birth into popular families.
3.
Individuals, periodically chosen by citizens, who have the authority to decide what governments do are
called
a.
advocates.
b. proxies.
c.
constituents.
d. representatives.
e.
party leaders.
4.
Someone who reflects the opinions of those who elected him or her to office is considered a(n)
a.
delegate.
b. trustee.
c.
constituent.
d. advocate.
e.
party leader.
5.
The idea that a representative should act in the manner he or she perceives is in the best interests of her
or his constituents, irrespective of the wishes of those constituents, is called
a.
an aristocracy.
b. the trustee model of representation.
c.
an oligarchy.
d. the delegate model of representation.
e.
excessive democracy.
6.
Which of these represents the direction of the new American democracy?
a.
An increasing proportion of the population has gained full rights of citizenship.
b. The connection between representatives and the public has become increasingly direct.
c.
National institutions have become more open to popular influence.
d. The number and frequency of elections have increased.
e.
All of the above are correct.
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
7.
Under the original design of the Constitution, which two groups had the same constituency?
a.
House of Representatives and the Senate
b. President and the Senate
c.
Supreme Court Justices and the President
d. House of Representatives and the President
e.
none of the above
8.
A primary election is
a.
the final step in selecting an office holder.
b. an election in which citizens may attempt to remove incumbent public officials before the completion of
their terms.
c.
an election in which a proposed law or amendment is placed on the ballot by citizen petition.
d. an election in which a law or amendment proposed by a legislature or city council is placed on the ballot
for popular approval.
e.
an election in which a political party chooses its nominees.
9.
Who or what do voters choose in national elections?
a.
officials of the federal government
b. state public officials
c.
all government officials
d. the members of the judicial system
e.
specific government policies
10.
The United States has ________ elections than (as) any other country.
a.
about the same number of
b. far fewer
c.
fewer
d. more
e.
twice as many
11.
Among those factors contributing to the development of the permanent campaign are the
a.
spread of primaries.
b. decay of party organizations.
c.
rise of mass communications and polling.
d. the increase in interest groups.
e.
all of the above
12.
How do most countries (excluding the United States) select candidates for office?
a.
small groups of party leaders select the candidates
b. primary elections are held
c.
recall elections are held
d. candidates are appointed by the head of state
e.
by referendums
13.
A major reason for the creation of primary elections was to
a.
eliminate the corruption and unresponsiveness that accompanied deal making by "party bosses."
b. guarantee that candidates had to be smart but not necessarily popular.
c.
concentrate control over the nominating process in the hands of a very few people.
d. allow minority groups denied the right to vote in other forms of election to have a say.
e.
all of the above
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
14.
Which of the following has been an effect of the large expansion of cable news channels?
a.
it has allowed politicians to communicate with many more citizens
b. candidates have more trouble getting their names in the media
c.
constant news coverage creates more quality information provided about candidates
d. it has delayed the ability of the internet to have a significant effect on campaigning.
e.
all of the above
15.
Which group of people tend to vote most often?
a.
the young
b. the elderly
c.
the poor
d. the uneducated
e.
trick question: voter turnout is not significantly different for any type of voter.
16.
Which of the following seemed to provide inspiration for contemporary reformers of American
democracy with his quote “the cure for the ailments of democracy is more democracy”?
a.
Aristotle
b. Edmund Burke
c.
Samuel Johnson
d. Thomas Paine
e.
John Dewey
17.
The desire to be elected or re-elected is known as
a.
the professionalization of politics.
b. the electoral incentive.
c.
the permanent campaign.
d. prospective voting.
e.
retrospective voting.
18.
Americans are growing increasingly unhappy with their government because
a.
there are fewer opportunities to participate in politics.
b. we often have unrealistic standards for evaluating government performance.
c.
citizens have few opportunities to impact the political debate.
d. the government does not work.
e.
taxes continue to rise.
19.
In general, the American system provides
a.
a government that is less discriminatory than other governments.
b. a government where Americans can speak their minds more freely than in most other countries.
c.
a government that has a better record than most at protecting Americans against foreign aggression.
d. citizens with the ability to find out what their government is doing with relative ease.
e.
All of the above.
20.
Which of these is NOT a reason that Americans distrust government?
a.
Citizens believe that there are too few elections held for their positions to be known.
b. Citizens believe that government costs too much.
c.
Citizens believe that the government is often corrupt.
d. Citizens believe that the government’s power is great and the motives of those who use it are mixed.
e.
All of the above are reasons Americans distrust government.
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
21.
Which is NOT a key function of government?
a.
regulate social and economic relationships
b. provide services
c.
protect citizens from unlawful activity
d. coerce citizens
e.
defend the country from foreign aggression
22.
China is ruled today by
a.
an aristocracy.
b. a democracy.
c.
an oligarchy.
d. a republic.
e.
an empire.
23.
Which of the following is seen as a reason to favor direct democracy?
a.
the public can reach consensus through participation
b. the public can better appreciate differing perspectives
c.
the public can become more community-minded
d. direct democracy can produce better policies
e.
all of the above
24.
Special interest groups and other minority interests often gain advantage in politics through
a.
low voter participation rates.
b. primary elections.
c.
the candidates’ need for campaign resources.
d. poorly informed voters.
e.
all of the above
25.
Which of these characterizes people who vote in primaries?
a.
They are usually more involved and more committed than those who don't vote.
b. They are usually younger and more committed than those who don't vote.
c.
They are usually more liberal.
d. They are usually more conservative.
e.
They are generally single-issue voters.
26.
Those who wrote and campaigned for the ratification of the Constitution were called
a.
Federalists.
b. Anti-Federalists.
c.
the Pilgrims.
d. Tories.
e.
Republicans.
27.
A colony governed by the king’s representative with the advice of an elected assembly is a
a.
monarchic democracy.
b. represented colony.
c.
proprietary colony.
d. royal colony.
e.
colonial council.
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
28.
Patronage power is
a.
the power to hand out jobs and benefits upon election and while in office.
b. the power to develop a strong business base.
c.
the power to maintain the needs of all the people at the same time.
d. the power of the people to elect officials.
e.
the power of the people to use their voice to enact change.
29.
The lower legislative chamber of either a proprietary or royal colony, elected by male property owners
in the colony, was called the
a.
colonial council.
b. federalists.
c.
senate council.
d. colonial assembly.
e.
senate assembly.
30.
Colonial voting qualifications
a.
excluded non-property owners.
b. excluded women.
c.
excluded slaves.
d. denied as many as one-half of the male population the right to vote.
e.
all of the above.
31.
The political authority that directed the struggle for independence beginning in 1775 was the
a.
Stamp Act Congress.
b. First Continental Congress.
c.
Second Continental Congress.
d. Sons of Liberty.
e.
Tories.
32.
Thomas Hobbes was among the first philosophers to express the notion that
a.
people by nature are basically good.
b. government rules with the consent of the people.
c.
America should be independent from Britain.
d. the people have a right to revolt against unfair government.
e.
separation of powers helps prevent tyranny.
33.
Which of the following principles did NOT shape the writing of the Constitution?
a.
the pursuit of happiness
b. consent of the governed
c.
separation of powers
d. protection of liberty
e.
right of representation
34.
A very weak central government was a tenet of the
a.
Mayflower Compact.
b. Declaration of Independence.
c.
Bill of Rights.
d. Constitution.
e.
Articles of Confederation.
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
35.
Under the Articles of Confederation,
a.
Congress had the power to coin money.
b. the national government was weak.
c.
there was no independent executive.
d. states had the power to coin money.
e.
all of the above
36.
Shays’s Rebellion cause many prominent leaders to believe
a.
commoners will take advantage of freedom.
b. taxes were too high.
c.
state governments were too weak.
d. military forces were too powerful.
e.
domestic policy should be reorganized.
37.
At the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, two major cleavages soon became apparent:
a.
party affiliation and age.
b. state size and slavery.
c.
religious and political.
d. gender and religion.
e.
east v. west and north v. south.
38.
Population-based representation in the legislature was part of the
a.
New Jersey Plan.
b. Federalist Papers.
c.
Three-Fifths Compromise.
d. Virginia Plan.
e.
Articles of Confederation.
39.
Under the original Constitution, which members of government were directly elected by the people?
a.
Senators
b. members of the House of Representatives
c.
the president
d. A & B
e.
all of the above
40.
Those chosen to cast a direct vote for president by a process determined by each state are collectively
called
a.
judicial nominees.
b. the electoral college.
c.
muckrakers.
d. delegates.
e.
trustees.
41.
Which of the following is NOT true of the U.S. government under the Constitution?
a.
Congress has the power to levy taxes.
b. States are prohibited from coining money.
c.
States cannot regulate interstate commerce without the consent of Congress.
d. The executive branch has the power to establish lower federal courts.
e.
An independently elected president holds executive power.
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
42.
The three-fifths compromise was
a.
a compromise on slavery.
b. a compromise on representation.
c.
repealed by the Fourteenth Amendment.
d. necessary to achieve ratification of the Constitution.
e.
all of the above
43.
The Bill of Rights
a.
was not originally included in the Constitution.
b. protects the rights of individuals and the states.
c.
was added to win ratification by key states such as Massachusetts and Virginia.
d. are comprised of the first ten amendments.
e.
all of the above.
44.
Anti-Federalists
a.
claimed a strong national government would suppress the rights of individual citizens.
b. believed the new Constitution did not represent the interests of average citizens.
c.
claimed a strong national government would restrict the rights of states.
d. wrote many pamphlets and editorials against the Constitution.
e.
all of the above.
45.
One of the more serious problems with the Articles of Confederation was the
a.
inability to conduct of the Revolutionary War.
b. confusion over sending and receiving of ambassadors.
c.
inability of the national government to provide national security and protect against foreign threats.
d. unrest generated by the land ordinance.
e.
difficulty of converting to a single currency.
46.
In the electoral college,
a.
states must allow the voters to choose the members of the electoral college.
b. each state chooses a number of electors equal to the state’s representation in Congress (House and
Senate).
c.
a candidate must receive two-thirds of the electoral votes to be chosen president.
d. the candidate with the most popular votes always wins.
e.
if no candidate receives enough votes to become president, the Senate chooses the president.
47.
Admittedly, the Constitution has flaws. Many of these flaws stem from
a.
compromise necessary for ratification.
b. mistakes made by the Founding Fathers.
c.
changes in the political and social system since the 1790s.
d. the elitist attitude of the Founding Fathers.
e.
all of the above
48.
By their very nature, governments threaten human liberty so suspicion of government is healthy.
a.True b.False
49.
The current US national debt is about 5 trillion dollars
a.
True
b. False
50.
"Inflation rate" is just a fancy way of referring to the price of money.
a.
True
b. False
POLITICAL SCIENCE TEST 1
51.
The logic of collective action simply refers to a political situation in which smaller groups are more able
to secure benefits for themselves at the expense of larger groups or the public in general.
a.
True
b. False
52.
Walter Williams' argument examines how government rules (policies and programs) designed to help
the poor actually hurt the poor. The 3 examples we examined in class include all of the following
except;
a.
Education
b. Nutrition
c.
Minimum Wage
d. Home Ownership