BE SURE TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET!!
IMPORTANT: MAKE ALL ERASURES COMPLETELY - IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR CHOSEN
ANSWER. RESPONSES THAT ARE NOT COMPLETELY ERASED
WILL BE COUNTED AS INCORRECT. THIS EXAM IS WORTH 100
POINTS.
Temple College
Government 2301
Fall, 1999
Exam #1
MULTIPLE CHOICE. INSTRUCTIONS: Answer each of the following
multiple choice questions by marking the letter on your scan-tron form that
corresponds to the BEST response. 70 questions/1.43 points each/100 points
total.
1. Which of the following defines POLITICS?
a. “who gets what, when, and how.”
b. “the authoritative allocation of valued things.”
c. “the competitive process engaged in a society to allocate scarce resources and
determine priorities.”
d. All of the above are definitions of politics.
2. The correct answer to question #1 implies that
a. people are in conflict over valued things in society.
b. societies have a set of procedures to resolve the question of “who gets what,
when, and how.”
c. individuals are anti-social.
d. both a and b.
3. GOVERNMENT refers to
a. any group of people involved in politics.
b. the structured arrangements, which produce decisions resolving, conflict.
c. only a predetermined set of countries that recognize each other as having legal
power.
d. any person or group of persons who have power but who respect the right of all
people to be free.
4. A(n) __________ government exists when citizens generally recognize the decisions
it makes and the policies it carries out; a(n) _______________ government exists
when it coerces or forces citizens to comply with policy mandates and/or does not
take citizen preferences into account when making policy decisions.
a. authoritarian; dictatorship
b. authoritative; authoritarian
c. authoritative; illegitimate
d. legitimate; illegitimate
5. According to the Dye text, the tendency of most of us as American citizens, most of
the time, to obey laws out of habit is referred to as
a. habit of practice. b. habit of compliance. c. enforcement compliance.
d. compliant practice.
6. Suppose a city council passed an ordinance in 1990 which prohibits individuals and
businesses from posting signs (i.e., garage sale signs, small business advertising)
on right-of-ways, intersections, street lights, telephone poles, city property, etc.
Because Code Enforcement (the city department responsible for enforcement of
the ordinance) does not have enough manpower, it has not issued a single citation
for violation of the ordinance in seven years. Consequently, these signs are
pervasive around the city. What important principle of public policy does this
example illustrate?
a. Public policies NEVER work.
b. City governments have little authority to make public policy decisions.
c. Public policies consist of decisions AND action - the action of government
determines the content of public policy.
d. Public policies are what government intends to do.
7. Which of the following sets of stages in the policy-making process is listed in the
correct logical order?
a. evaluation, adoption, implementation, formulation, designation
b. formulation, adoption, designation, implementation, evaluation
c. agenda-setting, adoption, designation, implementation, evaluation
d. agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation
8. In which stage of the policy-making process are problem identification (perception)
and priority-setting important activities?
a. agenda-setting b. designation c. adoption d. formulation
9. Which of the following BEST illustrates implementation?
a. The president gives a speech calling for welfare reform.
b. The Supreme Court upholds a city fire department’s affirmative action program.
c. The Pentagon proposes new procedures for making defense-related purchases.
d. The Occupational Safety And Health Administration (OSHA) inspects a plastics
factory looking for levels of vinyl chloride in excess of federal standards.
10. The stage of the policy-making process that involves “choosing an official course of
action from among alternative policy strategies” is
a. implementation. b. designation. c. adoption. d. formulation.
11. A city health director designs an educational program to inform teenagers about the
dangers of “unprotected sex.” The city council must vote next week whether to fund
the program. This is an example of which stage of the policy-making process?
a. implementation. b. formulation. c. adoption. d. evaluation.
12. The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down a law school’s affirmative action admissions
program as unconstitutional. This is an example of which stage of the policy-making
process?
a. implementation. b. designation. c. agenda-setting. d. evaluation.
13. A president gives a speech in which he claims that violent juvenile crime is out of
control and the government needs to respond with decisive action. This is an
example of which stage of the policy-making process?
a. implementation. b. agenda-setting. c. adoption. d. evaluation.
14. The board of a Texas school district votes on a proposal to include a course on
moral values in the high school curriculum. This is an example of which stage of the
policy-making process?
a. implementation. b. designation. c. adoption. d. formulation.
15. Inmates in the Texas Department of Corrections file a class action lawsuit in state
district court in an attempt to force the state to deal with the issue of prison overcrowding. This is an example of which stage of the policy-making process?
a. agenda-setting b. implementation c. adoption d. formulation
16. In class, we introduced a public policy classification scheme. Which of the following
questions must be answered in order to classify a policy under this scheme?
1. Who is the primary target group?
2. Why is government implementing the policy?
3. What are the goals of the policy?
4. What is the activity of government with respect to the primary target group [what
is government doing to or for the primary target group]?
5. Who are the secondary target groups?
a. 1, 3, and 5 b. 1, 2, and 4 c. 2 and 4 d. 1 and 4
17. Under the policy classification scheme introduced in class, which of the following is
NOT one of the five activities that government can undertake with respect to a
primary target group?
a. give b. take c. symbolize d. lie
18. The United States denies the People’s Republic of China most favored nation
trading status as a result of China’s alleged human rights violations. This is an
example of which class of policy?
a. resource extractive b. symbolic c. regulatory d. resource extractive
19. The City Health Department inspects a local restaurant and finds “slime in the ice
machine,” inadequate refrigeration for perishable foods, and roach and rodent
droppings on cabinet shelves, the floor, and food containers. This is the third round
of violations for this restaurant. The Health Department closes down the
establishment until standards are met. This is an example of which type or class of
public policy?
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
20. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the standards of the Fair Credit Reporting
Act of 1968. This legislation requires finance companies, retail stores, nonfederal
credit unions, and other creditors to inform consumers on the costs of buying on
credit, including total charges and the rate of interest on unpaid balances. This is an
example of which type or class of public policy?
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
21. Once every ten years (subsequent to the decennial census), the 450 seats in the
United States House of Representatives are reapportioned to reflect population
shifts. Legislatures in each of the 50 states redraw congressional district lines
(within their states) so that each district contains (roughly) the same number of
people. As a result of the 1990 census, the number of representatives allotted to
Texas increased from 28 to 30. The Texas legislature last redrew district lines in
1991 to account for this change. Redrawing congressional district lines by state
legislatures is an example of which type or class of public policy?
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
22. In 1964, Congress passed the Employment Opportunity Act that established the Job
Corps. This program provides intensive vocational training and basic education to
youths from 14 to 21 years of age who are poor, out of school, and out of work. This
is an example of which type or class of public policy?
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
23. The U.S. Department of Commerce requires that shrimpers operating in U.S. waters
install “turtle-excluder devices” [TEDs] on their nets to reduce the number of sea
turtles that are inadvertently killed in shrimp harvests. The Coast Guard randomly
inspects shrimping boats and may impose fines on or impound the vessels of
shrimpers who are not in compliance. This is an example of which type or class of
public policy?
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
24. Under state law in Texas, voters may elect to establish special district governments
called Crime Control and Prevention Districts to distribute sales tax revenues to
municipal governments for the purposes of implementing law enforcement
programs. In March 1995, voters in the City of Fort Worth established the first such
district in the state. In October 1995, the Fort Worth Crime Control and Prevention
District began funding anti-crime programs to be implemented by the City of Fort
Worth Police Department. This is an example of which type or class of public
policy? [HINT: the policy action in this case is the distribution of sales tax revenues
from the Crime Control District to the Fort Worth Police Department.]
a. resource allocative
b. resource extractive
c. regulatory
d. internal organization and management
25. A condition that exists when a private market fails to capture all of the social costs
associated with the production and consumption of a good or service is known as
a. a negative externality. b. a positive externality. c. adverse selection.
d. the free rider problem.
26. What policy responses might government attempt to counter the condition described
in question #25?
a. subsidize the good or service b. provide the good or service
c. regulate the market d. all of the above
27. Which good or service is most likely to have associated with it the kind of condition
described in #25?
a. higher education b. childhood immunizations c. automobiles
d. public libraries
28. Which of the following is an example of a pure public good/service?
a. airplane travel b. an interstate highway c. higher education
d. all of the above
29. A city council bans smoking in all public places in the city. Fines are levied against
violators. Why has the city council enacted this policy?
a. This is an example of adverse selection -- non-smokers are adversely affected by
second-hand smoke.
b. This is an example of government providing a public good -- it is doing what is
good for the public.
c. This is an example of a negative externality -- the market fails to capture all of the
social costs associated with the production and consumption of cigarettes.
d. none of the above.
30. The set of political values, beliefs, and norms found in a political community which
flow from basic ideological assumptions about human nature, society, and
government is
a. an “ism.” b. an ideology. c. political culture. d. political theory.
31. According to the Dye text, the two most honored values in the American political
culture are the competitive ideals of
a. capitalism and socialism b. freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
c. equality and liberty. D. opportunity and results.
32. Which of the following stands opposite anarchism on a continuum of governmental
scope?
a. progressivism b. totalitarianism c. conservatism d. capitalism
33. Government’s authority to maintain civil order is known as its
a. implied power. b. absolute power. c. police power. d. inherent power.
34. The dominant ideology in American political thought at the time of the founding of
the republic and throughout much of American history has been
a. democratic socialism
b. libertarianism
c. classical liberalism
d. classical conservatism
35. In the United States, we recognize that government must have authority to protect
life and property. To which purpose of government does this refer?
a. maintaining civil order b. promoting equality c. providing public goods
d. maintaining political order
36. Promoting equality
a. has always been a central purpose of governments.
b. is no longer a vital concern of governments.
c. is the newest or modern purpose of government.
d. is viewed by all ideologies as being outside the reasonable realm of
government’s power.
TOTAL
GOVERNMENT
CONTROL
NO
GOVERNMENT
CONTROL
37. In the United States, public political debate generally falls where on the above
continuum of the scope of governmental power?
a. along the full continuum
b. mainly to the left of center
c. mainly to the right of center
d. in the shaded area between the lines
38. An underlying point of our class discussion of the original and modern dilemmas of
government (order vs freedom and equality vs freedom) is that the perfect provision
of order, equality, and freedom can never take place because
a. no government structure is perfectly designed.
b. some political officials will always be corrupt or incompetent.
c. these three values encompass essentially the same meaning.
d. these three values are inherently in conflict and cannot be simultaneously
provided fully.
39. ANARCHY as a concept means
a. a form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social lives of a
nation.
b. the condition of having no government and no laws.
c. a system of government in which all political authority is vested in the people.
d. a limited republic where people elect officials to make decisions on their behalf for
a specified period of time.
40. TOTALITARIAN as a concept means
a. a government that controls all aspects of the political and social lives of a nation.
b. the condition of having no government and no laws.
c. a system of government in which all political authority is vested in the people.
d. a limited republic where people elect officials to make decisions on their behalf for
a specified period of time.
41. The U.S. political system is far less efficient at maintaining order than is the People’s
Republic of China because
a. order is not a political value in the United States.
b. the U.S. political system has a low level of legitimacy.
c. the liberal insistence placed on individual freedom in the U.S. limits the
government’s scope of authority to maintain order.
d. order cannot exist along with individuality.
42. Maintaining order
a. is the oldest or original purpose of government.
b. is only recently considered a concern of government.
c. is beyond the normal scope of governmental power from the point of view of
classical liberalism.
d. is central to most empirical theories.
[answer questions #43-48 based on the diagram below]
Order
I
II
Equality
Freedom
III
IV
Freedom
43. Which quadrant of the above matrix of American political thought represents the
strand of liberalism which generally favors government efforts to promote economic
and social equality but wishes to prevent government from interfering with an
individual’s civil liberties [personal decisions]?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
44. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #43?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
45. Which quadrant of the above matrix of American political thought represents the
strand of liberalism which would likely oppose affirmative action programs to
promote equality in education and employment and support the repeal of laws
criminalizing prostitution?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
46. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #45?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
47. Which quadrant of the above matrix of American political thought represents the
strand of liberalism which would likely support a school district’s decision to require
courses in traditional moral values as part of the curriculum and support state
regulation of insurance industry practices?
a. I
b. II
c. III
d. IV
48. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #47?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
49. In the United States, public political debate mainly includes
a. the full range of ideological debate from anarchism to totalitarianism.
b. policy alternatives that are consistent with liberal assumptions.
c. policy alternatives that exclude liberal assumptions.
d. none of these.
50. Which of the following represents the modern dilemma of government?
a. freedom versus order b. freedom versus equality
c. political order versus economic order d. none of these
51. According to the Dye text, which of the following ideals is NOT in a list of democratic
ideals?
a. recognition of the dignity of every individual
b. equal protection of the laws for every individual
c. opportunity for everyone to participate in public decisions
d. majority rule while disallowing minority input
52. Which of the following accurately describe American democracy?
1. procedural 2. representative 3. liberal 4. socialist 5. substantive
a. 1, 2, and 3 b. 1 and 2 c. 2, 3, 4, and 5 d. 3 only
53. The requirement that “citizens must participate in the political process” is
characteristic of which theory of democracy?
a. elite theory b. traditional democratic theory c. pluralist theory
d. none of these
54. Which of the following variations of democracy places an emphasis on the existence
of individual (and minority) rights even at the expense of majority rule?
a. liberal democracy b. traditional democracy c. procedural democracy
d. egalitarian democracy
55. The concept of INITIATIVE is
a. a way to remove a public official from office before the end of his or her elected
term.
b. A procedure used in Congress to prevent the passage of a bill by “talking the bill
to death.”
c. Provided by the Bill of Rights.
d. A procedure whereby voters can propose a law or constitutional amendment
within a state.
56. An act of referring legislative or constitutional measures to the voters for their
approval or disapproval is called
a. an initiative election. b. a referendum election. c. a recall election.
d. a plebiscite.
57. The concept of DIRECT DEMOCRACY
a. is included in the Bill of Rights.
b. is not provided for in the structures of the national government.
c. was attempted for the first time in the colony of Maine.
d. has been used at the national government level only once, when Bill Clinton was
impeached.
58. According to the Dye text, balancing the principle of majority rule against the
principle of individual liberty is known as
a.
b.
c.
d.
a dilemma of great magnitude.
an episode of democratic crisis.
the paradox of democracy.
a paradox of government.
59. Pluralist and elite theories agree on which of the following propositions?
a. The only real basis for political power is economic power.
b. All social groups in the United States have some impact on policy-making.
c. The traditional democratic ideal that all citizens are politically equal is NOT a very
realistic reflection of the American system.
d. Virtually anyone can step into politics and have at least some political influence.
60. The pluralist theory of democracy
1. is basically the same as traditional democratic theory in its assumptions about the
role of citizens in the political process.
2. sees democracy as operating through competition among groups.
3. suggests that there are several types of political resources that may be effective
in influencing public policy.
4. argues that the only meaningful political resource is money.
5. views public policy as a balance or equilibrium among competing group interests.
a. 1 and 2 b. 2 and 5 c. 2, 3, and 5 d. 1 only
61. Which of the following theories argues that political power is held by a relatively
small group of people whose main source of political power is economic power
[wealth]?
a. elitism b. pluralism c. majoritarianism d. substantive democracy
62. With regard to policy change, elite theory holds that
a. changes in policy never occur.
b. changes in policy will occur only when the masses force the power elite to alter
the status quo.
c. changes in policy occur only as a result of the elite redefining their own values and
interests.
d. changes in policy narrow the gap between the elite and the masses.
63. Which of the following tends to emphasize policy outcomes?
a. traditional democratic theory b. pluralist theory
c. procedural democracy
d. elite theory
64. Which of the following tends to emphasize policy process?
a. substantive democracy b. pluralist theory c. majoritarian democracy
d. elite theory
65. Which of the following concepts describes the dominant theological orientation of
the Age of Enlightenment?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
66. Which of the following concepts challenged the idea that society is a living
organism?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
67. Enlightenment philosophers advocated which of the following as the preferred form
of government?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
68. Which of the following concepts describes an economic system of thought based on
Adam Smith’s challenges to mercantilism?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
69. According to the Dye text, the idea that government originates as an implied contract
among individuals who agree to obey laws in exchange for protection of their rights
is known as the
a. social design. b. social contract. c. inherent contract. d. government contract.
70. In the American understanding of the concept, a REPUBLIC is a form of government
a. that is organized from the top down.
b. in which power rests with organized interest groups.
c. that has a king or queen as its symbolic head.
d. other than monarchy and based on consent of the governed and popular
sovereignty with regular elections, universal voting rights, representative
assemblies, and other democratic features.