TEMPLE COLLEGE
Spring, 1998
GOVT 2301
EXAM #2
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PART I. MULTIPLE CHOICE. INSTRUCTIONS:
Answer each of the
following multiple choice questions by marking the letter on your answer sheet that
corresponds to the BEST response. 64 questions/1.56 points each/100 points total.
1. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, TOTALITARIAN as
a concept means
a. a form of government that controls all aspects of the political and social lives of a
nation.
b. the state of having no government and no laws.
c. a system of government in which ultimate political authority is vested in the
people.
d. a limited republic where people elect officials to make decisions for them for a
specified period of time.
2. 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.
3. The authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text contend that in early American
political culture the “pursuit of happiness” was closely related to the idea of
a. property. b. civil rights. c. civil liberties. d. all of the above.
4. Which of the following systems of political thought offers the MOST favorable
assumptions about government for free enterprise?
a. communism
b. socialism
c. totalitarianism
d. classical liberalism
5. 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.
NO
GOVERNMENT
CONTROL
TOTAL
GOVERNMENT
CONTROL
6. 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
7. Which of the following stands opposite anarchism on a continuum of governmental
scope?
a. progressivism b. totalitarianism c. conservatism d. capitalism
8. Government’s authority to maintain civil order is known as its
a. implied power. b. absolute power. c. police power. d. inherent power.
9. The promotion of social and economic equality
a. has always been a central purpose of government.
b. is no longer a vital concern of government in the 20th century.
c. is a view that has gained prominence in the 20th century.
d. is viewed by all ideologies as being outside the reasonable scope of government’s
authority.
10. The dominant ideology in American political thought throughout much of American
history has been
a. democratic socialism
b. libertarianism
c. classical liberalism
d. classical conservatism
11. An underlying point of our class discussion of the three purposes of government
(maintaining order, guaranteeing liberty, and promoting equality) is that the perfect
provision of these three 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.
12. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, 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.
13. 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.
14. Americans’ attitudes on equality emphasize equality of
a. opportunity. b. outcome. c. income. d. output.
15. Governments which seek to promote greater social and economic equality
a. must also restrict individual freedom.
b. can only do so by allowing more individual freedom.
c. need not concern themselves with individual freedom.
d. are the only true democracies.
16. 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
17. The political ideology that rejects all government authority is
a. progressivism. b. conservatism. c. socialism. d. anarchism.
18. 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 #19-24 based on the diagram below]
Order
II
I
Freedom
Equality
III
IV
Freedom
19. 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
20. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #19?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
21. 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
22. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #21?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
23. 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
24. Which of the following would best characterize the strand of American political
thought described in question #23?
a. conservatism b. populism c. libertarianism d. progressivism
25. In the United States, serious public political debate 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.
26. 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
27. In general, it is safe to say that
a. conservatives value personal freedom more than economic freedom.
b. conservatives value economic equality more than personal freedom.
c. conservatives value economic freedom more than personal freedom.
d. conservatives believe in neither economic nor personal freedom.
28. Favoring more government involvement on both economic and personal choice
issues is a characteristic of
a. conservatives. b. progressives. c. libertarians. d. populists.
29. A progressive and a libertarian would likely agree that
a. government should regulate big business.
b. economic problems are the direct result of government interference.
c. government should not interfere with personal privacy.
d. freedom of speech should be regulated to preserve the public peace.
30. Which of the following is a basic premise of social contract theory as developed by
the British philosopher John Locke and reflected in the American Declaration of
Independence?
1. Those who are governed give up all power to those who govern.
2. Government exists for the purpose of forcefully imposing order on society.
3. Sovereign nations may enter into treaties with one another.
4. The people are best served by an authoritarian, paternalistic regime.
5. Republican government based on a written constitution is the only legitimate form
of government.
a. 1, 2, & 3 b. 1, 2, & 4 c. 5 only d. none of these
31. 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 with regular
elections, universal voting rights, representative assemblies, and other
democratic features.
32. Which philosophical concept represents the dominant theological orientation of the
Age of Enlightenment?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
33. Which philosophical concept describes the Enlightenment challenge to the idea that
society is a living organism?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
34. Which philosophical concept did Enlightenment philosophers recognize as the way
to universal human progress?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
35. Which philosophical concept describes the system of thought based on Adam
Smith’s challenges to mercantilism?
a. atomism b. individualism c. deism d. capitalism e. republicanism
36. Which liberal value embraces the belief that one should be allowed to accrue the
economic or other rewards of his/her talents and efforts?
a. liberty b. justice c. rule of law d. equality e. property/personal achievement
37. Which liberal value holds that the people who make the rules are not above the
rules?
a. liberty b. justice c. rule of law d. equality e. property/personal achievement
38. Which liberal value emphasizes the view that all persons should be treated the same
under the law?
a. liberty b. justice c. rule of law d. order e. property/personal achievement
39. The central government under the Articles of Confederation included
a. a president, but no congress.
b. a congress and a president.
c. a unicameral congress, but no president and no courts.
d. a bicameral legislature.
40. Any amendment to the Articles of Confederation required
a. approval of a simple majority of states represented in Congress.
b. approval of two-thirds of the states represented in Congress.
c. unanimous consent of all 13 states represented in Congress.
d. approval of nine of the 13 of states represented in Congress.
41. The Annapolis convention was called ostensibly to
a. discuss problems relating to commerce among the 13 united States.
b. ratify the Articles of Confederation.
c. officially ratify the Declaration of Independence.
d. ratify the Constitution.
42. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the most serious
problem discussed at the Philadelphia convention was the relationship between the
a. United States and Great Britain.
b. states and the central government.
c. United States and the Indian tribes.
d. the southern states where slavery was legal and the northern states where it was
not.
43. The Second Continental Congress authorized the Philadelphia convention to
a. draft the new constitution.
b. create a new system of government for the United States.
c. revise the Articles of Confederation.
d. propose the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
44. The Philadelphia convention included delegates from
a. all 13 states. b. 9 of the 13 states.
c. a majority of the states and all of the new territories.
d. 12 of the 13 states.
45. The Virginia Plan
a. worked to the advantage of the more sparsely-populated states.
b. worked to the advantage of the more densely-populated states.
c. was a compromise to provide equal treatment of the more sparsely- and denselypopulated states.
d. was never seriously discussed at the Philadelphia convention.
46. The Great Compromise proposed
a. a unicameral legislature in which each state would have one vote.
b. the end of slavery in all but the southern states.
c. a bicameral legislature.
d. both b and c.
47. As drafted by the Philadelphia convention in 1787, the Constitution divided powers
among three branches of government because
a. the founding fathers wanted to ensure plenty of important positions for
themselves.
b. separation of powers would serve to limit the power of the government and
therefore protect individual rights.
c. the founding fathers lacked the practical experience to recognize the
awkwardness of the system they had created.
d. this is the most efficient way to organize government.
48. The constitutional principle of checks and balances allows the
a. president to veto congressional acts.
b. president to veto judicial decisions.
c. president to pass laws during a time of crisis.
d. Congress the power to select justices of the Supreme Court.
49. Constitutionally dividing governmental powers between the states and the national
government is referred to as
a. dual legitimacy.
b. egalitarianism.
c. federalism.
d. separation of powers.
50. According to our in-class discussions, the United Nations is an example of a
a. communist system.
b. strong unitary system.
c. confederal system.
d. none of these.
51. Which of the following statements BEST characterizes the principle of separation
of powers under the U.S. Constitution?
a. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers are separated exercised by three
independent branches of government.
b. The three levels of government in the American system (national, state, and local)
all have separate and unrelated areas of autonomous power.
c. Democrats should either control the Congress or the presidency while the
Republicans control the other -- but neither should control both at the same time.
d. Each state has sovereignty to control the activities within its own borders.
52. Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, and specific denials of
power to government such as those in the Bill of Rights may be viewed as efforts to
a. vest government with sufficient authority to govern efficiently.
b. prevent the arbitrary exercise of governmental power - that is, to promote limited
government.
c. prevent the national government from taking over the power of the states.
d. to force George III to capitulate to the American colonists’ demands before they
declared their independence.
53. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the Constitution
gave the people which of the following fundamental principles?
a. republican or representative government b. a viable two-party political system
c. a tri-level federal court system d. all of the above
54. Delegates to the Philadelphia convention determined that ratification of the
Constitution was to be accomplished by votes of
a. 2/3 of the members of Congress. b. 9 of the 13 states.
c. the state legislatures. d. the state governors.
55. The Federalists advocated a
a. return to British rule.
b. return to the Articles of Confederation.
c. strong central government and the new Constitution.
d. strong state government system.
56. The Anti-Federalists advocated
a. return to British rule.
b. strong central government and the new Constitution.
c. the elimination of the state governments.
d. opposition to the Constitution.
57. The Bill of Rights was important to ratification of the Constitution because
a. all of the state constitutions had such rights and would have made the U.S.
Constitution void.
b. several important states would not have voted to ratify the Constitution had the
Federalists been unwilling to guarantee such amendments.
c. such rights were stipulated in the Articles of Confederation.
d. without a formal statement guaranteeing the rights of Americans the state
governments could have openly abridged the rights of citizens.
58. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the AntiFederalists argued, in response to the FEDERALIST PAPERS, that the Constitution
a. was written by aristocrats. b. weakened the power of the state governments.
c. did not provide adequate power to the national government. d. both a and b.
59. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, James Madison
drafted the Bill of Rights
a. without input from any other members of Congress.
b. from over 200 state recommendations.
c. prior to the Philadelphia convention.
d. in order to protect state governments from civil lawsuits.
60. The Bill of Rights originally limited
a. the power of the central government.
b. the power of the state governments.
c. the rights of the people in each state.
d. both the power of the central government and the state governments.
61. Amendments to the United States Constitution must be ratified by
a. a majority vote of the people.
b. a two-thirds vote of Congress.
c. legislatures or conventions in three-fourths of the states.
d. two-thirds of state conventions called by Congress for this purpose.
62. The formal amendment process for the U.S. Constitution allows
a. an easy two-step procedure that has resulted in numerous changes to the
document.
b. a difficult procedure that makes amendments unlikely.
c. Congress to alter the Constitution without the approval of the states.
d. the president to veto all proposed amendments.
63. Which of the following means settled the issue of citizenship (whether a person was
a citizen of the United States and therefore a citizen of the state in which he or she
resided or whether a state could deny citizenship)?
a. formal constitutional amendment b. judicial decision c. legislation
d. none of these
64. The guarantee of _________________________ in the Constitution requires that a
jailer must bring an arrested before a magistrate (judge) who then decides whether
there is sufficient cause to detain him or her.
a. bills of attainder b. ex post facto laws c. writ of habeas corpus
d. none of these
….end of exam