Temple College
Government 2302
Fall 2000
Exam #2
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS TEST BOOKLET UNLESS OTHERWISE
INSTRUCTED! IMPORTANT: MAKE ALL ERASURES COMPLETELY - IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO CLEARLY INDICATE YOUR CHOSEN ANSWER. RESPONSES
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SURE TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON YOUR ANSWER SHEET!! THIS EXAM IS WORTH
100 POINTS.
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. 60 questions/1.67 points each/100 point total.
14. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the two chambers of
Congress reflected the social class biases of the founding fathers. Which of the
following statements is TRUE?
a. The House was to be composed of the elite of society while the Senate was
meant to represent the lower classes of people.
b. The House was meant to represent the people while the Senate was to be
controlled by the Whigs, an elitist party that was a carry over from England.
c. The House was to meant to represent the people while the Senate was meant to
represent the states.
d. The House was to meant to represent the states while the Senate was meant to
represent religious and ethnic minority groups.
15. Which two basic functions or responsibilities given Congress by the Constitution
appear to be inherently at odds with one another?
a. oversight and law-making b. law-making and representation
c. representation and logrolling d. logrolling and redistricting
16. A fragmented Congress
a. is likely to have members with a constituency focus.
b. is relatively insulated from interest group pressures.
c. is tightly organized around strong political parties.
d. all of the above.
17. Which of the following BEST describes the "natural" state of Congress?
a. efficient b. integrated c. fragmented d. unprofessional
18. Subgovernment or policy triangle refers to the relationship among federal agencies
(bureaus), interest groups, and __________ in a given area of public policy.
a. the news media b. cabinet officers c. the White House staff
d. none of these
19. The concept of LOGROLLING refers to
a. action taken by a senator that attempts to prevent a bill from passing in the
Senate.
b. a method that is used to keep one bill on the floor for an extended period of time,
thus blocking all legislation.
c. an arrangement by which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to
support each other’s bills.
d. a method that the president uses when he wants to prevent the passage of
legislation.
20. The "hurdles" which a bill has to clear in the legislative process are called
a. "stop-gaps." b. "delay points." c. "veto points." d. "counter-points."
21. A typical bill, complete with appropriations measures and riders (non-germane
amendments), would probably have to clear somewhere between _______________
of the "hurdles" alluded to in question #20.
a. 5 - 10 b. 20 - 30 c. 50 - 70 d. 10,000 - 20,000
22. A filibuster is
a. an attempt to prevent the passage of a bill by halting action through unlimited
debate.
b. an attempt to persuade others to vote for a particular bill in return for a favor at a
later date.
c. a device used to force a bill out of a standing committee.
d. a new 3/4 lb. beef sandwich at the Dairy Queen.
23. Which of the following is most likely to use a filibuster?
a. a House member who supports a bill that is likely to be passed by the majority.
b. a Senator who supports a bill that is likely to be passed by the majority.
c. a. a House member who opposes a bill that is likely to be passed by the majority.
d. a Senator who opposes a bill that is likely to be passed by the majority.
24. Most of the actual work of legislating is
a. performed by interest groups and then acted upon by Congress.
b. accomplished in state legislatures and then the more acceptable ideas are acted
upon by Congress.
c. performed by the president and his staff and then routinely accepted by Congress.
d. performed by the committees and subcommittees within Congress.
25. By far, the most important committees within Congress are the
a. joint resolution committees. b. special investigative committees.
c. standing committees. d. none of these.
26. A conference committee is
a. a special committee convened to resolve the differences between the Congress
and the president on legislative issues.
b. called into session when the president has vetoed an appropriations bill with a
pocket veto.
c. a special committee convened to reconcile differences between House and
Senate versions of a bill.
d. a special committee in the House that assists the Speaker in enacting his party’s
legislative agenda.
27. Which of the following statements would BEST characterize Americans'
expectations regarding presidential leadership?
a. Americans are generally undemanding of presidential leadership.
b. Americans have unrealistically high expectations of their presidents.
c. Americans are so thoroughly disgusted with presidential lying and corruption that
they seem to have no expectations whatsoever of presidential leadership.
d. The expectations of Americans are generally consistent with the reality of
presidential power.
28. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the express powers of
the president are
a. broad grants of power that all heads of government are assumed to have.
b. situations that require the president to take quick action.
c. powers that are expressly written into the Constitution.
d. powers stemming from Supreme Court decisions concerning the area of foreign
policy.
29. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the inherent powers
of the president are
a. rare situations when the vice-president must take control of the government due
to the death or resignation of the president.
b. powers that are transferred from one president to the next providing they are of
the same political party.
c. specific grants of power for the president within the Constitution.
d. powers derived from the loosely worded language in the Constitution which state
that the president “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
30. If you subscribed to the literalist theory of presidential power you would believe that
the president has
a. inherent powers. b. inherent and statutory powers. c. only express powers.
d. no powers.
31. The president's role as a leader in the legislative process
a. became almost non-existent with the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt.
b. was at its height at the end of the 19th century.
c. is largely a phenomenon that has occurred since the Great Depression.
d. is prescribed by the Constitution; therefore, his degree of influence never
changes.
32. Tom Wicker ("Whatever Became of Jimmy Carter?") suggests that Carter was a
statesman because
a. he was most interested in how his decisions would affect his political fortunes.
b. he most often made decisions based on what he believed was morally correct
without respect to the political consequences.
c. he was able to cultivate strong working relationships with all of his constituencies,
making it much easier for him to secure support for his legislative initiatives.
d. he had a talent for telling the American people exactly what they wanted to hear.
33. Which of the following powers are explicitly delegated to the president by the
Constitution?
1. to be commander-in-chief 2. to act as manager of the economy
3. to be domestic crisis manager 4. to be chief foreign policy maker
5. to appoint the Speaker of the House of Representatives
a. 1, 2, and 3 b. 1, 2, 3, and 4 c. all of these d. 1 only
34. The personal political skill of the president
a. has little bearing on public perceptions of his leadership ability.
b. is far less important than the constitutional powers of the president.
c. is a primary source of presidential power.
d. really does not vary much from one president to another.
35. A president who comes to Washington with a clear set of predetermined goals, who
pursues those goals unbendingly, and who refuses to engage in political
compromise with other leaders (e.g., those in Congress) will probably
a. be seen as a strong and successful president.
b. be unsuccessful at cultivating strong working relationships with important
constituencies such as Congress and the news media.
c. over-power all political resistance.
d. be impeached.
36. The BEST example of the type of president described in the previous question is
a. Ronald Reagan. b. Lyndon Johnson. c. Jimmy Carter. d. Franklin Roosevelt.
37. Which of the following accurately describe the reality of presidential power?
1. unlimited 2. personal 3. negative 4. episodic 5. mythical
a. 1 and 4 b. 1 and 5 c. 1, 2, and 3
d. 2, 3, and 4
38. Which term indicates that the president does NOT have the power to continuously
control or manage the legislative process?
a. limited b. episodic c. micromanage d. negative
39. In contrast to the powers given to the president by the Constitution, the powers
constitutionally granted to Congress are described in terms that are more
a. detailed. b. moral. c. discretionary. d. general.
40. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the “fourth branch of
government” is a term often used to describe the
a. impact of congressional staff on public policy-making.
b. role of interest groups in the governmental system.
c. federal bureaucracy.
d. role of political parties.
41. Bureaucracy is the name given to
a. any large branch of government that has power to interpret laws.
b. any organization that has major problems when attempting to accomplish its
goals.
c. a group of people who work together to enforce policies in a way that prevents
quick results.
d. a large organization which is structured hierarchically and which is supposed to
carry out specific functions.
42. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the federal
bureaucracy in the United States
a. enjoys a greater degree of autonomy compared to governmental bureaucracies in
other countries.
b. is more restricted than governmental bureaucracies in other countries.
c. is less efficient than governmental bureaucracies in other countries.
d. suffers from more frequent turnover of personnel than governmental
bureaucracies in other countries.
43. According to Max Weber, a bureaucracy should
a. set up regulations that prevent the average person from quickly understanding the
purpose of the rule.
b. prevent specialization for it only leads to delay in policy implementation.
c. only exist within a democratic form of government.
d. be an apolitical organization.
44. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the Weberian Model
of bureaucracy advocates
a. a rational decision-making process.
b. a hierarchical organization.
c. expanded budgets and increased size of the bureaucracy.
d. both a and b.
45. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the Acquisitive Model
of bureaucracy states
a. decision-making should be a rational process.
b. organization should be hierarchical.
c. bureaucracies seek expanded budgets and increased size.
d. both a and b.
46. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the Monopolistic
Model of bureaucracy states
a. decision-making should be a rational process.
b. organization should be hierarchical.
c. bureaucracies are not competitive and are therefore inefficient.
d. both a and b.
47. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the Garbage Can
Model of bureaucracy states
a. decision-making should be a rational process.
b. bureaucracies are rudderless entities with little formal organization.
c. bureaucracies seek expanded budgets and increased size.
d. both a and b.
48. Which federal bureaucracies have the broadest areas of program implementation
responsibility?
a. independent agencies and regulatory commissions. b. government corporations.
c. the cabinet departments. d. the Executive Office of the Presidency.
49. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the function of
independent regulatory agencies is to
a. provide a check on the power of the cabinet departments.
b. make and implement rules and regulations in a particular sector of the economy
to protect the public interest.
c. regulate the actions of congressional committees.
d. establish guidelines for the creation of government corporations.
50. __________ provide services that could theoretically be provided by the private
sector but, for some reason, Congress has determined that they should be linked to
government.
a. Government corporations b. Presidential agencies
c. Cabinet departments d. Independent regulatory commissions
51. An example of a government corporation is
a. Federal Express, a private mail service for packages and bulk mail.
b. the Department of Defense when it sells weapons systems to other countries.
c. the Tennessee Valley Authority, which supplies electricity to customers in certain
southern states.
d. the United States District Court in Washington, D.C.
52. Which of the following is among the reasons discussed in class for the rapid growth
in bureaucracies during the late 1880s, the 1930s, and the 1960s?
1. advances in science and technology
2. the perceived need for regulation of business activities
3. increased government responsibilities in providing income security
4. the American cultural belief in progress (technology fix)
5. bureaucratic imperialism
a. all of these b. 1 and 3 c. 1, 2, and 4 d. 2, 3, and 5
53. Presidential attempts to significantly affect the structure and operation of federal
bureaucracies have
a. been very successful.
b. been a result of hard work and are beginning to pay off.
c. been almost completely unsuccessful.
d. had significant when Congress has been controlled by Republicans.
54. One of the most important differences between private corporations and public
bureaucracies is that the latter are
a. much larger.
b. much more labor intensive.
c. not organized to make a profit.
d. subject to change much more frequently.
55. Because laws are often drafted in such vague and general terms, agencies
a. are given the impossible task of determining the intent of Congress.
b. defer to interest groups for direction.
c. decide how best to carry out the wishes of Congress.
d. often refuse to carry out these vague policies.
56. A realistic view of the role of bureaucracy in policy making is where agencies and
departments of government
a. play a neutral role in policy making.
b. only provide relevant information to the policy makers.
c. administer the decisions of Congress without attempting to influence policies.
d. play an important role in policy making.
57. Social regulatory policies
a. impose costs on businesses to produce positive social outcomes.
b. usually affect only one or two businesses.
c. are designed to stabilize an industry.
d. often result in the formation of limited monopolies.
58. Generally, “old-style” regulatory commissions
a. dealt with a single industry.
b. were governed by a board of 7 to 15 commissioners.
c. often became “captured” by regulated industries.
d. all of these.
1. In which case did the Supreme Court first declare an act of Congress
unconstitutional?
a. MCCULLOCH V MARYLAND b. SHERBERT V VERNER c. PALKO V CONNECTICUT
d. MARBURY V MADISON
2. In the case MARBURY V MADISON, John Marshall was
a. the Attorney General.
b. the Chief Justice.
c. not eligible to participate in the decision because of his prior role as Secretary of
State.
d. the acting district attorney for the state of Maryland.
3. Which of the following constitutes a "cue" (cue theory) that may indicate whether the
Supreme Court will decide to hear a case on appeal?
1. The president or other high ranking federal officer publicly calls on the Supreme
Court to review of the case.
2. The case involves a civil liberties or civil rights issue.
3. The judges on the lower appellate court have sharply divided opinions.
4. The subject matter of the case involves a social or political agenda that is
consistent with the dominant ideology of the Supreme Court.
5. The case involves a question of federalism.
a. 1, 2, & 5
b. 1, 2, & 3
c. 1, 2, 3, & 4
d. 1, 2, 3, & 5
4. Merits consciousness is the idea that a justice's
1. vote to grant certiorari reflects a predisposition by the justice to reverse a lower
court's decision based on the merits of the case.
2. vote to deny certiorari reflects a predisposition by the justice to reverse a lower
court's decision based on the merits of the case.
3. vote to grant or deny certiorari is highly associated with his or her political party
ideology.
4. vote to grant or deny certiorari is highly associated with his or her political party
affiliation.
5. will base his or her vote to grant or deny certiorari strictly on the degree or extent
of legal impact that the decision will ultimately have.
a. 1 only
b. 1 & 2
c. 3 & 4
d. 5 only
5. Which of the following determines whether the Supreme Court will issue a writ of
certiorari?
a. "gang of four"
b. "rule of five"
c. "rule of four"
d. "four on the floor"
6. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, the body of judgemade law is known as
a. writs of mandamus. b. criminal law. c. judicial maximus. d. common law
7. The doctrine of stare decisis means
a. to reverse a decision of a lower court.
b. that the court does not have jurisdiction in a case.
c. to refer a case to the next highest court.
d. to stand on the decided cases - that is to decide a case based on the precedents
set in other similar cases.
8. The power of the courts to decide whether an act of another branch of government is
consistent with or contrary to the provisions of the Constitution is known as
a. judicial review. b. writs of judicial appeal. c. the greater judicial need doctrine.
d. the doctrine of common sense.
9. Appellate jurisdiction involves the authority of a court to
a. decide guilt or innocence in criminal cases.
b. determine the extent of damages in civil cases.
c. limit the jurisdiction of lower courts.
d. review the decisions of lower courts.
10. A writ of certiorari by the Supreme Court orders
a. both parties in a case to reach a settlement without further litigation.
b. a public official to discharge his or her duty.
c. a lower court to send it the records of a case for review.
d. the state legislature to rewrite legislation that was found to be unconstitutional.
11. Most petitions for writs of certiorari to the Supreme Court are
a. granted.
b. made by members of state legislatures.
c. ordered by state district courts.
d. denied.
12. Presidents have the power to change the direction of the federal courts
a. by appointing new judges who have philosophies consistent with the president.
b. firing judges on the grounds of incompatibility.
c. forcing Congress to consider impeachment of specific judges.
d. declaring martial law, which restricts judicial decision-making.
13. According to the authors of your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, if a case is
remanded, it
a. is sent back to the highest appellate court of that judicial system.
b. is sent back to the court that originally heard the case.
c. can only be of a civil nature - criminal cases cannot be remanded.
d. must be decided by a higher court within the calendar year.
14. According to your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, if a case is affirmed, it
a. means that the case cannot be appealed to a higher court.
b. is sent back to the court that originally heard the case.
c. means that the decision of the lower court was accepted by the appellate court.
d. will result in a new trial for the defendant.
15. The Supreme Court will only hear what are called justiciable disputes. Justiciable
disputes
a. are ones that arise out of actual cases.
b. can be settled by legal methods.
c. pertain to an interpretation of the Constitution.
d. both a & b.
16. According to your AMERICAN GOVERNMENT text, a dispute deemed a political
question by the Supreme Court is
a. one that it has declared should be decided by the executive or legislative
branches.
b. a case that has been previously decided by the Supreme Court.
c. any case that has yet to be decided by the state court of last resort.
d. a case that has divided the members of the Supreme Court along party lines.
17. Which of the following were established in class as criteria of judicial policymaking?
a. legal impact and policy impact
b. policy impact and compliance
c. legal impact and compliance
d. none of these
18. Which criterion of judicial policy-making refers to the "potential of a given
court decision to substantially alter or change an existing policy or
practice?"
a. legal impact
b. policy impact
c. compliance
d. none of these
19. The fact that public schools, particularly in the South, had not integrated two
decades after the Supreme Court's decision in BROWN V BOARD OF EDUCATION
illustrated the relevance of _______________ as a criterion of judicial policy-making.
a. legal impact b. policy impact c. compliance d. none of these
20. The criterion of judicial policy-making that requires parties affected by a court’s
decision to actually change or alter their behavior in accordance with the decision is
a. legal impact b. policy impact c. compliance d. none of these
21. Which of the following cases meet both of the criteria of judicial policy-making?
1. GRISWOLD V CONNECTICUT
2. ROE V WADE
3. MIRANDA V ARIZONA
4. PLESSY V FERGUSON
5. TEXAS V JOHNSON
a. 1, 2, & 3 b. 1, 2, 3, & 4 c. 1, 2, 3, & 5 d. all of the above
22. In MARBURY V MADISON, the Supreme Court held that
a. Madison had to deliver Marbury's judicial commission.
b. Congress could not change the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
c. Congress could give the Supreme Court the power to issue writs of mandamus.
d. all of these.
23. A writ of mandamus is a court order compelling
a. both parties in a case to reach a settlement without further litigation.
b. a public official to discharge his or her duty.
c. a lower court to send it the records of a case for review.
d. the state legislature to rewrite legislation that was found to be unconstitutional.
24. Judicial activism refers to a philosophy that
a. implies a willingness on the part of judges to make liberal social policy.
b. implies a reluctance on the part of judges to make liberal social policy.
c. implies a willingness on the part of judges to use the power of judicial review to
declare an act or action of another branch of government unconstitutional and,
therefore, void.
d. implies a reluctance on the part of judges to use the power of judicial review to
declare an act or action of another branch of government unconstitutional and,
therefore, void.
2. In the article “Constitutional Interpretation,” Leif Carter argues that
a. the Constitution ought to provide clear answers for all of our political and legal
disputes.
b. conservatives are more likely than progressives to view the Constitution as a
“living” document that can be applied flexibly to changing conditions and
circumstances.
c. The Constitution provides us a framework with which we can resolve conflicts
rather than attempting resolving the conflicts itself.
d. None of these.