Deck 15: Foreign Policy

Question 1

Some U.S.antiterror operations,such as the mission in Pakistan to target and kill Osama bin Laden,are examples of unilateral action.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Interest groups play a very small role in foreign policy because foreign governments are prohibited from lobbying.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The Monroe Doctrine stated that the United States would remain loyal to Great Britain if the British,in turn,agreed not to invade the United States or occupy areas in North and South America.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The rise of internationalism as a guiding principle in U.S.foreign policy can be seen in U.S.efforts to create the United Nations in 1945.

Question 5

The United Kingdom,Germany,France,Russia,and the United States serve on the United Nations Security Council.

Question 6

Isolationists favored the war in Iraq because the United States was attempting to maximize its own economic and national security interests.

Question 7

What foreign policy philosophy contends that it is not only in the United States' best interests to pursue foreign relations with other nations,but also it is the nation's moral obligation to intervene during international crises?

A) internationalism
B) realism
C) idealism
D) isolationism
E) nationalism

Question 8

An internationalist would support U.S.efforts to provide humanitarian aid to people in a foreign nation engulfed in a civil war,even if other nations were unwilling to help.

Question 9

The National Security Council primarily assists the U.S.Congress by keeping the legislative branch informed of national security threats.

Question 10

President Obama's use of drone strikes against terrorist targets overseas is a policy that would be opposed by President George W.Bush under the Bush Doctrine.

Question 11

Before the Vietnam War,architects of U.S.foreign policy had a primarily isolationist viewpoint.

Question 12

What foreign policy philosophy contends that the motivating factor in a nation's international decision-making process is (or should be)that nation's own interests?

A) internationalism
B) realism
C) idealism
D) isolationism
E) nationalism

Question 13

U.S.antiterror actions that are not coordinated with other nations are an example of:

A) unilateral action
B) multilateral action
C) isolationism
D) containment
E) détente

Question 14

The Marshall Plan was consistent with the broader foreign policy principles originally outlined in the Monroe Doctrine.

Question 15

Numerous nations have coordinated their efforts to deter pirate attacks against civilian shipping.This is an example of:

A) unilateral action
B) multilateral action
C) isolationism
D) containment
E) détente

Question 16

Low tariffs benefit American businesses by allowing them to sell their products overseas at a competitive price,whereas high tariffs can help American manufacturers charge lower prices than foreign competitors.

Question 17

Foreign policy includes issues that concern human rights.

Question 18

When the United States joined NATO,it committed itself to a bilateral agreement with the nations of western Europe.

Question 19

What foreign policy philosophy contends that the United States' best interests are served by avoiding formal agreements and activity with other nations?

A) internationalism
B) realism
C) idealism
D) isolationism
E) nationalism

Question 20

The policy of containment became the guiding principle of the Truman Doctrine,which shaped U.S.foreign policy throughout much of the Cold War.

Question 21

The Fourteen Points was a plan developed by ________ to prevent future conflict in Europe by establishing secure borderlines and promoting democratic principles,among other provisions.

A) Harry Truman
B) Franklin Roosevelt
C) Theodore Roosevelt
D) Dwight Eisenhower
E) Woodrow Wilson

Question 22

Isolationism was a dominant foreign policy principle in the United States before World War I for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A) the United States' distance from Europe
B) the United States' limited economic interactions with foreign nations
C) reduced levels of military threat
D) the United States' ability to expand without conflict with European nations
E) The U.S. Constitution originally stipulated that the United States would remain neutral in foreign affairs.

Question 23

What alliance,organized by the Soviet Union,was formed in 1949 to provide military security to all of its members?

A) the Warsaw Pact
B) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
C) the Collective Security Treaty Organization
D) the Central Treaty Organization
E) the Treaty of Versailles

Question 24

All of the following are possible reasons that an isolationist would oppose action against Syria for human rights violations EXCEPT:

A) U.S. action would be unlikely to end the human rights violations in Syria.
B) U.S. action would be counterproductive.
C) U.S. action would be too costly.
D) U.S. action would be inappropriate interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation.
E) U.S. action would provoke ideological and partisan divisions within the United States among the American public.

Question 25

Although the League of Nations was unsuccessful,it was a model for:

A) the World Trade Organization
B) the World Bank
C) the Hague
D) the United Nations
E) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Question 26

During the Cold War,the United States' shift toward a foreign policy rooted in the principle of internationalism was evident in actions that included all of the following EXCEPT:

A) U.S. efforts to form the United Nations
B) U.S. efforts to form the World Bank
C) U.S. efforts to follow and enforce the Monroe Doctrine
D) U.S. involvement and participation in numerous international trade agreements
E) U.S. aid and economic development programs for European nations through the Marshall Plan

Question 27

The 1972 Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty,which limited the growth of U.S.and Soviet missile forces,was a consequence of:

A) perestroika
B) unilateralism
C) containment
D) détente
E) multilateralism

Question 28

Following World War II,some American politicians and scholars argued that the United States would need to be more involved in world affairs to deter future international conflicts.This argument is an example of:

A) constructivism
B) idealism
C) realism
D) nation building
E) containment

Question 29

During the Cold War,what doctrine of military strategy and national security toward the Soviet Union involved the United States maintaining a strong military presence and building a stockpile of nuclear weapons?

A) unilateralism
B) détente
C) shuttle diplomacy
D) mutually assured destruction
E) the domino theory

Question 30

The Truman Doctrine:

A) sought to end colonialism in North and South America
B) redrew European borders and established a Soviet Union, Eastern European Bloc
C) outlined a containment policy against communism
D) officially brought the United States into the United Nations
E) established a unilateral approach for decisions concerning U.S. foreign policy

Question 31

Under President Richard Nixon,the United States and the Soviet Union opened relations with each other.This process was called:

A) perestroika
B) unilateralism
C) containment
D) détente
E) multilateralism

Question 32

The authors of the textbook argue that America's early foreign policy was never completely isolationist.All of the following examples support this contention EXCEPT:

A) The United States fought the British in the Revolutionary War.
B) The United States had several colonies beyond its borders.
C) The U.S. Navy often protected U.S. ships beyond U.S. borders.
D) The United States built the Panama Canal and leased land from Panama.
E) The United States had significant trading relationships with various European nations.

Question 33

What foreign policy philosophy contends that the United States' self-interest is not (or should not be)its only motivating factor in its international decision-making process but that larger moralistic goals such as democratic principles are also to be (or should also be)pursued?

A) internationalism
B) realism
C) idealism
D) isolationism
E) nationalism

Question 34

The Monroe Doctrine followed the foreign policy principle of:

A) isolationism
B) internationalism
C) realism
D) constructivism
E) idealism

Question 35

What is the Bush Doctrine?

A) an approach to fighting terrorism primarily with humanitarian efforts and the assistance of the United Nations
B) a policy that supports fighting terrorism with military force in all areas of the world
C) a policy that dictates preemptively striking a nation that threatens the security of the United States
D) a commitment to extend American values throughout the world by any means necessary
E) an unyielding commitment to multilateralism and multilateral international efforts

Question 36

Following World War II,some American politicians and scholars argued that the United States would need to be more involved in world affairs because the United States had a moral obligation to preserve world peace.This argument is an example of:

A) constructivism
B) idealism
C) realism
D) nation building
E) containment

Question 37

After the Cold War,U.S.involvement in foreign affairs:

A) shifted increasingly toward realism
B) mostly retreated back to a policy of neutrality and isolationism
C) became more centered on human rights and nation-building efforts
D) reflected an increasing commitment to expanding and enlarging the U.S. budget on foreign aid
E) became less partisan as Democrats and Republicans found it easier to agree on foreign policy, with the United States as the world's lone superpower

Question 38

What alliance,organized by the United States,was formed in 1949 to provide military security to all of its members?

A) the Warsaw Pact
B) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
C) the Collective Security Treaty Organization
D) the Central Treaty Organization
E) the Treaty of Versailles

Question 39

An idealist would support U.S.action against Syria for human rights violations because:

A) a majority of the American public would support such actions
B) it would satisfy liberal and progressive interests
C) it is consistent with U.S. moral principles to defend human rights
D) it would benefit American business interests in Syria
E) it would keep the price of oil from increasing

Question 40

The notion that the United States should use military,diplomatic,and economic means to stop the spread of communism is called:

A) containment
B) isolationism
C) mutually assured destruction
D) perestroika
E) détente

Question 41

The House and Senate Intelligence Committees are in charge of:

A) overseeing the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA)
B) providing the president with top-secret intelligence information
C) directing and advising military actions against terrorist targets
D) finding the means to fund counter-terrorism actions
E) overseeing disaster response from a terrorist attack

Question 42

Which of the following best describes the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security?

A) to provide cooperative services such as fingerprint identification and police training for local law enforcement
B) to order the deployment of military personnel when there is a terrorist threat to the homeland
C) to maintain peacekeeping efforts at home and abroad
D) to coordinate intelligence gathering, secure U.S. borders, and prevent terrorist attacks
E) to serve as the lead agency for gathering intelligence on foreign communications

Question 43

The principal foreign policy department in the executive branch is:

A) the Department of State
B) the Department of Defense
C) the Department of Homeland Security
D) the National Security Council
E) the Central Intelligence Agency

Question 44

Which of the following is a role in which nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)serve in the international community?

A) They function primarily to promote peace among nations throughout the world.
B) They are best known for providing military assistance to certain nations.
C) They help facilitate economic growth and development.
D) They coordinate the international efforts of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent during bloody conflicts around the world.
E) They function as charities, providing financial assistance to the deserving poor of the international community.

Question 45

Congress has various powers at its disposal to force the president to compromise with the legislative branch when their policy goals are in conflict.These powers include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Congress's power to declare war
B) the Senate's power to approve treaties
C) Congress's power of the purse to prevent expenditures on activities that Congress opposes
D) Congress's power to send military forces into combat without presidential approval through the War Powers Resolution Act
E) the Senate's power to confirm the appointments of senior members of the president's foreign policy team

Question 46

The efforts of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)are an example of:

A) how an interest group seeks to encourage free trade policies
B) how an interest group seeks to influence U.S. military aid
C) how a foreign government tries to lobby the U.S. government
D) how a nongovernmental organization can provide valuable information to the U.S. government on matters related to Middle East politics
E) how a nongovernmental organization can encourage the U.S. government to promote democracy in regions such as the Middle East

Question 47

________ assists countries in managing budget deficits and currency values.

A) The World Bank
B) The World Trade Organization
C) The Federal Reserve
D) The International Monetary Fund
E) The United States Mint

Question 48

The National Security Council is responsible for:

A) carrying out military actions
B) coordinating intelligence gathering
C) delivering humanitarian aid to people in areas of conflict
D) serving as the principal foreign policy department in the executive branch
E) developing foreign policy options and presenting them to the president

Question 49

Attempts in 2007 to make funding for the Iraq war conditional on setting troop withdrawal deadlines can be credited to:

A) the presidential campaign of Barack Obama
B) the recommendations of the Pentagon and military leaders
C) the recommendations of President Bush's National Security Council (NSC)
D) the parliamentary maneuvering of Senate Democrats
E) shifting public opinion against the Iraq war

Question 50

Because the president,senior leaders in the Defense Department,and Congress formulate military policy,the U.S.military is said to be under:

A) military personnel control
B) bureaucratic control
C) multilateral control
D) republican control
E) civilian control

Question 51

Which of the following is a reason that foreign policy making does not always mirror public opinion?

A) Political knowledge of international affairs among the public is low.
B) It is difficult to get news and information on foreign affairs.
C) Most administrations shift their foreign policy positions so frequently that the public simply cannot keep up with the changes.
D) Polling agencies reporting to politicians are often incorrect and biased.
E) Elected officials rarely care or bother to listen to public opinion.

Question 52

The committees responsible for setting the annual budget for agencies that carry out foreign policy responsibilities are:

A) the Armed Services Committee in the House and Senate
B) the Homeland Security Committee in the House and Senate
C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs in the House and the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate
D) the Veterans' Affairs Committee in the House and Senate and the Armed Services Committee in the House and Senate
E) all of the congressional committees in the House and Senate

Question 53

Which of the following prepares the president's annual budget proposals for federal agencies and departments with foreign policy responsibilities?

A) National Security Council
B) State Department
C) Department of Defense
D) Office of Management and Budget
E) Central Intelligence Agency

Question 54

The president is considered the dominant actor in American foreign policy for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A) The president can change foreign policy through executive orders.
B) The president can appoint people to agencies and departments to carry forward the president's foreign policy agenda.
C) The president has access to sensitive intelligence information, unlike members of the U.S. Congress.
D) The president can mobilize public opinion on a foreign policy issue, which in turn can prompt action by Congress.
E) The president and the president's staff can negotiate treaties and executive agreements with other nations.

Question 55

The clash of civilizations is a hypothesis suggesting:

A) war is inevitable between nations that have nuclear capabilities
B) democracies do not go to war with each other but almost always initiate war with non-democracies
C) terrorism is motivated by hatred of the Western world
D) communism is a time-bound governmental system that will inevitably fall when up against democracies with free-market economic systems
E) war is inevitable when there is more than one superpower in the world

Question 56

Some groups,such as the Stop Kony organization,try to influence foreign policy:

A) by bringing public attention to a problem
B) through citizen rallies and protests to pressure the government into action
C) by issuing press releases to shape media coverage of foreign events
D) through its own academic research that is designed to educate and inform members of Congress and the president
E) by hiring professional lobbyists to bring an international problem to the attention of government officials

Question 57

The federal courts can influence foreign policy by:

A) ruling that certain laws or presidential actions are unconstitutional
B) impeaching and removing members of the president's foreign policy staff
C) reinstating military officers that the court decides were unjustly fired by the president
D) halting funds to the military if the Supreme Court rules that the president has entered the nation into an unjust or unconstitutional war
E) issuing subpoenas to members of the executive branch if the court has reason to believe that the president has violated the Constitution

Question 58

When drone attacks are ordered against Al Qaeda targets,which foreign policy department is most actively involved in executing these actions?

A) the Department of State
B) the Department of Defense
C) the Department of Homeland Security
D) the National Security Council
E) the Central Intelligence Agency

Question 59

The National Security Agency:

A) is a domestic policy agency that is chiefly responsible for monitoring dangerous elements within the United States
B) is a foreign policy agency that gathers intelligence and advises the president
C) is a foreign policy agency that works exclusively with senators on the Select Committee on Intelligence
D) is a military department of the U.S. government
E) was a vital part of intelligence gathering during the Cold War but was eliminated by President Clinton after the fall of the Soviet Union

Question 60

Media coverage of foreign policy events:

A) has become less important in the age of the Internet
B) receives less attention today because people care more about domestic issues
C) is often ignored by the public because most Americans no longer watch television news or read a newspaper
D) remains important because recent conflicts have shown that it can still directly influence the decisions of the president
E) remains important because recent conflicts have shown that it can still influence public opinion

Question 61

What is the difference between realism and idealism? Using the United States' involvement in the Iraq war as an example,how would a realist view the motivations of this action,and how would an idealist view the motivations of this action? Which perspective-realism or idealism-do you find more convincing? Explain your reasoning.

Question 62

Explain the difference between isolationism and internationalism.Why did U.S.foreign policy gradually move away from isolationism and toward internationalism? Which foreign policy perspective should the United States follow in the present day and why? Explain your reasoning.

Question 63

When one nation believes that another is using tariffs unfairly,the matter is adjudicated by:

A) the World Bank
B) the International Monetary Fund
C) the Word Trade Organization
D) the United Nations
E) the Hague

Question 64

NATO is an example of a:

A) free trade agreement
B) military treaty
C) peace treaty
D) bilateral agreement
E) multilateral agreement

Question 65

The authors of the textbook conclude that:

A) the lessons of the last century make clear that democracy and free-market capitalism will always triumph over alternative political and economic systems
B) the United States' political and economic dominance appears likely to end with the emergence of China and India in the new global market
C) U.S. foreign policy decisions will remain as important as ever, with consequences for virtually all aspects of American life
D) the United States could return to a policy of isolationism given evidence from recent public opinion polls of American attitudes on various foreign policy issues
E) foreign policy outcomes are unpredictable and difficult for political scientists to analyze

Question 66

Outside of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council,how many rotating nations serve on the council?

A) five
B) six
C) seven
D) nine
E) ten

Question 67

The United States has several tools to make or influence foreign policy.Identify and explain three methods that the United States can use to implement foreign policy.Which tools and methods tend to be most effective under various circumstances? Use examples to support your argument.

Question 68

The United States provides foreign aid because:

A) it can help facilitate international agreements
B) idealism has become the nation's dominant foreign policy principle
C) it provides the United States with increased power and stature in the United Nations
D) the American public is strongly in favor of providing foreign aid
E) doing so earns the U.S. government interest payments on its loans, which reduces the federal debt

Question 69

A civil war is underway in Syria.What are some reasons for the United States to intervene? What are some reasons for the United States not to get involved in the conflict? If you were the president of the United States,how would you direct U.S.foreign policy in Syria? Apply at least two examples in U.S.history that lend support to the course of action that you would take.

Question 70

A ________ is an agreement between nations to work together on economic or security issues,whereas a(n)________ is an agreement that commits nations to security guarantees.

A) multilateral agreement; treaty
B) treaty; alliance
C) treaty; covenant
D) covenant; pact
E) pact; alliance

Question 71

High tariffs raise the prices of ________,making ________ more attractive to the consumer.

A) imported goods; domestic products
B) exported goods; foreign products
C) imported goods; foreign products
D) exported goods; domestic products
E) all goods; neither foreign nor domestic products

Question 72

Explain the policy of détente.What president and national security adviser initiated the policy of détente? What did détente accomplish? Are the lessons from the policy of détente still applicable to the foreign policy issues of today? If so,which issues and how is it applicable? If not,why are today's issues fundamentally different?

Question 73

Which of the following is an example of diplomacy?

A) extending most-favored-nation status to another country
B) a financially troubled nation requesting a loan from the World Bank
C) holding off on a military strike but using tough language, such as "axis of evil" or "evil empire," to refer to a rival nation
D) conducting military exercises or nuclear weapons tests simply to show strength to the world
E) a preemptive strike, but one directed at a legitimate military target that is specifically selected to avoid any civilian casualties

Question 74

The presidency,Congress,and the federal courts all influence foreign policy making.Which entity is the most influential and why? Is any one of the branches too powerful,or is there a proper balance of power among the different branches of government when it comes to foreign policy? Use an example to illustrate your argument.

Question 75

Public disagreement over foreign policy is the product of several factors that include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) self-interest
B) people are exposed to different information
C) there are realist versus idealist distinctions in public opinion
D) some people appreciate living in the United States more than others
E) there are differing expectations about whether policies will work as intended

Question 76

What is the difference between multilateral and unilateral action? Are there any advantages of one approach compared to the other? Should the United States take a multilateral or a unilateral approach to fighting the war on terrorism? Explain your reasoning.

Question 77

Foreign policy decisions are often sensitive to public opinion.Explain why this is so.Discuss an example that illustrates how foreign policy making has been sensitive to public opinion.Should U.S.foreign policy be sensitive to public opinion? Why or why not?

Question 78

Interest groups deploy a variety of tactics in an attempt to influence foreign policy making.Discuss one interest group that is active in attempting to influence U.S.foreign policy,and explain how this group tries to accomplish its goals.Overall,are there more positives or negatives that result from interest group activities when it comes to foreign policy making?

Question 79

Economic sanctions are often used for the purpose of:

A) facilitating a war
B) increasing the value of domestic goods
C) creating jobs in the United States
D) pressuring a country's leaders to change their behavior
E) raising government revenue to reduce a nation's trade deficit

Question 80

When the United States places the lowest possible tariff on imported goods from a particular country,it bestows on that country:

A) best-trading conditions
B) optimal-trade-nation status
C) free-trade-provider status
D) comparative advantage conditions
E) most-favored-nation status