Deck 1: Gateways to American Democracy

Question 1

Which British philosopher and politician wrote that a "perfect democracy is… the most shameless thing in the world"?

A) Edmund Burke
B) Harold Joseph Laski
C) John Cotton
D) John Adams
E) Adam Smith

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What country has the oldest written constitution in the world?

A) England
B) France
C) Greece
D) United States
E) Venezuela

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Unlike Athens, the early United States had a population of nearly 4 million people, which made direct democracy impractical. Instead, the Framers created a

A) dictatorship.
B) direct democracy.
C) representative democracy.
D) socialist government.
E) monarchy.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A republic is a form of government in which power derives from

A) a supreme mandate of the masses, rather than from divine right .
B) the citizens but their representatives make policy and govern.
C) the majoritarian consensus of all citizens.
D) sectarian violence.
E) none of these.

Question 5

Through citizen involvement, which one of the following has the United States NOT achieved?

A) The nation and institutions are amazingly stable.
B) Citizens are able to petition government and criticize it.
C) Americans enjoy substantial freedom and are protected from abuses of power by the government.
D) A society has been created with high voter turnout.
E) People from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds have been elected President.

Question 6

James Madison argued that size and diversity were assets to our new nation because competing interests, which he called _______, would check on another.

A) factions
B) political parties
C) syndicalists
D) majoritarians
E) revolutionary vanguard

Question 7

The right to life, liberty, and property, according to John Locke, are __________ rights, rights so fundamental that government cannot take them away.

A) alienable
B) constitutional
C) human
D) natural
E) worldwide

Question 8

John Adams and many others who would end up writing the founding documents of America believed in a system, which is known as a __________ , where the people would set up and agree upon the basic rules and procedures that would govern them.

A) minority right
B) rule of law
C) constitutional system
D) social contract
E) faction

Question 9

Madison and the other Framers saw pure democracy, where people ruled directly, as a place where

A) well - reasoned, rational individuals would govern for the good of all .
B) a small group of self - interested people w ould govern for their own benefit .
C) passions would outweigh judgments about the common good.
D) benevolent kings would rule in the interest of their subjects.
E) group consensus would lead to rational policy results.

Question 10

At the time of American independence, the closest actual model for self-government was ancient __________ , where the people had governed themselves in a direct democracy.

A) Athens
B) Britain
C) Florence
D) Rome
E) Sparta

Question 11

The Framers drew on the ideas of the British political philosophers __________ in perceiving the relationship between government and the governed as a social contract.

A) Charles Darwin and William Montague
B) Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Niccolò Machiavelli
C) Michel Foucault and Herbert Marcuse
D) Thomas Aquinas and Alexis de Tocqueville
E) Thomas Hobbes and John Locke

Question 12

What ancient British legal principle holds that all people are equal before the law, all are subject to it, and no one is above it?

A) rule of law
B) stare decisis
C) positivism
D) human rights
E) habeas corpus

Question 13

According to your textbook, a gateway is defined as

A) politics.
B) a means to gain power.
C) an avenue for participation.
D) a way for elected officials to connect with citizens.
E) a path for being elected to political office.

Question 14

Shortly after the ratification of the Constitution, people began to form competing groups called ______ , which were organized to win elections.

A) factions
B) sectarians
C) political parties
D) interest groups
E) political action committees

Question 15

According to the U.S. Constitution, power is channeled into three different branches of government: __________ , __________ , and __________ .

A) executive; economic; legislative
B) legislative; executive; judicial
C) judicial; legislative; military
D) executive; federalism; legislative
E) judicial; executive; liberal

Question 16

__________ is rule by and for the people.

A) Aristocracy
B) Democracy
C) Monarchy
D) Autocracy
E) Oligarchy

Question 17

The constitutional division of power horizontally, into layers, between the national and state governments is known as

A) confederacy.
B) federalism.
C) unitary.
D) anarchy.
E) fascism.

Question 18

The process by which competing interests determine who gets what, when, and how is called

A) voting.
B) separation of powers.
C) checks and balances.
D) politics.
E) gateways.

Question 19

The vertical division of power in the Constitution is called

A) the integration of powers.
B) the invisible hand.
C) checks and balances.
D) separation of powers.
E) none of these.

Question 20

To ensure that one branch does not become too powerful, the Constitution divides power among the three branches to create a system of

A) checks and balances.
B) federalism.
C) separation of powers.
D) majority rule.
E) democracy.

Question 21

__________ , on the right end of the political spectrum, believe that lower taxes will prompt greater economic growth that will ultimately benefit everyone, including the poor.

A) Conservatives
B) Liberals
C) Democrats
D) Anarchists
E) Moderates

Question 22

__________ is a partnership that is a psychological attachment to a particular party that relates to political ideology, yet it is more personal than philosophical.

A) Political ideology
B) Party identification
C) Political culture
D) Political party
E) Political capitalism

Question 23

__________ is a set of beliefs that holds people, not the government, responsible for their own well-being.

A) Pluralism
B) Populism
C) Majoritarianism
D) Libertarianism
E) Individualism

Question 24

Clean air is an example of ________, which no one can be excluded from and benefits all citizens.

A) private goods
B) general welfare
C) public goods
D) self-interest
E) public policy

Question 25

In the 1960s, the political scientist Robert Dahl argued that policy making has a(n) __________ basis, with authority held by different groups in different areas.

A) democratic
B) diffused
C) elitist
D) majoritarian
E) pluralist

Question 26

In the 1950s, the sociologist C. Wright Mills wrote of a(n) __________ from corporations, government, and the military that controlled the gates and gateways to power.

A) faction
B) pluralist group
C) narrow power elite
D) interest group
E) political party

Question 27

A shared way of thinking about community and government and the relationship between them is called

A) political culture.
B) political ideology.
C) political parties.
D) political factionalism.
E) political currency.

Question 28

When someone opposes concentrated wealth and adheres to traditional moral values, they are called

A) conservative.
B) liberal.
C) libertarian.
D) moderate.
E) populist.

Question 29

American political culture is founded upon

A) individualism.
B) capitalism.
C) egalitarianism.
D) limited regulation of businesses.
E) all of these.

Question 30

In monarchies, autocracies, and oligarchies, a single person or small elite rules society. These systems are by definition

A) democratic.
B) undemocratic.
C) fascist.
D) monopolistic.
E) anarchist.

Question 31

The United States tends to favor __________, an economic system in which business enterprises and key industries are privately owned.

A) capitalism
B) communism
C) libertarianism
D) populism
E) socialism

Question 32

The idea that each citizen must have a chance to have his or her voice heard in government is the root of

A) political economy.
B) self determination.
C) political culture.
D) political equality.
E) civil society.

Question 33

With regard to political ideology, most Americans are

A) conservatives.
B) liberals.
C) libertarians.
D) moderates.
E) populists.

Question 34

__________ is the intentional action by government to achieve a goal.

A) Public policy
B) Party identification
C) Political party
D) Political ideology
E) Political culture

Question 35

American political culture as a whole generally favors __________ over communal approaches to property and poverty.

A) socialism
B) Marxism
C) industrialization
D) individualism
E) liberalism

Question 36

When people have a fairly consistent set of views over a range of policy choices, they are said to have a(n)

A) alliance.
B) faction.
C) political ideology.
D) political party.
E) democratic ideal.

Question 37

A policy-making process in which those with a numerical majority hold the authority is called

A) diffused.
B) elitist.
C) majoritarian.
D) pluralist.
E) all of these.

Question 38

Groups of citizens who share a common interest by trying to influence public policy to benefit themselves are known as

A) party identification groups.
B) interest groups.
C) policy agenda groups.
D) populists.
E) moderates.

Question 39

__________ , on the left end of the political spectrum, favor(s) government efforts to increase equality, which includes higher taxes on the wealthy and greater provision of social benefits to support those in need.

A) Political ideology
B) Political culture
C) Ideology
D) Conservatives
E) Liberals

Question 40

A sizable number of Americans have described themselves as __________ ; that is, they believe that the government should not interfere in economic or social matters.

A) conservatives
B) moderates
C) libertarians
D) populists
E) liberals

Question 41

Compare self-interest to civic interest.

Question 42

__________ interest is the idea that citizens get involved in the political process because they want to be part of the voluntary organizations of civil society that enable communities to flourish.

A) Civic
B) Civil
C) Political
D) Pluralist
E) Self-

Question 43

If you were born between 1982 and 2003, you are the generation that social science researchers have identified as

A) baby boomers.
B) Generation X.
C) Generation Y.
D) idealists.
E) the Millennials.

Question 44

Explain the differences between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.

Question 45

Explain the importance of political ideology.

Question 46

According to the Preamble of the Constitution, the functions of government include all of these EXCEPT

A) establish justice.
B) promote economic security.
C) provide for the common defense.
D) promote the general welfare.
E) insure domestic tranquility.

Question 47

In Plyler v. Doe,  the Supreme Court found that

A) Texas could charge tuition to illegal immigrants to attend public schools.
B) the 14th Amendment only applies to U.S. citizens.
C) the right to privacy does to extend to unmarried couples.
D) cities can create voucher programs that allow students to attend any school.
E) Texas violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Question 48

_________ is the idea that citizens become civically involved in order to help foster civil society.

A) Self-interest
B) Political economy
C) Public goods
D) Civic interest
E) Political parties

Question 49

Discuss the nature of political ideology in America

Question 50

The United States has been considered as having the __________ highest national debt, as a proportion to the GDP, in the world.

A) fifth
B) seventh
C) eighth
D) ninth
E) tenth

Question 51

Discuss how the rule of law protects minority rights.

Question 52

The Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe is an example of

A) equality of outcome.
B) equality of opportunity.
C) judicial activism.
D) political equality.
E) political economy.

Question 53

Explain the purpose of public policy.

Question 54

Provide some examples of how citizens can influence the various "gateways" discussed in your textbook.

Question 55

A 2009 study by the Brookings Institution indicates that television, websites, and radio show a __________ percent coverage on education issues.

A) 1.4
B) 5.4
C) 10.4
D) 15.4
E) 20.4

Question 56

 Neighborhood watch groups and soup kitchens are examples of

A) self-interest.
B) political economy.
C) political parties.
D) public goods.
E) civic interest.

Question 57

Define social contract .

Question 58

Describe public polices that encourage you to participate in American democracy.

Question 59

__________ provide the most common way to remove elected officials and are the primary mechanisms for forging responsiveness.

A) Elections
B) Impeachments
C) Interest groups
D) Political parties
E) The courts

Question 60

___________ is a wide-ranging idea dealing with how government serves your needs.

A) Civic interest
B) Political culture
C) Self-interest
D) Political equality
E) Equality of outcome

Question 61

Discuss the ways in which civic interest and self-interest can influence government and society.

Question 62

Detail the policy formation process, and discuss the various groups that are involved along the way.

Question 63

Briefly discuss the differences between liberal and conservative ideologies, and describe how they impact the American political process.

Question 64

Why did James Madison believe competing interests were important to a democracy?

Question 65

Outline the events of Thomas Jefferson's life, and explain how these events helped shape his views on government and civic engagement.

Question 66

Explain the key differences between direct democracy and representative democracy, and identify which of these theories of government we use in the United States.

Question 67

Provide examples of public goods and how government can compel people to contribute.

Question 68

Why are monarchies, autocracies, and oligarchies inherently undemocratic?

Question 69

Discuss the arguments for and against raising the minimum wage. Based on the information provided in your textbook, should the government create further policy mandating an increase in the federal minimum wage?

Question 70

Define political culture, and briefly explain the differences in political culture between the United States and Europe.

Question 71

Detail ways that citizen involvement has advanced American democracy.

Question 72

Discuss the key differences between capitalism and socialism.

Question 73

Discuss the Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe . Be sure to answer the following questions: 1) How did the Court apply the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment? 2) Why did  the Court use the rational basis standard instead of the strict scrutiny standard?

Question 74

Define direct democracy .

Question 75

Explain the idea of government as a social contract.