Question 1

What protects citizens in the U.S. against the abuse of police power?
A) The First Amendment
B) The Second Amendment
C) The Fifth Amendment
D) The Fourth Amendment
E) The Sixth Amendment

Accepted Answer

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, thereby guarding against abuse of police power.

Question 2

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 mandated a balanced federal budget, but what changed to allow Congress to ignore it?
A) 2008 recession
B) 9/11
C) European Monetary Collapse
D) Rise in interest rates
E) Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional

Accepted Answer

B

Question 3

The national government can use the power of prior restraint at any time to prevent the press from reporting negative things that it does not want to be made public.

Accepted Answer

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of the press, limiting the government's ability to use prior restraint to suppress speech or publication, except under extreme conditions (e.g., issues of national security).

Question 4

What did Thomas Hobbes believe was the main responsibility for government to provide?
A) Prosperity in moderation
B) Justice for all
C) Safety from harm
D) Racial equality
E) Limited privacy

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes believed that the main responsibility of government was to provide safety from harm. He argued that in the state of nature, life was "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short," and thus, the formation of a commonwealth under a sovereign was necessary to protect individuals from violence and ensure their security.

Question 5

The United States is the only postindustrial society in which private ownership of handguns is considered normal and private arsenals are not unusual.

Accepted Answer

The United States has a unique cultural and legal environment regarding gun ownership, where private ownership of handguns and even large collections of firearms are more common and socially accepted compared to other postindustrial societies.

Question 6

The exclusionary rule holds that when evidence has been illegally obtained, it may not be used in court.

Accepted Answer

The exclusionary rule is a legal principle in the United States that prevents evidence collected or analyzed in violation of the defendant's constitutional rights from being used in a court of law.

Question 7

In the Bakke reverse-discrimination case, the Supreme Court held that all affirmative action programs were unconstitutional.

Accepted Answer

In the Bakke case, the Supreme Court did not hold that all affirmative action programs were unconstitutional. Instead, it struck down the specific quota system used by the University of California, Davis, but allowed for race to be one of several factors in college admissions decisions.

Question 8

Although liberals and conservatives agree that equality is important in some sense, they do not agree on what kind of equality is necessary or how much inequality is desirable.

Accepted Answer

Liberals and conservatives often have differing views on equality, with liberals typically emphasizing equality of outcome or opportunity and conservatives focusing on equality under the law or economic freedom, leading to disagreements on the extent and type of equality that should be pursued.

Question 9

In the United States, corporate income is taxed heavier than individual income.

Accepted Answer

In the United States, individual income tax rates can be higher than corporate income tax rates. As of my last update, the top federal corporate tax rate is 21%, while the top federal individual income tax rate is 37%.

Question 10

The various provisions of the U.S. Patriot Act apply only to people suspected of engaging in terrorism.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Patriot Act includes provisions that apply broadly, not just to those suspected of terrorism, affecting various aspects of privacy, surveillance, and financial transactions for a wide range of individuals.

Question 11

Compared to all European nations, the income tax of Americans is much higher.

Accepted Answer

The income tax rate in the United States varies and can be lower or comparable to rates in many European countries, where some nations have significantly higher top marginal tax rates.

Question 12

The United States has ratified and follows the Kyoto Protocol.

Accepted Answer

The United States signed the Kyoto Protocol but never ratified it, meaning it is not legally bound by the protocol's requirements.

Question 13

Major issues of public policy demonstrate that the five core values of security, prosperity, equality, liberty, and justice often come into conflict with one another.

Accepted Answer

Major public policy issues often involve trade-offs among the core values of security, prosperity, equality, liberty, and justice, as policies that promote one value can sometimes undermine another. For example, measures that enhance security (such as surveillance) can infringe on liberty and privacy, while policies aimed at promoting economic prosperity might exacerbate inequality or compromise environmental justice.

Question 14

If we legalize pot, many people fear that it will lead to more addicts and relaxed moral standards.

Accepted Answer

The question states that "many people fear that it will lead to more addicts and relaxed moral standards". This means that the fear is already present, regardless of whether or not it is justified.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a provision of the U.S. Patriot Act?
A) It is not limited to terrorism.
B) It allows government to strike first and ask questions later.
C) It authorizes the use of "sneak and peek" search warrants.
D) It reduces government accountability.
E) It expands the ability of state and federal government to conduct surveillance of U.S. citizens.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Patriot Act, while expanding the government's surveillance and investigative powers, does not explicitly adopt a policy of "strike first and ask questions later." This phrase suggests a proactive, possibly aggressive approach that is not a direct provision or principle of the Act. The Act focuses on enhancing surveillance, search, and data gathering capabilities to prevent terrorism and related activities.

Question 16

Under due process of law, alleged criminals can be tried more than once for the same crime if new evidence becomes available.

Accepted Answer

The principle of "double jeopardy" prevents someone from being tried again for the same crime once they have been acquitted or convicted, regardless of new evidence.

Question 17

No industrialized state has ever decriminalized both drugs and prostitution.

Accepted Answer

Some industrialized countries, such as the Netherlands, have decriminalized or regulated both drugs (such as cannabis) and prostitution to some extent, aiming to control and reduce the harms associated with these activities.

Question 18

Former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote that, over time, Americans have become less willing to accept violence and crime.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote...

Question 19

The United States continues to give high priority to national defense as illustrated by its accounting for half the
world's arms expenditures every year.

Accepted Answer

The passage states that the United States accounts for half the world's arms expenditures every year, which indicates that the United States gives high priority to national defense.

Question 20

Which U. .S President famously campaigned on (and failed to keep) a promise not to raise taxes?
A) Jimmy Carter
B) Ronald Reagan
C) George H.W. Bush
D) Dwight D. Eisenhower
E) Bill Clinton

Accepted Answer

George H.W. Bush famously made a pledge not to raise taxes during his campaign with the phrase "Read my lips: no new taxes." However, he later broke this promise due to budgetary pressures.

Quiz 13: Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practices

What protects citizens in the U.S. against the abuse of police power?

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 mandated a balanced federal budget, but what changed to allow Congress to ignore it?