Question 1

What was designed to protect liberties against unwelcome intrusions of the majority?

Accepted Answer

The constitutional system, including the Bill of Rights, was designed to protect individual liberties against the potential tyranny of the majority.

Question 2

The framework advanced by the authors to aid our understanding of American politics suggests that every political actor, institution, and process can be located in one of four categories. Which of the following is NOT one of those sectors?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The framework advanced by the authors to...

Question 3

What mechanism forces leaders to be responsive to the peoples' wishes and to be responsible to them for their actions?

Accepted Answer

Contested elections force leaders to be responsive to the people's wishes because they need to secure votes to win or maintain their positions, making them accountable for their actions.

Question 4

Which of the following questions can be used to evaluate political liberty?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following questions can be...

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a governmental actor or factor?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court is a branch of the government and therefore a governmental actor. B is incorrect because political parties are not necessarily part of the government. C is incorrect because while the position of the United States in world affairs can be influenced by the government, it is not a direct governmental actor or factor. D is incorrect because public opinion is not controlled by the government. E is incorrect because political action committees are not part of the government.

Question 6

________was (were) an example of majority tyranny that occurred in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against Black Americans from the late 1800s to the 1960s. These laws were enforced by the majority (white) population and restricted the rights and freedoms of the minority (Black) population, serving as an example of majority tyranny.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a governmental actor or factor?

Accepted Answer

The Supreme Court is a branch of the federal government and therefore a governmental actor.

Question 8

A representative democracy always includes free elections.

Accepted Answer

Free elections are an essential aspect of a representative democracy as they allow the citizens to choose their leaders and hold them accountable. Candidates from different parties or independent candidates can participate in free elections, and the citizens can vote for the candidate they prefer. Therefore, a representative democracy always includes free elections.

Question 9

Wealth and income in the United States are distributed

Accepted Answer

Wealth and income in the United States are distributed in a highly unequal fashion. According to a report by the Institute for Policy Studies, in 2020, the top 1% of households owned more wealth than the bottom 50% combined. Additionally, racial and ethnic minorities tend to have less wealth and income than white households, indicating significant disparities in economic opportunity and mobility. This uneven distribution of wealth and income has profound implications for political and social equality in the United States.

Question 10

The growth of African Americans' voting power in states outside of the South and their influence on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would represent which part of the framework for understanding American politics?

Accepted Answer

The growth of African Americans' voting power and their influence on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is best understood within the political linkage level. This level focuses on how public opinion, political parties, interest groups, and the media influence government policy and actions, which aligns with the process of how African Americans' increased voting power outside the South contributed to significant governmental action like the Voting Rights Act.

Question 11

Why were the founders of the nation afraid of "majority tyranny?"

Accepted Answer

The founders of the nation were deeply concerned with protecting individual rights, and they recognized that majority rule could potentially infringe upon those rights. They established a system of checks and balances to prevent one branch of government or one group from becoming too powerful and threatening individual liberties. They were particularly worried about the potential for the majority to discriminate against minority groups or to use their power to silence dissenting voices.

Question 12

Which of these is NOT part of the structural level of analytical framework for politics?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these is NOT part of...

Question 13

The principle that states that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business is known as

Accepted Answer

Political equality refers to the principle that all individuals have equal rights and opportunities in the political process, including the right to participate in elections, express opinions, and have their interests represented equally in the conduct of public affairs.

Question 14

The most obvious sign of popular sovereignty is the existence of a close correspondence between what government does and what the people want it to do.

Accepted Answer

Popular sovereignty is a political concept that emphasizes the ultimate authority of the people. Therefore, it implies that government policies and actions should align with the preferences and desires of the citizens. Hence, the existence of a close correspondence between what government does and what the people want it to do is a clear indication of popular sovereignty.

Question 15

The term "political linkage" refers to

Accepted Answer

Political linkage refers to the various ways in which citizens, interest groups, and other actors communicate their preferences and demands to government officials. This can include methods such as voting, lobbying, protests, and media campaigns. It is an important aspect of democratic governance, as it allows individuals and groups to have a voice in the policy-making process.

Question 16

Violations of freedom come only from majority tyranny.

Accepted Answer

Violations of freedom can come from both majority tyranny and other forms of oppression, such as dictatorship or systemic discrimination.

Question 17

Why did the Cold War play an important role in the struggle for civil rights?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why did the Cold War play an...

Question 18

The person (or group) who supported voting rights legislation at the governmental level of the analytical framework was

Accepted Answer

President Johnson played a significant role in supporting voting rights legislation, particularly with his advocacy for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Question 19

What is the term used when the government develops policies based on what MOST people want?

Accepted Answer

Majority rule is the term used when the government develops policies based on what most people want. It means that decisions and actions are made based on the preferences of the majority of the population.

Question 20

The major actors and influences that comprise the structural factors in the analytical framework of American politics are political elites, such as the president, Congress, and the courts.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major actors and influences that comprise...

Quiz 1: Democracy and American Politics

What was designed to protect liberties against unwelcome intrusions of the majority?

The framework advanced by the authors to aid our understanding of American politics suggests that every political actor, institution, and process can be located in one of four categories. Which of the following is NOT one of those sectors?

What mechanism forces leaders to be responsive to the peoples' wishes and to be responsible to them for their actions?

Which of the following questions can be used to evaluate political liberty?

Which of the following is an example of a governmental actor or factor?

________was (were) an example of majority tyranny that occurred in the United States.

Which of the following is an example of a governmental actor or factor?

A representative democracy always includes free elections.

Wealth and income in the United States are distributed

The growth of African Americans' voting power in states outside of the South and their influence on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 would represent which part of the framework for understanding American politics?

Why were the founders of the nation afraid of "majority tyranny?"

Which of these is NOT part of the structural level of analytical framework for politics?

The principle that states that each person carries equal weight in the conduct of the public business is known as

The most obvious sign of popular sovereignty is the existence of a close correspondence between what government does and what the people want it to do.

The term "political linkage" refers to

Violations of freedom come only from majority tyranny.

Why did the Cold War play an important role in the struggle for civil rights?

The person (or group) who supported voting rights legislation at the governmental level of the analytical framework was

What is the term used when the government develops policies based on what MOST people want?

The major actors and influences that comprise the structural factors in the analytical framework of American politics are political elites, such as the president, Congress, and the courts.