Question 1

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 declared, "Read my lips: no new taxes" during his campaign in 1988. However, he ended up compromising with Congress and agreeing to a tax increase in 1990.

Question 2

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

The five core values of public policy often come into conflict with one another, as policies designed to promote one value may negatively impact another, leading to difficult trade-offs and choices. For example, policies aimed at improving national security may limit individual liberty, while policies promoting economic prosperity may exacerbate income inequality.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Many European nations have higher income tax rates than the United States, such as Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium.

Question 4

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 does not explicitly allow the government to strike first and ask questions later. It does, however, include provisions that allow for surveillance and search measures without prior notice or consent, which some argue could be interpreted as a "strike first" approach.

Question 5

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 power of prior restraint is unconstitutional and goes against the First Amendment's protection of freedom of the press. The government cannot prevent the press from reporting information unless it poses a clear and present danger to national security.

Question 6

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 held that the use of racial quotas in admitting students to universities was unconstitutional, but also held that race could be one of many factors considered in admissions decisions to achieve diversity. The Court did not declare all affirmative action programs unconstitutional.

Question 7

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 8

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 for government was to provide safety from harm. He believed that in a state of nature, life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" because people would constantly be in conflict with each other. Therefore, Hobbes believed that the government needed to have absolute power to maintain order and protect its citizens.

Question 9

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 that prohibits evidence obtained illegally or in violation of the defendant's rights from being admitted in court. This principle is a key element of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement officials. The exclusionary rule is intended to deter law enforcement officials from engaging in unconstitutional practices and to protect the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Question 10

The VAT stands for Vague Additional Tax, so each nation can adjust it as necessary.

Accepted Answer

The VAT stands for Value Added Tax and it is a tax on the value added to goods and services at every stage in the production and distribution chain. Each nation can set its own VAT rate, but there are rules and guidelines from international organizations such as the European Union or the OECD that recommend a minimum standard rate for some products or services.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of If we legalize pot, many people fear...

Question 12

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 13

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 14

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

Accepted Answer

While the U.S. Patriot Act was primarily designed to prevent terrorism, it includes provisions that allow for surveillance and investigation of individuals suspected of a range of activities, including money laundering, computer fraud, and drug trafficking.

Question 15

The United States has ratified and follows the Kyoto Protocol.

Accepted Answer

The United States signed but did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The country withdrew from the agreement in 2001.

Question 16

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

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included provisions that would automatically trigger spending cuts in the event that Congress failed to meet its balanced budget goals. However, following the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed a series of emergency spending bills and tax cuts that created a significant deficit. In subsequent years, Congress continued to pass spending bills that exceeded revenues, effectively ignoring the balanced budget mandate.

Question 17

In which state have the most mass shootings in the United States occurred since World War II?
A)California
B)Illinois
C)Georgia
D)Texas
E)New York

Accepted Answer

Texas has had the most mass shootings since World War II, with 20 incidents.

Question 18

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 typically advocate for greater economic and social equality, while conservatives place a greater emphasis on individual freedom and merit-based rewards. This leads to different ideas about how much government intervention is necessary to address inequality and how much inequality should be tolerated in society.

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

This statement is true, as the United States has consistently been one of the world's top spenders on defense, accounting for roughly half of total global arms expenditures each year.

Question 20

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

This statement is true. While other countries may allow gun ownership for hunting or sport, the United States is unique in its widespread acceptance and legal protection of private ownership of handguns and other firearms for self-defense purposes. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is often cited as the basis for this cultural norm.

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

Which U. .S President famously campaigned on (and failed to keep) a promise not to raise taxes?