Deck 1: Politics: Who Gets What,When and How 1

Question 1

What is a defining characteristic of government?

A)It cannot make decisions extending to the whole of society.
B)It has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.
C)It has powers extended to individual groups.
D)It resembles such institutions as the media in its makeup.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is political science?

A)the study of politics
B)the participation in politics
C)public policies
D)the political process

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is the relationship between political science and politics?

A)Politics are more important since they are the political reality.
B)Politics is the subject of political scientists.
C)Political science dictates the functioning of politics.
D)Political science is more important because it provides a theoretical basis.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Ultimately,what protects liberty,property,and conscience in a society?

A)laws
B)social order
C)government
D)the fear of punishment

Question 5

What is defined as the "widespread acceptance of something as necessary,rightful,and legally binding"?

A)common consent
B)dissent
C)justice
D)legitimacy

Question 6

Participants in politics are best defined as __________.

A)anyone taking part at any level
B)anyone working in Washington,D.C.
C)lobbyists
D)politicians

Question 7

A democratic government has a special claim to legitimacy because it is based on __________.

A)elected officials
B)a constitution
C)the consent of the people
D)the judicial system

Question 8

About how many new laws does Congress enact each year?

A)50
B)100
C)250
D)500

Question 9

Government decisions extend to __________.

A)legal adults
B)citizens
C)businesses
D)all of society

Question 10

Which of the following confer legitimacy on a government?

A)the judicial system
B)laws
C)the media
D)elections

Question 11

If you agree to abide by the laws of your government in exchange for that government's protection,which of the following have you tacitly signed?

A)a governmental agreement
B)a social contract
C)a writ of mandamus
D)the Declaration of Independence

Question 12

Which of the following is a component of the "when and how" of politics?

A)the news media
B)law enforcement
C)labor unions
D)think tanks

Question 13

An organization extending to the whole of society that can legitimately use force to carry out its decisions is a __________.

A)legislature
B)government
C)judicial system
D)corporation

Question 14

Political science usually limits its attention to __________.

A)foreign policy affairs
B)union politics
C)politics in government
D)domestic politics

Question 15

Government differs from all other groups most importantly in what characteristic?

A)buying power
B)media influence
C)scope
D)size

Question 16

A factory in your community dumps waste products into a nearby river,polluting the water and killing fish.By so doing,the factory imposes a(n)__________ on you and your neighbors.

A)disproportionate cost
B)tariff in the free market
C)external cost
D)income transfer

Question 17

People living in a democracy have a greater moral obligation to obey the law than people living in a dictatorship because __________.

A)they have the opportunity to change unjust laws by working within the system
B)the social contract prohibits demonstrating against unpopular laws
C)laws passed in a democracy are always right and just
D)laws in a democracy are passed by the majority,and majority rules

Question 18

Political scientists are generally concerned with all of the following questions EXCEPT __________.

A)Who governs?
B)Where do people govern?
C)For what ends do people govern?
D)By what means do people govern?

Question 19

Deciding who gets what,when,and how is the best definition of __________.

A)government
B)public policies
C)lobbying
D)politics

Question 20

Schools and universities can punish or expel students for violating policy.Why then would a school or university NOT be considered a "government"?

A)Teachers were not democratically elected to office.
B)Students do not have an opportunity to vote on school policy.
C)The school's authority encompasses only part of society.
D)Individuals do not have a legal right to voluntarily withdraw from the organization.

Question 21

According to John Locke,what was the source of individual liberty?

A)divine law
B)natural law
C)rebellion
D)the government

Question 22

True democracy will not necessarily result in __________.

A)equal distribution of wealth
B)equal opportunities
C)individual dignity
D)equal protection under the law

Question 23

Which of the following is a tacit agreement between the governed and government?

A)the Bill of Rights
B)the charter of liberties
C)the Declaration of Independence
D)the social contract

Question 24

Americans pay federal,state,and local governments nearly __________ percent of every dollar they earn in taxes.

A)20
B)40
C)60
D)80

Question 25

What are externalities?

A)voluntary economic exchanges among individuals
B)payments made by the government to citizens and businesses
C)taxes paid by people who cannot afford to pay them
D)costs imposed on people who are not direct participants in an activity

Question 26

An economic system in which prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses is a(n)__________.

A)externality
B)socialist government
C)free market
D)closed system

Question 27

Government shifts of income from taxpayers to persons regarded as deserving are called __________.

A)public goods
B)the social contract
C)income transfers
D)externalities

Question 28

What is a special,added responsibility for democratic governments toward their citizens?

A)to care for those unable to fend for themselves
B)to maintain order
C)to protect national security
D)to protect individual liberty by ensuring that all people are treated equally before the law

Question 29

Which of the following is an example of a public good?

A)an apartment building
B)a grocery store
C)a highway
D)a CD player

Question 30

What is one of the principles that make up the definition of democracy?

A)decision making by tyranny of the majority
B)equal protection under the law for every individual
C)opportunity for chosen representatives to participate in public decisions
D)the promise of equal outcomes for all

Question 31

Annual government spending in the United States now amounts to about __________.

A)$50 billion
B)$500 billion
C)$5 trillion
D)$15 trillion

Question 32

What is the gross domestic product (GDP)of a nation?

A)the dollar sum of all the goods and services produced in a nation in a year
B)the amount of goods and services that private markets cannot readily furnish in a year
C)the defense spending of a nation in a year
D)the taxes collected by a nation in a year

Question 33

The phrase "promote the general welfare" means that the American government should __________.

A)be concerned with its citizens' well-being
B)create a free market
C)provide social security
D)regulate all aspects of daily life

Question 34

Alejandro has lost his job.To help him make ends meet while he tries to find a new job,the government pays Alejandro unemployment benefits.Which governmental purpose is being fulfilled in this example?

A)establishing justice
B)promoting the general welfare
C)providing for the common defense
D)securing the blessings of liberty

Question 35

The American social contract is complicated by the agreement to limit the ability of government to __________.

A)interfere with core liberties
B)enforce contracts
C)raise an army
D)insure domestic tranquility

Question 36

Goods and services that cannot be readily provided by markets are called __________.

A)consumer goods
B)public goods
C)market goods
D)social goods

Question 37

Which of the following are the largest income transfer programs in the United States?

A)Social Security and Medicare
B)farm subsidies
C)veterans' benefits
D)welfare payments

Question 38

Governments raise armies in order to __________.

A)provide for the common defense
B)promote the general welfare
C)secure the blessings of liberty
D)establish justice

Question 39

Government might be thought of as a __________ among people who agree to allow themselves to be regulated and taxed in exchange for protection of their lives and property.

A)gentlemen's agreement
B)philosophy
C)social contract
D)political culture

Question 40

According to the Heritage Foundation,what is the freest economy in the world?

A)Switzerland
B)Brazil
C)the United States
D)Hong Kong

Question 41

Which of the following governments has the MOST control over the everyday lives of its people?

A)authoritarianism
B)totalitarianism
C)a monarchy
D)a limited government

Question 42

According to the textbook,democracy means balancing majority rule with which of the following?

A)America's culture
B)collective decision making
C)free-market principles
D)individual freedom and dignity

Question 43

Which of the following is the BEST argument for democracy?

A)People who make their own decisions will always choose wisely.
B)Democracy guarantees equality of opportunity and outcome.
C)People who cannot make their own decisions are not really free.
D)Democracy guarantees a fair and just society for all.

Question 44

In The Federalist Papers,James Madison warned against __________.

A)a limited government
B)totalitarianism
C)a direct democracy
D)authoritarianism

Question 45

Totalitarianism differs from authoritarianism in allowing no __________.

A)elections
B)personal freedom
C)political parties
D)veto over legislation

Question 46

The conservative Heritage Foundation bases its definition of "freedom" on __________.

A)economic freedom
B)religious values
C)political freedom
D)equality of outcome

Question 47

The principle means by which governmental powers are limited are __________.

A)rules and regulations
B)constitutions
C)religious institutions
D)free elections

Question 48

The underlying value of democracy is __________.

A)the dignity of the individual
B)a free-market economy
C)a fair and honest judiciary
D)a strong military

Question 49

Individual dignity requires __________.

A)economic equity
B)personal freedom
C)traditional values
D)collectivization

Question 50

An authoritarian government monopolizes __________ power.

A)social
B)economic
C)political
D)religious

Question 51

The Founders established a limited government in order to avoid __________.

A)the tyranny of the majority
B)federalism
C)representative democracy
D)authoritarianism

Question 52

A governing system in which the people govern themselves is called __________.

A)oligarchy
B)democracy
C)monarchy
D)a confederation

Question 53

The British constitutional monarchy is an example of which of the following?

A)a direct democracy
B)a limited government
C)authoritarianism
D)totalitarianism

Question 54

What does majority rule mean?

A)All persons have an equal say in decisions affecting them.
B)An equal protection of the law is extended to every individual.
C)People should not have decisions made for them,but by them.
D)The electorate must resist changing political preferences.

Question 55

A government that is itself restrained by law is called __________.

A)a limited government
B)totalitarianism
C)a direct democracy
D)authoritarianism

Question 56

According to Freedom House,about what proportion of countries are free?

A)one-quarter
B)one-third
C)one-half
D)three-quarters

Question 57

Which of the following is the BEST example of a totalitarian government?

A)Nazi Germany
B)present-day Canada
C)colonial America
D)present-day South Korea

Question 58

Which type of government is limited by rule of law in its power over the liberties of individuals?

A)a monarchy
B)an authoritarian government
C)an oligarchy
D)a constitutional government

Question 59

Which of the following is a key principle of a limited government?

A)Majority rule must always triumph over individual liberty.
B)Civil rights belong to governments,not to individuals.
C)Political power is vested in the hands of a small group.
D)There are some personal liberties that even a majority cannot regulate.

Question 60

How is totalitarianism defined?

A)a government limited by rule of law in its power over the liberties of individuals
B)monopoly of political power by an individual or small group that otherwise allows people to go about their private lives as they wish
C)the potential for conflict between individual freedom and majority rule
D)rule by an elite that exercises unlimited power over individuals in all aspects of life

Question 61

A pluralist would be most likely to encourage individuals to __________.

A)refuse to vote in protest of elitism
B)join and support interest groups
C)run for office in order to become one of the elites
D)practice civil disobedience as often as possible

Question 62

Which of the following is the closest approximation to direct democracy in the United States?

A)members of Congress holding meetings in their districts
B)numerous presidential candidate debates
C)the president consulting with Congress
D)traditional New England town meetings

Question 63

Which word best describes how a pluralist would view the way democracy should work?

A)rigidity
B)disparity
C)balance
D)chaos

Question 64

Pluralism is designed to __________.

A)reduce the number of decision-makers
B)make the theory of democracy more realistic
C)achieve equality of opportunity and outcome
D)ensure that majority preferences always prevail

Question 65

Civil disobedience is never justified in a democracy.

Question 66

Which worldview raises the most serious concerns about whether or not democracy exists in the United States today?

A)federalism
B)elitism
C)totalitarianism
D)pluralism

Question 67

What can be said about direct democracy?

A)It is universally implemented in all free nations.
B)Representatives of the people are elected by the people to decide issues on behalf of the people.
C)It is rare.
D)Elections are not open to competition.

Question 68

What is a political approach focusing on the concentration of power in the hands of a few?

A)elitism
B)egalitarianism
C)democracy
D)pluralism

Question 69

In a(n)__________ democracy,individuals are elected by the people to decide issues on their behalf.

A)direct
B)pure
C)representative
D)participatory

Question 70

Political science is the study of government and political processes,systems,and individual human political behavior.

Question 71

A pluralist would argue that __________.

A)competition among large organized groups can serve as checks on elite power
B)public policy always coincides with majority preferences
C)only a small group of well-informed individuals should set policy
D)there is no longer any inequity or discrimination in the United States

Question 72

What can be said of representative democracy?

A)It is universally implemented in all free nations.
B)Representatives of the people are elected by the people to decide issues on behalf of the people.
C)It is rare.
D)Elections are not open to competition.

Question 73

Only governments use force.

Question 74

In a(n)__________,every person participates actively in every public decision.

A)oligarchy
B)direct democracy
C)constitutional monarchy
D)representative democracy

Question 75

Which statement accurately characterizes elitism?

A)Elites tend to be concerned,public-spirited decision makers.
B)Elitism does not exist in a true democracy.
C)Most communication flows downward from elites to the masses.
D)Elites always exploit or oppress the masses.

Question 76

Which of the following is an example of an elite?

A)an opponent of gun control
B)an environmentalist
C)a civil rights advocate
D)a U.S.senator

Question 77

No government can claim to be a representative democracy unless __________.

A)representatives are selected by vote of all the people
B)a substantial number of minorities are elected into office
C)an equal number of men and women serve as legislators
D)elections are held every year

Question 78

Legitimacy in governing comes from popular consent.

Question 79

Governmental authority differs from that of churches in that one can leave a church.

Question 80

What is a political approach focusing on competition,bargaining,and compromise among organized groups?

A)elitism
B)egalitarianism
C)democracy
D)pluralism