Deck 1: The Political Landscape

Question 1

Commerce was the most common initial reason for settlement in North America.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Which of the following did NOT lead to American settlement in the seventeenth century?

A)Questioning the divine right of kings
B)The split from the Church of England
C)Belief in self-government
D)Belief in intelligent design
E)Hobbes and Locke's social contract theories

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Politics,as defined in the text,is

A)way too corrupt to attract any good men or women to run for office.
B)impossible without government.
C)the study of "who gets what, when, and how."
D)the province of only the wealthy.
E)irrelevant to the modern world.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A doctrine that society should be governed by certain ethical principles that are part of nature and can be understood by reason is called

A)ethical law.
B)contract law.
C)natural law.
D)Newton's law.
E)constitutional law.

Question 5

John Locke wrote Leviathan,in which he advocated for a strong central government.

Question 6

All of the following are among the functions that political scientists attribute to ideologies EXCEPT

A)explanation
B)evaluation
C)orientation
D)discrimination
E)political programs

Question 7

Who was the major author of the Declaration of Independence?

A)George Washington
B)James Madison
C)Thomas Jefferson
D)Benjamin Franklin
E)Alexander Hamilton

Question 8

Natural law is a doctrine that argues that society should be governed by certain ethical principles.

Question 9

The coherent set or system of values and beliefs that shape the thinking of individuals and how they view the world,as well as their beliefs about the purpose and scope of government,is known as

A)political theory.
B)political ideology.
C)sociology.
D)political culture.
E)political psychology.

Question 10

The fastest growing segment of the U.S.population is

A)Asians.
B)African Americans.
C)Muslims.
D)Caucasians.
E)Hispanics.

Question 11

According to the Preamble of the U.S.Constitution,which of the following is NOT an example of a function of American government?

A)Promoting the general welfare
B)Securing the blessings of liberty
C)Ensuring the pursuit of happiness
D)Establishing justice
E)Insuring domestic tranquility

Question 12

A social contract theory of government was proposed by

A)Plato and Aristotle.
B)Aquinas and Luther.
C)Newton and the separatists.
D)Locke and Hobbes.
E)Plato and Luther.

Question 13

In an oligarchy,rule is by

A)the many.
B)the few.
C)one person.
D)all people.
E)people who own property.

Question 14

Conservatives generally believe that

A)government should guarantee individual rights.
B)activist governments are often necessary.
C)government should provide only for defense and little else.
D)there should be less government intervention in economic affairs.
E)government should be abolished.

Question 15

Indirect democracy is based on

A)consensus.
B)unanimity.
C)the system of government used in ancient Greece.
D)representation.
E)"mob rule."

Question 16

Republics are

A)representative democracies.
B)direct democracies.
C)a hallmark of unitary governments.
D)frequently found in totalitarian regimes.
E)another name for states.

Question 17

The key functions of American government are found in both the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of the U.S.Constitution.

Question 18

The Preamble to the Constitution begins

A)"We the People . . ."
B)"Four score and seven years ago . . ."
C)"When in the course of human events . . ."
D)"In order to form a more perfect Union . . ."
E)"These are the times that try men's souls . . ."

Question 19

Locke's Second Treatise on Civil Government sets out a theory of

A)the divine rights of kings.
B)aristocracy.
C)democracy.
D)republicanism.
E)natural rights.

Question 20

Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed a social contract would provide absolute equality.

Question 21

Congress's authority to check the president's judicial appointment power is a concept that can be attributed largely to the ideas of

A)Thomas Hobbes.
B)Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
C)John Locke.
D)Charles-Louis, the Second Baron of Montesquieu.
E)St. Thomas Aquinas.

Question 22

Which of these settlements was established for religious reasons?

A)Jamestown
B)Maryland
C)New Amsterdam
D)New York
E)Georgia

Question 23

According to ____,life without government would be "solitary,poor,nasty,brutish,and short."

A)John Locke
B)St. Thomas Aquinas
C)Jean-Jacques Rousseau
D)Thomas Hobbes
E)Aristotle

Question 24

The Jamestown settlement was funded by

A)The Royal Company.
B)The Virginia Charter Company.
C)The London Company.
D)The Blackwall Company.
E)The Smith Company.

Question 25

Roger Williams questioned

A)the right of colonists to settle on Indian lands.
B)God's merciful providence.
C)the Puritans' merciful ways.
D)the Puritans' right to split from the Anglican Church.
E)the Old Testament.

Question 26

Enlightenment thinkers argued that the world could be improved through

A)religious toleration and human reason.
B)human reason, science, and religious toleration.
C)faith, religion, and divine reason.
D)human reason, science, and religious homogeny.
E)science and religious toleration.

Question 27

According Isaiah Berlin,science and technology contributed significantly to the political environment of the twentieth century.

Question 28

Aristotle attempted to devise a way to classify governments.Critical to his analyses was knowledge of

A)if the government was a monarchy.
B)how many people ruled in an oligarchy.
C)how democracies could be ruled by the few.
D)whom citizens were ruled by and in whose interest.
E)if governments were ruled by wise leaders.

Question 29

A direct democracy is a system

A)in which an elite makes decisions for the society.
B)in which representatives meet to discuss policy and make decisions.
C)in which the masses have certain rights, but decisions are made by a council.
D)in which all members of the polity meet to discuss policy and make decisions.
E)that was used by a majority of the colonies.

Question 30

Jean Jacques Rousseau argued that

A)reason, not feeling, is what draws people to life in a community.
B)basic rights come from a state of nature.
C)society based on a true social contract would provide absolute equality and freedom.
D)a monarchy is necessary to restrain humanity's bestial tendencies.
E)humanity's natural state was one of violence and war.

Question 31

Why was indirect democracy a necessary alternative to direct democracy?

A)The people were deemed too ignorant to be involved directly with government.
B)It became increasingly difficult to bring all the colonists together in the decision-making process.
C)The religious tendencies of the colonists caused them to rebel against the Greek model of democracy.
D)The colonies sought to follow the teachings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
E)The wealthier and more educated citizens changed the system so they could wield more power.

Question 32

Which of the following is the best explanation of why most American Indian reservations are in the West today?

A)Tribes had difficulty crossing the Rocky Mountains when they established their settlements.
B)European settlers and the U.S. government pushed Indian tribes westward.
C)Only the Indian tribes in the West survived after those in the East died of exposure to European disease.
D)Indian tribes moved westward in hopes to expand economic power.
E)Most American Indian reservations are not in the West.

Question 33

Recent opinion surveys demonstrate that a majority of Americans favor large families with four or more children.

Question 34

The winter of 1609-1610 was deemed

A)"The Starving Time."
B)"The Rogue Time."
C)"The Wasting Time."
D)"The Vanishing Time."
E)"The Desolate Time."
Correct

Question 35

Most social conservatives have religious affiliations.

Question 36

According to a 2010 poll,over half of Americans believed that country is headed in the wrong direction.

Question 37

African Americans are growing at the quickest rate of all ethnic or racial groups.

Question 38

The House of Burgesses was

A)created in 1615.
B)the Governor's board of advisors.
C)the first representative assembly in North America.
D)the lawmaking body for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
E)created by the Governor of Virginia.

Question 39

Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein was an example of

A)a totalitarian system of government.
B)a democratic system of government.
C)an oligarchic system of government.
D)a monarchic system of government.
E)an aristocratic system of government.

Question 40

Hobbes would most likely argue for which of the following forms of government?

A)Totalitarianism
B)Republicanism
C)Aristocracy
D)Democracy
E)Anarchy

Question 41

Today,a single member of the House of Representatives may represent as many as ________ citizens.

A)420,000
B)620,000
C)800,000
D)almost 1 million
E)almost 3 million

Question 42

Which of the following public policies would social conservatives be most likely to support?

A)Efforts to restrict abortion and ban same-sex marriage.
B)Decreasing defense spending
C)Prohibiting any references to God or religion on money or government buildings
D)Universal healthcare provided by the government
E)Regulating the banking and financial sectors

Question 43

The Constitution initially mandated that each member of the House of Representatives should represent ________ citizens.

A)200,000
B)130,000
C)60,000
D)30,000
E)100,000

Question 44

The Framers agreed that the new nation had to be founded on notions of

A)religious tolerance.
B)religious faith.
C)racial tolerance.
D)racial freedom.
E)religious freedom.

Question 45

The idea that governments draw legitimacy and power from the governed is referred to as

A)majority rule.
B)direct democracy.
C)capitalism.
D)popular consent.
E)popular control.

Question 46

The idea of popular sovereignty can first be found in the

A)Mayflower Compact.
B)Declaration of Independence.
C)U)S. Constitution.
D)Gettysburg Address.
E)Voting Rights Act.

Question 47

According to Isaiah Berlin,a noted historian and philosopher,two factors,above all,have shaped human history in the twentieth century.They are

A)science and technology, and trade.
B)science and technology, and religion.
C)religion and ideology.
D)science and technology, and ideology.
E)trade and ideology.

Question 48

According to Aristotle's classifications of government,rule by a few whose interests are served by the public is

A)an aristocracy.
B)a dictatorship.
C)a democracy.
D)a monarchy.
E)an oligarchy.

Question 49

Social conservatives,who now form a large part of the base of the Republican Party,often are also members of

A)religious organizations.
B)programs seeking to expand welfare programs.
C)groups seeking to keep government out of Americans' private lives.
D)groups seeking to enhance marriage by allowing domestic partnerships.
E)pro-choice groups.

Question 50

The percentage of households in the United States consisting of a single person is nearly ____ percent.

A)10
B)20
C)30
D)40
E)50

Question 51

The creation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is an example of the national government attempting to
I)establish justice.
II)secure the blessings of liberty.
III)promote the general welfare.
IV)insure domestic tranquility.

A)I only
B)II and III
C)I, II, and III
D)I, III, and IV
E)I, II, III, and IV

Question 52

American political culture embodies many key concepts including
I)absolute personal liberty.
II)political equality.
III)majority rule.
IV)individualism.

A)I only
B)I and II
C)III and IV
D)I, II, and III
E)II, III, and IV

Question 53

According to the definition in the text,political ideologies are sets of beliefs that
I)shape the thinking of individuals and how they view the world.
II)are affected only by historical forces.
III)affect how people deal with relations between men and women.
IV)have little to do with feelings of nationalism.

A)I only
B)II and III
C)II and IV
D)I and III
E)I, II, and IV

Question 54

According to the text,a powerful national government is likely to meet opposition in which of the following regions of the United States?
I)South
II)Northeast
III)Midwest
IV)West

A)I and II
B)II and III
C)I and IV
D)I, II, and II
E)I, II, and IV

Question 55

The Fourteenth Amendment can be considered a counter to which of the following tenets of American political culture?

A)Political equality
B)Individualism
C)Religious freedom
D)Majority rule?
E)Personal equality

Question 56

Which of the following does NOT describe democracy?

A)It exists in a direct form in the federal government of United States.
B)It can be both direct and indirect.
C)It is one of Aristotle's classifications of government.
D)It is similar to a polity in terms of who governs.
E)It is the most common form of government in the world.

Question 57

The reason that some pro-choice conservative voters may choose pro-choice liberal candidates over other conservatives is most closely related to which of the following functions of ideology?

A)Explanation
B)Evaluation
C)Orientation
D)Political programs
E)Conservative ideals

Question 58

The American emphasis on the importance of the individual is rooted in the principle of

A)popular consent.
B)political equality.
C)majority rule.
D)indirect democracy.
E)political culture.

Question 59

The ________ expanded Americans' conceptions of personal liberty to include some forms of freedom from discrimination.

A)Declaration of Independence
B)Fourteenth Amendment
C)Preamble to the Constitution
D)idea of majority rule
E)idea of equality

Question 60

In general,the U.S.population is
I)mostly under the age of thirty.
II)getting older.
III)becoming less diverse.
IV)less affected by immigration than in earlier years.

A)I only
B)II only
C)III only
D)II and IV
E)III and II

Question 61

Delaware was established as a Catholic colony.

Question 62

Liberals

A)believe individuals should look to churches and other social services organizations instead of the government for assistance.
B)are comfortable with the social status quo.
C)generally favor government intervention to promote equality.
D)seek to end costly welfare programs.
E)are more likely to vote Republican than Democratic.

Question 63

Indigenous peoples had been living in North America for more than 30,000 years before the arrival of the first European colonists.

Question 64

According to Thomas Hobbes,the state of nature is peaceful coexistence.

Question 65

In December 1606,three ships set sail from Blackwall,England,to America in search of religious freedom.

Question 66

Moderates

A)are most aligned with the views of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter.
B)comprise over half of the U.S. population.
C)largely support an overhaul of the welfare system.
D)believe that a temperate view is the best approach to politics.?
E)created the Tea Party movement.

Question 67

The Mayflower Compact was a social contract.

Question 68

Americans have the highest levels of trust in

A)medicine.
B)Congress.
C)the executive branch.
D)business and industry.
E)the press.

Question 69

Nearly _____ of people in a 2009 survey did NOT believe they had achieved the American dream.

A)half
B)two-thirds
C)70 percent
D)20 percent
E)one-quarter

Question 70

Americans' faith in institutions in the United States has

A)remained stagnant over time.
B)generally increased.
C)generally decreased.
D)decreased for some and increased for others.
E)fluctuated, depending on the political climate.

Question 71

Getting married,buying a house with a white picket fence,and having the ability to pay for children's college is one way a person may view what is/are termed the

A)American norms.
B)American dream.
C)American ideals.
D)American standard of living.
E)American illusion.

Question 72

Liberals often favor
I)spending on social programs.
II)more lenient enforcement of laws such as the USA Patriot Act.
III)increased involvement of churches as the first line of defense for the poor.
IV)affirmative action programs to help make up for economic injustices.

A)II only
B)I, II, and IV
C)I, III, and IV
D)II, III and IV
E)I, II, III, and IV

Question 73

A theocratic government with absolute power is a totalitarian regime.

Question 74

Anne Hutchinson would have believed that a woman should be fully subservient to her husband.

Question 75

Over time,Americans' expectations of government have generally

A)increased.
B)remained the same.
C)decreased.
D)been eliminated.
E)not been measured.

Question 76

The Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by John Locke.

Question 77

Moderates fall to the __________ of the political spectrum.

A)far left
B)left
C)center
D)right
E)far right

Question 78

The conditions in the Jamestown settlement allowed the colonists to thrive with little difficulty.

Question 79

According to the text,which of the following is an ideology that political scientists generally do not measure?

A)Moderate
B)Liberal
C)Fiscal conservative
D)Social conservative
E)Libertarian

Question 80

Even though the introduction of tobacco as a cash crop in 1612 brought economic prosperity,the conditions in Jamestown remained dismal.