Deck 1: Citizenship in Our Changing Democracy

Question 1

Millennials who are attending or about to attend college are

A)less ethnically and racially diverse than previous generations attending college.
B)less cynical than their immediate predecessors in Generation X.
C)less civic-minded than their immediate predecessors in Generation X.
D)less politically engaged than their immediate predecessors in Generation X.
E)None of these answers is correct.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Aristotle, Thomas Jefferson, and John Stuart Mill all agreed that

A)women were equal to men.
B)the citizenry must remain politically active.
C)complacent citizens were a sign of a healthy government.
D)a government, once established, could not be overturned.
E)the people should be excluded from politics as completely as possible.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following statements about ruling-elite theory is LEAST accurate?

A)It argues that members of the elite wield political power disproportionate to their numerical size.
B)It argues that members of the elite are often able to influence public policy to their own advantage.
C)Empirical findings have demonstrated that members of the elite are more likely to trample over civil liberties than Americans with less wealth or education.
D)It argues that members of the elite tend to be better informed about political affairs than other Americans.
E)It argues that members of the elite generally have greater access to political officials and political offices than other Americans.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The bonds of trust and reciprocity between citizens that form the glue holding modern societies together is referred to as

A)social capital.
B)sense of community.
C)political culture.
D)belief systems.
E)None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

The information released by Edward Snowden highlighted the tensions between

A)majority rule and minority rights.
B)representative democracy and political power.
C)national security and personal freedom.
D)freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
E)government authority and the right to a fair trial.

Question 6

The authors of the textbook are MOST interested in promoting _____________ in America.

A)direct democracy
B)majority rule
C)class consciousness
D)pluralism
E)elitism

Question 7

An instance in which one segment of society manages to push through a law in one legislative session, only to have another segment build enough support to overthrow the law in the next session, would best be defined as an example of

A)direct democracy.
B)pluralism.
C)a ruling elite.
D)aristocracy.
E)minority rights.

Question 8

The 2011 referendum in Ohio that overturned legislative action opposing collective bargaining for public employees seems to demonstrate which of the following?

A)direct democracy
B)ruling elite theory
C)pluralism
D)protection of minority rights
E)protection of civil liberties

Question 9

Democracy as practiced in the United States and most other Western nations is best described as

A)oligarchic.
B)absolutist.
C)direct.
D)representative.
E)restricted.

Question 10

Political decision-making by the entire citizenry is called

A)direct democracy.
B)representative democracy.
C)majority rule.
D)minority rights.
E)authoritarianism.

Question 11

In which of the following presidential elections was turnout by young voters the largest?

A)1980
B)1988
C)1992
D)2000
E)2008

Question 12

According to the theory of biased pluralism, which group has disproportionate influence in the formation of public policy?

A)Citizen movements
B)Labor unions
C)The wealthy
D)The middle class
E)The poor

Question 13

Which of the following is true of citizenship for much of the past half century in the United States?

A)Citizenship overall has come to be in a precarious state.
B)Citizens' involvement in the life of their communities has dwindled.
C)Voter turnout is well below that of other advanced democracies.
D)The level of trust between citizens and elected national leaders has decreased.
E)All of these answers are correct.

Question 14

The defining characteristic of pluralism is the belief that

A)various groups and coalitions constantly vie for government favor and the ability to exercise political power, but none enjoys long-term dominance.
B)when too many interests exist within a single polity, the government cannot function effectively.
C)the commitment to majority rule inevitably results in the oppression of minorities.
D)an undue commitment to minority rights places undue restraints on majority rule.
E)despite its democratic rhetoric, the United States is effectively governed by a small elite whose membership rarely changes.

Question 15

America's democracy is characterized by

A)majority rule and protections for minority rights.
B)greater than 90 percent participation by the citizenry in elections.
C)absolute power being exercised by a single person.
D)absolute equality amongst all citizens.
E)None of these answers is correct.

Question 16

Compared to the 2008 presidential election, voter participation among 18-29-year-olds in the 2012 presidential election was

A)fell about 19 percent.
B)fell about 6 percent.
C)was about the same.
D)rose about 4 percent.
E)rose about 8 percent.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about democracy as currently practiced in the United States is MOST accurate?

A)The United States is one of the few countries that practices direct democracy.
B)In the United States, the rule of the majority is absolute.
C)In the United States, the majority in government cannot pass laws without the active support of the minority.
D)In the United States, the minority has veto power over the electoral and legislative choices of the majority.
E)In the United States, public policy is determined by the people's representatives, not by the people themselves.

Question 18

Which of the following institutions BEST exemplifies direct democracy?

A)a New England town meeting in which all members of the community are allowed to introduce legislation and then vote for passage or rejection of legislation
B)a national government in which all of the people have the right to express their opinion and cast their vote for the person whom they wish to elect to the presidency
C)a presidential administration in which the ethnic make-up of the president's cabinet roughly coincides with the ethnic make-up of the country as a whole
D)a bicameral national government in which seats in one house are divided equally among all the states, and seats in another house are divided among the states in proportion to their population
E)a local government in which all political positions including judgeships are elective, and none are appointive

Question 19

________ is a system in which citizens hold public officials accountable through periodic elections and the rule of law.

A)Direct democracy
B)Representative democracy
C)Majority rule
D)Minority rights
E)Authoritarianism

Question 20

The vast number of voluntary associations that consist of citizens working together on issues of common concern is called

A)government.
B)social capital.
C)direct democracy.
D)civil society.
E)liberal democracy.

Question 21

What is the term for an electorate's right to force unpopular elected officials out of office before the expiration of their term?

A)initiative
B)popular referendum
C)legislative referendum
D)recall
E)social capital

Question 22

According to theorist John Locke, how do governments hold our allegiance?

A)by enforcing pluralism and suppressing elite dominance
B)by preserving the state of nature in the face of human threats
C)by enabling majority rule and protecting minority rights
D)by holding a monopoly on the use of force within a government's borders
E)by protecting our life, liberty, and property better than we could on our own

Question 23

How many of the 50 states grant their citizens the powers of initiative and popular referendum?

A)6
B)18
C)24
D)37
E)50

Question 24

Which minority group in the United States is growing the fastest?

A)Asians
B)Hispanics
C)African Americans
D)Middle Easterners/Arabs
E)Native Americans

Question 25

Which of the following statements about American demographics is MOST accurate?

A)A majority of states have legalized same-sex marriage.
B)Thanks largely to the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, most Americans now live in ethnically diverse neighborhoods.
C)Since the 1950s, the percentage of Americans who live in the suburbs has dramatically declined.
D)Hispanics today make up the largest ethnic minority in the United States, narrowly edging out African Americans.
E)While it was once known for its homogeneity, America's suburban population today is almost as ethnically and religiously diverse as its urban population.

Question 26

Which of the following men called for periodic citizen uprisings to reinvigorate the spirit of democracy?

A)Aristotle
B)John Locke
C)John Stuart Mill
D)Thomas Jefferson
E)Robert Putnam

Question 27

Which of the following statements about John Locke's political philosophy is LEAST accurate?

A)Locke believed that the primary role of government was to ensure an equal distribution of property.
B)Locke's beliefs had a profound effect on the founders of the American republic.
C)Locke argued that people willingly submitted to the authority of government in return for its protection.
D)Locke argued that citizens could overthrow a government that failed to protect, or actively threatened, their rights.
E)Locke argued that human beings were born free, not bound to the will of another person or institution.

Question 28

How many of the 50 states grant their citizens the power of legislative referendum?

A)6
B)18
C)24
D)37
E)50

Question 29

What is the term for an electorate's right to vote directly for or against legislative measures?

A)initiative
B)popular referendum
C)legislative referendum
D)recall
E)social capital

Question 30

How many of the 50 states grant their citizens the power of recall?

A)6
B)18
C)24
D)37
E)50

Question 31

What is the term for an electorate's right to draft legislation?

A)direct initiative
B)popular referendum
C)legislative referendum
D)recall
E)people's legislation

Question 32

AmeriCorps is an example of which of the following?

A)a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving voting participation
B)a national volunteering effort not affiliated with the federal government
C)indirect government support of volunteering efforts
D)direct government support of volunteering efforts
E)a manifestation of the ruling elite theory of government

Question 33

Approximately how large is the American population today?

A)1,200,000,000
B)840,000,000
C)320,000,000
D)125,000,000
E)62,000,000

Question 34

Approximately what percentage of the American public currently lives in suburbs?

A)85 percent
B)75 percent
C)55 percent
D)35 percent
E)20 percent

Question 35

What is the term for the requirement that certain types of measures, such as constitutional amendments, must be approved by the electorate?

A)initiative
B)popular referendum
C)legislative referendum
D)recall
E)social capital

Question 36

A device permitted in 24 states that allows citizens to approve or repeal measures already acted upon by legislative bodies is called a(n)

A)initiative.
B)popular referendum.
C)legislative referendum.
D)recall.
E)None of these answers is correct.

Question 37

According to John Locke, if a government oppresses its citizens, those citizens

A)must do their best to accommodate themselves to the oppression.
B)should not rebel because the government is caring out God's will.
C)have the right to rebel and overthrow the government.
D)are no longer entitled to their natural rights.
E)should move to the wilderness and live in the state of nature.

Question 38

Which of the following is MOST likely to characterize current American suburbs?

A)residential segregation and diversity
B)integration and diversity
C)residential segregation and homogeneity
D)a population comprised mostly of blue-collar workers
E)multiple-family homes that lack diversity

Question 39

According to the study discussed in the text, in which of the following countries do college-educated adults aged 25-64 have the highest level of trust in government?

A)United States
B)Italy
C)China
D)France
E)Germany

Question 40

Approximately how large was the white population of the United States when the Constitution was ratified?

A)4,000,000
B)1,500,000
C)950,000
D)630,000
E)234,000

Question 41

Which of the following measures would probably be LEAST conducive to increased political participation?

A)allowing citizens to vote by mail
B)allowing citizens to vote online
C)requiring all voters to present a photo ID
D)making Election Day a federal holiday
E)having citizens invited by members of their communities to vote

Question 42

What have recent studies shown about social mobility in the United States?

A)Those of the middle-income class have seen the greatest rise in social mobility in the last 40 years.
B)Those employed in manufacturing-sector jobs have seen the greatest rise in social mobility.
C)Social mobility has increased for the poorest fifth of Americans, but not for middle-income Americans.
D)A person born into the poorest fifth of Americans has a better chance now of ending up in the highest fifth than forty years ago.
E)Social mobility has stagnated over the last 40 or so years.

Question 43

The Internet has already made a mark on the American political process, and its impact may well continue to grow.Discuss the changes the Internet and other new communication technologies have already wrought.Have these changes been substantial or superficial? Are they for the better or for the worse? How have these technologies affected your own political engagement?

Question 44

Define liberal democracy.How did this ideology develop? What are its most important tenets? How well does the American political system of today match the ideal of a liberal democracy?

Question 45

Which of the following activities would be considered a form of civic engagement, though not a political activity?

A)placing a vote in a city council election
B)negotiating a higher salary from a potential employer
C)wearing a pin endorsing a candidate for office
D)joining a protest in front of City Hall
E)organizing a food drive at a local church

Question 46

Which of the following skills is likely to be the LEAST profitable for a job seeker or job performer in the future American workplace?

A)industrial manufacturing skills
B)well-honed creativity
C)analytical skills learned in college
D)financial acumen
E)technological proficiency

Question 47

Which of the following activities best exemplifies civic engagement, as opposed to an individual activity?

A)helping a sibling with his homework
B)toting used cans and newspapers to a recycling center
C)staying late to help a coworker meet a deadline
D)visiting one's grandfather at his nursing home
E)doing extra research on a class assignment to get a better grade

Question 48

According to Bureau of Labor statistics presented in the text, projected growth in employment is highest for people with this level of education:

A)less than high school
B)high school
C)associate's degree
D)bachelor's degree
E)master's degree

Question 49

Describe the various ways the demographic composition of the American public is changing.Be sure to address race, ethnicity, age, class, and sexual preference.How are these changes altering the face of the American public? Which of these changes will present the most challenges in the near or distant future?

Question 50

What is the MOST commonly cited reason that citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 fail to vote?

A)lack of interest
B)registration problems
C)inconvenient voting locations
D)too busy; conflicting schedule
E)disapproved of all the candidates

Question 51

What technique did both major political parties employ with great success in recent elections to encourage voting participation?

A)Voting by mail was made available to all voters.
B)Transportation to voting booths was made available to most voters.
C)Online voting was made available to voters.
D)Voters are invited by people in their communities to participate.
E)Cash donations were made to local civic organizations.

Question 52

The response of the American citizenry to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 provides evidence of which of the following?

A)the lack of civic engagement among the youngest generations
B)the pluralistic nature of the U.S.legislative process
C)the inability of the U.S.government to encourage civic engagement among private citizens
D)the decline of civic engagement in the United States
E)the positive impact of technology on civic engagement

Question 53

Discuss the differences between civic life and private life.What qualities make an action or an issue civic instead of private? Is it possible to divorce private and civic life, or is the personal always political, and vice versa?

Question 54

What were the key ideas about government put forth in John Locke's Second Treatise on Government? How do they apply in today's America?

Question 55

The graying of the American population is likely to create tensions because

A)fewer workers will have to support more retirees.
B)older Americans are generally more tolerant of gender differences than are younger Americans.
C)older Americans are generally more tolerant of racial differences than are younger Americans.
D)older Americans tend to be less politically active than younger Americans.
E)older Americans are generally more tolerant of ethnic differences than are younger Americans.

Question 56

Explain the role that majorities, minorities, elites, and interest groups play in the American political system.Does the American political system adequately balance the rights of minorities with the rule of the majority? Does it afford the people sufficient voice in the government, or does it place too much power in the hands of the elite?

Question 57

By 2050, what percentage of the American population will be over the age of 65?

A)80 percent
B)20 percent
C)10 percent
D)35 percent
E)25 percent

Question 58

When the U.S.Constitution was written, social class divisions among Americans were

A)less visible than they are today but every bit as real.
B)defined primarily by wealth and community but were not present in terms of political power.
C)much less visible than they are today.
D)less defined by markers such as wealth and dress.
E)much more visible than they are today.

Question 59

Citizens in many states have expanded measures for participation in the law-making process.Define and distinguish between the direct initiative, indirect initiative, the popular referendum, the legislative referendum, and the recall.How do these advance democracy? In what ways could they potentially be abused?

Question 60

Describe and analyze elite theory and pluralism.In what ways do both help explain the nature and outcome of politics in the United States?

Question 61

What are the main arguments of the Occupy Wall Street movement? To what extent are they supported by facts? How do Americans view the gap between the rich and the poor and what maintains it?