Deck 1: The Democratic Republic

Question 1

As a political value, how is equality defined?

A) All people should make the same amount of money.
B) All people should be in a position to succeed economically.
C) All people should have equal access to their elected representatives.
D) All people have access to the courts to enforce their rights.
E) All people are of equal worth.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

A government that has the power to make and enforce law but which lacks the acceptance of the people is said to have which of the following?

A) Authority, but not legitimacy
B) Legitimacy, but not authority
C) Both authority and legitimacy
D) A democratic form of government
E) An authoritarian form of government

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is liberty?

A) The freedom to do whatever you want
B) A political value available only in the United States
C) The greatest freedom of the individual consistent with the freedom of other individuals
D) A political value that is incompatible with government authority
E) A political value that can be taken away by the government, according to the U.S. Constitution

Answer 3

C

Question 4

When do governments have authority?

A) When they adhere to special norms
B) When people always obey the law
C) When they control the media
D) When they have the right and power to enforce their decisions
E) When they establish liberty and order in societies

Question 5

Why didn't the framers of the Constitution create a direct democracy?

A) It wasn't the best way to resist manipulative politicians.
B) Direct democracy had never been used before.
C) The people had expressed support for a government similar to a monarchy.
D) They were worried about the efficiency of ballot-counting mechanisms.
E) They believed the rights of the minority would be suppressed by the dominating majority.

Question 6

To maintain order, society needs protection from the violence of domestic criminals or foreign armies, as well as protection from which of the following?

A) Scandals within the media
B) Abuses of power by their own government
C) Internet scams
D) Those who hold different beliefs
E) Those who have different moral values

Question 7

When a government has the right and power to enforce its decisions, we say that the government has which of the following?

A) Legitimacy
B) Authority
C) Liberty
D) Order
E) Political expediency

Question 8

Government is involved in which of the following activities?

A) Ensuring air and water quality
B) Building roads
C) Educating children
D) Keeping birth and death records
E) All of these are correct.

Question 9

What is legitimacy?

A) The condition of having too much government
B) A popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise liberty
C) A popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise authority
D) Something that is only needed in time of emergency
E) Something that is possible with only a narrow base of support

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the government of the United States?

A) A direct democracy
B) A republic
C) A confederation
D) A constitutional monarchy
E) An anarchy

Question 11

It is not possible for government to provide any of the other benefits people expect from it if it cannot provide which of the following?

A) Liberty
B) Legitimacy
C) Authority
D) Order
E) Institutional law

Question 12

The effects of government can be found in which of the following?

A) The food you eat
B) The schools most children attend
C) The sales tax you pay on purchases
D) The distribution of the assets of the deceased
E) All of these are correct.

Question 13

The struggle over power or influence within organizations that can grant benefits or privileges best defines which of the following?

A) National government
B) A state government
C) Elections
D) Politics
E) Political science

Question 14

Of all the organizations that are controlled by political activity, which of the following is most important?

A) Schools
B) Churches
C) Business organizations
D) Government
E) Social organizations

Question 15

If people in a society have freedom but not peace and security, those people are said to have which of the following?

A) Authority, but not order
B) Order, but not authority
C) Liberty, but not order
D) Order, but not liberty
E) Authority, but not legitimacy

Question 16

The framers of the Constitution chose to form what type of government?

A) Republic
B) Limited constitutional monarchy
C) Totalitarian regime
D) Authoritarian regime
E) Oligarchical regime

Question 17

Which of the following is a characteristic of elite theory?

A) It implies that the president must come from the party that holds the majority in Congress.
B) It emphasizes governmental control over economic policy, but not social institutions.
C) It is viewed by political scientists as a theory that works well as a description of both how democracies should function and how democracies actually do function.
D) It indicates that a single ruler controls all aspects of the government, but not economic and social institutions.
E) It is the perspective that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?

A) Louisiana's use of the parish
B) New England town meetings
C) The Soviet Union in the 1980s
D) Voting in party primaries
E) The electoral college system

Question 19

Which of the following is the oldest purpose of government?

A) To maintain order by protecting members of society from violence and criminal activity
B) To print money and control the economy
C) To guarantee freedom and liberty for all people
D) To act to protect the rights of the minority
E) To establish benefits for the most wealthy individuals in society

Question 20

Pluralist theory proposes that people's interests are protected by which of the following?

A) Interest groups
B) Political parties
C) The majority
D) Elected representatives
E) Elites

Question 21

Which of the following is absent in a republic?

A) Legislative body
B) Rule of law
C) Separation of powers
D) Bureaucracy
E) Monarch

Question 22

When does a referendum take place?

A) When Congress rejects a law passed by a state legislature
B) When the U.S. Supreme Court rejects a law because it violates the U.S. Constitution
C) When the president refers his budget plan to Congress before the start of a fiscal year
D) When a state legislature refers an act of legislation to the voters for approval or disapproval
E) When voters choose the candidates who will represent their political party

Question 23

Which of the following shows that the Founding Fathers wanted to create distance between the people and their government?

A) Direct election of House members
B) Passage of the Bill of Rights
C) Selection of senators by state legislatures
D) The three-fifths compromise
E) Passage of the Northwest Ordinance

Question 24

Which of the following do modern democracies practice to ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive?

A) They limit political participation to those who are properly educated.
B) They guarantee the rights of minorities.
C) They reject the concept of free, competitive elections.
D) They apply term limits to elected officials.
E) They require two-thirds support of the legislature before a law can be enacted.

Question 25

The government of the United States is best described as which of the following?

A) A direct democracy
B) A confederation
C) A constitutional monarchy
D) An anarchy
E) A democratic republic

Question 26

A government in which the ruler fully controls government itself but largely stays out of religious and business institutions is which of the following?

A) A democratic republic
B) A direct democracy
C) A representative democracy
D) Totalitarian
E) Authoritarian

Question 27

If voters want a law passed to raise the drinking age in their state, which of the following could be used to petition for a public vote on the matter?

A) Recall
B) Referendum
C) Initiative
D) Town meeting
E) Sovereign request

Question 28

Concern for the dangers of uneducated mob rule led James Madison and others of his time to caution against which of the following?

A) The right to bear arms
B) Freedom of speech
C) Democratic republics
D) Popular sovereignty
E) Direct democracy

Question 29

If voters are unhappy with the performance of an elected officer, which of the following can be used to remove that person from office?

A) A referendum
B) An initiative
C) A cloture call
D) A recall
E) A veto message

Question 30

To whom do most democracies give power to make laws?

A) Business leaders
B) Political parties
C) Expatriates
D) Representatives
E) All citizens

Question 31

The concept of universal suffrage refers to which of the following?

A) The right of all citizens to run for office
B) The right of all adults to vote for a representative in government
C) The right of universal health care for all
D) The belief that all persons deserve a fair trial
E) A system of relationships between the states

Question 32

Which of the following is true regarding the right to vote for all citizens?

A) It has always been out of reach.
B) It has expanded over time.
C) It has been championed by the rich.
D) It has always included undocumented immigrants.
E) It has decreased over time.

Question 33

The United States tends to favor an economic system in which business enterprises and key industries are privately owned. This is known as which of the following?

A) Capitalism
B) Communism
C) Socialism
D) Populism
E) Libertarianism

Question 34

Which of the following perspectives holds that society is really ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interest?

A) Majoritarian theory
B) Personality theory
C) Elite theory
D) Pluralistic theory
E) Interest group theory

Question 35

The idea that most important government decisions are made by an identifiable and stable minority that shares certain characteristics-especially wealth and business connections-is known as which of the following?

A) Oligarchy
B) Elite theory
C) Pluralist theory
D) The interest group model
E) Aristocracy

Question 36

What is the political theory that holds that government should do what most of the people want it to do?

A) Pluralism
B) Majoritarianism
C) Elite theory
D) Proportionalism
E) Democratic centralism

Question 37

Which of the following is true of elite theory?

A) It implies that the president must come from the party that holds the majority in Congress.
B) It emphasizes governmental control over economic policy, but not social institutions.
C) It is viewed by political scientists as a theory that works well as a description of both how democracies should function and how democracies actually do function.
D) It indicates that a single ruler controls all aspects of the government, but not economic and social institutions.
E) It is the perspective that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests.

Question 38

Which of the following is the best description of capitalism?

A) An economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state
B) A system in which a small group of people owns the majority of the wealth
C) A system in which the use of property is controlled by majority will
D) An economic system in which production and property are privately owned, with a minimum of government interference
E) A good idea in theory but not practically applicable

Question 39

Which of the following purposes of government is best defined as "a state of peace and security"?

A) Politics
B) Legitimacy
C) Authority
D) Liberty
E) Order

Question 40

Which of the following is the best description of the political value known as liberty?

A) Freedom to do whatever you want
B) Available only in the United States
C) The greatest freedom of the individual consistent with the freedom of other individuals
D) Incompatible with government authority
E) A uniquely American value

Question 41

Which of the following groups believes that the government should not interfere in economic or social matters?

A) Conservatives
B) Moderates
C) Libertarians
D) Populists
E) Liberals

Question 42

Which of the following do American citizens tend to believe?

A) Government should be big and active.
B) Government should be small and restrained.
C) They hold contradictory opinions about the size of government and the role it should play in their lives.
D) Government should be active in economic areas but not social areas.
E) Government should be active in social areas but not economic areas.

Question 43

Which of the following was a response to the Great Recession of 2008?

A) Employment quickly returned to pre-recession levels.
B) The Tea Party movement fell from prominence.
C) Congress became more cooperative.
D) Voters demanded government action, but did not like most government programs.
E) Voters solidly sided with one political party for nearly a decade.

Question 44

Which of the following is a true statement about the concept that all people are of equal worth?

A) It was fixed at the time of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
B) It expanded in the nineteenth century but narrowed in the twentieth century.
C) It was extended and elaborated over time.
D) It has been limited in recent years.
E) It was extended only in the last twenty years.

Question 45

The dominant culture in the United States, with Western European roots, includes which of the following characteristics?

A) A bias toward individualism
B) Judeo-Christian ethics
C) Ownership of private property
D) English as the dominant language
E) All of these are correct.

Question 46

Which of the following is a common characteristic of both the period after the Pearl Harbor attack and the period after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks?

A) After both, calls were made to enhance security at the expense of civil liberties.
B) After both, liberties were largely maintained at the expense of national security.
C) After both, the United States declared a war on terrorism.
D) After both, the U.S. government suffered a loss of legitimacy.
E) After both, calls were made to enhance security at the expense of civil liberties, and the United States declared a war on terrorism.

Question 47

Which of the following groups believes that lower taxes will prompt greater economic growth that will ultimately benefit everyone, including the poor?

A) Liberals
B) Conservatives
C) Democrats
D) Anarchists
E) Moderates

Question 48

The capitalist system in the United States is based on which of the following?

A) Regulation of market forces
B) Equal distribution of assets
C) Economic equality
D) Private property rights
E) Constraining the right to enter into contracts

Question 49

Which of the following best describes capitalism?

A) A political theory developed by Karl Marx
B) An economic system marked by the private ownership of wealth-creating assets, free markets, and freedom of contract
C) Incompatible with property rights as a wealth-creating mechanism
D) Named for the centralization of economic power in the capitol city
E) Unpopular in the United States

Question 50

If top political jobs for both political parties are filled only from an inner circle of top corporate leaders, this would be evidence for which of the following?

A) Elite theory
B) Substantive democracy
C) Pluralist theory
D) The interest group model
E) Authoritarianism

Question 51

In the United States, basic guarantees of liberty are found in which of the following documents?

A) The Declaration of Independence
B) The annual Congressional Budget report
C) The Bill of Rights
D) The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
E) The Preamble to the Articles of Confederation

Question 52

When people have a fairly consistent view over a range of policy choices, they are said to have which of the following?

A) An alliance
B) A faction
C) A political party
D) A political ideology
E) A democratic ideal

Question 53

In the United States, we have religious freedom, both to practice a religion of our choosing and to be free of state-imposed religions. This idea is one of many freedoms known as which of the following?

A) Civil rights
B) Civil liberties
C) Citizen rights
D) Democratic freedoms
E) Republican liberties

Question 54

The concept of political socialization refers to which of the following?

A) The process by which beliefs and values are transmitted to new immigrants and to our children
B) Political movements in support of socialism
C) The process by which religious values are transmitted only through the media
D) The gradual development of social programs within our national government
E) The government taking over the economic sector of the country

Question 55

An American who supports the creation of election districts that are likely to vote for minority candidates for public office and wants more restrictions on business is likely to be of what political ideology?

A) Libertarianism
B) Conservatism
C) Liberalism
D) Majoritarianism
E) Socialism

Question 56

Which of the following groups would favor government efforts to increase equality, including higher taxes on the wealthy and more support for those in need?

A) Moderates
B) Populists
C) Libertarians
D) Conservatives
E) Liberals

Question 57

Which of the following political philosophies holds the belief that individuals are responsible for their well-being, proposes a limited role of government, and supports policies favoring traditional values?

A) Libertarianism
B) Conservatism
C) Liberalism
D) Totalitarianism
E) Socialism

Question 58

The Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot ban abortion or private homosexual activity because of which of the following rights?

A) Right to free speech
B) Right to privacy
C) Right to freedom of assembly
D) Right to no cruel or unusual punishment
E) Right to a fair trial

Question 59

Which of the following political groups strongly supports property rights and opposes attempts to regulate personal behavior and moral values?

A) Liberals
B) Conservatives
C) Traditionalists
D) Anarchists
E) Libertarians

Question 60

The comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and the role of government is known as which of the following?

A) Ideology
B) Value system
C) Political science
D) Political socialization
E) Political culture

Question 61

Which of the following is a policy that liberals would endorse?

A) A limited role for the national government in helping individuals
B) Government action to support traditional values
C) Patriotism
D) Redistribution of income
E) The belief that the individual is responsible for his or her own well-being

Question 62

Which of the following would be true of libertarians?

A) They would advocate for the redistribution of income.
B) They would advocate for government regulation of the economy.
C) They would advocate for a government-funded health-care system.
D) They would strongly oppose most government activities.
E) They would want government action to support traditional values.

Question 63

Unlike liberals or conservatives, socialists advocate which of the following?

A) Personal liberties
B) Private property rights
C) Market capitalism
D) Private investment in governmental systems
E) Replacing investor ownership of businesses with government ownership

Question 64

Those who oppose government attempts to regulate personal behavior and promote moral values could be categorized as which of the following?

A) Liberals
B) Conservatives
C) Socialists
D) Communists
E) Libertarians

Question 65

In what part of the United States does a majority of African Americans live?

A) Northeast
B) Northwest
C) South
D) Midwest
E) New England

Question 66

Which of the following nations continues to have high population growth rates?

A) Japan
B) United States
C) Northern Europe
D) Russia
E) Many African and Muslim nations

Question 67

The term Hispanic is used by the U.S. federal government to describe anyone with which of the following characteristics?

A) Anyone who can claim heritage from a Spanish-speaking country
B) Anyone from a country in Central or South America
C) Anyone from parts of the United States that used to belong to Mexico
D) Anyone from the American Southwest
E) Anyone from Puerto Rico

Question 68

"The government should act to create jobs during an economic crisis." Which of the following ideologies is most compatible with this quote?

A) Liberal
B) Anarchist
C) Conservative
D) Libertarian
E) Extreme conservative

Question 69

A belief that government should have no role in providing health care and that people need to be responsible for their own health care fits which of the following ideologies?

A) Liberal
B) Conservative
C) Communist
D) Socialist
E) Neoliberal

Question 70

Which of the following is a reason that the U.S. Latino population is growing more quickly than other ethnic populations?

A) A higher fertility rate and lower infant mortality
B) A longer life expectancy and a higher fertility rate
C) Immigration and a lower death rate
D) Immigration and a higher fertility rate
E) Immigration and a longer life expectancy

Question 71

The population of the United States is expected to do which of the following over the next 30 years?

A) Shrink as immigration slows
B) Shrink, due to a low fertility rate
C) Continue to grow, due to immigration
D) Continue to grow, due to a high fertility rate
E) Shrink, as immigration slows and the fertility rate declines

Question 72

Those that want to continue traditional practices, making as few changes as possible, would be considered which of the following?

A) Liberals
B) Conservatives
C) Socialists
D) Communists
E) Libertarians

Question 73

The statement "The government should create jobs during an economic crisis" is most incompatible with which of the following ideologies?

A) Liberal
B) Conservative
C) Anarchist
D) Libertarian
E) Neoconservative

Question 74

Which of the following pairs of terms best completes the statement? _________ theorists have a narrower view of social and economic rights that should be guaranteed by a democratic government than do __________ theorists.

A) Liberal, conservative
B) Conservative, liberal
C) Majoritarian, pluralist
D) Progressive, pluralist
E) Socialist, conservative

Question 75

When both parties can't agree on legislation and refuse to negotiate, it is known as which of the following conditions?

A) Gridlock
B) Progressivism
C) Counterbalance
D) Nonparticipation
E) Cloture

Question 76

Which of the following age groups is growing fastest in the United States?

A) 18-29
B) 30-41
C) 42-53
D) 54-65
E) Over 65

Question 77

Which of the following leads to disagreement among congressional Republicans and Democrats on legislation?

A) Poll watching
B) Political polarization
C) The separation of powers
D) Differing opinions about congressional powers
E) The growing power of the presidency

Question 78

Which of the following is a policy that conservatives would endorse?

A) Civil rights
B) Improving the welfare of individuals
C) A limited role for the government in helping individuals
D) Government regulation of the economy
E) Tolerance for political and social change

Question 79

The fertility rate of 2.1, with which populations are expected to eventually stabilize, is known as which of the following?

A) The plateau rate
B) The reproductive stabilization rate
C) The short-term replacement rate
D) The long-term replacement rate
E) The steady reproduction rate

Question 80

Which of the following is true in reference to the population of many economically advanced nations?

A) Their populations will be smaller in 2050 than they are today.
B) Their populations will be about the same in 2050 as they are today.
C) Their populations will be slightly larger in 2050 than they are today.
D) Their populations will be many times larger in 2050 than they are today.
E) They will be more ethnically homogenous in 2050 than they are today.