Deck 1: The Democratic Republic

Question 1

If the U.S. Constitution had no Bill of Rights

A) rights would be dependent on the political process.
B) unpopular rights would be in danger.
C) popular rights would be safe.
D) some rights would be protected by state constitutions.
E) All of the above are true.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Politics is

A) a process that resolves conflict within a society.
B) a struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups.
C) a type of anti-social behavior by individuals.
D) fundamentally irrelevant.
E) Options A and B are true.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

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

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 3

A

Question 4

Harold Lasswell defined politics as

A) the allocation of benefits in society.
B) the way conflict in society is solved.
C) who gets what, when, and how.
D) promoting equality among citizens.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 5

The total collapse of government

A) is a common event.
B) is a cyclical event.
C) is an uncommon event.
D) accompanies every revolution.
E) None of the above is true.

Question 6

The Bill of Rights includes the following rights for criminal defendants

A) the right to speedy and public trial
B) the right to silence
C) the right to due process
D) the right to a lawyer
E) All of the above are true.

Question 7

Government is necessary because

A) groups compete for power in society.
B) there needs to be a means to maintain order in society.
C) a central authority is necessary to provide for the common defense.
D) a central authority is necessary to promote economic development.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 8

Legitimacy is

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) only needed in times of emergency.
E) possible with a narrow base of support.

Question 9

According to the Sixth Amendment, the accused

A) have a right to a speedy trial.
B) can be compelled to be a witness against himself.
C) have a right to a private trial.
D) have no right to due process.
E) Options B and C are true.

Question 10

Aristocracy means rule by

A) the majority.
B) wealthy families.
C) highly qualified people.
D) those who can read and write.
E) religious leaders.

Question 11

A referendum takes place when

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

Question 12

To say that authority has legitimacy is to

A) say that authority is recognized by a few.
B) say that authority is broadly accepted.
C) imply that the ruler has not always been perceived as the legal power.
D) suggest that decisions are of little practical value.
E) imply that those in power do not have the good of the public in mind when making important decisions.

Question 13

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

A) a democratic republic.
B) a direct democracy.
C) a representative democracy.
D) totalitarian.
E) authoritarian.

Question 14

Politics exists

A) only in government institutions.
B) in every community that makes decisions.
C) in schools, social groups, and organized groups of individuals.
D) only in formal settings.
E) Options B and C are true.

Question 15

Politics is

A) the process of resolving conflicts.
B) the struggle for power in organizations.
C) the process of deciding who gets what, when, and how.
D) involved in all levels of government.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 16

Consent of the people means

A) governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.
B) the people must consent to everything the government does.
C) the government must get consent of the people before it can go to war.
D) pure democracy.
E) direct democracy.

Question 17

Liberty is

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 18

As an institution, a government is unique in that

A) it has a life separate from the lives of the individuals who are part of it at any given moment in time.
B) it has the ultimate authority for making decisions and establishing political values.
C) it performs certain functions for society.
D) it is an ongoing organization, rather than an intermittent organization.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 19

Government strives to protect members of society from

A) violence.
B) criminal activity.
C) instability.
D) insecurity.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 20

Governments have authority because

A) of special norms.
B) people always obey the law.
C) they control the media.
D) people accept the government's right to establish rules and laws.
E) Options A and D are true.

Question 21

The right to vote for all citizens has

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

Question 22

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

A) civil liberties.
B) civil rights.
C) citizenship rights.
D) Democratic freedoms.
E) Republican liberties.

Question 23

A political culture is a

A) written set of codes that dictate political action.
B) process that transmits value to immigrants and children.
C) major problem for rulers of stable forms of government.
D) patterned set of ideas, values, and ways of thinking about government and politics.
E) manifestation of pluralism.

Question 24

The right to own property is all of the following except

A) a widespread desire in America.
B) likely to provide power and liberty to those who own it.
C) a source of economic instability.
D) fundamental to the capitalist system.
E) the promotion of economic equality.

Question 25

The Founders were wary of direct democracy because the masses

A) were considered too uneducated to self-govern.
B) were too prone to the influence of demagogues.
C) were too likely to subordinate minority rights for majority rights.
D) might resort to mob rule.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 26

The practical limitations of pluralism theory include

A) the wealthy are overrepresented.
B) one group may dominate the political process.
C) conflict may divide the United States into hostile camps.
D) individuals have more than one self-interest.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 27

The dominant culture in U.S. political culture comes from Western European civilization. Which of the following values is not among those of the dominant culture?

A) individualism
B) private property
C) economic equality
D) Judeo-Christian ethics
E) All of the above are true.

Question 28

In response to the 2008 recession, conservatives tended to blame

A) the lack of government oversight of the banking industry.
B) the Tea Party movement.
C) congressional gridlock.
D) big government.
E) All of the above.

Question 29

The concept that all people are of equal worth

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

Question 30

A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from state office before his or her term has expired is called

A) a referendum.
B) direct democracy.
C) a recall.
D) an initiative.
E) popular sovereignty.

Question 31

In the United States, basic guarantees of liberty are found in

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 National Rights Foundation.

Question 32

Capitalism is

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 33

To ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies

A) limit political participation to individuals who are properly educated.
B) guarantee the rights of minorities.
C) embrace the concept of majority rule.
D) apply term limits to elected officials.
E) require two-thirds support of the legislature before a law can be enacted.

Question 34

The political theory of majoritarianism states that

A) a small group of elites should control government power and act in the interests of the majority.
B) government should do what the majority of the people want it to.
C) government should do what is best for the majority of people.
D) government should be controlled at all levels by an elected majority political party.
E) None of the above.

Question 35

The periods after the Pearl Harbor attack and the September 11, 2001 terror attacks are similar in that

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

Question 36

The concept of political socialization refers to

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 37

The concept of universal suffrage refers to

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

Question 38

Theorists describe pluralism as

A) the struggle between the poor and wealthy classes.
B) the struggle among groups to gain benefits for their members.
C) a theory of how democracy should not function.
D) a way to settle disputes by armed conflict.
E) a way for one group to dominate the political process.

Question 39

Elite theory

A) implies that the president must come from the party that holds the majority in Congress.
B) emphasizes governmental control over economic policy, but not social institutions.
C) 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) indicates that a single ruler controls all aspects of the government, but not economic and social institutions.
E) is the perspective that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests.

Question 40

The government of the United States is best described as

A) a direct democracy.
B) a confederation.
C) a constitutional monarchy.
D) an anarchy.
E) a democratic republic.

Question 41

The Tea Party movement began as

A) a grassroots conservative movement.
B) a re-branding of national conservative politics.
C) a grassroots liberal movement.
D) a PAC dedicated to the election of Barack Obama.
E) a group dedicated to celebrating the history of the American Revolution.

Question 42

Opposition to big government is in conflict with citizens' desire for

A) quality schools.
B) safety and security.
C) programs for the elderly.
D) lower taxes.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 43

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

A) the plateau rate.
B) the reproductive stabilization rate.
C) the short-term replacement rate.
D) the long-term replacement rate.
E) None of the above.

Question 44

While the United States is ___________ today than in the past, it is estimated that the top 1 percent of earners _________________.

A) poorer; have maintained steady incomes
B) poorer; have seen a significant growth in income
C) richer; captured 95 percent of all income growth in recent years
D) richer; have seen their earnings grow at a slower rate than the public at large
E) about as rich; have seen a decline in income

Question 45

By 2008, the major political parties no longer exhibited any significant ideological overlap, as conservatives came to dominate the Republican Party and liberals/progressives the Democratic Party. This move in the parties toward ideological purity has resulted in all of the following except

A) the dismantling of parties as insignificant.
B) political polarization.
C) an increased discipline in the two parties.
D) an increase in political rhetoric in media outlets.
E) a decline in trust between ideologies.

Question 46

While economic indicators such as employment struggle to recover from the Great Recession, ____________________ have shown significant movement in a positive direction.

A) other economic indicators such as the gap between rich and poor
B) political indicators such as Congressional efficiency
C) religious indicators such as church attendance
D) social indicators such as sexual crimes and teen pregnancies
E) Both B and D.

Question 47

The following statement would be compatible with __________ ideology: "The government should act to create jobs during an economic crisis."

A) liberal
B) conservative
C) anarchist
D) libertarian
E) extreme conservative

Question 48

A comprehensive set of beliefs about the nature of people and the role of government is called

A) a political culture.
B) a dogma.
C) an ideology.
D) the political spectrum.
E) political science.

Question 49

Unlike liberals or conservatives, socialists advocate

A) personal liberties.
B) private property rights.
C) market capitalism.
D) private investment in governmental systems.
E) replacing investor ownership of businesses by government ownership.

Question 50

After the Civil War, most African Americans

A) stayed in the South.
B) moved to the North.
C) moved to the West.
D) emigrated out of the United States.
E) None of the above.

Question 51

Conservatives endorse all of the following except

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 52

The following statement would be compatible with __________ ideology: "The government should have no role in providing health care for the country. People should provide their own health care."

A) liberal
B) conservative
C) communist
D) socialist
E) extreme liberal

Question 53

All of the following are true of libertarians except that they

A) support personal civil liberties.
B) advocate redistribution of income.
C) support laissez-faire capitalism.
D) oppose most government activities.
E) more strongly support property rights.

Question 54

Tension over the size of government dates back to

A) before the American Revolution.
B) the Civil War.
C) the Reagan administration.
D) the Bush administration.
E) the Great Depression.

Question 55

The term Hispanic is used by the U.S. federal government to describe anyone

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

Question 56

The following statement would be compatible with __________ ideology: "The government should only provide security and an environment conducive to capitalism."

A) liberal
B) conservative
C) communist
D) socialist
E) libertarian

Question 57

Liberals endorse all of the following except

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 58

The population of the United States is expected to

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) Both A and B.

Question 59

The populations of many economically advanced nations are expected to

A) be smaller in 2050 than they are today.
B) remain the same size in 2050 as they are today.
C) be slightly larger in 2050 than they are today.
D) be many times larger in 2050 than they are today.
E) be more ethnically homogenous in 2050 than they are today.

Question 60

The recent period of divided government, in which Republicans control the House while Democrats control the Senate and presidency, has been characterized as

A) a period of moderation, with the two parties working to find compromise solutions to major national problems.
B) a period of Congressional superiority, during which the power of government has transitioned toward the Congress.
C) a period of political deadlock, during which less legislation has been passed than at any time in recent history.
D) a period of crisis, during which government has failed to fund government programs and to raise the debt ceiling.
E) None of the above.

Question 61

Though democratic republic is the term most commonly applied to the United States' form of government, apply what you know of one non-democratic form of government (totalitarianism, authoritarianism, oligarchy, or aristocracy) and describe politics in the United States under that form of government.

Question 62

Why does the mandate of equal treatment for all groups of Americans sometimes come into conflict with the concept of liberty?

Question 63

Compare and contrast direct democracy to representative democracy. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? In what situations might a direct democracy work? When is a representative democracy more feasible?

Question 64

Why do you think that socialism has made little headway in America, despite its popularity in other parts of the world?

Question 65

Draw a diagram depicting the political spectrum in the United States incorporating information from the four major ideologies.

Question 66

What do the government responses to the 2007 recession and the elections of 2008, 2010, and 2012 tell us about the public's ideological makeup and attitudes toward government size and policies?

Question 67

Describe the consequence to the daily life of an average citizen in a country without the Bill of Rights.

Question 68

Do you believe that pluralism or elite theory is the more accurate description of American politics? Why?

Question 69

Describe the different viewpoints on the role of government in society as promoted by liberals and conservatives.

Question 70

Compare and contrast the conservative and liberal positions on entitlement spending and discuss how these positions reflect their values with regard to liberty and equality.