Question 1

Government ________.

Accepted Answer

While the government may not always choose the "best" public policy option and cannot effectively eliminate all social problems, it can contribute to public welfare by helping to resolve collective dilemmas, which are situations where individual actions lead to negative outcomes for the community as a whole. The government can also provide public goods, such as national defense and infrastructure, that individual citizens cannot easily provide on their own.

Question 2

The role of a political institution is to provide ________.

Accepted Answer

Political institutions exist to create rules and procedures for making collective decisions that affect people's lives. These rules may relate to how political power is allocated, how policies are made, or how disputes are resolved. Political institutions exist at different levels of government and can take many forms, including democratic institutions, autocratic institutions, or hybrid systems. While political institutions may also provide physical locations for decision-making, justice for wrongdoing, or opportunities for individuals to advance, these functions are not their primary purpose.

Question 3

Public opinion polls generally indicate that most Americans support high levels of government services and benefits, though they are opposed to raising taxes to pay for them. This pair of stylized facts is most indicative of a/an ________.

Accepted Answer

The free-rider problem occurs when individuals want to benefit from resources, goods, or services provided by the government (or any public service) without paying for them, which aligns with the scenario where Americans support high levels of government services and benefits but are opposed to raising taxes to fund them.

Question 4

A person who takes advantage of a public good without contributing to it is ________.

Accepted Answer

Free riding refers to the act of taking advantage of a public good without contributing to it. The other options listed don't accurately describe this concept.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Private goods are those that are excludable and rival. Computers can be owned and used by individuals and their consumption by one person reduces the amount available for others.

Question 6

Suppose members of the Republican Party prefer that a Republican be elected president in the next election, but they disagree about which particular member of the party would be the best choice. The problem facing members of the Republican Party is best described as a/an ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose members of the Republican Party prefer...

Question 7

Which term refers to the process of making collective decisions, usually by governments, to allocate public resources and to create and enforce rules for the operation of society?

Accepted Answer

The term that refers to the process of making collective decisions, usually by governments, to allocate public resources and to create and enforce rules for the operation of society is politics. Federalism refers to the sharing of power between different levels of government, constitutionalism refers to the idea of limiting government power through a constitution, institutionalism refers to the study of how organizations function and operate, and coordination refers to the process of organizing and synchronizing different activities or efforts.

Question 8

A collective dilemma represents conflict between ________.

Accepted Answer

A collective dilemma occurs when there is a conflict between the goals and interests of an individual and the goals and interests of a group. Therefore, the best choice is option C, which specifically mentions this conflict. The other options may also involve conflicts, but they are not specific to a collective dilemma.

Question 9

Mike and Jim are candidates for city council. Each plans his campaign separately and does not coordinate with his opponent. Mike and Jim must make a choice about whether to bribe voters, as bribing voters is potentially illegal but most likely will allow them to win. Assuming that each candidate believes he needs to win, what is the most likely outcome for their tactics?

Accepted Answer

Without coordination, both candidates (Mike and Jim) are likely to resort to bribing voters as it increases their chances of winning, even if it is illegal. Therefore, the most likely outcome is that both candidates will bribe voters rather than focusing on issues.

Question 10

All of the following are examples of informal institutions in American politics EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The electoral college is an example of a formal institution in American politics, as it is outlined and defined in the US Constitution. The other options listed (Democratic Party, Republican Party, press, and interest groups) are examples of informal institutions, which are not defined in the Constitution but still have significant influence in American politics.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A public good is a good or service that is non-excludable and non-rivalrous, meaning that everyone can benefit from it and one person's use of it does not diminish its availability to others. Clean air meets both of these criteria, as it is available for everyone to breathe and one person's use of it does not make it less available for others to use. Cell phones, washing machines, food, and automobiles are not public goods as they are either excludable (meaning people can be prevented from using them) or rivalrous (meaning one person's use of them can diminish their availability to others).

Question 12

The term political system refers to ________.

Accepted Answer

The term political system refers to the way a society organizes and manages its politics across various levels of public authority.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT an example of a collective action problem in American politics?

Accepted Answer

Bargaining between political parties is not a collective action problem; it involves negotiation and compromise rather than the difficulty of coordinating group action for a common goal.

Question 14

Which term best describes the United States' political system, which is composed of multiple levels of government with independent yet overlapping authority over many areas of public life?

Accepted Answer

The United States has a federal political system, meaning there are multiple levels of government with independent yet overlapping authority over many areas of public life. This is different from a unitary system where all power is held by the central government, or a confederal system where power is held by the individual states or regions. The terms authoritarian and dictatorial describe types of regimes rather than political systems.

Question 15

Suppose a town charges individuals $5 to enter a park to watch its annual New Year's Eve fireworks display. The collected fees pay the cost of the fireworks. Joe parks his car across the street and watches the fireworks display without paying the fee. What is Joe doing?

Accepted Answer

Joe is benefiting from the fireworks display without paying the fee. This behavior is known as free riding.

Question 16

How can political preferences be best described and accounted for?

Accepted Answer

Political preferences are typically driven by individuals' desire to maximize benefits and minimize costs. This includes factors such as economic self-interest, ideological values, social identity, and perceived policy effectiveness. Therefore, the best choice would be E, which captures the dual motivations of maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.

Question 17

Why is government necessary for groups of individuals?

Accepted Answer

Groups of individuals often face collective dilemmas such as the tragedy of the commons or the prisoner's dilemma. These dilemmas can only be resolved through collective action, which often requires some form of government intervention or regulation. Without government, individuals may be unable to coordinate and cooperate effectively, leading to suboptimal outcomes or even the breakdown of social order.

Question 18

When the basic dynamics of the prisoner's dilemma play out among many people rather than a pair of individuals, the behavioral pressures that work against the provision of a public good are called a ________.

Accepted Answer

When the basic dynamics of the prisoner's dilemma play out among many people rather than a pair of individuals, the behavioral pressures that work against the provision of a public good are called a collective action problem.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of free riding?

Accepted Answer

Free riding means taking advantage of a public good without contributing to its creation or maintenance. Not voting in an election is an example of free riding because an individual can benefit from the outcome of the election without putting in any effort to cast their vote.

Question 20

Which is the best example of how an institution shapes outcomes?

Accepted Answer

The rules of legislatures determine how bills are voted on, which can ultimately determine whether a bill passes or fails. This is an example of how an institution (the legislative body) directly shapes the outcome (the success or failure of a bill).

Quiz 1: Introduction