Question 1

Which of the following has democracy come to mean in practice?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following has democracy come...

Question 2

Which of the following is an accurate description of the prevalence of college education in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2019, about 31% of adults aged 25 and older in the United States have a bachelor's degree or higher. This equates to roughly one in three adults, or one in four adults aged 21 and older (assuming roughly three-fourths of adults aged 21-24 have not yet completed a bachelor's degree). Therefore, option B is the accurate description. Options A, C, D, and E are all inaccurate. Option A overestimates the proportion of college graduates, option C is unrelated to the prevalence of college education, option D includes a false premise about the number of colleges and universities, and option E contains both a false premise and an inaccurate claim about rates of college graduation.

Question 3

Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent

Accepted Answer

According to the information given, roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms. Therefore, choice C is the best answer. The other options, such as activist organizations, labor unions, foreign-based political action groups, and nonprofit organizations, do not make up as large of a portion of lobbyists in DC.

Question 4

Research suggests which of the following is primarily to blame for the increase in faulty perceptions of news items among the public?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that changes in the forms of communication, particularly the rise of social media and its algorithmic filtering of news, have contributed significantly to the increase in faulty perceptions of news items among the public.

Question 5

What was the result of the ruling in the Supreme Court case Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission?

Accepted Answer

The result of the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was that corporations and unions were no longer barred by law from U.S. federal election spending that was derived from their economic activity. This means that they are able to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns, as long as it is not directly coordinated with candidates or political parties. This ruling has had a significant impact on the role of money in politics and has led to the rise of Super PACs and other forms of outside spending in elections.

Question 6

What is a major limit on majoritarianism suggested by the text?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

How many lawyers does the United States have in comparison to Britain,Germany,and Italy?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. has approximately 1.3 million lawyers, which is roughly one lawyer per 300 people. In comparison, Britain has one lawyer per 1,000 people, Germany has one lawyer per 1,200 people, and Italy has one lawyer per 300 people. Therefore, the U.S. has roughly twice as many lawyers on a per capita basis compared to these three countries.

Question 8

To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?

Accepted Answer

William Watts and Lloyd Free were referring to the emphasis that Americans place on economic self-reliance and free markets, which is often seen as a defining aspect of individualism in American culture.

Question 9

Which of the following characterizes journalist Walter Lippmann's views on democracy?

Accepted Answer

Walter Lippmann believed that most citizens are too uninformed to play the role democracy assigns them. He argued that citizens rely heavily on stereotypes and limited information to form opinions, and therefore needed to be guided by a knowledgeable elite. This perspective is reflected in his book "Public Opinion" where he emphasizes the need for experts to shape public opinion and policy.

Question 10

As described in the text,"political thinking"

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that political thinking involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue. It emphasizes the importance of getting accurate and reliable information before making a decision, rather than relying on personal bias or pre-existing beliefs.

Question 11

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

Accepted Answer

The Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution as the first 10 amendments, includes a guarantee of freedom of speech in the First Amendment. The other choices listed are not part of the Bill of Rights. B and C are part of the original Constitution, while D and E are not included in either document.

Question 12

In which of the following policy areas does the U.S.spend more than European nations?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. spends more on military policy than European nations. While some European nations have higher social welfare spending and public health care, and provide more subsidized housing for the poor, they generally spend less on military expenditures.

Question 13

To what degree is American democracy majoritarian,and what are the limits to that majoritarianism?

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

In which of the following ways is the U.S.free-market system distinct from European economies?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. free-market system differs from European economies in the extent to which private transactions determine the allocation of economic costs and benefits. The U.S. tends to rely more heavily on market forces and less on government intervention in determining economic outcomes. European economies, on the other hand, often have more extensive government regulation and intervention in areas such as taxation and spending policies. The U.S. Federal Reserve also exercises regulatory intervention by altering interest rates, which is not necessarily a distinguishing characteristic of the U.S. free-market system compared to European economies.

Question 15

Europeans have a greater acceptance than Americans of

Accepted Answer

Europeans generally have a stronger belief in the value of social welfare policies and the redistribution of wealth than Americans. This is reflected in their support for universal healthcare, free education, and robust social safety nets.

Question 16

Which of the following describes socialism as practiced today in Sweden?

Accepted Answer

Sweden is often cited as an example of a social democratic welfare state, which means that the government provides for people's basic economic needs such as healthcare, education, and social security, but does not nationalize all industries or eliminate private property. The economy still operates through private transactions, though the government may own a number of major industries.

Question 17

Which of the following is a difference between communism and socialism,as described by the text?

Accepted Answer

The text states that under communism, the government assumes complete control and management of the economy, while under socialism, the government does not try to manage the overall economy but may own and control some firms or industries.

Question 18

The fact that farmers have more influence over agricultural price-supports than do other groups is an example of

Accepted Answer

The fact that farmers have more influence over agricultural price-supports than do other groups showcases the pluralistic nature of American politics, where different interest groups have varying degrees of power and influence in the political process.

Question 19

The average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States and Europe reflect a greater influence of which of the following in the United States,when compared to Europe?

Accepted Answer

Corporate power has a greater influence on average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States compared to Europe. In the US, influential corporations and lobbyists have been successful in resisting increases in the minimum wage, leading to lower average incomes for minimum-wage workers. In contrast, European countries generally have stronger labor protections and unions, and government policies that provide greater support to low-wage workers.

Question 20

The Bill of Rights

Accepted Answer

The Bill of Rights added specific protections for individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. These protections serve as a check on the power of the majority and prevent the government from infringing upon the rights of citizens.

Quiz 1: Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen