Question 1

Misinformation in politics can be attributed to
A) "Alternative facts"
B) A sense of "truthiness"
C) Fake news
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Misinformation in politics can stem from "alternative facts," a sense of "truthiness" (believing something to be true based on intuition or perceptions rather than facts), and the spread of fake news. These elements contribute to the dissemination and belief in incorrect or misleading information within the political sphere.

Question 2

Public goods are
A) Available to everyone
B) Do not get used up
C) Exemplified by national defense
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Public goods are characterized by being non-excludable (available to everyone) and non-rivalrous (do not get used up by being used by someone), with national defense being a classic example.

Question 3

Politics can be defined as
A) Who gets what, when, and how
B) The authoritative allocation of values
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

Accepted Answer

Politics is often defined by both phrases: "Who gets what, when, and how" and "The authoritative allocation of values," making both A and B correct. These definitions emphasize the distribution of resources and values in a society, and how decisions regarding that distribution are made.

Question 4

Government can be defined as
A) The institution with the authority to make binding decisions for all of a society
B) One of the institutions authorized to make decisions for all of society
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

Accepted Answer

Government is typically defined as the institution with the authority to make binding decisions for all of a society, encompassing the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Question 5

The legitimate authority in government to wield coercive power to authoritatively allocate values is
A) Representation
B) Sovereignty
C) Majority rule
D) Equality

Accepted Answer

Sovereignty refers to the supreme power or authority within a territory, which includes the legitimate authority in government to wield coercive power to authoritatively allocate values.

Question 6

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies
A) Contribute to an intractable and hostile environment in which government officials cannot make decisions
B) Must be avoided at all cost in order to prevent outbursts of violence from ordinary citizens
C) Are common, and even desirable, in a functioning pluralist democracy
D) Is infrequent, and does not hinder government officials from making decisions

Accepted Answer

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies are inherent to a pluralist democracy, where a variety of beliefs and opinions are expected and encouraged. Such debates are crucial for the democratic process, allowing for the consideration of diverse viewpoints and the development of more comprehensive and inclusive policies.

Question 7

According to the text, each of the following are among the "core principles" of American democracy, EXCEPT
A) Unitary government
B) Majority rule
C) Political freedom
D) Political equality

Accepted Answer

The core principles of American democracy include majority rule, political freedom, and political equality, but not a unitary government. Instead, the United States operates under a federal system, which divides powers between national and state governments.

Question 8

The framers of the Constitution believed that minority rights must be respected in order to achieve all the following goals EXCEPT
A) Contribute to a political culture where the minority will respect majority decisions
B) To prove that slavery was unjust
C) Instill a sense that decisions have been arrived at fairly
D) Promote government legitimacy and stability

Accepted Answer

The framers of the Constitution did not explicitly aim to prove that slavery was unjust through the respect of minority rights. In fact, the original Constitution included provisions that accommodated slavery, such as the Three-Fifths Compromise. The other options (A, C, D) align with the framers' beliefs in creating a balanced system that respects minority rights to ensure political stability, fairness, and legitimacy.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?
A) A ballot initiative
B) Congress
C) An opinion poll
D) The presidential election

Accepted Answer

A ballot initiative is an example of direct democracy because it allows citizens to vote directly on specific proposed policies or laws.

Question 10

The term "pluralism" describes a governmental philosophy in which
A) Power is divided between a single national government and several national subunits
B) A handful of elites control the actions of government
C) Groups of competing interests vie for the attention of government
D) Power is divided between several branches of government

Accepted Answer

Pluralism is a theory or system in which multiple groups, organizations, or parties coexist within a society and compete or work together to influence government policies and decisions. This concept emphasizes the diversity of interests and the competition among them to shape public policy.

Question 11

In Polisciland blue-eyed people are not allowed to vote, a policy approved by the majority brown-eyed people. What core democratic values are in conflict here?
A) Majority rule against political equality
B) Political equality against minority rights
C) Majority rule against popular sovereignty
D) Direct democracy versus representative democracy

Accepted Answer

Majority rule is in conflict with political equality because the policy discriminates against blue-eyed people, denying them the equal right to vote despite being part of the populace.

Question 12

State voters are asked to approve a ballot initiative legalizing beer sales in Flagship University Stadium. What is this an example of?
A) Representative democracy
B) Direct democracy
C) Oligarchy
D) Purposive benefits

Accepted Answer

This is an example of direct democracy, where citizens vote on laws or policies directly rather than through elected representatives.

Question 13

What are the core principles of democracy?
A) Majority rule, political equality, and popular sovereignty
B) Popular sovereignty, elections, and political equality
C) Majority rule, political equality, and political freedom
D) Political equality and majority rule

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the core principles of democracy?
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Question 14

Partisanship is
A) Best exemplified in party structure
B) The formal membership in political party
C) Caused by rational deliberation and debate on many issues
D) A psychological attachment to political party

Accepted Answer

Partisanship is often understood as a psychological attachment to a political party, rather than merely formal membership or the result of rational deliberation. It encompasses an individual's identification with and loyalty to a political party, which can influence their perceptions, attitudes, and voting behavior.

Question 15

A form of government in which the power to make decisions and allocate resources is given to a small number of persons is called
A) Autocracy
B) Oligarchy
C) Direct democracy
D) Representative democracy

Accepted Answer

Oligarchy is a form of government where power rests with a small number of people. These people could be distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, education, corporate, religious, political, or military control.

Question 16

Pluralists argue that in American government, power should be
A) Fragmented among different branches
B) Given to the majority because democracy requires majority rule
C) Given to the most educated because they will make the right decisions
D) Given to the richest because they have earned it

Accepted Answer

Pluralists believe in the distribution of power across various groups and institutions to ensure no single entity dominates, hence supporting the fragmentation of power among different branches of government.

Question 17

The pluralist model of democracy has been criticized for
A) Its slowness and conservative bias
B) Its over emphasis on restraining majorities
C) Its failure to protect the rights of unpopular and unorganized minorities
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The pluralist model of democracy has been criticized for all of the mentioned reasons: its inherent slowness and conservative bias, its overemphasis on restraining majorities, and its failure to adequately protect the rights of unpopular and unorganized minorities. These criticisms highlight the model's potential limitations in representing diverse interests and ensuring equitable governance.

Question 18

Which of the following would pluralists probably agree with?
A) Tyranny of the majority is to be feared more than tyranny of the minority
B) Elections provide an adequate check on government
C) Power should be concentrated in the hands of the majority
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

Pluralists often emphasize the importance of preventing any single group from dominating, thus fearing the tyranny of the majority more than the tyranny of the minority.

Question 19

Which of the following characteristics differentiates government from other organizations that resolve conflict?
A) Using the power of admonitions
B) Teaching certain beliefs
C) Legitimate use of coercion
D) Resolving conflicts over values

Accepted Answer

Government is distinguished from other organizations primarily by its legitimate use of coercion, meaning it has the authority to enforce laws and decisions through the use of force or the threat of force.

Question 20

In which type of election do voters have an opportunity to make specific policy decisions?
A) Recall elections
B) Initiative and referendum
C) Issue election
D) Amending election

Accepted Answer

Initiative and referendum elections directly involve voters in making specific policy decisions, either by proposing new legislation (initiative) or by approving or rejecting laws passed by the legislature (referendum).

Quiz 1: The Basics of Democracy

Misinformation in politics can be attributed to

Public goods are

Politics can be defined as

Government can be defined as

The legitimate authority in government to wield coercive power to authoritatively allocate values is

Conflict and debate over policy ideas and philosophies

According to the text, each of the following are among the "core principles" of American democracy, EXCEPT

The framers of the Constitution believed that minority rights must be respected in order to achieve all the following goals EXCEPT

Which of the following is an example of direct democracy?

The term "pluralism" describes a governmental philosophy in which

In Polisciland blue-eyed people are not allowed to vote, a policy approved by the majority brown-eyed people. What core democratic values are in conflict here?

State voters are asked to approve a ballot initiative legalizing beer sales in Flagship University Stadium. What is this an example of?

What are the core principles of democracy?

Partisanship is

A form of government in which the power to make decisions and allocate resources is given to a small number of persons is called

Pluralists argue that in American government, power should be

The pluralist model of democracy has been criticized for

Which of the following would pluralists probably agree with?

Which of the following characteristics differentiates government from other organizations that resolve conflict?

In which type of election do voters have an opportunity to make specific policy decisions?