Question 1

Which of the following statements exemplifies the "conservative egalitarian" label,which sociologists apply to American voters who do not consistently connect their beliefs about equality to support for government programs that might make our society more egalitarian?

Accepted Answer

This statement exemplifies the conservative egalitarian label because it shows a concern for helping the poor, but also a resistance to paying higher taxes, which would be a means of achieving greater equality. The other statements do not express this tension or contradiction between a desire for equality and a reluctance to support specific policies that would promote it.

Question 2

In London,closed-circuit cameras are located in all public spaces.Many protest the violation of privacy.Others see surveillance as an absolute necessity in preventing crime.What kind of society does London,in this scenario,exemplify?

Accepted Answer

London in this scenario exemplifies a disciplinary society where surveillance and control are used as means to maintain order and prevent crime, even if it means sacrificing individual privacy. This type of society relies on strict social norms and regulations to ensure compliance from its citizens.

Question 3

David Jones is a Green Party candidate for city council,which elects one candidate from each of five city districts.He garnered 25 percent of the vote in his district,but took no seat on the city's governing council.Why,do you theorize,this is so?

Accepted Answer

City council seats are not subject to proportional representation, meaning that the candidate with the highest percentage of votes in each district wins the seat for that district. Therefore, even though Jones received 25 percent of the vote in his district, he may have received fewer votes overall than candidates in other districts, resulting in him not being elected to the city council.

Question 4

In the 1970s,residents who lived in a neighborhood called Love Canal in New York discovered that their homes had been built on a dump for toxic wastes.There were high rates of birth defects,miscarriages,and other health complications in Love Canal.After an investigation was conducted,residents were compensated for their pain and suffering.This scenario represents the importance of__________.

Accepted Answer

Regulatory policies are necessary to prevent situations like the one at Love Canal where harmful chemicals were disposed of improperly and caused harm to the residents. The investigation and compensation for the residents also suggest that regulatory policies are enforced, which holds those responsible accountable for their actions.

Question 5

__________ is the system of elections in which seats in a legislature are divided up based on the percentage of the vote received.

Accepted Answer

Proportional representation is a system of elections in which seats in a legislature are divided up based on the percentage of the vote received. This means that parties that receive more votes will be awarded more seats, while smaller parties also have a chance at representation. This system is used in many countries around the world.

Question 6

In 2008,what percentage of Americans voted in the presidential election?

Accepted Answer

In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, approximately 57% of eligible voters participated in the election.

Question 7

Emily's List is an organization that works to __________.

Accepted Answer

Emily's List is an organization that works to elect pro-choice, Democratic women to political office at all levels of government. The organization provides financial and strategic support to women candidates who support reproductive rights and other progressive policies.

Question 8

Houston,Texas has been described as a pro-business city,due in part to the fact that Texas is a right-to-work state.Texas businesses may eliminate jobs at will,without just cause,and the state has other statutes on its books that the business community readily endorses.This scenario illustrates __________ in action.

Accepted Answer

The scenario illustrates the business confidence theory in action, as the pro-business environment in Texas and the state's willingness to eliminate jobs without just cause creates a favorable and confident environment for businesses to operate in.

Question 9

Why do third parties have such a difficult time establishing themselves in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The "first-past-the-post" electoral system used in the United States means that the candidate who receives the most votes in a district wins the election. This system heavily favors the two major parties and makes it difficult for third parties to gain traction because they often do not have the support or financial resources that the two major parties do. In contrast, proportional systems used in other countries give third parties more of a chance to win seats in government.

Question 10

The estate tax can be described as __________.

Accepted Answer

The estate tax is a tax on the transfer of assets from the deceased person's estate to their heirs, other than their spouse. It is not a tax that surviving spouses or family members must pay when burying a loved one, nor is it money paid to an attorney to set up an estate.

Question 11

Phyllis,a teacher,constantly disagrees with the way her department chair runs the math department.The two of them have had heated arguments about her schedule and her classroom assignments.This scenario illustrates which dimensional view of power?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Phyllis,a teacher,constantly disagrees with the way her...

Question 12

It is election day.On the ballot is a call to repeal the estate tax for all Americans,including the wealthiest members of the United States.As a political scientist studying voting behavior,Dana is puzzled why middle- and low-income voters would vote to repeal the tax.What might Dana conclude if the repeal passes?

Accepted Answer

Dana might conclude that middle- and low-income voters are wishful thinkers and assume that they will have an estate to pass on to their heirs. The repeal of the estate tax would benefit the very wealthy the most, but it is possible that many voters believe they will also benefit from the repeal, despite not having estates large enough to be subject to the tax. This would be a form of optimistic bias, where individuals overestimate their own likelihood of success or future wealth.

Question 13

A political action committee,or PAC,is a term used in U.S.politics to describe an organization set up to __________.

Accepted Answer

A PAC is a type of organization set up to collect and spend money to support or oppose political candidates, parties, or issues. They are formed by individuals, corporations, unions, or other groups who want to influence the outcome of an election or legislative decision. PACs are regulated by the Federal Election Commission and have to report their contributions and expenditures.

Question 14

In 2008,what percentage of Americans made a campaign contribution to the presidential election?

Accepted Answer

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, only 13 percent of Americans made a campaign contribution to the presidential election in 2008. This indicates that the vast majority of Americans did not contribute financially to the election.

Question 15

Eloise is a network executive at XYZ News Media.She has been instructed to prevent XYZ journalists from covering a breaking scandal involving XYZ's chief financial officer.She has the staff prepare filler stories instead.XYZ,with Eloise's complicity,is engaging in __________.

Accepted Answer

Eloise and XYZ News Media are engaging in agenda setting, as they are actively avoiding covering a breaking scandal and instead preparing filler stories.

Question 16

Information regarding public opinion is usually obtained through __________.

Accepted Answer

Polls and surveys are the most common methods of obtaining information about public opinion. Experiments, longitudinal research, and ethnographic research can also provide valuable information, but they may not be as efficient or feasible for gathering information from large groups of people.

Question 17

A record number of layoffs at Andrew's place of employment has everyone on pins and needles.The employees want to make sure their bosses are pleased with their performances,so many of them have agreed to work overtime on weekends.Which dimension of power is operating in this scenario?

Accepted Answer

The three-dimensional view of power involves shaping the perceptions, cognitions, and preferences of others to the extent that they accept their role in the existing order of things. In this scenario, the fear of layoffs has led employees to voluntarily work overtime, indicating their acceptance of the power dynamics at play, aligning with the three-dimensional perspective of power.

Question 18

A wealthy executive wants to shelter her income from taxes.Which action should she take?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A wealthy executive wants to shelter her...

Question 19

Jamie is a political science student.For his semester project,he must design a study about people's beliefs about controversial topics.What strategy would he most likely utilize?

Accepted Answer

Opinion surveys would be the most appropriate strategy for Jamie to utilize in designing a study about people's beliefs about controversial topics, as they allow for the collection of quantitative data on a large scale and can be used to obtain information about the opinions and attitudes of a specific population. Experiments, ethnographic research, and longitudinal studies may also be useful in certain contexts, but are less well-suited to exploring beliefs and opinions about controversial topics.

Question 20

In recent polls,less than _________ percent of Americans have confidence in the government to do the right thing all or most of the time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In recent polls,less than _________ percent of...

Quiz 6: Power and Politics