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266 Terms
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Liberty, democracy, and \____ are the United States' core political values.
equality
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Personal and economic freedom are both definitions of
liberty.
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According to the textbook, the trend line of Americans' trust in the federal government
rose in the 1990s and peaked in 2002.
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The 1960s marks the time when the United States became a
full practicing democracy.
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Efficacy is the
belief that citizens can affect government.
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Because they understand how politics affects their lives, knowledgeable citizens tend to
be more engaged in politics
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A government is made up of the
formal institutions that rule a people
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Which of the following wanted to promote political participation for the middle classes?
bourgeoisie
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Who gets what, when, and how is a definition of
politics.
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The \____ is known for being a republic.
United States
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Direct democracy includes all of the following except
advise and consent.
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Generally, America's demographics have become \____ elderly and \____ young since the Founding.
more; less
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\____ has declined in the last 50 years.
Trust in government
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A belief in equality of results is
not a part of the U.S. political culture.
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\____ refers to a system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference
laissez-faire capitalism
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Protection from domestic or foreign threats is primarily the responsibility of
the federal government.
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Compared to Europeans, Americans are \____ supportive of income redistribution.
less
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The people are sovereign in a
democracy
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Majority rule, minority rights and equality of opportunity are
democratic principles.
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Liberals tend to believe that government should promote \____ and provide \____.
equality; social services
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Totalitarianism entails government having unlimited political \_____
power
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Political equality means that each citizen
has one, and only one, vote.
23
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When members of the polity meet to discuss policy and make decisions, it is known as a
direct democracy.
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Representatives make decisions about public policy in
an indirect democracy.
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Justices appointed by presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush have moved the Court in a more \____ direction on issues, including affirmative action and abortion.
conservative
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In \____ cases, the government is always the plaintiff.
criminal
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In what kind of case does the plaintiff charge that it has suffered because of another's violation of a specific agreement between the two?
contract
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Stare decisis is a Latin phrase that means
let the decision stand.
29
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Federal court jurisdiction extends to
federal statutes, treaties, and the U.S. Constitution.
30
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A negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to tell the court that he or she is guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing is known as a
plea bargain.
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What is the term for a court's sphere of power and authority?
jurisdiction
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Which federal judges are appointed for life?
All Article III judges are appointed for life.
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Known as the Great Writ, \____ is guaranteed by the Constitution and can be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion.
habeas corpus
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The Constitution gives the Supreme Court \____ jurisdiction in cases involving foreign ambassadors and issues in which a state is a party.
original
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Each \_____ court exercises \_____ jurisdiction over cases heard by the district courts within its region.
circuit; appellate
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U.S. district court decisions are made by
a single federal judge.
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Opinion assignment when he or she is in the majority is an important power of the \____.
chief justice
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Because the Supreme Court has so much influence over American law and politics, virtually all presidents have made an effort to select justices who \____.
share their political philosophies
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What is the name for the practice whereby the president, before formally nominating a person for a federal judgeship, seeks the indication that senators from the candidate's own state support the nomination?
senatorial courtesy
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Judicial review was established in the case of \____
Marbury v. Madison.
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Why does the solicitor general have such a strong influence on the Supreme Court?
The solicitor general screens most cases being appealed by agencies of the federal government and only lets some cases advance.
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Justices who disagree with the majority decision of the Court may choose to publicize the character of their disagreement in the form of a
dissenting opinion.
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Today, \____ seem to view the courts as useful instruments through which to pursue their goals.
Americans of all political persuasions
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Which of the following cases involved the right to privacy?
Griswold v. Connecticut
45
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When is it most likely that presidential powers would increase?
during wartime
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Most of the framers of the Constitution opposed choosing the president by way of a direct, popular election. Why did they oppose this method of presidential selection?
It could potentially make the presidency too powerful.
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Sections two and three of Article II of the Constitution establish the
presidential powers and duties.
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Which of the following is an example of delegated powers?
The Environmental Protection Agency interprets and enforces the air pollution laws enacted by Congress.
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What are expressed powers in the Constitution?
the specific powers granted in the Constitution to Congress and to the president
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Which of the following is an example of inherent presidential powers?
President Lincoln mobilizing troops at the outbreak of the Civil War
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Which of the following American wars was approved of by Congress through a resolution and not a formal declaration of war?
Korean War
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President Nixon vetoed the \___________________________, but Congress overrode the veto. Subsequent presidents have tended to ignore this law.
War Powers Resolution
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The power to \__________________________ can be categorized as a judicial power of the president.
issue pardons
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As the leading actor in U.S. foreign policy, the president is known as
head of state.
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A treaty requires a two-thirds Senate ratification vote. Presidents often use \_______________________ to avoid this challenge to their foreign policy.
executive agreements
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A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required to do the following:
override the president's veto
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What major public event do modern presidents use to propose new legislation?
the State of the Union Message
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Executive orders may be used by the president for which of the following objectives?
to more effectively manage the executive branch and carry out existing laws and policies
59
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The heads of major government departments and agencies collectively make up the
Cabinet
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Which first spouse had considerable policy influence while her husband was in office?
Eleanor Roosevelt
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Members of the \____________________________ tend to be very close personal and political associates of the president.
White House staff
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As a tool for achieving political goals, presidents have found \___________________ to be mostly unreliable.
party members
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What is a signing statement?
The president signs legislation while also noting how the new law will be interpreted; the president may also express concerns over particular provisions.
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Why was Joe Biden chosen to be the vice presidential nominee on the Democratic ticket under Barack Obama in 2008?
foreign policy experience
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Congress is a bicameral legislature, which means that its members are divided between the \__________.
House of Representatives and Senate
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The House of Representatives is \__________ elected by the people.
directly
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Pork barrel legislation is a form of \_________ in which members of Congress \__________.
patronage; secure direct benefits for their districts or states
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Sociological representation is important in understanding the U.S. Congress because
the symbolic composition of Congress is important for the authority of the government.
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The President Pro Tempore in Senate is \_________ the majority and minority leaders.
less powerful than
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In Congress, seniority — the length of time one has served in the House or Senate — usually determines
committee chairs.
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If a proposed bill does not get voted from the committee to go back to the House or Senate, the bill has \___________ in committee.
died
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A two thirds vote in both chambers of Congress is necessary to
override a presidential veto.
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If the House and Senate pass different versions of a piece of legislation, the differences will be resolved
in a conference committee.
74
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Historically, the most important arenas of congressional policy making have been
standing committees.
75
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\__________ is the formal charge by the House of Representatives that a government official has committed "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Impeachment
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The \____________ Committee in the House of Representatives allots the time for House debate and decides to what extent amendments to the bill can be proposed from the floor.
Rules
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Which type of representation occurs when constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives?
Agency
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In the Senate, \__________ can be used to "talk a bill to death" unless three-fifths of the Senate vote for \__________.
filibuster; cloture
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The process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts is called
redistricting
80
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In terms of sociological representation, the current Congress
overrepresents certain groups.
81
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Presidential power to make treaties and to appoint top executive officers, ambassadors, and federal judges is subject to
the Senate's advice and consent power.
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How can a bill become a law without the signature of the president?
If the House and Senate override the president's veto through a two-thirds majority
83
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The use of the filibuster and cloture in the United States Senate
has increased to record highs.
84
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The Speaker of the House is the
leader of the majority party.
85
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What trend has been observed in the congressional oversight power in recent years?
The power has been used as a tool of partisan politics
86
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Members of Congress are most likely to listen to the interest groups that
are connected to the constituents in the member's district.
87
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Appropriations are the
amount of money, approved by Congress in statutes, that each unit or agency can spend.
88
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According to the authors of your textbook, in recent years, the House has exhibited considerably more intense partisanship and ideological division than the Senate. Why?
Since House members represent more homogeneous districts in which their party is dominant, they are less willing to seek compromise.
89
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Which of the following is an example of a professional association?
American Medical Association
90
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Collective goods are those which are \____________ available and \____________ reasonably be denied to others:
broadly; cannot
91
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We call someone who enjoys the benefit of a collective good without paying the cost
a free rider
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Material benefits include all of the following except
helping a good cause.
93
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Which of the following is considered an electoral strategy by the authors of the textbook?
giving money to political parties or to particular candidates
94
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When items are put on the ballot, bypassing the state's legislature, that is known as
an initiative.
95
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Unlike Madison, the authors of the textbook argue that in the realm of group politics, liberty
seems inconsistent with equality.
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\____________ try to influence elections, while \____________ try to win them.
Interest groups; political parties
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Almost all interest groups engage in
lobbying
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Members of interest groups tend to be
wealthier
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Selective benefits help overcome which problem?
free riders
100
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Which of the following groups would be least likely to appeal to purposive benefits to gain members?