EXAM 1 CH 1-5 American Government & Politics

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197 Terms

1
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What was the first constitution of the United States called?

The Articles of Confederation.

2
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How many chambers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation?

One; it was unicameral.

3
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Under the Articles, how many votes did each state have in Congress?

One vote per state.

4
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What voting threshold was usually required for Congress to pass laws under the Articles?

Two-thirds (9 of 13 states).

5
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Which area of policy was Congress clearly responsible for under the Articles of Confederation?

Foreign affairs.

6
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Name two major institutional elements the national government lacked under the Articles.

A national executive and a national judiciary.

7
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Why was national law enforcement weak under the Articles?

Enforcement depended on state governments that could choose to ignore national laws.

8
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Why couldn’t Congress raise money effectively under the Articles?

It had no power to tax and had to request funds from states.

9
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What economic problem arose when states taxed each other's imports?

Trade wars between the states.

10
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Which 1787 meeting was called to fix the Articles of Confederation?

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

11
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Who authored most of the Virginia Plan?

James Madison.

12
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What type of legislature did the Virginia Plan propose?

A bicameral legislature with representation based on population in both houses.

13
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Which plan favored small states by keeping equal representation?

The New Jersey Plan.

14
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What compromise combined elements of the Virginia and New Jersey plans?

The Connecticut (Great) Compromise.

15
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How was representation determined in the House of Representatives according to the Connecticut Compromise?

By state population.

16
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How was representation determined in the Senate according to the Connecticut Compromise?

Equal representation: two senators per state.

17
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What rule about money bills was originally part of the Connecticut Compromise but later removed?

All legislation would originate in the House of Representatives.

18
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What agreement counted a portion of enslaved people for representation?

The Three-Fifths Compromise.

19
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How were enslaved individuals counted under the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Three-fifths of every slave was counted toward state population.

20
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How many articles are in the main body of the U.S. Constitution?

Seven articles.

21
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Which article of the Constitution is the longest and what does it establish?

Article I; it establishes Congress.

22
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What section of Article I lists Congress’s specific powers?

Article I, Section 8 (the Enumerated Powers).

23
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Name three economic powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8.

The powers to tax, borrow money, and regulate commerce.

24
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What clause gives Congress authority to regulate trade across state lines?

The Commerce Clause.

25
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Which article sets up the executive branch?

Article II.

26
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Which article establishes the federal judiciary?

Article III.

27
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What is the term for the federal courts’ authority to decide constitutionality of laws?

Judicial review.

28
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Which Supreme Court power is implied rather than explicitly stated in the Constitution?

Judicial review (established in practice by Marbury v. Madison).

29
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Why is the U.S. Constitution much shorter than most other democracies’ constitutions?

It leaves many details vague and unspecified.

30
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What two-step process is required to amend the Constitution?

Proposal by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures.

31
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How many constitutional amendments have been ratified to date?

Twenty-seven.

32
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What is needed to override a presidential veto?

A two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

33
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What power allows the Senate to approve or reject presidential appointments?

Advice and consent.

34
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Which branch controls federal spending through the budget process?

Congress (the legislative branch).

35
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What term describes the division of governmental powers among three branches?

Separation of powers.

36
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What term describes each branch’s ability to stop the others from acting?

Checks and balances.

37
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Give one example of an executive check on the legislative branch.

The presidential veto.

38
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Give one example of a legislative check on the executive branch.

Impeachment and removal.

39
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Give one example of a judicial check on the legislative and executive branches.

Declaring a law or executive action unconstitutional (judicial review).

40
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What fear led framers to design a government with many checks and balances?

Fear of tyranny (government abusing its power).

41
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What fear led framers to include indirect elections and limited suffrage in the original Constitution?

Fear of democracy or tyranny of the majority.

42
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Under the original Constitution, who chose U.S. senators?

State legislatures.

43
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Under the original Constitution, how was the president selected?

By the Electoral College, whose members were often chosen by state legislatures.

44
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Which historical uprising increased delegates’ concern about majority rule?

Shays’ Rebellion (1786-87).

45
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Why did the framers often use vague language in the Constitution?

To secure ratification when they could not agree on substantive compromises.

46
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What are the three headline ways the U.S. differs from other developed democracies, according to the lecture?

Greater inequality, smaller government, and a distinctive constitutional design.

47
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Why are Americans often less knowledgeable about other countries, as argued in the lecture?

Because of U.S. geography (large country, few neighbors) and limited direct exposure to foreign nations.

48
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In comparative politics, what two criteria define a “developed democracy”?

High economic development (wealthy, capitalist) and a democratic political system (civil liberties, free elections).

49
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Which developed democracy has the largest population?

The United States (over 300 million).

50
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Besides the U.S., which other developed democracy has a population over 100 million?

Japan.

51
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What economic statistic makes the U.S. appear richest overall, but not necessarily richest per person?

Total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

52
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Why can Norway appear wealthier than the U.S. on a per-person basis?

Because per-capita GDP divides national output by a small population, making each person’s share higher.

53
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Name two major policies found in every other developed democracy except the United States.

Universal health care and a ban on capital punishment (except Japan, which executes far fewer people).

54
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When comparing murder rates only to rich democracies, how does the U.S. rank?

It is an outlier with a much higher homicide rate than its wealthy democratic peers.

55
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Does inequality in rich democracies generally rise or fall as they get wealthier?

It generally falls—except in the United States, where it remains high.

56
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Define ‘income inequality’ as measured in the lecture charts.

How many times more the richest 10 % earn annually compared to the poorest 10 %.

57
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Roughly how many times more does the richest 10 % in the U.S. earn than the poorest 10 %?

About 17 times more.

58
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What share of wealth is held by the top 10 % in the United States?

Roughly four-fifths (around 80 %).

59
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How is poverty measured in the lecture (relative measure)?

The percentage of people earning less than half of the national median income.

60
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Which developed democracy has the highest child-poverty rate?

The United States.

61
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What statistic shows the U.S. has low economic mobility?

High intergenerational earnings elasticity—parental income strongly predicts adult income for children.

62
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What percentage of U.S. workers are covered by collective-bargaining agreements?

About 10 %, one of the lowest among rich democracies.

63
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Name two worker-protection indicators on which the U.S. scores lowest or near lowest.

Guaranteed vacation days (none federally) and strictness of dismissal protection (easiest to fire workers).

64
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How does the U.S. incarceration rate compare with other wealthy democracies?

It is dramatically higher than any other rich democracy.

65
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Which racial group is most over-represented in the U.S. prison population?

African Americans.

66
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Where does the U.S. rank on the Gender Inequality Index among rich democracies?

It has the highest (worst) gender inequality of the group.

67
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What percentage of the U.S. Congress is female (approx.)?

About 20 % (1 in 5 members).

68
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Although the U.S. hosts many top universities, what academic test shows a large achievement gap by income?

The PISA exam—low-income U.S. students score far below high-income peers.

69
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How much does the U.S. spend per person on health care compared with other rich democracies?

About three to four times the minimum needed for a modern health system (highest in the group).

70
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What is unique about U.S. health-care financing versus peers?

Roughly half is private out-of-pocket or private insurance; other democracies rely mostly on public funding.

71
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Despite high spending, where does the U.S. sit on life expectancy among rich democracies?

At or near the bottom.

72
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Which two mortality rates illustrate U.S. health-care inequality?

Infant mortality and maternal mortality—both higher than in peer countries.

73
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How do U.S. taxes as a share of GDP compare to other wealthy democracies?

They are among the lowest.

74
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When Americans say government ‘spends too much,’ how does U.S. government spending actually rank internationally?

Near the bottom of rich democracies as a share of GDP.

75
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‘Small government’ in the lecture refers mainly to what?

Expecting government to handle fewer social/economic tasks, leaving individuals to solve problems themselves.

76
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What term do Scandinavian countries use for programs Americans would call ‘welfare’?

Social insurance (universal benefits against economic risks).

77
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Give one benefit Swedish parents receive that illustrates social insurance.

Up to 98 days of paid parental leave at 80 % salary (shared between parents).

78
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How much monthly child allowance does Sweden provide per child up to age 16?

About $127 per month.

79
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How are Swedish universities funded for students?

Tuition-free plus a monthly stipend (~$300) for post-secondary students.

80
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When comparing social-protection spending, which sector (public or private) dominates in Sweden?

Public spending (~87 % of the total).

81
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What percentage of U.S. poverty is reduced by government programs, relative to peers?

Less than 40 %, far below reductions seen in many European democracies.

82
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List two of the six distinctive features of U.S. constitutional design.

Examples: Federalism; strong bicameralism; judicial review; plurality voting (FPTP); two-party system; presidentialism.

83
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How does average U.S. voter turnout since 1945 compare to other rich democracies?

Near the bottom—about 58 % in presidential elections, 40 % in midterms.

84
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Roughly how many effective political parties win seats in most peer legislatures versus the U.S.?

Peers often have 4–10+ parties; the U.S. effectively has two.

85
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Which professions dominate the U.S. Congress, unlike many peer legislatures?

Lawyers and businesspeople.

86
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Why do campaign-finance rules help explain elite dominance in Congress?

Candidates must raise vast private funds, favoring wealthy or connected individuals.

87
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Compared to peers, how do Americans rate their trust in national government and legislature?

Significantly lower confidence than citizens of most rich democracies.

88
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What central claim does the Diversity Theory make about U.S. exceptionalism?

High demographic diversity lowers social capital and solidarity, hindering collective action.

89
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Define ‘social capital’ in the lecture’s usage.

Networks of trust and mutual aid that facilitate collective action in a community.

90
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Which demographic indicators show U.S. diversity versus homogeneity abroad?

Ethnicity (no majority ethnic group >16 %), many religions (largest single denomination ~25 %), multiple home languages.

91
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What percentage of Americans self-identify as Catholic, the single largest denomination?

About 25 %.

92
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Why does the lecture argue English is less unifying in the U.S. than French in France?

English is seen as a practical tool, not a core cultural identity tied to nationhood.

93
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What phenomenon in Europe is cited as evidence for the Diversity Theory?

Rise of far-right, anti-immigrant parties as societies become more diverse.

94
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Despite Diversity Theory predictions, which volunteerism statistic counters the idea Americans won’t cooperate?

Americans log ~44 volunteer hours per person yearly, among the highest in rich democracies.

95
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What is the core argument of the Institutional Theory?

U.S. governmental rules, not culture, make collective action difficult, steering people toward individual solutions.

96
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According to Gilens & Page, what bias does the U.S. political system exhibit?

A strong status-quo bias—majorities often fail to achieve desired policy change.

97
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Roughly what percentage of bills introduced in Congress (1973-2018) became law?

About 4 % (96 % failed).

98
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How does the Senate’s structure give small states outsized power?

Each state gets two senators, so 18 % of the population (26 small states) can control 52 % of seats.

99
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What Senate rule requires 60 votes just to proceed to voting on a bill?

The cloture rule to end a filibuster.

100
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In 2013, why did a background-check bill fail despite 55 Senate votes and 86 % public support?

Supporters lacked the 60 votes needed for cloture; the filibuster blocked a final vote.