AP Gov: Unit 1

When the authors say that we live in an era of "globalization," they mean that citizens and nations are increasingly

a. peace loving.

b. industrialized.

c. commercialized.

d. belligerent.

e. interdependent.

E

Government policies pose dilemmas because they usually lead to

a. the triumph of order over freedom.

b. difficult choices among conflicting values.

c. infringement of the rights of some group.

d. conflict between the rich and the poor.

e. economic benefit to one of the interested parties.

B

The broad, basic definition of government given by the text is

a. the use of force to benefit an elite.

b. legitimate use of force within specified geographic boundaries to control human behavior.

c. citizens participating in community decisions.

d. taking from each according to his or her ability and giving to each according to need.

e. leaders controlling power and authority.

B

International organizations such as the League of Nations and the United Nations

a. refused to recognize national sovereignty among member nations.

b. officially denied sovereignty to non-member states.

c. gave no recognition to states claiming sovereignty after World War II.

d. denied the importance of sovereignty in numerous resolutions.

e. explicitly respected national sovereignty as a guiding principle.

E

Globalization can be seen as a threat to

a. commercial activity.

b. national sovereignty.

c. capitalism.

d. liberalism.

e. socialism.

B

There is a concerted campaign across Europe to force the United States to terminate

a. capital punishment.

b. abortion.

c. interstate commerce restrictions.

d. laws criminalizing the possession and/or use of drugs.

e. police interrogations.

A

The oldest objective of government is

a. preserving the state of nature.

b. supporting economic growth.

c. maintaining order.

d. promoting social equality.

e. guaranteeing the security of citizens.

C

According to Thomas Hobbes, author of Leviathan, the proper objective of government is to ensure

a. freedom.

b. order.

c. that the lives of citizens are protected.

d. public goods.

e. free and fair elections.

B

The state of nature refers to

a. order without equality.

b. regulation without leadership.

c. order without conflict.

d. government without values.

e. society without government.

E

Thomas Hobbes supported a strong central government because

a. he hoped to gain a position of power within that government.

b. he thought such a government could end inequality by redistributing property.

c. he knew the basic motivations of people were evil.

d. he believed that the nobility was inherently superior to the masses.

e. he believed that only a strong government could restrain people's selfish, animal instincts.

E

Since the fall of the Somali government in 1991, warlords have feuded over territory, and today the current government controls only a portion of the capital, Mogadishu, and Somali pirates seize ships off its shore with impunity. This is an example of a government failing to provide the following:

a. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

b. socialism

c. order

d. democracy

e. equality

C

John Locke's views on government are expressed in

a. Leviathan.

b. The Social Contract.

c. Two Treatises on Government.

d. Common Sense.

C

Which political philosopher inspired the phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence?

a. Thomas Jefferson

b. Adam Smith

c. Karl Marx

d. Boris Yeltsin

e. John Locke

E

Examples of public goods are

a. social welfare programs.

b. nonprofit organization programs.

c. police protection.

d. education, sanitation, and highways.

e. the armed forces.

D

Services that benefit all citizens and are not likely to be produced by the voluntary acts of individuals are known as

a. public goods.

b. Communism.

c. social welfare.

d. private benefits.

e. volunteered materials.

A

Public goods can best be described as benefits and services

a. provided by a particular segment of society for its own benefit.

b. provided by government to benefit all citizens.

c. voluntarily performed by citizens for the benefit of all.

d. produced by a free-market economic system.

e. created through public taxation.

B

Of the following major objectives of government, the most recent one is

a. providing public goods.

b. maintaining order.

c. defending order.

d. maintaining defense against external enemies.

e. promoting equality.

E

Social order is usually defined as

a. the degree of equality in society.

b. the methods by which government enforces its authority.

c. the pattern of economic ownership.

d. established patterns of authority and traditional modes of behavior.

e. mechanisms for disagreement with government.

D

Each citizen having one vote demonstrates

a. equality of opportunity.

b. social equality.

c. a republic.

d. mandated freedoms.

e. political equality.

E

When one person has the same chance to succeed in life as another, this is called

a. equality of outcome.

b. political equality.

c. equality of opportunity.

d. social order.

e. equality of results.

C

If all citizens in a society are given access to higher education, but a particular social class experiences a high dropout and failure rate, that society is failing to provide

a. equality of outcome.

b. equality of opportunity.

c. equal protection under the law.

d. social equality.

e. economic fairness.

A

The notion of pay equity—equal pay for jobs of equal value—is an example of

a. affirmative action.

b. social equity.

c. equality of outcome.

d. equality of opportunity.

e. due process.

C

When a college seeks to increase minority enrollment through affirmative action, the college is trying to achieve

a. freedom and order.

b. equality of opportunity.

c. equality of outcome.

d. political equality.

e. equal benefits.

C

After the underwear bomber was thwarted from blowing up an airliner on Christmas Day, 2009, airports began using:

a. armed secret agents on planes.

b. no fly lists.

c. full-body scanners to probe through clothing.

d. only round trip tickets.

e. bomb sniffing dogs.

C

Government's "original dilemma" is how best to balance

a. order and equality.

b. equality and freedom.

c. freedom and order.

d. equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.

e. chaos and structure.

C

An underlying assumption of the text is that perfect freedom, order, and equality can never be achieved because

a. no government structure is perfectly designed.

b. some political officials will always be corrupt or incompetent.

c. these three values are inherently in conflict and cannot be provided simultaneously.

d. these three terms refer essentially to the same thing.

e. upper-class citizens do not want parity with lower- class citizens.

C

A consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government is a(n)

a. political ideology.

b. public good.

c. original dilemma.

d. system of government.

e. political attitude.

A

A person who favors government ownership of some basic industries and a strong government role in directing the economy would best be labeled a

a. socialist.

b. capitalist.

c. totalitarian.

d. libertarian.

e. moderate.

A

Capitalism is best described as a(n)

a. economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state.

b. system that guarantees rights of speech and political participation.

c. system in which the use of property is controlled by majority will.

d. economic system in which production and property are privately owned, with a minimum of government interference.

e. good idea in theory but not practically applicable.

D

Although the United States is a capitalist country, the government does intervene in the economic arena, primarily through

a. central planning for industry.

b. ensuring equal access to wealth.

c. government ownership of some key industries.

d. controlling public access to goods and services.

e. regulating private businesses.

E

In general, libertarianism

a. opposes all government action except that which protects life and property.

b. supports government action to protect public morals.

c. supports a strong government role in the economy.

d. encourages government-initiated programs to help the needy.

e. seeks to destroy inequities in government programs.

A

A libertarian is likely to believe

a. laws should not define the minimum drinking age.

b. marijuana should not be criminalized.

c. helping the needy should be a matter of individual choice.

d. government should not own and control industry.

e. All of these

E

Liberals are more likely to favor generous government support for

a. education.

b. wildlife protection.

c. public transportation.

d. a whole range of social programs.

e. All of these

E

Conservatives are more likely to support

a. smaller government budgets.

b. free enterprise.

c. less regulation of business.

d. fewer government programs.

e. All of these

E

An American who opposes government activism but supports government surveillance of telephone conversations to fight terrorism is likely to be a

a. libertarian.

b. conservative.

c. liberal.

d. socialist.

e. Communist.

B

In order to understand political ideology, we must look at both the scope of governmental action and

a. the size of the republic.

b. its purpose.

c. its relation to other governments.

d. related bureaucracies.

e. elite attitudes.

B

Liberals

a. are likely to use government power to maintain order.

b. shy away from using government action.

c. favor the use of government to foster equality.

d. favor a smaller government than do conservatives.

e. will use force rather than legislation to administer social welfare programs.

C

People often seem inconsistent in their political beliefs because

a. they refuse to think about politics because it is too boring.

b. they tend to think Communism is a better system, and so recognize the inconsistency of the current system.

c. politics generally is not a valid topic of discussion for most people.

d. they may favor government action to promote one value but not another.

e. of their general lack of political knowledge.

D

The ancient Greeks classified governments as autocracies, oligarchies, or democracies based on

a. the fundamental purposes for which the government was instituted.

b. the extent of government power.

c. the types of elected officeholders.

d. the kinds of decisions the government was responsible for.

e. the number of citizens involved in governing.

E

An autocracy is a political system ruled by

a. a few.

b. one individual.

c. the military.

d. a majority.

e. a few powerful, wealthy individuals.

B

The best contemporary example of an oligarchy would be a(n)

a. multiparty democracy.

b. personal dictatorship.

c. military dictatorship.

d. hereditary monarchy.

e. elite interest society.

C

The Greek word demos, which is the root of the term democracy, means

a. common people.

b. power.

c. participation.

d. foundation or base.

e. order.

A

The Greek word kratos, one of the roots of the word democracy, means

a. power.

b. authority.

c. common man.

d. rule.

e. form.

A

The names of more than 20 percent of the world's political parties contain some variation of the word

a. conservative.

b. republican.

c. socialist.

d. democracy.

e. freedom.

D

The procedural view of democracy is most concerned with

a. the level of popular participation in decision making.

b. the equality of government decisions.

c. minority protections.

d. the impact of government decisions.

e. how government decisions are made.

E

The principle of universal participation may still be met even if some adults (such as recent immigrants) are excluded from participation if this exclusion is based on

a. the principle of political equality.

b. practical or political reasons in a particular country.

c. failure to understand the political system.

d. lack of knowledge of the nation's dominant language.

e. conflicts of law.

B

The idea that all adults within the boundaries of a political community should be allowed to vote is known as

a. universal participation.

b. political equality.

c. majority rule.

d. plurality rule.

e. suffrage.

A

A country abiding by the principle "one man, one vote" is practicing

a. representative democracy.

b. political equality.

c. equal suffrage.

d. substantive democracy.

e. a "free and fair" election system.

B

Whereas majority rule is defined as decision making by 50 percent plus one person, ____ is defined as decision making by most participants.

a. rule by the people

b. assention

c. political equality

d. universal participation

e. plurality rule

E

All of the following are principles of procedural democracy except

a. government responsiveness to public opinion.

b. minority rights.

c. universal participation.

d. majority rule.

e. political equality.

B

New England town meetings are an example of

a. substantive democracy.

b. oligarchies.

c. representative democracy.

d. civil democracy.

e. participatory democracy.

E

The following allows a person to acquire information and documents online, and also provides a medium to register opinions and complaints to government officials

a. E-government.

b. the Federal Communications Commission.

c. the Telecommunications Act.

d. the Secretary of State.

e. Fox News.

A

Which of the following represents a principle of procedural theory?

a. Social equality

b. Representative democracy

c. Guaranteed civil liberties

d. Discrimination protection

e. Responsiveness

E

The principle of responsiveness requires that legislators

a. follow the general contours of public opinion.

b. cast their ballots on the basis of what the people think back home.

c. pay especial attention to groups that are highly organized.

d. support public opinion in all matters related to electoral politics.

e. consider the views of their fellow legislators more than the views of constituents.

A

For the United States, the core substantive principles of democracy are embedded in

a. the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.

b. the traditions and conscience of the people.

c. colonial charters.

d. Article I of the Constitution.

e. legislative resolutions from state legislatures.

A

One weakness of the substantive model of democracy is that

a. not everyone participates in decision making.

b. there is no agreement regarding which policies are democratic.

c. the government is less responsive to its people.

d. terrible inequities occur in the wealthiest class.

e. minority groups are easily defeated.

B

One of the weaknesses of the procedural model of democracy is that

a. it does not provide clear criteria on which to judge whether a government is democratic.

b. its reliance on rules may lead to rigidity and inefficiency.

c. it neglects the standards of classic Greek democracy.

d. it permits policies that violate standards of substantive democracy.

e. too much attention is paid to protecting minority rights.

D

The American system allows for the will of the majority to be blocked by

a. a declaration of martial law.

b. the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court.

c. the lack of institutional mechanisms for gauging public opinion.

d. no means.

e. majority rule.

B

A popular election is the primary mechanism for democratic government in which model?

a. Substantive democracy

b. Procedural democracy

c. The majoritarian model

d. The pluralist model

e. The integrated model

C

A referendum is best described as a(n)

a. statement of legislative goals.

b. do-over of a previous election.

c. ballot without true competition for offices.

d. election on a policy issue.

e. decision that resolves a legal issue.

D

A citizen's group gathers enough signatures on a petition to force a popular vote on a statewide lottery proposal. This proposal would represent a(n)

a. recall election.

b. referendum.

c. initiative.

d. popular law.

e. citizen's proposal.

C

Although they are instruments of majoritarian democracy, initiatives are often sponsored by

a. government officials.

b. interest groups.

c. members of the judiciary.

d. foreign multi-national corporations.

e. small numbers of average citizens.

B

The concept of pluralism rests on the premise that

a. modern society consists of many groups that share economic, religious, ethnic, and cultural interests.

b. government should be responsive to the will of the majority as expressed through free elections.

c. government is always responsive to organized interest groups.

d. most people belong to interest groups.

e. responsibilities for participation and representation are best met by elected representatives.

A

Compared with majoritarian thought, the pluralist model of democracy shifts the focus of democratic decision making from ____ to ____.

a. organized groups; the mass electorate

b. representatives; voters

c. procedures; substance

d. substance; procedures

e. the mass electorate; organized groups

E

Pluralism is most likely to be found where the government structure is

a. hierarchical.

b. rapidly changing.

c. centralized.

d. unorganized and chaotic.

e. decentralized.

E

The division of authority in the U.S. Constitution among competing branches and levels of government has encouraged the development of

a. elitism.

b. majoritarian democracy.

c. indirect democracy.

d. pluralism.

e. divided government institutions.

D

The idea that the most important government decisions are made by an identifiable and stable minority that shares certain characteristics is called

a. substantive democracy.

b. elite theory.

c. pluralist theory.

d. the interest group model.

e. aristocracy.

B

Those who support elite theory claim that the United States is governed by a relatively small class of people whose power is based on

a. democratic election.

b. interest group membership.

c. control of wealth and corporations.

d. hereditary titles.

e. market share domination.

C

Those who claim that the pluralist model fits the United States better than the elite model point out that

a. powerful minorities do not win major policy contests.

b. no identifiable elite wins consistently over a broad range of issues.

c. in the end, the public at large is the major force in policy making.

d. financial resources are irrelevant in affecting public policy decisions.

e. business interests control a vast majority of congressional legislation passed each year.

B

Elite theory is discredited as an explanation of American national politics because studies show that

a. elitism cannot coexist with democratic elections.

b. there are too few power positions in the United States to constitute an elite.

c. government and business leaders generally do not cooperate with one another.

d. no one identifiable group regularly prevails on different issues.

e. citizens will rally to defend rights they believe are endangered by government policies.

D

Studies of the congressional agenda demonstrate that it is characterized by:

a. an emphasis on legislation concerned with the poor.

b. an emphasis on legislation concerned with immigration.

c. an emphasis on legislation concerned with increasing taxes on the wealthy.

d. an emphasis on business related legislation

e. none of the above

D

According to pluralist theory, group struggle is democratic if

a. the outcomes of the struggle are in the popular interest.

b. certain larger groups are provided with more representation than smaller groups.

c. all citizens are organized into groups.

d. all groups win a fair share of decisions.

e. all groups are allowed to participate.

E

Democratization is the

a. process of moving from procedural to substantive democracy.

b. process of institutionalizing the rules of procedural democracy and establishing substantive democratic policies.

c. act of electing leaders in a way that conforms to the criteria of substantive democracy.

d. process of moving from a demand to a market economy.

e. requirement that freedoms by written covenant.

B

One interesting feature of the U.S. Constitution is that it is

a. one of the longest documents of its type.

b. remarkably detailed and precise.

c. very much like the Articles of Confederation.

d. a comprehensive document of only 4300 words

e. divided into only three distinct articles.

D

Since 1789, the typical constitution has lasted about ____ years.

a. 165

b. 140

c. 98

d. 52

e. 17

E

The goal of the First Continental Congress was to

a. select a leader for the army of the colonies.

b. restore harmony between Britain and the colonies.

c. plan further resistance to the Coercive Acts.

d. declare independence from Great Britain.

e. draft a new constitution.

B

When George McGovern tried to make Watergate an issue in the 1972 election,

a. he gathered considerable support among Republican voters.

b. the voters either did not understand or did not care.

c. he offended leaders in the Democratic party.

d. the election became even closer.

e. the media rebuked him for "negative" campaigning.

B

When George McGovern tried to make Watergate an issue in the 1972 election,

a. he gathered considerable support among Republican voters.

b. the voters either did not understand or did not care.

c. he offended leaders in the Democratic party.

d. the election became even closer.

e. the media rebuked him for "negative" campaigning.

B

The Declaration of Independence was based on input from many people, but its primary author was

a. James Madison.

b. John Quincy Adams.

c. Benjamin Franklin.

d. George Washington.

e. Thomas Jefferson.

E

John Locke's social contract theory was embodied in

a. the Boston Revolution.

b. the Declaration of Independence.

c. the Intolerable Acts.

d. None of these

e. All of these

B

In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson's statement that "all men are created equal" is similar to which theorist's belief that government is based on the "consent of the governed"?

a. James Madison

b. John Adams

c. John Hancock

d. Joseph Ellis

e. John Locke

E

The "unalienable rights" identified by the Declaration of Independence are

a. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

b. freedom of speech, press, and assembly.

c. life, liberty, and property ownership.

d. the right to own property and bear arms to protect it.

e. equality, liberty, and equal protection.

A

The last item in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence focused on

a. taxation.

b. representation in parliament.

c. shipping.

d. the quartering of soldiers.

e. slavery.

E

A result of the Second Continental Congress was

a. the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

b. a plan for the Boston Tea Party.

c. a brief reconciliation with Britain.

d. the decision to create thirteen colonies.

e. increases in colonial taxes paid to England.

A

By signing the Declaration of Independence, the rebels

a. placed themselves under house arrest.

b. committed an act of treason.

c. excommunicated the king.

d. put themselves in the state of nature.

e. denounced British tax authority.

B

A republic is a government

a. resting on the consent of the governed.

b. based on majority law.

c. ruled by two political parties.

d. ruled by a monarch.

e. divided by two opposing cultures but ruled by one ruler.

A

In forging a new government, the biggest concern of the colonial revolutionaries was

a. selecting an executive committee.

b. limiting its powers.

c. making it as democratic as possible.

d. creating a strong central government.

e. determining freedoms and rights to be protected.

B

A confederation can best be described as

a. a loose association of independent states.

b. a government without a monarch.

c. a government ruled by a dictator.

d. a form of socialism.

e. smaller units of government controlled by a larger government unit.

A

The Articles of Confederation took effect on March 1, 1781 following:

a. adoption by the First Continental Congress.

b. adoption by the Second Continental Congress.

c. George Washington's approval.

d. approval by all thirteen states

e. adoption by the Constitutional Convention.

D

The Articles jealousy guarded

a. commerce.

b. state sovereignty.

c. freedom to travel.

d. property rights.

e. executive power.

B

The Articles jealousy guarded

a. commerce.

b. state sovereignty.

c. freedom to travel.

d. property rights.

e. executive power.

B

What constitutional crisis emerged from Shays's Rebellion?

a. The conflict between farming and manufacturing interests could no longer be controlled.

b. The national government intruded too easily into the states' affairs.

c. Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, lacked the power to confront significant national emergencies.

d. The national government, under the Articles of Confederation, was equipped to meet only naval attacks.

e. The colonists already had created a new, more effective structure of government.

C

The Constitution was written in

a. 1492.

b. 1704.

c. 1812.

d. 1776.

e. 1787.

E

A group of delegates to the Constitutional Convention proposed a powerful national government to replace the weak confederation of states. This was known as the

a. Marshall Plan.

b. Virginia Plan.

c. New Jersey Plan.

d. Connecticut Compromise.

e. Grand Compromise.

B

A key component of the Virginia Plan was

a. equal legislative representation for all states.

b. that essential powers would be kept within the states.

c. a strong national legislature.

d. an executive who would have absolute veto power over legislative actions.

e. strong states' rights.

C

Larger states benefited most under what plan?

a. The Articles of Confederation

b. The Virginia Plan

c. The New Jersey Plan

d. The Great Compromise

e. The Connecticut Compromise

B

According to the New Jersey Plan, how was representation to be structured in Congress?

a. There would be population-based representation in both houses.

b. There would be one house, and representation in it would be based on population.

c. States would have equal representation in one house and population-based representation in the other.

d. There would be one house, and all states would have equal representation in it.

e. Representation was to be based on the three-fifths compromise.

D

The Great Compromise provided for

a. a two-chamber legislature with equal representation for all states.

b. a two-chamber legislature with equal representation for all states in one chamber and population-based representation in the other.

c. a one-chamber legislature with representation based on population.

d. a two-chamber legislature with representation based on population.

e. upper-house members elected separately from lower-house members.

B

The Great Compromise resolved what issue?

a. The power of large versus small states

b. A strong or weak executive

c. A strong upper-house legislature versus a weak one

d. Representation based on an equal representation provision

e. A strong or weak national court system

A

The method for choosing the president was designed to address which of the following concerns?

a. The people's desire to have a direct voice in the selection of the chief executive

b. Distrust of the judgment of the people and the small states' fears that the large states would dominate the selection process

c. Large states' fears that small states would dominate the selection process

d. The demand that each state have an equal voice in selecting the president

e. Fear that a plural executive would possess too many powers

B