Politics Exam

The elite theory of government maintains that

a) politicians who have held office for a long time are favored by voters
b) poor people and people of color should not be allowed to vote
c) special interest groups make government policy
d) wealthy, politically powerful people control government, and government has no interest in meeting the needs of ordinary people

D

According to the pluralist theory of government, \________.

a) government policy is formed as a result of the competition between groups with different goals and interests
b) wealthy people decide what government policy will be, and politicians have no interest in pleasing anyone else
c) government does what the majority of voters want it to do
d) A person acting on their own has a significant influence on government

A

Which document, adopted in 1777, formed the basis of the new government for the newly independent colonies immediately following the Revolutionary War?

a) The US Constitution
b) The Articles of Confederation
c) The Declaration of Independence
d) The Magna Carta

B

What was the central failure of the Articles of Confederation?

a) It created a national government that was too strong.
b) It created a weak national government.
c) It created rampant inflation in the colonies.
d) It was not recognized by other countries.

B

What important power did the national government lack under the Articles of Confederation?

a) It could not impose taxes.
b) It could not declare war.
c) It could not conduct foreign affairs
d) It could not coin money.

A

Which was NOT among the main points of contention at the Constitutional Convention?

a) The representation of small and large states in the national legislature
b) The institution of slavery
c) Capitalism vs. socialism
d) States rights and national supremacy

C

What was The New Jersey Plan that was favored by the smaller states?

a) A plan to create a bicameral legislature where the number of representatives in the lower house are elected by popular vote and then select the representatives in the upper chamber.
b) A plan to place the national capital in New Jersey.
c) A plan to have a unicameral legislature with one house where each state would have equal representation.
d) A plan to create a unicameral legislature where the number of representatives elected for each state is based on the given state's population.

C

According to the Great Compromise, how would representation in Congress be apportioned?

a) Representation in the House of Representatives would be based on each state's population and every state would have two senators.
b) Representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate would be based on a state's population.
c) Each state would have equal representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
d) Congress would be a unicameral legislature with each state receiving equal representation.

A

How did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention resolve their disagreement regarding slavery?

a) It was agreed that 60 percent of a state's enslaved population would be counted for purposes of both representation and taxation.
b) It was agreed that a state's enslaved population would be counted for purposes of taxation but not for purposes of representation.
c) It was agreed that Congress would never abolish slavery.
d) It was agreed that a state's enslaved population would be counted for purposes of representation but not for purposes of taxation.

A

How did the framers of the Constitution resolve the problem of increasing the authority of the national government while ensuring that it did not become too powerful?

a) By creating state militias
b) By putting the President in complete control of the military
c) By having elections
d) By creating separation of powers

D

What are the three branches of the national government?

a) Military, Bureaucracy, Courts
b) Local, State, National
c) Executive, Judicial, Legislative
d) House of Representatives, Senate, President

C

Which of the following is NOT an enumerated power?

a) signing treaties with foreign nations
b) setting the drinking age
c) coining and regulating currency
d) declaring war

B

Article IV of the Constitution, or the supremacy clause, states what?

a) Laws passed by Congress supersede laws passed by state legislatures in the event of conflict
b) Europeans are superior to Indigenous and African People
c) The President is superior to Governors
d) The US dollar is superior to other currencies

A

What was a Federalist? (Select multiple)

a) A supporter of ratifying the Constitution
b) A supporter of slavery
c) A supporter of a strong federal government
d) A supporter of state's rights

A & C

Were smaller states or larger states more likely to be in favor of ratifying the Constitution?

a) Smaller states
b) Larger states

A

What argument(s) did Alexander Hamilton use to convince people that it was not dangerous to place power in the hands of a President? (choose two)

a) One man could respond to crises more quickly than a group of men like Congress.
b) That man would have to pass a religious test before he could become president

thus, citizens could be sure that he was of good character.

c) The masses are uneducated and not capable making decisions

d) It was easier to control the actions of one man than the actions of a group.

A & D

Which fraction of the states must ratify an amendment to the Constitution before it becomes law?

a) two-thirds
b) one-half
c) all
d) three-fourths

D

What is the Bill of Rights?

a) a document authored by Thomas Jefferson that details the rights of the citizens
b) first ten amendments to the Constitution that protect individual freedoms
c) powers given to Congress in Article I of the Constitution
d) twenty-seven amendments added to the Constitution over the years

B

Which of the following provisions is not part of the First Amendment?

a) the protection of freedom of religion
b) the right to free speech
c) the right to keep and bear arms
d) the right to peaceably assemble

C

The double jeopardy rule in the Bill of Rights forbids which of the following?

a) prosecuting someone in a state court for a criminal act they had been acquitted of in federal court
b) a person cannot be prosecuted for the same offense a second time once they have been acquitted.
c) suing someone for damages for an act the person was found not guilty of
d) prosecuting someone in federal court for a criminal act they had been acquitted of in a state court

B

The right to privacy is explicitly included in the Bill of Rights.

a) FALSE
b) TRUE

A

The Fourth Amendment indicates that government officials are required to apply for and receive \__________ prior to a search or seizure and that \_________ is the legal standard for determining whether a search or seizure is constitutional or a crime has been committed.

a) a search warrant, probable cause
b) a subpoena, jurisdiction
c) permission, consent
d) consent, probable cause

A

\__________ is often used by the government to obtain private property for the development of transportation corridors like railroads, highways, canals and reservoirs, and pipelines and is protected by the Fifth Amendment.

a) Eminent domain
b) Article IV
c) Judicial review
d) The Supremecy Clause

A

Which is an example of a reserved power?

a) Ratifying amendments to the constitution
b) Coining money
c) Declaring war
d) Conducting foreign affairs

A

What was John Lewis's famous phrase in regard to activism?

a) Give me liberty or give me death
b) Stand up, Rise up
c) If you give up, stay out of my way
d) Good Trouble

D

Which amendment to the Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms?
a) 1st
b) 11th
c) 3rd
d) 2nd

D

How many of the original 13 colonies had to agree to the Constitution before it was ratified?

a) 9
b) 13
c) 10
d) Another number

A

In 1971, Richard Nixon announced \_______.

a) The War on Poverty
b) The War on Drugs
c) The Vietnam War
d) His resignation due to Watergate

B

According to the article "Social Issues That Matter to Generation Z", which issue is NOT one of the top concerns for Generation Z.

a) Taxes
b) Healthcare
c) Mental Health
d) Civic Engagement

A

In the article "Making a difference with data-driven policymaking", which of the following was NOT an example of States Innovation.

a) Reducing Prison costs while Maintaining Public Safety
b) Creating Homelessness Camp Cities
c) Budget Test Stressing
d) Reducing Flood Damage

B

The Supreme Court in June 2022, Struck down which state's law that limited guns in public?

a) New Jersey
b) New York
c) California
d) Illinois

B

Why are members of the US House of Representatives more likely to buck their party leaders in favor of their constituents than members of the US Senate?

a) Their 2-year terms of office mean that they are more frequently up for re-election and therefore are more likely to cast votes that please their constituents over party leaders.
b) Representatives tend to have stronger morals than Senators.
c) Representatives tend to take less money from interest groups and party leaders than Senators.
d) Representatives are accountable to less people.

A

According to The Constitution as originally ratified, how were Senators chosen?

a) They were appointed by state legislatures.
b) They were appointed by governors.
c) They were elected by popular vote.
d) They were selected by the President.

A

Which Supreme Court case gave the courts the power to strike down laws that violate the U.S. Constitution?

a) Pressy v. Ferguson
b) Marbury v. Madison
c) Gideon v. Wainwright
d) Dred Scott v. Sandford

B

Which constitutional amendment stated that a person could not be denied the right to vote based on their previous condition of servitude?

a) 13
b) 15
c) 14
d) It is not an amendment

B

What would be an example of Cooperative Federalism?

a) The New Deal
b) Louisiana Purchase
c) American Revolution
d) Marshall Plan

A

\_______is a form of government in which different levelsof government act relatively autonomously.

a) Representative Democracy
b) Federalism
c) Republic
d) Socialism

B

What is NOT an example of a concurrent power between the Federal and State governments?

a) Borrow Money
b) Collect Taxes
c) Establish Courts
d) Establish Post Offices

D

What are examples of contending issues mentioned in class of Competitive Federalism?

a) Immigration and Climate Change
b) Collecting property taxes and business license fees
c) Issuance of Drivers Licenses and Garbage Pick-up
d) 911 services and Animal Control

A

Which amendment within the Bill of Rights provide the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment?

a) Not in the Bill of Rights
b) 2
c) 8
d) 5

C

What is NOT protected under the right to freedom of expression?

a) Obscenity that is extremely offensive
b) Protest by an American Nazi group
c) Kneeling during the National Anthem
d) Burning the American Flag

A

At the convention to revise the Articles of Confederation, what did the states in attendance decide?

a) Wait for the other states to arrive
b) Scrap the Articles and create a new constitution
c) Keep the Articles of Confederation as is
d) Amend the Articles

B

Who serves as the President of the US Senate?

a) The Senate Parliamentarian
b) The Vice President
c) The President Pro Tempore
d) The Senate majority leader

B

How long is the term of a US Senator?

a) 2 years
b) 6 years
c) Lifetime appointment
d) 4 year

B

How long is the term of a member of the US House of Representatives?

a) 2 years
b) 6 years
c) 4 years
d) 4 years but limited to 3 terms

A

In order for changes to be made to the Articles of Confederation, how many states had to agree for the change to be made?

a) 3/4
b) 2/3
c) All of them
d) 1/2

C

Which amendment abolished the poll tax?

a) 19th
b) 24th
c) 23rd
d) 15th

B

Which Amendment gave women the right to vote?

a) 14th
b) 18th
c) 19th
d) 15th

C

Which amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude?

a) 13th
b) 14th
c) 12th
d) 10th

A

Which Amendment prohibits states from denying persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof rights granted to them in the U.S. Constitution?

a) 15th
b) 14th
c) 13th
d) 19th

B

TRUE or FALSE: The US Supreme Court can select which court cases (appeals) it wishes to hear.

a) FALSE
b) TRUE

B

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review \________.

a) allows it to create laws if the legislative branch fails to do in case of a national emergency.
b) enables it to declare acts of the Executive and Legislative branches of government unconstitutional.
c) is written in the original constitution created in 1787.
d) allows it to overturn cases by a lower court.

B

The Supreme Court most typically functions as \________.

a) a United States district court
b) a court of original jurisdiction
c) a trial court
d) an appeals court in federal court cases

D

Of all the court cases in the United States, the majority are handled \________.

a) by the U.S. Supreme Court
b) at the state level
c) by the U.S. district courts
d) by the U.S. Court of Appeals

B

Both state and federal courts hear matters that involve \________.

a) criminal law only
b) both civil and criminal law
c) neither civil nor criminal law
d) civil law only

B

Besides the Supreme Court, there are lower courts in the national system called \________.

a) state and bankruptcy courts
b) state and traffic courts
c) civil and common courts
d) district and circuit courts

D

In standing by precedent, a judge relies on the principle of \________.

a) stare decisis
b) due process
c) judicial activism
d) laissez-faire

A

The justices of the Supreme Court are \________.

a) confirmed by the president
b) chosen by the Congress
c) nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate
d) elected by citizens

C

The Supreme Court consists of \________.

a) nine associate justices
b) one chief justice and eight associate justices
c) thirteen judges
d) one chief justice and five associate justices

B

How long is the term length for all federal judges?

a) 10 years
b) 4 years
c) all federal judges serve lifetime appointments
d) 2 years

C

One of the main ways interest groups participate in Supreme Court cases is by \________.

a) giving monetary contributions to the justices
b) lobbying the justices
c) protesting in front of the Supreme Court building
d) filing amicus curiae brief

D

Which of the following is NOT a current Supreme Court Justice?

a) Justice Alito
b) Justice Scalia
c) Justice Jackson
d) Justice Thomas

B

The 2015 US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges did what?

a) Said that no state could deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
b) Established judicial review
c) Legalized abortion during the first trimester in all 50 states
d) Legalized marijuana in all states

A

The 2022 Dobbs vs. Jackson's Woman's Health Organization Supreme Court decision did what?

a) Said that no state could deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
b) Protected Title IX funding for women's sports
c) Said the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion
d) Legalized abortion during the first trimester in all 50 states

C

The 1954 US Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka did what?

a) Established judicial review
b) Legalized abortion during the first trimester in all 50 states
c) Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and removed the legal supports for segregated schools nationwide
d) Overturned Citizens United v. FEC

C

The 1963 US Supreme Court decision Gideon v. Wainwright said what?

a) No state could deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples if they also issued them to other types of couples
b) The Sixth Amendment required that those facing felony criminal charges be supplied with legal representation
c) Suspects must be told that they have the right to an attorney and the right to remain silent in order to ensure that any statements they provide are issued voluntarily
d) Parts of the Missouri Compromise were unconstitutional

B

Which First Lady (wife of a President) was the first to take an active public role, championing civil rights?

a) Rosalynn Carter
b) Hillary Clinton
c) Lady Bird Johnson
d) Eleanor Roosevelt

D

In the US Senate, each state has __________ representation, while in the US House of Representatives each state's representation is based on its __________.

a) equal;population \n b) population; equal

A

Who nominates the fifteen Cabinet Members in the executive branch?

a) Citizens through an election
b) The President
c) The House of Representatives
d) The Senate

B

In order for a bill to be made into law, it must first:

a) Be approved by 3/5ths of the States
b) Pass in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate
c) Pass in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives
d) Be reviewed by the Supreme Court

C

What can a President NOT do without congressional approval?

a) Veto a bill passed by Congress
b) Demand the resignation of Cabinet Members
c) Pardon without conditions
d) Declare war

D

What is gerrymandering?

a) Establishes how many people live in the United States and where
b) Donating money to a political candidate
c) Trying to convince others to vote for a political candidate
d) It is the manipulation of legislative district boundaries as a way of favoring a particular candidate or party

D

Which is NOT an enumerated power given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution?

a) Power to nominate a candidate to the Supreme Court.
b) Power to Raise an Army and Navy
c) Power to Levy and Collect Taxes
d) Power To Declare War

A

According to the "We the Voters" video, what event led to a more amplified and partisan slant of news events by social media?

a) The overthrow of the Egyptian Government
b) The killing of Trayvon Martin
c) The Covid-29 pandemic
d) Black Lives Matter Movement

B

What are the qualifications to run for President of the United States? (CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY)

a) Must have a college degree
b) Must be 35 years or older
c) Must be a permanent U.S. resident for 14 years.
d) Must be a naturalized U.S. Citizen

B, C, & D

In the 2010 US Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Court ruled that:

a) Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is NOT a form of protected speech under the 1st Amendment
b) Corporate funding of ads and broadcasts CAN be limited
c) Limits on contributions for individuals and corporations were a violation of free speech and unconstitutional.
d) The amount of money a candidate can spend on their own campaign can be limited.

C

Political parties use what system in order to choose nominees for general elections?

a) Political machine system
b) The primary and caucus system
c) Apportionment system
d) Gerrymandering system

B

Choose the correct order of the presidential election process from beginning to end.

a) Primaries and caucuses, National Conventions, General Election, Electoral College
b) National Conventions, Electoral College, General Election, Primaries and caucuses
c) Electoral College, General Election, National Conventions, Primaries and caucuses
d) General Election, Primaries and caucuses, Electoral College, National Conventions

A

The candidate who wins the popular vote always wins the Electoral College.

a) True
b) False

B

How is the number of Electoral College votes of each state determined ?

a) It is based on the number of seats in each state's legislature
b) It is based on how many citizens voted in the last election
c) They are assigned by Congress
d) It is based on the state's number of representatives and senators

D

Which are the two major political parties in today's United States?

a) Bull Moose and Whig
b) Whig and Democratic-Republicans
c) Republicans and Democrats
d) Labour and Conservative

C

What is the most important leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives?

a) House Caucus Chairman
b) Speaker
c) Majority Leader
d) Minority Leader

B

What should you do if you see a campaign add on social media?

a) Check the number of "Likes"
b) Believe it if it was on Tik Tok
c) Do an on-line search to verify the facts
d) Use a social media platform to get a general opinion from your friends

C

A campaign Super Pac can give money directly to a candidate or political party

a) True
b) False

B

The vast majority of elections in the US are based on plurality voting, which is a principle based on:

a) the individual candidate with the most vote wins, whether or not they gain a majority
b) runoff elections always occur between the top two vote getters
c) a candidate only wins if they receive the majority of the vote
d) legislative seats are awarded based on party popularity

A

Which supporter of federalism warned people about the dangers of political parties?
a) James Madison
b) Alexander Hamilton
c) John Adams
d) George Washington

D

What is a divided government?

a) when the President's approval rating is less than 50%
b) when the majority of governors are members of a different party than the President
c) when one or both of the U.S. House and Representatives and U.S. Senate are controlled by a political party different than the President.
d) when the president and vice-president are members of different parties

C

The two dominant political parties in the US have become more polarized over time.

a) True
b) False

A

Which is NOT a cause of partisan polarization?

a) gerrymandering
b) the rise of technologies like social media
c) the direct election of representatives and senators
d) the elevation of national-level party politics over local problems

C

What is the main difference between an originalist and evolutionist interpretation of the Constitution?

a) Evolutionists argue that the meaning of the constitutional text is fixed and that it should bind constitutional actors, while originalists contend that constitutional law can and should evolve in response to changing circumstances and values.
b) Evolutionists are against abortion and originalists are in favor of abortion
c) Evolutionists were against slavery and originalists were for slavery
d) Originalists argue that the meaning of the constitutional text is fixed and that it should bind constitutional actors, while evolutionists contend that constitutional law can and should evolve in response to changing circumstances and values.

D

In general, Supreme Court Justices nominated by Republican presidents tend to favor ___________ interpretations of the Constitution, while judges nominated by Democratic presidents tend to take more ___________ interpretations.

\n a) evolutionist; originalist \n b) originalist; evolutionist

B

Which of the following is NOT true concerning the rise of social media?

a) The most extreme voices tend to be amplified more than moderate voices.
b) Posts cannot be fact checked in real time and fake or distorted news may be amplified.
c) News on social media is more balanced and nuanced than news reporting from other sources.
d) News feeds tend to be curated, and so social media users sometimes only see one side or perspective of an issue or story.

C

If someone's account is suspended from a social media site, by law, that is a violation of their 1st Amendment right to free speech.

a) True
b) False

B

The recent Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District concerned what issue?

a) Voting rights
b) Abortion
c) The right to bear arms
d) Religious Liberty

D

Why do individuals already in elected office (incumbents) usually have an advantage to get re-elected? (CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY)

a) They have existing campaign organizations
b) They raise more money from PACs and interest groups
c) People recognize their name from the last election
d) They have lived in the area longer

A, B, & C

What is NOT a main reason why there are only two major political parties in the United States?

a) the right to free speech
b) campaign and election laws
c) plurality voting
d) the Electoral College

A

Generally, following the U.S. Constitution, most aspects of general elections are under the control of the states.

a) True
b) False

A

Due to increased polarization, fewer members of Congress have mixed voting records; instead,they vote far more consistently on issues and are far more likely to side with their party leadership. \n \n a) True \n b) False

A

Arising in 2010, Super PACs are organizations that:

a) regulate the fundraising and spending of political campaigns
b) can raise and spend unlimited funds, and spend them independently of a campaign or party.
c) recommend Supreme Court nominees to the President
d) redraw district lines for Congressional apportionment

B

The \____________ regulates and oversees money being spent in political campaigns.

a) political parties
b) Federal Elections Commission
c) US Supreme Court
d) Congress

B