InQuizitive for We the People, 14th edition: Chapter 01. Americans and Their Political Values

How has the power of the federal government developed over time?

The power of the federal government has increased.

Which factors influence whether an individual is likely to participate in politics?

Knowledge about the issues

Readily available internet access

Belief that government cares about citizens' opinions

Higher levels of education

The American political culture emphasizes the values of

Liberty, equality, and justice

What two changes led to the development of constitutional democracies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries?

Some governments began giving citizens political voice through the vote.

Governments started recognizing legal limits on their power.

Identify whether each geographic area has gotten more or less populous over time.

More populous: South and Southwest

Less populous: Northeast and Midwest

Match the system of rule to the correct country.

Authoritarian: China's government has few legal limits but nevertheless is kept in check by other political and social institutions.

Constitutional democracy: The United States government has a constitution and other laws that limit what the government can do and how the government goes about it.

Totalitarian: North Korea's government lacks legal limits and controls the nation's political, economic, and social life.

A key defining characteristic that distinguishes autocracies from democracies is that democracies hold elections, whereas autocracies do not.

False

Which of the following statements about trust in government are true?

Trust in the national government has been declining over recent decades.

While most Americans agree on the notion of..., or that all citizens should have an equal right to participate and that government should enforce that right, they are much less supportive of government intervention to ensure...

political equality;equality of results

The Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution primarily addresses which core American value?

Liberty

In the United States, ballot initiatives and referenda by which voters decide on public policies are examples of what kind of democracy?

Direct

Identify the examples of majority rule, minority rights, and/or direct democracy.

Majority Rule: U.S. House passed the CARES Act as a response to COVID-19. Ten states have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use through ballot initiatives.

Minority Rights: Several lawmakers want to protect the Senate filibuster because it allows a single member to hold up legislation unless a supermajority votes for cloture.

Direct democracy: Ten states have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use through ballot initiatives.

In terms of percentage of the 2016 vote, by about how much did youth turnout increase from 2016 to 2020? Please round up to the nearest whole number.

20%

As political efficacy and trust decrease, government decisions are made by a...group of people, which...the notion of government by the people.

smaller;undermines

Why is political knowledge important for American democracy?

Citizens with political knowledge generally are more aware of government decisions and how to make government work for them.

Having political knowledge enables people to assess and act on their own interests.

Conflict over the direction, identity, and resources of an organization is.... The ability to influence that process is....

politics;political power

Black people and Latinos express greater trust in the federal government than White people.

True

Which of the following are reasons it is important for Americans to trust their government?

Trust is important to attract talented people to work the government.

A lack of trust could endanger tax revenue.

A mistrusted government can do little to work with its citizens.

Label these examples as either instances of representative or direct democracy.

Representative democracy:

Congress votes to impeach an unpopular president.

A major bill supported by the majority of citizens passes a state legislature.

A major bill that many legislators campaigned on passes Congress.

Direct democracy:

A state constitution is amended following a referendum.

California's citizens vote to recall their governor.

Which of the following statements regarding what Americans think about the size of government are true?

Americans are evenly divided over whether they prefer a larger government that provides more services or a smaller government that provides fewer services.

A majority support increased federal spending in education, veterans' benefits, and rebuilding highway infrastructure.

What is a consequence of Americans' lack of political knowledge?

It undermines popular control of government