Answer Options:
A. determined by whether or not a case has jurisdiction over the matter.
\nB. determined by whether a petitioner in the Supreme Court will hear a case.
\nC. determined by whether or not a person or group has suffered harm as a result of the action that led to the dispute in question.
\nD. the domain that is explored in cases dealing with the Supreme Court during trial.
\nE. who knows a sure debacle.
Answer: C. determined by whether or not a person or group has suffered harm as a result of the action that led to the dispute in question.
Question: If a Federal Circuit Court declares a law unconstitutional, the ruling applies:
Answer Options:
A. only to that specific case.
\nB. only within that court’s jurisdiction.
\nC. only at the federal level.
\nD. only at the state level.
\nE. to all applications of the law in the entire country.
Answer: B. only within that court’s jurisdiction.
Question: Judges and justices in the federal court system are:
Answer Options:
A. appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.
\nB. appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives.
\nC. appointed by the president with the advice and consent of both houses of Congress.
\nD. part of a seniority system that gradually moves them toward the Supreme Court.
\nE. elected by the people every ten years.
Answer: A. appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Question: Judicial activism means:
Answer Options:
A. the Supreme Court should accept as many cases for decision as it can.
\nB. the Supreme Court should actively check the other branches of government when they exceed their authority.
\nC. the Supreme Court should have the power of judicial review.
\nD. the courts should defer to decisions made by the elected representatives of the people whenever possible.
\nE. the members of the Supreme Court should deliver as many public speeches as possible, in an effort to engage and inform the American people.
Answer: B. the Supreme Court should actively check the other branches of government when they exceed their authority.
Question: Regarding the notion of the United States as a “Christian nation,” the founders believed that
Answer Options:
A. the official religion of the United States should be that of the majority of the people.
\nB. the United States serves a divine mission and biblical purpose.
\nC. religion should be prohibited.
\nD. mixing religion and government is a recipe for disaster. Correct
\nE. Both C and D.
Answer: mixing religion and government is a recipe for disaster.
Question: International treaties signed by the President are subject to _______ before becoming legally binding.
Answer Options:
A. a judicial review in the Supreme Court
\nB. ratification by a majority of the senate.
Answer: B. ratification by a majority of the senate.
Question: After a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee, the committee:
Answer Options:
A. on which a bill has been referred is required to pass the bill on to the entire house.
\nB. is not allowed to make changes in the wording of the bill.
\nC. may hold hearings and discussions to explore the merits of the bill.
\nD. may give some bills a subcommittee, although the Constitution requires that subcommittee involvement in legislation not exceed 25 percent of the total congressional workload.
\nE. is required by the Constitution to consult with the president of the United States or the president’s officially designated legislative liaison.
Answer: C. may hold hearings and discussions to explore the merits of the bill.
Question: Congressional control over the bureaucracy:
Answer Options:
A. can result in congressional hearings.
\nB. includes the ability to force bureaucracies to testify before Congress.
\nC. includes the power to refuse funding to administrative agencies.
\nD. is met with skepticism by many pundits.
\nE. All of the above.
Answer: E. All of the above.
Question: Independent executive agencies are:
Answer Options:
A. the most recent cabinet departments
\nB. responsible for regulating major aspects of the economy
\nC. federal agencies that are not part of cabinet departments, but report directly to the president
\nD. responsible directly to Congress
\nE. staffed entirely by political appointees
Answer: C. federal agencies that are not part of cabinet departments, but report directly to the president
Question: A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules is called:
Answer Options:
A. a confederation.
\nB. a social contract. Correct
\nC. a syndication.
\nD. a constitution.
\nE. a natural law.
Answer: a social contract.
Question: Elite theory:
Answer Options:
A. implies that the president must come from the party that holds the majority in Congress.
\nB. emphasizes governmental control over economic policy, but not social interactions.
\nC. is viewed by political scientists as a theory that works well as a description of both how democracies should function and how democracies actually do function.
\nD. indicates that a single matrix controls all aspects of the government, but not economic and social institutions.
\nE. is the perspective that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests. Correct
Answer: is the perspective that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power to further their self-interests.
Question: A _________ is a permanent body established by a house of Congress, while a _________ is appointed to reconcile differences between two different versions of the same basic bill.
Answer Options:
A. standing committee; select committee
\nB. joint committee; conference committee
\nC. select committee; standing committee
\nD. standing committee; conference committee
\nE. conference committee; joint committee
Answer: D. standing committee; conference committee
Question: Oversight is the process by which Congress:
Answer Options:
A. votes to overturn any law it has enacted.
\nB. follows up on the laws it has enacted.
\nC. supervises the activity of the judicial branch.
\nD. passes legislation.
Answer: B. follows up on the laws it has enacted.
Question: All of the following statements are true about gerrymandering except:
Answer Options:
A. the term of gerrymandering has been repealed.
\nB. the term originally came into use to signify a government of Massachusetts named Gerry.
\nC. the tactic of gerrymandering is used to create districts to the advantage of one political party or another.
\nD. the use of gerrymandering has been used for racial discrimination.
\nE. the practice can cause excessive manipulation of the shape of a district.
Answer: A. the term of gerrymandering has been repealed.
Question: The values that shape American political culture include all of the following except:
Answer Options:
A. freedom.
\nB. liberty.
\nC. equality.
\nD. property.
\nE. government control of the economy.
Answer: E. government control of the economy.
Question: Which of the following statements about the electoral college is true?
Answer Options:
A. Although it is theoretically possible for a candidate to win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote, this has never happened in U.S. history.
\nB. one must have received half the possible electoral college votes to win.
\nC. The Constitution requires that the members of the electoral college vote in a manner consistent with their states’ popular vote.
\nD. The only way that the United States could move to the electoral college is through the process of constitutional amendment.
Answer: D. The only way that the United States could move to the electoral college is through the process of constitutional amendment.
Question: The power of judicial review:
Answer Options:
A. is not specifically listed in the Constitution.
\nB. is the judicial power to review the constitutionality of laws or actions by other branches of government.
\nC. was claimed by the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison.
\nD. All of the above.
\nE. None of the above.
Answer: D. All of the above.
Question: The concept of bureaucracy:
Answer Options:
A. isn’t unique to government
\nB. applies to large corporations and universities
\nC. applies to the U.S. military
\nD. applies to any large organization that requires a division of labor
Answer: D. applies to any large organization that requires a division of labor
Question: A constitutional amendment can be ratified by
Answer Options:
A. a positive vote in conventions in three-fourths of the states.
\nB. a positive vote in the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.
\nC. a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.
\nD. the legislatures in two-thirds of the states.
\nE. Options A and B are true. Correct
Answer: Options A and B are true.
Question: Presidents have frequently invoked _________ to avoid disclosing to Congress about the activities of the executive branch.
Answer Options:
A. executive secrecy
\nB. the House rule
\nC. executive privilege
\nD. strict scrutiny
\nE. None of the above
Answer: C. executive privilege
Question: The merit system refers to:
Answer Options:
A. the selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of examinations
\nB. a system of checks on Congress intended to prevent discrimination
\nC. a process for resolving policies based on total value
\nD. a system of kickbacks for hiring bureaucrats under Andrew Jackson
\nE. using work experience in lieu of educational qualifications when applying for federal positions
Answer: A. the selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of examinations
Question: Bureaucracy is the name given to:
Answer Options:
A. a large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions
\nB. any organization that has major problems when attempting to accomplish its goals
\nC. a group of people who seek to enforce policies in a way that prevents quick results
\nD. any large branch of a government that has no power to interpret laws
\nE. government organizations, but not to corporate or university organizations
Answer: A. a large organization, structured hierarchically, that carries out specific functions
Question: The law has given children extra defenses against criminal prosecutions because:
Answer Options:
A. parents punish children more effectively than the criminal justice system.
\nB. of their presumed inability to have criminal intent.
\nC. the Constitution does not provide for criminal prosecution of juveniles.
\nD. juveniles are too easily led to erroneous.
\nE. constitutional protections regarding children shield a number of juvenile behaviors.
Answer: B. of their presumed inability to have criminal intent.