Download GOVT-2305 Final Exam Questions and Answers: American Government and Politics and more Exams Advanced Education in PDF only on Docsity!
TJC GOVT-2305 Final Exam Questions And Correct
Answers 100% Verified
The court that originally hears a criminal or civil case is the ________ court. - ANSWER trial
T/F: Losers in civil cases may be required to pay monetary damages for their actions. - ANSWER True
Cases involving disputes among individuals (or between individuals and the government) in which the losers may be required to pay monetary damages for their actions but are not fined or sent to prison are classified as ________ law. - ANSWER Civil
In the American judicial system, parties to a case must demonstrate that they have ________, a substantial stake in the outcome of the case. - ANSWER Standing
The number of justices who sit on the United States Supreme Court is determined by - ANSWER Congress
Administrative law is a subject of public law because the latter - ANSWER nearly always involves a government bureaucracy
At the federal level, the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal are the courts of last resort for most cases-whether civil or criminal-because - ANSWER the U.S. Supreme Court can choose what cases it wants to hear, among those appealed from lower courts.
A lawsuit in which a large number of people with common interests join together under a representative party to bring or defend the suit is called a ________ lawsuit. - ANSWER class action
Under what condition would a criminal case enter the realm of public law? - ANSWER The defendant claims that constitutional rights were violated.
Jurisdiction is best described as - ANSWER the types of cases over which a court has authority.
T/F: Dissents can be used to signal to defeated political forces in the nation that their position is supported by at least some members of the Supreme Court. - ANSWER True
Attorneys on both sides of a legal case muster the most compelling precedents they can in support of their arguments about why the Court should rule in favor of their clients in written documents called - ANSWER briefs
How often do seats in the House of Representatives come up for reelection? - ANSWER every two years
The Senate is unique among the world's legislative bodies for its commitment to - ANSWER unlimited debate
The behavior of members of Congress who may harbor hopes of winning a more prestigious elected position — for example, a senator thinking about running for president — can further complicate legislative dynamics, because - ANSWER they may be keeping other constituencies in mind when voting on given issues.
Legislation that captures federal projects and funds for a congressional representative's own district is described as ________ legislation. - ANSWER pork-barrel
Powers granted to one branch of government by the Constitution but exercised by another branch with permission of the first are called - ANSWER delegated powers.
Two recent presidents exercised unilateral power in America's Gulf Coast region. First, President George W. Bush sent military units there in 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina and associated flooding in Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of neighboring
and can focus on their missions without concern for what is going on Congress or the White House. - ANSWER False
Which term describes downsizing the federal bureaucracy by delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments? - ANSWER devolution
T/F: The most effective power that Congress may use to control bureaucratic behavior is the power of the purse, or spending power. - ANSWER True
On social and cultural issues, liberals tend to favor - ANSWER abortion rights
Which landmark 1965 law contributed to a shift in the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress over time, increasing descriptive representation? - ANSWER the Voting Rights Act
Federal regulations prohibit American radio and television stations from airing programs with - ANSWER explicit material between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
A common refrain of American politicians in recent times — most notably among them former President George W. Bush — is that the only polls that matter are elections. Much like Bush, however, elected officials — especially ones working at the national level — nonetheless rely on public opinion surveys in carrying out their work. Why might this be the case? They want to predict what the consequences of their decisions will be, devise strategies for overcoming opposition to those decisions, and find opportunities to alter opinions.
What seems to account for differences in the way women and men vote in the United States? ANSWER differences in wages, life experience, and Democratic outreach to women
Public assessments of elected officials, attitudes toward political organizations and social groups, and preferences about whether and how government ought to address important problems can all be classified under the heading of - ANSWER public opinion
The Black Lives Matter protests of the police killings of young Black men, and feminist efforts to bring attention to sexual misconduct in the workplace are often, at least in the popular media, described as examples of identity politics at work. The term, however, as used by political scientists more broadly refers to - ANSWER any group identity that can shape political behavior.
The chief vehicle through which liberals have advanced their policy ideas in recent times has been - ANSWER public interest groups
In international affairs, conservatism has come to mean support for - ANSWER maintaining American military power.
Which of the following is an example of someone who is descriptively represented? - ANSWER an Asian American whose state legislative district is represented by an Asian American
In the 2016 presidential election and again in the 2018 midterm congressional races, Hispanic voting populations leaned toward - ANSWER the Democratic Party.
While the American news media may not intend to tell people what to think about a given politician, elected official, or public policy issue, it can nonetheless have an agenda-setting effect through - ANSWER priming, or its choice of what stories, subjects, or issues it focuses upon.
Which of the following identities is most associated with residents who strongly identify with the South? - ANSWER geographic identity
The distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between men and women is most often termed the - ANSWER gender gap
In American politics, those who wish to expand liberty above all other principles, as well as to minimize government intervention in the economy and society, are called -
House or Senate, is called the - ANSWER majority party
T/F: The president does not depend on his party for support. - ANSWER False
In recent years, ideological polarization has undermined the ability of American political parties to bridge elections and governance, because - ANSWER Republicans and Democrats have been less likely to work together and make compromises in finding solutions to national problems.
Political parties can overcome through the mobilization of a free-rider problem inherent in voting, which is often inconvenient for many voters in the United States, and through specifically mobilizing people to support party candidates.
Although the whole membership of each chamber adopts the rules for organizing committees and defines their jurisdictions, all other features of congressional committees, such as leadership and organization, are determined by - ANSWER party leaders and caucuses.
The Whig Party first developed from groups that opposed - ANSWER President Andrew Jackson, for reasons of personality and politics.
Party leaders will generally not finance candidates who cannot - ANSWER raise money on their own.
Democratic control of the South was broken in the 1980s, when Republican leaders used a string of social issues, such as opposition to affirmative action and Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion and banning school prayer, in an effort to attract - ANSWER White voters in the once solidly Democratic South.
T/F: More than 90 percent of African Americans describe themselves as Democrats. - ANSWER True
The Republican Party was the most successful of several parties that developed in the
wake of the Whig Party's disintegration over and opposition to - ANSWER the expansion of slavery.
T/F: The national committee chair of the party that controls the White House is selected by the president. - ANSWER True
________ primaries are those in which any voter can decide to participate, regardless of any party affiliation or a lack thereof. - ANSWER Open
T/F: The Republican brand name includes reducing government spending and lowering taxes. - ANSWER True
T/F: Middle-class voters have split their votes almost evenly between the two parties in recent years, reflecting the differences between the parties on economic issues. - ANSWER True
T/F: Most initiative campaigns today are sponsored by interest groups seeking to circumvent legislative opposition to their goals. - ANSWER True
T/F: Lobbyists serve a useful purpose in the legislative and administrative process by providing valuable information. - ANSWER True
Interest groups do not stop working with the executive branch after the president signs a piece of legislation into law because faithful implementation of the law is not automatic and requires continued contact.
T/F: Grassroots lobbying campaigns have become so ineffective in recent years that a number of Washington consulting firms have been forced to close their doors permanently. - ANSWER False
Economist Mancur Olson suggested that interest groups tend to have a harder time getting around the free-rider problem as they grow larger because - ANSWER people do not have much incentive to become active members and supporters of a group that is
given that it allows them to - ANSWER efficiently find and mobilize adherents nationwide.
T/F: The First Amendment's provision for the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances" protects the rights of citizens to engage in what is now more commonly known as lobbying. - ANSWER True
T/F: The possibility of full and faithful execution of a law is ensured once the interest group succeeds in getting its bill passed from Congress. - ANSWER False
One clear indicator of the proliferation of interest-group activity in modern America is the enormous number of ________, which are legal entities through which interest groups spend money to influence elections. - ANSWER political action committees, or PACs
The contemporary political ideology that is generally supportive of political and social reform, extensive governmental intervention in the economy, expansion of federal social services, more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor and the disadvantaged, and greater concern for consumers and the environment is best described as - ANSWER liberal
T/F: An annual Pew Research Center survey has found, over time, that most Americans hold some mix of liberal and conservative views, and they tend toward the political center. - ANSWER True
A federal requirement that broadcasters provide candidates who are running for the same political office an equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public is called the - ANSWER equal time rule
People who live in segregated neighborhoods may vote differently when racial matters are at issue because they - ANSWER have stronger identification with their own racial or ethnic group and more prejudice against people of other groups.
The contemporary political ideology that is generally supportive of maintaining social
and cultural traditions, limiting the role of government in economic life, and ensuring a strong military defense is most accurately classified as - ANSWER Conservative
Since the mid-1960s, Black voters have overwhelmingly supported candidates - ANSWER of the Democratic Party
Upper-income Americans tend to affiliate with the Republican Party because - ANSWER they have an economic self-interest in lower taxes.
T/F: Hispanics are increasing in importance and policy relevance in the United States. - ANSWER True
Political parties effectively lower the information costs of voter participation because they provide - ANSWER brand-name recognition
T/F: Although the Republican Party dominated northern politics after the Civil War, the Democratic Party was able to achieve competitive national parity with the GOP due to its dominance of post-Reconstruction southern politics. - ANSWER True
When recruiting candidates, parties consider that, at a minimum, a serious candidate for a U.S. Senate seat must be able to raise - ANSWER several million dollars
A loose ideological association is a part of brand associations with American political parties, with ________ seen as liberal, and ________ seen as conservative. - ANSWER Democrats; Republicans
Interest groups tend to primarily concern themselves with - ANSWER their interests and the policies of government that affect those interests.
Interest-group politics in the United States has a pronounced upper-class bias because
- ANSWER upper-income people and organizations are more likely to be able to play important roles in existing interest groups, or have the resources to form new ones.
border and immigration enforcement matter a great deal more. The constituents also seem to be divided between those that want to increase or decrease the number of work visa holders.
Marquess wants to do what majorities in her state want, but faces a basic dilemma of representative democracy in doing so. That dilemma is best described by ANSWER the fact that sometimes, representatives cannot find a course of action that is clearly consistent with majority rule.
In the 1990s, the North African country Somalia was effectively without a viable central government as it was in the middle of a civil war. Most people there were forced to turn to traditional religious authorities or "warlord" controllers of certain fiefdoms for public goods such as defense, sanitation, and education. At the time, Somalia was considered - ANSWER a failed state
T/F: Governments that are generally unrestrained by law but in which other political or social institutions keep leaders in check are called authoritarian governments. - ANSWER True
While Alicia, an African American woman in her early thirties, rarely finds herself upset with her long-time congressional representative, a 62-year-old White man, she believes a woman closer to her age may have given more attention to issues such as abortion and the cost of child care. Alicia thinks having a Black woman as her representative would be even more ideal, believing the official would then be more likely to care about continued discrimination. Alicia can be said to see potential in ________ representation. - ANSWER Descriptive
T/F: A local (say, city or county) council does not constitute a government. - ANSWER False
To send an amendment to the Constitution to state legislatures or to ratifying conventions for approval, Congress must pass it in - ANSWER both the House and Senate with a two-thirds majority.
Which of the following led to the establishment of the First Continental Congress? - ANSWER a series of provocations and retaliations between the British government and colonists in the wake of the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
Discussions over ________ by the framers of the Constitution drove a wedge between elite northern merchants and southern planters and proved an early warning of national conflict to come. - ANSWER Slavery
The presidential veto power over legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review over acts of Congress and presidential actions are examples of the American political system's principle of - ANSWER checks and balances
That the framers of the Constitution decided to have all federal judges, none of whom is elected, serve lifetime appointments reflected concern with - ANSWER the excesses of democracy, as well as concern for guarding against political interference from other branches.
A legislative assembly, such as Congress that is divided into two chambers (or houses) is best described as - ANSWER bicameral
Only ________ can appoint Supreme Court justices, with ________ approval. - ANSWER The president; Senate
Why did the New England merchants attempt to enlist the aid of the most radical elements in the American colonies? - ANSWER Because the British government's granting of the monopoly on tea exports to the East India Company ended a formerly profitable business for the merchants.
The purpose of the ten amendments comprising the Bill of Rights was basically to give each of the three branches of government-ANSWER clearer and more restricted boundaries.
The proposal to amend the Articles of Confederation by providing a system of representation in the national legislature that was based on the population of each state, the proportion of each state's revenue contribution, or both was called -the - ANSWER Virginia Plan.
established by the Constitution
The legal principle that states may not be sued by private individuals or organizations for violations of a federal statute passed by Congress is called state - ANSWER sovereign immunity
Over time, governments in Europe and America found that allowing more people to take part in government had a practical benefit in that it encouraged - ANSWER more people to pay taxes, and serve in national militaries.
T/F: Members of Congress vote against the opinions of a majority of their constituents well over half the time. - ANSWER False
An elected school board and a superintendent who together create, vote upon, and administer district-wide policies for a large public school system are similar to the combined branches of the federal government in that both constitute - ANSWER governments
If the populace has some direct role in political decision making, the government is most likely - ANSWER democratic
Efforts to gain power, influence those in power, bring new people to power, or throw current leaders out are forms of - ANSWER politics
A system of rule that allows citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the selection of key public officials, is called - ANSWER democratic
The national government of the United States is a ________ one, in that it has specific limits on what it can control, and how it can exercise such control. - ANSWER constitutional
While advocating representative government, the United States' founders were like their
social peers in Europe in that they generally were not advocates of - ANSWER the expansion of participation in government, or democracy.
The Antifederalists, a group of respected early American statesmen, argued in writings against the new Constitution that it was a step toward monarchy and a betrayal of the American Revolution because - ANSWER they thought a stronger central government would use its power to oppress ordinary citizens.
Although the national Constitution appears to limit federal power through its suggestion that any powers not explicitly given to the national government were denied it, the framers nonetheless gave the national government a broad grant of power through - ANSWER the necessary and proper clause, which asserted that Congress could pass any law it deemed essential to carry out its enumerated powers.
The concept that the federal government can exercise only those powers specifically expressed in the Constitution is known as the doctrine of - ANSWER expressed powers.
The issue of counting enslaved persons for purposes of representation was resolved at the Constitutional Convention by the - ANSWER Three-Fifths Compromise.
In organizing the Boston Tea Party of 1773, radical colonial interests succeeded in their hope of ________, a hope not shared by newfound allies from the New England merchant class. - ANSWER provoking the British into taking actions that would pave the way for the colonial rebellion
All the states in America have their constitutions, those establishing their institutional frameworks, just about like the national Constitution. They are considered subordinate to the latter document, however, under the ANSWER supremacy clause.
In a federal system, state governments retain sovereignty, which prevents the federal government from directly interfering in the fiscal matters of states, even given the amount of money states receive in federal aid. However, state governments can become directly involved in the fiscal matters of local governments. Why is this the case? - ANSWER The U.S. Constitution does not recognize local governments.
The authority of public bodies to take private property is known as - ANSWER eminent domain.
In the Bakke case, the Supreme Court outlawed ________ in college admissions. - ANSWER strict racial quotas
An Instruction: The Bill of Rights is a series of amendments on what - ANSWER the federal government and, through case-by-case Supreme Court rulings, states must not do.
In Millerv.Alabama,the Supreme Court ruled that mandatory sentencing of juvenile offenders to life without the possibility of parole constituted - ANSWER a violation of the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
Which form of speech is the most consistently protected? - ANSWER political
In modern-day Germany, the national government levies a "church tax," meaning that citizens who are church members are required to give a portion of their income (through taxation) to support their home churches. This is an example of a practice that in the United States would - ANSWER be considered a clear violation of the First Amendment's establishment clause.
What is the establishment clause? - ANSWER a part of the First Amendment that forbids the federal government from establishing an official religion.
The government's duty to permit African Americans to exercise their chance to vote is a
Which of the following is true of the institutions responsible for advancing the civil rights of African Americans? - ANSWER Congress and the courts were mutually responsible for advancing civil rights.
Despite common feeling that the establishment clause of the First Amendment provides a clear separation or a wall between church and state, the Supreme Court has - ANSWER been strict in some areas of church and state and interaction (as with prayer in public schools), and more accommodating in others (such as prayers at public meetings).
Why isn't commercial speech entitled to full First Amendment protection, despite protections of such having increased in recent times? - ANSWER Commercial speech is not a political speech, so it can be regulated more heavily.
The requirement that the judicial system must proceed according to law and with adequate protection for individual rights is known as the - ANSWER due process of law.
A policy or program whose purpose is to redress past injustices committed against certain groups by giving special consideration to members of these groups to make it easier for them to have access to educational and job opportunities is called - ANSWER affirmative action
Racial segregation that is a direct result of law or official policy is referred to as ________ segregation. - ANSWER dejure
Upon ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1920, women gained - ANSWER the right to vote in federal elections.
Which term refers to constitutional guarantees that protect citizens from improper governmental action? - ANSWER civil liberties
Under modern interpretation of the principle and practice of eminent domain, state and local governments cannot constitutionally - ANSWER take property from private citizens without just compensation, and for a public purpose.
The Black Lives Matter movement emerged in the mid-2010s amid protests that mainly focused attention on - ANSWER the disproportionately high rates at which Black men are the victims of police violence.
