AP Government
Practice Multiple-Choice Questions
History and Theory
Which is a linking institution?
• The bureaucracy
• The Congress
• The executive department
• The government
• The media
Media (also elections, political parties, and special interest groups) = linkage institutions. Linkage institution is means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy. Connects people to government.
All of the following are characteristics of politics
EXCEPT:• Individuals with similar ideas banding
together to form political parties• The means through which individuals and
groups get involved• Who gets what, when, how, and why• The passing of laws that serve to further
minority rights• The interrelationship of individuals and
groupsAll are characteristics except D, the passing of laws, which is an outcome of gov’t
Which of the following institutions established in the
Constitution make public policy?• The Senate, the presidency, and political
parties• The Congress, the presidency, and the
courts• The Congress, the courts, and the military• The Congress, the presidency, and the
military• The Congress, the presidency, and the
bureaucracyB, other stuff not given the power in Constitution
Which of the following best defines a set of institutions
linking government, politics, and public policy?
• An educational system
• A political system
• A social system
• An economic system
• A socioeconomic system
B
Which of the following are considered linkage
institutions?I. Congress II. Political parties III. Media IV. Courts • I only
• I and II only
• II and III only
• I, II, and III only
• I, II, III and IV
C
Which of the following principles describes a
philosophy of the Federalist Party?• Federalists believed in a loose construction of
the Constitution• Federalists believed in a strict interpretation of
the Constitution• Federalists believed in a conservative
interpretation of the Constitution• Federalists believed that Congress should be
the main cog of government• Federalists believed that the interests of the
common man should be reflected in governmentA
All of the following characteristics reflect the
reasons why political parties are formed EXCEPT:
• People band together because of similar needs• People band together because of similar values• People band together because they have similar
income• People band together because of similar beliefs• People band together because they have similar
goals
C
Which of the following groups examines a candidate’s record
only on specific issues?• Single-interest groups
• Elite groups
• Plurality groups
• Democrats
• Republicans
A
All of the following are basic principles of our democracy
today EXCEPT a belief in• The worth and dignity of the individual
• The need for political equality
• Universal healthcare
• The guarantee of individual freedoms
• The need for a balance between freedom and order
C
Which of the following institutions is commonly called
the fourth branch of government?
• The bureaucracy
• Special interest groups
• The executive branch
• The Congress
• The Supreme CourtA
Which of the following principles is most fundamental
to democratic theory?• Free elections and universal suffrage
• Minority rule
• Universal public education
• Political parties
• A written constitution
A
All of the following factors contribute to an enlightened
understanding of the electorate EXCEPT:
• Interest groups
• The media
• The right to property
• Political parties
• The internet
C
Which of the following groups believes that bargaining and
compromise are essential to a democracy?
• Elitists
• Pluralists
• Hyperpluralists
• Democrats
• Republicans
B. Pluralism: different groups vying for control of policy – have to compromise and move toward centrism. Elite and class theory says economic elite controls policy. Hyperpluralism is pluralism gone amuck: so many interest groups the government can’t effectively compromise.
Which of the following theories contends that our society is divided along class lines and
that a narrow upper-class strata rules regardless of the
formal organization of government?• Elite
• Pluralist
• Hyperpluralist
• Socialist
• egalitarianA
Which of the following theories claims that too many
competing groups cripple government’s ability to
govern?• Hyperpluralist theory
• Pluralist theory
• Elite theory
• Democratic theory
• Class-based theory
A
Which of the following theories stress that the public interest is rarely translated into public
policy?• Elitist and pluralist
• Pluralist and hyperpluralist
• Elitist and hyperpluralist
• Democrats and Republicans
• Liberals and conservatives
C
Which statement(s) best reflects what the United States
Constitution represents?• I. The Constitution is a set of basic laws
for the government
• II. The Constitution is an explanation fo the way government operates, assigning separate powers to each branch and guaranteeing their rights
• III. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land
All of them
John Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government advocates• Divine monarchy
• Rights for the minority
• Majority rights
• Natural rights
• Democratic rule
D
Which statement(s) best reflects the political philosophy established after the colonists achieved their independence?
• Former colonists eliminated property criterion for political office
• Former colonists recognized the need for a strong executive
• Former colonists believed that the states should become the dominant political and social force
III
When the Articles of Confederation were adopted,
the nation’s major concern was dominated by:• Slavery
• Religious freedom
• Equality for women
• Political dominance by the central government
• Economic issues
E
Which of the following documents represents the first
adopted Constitution for the U.S.?
• Declaration of Independence
• Bill of Rights
• Articles of Confederation
• Virginia Plan
• Connecticut Plan
C
Which of the following statements best describes the
Articles of Confederation?• Domination of the government by the
states
• A national congress with one house and no executive
• No national court system
• No ability of the central government to enforce the collection of taxes
all
Which of the following statements in the Federalist Papers referred to “the most
common and durable source of faction”?• A new and emerging middle class
• The absence of a strong national government
• The unequal distribution of property
• The abuse of minority rights
• The powers given to the presidentC
Madison believed that in order to prevent a “tyranny of the
majority” the new government should include all of the
following EXCEPT:• Creating political institutions that could function with the consent of a majority
• Limiting the president’s term of office• Creating different branches of government
with distinctive and separate powers• Creating a system of checks and balances• Limiting the ability of the electorate to vote
directly for government officials except members of the House B
Even though the representatives to the
Constitutional Convention came from different parts of the country and had differing economic status, they were
able to agree to:• A series of political compromises
• A Republican government for each state
• The method to count slaves for representation purposes
all
Which statement reflects James Madison’s point of view
in the Federalist Papers regarding the consequences of unequal distribution of wealth?• I. The formation of factions
• II. The probability of minority discontent
• III. The development of political parties
all
Which of the following documents created a
compromise that led to the formation of a bicameral
legislature?• Articles of Confederation
• Connecticut Compromise
• New Jersey Plan
• Virginia Plan
• 3/5 Compromise
B, the Connecticut Compromise becomes the Great Compromise
The Federalists believed that a nation dominated by factions
would lead to:
• A tyranny of the majority
• Protection of minority rights
• A recognition that factions would be in the best interests of the country
• Another revolution
• Favorable economic growthA
Constitutional Order
Which of the following illustrates the effects that the
system of checks and balances and separation of powers had
on the legislative process?• I It does not favor the party in power
• II it can create gridlock
• III It usually makes change easy to come by
• IV It can encourage political compromiseII and IV
The Constitution’s writers carefully drafted a document
that would create:• Strong states and a weak central gov’t• Weakened power in the state and national
gov’t• The ability to adapt to changing times• A dominant national government with no
active participation from the states• A totally equal distribution of power
between the states and national government
C
Which of the following governmental bodies is most
directly responsible to the electorate?
• House of Representatives
• Senate
• Executive branch
• Supreme Court
• The bureaucracy
A
The question of the constitutionality of a term limit for
legislators imposed by a state constitution is based on which of
the following arguments?• The state’s ability to set time and manner of
elections for state office• The fact that the Constitution sets the
qualifications for congressmen• The ability of people to vote directly for senators
and representatives• The ability of voters to create term limits for state
office holders• The fact that the Congress is scheduled to vote
for a term limits amendment to the ConstitutionB
The practice of judicial review was first established by which
action?• The Constitution gives life terms to Supreme
Court justices• Justices serve as long as they maintain good
behavior• The Supreme Court exercises judicial precedent• He Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction• The Supreme Court can declare a congressional
act unconstitutional
E: Marbury v. Madison
All of the following are enumerated powers of the
Congress EXCEPT:• Coining money
• Establishing inferior courts in addition to the Supreme Court
• Setting up the first national Bank of the US
• Establishing uniform immigration laws
• Regulating commerce among the several states
C
In addition to the stated constitutional powers of the
president, which of the following roles does he take
on?• Acting as title or head of his political party
• Granting pardons
• Making treaties
• Giving a State of the Union address
• Signing or vetoing legislation
A
Which of the following is the only stated constitutional responsibility of the vice
president?• Attending funerals of foreign dignitaries
• Taking on special tasks assigned by the president
• Presiding over the Senate
• Filling in for the president when he is out of the country
• Presiding over the House of Representatives
C
Which of the following represents a major reason why
the electoral college was created?
• It would encourage 3rd party candidates• It would enable a select group of electors to cast
the final vote for president and vice president• It would encourage greater voter turnout• It would give more power to the Congress in
determining the outcome of presidential elections
• It would give all the states an equal say in electing the president
B
All the following represent examples of the use of checks
and balances EXCEPT:• the 35 successful vetoes made by President
Bush (senior)• The Senate rejection of the 1999
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty• The Supreme Court ruling the Flag Desecration
Act unconstitutional• Congress passing the Crime Bill after a
conference committee made changes• Congress invoking the provisions of the War
Powers ActD
Which of the following actions increases the power of the
president?• A greater reliance on the states to solve
problems• A greater reliance on the federal government to
solve problems• The president having to work with a majority
party in Congress different from his own• An increased investigative role by the media• The downsizing of the federal bureaucracy
B
The appointment of Supreme Court justices in the 1980s was
characterized by:• Quick approval by the Senate of nominees• Rejection of the majority of appointees• Limited background checks of the
nominees• Limited input from elgal associations and
special interest groups• Bitter confirmation battles over personal
and philosophical positions of the nominees
E
Federalism
Which of the following represents the theoretical definition of federalism?
• Division of power between federal government and state governments
• Strict separation of power between the federal government and state governments
• A division of power between the federal government and state governments where the power emanates from the states
• A singular relationship that is characterized by control emanating one way from a central government
• An equally shared power relationship among the branches of government
A
Advocates of a strong federal system (with a strong federal government) believe in all the
following EXCEPT:• State and local governments do not have all the
resources necessary to deal with the problems facing the country
• Local politicians are provincial in their point of view
• State and local governments cannot support the vast programs necessary to support citizens
• Local leaders are more suited to solve problems than national leaders
• An elitist group would be more likely to gain control in a country dominated by local interests
D
According to the Federalist papers, which of the following reflects a major reason for the support of a federal system?
• Local governments are best suited to meet the needs of the majority interests of the country
• Local governments will maintain their authority and will be able to care for their citizens
• The central government is best suited to recognize the needs and interests of local governments
• There will be a constant clashing of opinions between the interests of the local and federal governments
• Factions would be strengthened by the formation of a federal system of government
B
The Constitutional provision used in the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland
was:• I. The “necessary and proper” clause
• II. The supremacy clause
• III. The interstate commerce clause
I and II; interstate commerce was invoked in Gibbons v. Ogden
The Constitutional basis of dual federalism can be found in:
• The necessary and proper clause
• The 10th amendment
• The elastic clause
• The implied power provision
• The enumerated powers
B
Which general area of policy is generally left up to the states?
• Foreign policy
• Military policy
• Relations among the several states
• Health and welfare
• Immigration
D
Which general area of policy is generally left up to the central
govt?• Health
• Interstate commerce
• Education
• Police
• Voting requirements
B
Rights and Liberties
Which of the following Supreme Court decisions dealt
with the issue of prior restraint?
• New York Times v. Sullivan
• United States v. Nixon
• New York Times v. United States
• Miller v. California
• Near v. Minnesota
C: Pentagon Papers case
The recent trend of the courts with respect to the rights of criminal defendants can be
best described by which of the following?• Police and prosecutors have greater flexibility in
collecting evidence• Courts are reluctant to grant warrants because
of police corruption• The police are permitted to ignore the Fourth
Amendment• The use of confidential informants by the police
is unconstitutional• Individuals placed under arrest no longer have
to be given the Miranda warningA, consider the good faith exception, the automobile exception, and inevitable discovery
In Griswold v. Connecticut, the Court found a constitutionally
protected right of privacy in all of these EXCEPT:
• 3RD Amendment
• 9th Amendment
• 4th Amendment
• 5th Amendment
• 10th Amendment
10th, has to do with rights of states, not individuals
Under the exclusionary rule,
• Evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court• The police must have a search warrant before
collecting evidence• A search is legal only if there is probable cause• Evidence collected by federal authorities cannot
be used in state courts• The only evidence that cannot be used is a
forced confession
A
The Supreme Court opposed a state law requiring display of 10 Commandments in school
classrooms because:• It might offend atheists
• It represented an unnecessary state involvement with public education
• The law had no secular purpose
• It violated the free exercise clause
• The cost was a burden on school districts
C, failed the Lemon Test
Which of the following statements about a
pornographic magazine is valid?• The state can prevents its publication
• The publishers can be prosecuted for violating state law after publication
• The content of the magazine must contain violent photographs
• Even obscene materials are protected under the 1st Amendment
• Obscenity is judged by national standards alone
B; can’t be prevented (no prior restraint). Roth v. U.S. says obscenity can be restricted. Standards are local.
The main concern of the Supreme Court with the death
penalty is that:• The death penalty must be applied equitably
without regard to income or race• Methods of execution other than lethal injection
are “cruel and unusual punishment”• The death penalty itself is a violation of the 8th
Amendment• A defense attorney in a death penalty case must
have previous experience in a capital case• States cannot drop the death penalty without the
approval of CongressA; Inequality prompted court to strike down Georgia’s death penalty in Furman v. Georgia
Recent Supreme Court decisions on abortion have:
• Expanded the rights granted women under Roe v. Wade
• Allowed the states to impose restrictions on abortion
• Outlawed abortions for minors or the mentally ill• Required federal funding for abortions for
women on Medicare• Allowed the procedure only in cases of rape or
incest
B; parental consent, waiting period, fetal viability tests are all allowed
Which one of the following forms of expression is NOT protected under
the 1st Amendment?• A newspaper ad that makes inaccurate statements about a product
• A statement by a member of Congress against the president
• Defacing an American flag during a political demonstration
• Pornographic photographs published in an adult magazine
• A speech by a religious leader urging opposition to war
D; Obscenity is not protected, but pornography is not necessarily obscene (according to the Court, not me) – maybe it’ll pass the LAPS test, then its ok
All of the following statements about the Bill of Rights are
accurate EXCEPT:• The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution after ratification
• The protections provided by the Bill of Rights are not absolute
• The Bill of Rights recognizes that there may be additional rights than those mentioned
• The first eight amendments are applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment
• Most of the Bill of Rights relate to the rights of suspects and criminal defendants
D; Not incorporated: 2nd & 3rd Amendments, indictment by grand jury, jury trial in civil cases, and excessive bail don’t apply to states
The Miranda Warning that police are required to give a person placed under arrest is
based on:• The probable cause requirement for a search warrant
• Freedom of speech protection in the 1st Amendment
• Protection against self-incrimination in the 5th Amendment
• The right to be represented by an attorney at trial
• The right to know the charges brought against you
C
Celebrities and other public figures who bring libel actions
against publications:• Have a higher burden of proof than the average
citizen• Usually win the law suit without great difficulty• Only have to show that what was written was
false• Almost never win because judges decide the
cases• Look to settle quickly because they are afraid of
the publicity
A; have to show it was false the publishers knew that in advance and printed it anyway
In practice, the scope and extent of the civil liberties Americans enjoy under the Constitution are determined
by:• Laws enacted by Congress
• The President, who has the authority to see that laws are faithfully executed
• The Supreme Court through its decisions
• The Bill of Rights
• The Justice Department
C, for better or for worse!
Under Regents of the University of California v.
Bakke, colleges can consider race a factor in admissions
because:• Reverse discrimination is constitutional• It is a remedy for contemporary
discrimination• A diverse student body is a legitimate
educational goal• Such students are economically
disadvantaged as well• Numerical quotas are acceptable in certain
circumstancesC
The abolition of the poll tax was accomplished through the:• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• 1964 executive order issued by President Johnson
• Supreme Court decision in Smith v. Allwright
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• 24th Amendment
E
Until the 1970s, claims of gender discrimination were
routinely rejected by the Supreme Court because:• Women were not citizens within the
meaning of the Constitution• The Court had no female members• Limitations on women’s rights were usually
considered “reasonable”• The women’s movement was not well
organized• The justices did not believe that the 14th
Amendment applied to womenC
The status of gays and lesbians is best described by which of
the following statements?• Same sex marriages are widely recognized
throughout the United States• The Supreme Court has struck down laws
criminalizing homosexual behavior• Openly homosexual men and women can serve
in the armed services• Gays and lesbians have not yet organized to
push their civil rights claims• Neither Congress nor the courts are willing to
extend civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation
B; Lawrence v. Texas
All of the following statements about the civil rights
movement in the South between 1955-1965 are true
EXCEPT:• Boycotts and sit-ins were effective techniques of
achieving goals• The federal government took a hands off policy
throughout the period• Blacks and whites marched and demonstrated
together• Desegregation and voter registration were key
issues• Violence against civil rights demonstrators
increased public support for the movement
B
The ability of the federal government to prohibit discrimination in private
businesses such as motels and restaurants derives from:• The equal protection clause of the 5th
Amendment
• Its implied powers under the elastic clause
• Privileges and immunities
• The supremacy clause
• Its power to regulate interstate commerce
E
The most important consequence of the Voting
Rights Act of 1965 was:• Extending the right to vote to Native
Americans• A shift in African American voting patterns
to the Democratic Party• An increase in black voter registration in
the South• An increasing liberal bent in Southern
politics• The use of race in legislative redistrictingC
In Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857), the Supreme Court held that African Americans were not citizens of the U.S.
This was effectively overturned by the:• 13th Amendment
• 14th Amendment
• 15th Amendment
• 16th Amendment
• 17th AmendmentB
Which of the following statements about women’s
suffrage is valid?• Women were not allowed to vote in the U.S. until
1920• The key factor in the ratification of the 19th
Amendment was the work and service of women during WWI
• Granting women the right to vote dramatically canged American politics in the 1920s
• The Equal Rights Amendment was not proposed until the ’70s
• Women were united in seeking other rights once they won the right to vote
B
Congress
The official who is an intermediary between the
party leadership and the rank and file members of Congress
is the:• Speaker of the House
• Majority leader
• Majority whip
• President pro tempore
• Clerk of the House
C
Which of the following activities that members of
Congress routinely perform is most important to their
constituents?• Attending the meeting of the party caucus• Going to a fundraiser sponsored by a political
action committee• Giving an interview on national defense issues• Drafting an amendment to the Department of
Transportation appropriation bill• Contacting the Social Security Administration
regarding a claim for benefits
E
Incumbent senators face greater competition when they run for
reelection than members of the House for all of the following
reasons EXCEPT:• A state is more diverse than a congressional district, providing a greater base for opposition
• Senators have less contact with the constituents• Voters are less likely to know the issue positions
of their senators• Senators tend to have better known opponents• To overcome their advantage, Senate
challengers outspend incumbents
E
When courts examine the legislative history of a bill, they give most weight to which type
of evidence?• Committee hearings
• Committee reports
• The mark-up bill
• Floor debate in The Congressional Record
• The bill as introduced
B
Responsibility for reconciling the House and Senate versions
of a bill falls to a:• Conference committee
• Standing committee
• Select committee
• Oversight committee
• Joint committee
A
Which of the following provisions of a defense
appropriations bill is considered a rider?• Funding for a new missile defense system
• Increase in benefits for military dependents
• Price support for dairy farmers in New England
• Construction of family housing units at a naval air station
• Research and development funding for anti-terrorism tactics
C. Rider: provision added to bill which has nothing to do with it. Vehicle for pork.
Those who oppose term limits for members of Congress
argue that:• I. A tremendous amount of legislative
experience will be lost if term limits are imposed
• II. The people have the right to vote for whomever they want
• III. The Supreme Court will never allow term limits
• IV. A less experienced Congress will lead the country into war
I and II
All of the following statements about the legislative process
are true EXCEPT:• Only a small percentage of bills introduced
become law• Anyone can write a bill, but only a member of
Congress can introduce it• A majority of the House does not have to be
present to debate a bill on the floor• A cloture vote cuts off debate on a bill
immediately, and the Senate must vote• Identical bills can be introduced in both the
House and the Senate
D
Which of the following is the only non-legislative function
the House of Representatives has under the Constitution?
• To impeach federal officials
• To approve appoints to federal courts
• To “advise and consent” on treaties negotiated by the president
• To try cases of impeachment
• To debate all revenue bills
A
A bill or a provision of a bill that provides clear benefits to
the district of a member of Congress is an example of:
• Logrolling
• A Christmas tree
• A public bill
• Private bill
• Pork barrel legislation
E
Political action committees make larger total contributions
to House races than Senate races because:• House members are more likely to vote the way
the PAC wants• House members have more influence on
legislation than the Senate• The entire house is up for election every two
years• Senators are much wealthier than
representatives• Senators cannot take PAC money under the
Senate rulesC
In the process of enacting legislation, the House Rules
Committee is responsible for:• Establishing the procedures Congress
follows
• Appointing members of standing committees
• Setting the limits of debate on the floor
• Holding hearings on all revenue bills
• Assigning bills to the proper committees
C; remember, no Senate counterpart
All of the following are examples of Congress exercising its oversight
function EXCEPT:• Holding floor debate on a bill to reduce eligibility requirements for Medicare
• Hearing a Department of Defense official testify on B-1 bomber cost overruns
• Submitting data to a committee on complaints against the Internal Revenue Service
• Holding committee hearings on regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission
• Cutting the budget of a federal agency that consistently fails to meet its goals
A
A newly elected member of Congress that represents a
district with a large number of aerospace companies would
prefer to serve on which of the following committees?• Banking and Financial Services
• Judiciary
• Ways and Means
• International Relations
• Armed Services
E
Which of the following statements about the Speaker
of the House are valid?• I. The Speaker is elected by only the
members of the majority party
• II. The Speaker is next in line for succession after the vice-president
• III. The Speaker presides over the House
• IV. The Speaker assigns bills to committees
II, III, and IV
The Presidency
The period immediately after a new president is inaugurated is
known as the honeymoon because:• Other nations do not challenge the US
• The president’s popularity is at its highest level
• There is no in-fighting between the president’s staff
• The president has not vetoed any legislation
• Partisanship in Congress is high
B
All of the following are powers granted to the president under
the Constitution EXCEPT:• Negotiate treaties with other nations
• Nominate justices to the Supreme Court
• Present legislation to Congress
• Serve as the leader of a political party
• Call Congress into special session
D
Examples of Congress delegating additional powers to the president include the
• I legislative veto
• II line item veto
• III War Powers Act
• IV Budgeting and Accounting Act
II and IV: Budgeting and Accounting Act allows pres to set budgets for fed. agencies
The responsibilities of the vice president in an administration
are determined by:• The provisions of the Constitution
• The relationship between the president and vice president
• Polls indicating the popularity of the vice president
• Size of the election victory
• Whether the president’s party also controls Congress
B
Which of the following agencies are NOT part of the
Executive Office of the President?• Office of Management and Budget
• National Security Council
• Council of Economic Advisers
• Office of Personnel Management
• Environmental Protection Agency
E: the EPA is an independent executive agency. While the EPA administrator does have cabinet rank, the agency itself is not part of the Executive office of the President
The only presidential appointment on which the House of Representatives
votes is:• Chief justice of the Supreme Court
• US Ambassador to the United Nations
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Vice president, if the position is vacant
• Director of the CIA
D, 25th Amdmt
In mid-term elections, the president’s party usually:
• Loses seats in both houses of Congress
• Loses seats in the Senate but increases its support in the House
• Loses seats in the House but increases its support in the Senate
• Gains seats in both houses of Congress
• No patterns of gains or losses is discernible
A
Which of the following statements about the use of
the veto is valid?• The use of the veto has become more common
all the time• A veto override is more likely when the president
and Congress are from the same party• Pocket vetoes are less successful than regular
vetoes• Once a bill is vetoed, it is not likely to be passed• Democratic presidents use the veto more often
than Republicans
D
The strongest basis for withholding information from
Congress under a claim of executive privilege is:• The need for secrecy in military planning and
diplomacy• To protect the president from embarrassment• To ensure the president does not turn over
incriminating evidence• The powers granted to the president under the
Constitution• Legislation that recognizes that Congress
cannot subpoena the president
A; National Security is best argument
The president can take action without the approval of
Congress through:• I executive orders
• II recess appointments
• III judicial appointments
• IV executive agreements
I, II, and IV
An important function of the White House staff is to:
• Prepare the administration’s budget for Congress
• Assume responsibility for executive departments
• Supervise campaign fundraising activities• Liason with Congress on the bills of
interest to the administration• Communicate the administration’s views
on matters before the Supreme Court
D; rest is done by others
Which of the following statements about the Cabinet
is NOT valid?• The Cabinet is too large to be an effective
policy-making body• The president can give officials other than the
heads of departments cabinet rank• The cabinet is made up of close associates of
the president who were involved with the campaign
• Recent presidents have made cabinet appointments with an eye toward diversity
• Cabinet members are primarily responsible for managing their own departments
C; Applies more to White House staff than Cabinet.
Which of the following would be affected if Congress invoked
the War Powers Act?• The closing of an army base in California• A cost of living increase for enlisted navy
personnel• The commitment of American ground
forces to monitor a Middle East peace• A defense treaty between the US and the
Russian Federation• Implementation of a missile defense
system in Alaska
C
The term “presidential coattails” refers to:
• The ability of a president to get legislation through Congress
• A president’s success in getting nominees confirmed by the Senate
• The election of candidates from the president’s party when he is on the ticket
• The president’s apointment of campaign workers to government jobs
• Public support for a president’s program
C; this effect has diminished over time, however
All of the following are correct statements about a pocket
veto EXCEPT:• It can only be used within 10 days before
the end of a Congress’ term• It is not overridden by a 2/3 vote of both
houses• The president does not sign a pocket veto• A bill that receives a pocket veto can be
introduced in the next session• The bill automatically becomes law in the
next session E
The Executive Bureaucracy
Which of the following statements best describes the
federal civilian work force?• Political factors play no role in making civil
service appointments• Employees must pass competitive examinations
to be hired and promoted• Half of the employees in the executive branch
are appointed by the president• Federal employees face no limitations on their
participation in the political process• Once hired, a federal employee can never lose
his/her job
B
The growth of the federal bureaucracy can be attributed to all of the following EXCEPT:
• The need to regulate business• Responsibility of the government for the
welfare of the people• Administrators who push for larger
budgets and staff• Supreme Court decisions on federal-state
relations• The creation of new agencies to give
policy issues a high profile
D
An important difference between an independent executive agency
and an independent regulatory agency is that:• Executive agences are funded through
executive departments• The head of an executive agency holds cabinet
rank• Presidential appointments to a regulatory
agency serve for a fixed term• Executive agencies do not engage in rule
making• Actions by regulatory agencies must be
approved by Congress
C
An iron triangle refers to the close relationship between:
• The White house press corps, the press secretary, major networks
• Congressional committees, interest groups, and federal agencies
• The national security advisor, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State
• Congressional campaign committees, PACs, party national committees
• Defense contractors, Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff
B
A common criticism of the federal bureaucracy is that:
• Too many civil servants are political appointees• There are no controls over federal agencies• The public is unaware of how federal agencies
make decisions• Overlapping jurisdiction contribute to wasteful
spending• It is constantly growing in responsibilities and
labor force
D
Which of the following is NOT a government corporation?
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Amtrak
• US Postal Service
• National Endowment for the Arts
E; National Endowment for the Arts is part of the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities, an independent executive agency
Which of the following is NOT part of the rule-making
process?• Publication of proposed rules in the
Federal Register• Review of proposed rules by the Office of
Management and Budget• Comment period on proposed rules• Publication of final rules in the Federal
Register• Review of final rules by congressional
oversight committees
E
Critics of government regulation of business argue
that:• I regulation leads to higher prices for
consumers
• II regulation adds to corporate profits
• III regulation ultimately harms the environment
• IV regulation makes the United States less competitive in world markets
I and IV
With regard to the federal bureaucracy, recent presidents
have tried to:• Reduce the size of the work force and
reorganize the structure
• Increase spending for all federal agencies
• Get Congress to approve additional staffing levels for executive departments
• Eliminate the Department of Labor
• Limit congressional oversight of independent regulatory agencies
A
A regulatory agency that selects from a range of policy options is said to exercise its:
• Rule-making authority
• Administrative discretion
• Oversight responsibility
• Mandate power
• Administrative routine
B
All of the following are included in the standard definition of
bureaucracy EXCEPT:• Hierarchical organization
• Standard operating procedures
• Patronage
• Specialized tasks
• Formal rules
C
Which of the following tools at the disposal of a president is LEAST likely
to impact the bureaucracy?• The appointment of people to government
positions that are committed to his policy goals• The use of executive orders to direct
bureaucracy to take a particular action• The appointment of federal judges who support
the principle of judicial activism• Either reducing or increasing funding for an
agency in the administration’s budget• The ability of the president to speak directly to
agency heads about the administration’s priorities
C
The purpose of the Pendleton Act was to:
• Ensure that federal workers were paid the same as workers in the private sector
• Give federal workers the right to form labor unions
• Develop a professional civil service system based on merit
• Reduce corruption by substantially increasing the salaries of federal employees
• Allow the president to appoint the higher levels of the federal civil service
C
The means Congress has at its disposal to control the
bureaucracy include all of the following EXCEPT:
• Issue networks
• Power of the purse
• Confirmation of presidential appointments
• Agency/program authorization
• Oversight hearings
A
The Judiciary
The tradition of senatorial courtesy is criticized because:
• It effectively allows a senator to nominate a federal judge
• It gives too much power to the Senate to investigate judicial nominees
• It gives the President Pro Tempore responsibilities not provided for in the Constitution
• It allows the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay hearings on a judicial appointment
• It allows the Senate Judiciary Committee alone rather than the full Senate the power to reject a nominee to the federal bench A
Which of the following courts has only original jurisdiction?
• US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
• California Supreme Court
• US District Court of the Southern District of NY
• New York State Court of Appeals
• US Supreme Court
C
In making nominations to the federal courts, recent
Democratic presidents have• Selected more women and minorities than
Republicans
• Not taken party affiliation into account
• Required that candidates have previous judicial experience
• Relied heavily on recommendations from large corporations
• Looked for candidates who were pro-life
A
The Supreme Court will agree to hear a case when:
• The Chief Justice orders it
• A majority of the justices agree
• A single justice insists a case be put on the docket
• There is unanimous agreement among the justices
• Four justices agree
E
The authority to determine how many justices sit on the Supreme
Court is in the hands of:• The Supreme Court itself
• Congress
• The President
• The Judicial Conference of the United States
• The House Judiciary Committee
B
A Supreme Court justice who agrees with the decision but
not with the legal reasoning is likely to write a:• Majority opinion
• Per curiam opinion
• Concurring opinion
• Dissenting opinion
• Plurality opinion
C
Which of the following cases is LEAST likely to reach the
Supreme Court?• A dispute between Oregon and Washington over
coastal fishing• A case on the rights of students to publish a
newspaper without supervision by the administration
• A case involving the constitutionality of a state law limiting abortion
• A case that challenges the president’s right to establish military tribunals to try suspected terrorists
• A case involving the murder of a police officer during a drug arrest
E
All of the following statements about the judicial branch are
true EXCEPT:• The overwhelming majority of criminal cases are
handled by state courts• Only judges hear cases in the federal courts• The only court specifically established in the
Constitution is the Supreme Court• Most judges that sit on state or municipal courts
are elected• Most cases come to the supreme Court on
appeal from the lower federal courts
B
Supreme Court Justice William Douglas said, “I don’t follow
precedents. I make ‘em.” This statement reflects:• Judicial conservatism
• Judicial activism
• Strict constructionism
• Judicial restraint
• Stare decisis
B
Which of the following statements about amicus curiae briefs is NOT valid?
• Amicus briefs are an opportunity for third parties to provide information to the Court
• Most amicus briefs are filed by individuals who want the Court to consider their case
• Amicus briefs are filed in connection with petitions for a writ of certiorari
• With the exception of the solicitor general, attorneys who submit amicus briefs cannot participate in oral argument
• Amicus briefs are a factor in the decision of the Court to hear a case
B
A ruling made by a court of appeals is:
• Valid only within the states that make up the circuit of that court
• Automatically brought to the Supreme Court
• Most likely the result of a decision of all the judges in the circuit
• Based on the factual evidence introduced at trial
• Made on the basis of oral argument aloneA
When President Jackson said, “John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it!” This raises the issue of:• Judicial nationalism
• Judicial federalism
• Judicial implementation
• Judicial review
• Judicial jurisdiction
C
In establishing the Judicial branch, Article III of the
Constitution provided for all of the following EXCEPT:• Original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
• The scope of appellate jurisdiction
• The definition of treason
• Trial by jury
• Office of the Attorney General
E
Public Opinion
A poll conducted over the Internet is of questionable
accuracy b/c:• The participants were not randomly
selected
• The margin of error is over +/- 3%
• The sample is biased in favor of the more affluent
• The sample is too large
• Questions are typically not worded clearly
A; no random selection = no sample, no scientific poll. It is biased in favor of more affluent, but THERE IS NO SAMPLE
In light of the “graying of America,” which issues are likely to get attention from
elected officials?• Deregulation of the energy industry
• Missile defense programs
• Term limits for members of Congress
• Patient’s Bill of Rights
• Gun control
D
Which of the following statements about political
ideology in the US are accurate?• I political movements on the extreme right
and left have had little support• II people who identify themselves as
conservatives always oppose laws restricting abortions
• III most Americans consider themselves moderates
• IV consistency is not essential to political ideology
I and III
Political socialization refers to:
• Why a person identifies with a political party
• How an individual’s political views are developed
• The measure of the public’s attitude on national issues
• A person’s position on social questions such as abortion
• The role of government in promoting national identity B
Data collected on the political attitudes of ethnic/racial
groups shows that:• All minorities tend to take liberal positions on
major policy questions• African Americans are shifting back to the
Republican Party• The views of African Americans are not
significantly affected by income• Asian American support for the Democratic
Party is strong• Hispanic Americans are the most consistently
liberal group C; Dem. Across the board
A month before a primary election, a poll shows the
following breakdown in a 3 candidate race:
Candidate A 45%; Candidate B 32%; Candidate C 23%. Margin
of error +/- 3%. • Candidate A will get a majority of votes
cast• Candidate C will drop out of race b/c of
limited support• The election is too close to predict b/c of
margin of error• No conclusion can be drawn b/c election is
a month away• There will be a runoff between A and B
D
Women are more likely than men to favor:
• Capital punishment
• Gun control legislation
• No increases in federal minimum wage
• Less spending on public housing
• Abortion
B
Libertarians support all of the following EXCEPT:
• An end to tax breaks for large corporations• A prescription drug plan for seniors paid
for by the federal government• The repeal of laws restricting gun
ownership• The legalization of marijuana and similar
drugs• Full exercise of freedom of speech,
including materials considered “obscene”B
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between an individual’s income
and attitudes toward federal spending?• Lower income groups support spending for
social programs• There is no correlation between income and
views on federal spending• Economic self-interest requires wealthy
Americans to back more government spending for jobs
• Minorities approve of higher defense spending• Higher income Americans tend to support the
Democratic PartyA
Despite migration from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, the
South:• I is a more conservative region than the
Northeast
• II is a stronghold for the religious right
• III remains committed to the Democratic Party
I and II
The political party an individual identifies with is largely
determined by:• Mass media
• Peers
• Teachers
• Parents
• Employers
D
A politician who advocates raising the minimum wage,
cutting spending on weapons systems, and increasing the
budget for the Environmental Protection Agency is:
• Populist
• Liberal
• Conservative
• Radical
• LibertarianB
Polls taken during an election campaign focus on:
• Which candidate is ahead
• The views of the candidates on the issues
• The amount of money each candidate has raised
• The character of the candidates
• The candidates’ position on foreign policy
A
In recent years, occupation has become less significant to
determining political attitudes because:• Few Americans are blue collar workers
• Americans are more mobile than in the past
• Education is a more important factor
• Political parties do not frame issues in terms of class
• Workers adopt the views of their unionsC; and more Ams finishing high school and going to college
Which of the following is NOT a conservative position?
• Support for prayer in the public schools
• Support for voucher plans for private schools
• Support for increases in corporate and income taxes
• Support for deregulation of business
• Support for limits on affirmative action programs
C
Political Parties
Voting a straight ticket reflects:
• Voter apathy
• Party loyalty
• Weak party structure
• Influence of campaign advertising
• Support for the Democratic Party
B
When the Republican Party emerged in the 1850s, it
replaced which of the following?• Federalists
• Know-nothings
• Whig party
• Populist party
• Labor Reform Party
C
The party platform is developed:
• By the nominee’s campaign staff
• By the chair of the national committee
• At the national convention by the platform committee
• Through questionnaires sent to registered members for the party
• By members of the party’s Senate and House campaign committees
C
The Democrats’ New Deal Coalition relied on support
from all of the following groups EXCEPT:• Southerners
• Labor union members
• Catholics and Jews
• African Americans
• Business leaders
E
The boss, who was a fixture in local party politics in many American cities, kept power
through:• Rigging elections
• Support for primary elections
• Patronage
• Constituent services
I, II, and IV
Party realignment occurs when:
• A majority of the voters register as independents
• There is a shift in voter support from one party to another
• There is a change in which party controls one or both houses of Congress
• The president is from one party but the Congress is in the hands of another
• A third party determines the outcome of the election
B
Which of the following is NOT a function of a political party?
• To select candidates for office
• To inform voters about issues
• To run political campaigns
• To raise money for candidates
• To determine qualifications for office holders
E
The most successful third parties:
• Represent a particular region of the country
• Have strong ties to an ideological position
• Break off from one of the two major parties
• Focus on a single issue
• Support a particular groups
C
Which statement best characterizes the relative
strengths of the Democratic and Republican parties in the period
between 1968 and 2000?• Republican presidents always faced a Congress controlled by Democrats
• The Democrats controlled the House from 1968-1994
• Democrats were more successful than Republicans in presidential elections
• Divided government was the rule under Democratic presidents
• The Republicans had a majority of the seats in the Senate as a result of the 2000 election
B
Reforms in the Democratic Party after the 1968 election
resulted in:• More power given to party professionals and
activists• The creation of the Democratic Leadership
Council• A substantial increase in the amount of money
raised for presidential campaigns• Greater participation of historically
underrepresented groups at the convention• A decline in the number of presidential parties
D
Those who argue that political parties are declining in importance point to:
• I a decline in voter turnout
• II candidate-run campaigns
• III increase in ticket splitting
• IV increase in the cost of running for office
II and III
During the campaign and during his first term, Republican George W. Bush adopted which issue that
was usually considered Democatic?• Tax cuts
• Missile defense systems
• Campaign finance reform
• Support for gays in the military
• Greater federal support for education
E
Voting and Elections
The National Voter Registration Act encouraged voting by:
• Requiring states to allow election day registration
• Declaring election day a federal holiday
• Allowing voter registration at DMV offices
• Eliminating residency requirements for voting
• Imposing fines on eligible voters who do not register C; it was nicknamed the “motor voter act”
Which of the following statements about voter turnout
is valid?• I Income and education levels have no
effect on minority voting• II the gender gap refers to the fact that
women are more likely to vote than men• III the lowest voter turnout is among
college-age Americans• IV the most common reason given by
Americans for not voting in that they were too busy
III and IV
One of the effects of winner-take-all primaries is that:
• Candidates can get a majority of the delegates quickly
• The cost of the campaign is higher
• The media focuses on who is ahead
• Candidates stay in the race longer
• More candidates decide to enter the primaries
A
Today, the most important function of a party’s national
convention is to:• Select the electors for the electoral college• Develop the strategy for the general
election• Formally nominate the president and vice
president• Choose the party’s leaders for the House
and the Senate• Name a new chair for the national
committeeC
An amendment to the Constitution that did NOT
extend the right to vote to a particular group was the:• 15th
• 19th
• 26th
• 24th
• 23rd
D; that one abolished the poll tax
A primary election in which a registered Democrat can ask for
a Republican ballot is a:• Presidential primary
• Open primary
• Closed primary
• Blanket primary
• Proportional representation primary
B
Supreme Court ruled in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) ruled
that:• Limits on a candidate’s use of personal money
was unconstitutional• Limits on individual contributions violated the 1st
Amendment• Labor union contributions were protected under
the right of association• Federal matching funds had to be made
available for state races• Contributions to political parties for voter
registration drives were valid
A
Lower voter turnout in the US can be explained by all of the
following EXCEPT:• Weak political parties
• An aging electorate
• Difficulty in registering
• Difficulty in voting
• Frequency of voting
B
In recent years, the efforts at campaign finance reform have
focused on:• Reducing the influence of political action
committees• Curbing spending on negative advertising• Decreasing the cost of presidential
elections• Prohibiting the use of union dues for
political campaigns• Eliminating soft money available to
political parties E
Over the last 30 years, most successful candidates for the
presidency have served:• In the Cabinet
• As senators
• As business executives
• As govenors
• In the House of Representatives
D
During the general election, a candidate is likely to do which
of the following?• I Moderate positions taken during the
primaries to appeal to the electorate as a whole
• II Campaign vigorously in all 50 states
• III Participate in a series of televised debates with the other major party candidate
• IV Continue to actively raise money
I and III
Above all else, the results of the 2000 presidential election
showed that:• The “solid South” remains a fact of
American politics
• The winner of the popular vote always wins the electoral vote
• The vote of every person is important
• A balanced ticket is the key to victory
• The party that spends the most will win the presidency
C
A candidate who qualifies for federal matching funds:
• Loses the money if contributions over $250 are accepted
• Must accept spending limits during the primaries• Needs to finish in the top four in each primary
entered• Does not have to report contributions less than
$250 to the FEC• Receives a check from the Treasury for the total
amount raised during the campaign
B
The campaign staff a presidential candidate puts together includes all of the
following EXCEPT:• A pollster
• A media specialist
• A foreign policy consultant
• A domestic policy advisor
• A political action committee chair
E
In comparing congressional and presidential elections,
which of the following statements are NOT valid?• I the power of incumbency is stronger in
congressional races
• II Congressional candidates get no federal matching funds
• III Presidential campaigns are considerably longer
• IV The money spent on congressional and presidential campaigns remained stable
IV
Media
In covering a political campaign, the media is best
described as a:• Watchdog
• Scorekeeper
• Muckraker
• Gatekeeper
• Cheerleader
B
Under the Federal Communications Commission’s equal access rules,
broadcasters must:• Give free airtime to all candidates for public
office• Assure that both sides on a controversial subject
like abortion get equal time• Air debates for candidates running for office in
their market• Provide the same opportunity for all political
candidates to present their views• Take the diversity of their market into account in
deciding news coverage
D
Which of the following contemporary news outlets is
similar to the yellow journalism of the late nineteenth century?• Network news programs
• Radio talk shows
• Newspapers like USA Today
• All news cable stations
• Tabloid press
E
The fact that election campaigns are often reduced to sound bites suggests that:
• Television provides superficial coverage of politics
• Politicians are not very dynamic speakers
• Voters turn to newspapers and magazines to understand the issues
• Network news shows are too long
• Editors need to take more responsibility for programming
A
Cross-ownership refers to:
• A company owning radio and television stations in different parts of the country
• Companies like Gannett that own numerous newspapers
• A company owning a newspaper and television station in the same market
• Entertainment giants like the Walt Disney Company that own television networks
• Cable companies that are the sole service providers in a community
C
All of the following work against a liberal bias in the
media EXCEPT:• Most news about government and politics comes
from official sources• Journalists are trained to be objective and
present both sides of a story• Editors and publishers are more conservative
than reporters• Broadcast and print journalists as a group tend
to support the Democratic Party• Major media outlets are owned by larger
corporations whose primary business is not news
D
The Supreme Court made it more difficult for public officials falsely attacked in the media
to sue for libel in:• New York Times v. Sullivan
• New York Times v. US
• Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC
• Engel v. Vitale
• Bucley v. Valeo
A
News coverage of Congress:
• Is devoted to scandals like the impeachment of President Clinton
• Is primarily the responsibility of C-SPAN• Focuses on the leadership in the House
and the Senate• Is influenced by the White House press
secretary• Is more thorough on network television
than in the pressC
Which of the following newspaper headlines suggests
investigative reporting?• “Abuse of patients in nursing homes in the
state uncovered”• “Fire guts office structure; arson suspected”• “President to hold summit with Chinese
leaders”• “Stock prices drop as corporate
brankruptcies rise”• “Attorney General to rule on Special
Prosecutor”A
The media plays a key role in politics by:
• Determining who gets elected to state and federal offices
• Helping to set the issues that political leaders need to address
• Presenting elected officials in the best possible light to the public
• Reinforcing values such as patriotism and family
• Paying candidates for exclusive stories
B
Interest Groups
When a political action committee makes a
contribution to an elected official, the expectation is:• The elected official will vote the way the interest
group wants• The interest group will have access to the
elected official• The elected official will provide jobs for members
of the interest group• The elected official will make sure the interest
group is not audited by the IRS• The elected official will kick back a portion of the
contribution to lobbyists
B
All of the following are examples of economic interest
groups EXCEPT:• American Farm Bureau Federation
• Consumer Union of the US
• Service Employees International Union
• American Bankers Association
• American Federation of Teachers
B; that’s a public interest grp
In order to contribute to the campaign of a presidential
candidate, an interest group:• Can make the donation directly to the
candidate
• Must earmark money for voter education
• Can only give the money to the national party
• Must create a political action committee to raise and distribute money
• Must approve ads bought with its moneyD
The free-rider problem refers to:
• Candidates for office who face no primary opposition
• A candidate with great personal wealth who does not need PAC money
• Members of Congress who take gifts from lobbyists
• Non-germane amendments added to a bill• A person who benefits from an interest
group but does not joinE
Lobbyists try to influence public policy by all of the
following EXCEPT:• Mobilizing grass roots support
• Testifying before congressional committees
• Meeting with federal district judges
• Speaking with heads of federal agencies
• Providing research data to government officialsC: such meetings really not allowed
A lobbyist for the NRA is most likely to get the support of:
• A Republican who voted for the Brady Bill
• An incumbent facing a difficult reelection
• A liberal Democrat
• A newly elected Senator
• A conservative Republican
E
Interest groups participate in electoral politics by:
• I endorsing candidates
• II urging members to vote for a candidate
• III running candidates for office
• IV lobbying for term limits for Congress
I and II
The people attracted to interest groups are most likely:• College-educated
• Social conservatives
• Committed independent voters
• Liberal activists
• Racial/ethnic minorities
A
Which one of the following statements about lobbyists is
NOT true?• Lobbyists are often former government officials• Lobbyists must register with the House and the
Senate• Lobbyists cannot represent foreign countries• Many interest groups have their own lobbyists
on staff• Strong interpersonal skills are important to a
lobbyist’s success
C; i.e. Israeli Lobby
A former under secretary in the Department of Energy
becomes a consultant for the American Petroleum Institute and testifies before Congress
on the regulation of offshore oil drilling. This is:
• An iron triangle
• Influence peddling
• An issue network
• The revolving door
• Effective lobbying
D
Which of the following statements about interest
groups is valid?• Interest groups only try to influence
policymaking at the federal level• Interest groups are only composed of individual
members• The potential membership of an interest group is
almost always greater than its actual membership
• Interest groups get all of their funding from membership dues
• Interest groups are most effective when they deal with multiple issues
C
Lobbyists must file reports of their activities, including information
about their clients, with:• The Federal Election Commission
• The Justice Department
• The Securities and Exchange Commission
• The House of Representatives and the Senate
• Office of Management and Budget
D
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