GRADING SCALE FOR MIDTERM EXAMS (This is for your information only. Final grades will be determined by total points, including extra credit points, according to the scale given on your syllabus.)
36-up = A
35 = A-
34 = B+
32-33 = B
31 = B-
30 = C+
28-29 = C
27 = C-
26 = D+
24-25 = D
23 = D-
22-below = F
Political Science 1014
Fall, 2008, Exam #3
Form A
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
a. to inform the networks of an election outcome in advance of vote counting.
*b. to shape people’s perception of particular candidates.
c. to provide campaigns with knowledge of how well they are doing.
d. to assess the opinions of subgroups, like women or minorities.
2. Your text points out that the “illusion of salience” is a result of
a. liberal media bias.
b. public ignorance about politics.
c. “negative” political advertising.
*d. polling designed to make news.
3. “Proportional representation” refers to
a. a voting system where one must have a majority to win.
b. a voting system where only a plurality is needed to win.
*c. a voting system that awards seats on the basis of percentage of the vote.
d. a voting system that calls for runoff elections if nobody gets a plurality.
4.
a. 11.
*b. 13.
c. 22.
d. 24.
5. A referendum allows voters a chance to
a. pass a new law.
b. get rid of a corrupt official.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. reject an existing law.
6. People who vote for candidates based on their campaign promises are engaging in
*a. prospective voting.
b. delusive voting.
c. retrospective voting.
d. character voting.
*a. Obama.
b. McCain.
c. Bush.
d. Kerry.
8. The purpose of a PAC is to
a. increase voter turnout.
b. lobby Congress.
c. discourage people from voting.
*d. raise money to give to candidates.
9. For a presidential election, the proportion of those eligible who actually vote is about
a. 90%
b. 67%
*c. 50%
d. 33%
10. The Democratic Party traces its origin to
a. Franklin Roosevelt.
b. Abraham Lincoln.
c. Andrew Jackson.
*d. Thomas Jefferson.
11. Single-member districts and winner-take-all elections help explain why
*a. there are only two major parties.
b. American parties are ideologically polarized.
c. voter turnout is low when there is no presidential election.
d. there has been no realignment recently.
12. The theory of pluralism sees interest groups as
a. a source of corruption in the political system.
b. likely to produce tyranny of the majority.
*c. good and necessary parts of politics.
d. a temporary phase that will go away soon.
13. The purposive benefits that interest groups can provide appeal to those who
a. want a tangible payoff for belonging.
*b. are highly motivated by ideas and causes.
c. join groups mainly to make friends.
d. are interested in running for office themselves.
a. produces the best possible public policy.
b. includes everybody in its membership.
c. has leaders who accept no salaries.
*d. produces collective (or “public”) goods.
15. When we speak of interest groups’ lobbying the executive branch, we mean
a. that they take their issues to court.
b. that they try to get campaign finance laws changed.
*c. that they try to affect how bureaucrats interpret the law.
d. that they give monetary payoffs to public officials.
16. . A person’s political party preference is primarily acquired through the influence of
*a. her or his family.
b. the region of the country he or she lives in.
c. her or his education.
d. the media he or she consumes.
17. What we know about political socialization tells us that
a. most college students haven’t formed most of their basic opinions.
b. the most influential factor in socialization is the church.
*c. most people acquire their opinions before they have much political knowledge.
d. peer group opinions have little or no effect on adults’ beliefs.
18. For a public opinion poll to be valid, it must be based on a
*a. random sample.
b. stratified sample.
c. instrumental sample.
d. complete population.
19. According to Prof. Walcott, one important consequence of a party realignment has always been that
a. one party dominates the North, the other the South.
b. one of the existing parties is replaced by a former minor party.
*c. parties become more important to people.
d. parties come to resemble one another more closely.
20. Our guest lecturer, Ms. Phant, explained about
a. minority group voting participation.
*b. the Republican party.
c. women’s rights interest groups.
d. campaign finance reform.
21. A “free rider” is
a. someone who does not vote in elections.
*b. someone who enjoys the benefits of public goods without paying for them.
c. someone who claims to be a member of a party but often votes the other way.
d. someone whose political attitudes are neither informed nor consistent.
22. The measure of an opinion poll’s accuracy is called the
*a. sampling error.
b. validity.
c. random coefficient.
d. estimation parameter.
23. A major change in party activity in the South since the 1960s is
a. the emergence of a viable third party.
b. a sharp decline in voter turnout.
c. a decline in the level of party competition in state elections.
*d. the growing strength of the Republican party.
24. According to Mancur Olson’s economics-based theory of interest groups, people only join interest groups if there is either social pressure or
a. a cause that people believe in.
b. a link to a party or a campaign.
c. a opportunities to meet new people.
*d. a selective benefit for joining.
25. In discussing interest group formation, Prof. Walcott noted the importance of entrepreneurs like
a. Bill Gates and Donald Trump.
b. Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien.
c. Sarah Palin and Jesse Jackson.
*d. Pat Robertson and Ralph Nader.
26. When it was said that “the choir in pluralist heaven sings with an upper class accent,” this referred to the fact that
*a. interest groups overrpresent people who are well off.
b. a large proportion of interest groups represent religious groups.
c. the leaders of interest groups use them to get rich.
d. most interest groups support Republican causes.
27. The regional realignment that has taken place since the 1960s has tended to favor
a. the Democrats.
*b. the Republicans.
c. independent third parties.
d. nobody – there has been no such realignment.
28. Americans tend to voluntarily obey laws made by those we have elected. In this way, elections
*a. legitimize leadership.
b. familiarize citizens with leadership.
c. undermine leadership.
d. make leadership unnecessary.
29. Green and Gerber (in the Reader) argue that robocalls urging people to vote will
a. dramatically increase turnout in the short and long term.
b. increase turnout in the short term, but people will to back to non-voting.
*c. have little or no effect on turnout.
d. decrease turnout, because people hate robocalls.
30. The so-called “Bradley effect” occurs when
a. a television news story leads to changes in public policy.
*b. an African-American candidate gets fewer votes than polls predicted.
c. a candidate in presidential primaries benefits from being liked by reporters.
d. a televised debate produces a serious mistake by one of the candidates.
31. As individuals age, they typically
a. participate less in politics.
b. care less about economic issues.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. become more conservative.
32. When news reports
compare the current financial crisis to others in
a. setting the policy agenda.
b. performing as watchdogs.
*c. framing the news.
d. carrying interelite communication.
33. Groseclose and Milyo (in the Reader) claim that the media have which kind of bias?
*a. liberal
b. anti-establishment
c. structural
d. pro-establishment
34. Which of the following states was a “battleground” or swing state in the 2008 presidential election?
a.
*b.
c.
d.
a. positive or negative adjectives applied to Democrats or Republicans.
*b. whether liberal or conservative think tanks or policy groups are quoted.
c. the political views of TV and print reporters, as told to pollsters.
d. the number of liberals or conservatives interviewed on TV news shows.
36. To survey the
population of the
a. 100
*b. 1500
c. 100,000
d. 1,000,000
37. According to your text, the gender gap is least apparent on the issue of
a. going to war.
b. homosexuals in the military.
*c. abortion.
d. environmental protection.
38. Conservatives tend to
a. support government efforts at social reform.
*b. oppose having a large and powerful government.
c. advocate aggressive protection for consumers and the environment.
d. support strict separation of church and state.
39. According to the text, differences between Democrats and Republicans on “culture war” issues (abortion, gay rights, etc.) have been
a. increasing sharply.
b. decreasing sharply.
*c. increasing very little, if at all.
d. huge all along, and staying that way.
40. Journalism went from supportive of presidents to adversarial as a reaction to
a. the Great Depression of the 1930s.
b. the assassination of President Kennedy.
c. President Clinton’s impeachment.
*d. the Vietnam War.
Political Science 1014
Fall, 2008, Exam #3
Form B
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. According to your text, the gender gap is least apparent on the issue of
a. going to war.
b. homosexuals in the military.
*c. abortion.
d. environmental protection.
2. Conservatives tend to
a. support government efforts at social reform.
*b. oppose having a large and powerful government.
c. advocate aggressive protection for consumers and the environment.
d. support strict separation of church and state.
3. According to the text, differences between Democrats and Republicans on “culture war” issues (abortion, gay rights, etc.) have been
a. increasing sharply.
b. decreasing sharply.
*c. increasing very little, if at all.
d. huge all along, and staying that way.
4. Journalism went from supportive of presidents to adversarial as a reaction to
a. the Great Depression of the 1930s.
b. the assassination of President Kennedy.
c. President Clinton’s impeachment.
*d. the Vietnam War.
5. The purpose of push polling is
a. to inform the networks of an election outcome in advance of vote counting.
*b. to shape people’s perception of particular candidates.
c. to provide campaigns with knowledge of how well they are doing.
d. to assess the opinions of subgroups, like women or minorities.
6. Your text points out that the “illusion of salience” is a result of
a. liberal media bias.
b. public ignorance about politics.
c. “negative” political advertising.
*d. polling designed to make news.
7. “Proportional representation” refers to
a. a voting system where one must have a majority to win.
b. a voting system where only a plurality is needed to win.
*c. a voting system that awards seats on the basis of percentage of the vote.
d. a voting system that calls for runoff elections if nobody gets a plurality.
8.
a. 11.
*b. 13.
c. 22.
d. 24.
9. A referendum allows voters a chance to
a. pass a new law.
b. get rid of a corrupt official.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. reject an existing law.
10. People who vote for candidates based on their campaign promises are engaging in
*a. prospective voting.
b. delusive voting.
c. retrospective voting.
d. character voting.
*a. Obama.
b. McCain.
c. Bush.
d. Kerry.
12. The purpose of a PAC is to
a. increase voter turnout.
b. lobby Congress.
c. discourage people from voting.
*d. raise money to give to candidates.
13. For a presidential election, the proportion of those eligible who actually vote is about
a. 90%
b. 67%
*c. 50%
d. 33%
14. The Democratic Party traces its origin to
a. Franklin Roosevelt.
b. Abraham Lincoln.
c. Andrew Jackson.
*d. Thomas Jefferson.
15. Single-member districts and winner-take-all elections help explain why
*a. there are only two major parties.
b. American parties are ideologically polarized.
c. voter turnout is low when there is no presidential election.
d. there has been no realignment recently.
16. The theory of pluralism sees interest groups as
a. a source of corruption in the political system.
b. likely to produce tyranny of the majority.
*c. good and necessary parts of politics.
d. a temporary phase that will go away soon.
17. The purposive benefits that interest groups can provide appeal to those who
a. want a tangible payoff for belonging.
*b. are highly motivated by ideas and causes.
c. join groups mainly to make friends.
d. are interested in running for office themselves.
18. According to Prof. Walcott, a “public interest” group is one that
a. produces the best possible public policy.
b. includes everybody in its membership.
c. has leaders who accept no salaries.
*d. produces collective (or “public”) goods.
19 When we speak of interest groups’ lobbying the executive branch, we mean
a. that they take their issues to court.
b. that they try to get campaign finance laws changed.
*c. that they try to affect how bureaucrats interpret the law.
d. that they give monetary payoffs to public officials.
20. . A person’s political party preference is primarily acquired through the influence of
*a. her or his family.
b. the region of the country he or she lives in.
c. her or his education.
d. the media he or she consumes.
21. What we know about political socialization tells us that
a. most college students haven’t formed most of their basic opinions.
b. the most influential factor in socialization is the church.
*c. most people acquire their opinions before they have much political knowledge.
d. peer group opinions have little or no effect on adults’ beliefs.
22. For a public opinion poll to be valid, it must be based on a
*a. random sample.
b. stratified sample.
c. instrumental sample.
d. complete population.
23. According to Prof. Walcott, one important consequence of a party realignment has always been that
a. one party dominates the North, the other the South.
b. one of the existing parties is replaced by a former minor party.
*c. parties become more important to people.
d. parties come to resemble one another more closely.
24. Our guest lecturer, Ms. Phant, explained about
a. minority group voting participation.
*b. the Republican party.
c. women’s rights interest groups.
d. campaign finance reform.
25. A “free rider” is
a. someone who does not vote in elections.
*b. someone who enjoys the benefits of public goods without paying for them.
c. someone who claims to be a member of a party but often votes the other way.
d. someone whose political attitudes are neither informed nor consistent.
26. The measure of an opinion poll’s accuracy is called the
*a. sampling error.
b. validity.
c. random coefficient.
d. estimation parameter.
27. A major change in party activity in the South since the 1960s is
a. the emergence of a viable third party.
b. a sharp decline in voter turnout.
c. a decline in the level of party competition in state elections.
*d. the growing strength of the Republican party.
28. According to Mancur Olson’s economics-based theory of interest groups, people only join interest groups if there is either social pressure or
a. a cause that people believe in.
b. a link to a party or a campaign.
c. a opportunities to meet new people.
*d. a selective benefit for joining.
29. In discussing interest group formation, Prof. Walcott noted the importance of entrepreneurs like
a. Bill Gates and Donald Trump.
b. Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien.
c. Sarah Palin and Jesse Jackson.
*d. Pat Robertson and Ralph Nader.
30. When it was said that “the choir in pluralist heaven sings with an upper class accent,” this referred to the fact that
*a. interest groups overrpresent people who are well off.
b. a large proportion of interest groups represent religious groups.
c. the leaders of interest groups use them to get rich.
d. most interest groups support Republican causes.
31. The regional realignment that has taken place since the 1960s has tended to favor
a. the Democrats.
*b. the Republicans.
c. independent third parties.
d. nobody – there has been no such realignment.
32. Americans tend to voluntarily obey laws made by those we have elected. In this way, elections
*a. legitimize leadership.
b. familiarize citizens with leadership.
c. undermine leadership.
d. make leadership unnecessary.
33. Green and Gerber (in the Reader) argue that robocalls urging people to vote will
a. dramatically increase turnout in the short and long term.
b. increase turnout in the short term, but people will to back to non-voting.
*c. have little or no effect on turnout.
d. decrease turnout, because people hate robocalls.
34. The so-called “Bradley effect” occurs when
a. a television news story leads to changes in public policy.
*b. an African-American candidate gets fewer votes than polls predicted.
c. a candidate in presidential primaries benefits from being liked by reporters.
d. a televised debate produces a serious mistake by one of the candidates.
35. As individuals age, they typically
a. participate less in politics.
b. care less about economic issues.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. become more conservative.
36. When news reports
compare the current financial crisis to others in
a. setting the policy agenda.
b. performing as watchdogs.
*c. framing the news.
d. carrying interelite communication.
37. Groseclose and Milyo (in the Reader) claim that the media have which kind of bias?
*a. liberal
b. anti-establishment
c. structural
d. pro-establishment
38. Which of the following states was a “battleground” or swing state in the 2008 presidential election?
a.
*b.
c.
d.
39. Groseclose and Milyo (in the Reader) measure media bias by counting
a. positive or negative adjectives applied to Democrats or Republicans.
*b. whether liberal or conservative think tanks or policy groups are quoted.
c. the political views of TV and print reporters, as told to pollsters.
d. the number of liberals or conservatives interviewed on TV news shows.
40. To survey the
population of the
a. 100
*b. 1500
c. 100,000
d. 1,000,000
Political Science 1014
Fall, 2008, Exam #3
Form C
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. In the 2008
presidential election,
*a. Obama.
b. McCain.
c. Bush.
d. Kerry.
2. The purpose of a PAC is to
a. increase voter turnout.
b. lobby Congress.
c. discourage people from voting.
*d. raise money to give to candidates.
3. For a presidential election, the proportion of those eligible who actually vote is about
a. 90%
b. 67%
*c. 50%
d. 33%
4. The Democratic Party traces its origin to
a. Franklin Roosevelt.
b. Abraham Lincoln.
c. Andrew Jackson.
*d. Thomas Jefferson.
5. Single-member
districts and winner-take-all elections help explain why
*a. there are only two major parties.
b. American parties are ideologically polarized.
c. voter turnout is low when there is no presidential election.
d. there has been no realignment recently.
6. The theory of pluralism sees interest groups as
a. a source of corruption in the political system.
b. likely to produce tyranny of the majority.
*c. good and necessary parts of politics.
d. a temporary phase that will go away soon.
a. want a tangible payoff for belonging.
*b. are highly motivated by ideas and causes.
c. join groups mainly to make friends.
d. are interested in running for office themselves.
a. produces the best possible public policy.
b. includes everybody in its membership.
c. has leaders who accept no salaries.
*d. produces collective (or “public”) goods.
9. When we speak of interest groups’ lobbying the executive branch, we mean
a. that they take their issues to court.
b. that they try to get campaign finance laws changed.
*c. that they try to affect how bureaucrats interpret the law.
d. that they give monetary payoffs to public officials.
10. A person’s political party preference is primarily acquired through the influence of
*a. her or his family.
b. the region of the country he or she lives in.
c. her or his education.
d. the media he or she consumes.
11. What we know about political socialization tells us that
a. most college students haven’t formed most of their basic opinions.
b. the most influential factor in socialization is the church.
*c. most people acquire their opinions before they have much political knowledge.
d. peer group opinions have little or no effect on adults’ beliefs.
12. For a public opinion poll to be valid, it must be based on a
*a. random sample.
b. stratified sample.
c. instrumental sample.
d. complete population.
13. According to Prof. Walcott, one important consequence of a party realignment has always been that
a. one party dominates the North, the other the South.
b. one of the existing parties is replaced by a former minor party.
*c. parties become more important to people.
d. parties come to resemble one another more closely.
a. minority group voting participation.
*b. the Republican party.
c. women’s rights interest groups.
d. campaign finance reform.
15. A “free rider” is
a. someone who does not vote in elections.
*b. someone who enjoys the benefits of public goods without paying for them.
c. someone who claims to be a member of a party but often votes the other way.
d. someone whose political attitudes are neither informed nor consistent.
16. The measure of an opinion poll’s accuracy is called the
*a. sampling error.
b. validity.
c. random coefficient.
d. estimation parameter.
17. A major change in party activity in the South since the 1960s is
a. the emergence of a viable third party.
b. a sharp decline in voter turnout.
c. a decline in the level of party competition in state elections.
*d. the growing strength of the Republican party.
18. According to Mancur Olson’s economics-based theory of interest groups, people only join interest groups if there is either social pressure or
a. a cause that people believe in.
b. a link to a party or a campaign.
c. a opportunities to meet new people.
*d. a selective benefit for joining.
19. In discussing interest group formation, Prof. Walcott noted the importance of entrepreneurs like
a. Bill Gates and Donald Trump.
b. Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien.
c. Sarah Palin and Jesse Jackson.
*d. Pat Robertson and Ralph Nader.
20. When it was said that “the choir in pluralist heaven sings with an upper class accent,” this referred to the fact that
*a. interest groups overrpresent people who are well off.
b. a large proportion of interest groups represent religious groups.
c. the leaders of interest groups use them to get rich.
d. most interest groups support Republican causes.
a. the Democrats.
*b. the Republicans.
c. independent third parties.
d. nobody – there has been no such realignment.
22. Americans tend to voluntarily obey laws made by those we have elected. In this way, elections
*a. legitimize leadership.
b. familiarize citizens with leadership.
c. undermine leadership.
d. make leadership unnecessary.
23. Green and Gerber (in the Reader) argue that robocalls urging people to vote will
a. dramatically increase turnout in the short and long term.
b. increase turnout in the short term, but people will to back to non-voting.
*c. have little or no effect on turnout.
d. decrease turnout, because people hate robocalls.
24. The so-called “Bradley effect” occurs when
a. a television news story leads to changes in public policy.
*b. an African-American candidate gets fewer votes than polls predicted.
c. a candidate in presidential primaries benefits from being liked by reporters.
d. a televised debate produces a serious mistake by one of the candidates.
25. As individuals age, they typically
a. participate less in politics.
b. care less about economic issues.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. become more conservative.
26. When news reports
compare the current financial crisis to others in
a. setting the policy agenda.
b. performing as watchdogs.
*c. framing the news.
d. carrying interelite communication.
27. Groseclose and Milyo (in the Reader) claim that the media have which kind of bias?
*a. liberal
b. anti-establishment
c. structural
d. pro-establishment
a.
*b.
c.
d.
29. Groseclose and Milyo (in the Reader) measure media bias by counting
a. positive or negative adjectives applied to Democrats or Republicans.
*b. whether liberal or conservative think tanks or policy groups are quoted.
c. the political views of TV and print reporters, as told to pollsters.
d. the number of liberals or conservatives interviewed on TV news shows.
30. To survey the
population of the
a. 100
*b. 1500
c. 100,000
d. 1,000,000
31. According to your text, the gender gap is least apparent on the issue of
a. going to war.
b. homosexuals in the military.
*c. abortion.
d. environmental protection.
32. Conservatives tend to
a. support government efforts at social reform.
*b. oppose having a large and powerful government.
c. advocate aggressive protection for consumers and the environment.
d. support strict separation of church and state.
33. According to the text, differences between Democrats and Republicans on “culture war” issues (abortion, gay rights, etc.) have been
a. increasing sharply.
b. decreasing sharply.
*c. increasing very little, if at all.
d. huge all along, and staying that way.
34. Journalism went from supportive of presidents to adversarial as a reaction to
a. the Great Depression of the 1930s.
b. the assassination of President Kennedy.
c. President Clinton’s impeachment.
*d. the Vietnam War.
a. to inform the networks of an election outcome in advance of vote counting.
*b. to shape people’s perception of particular candidates.
c. to provide campaigns with knowledge of how well they are doing.
d. to assess the opinions of subgroups, like women or minorities.
36. Your text points out that the “illusion of salience” is a result of
a. liberal media bias.
b. public ignorance about politics.
c. “negative” political advertising.
*d. polling designed to make news.
37. “Proportional representation” refers to
a. a voting system where one must have a majority to win.
b. a voting system where only a plurality is needed to win.
*c. a voting system that awards seats on the basis of percentage of the vote.
d. a voting system that calls for runoff elections if nobody gets a plurality.
38
a. 11.
*b. 13.
c. 22.
d. 24.
39. A referendum allows voters a chance to
a. pass a new law.
b. get rid of a corrupt official.
c. change their party affiliation.
*d. reject an existing law.
40. People who vote for candidates based on their campaign promises are engaging in
*a. prospective voting.
b. delusive voting.
c. retrospective voting.
d. character voting.
Political Science 1014
Fall 2008 – Exam 2
Form A
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. The main purpose of pork-barrel legislation is
a. to help farmers make profits.
b. to save taxpayers’ money.
c. to regulate the economy.
*d. to get members of Congress reelected.
2. If, as a representative, I know my constituents oppose new taxes, but I vote for them anyway because I think they are needed, I would be called a
a. principal agent.
b. delegate.
c. flip-flopper.
*d. trustee.
3. An incumbent is
a. someone who feels obligated to serve constituents.
*b. someone who is running for an office they already hold.
c. someone who is challenging an existing officeholder in an election.
d. someone who has gotten his or her job through political connections.
4. The Democrats hope to win a majority of seats in the U.S. Senate this year. In order to be able to defeat a filibuster by themselves, they would need to win
a. 50 seats.
b. 51 seats.
*c. 60 seats.
d. 67 seats.
5. The primary purpose of the whip system in each house of Congress is
*a. to communicate between the leadership and rank-and-file members.
b. to raise money and plan strategy to get members reelected.
c. to discipline members for defying their leaders.
d. to make the sessions of the House and Senate more efficient.
6. When President Bush makes an executive agreement, he is making it with
*a. another country.
b. a member of the Cabinet.
c. the leaders of Congress.
d. the Supreme Court.
7. The purpose of the War Powers Resolution was to
a. delegate all war powers to the president.
*b. restore Congress’s role in declaring war.
c. ask the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion.
d.
strengthen
8. When a president claims executive privilege, he is claiming the right to
a. interpret the Constitution.
b. be immune from prosecution in the courts.
c. refuse to enforce laws passed by Congress.
*d. communicate confidentially with advisers.
9. When political scientists talk about the “permanent campaign,” they are referring to
a. the fact that there is an election at some level of government every year.
b. how members of Congress use spending to try to win support.
*c. presidents’ constantly trying to build popular support.
d. the way the parties in Congress constantly criticize one another.
10. Carrying out the law is the primary responsibility of
a. Congress.
*b. the bureaucracy.
c. the White House staff.
d. the courts.
11. Efforts by Congress to shrink the size of the federal government have
a. been mostly effective and saved much money.
*b. been, overall, unsuccessful.
c. been effective only when Congress is controlled by Republicans.
d. been effective only when Congress is controlled by Democrats.
12. The main argument in favor of privatization of government functions is that it
*a. leads to greater efficiency.
b. stimulates economic growth.
c. makes oversight by Congress easier.
d. lets the public see who is responsible for errors.
13. The term stare decisis refers to the way courts respect
*a. the rule of precedent.
b. the powers of the president.
c. the
logic of
d. the original language of the Constitution.
a. a dead body.
*b. a prisoner.
c. a wanted felon.
d. a law.
15. The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is
a. Antonin Scalia.
b. William Rehnquist.
c. John Ashcroft.
*d. John Roberts.
16. One rule that the Senate has but the House does not is the rule permitting
a. the Speaker to assign bills to committee.
b. subcommittees to kill bills.
c. committee chairs to be replaced by their members.
*d. unlimited debate on most bills.
17. The president’s emergency power was created by
a. the Constitution, in Article 2.
b. an amendment to the Constitution.
*c. President Lincoln, during the Civil War.
d.
President Bush, after
18. An indication of whether Congress does or does not provide descriptive representation would be:
*a. the number of women in Congress.
b. whether it passes laws that are popular with the public.
c. whether its members are usually reelected or not.
d. whether the president has to veto many bills or only a few.
19. The House Rules Committee
a. is solely responsible for tax laws.
*b. sets limits on floor debate.
c. oversees the executive branch.
d. was abolished in 1995.
20. According to Prof. Walcott, we view certain presidents as “great” primarily because
a. the led the country to victory in war.
b. they were very popular with the public.
*c. they added to the power of the presidency.
d. they were liberals, like most historians.
a. Department of Education.
b. Department of the Interior.
c. Department of Commerce.
*d. Department of State.
22. According to Prof. Walcott, impersonality is a positive aspect of bureaucracy because it leads to
a. expertise on the job.
b. lack of visibility to the public.
*c. bureaucratic fairness.
d. strong leadership.
23. A “political executive” is
*a. an administrator appointed by the president.
b. an official of a political party.
c. a member of the White House staff.
d. a civil servant.
24. The term “Senatorial courtesy” refers to
a. the politeness Senators show toward one another.
b. earmarked projects that Senators get for their states.
c. how the Senate defers to the president on many issues.
*d. the influence of Senators over judicial appointments.
25. The Title IX story illustrates that the final say over public policy issues belongs to
a. the Supreme Court.
b. the president.
c. Congress.
*d. none of the above.
26. Administrative rule making is
a. a way for Congress to control the bureaucracy.
*b. a way for bureaucrats to interpret and apply laws.
c. a way for presidents to exert influence over bureaucrats.
d. a practice that is technically illegal.
27. A key event in the increasing politicization of judicial nominations was the Senate’s rejection of
a. Clarence Thomas.
b. Lani Guinier.
*c. Robert Bork.
d. Samuel Alito.
*a. the civil service.
b. the federal courts.
c. the White House staff.
d. congressional staff.
29. Federal judges may be removed only
a. every six years, by election.
b. by special recall elections.
c. by the president, whenever he chooses.
*d. by impeachment in Congress.
30. According to Prof. Walcott, when presidents try to influence Congress by “going public” and appealing directly to the people to lobby Congress,
a. it usually works on virtually all issues.
*b. it rarely works on any issues.
c. it usually works on taxes, but not otherwise.
d. it usually works on national defense issues, but not otherwise.
31. An “iron triangle” connects congressional committees, agencies of the bureaucracy, and
a. political parties.
b. sympathetic district courts.
*c. interest groups.
d. the media.
32. The White House staff’s role in presidential decision-making is primarily to promote his attention to
a. the point of view of the president’s party.
*b. as wide a variety of views as possible.
c. his chances for reelection.
d. his campaign promises.
33. The theory, advanced by President Bush, that only the president can exercise control over the actions of the bureaucracy, is referred to as
a. separated institutions sharing power.
*b. the unitary executive.
c. the security state.
d. administrative exclusivity.
34. In the federal court system, the court of original jurisdiction is
*a. the federal district court.
b. the circuit court of appeals.
c. the family court.
d. the special tribunal.
35. The Executive Office of the President includes
a. the Department of Defense.
b. the Cabinet.
*c. the Office of Management and Budget.
d. the Vice President.
36. The likelihood that a president will nominate a member of his own party for a judicial appointment is
*a. over 90%.
b. about 50%.
c. around 33%.
d. roughly 67%.
37. According to
David Mayhew (in the Reader), when members of Congress want to engage
in credit
claiming, their best approach is usually
a. claim credit for the state
of the economy.
*b. claim credit for particularized benefits.
c. claim credit for the achievements of one’s political party.
d. claim credit for successes in foreign policy.
38. Suppose a member of Congress who is in trouble with the voters tries to improve her position by stating her strong opposition to illegal immigration. In Mayhew’s term this would be
a. advertising.
b. credit claiming.
*c. position taking.
d. deception.
39. James Q. Wilson (in the Reader) says that effective change in bureaucratic organization comes from a combination of authority, culture, and
*a. incentives.
b. privatization.
c. oversight.
d. risk-taking.
40. According to
a. privatized.
*b. deregulated.
c. downsized.
d. overseen.
Fall 2008 – Exam 2
Form B
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. The purpose of the War Powers Resolution was to
a. delegate all war powers to the president.
*b. restore Congress’s role in declaring war.
c. ask the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion.
d.
strengthen
2. When a president claims executive privilege, he is claiming the right to
a. interpret the Constitution.
b. be immune from prosecution in the courts.
c. refuse to enforce laws passed by Congress.
*d. communicate confidentially with advisers.
3. When political scientists talk about the “permanent campaign,” they are referring to
a. the fact that there is an election at some level of government every year.
b. how members of Congress use spending to try to win support.
*c. presidents’ constantly trying to build popular support.
d. the way the parties in Congress constantly criticize one another.
4. Carrying out the law is the primary responsibility of
a. Congress.
*b. the bureaucracy.
c. the White House staff.
d. the courts.
5. Efforts by Congress to shrink the size of the federal government have
a. been mostly effective and saved much money.
*b. been, overall, unsuccessful.
c. been effective only when Congress is controlled by Republicans.
d. been effective only when Congress is controlled by Democrats.
6. The main argument in favor of privatization of government functions is that it
*a. leads to greater efficiency.
b. stimulates economic growth.
c. makes oversight by Congress easier.
d. lets the public see who is responsible for errors.
*a. the rule of precedent.
b. the powers of the president.
c. the
logic of
d. the original language of the Constitution.
8. A writ of habeas corpus applies to
a. a dead body.
*b. a prisoner.
c. a wanted felon.
d. a law.
9. The current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is
a. Antonin Scalia.
b. William Rehnquist.
c. John Ashcroft.
*d. John Roberts.
10. One rule that the Senate has but the House does not is the rule permitting
a. the Speaker to assign bills to committee.
b. subcommittees to kill bills.
c. committee chairs to be replaced by their members.
*d. unlimited debate on most bills.
11. The president’s emergency power was created by
a. the Constitution, in Article 2.
b. an amendment to the Constitution.
*c. President Lincoln, during the Civil War.
d.
President Bush, after
12. An indication of whether Congress does or does not provide descriptive representation would be:
*a. the number of women in Congress.
b. whether it passes laws that are popular with the public.
c. whether its members are usually reelected or not.
d. whether the president has to veto many bills or only a few.
13. The House Rules Committee
a. is solely responsible for tax laws.
*b. sets limits on floor debate.
c. oversees the executive branch.
d. was abolished in 1995.
a. the led the country to victory in war.
b. they were very popular with the public.
*c. they added to the power of the presidency.
d. they were liberals, like most historians.
15. Which of the following departments is part of the “inner” cabinet?
a. Department of Education.
b. Department of the Interior.
c. Department of Commerce.
*d. Department of State.
16. According to Prof. Walcott, impersonality is a positive aspect of bureaucracy because it leads to
a. expertise on the job.
b. lack of visibility to the public.
*c. bureaucratic fairness.
d. strong leadership.
17. A “political executive” is
*a. an administrator appointed by the president.
b. an official of a political party.
c. a member of the White House staff.
d. a civil servant.
18. The term “Senatorial courtesy” refers to
a. the politeness Senators show toward one another.
b. earmarked projects that Senators get for their states.
c. how the Senate defers to the president on many issues.
*d. the influence of Senators over judicial appointments.
19. The Title IX story illustrates that the final say over public policy issues belongs to
a. the Supreme Court.
b. the president.
c. Congress.
*d. none of the above.
20. Administrative
rule making is
a. a way for Congress to control the bureaucracy.
*b. a way for bureaucrats to interpret and apply laws.
c. a way for presidents to exert influence over bureaucrats.
d. a practice that is technically illegal.
a. Clarence Thomas.
b. Lani Guinier.
*c. Robert Bork.
d. Samuel Alito.
22. The phrase “neutral competence” is associated with the purpose of
*a. the civil service.
b. the federal courts.
c. the White House staff.
d. congressional staff.
23. Federal judges may be removed only
a. every six years, by election.
b. by special recall elections.
c. by the president, whenever he chooses.
*d. by impeachment in Congress.
24. According to Prof. Walcott, when presidents try to influence Congress by “going public” and appealing directly to the people to lobby Congress,
a. it usually works on virtually all issues.
*b. it rarely works on any issues.
c. it usually works on taxes, but not otherwise.
d. it usually works on national defense issues, but not otherwise.
25. An “iron triangle” connects congressional committees, agencies of the bureaucracy, and
a. political parties.
b. sympathetic district courts.
*c. interest groups.
d. the media.
26. The White House staff’s role in presidential decision-making is primarily to promote his attention to
a. the point of view of the president’s party.
*b. as wide a variety of views as possible.
c. his chances for reelection.
d. his campaign promises.
27. The theory, advanced by President Bush, that only the president can exercise control over the actions of the bureaucracy, is referred to as
a. separated institutions sharing power.
*b. the unitary executive.
c. the security state.
d. administrative exclusivity.
28. In the federal court system, the court of original jurisdiction is
*a. the federal district court.
b. the circuit court of appeals.
c. the family court.
d. the special tribunal.
29. The Executive Office of the President includes
a. the Department of Defense.
b. the Cabinet.
*c. the Office of Management and Budget.
d. the Vice President.
30. The likelihood that a president will nominate a member of his own party for a judicial appointment is
*a. over 90%.
b. about 50%.
c. around 33%.
d. roughly 67%.
31. According to
David Mayhew (in the Reader), when members of Congress want to engage
in credit
claiming, their best approach is usually
a. claim credit for the state
of the economy.
*b. claim credit for particularized benefits.
c. claim credit for the achievements of one’s political party.
d. claim credit for successes in foreign policy.
32. Suppose a member of Congress who is in trouble with the voters tries to improve her position by stating her strong opposition to illegal immigration. In Mayhew’s term this would be
a. advertising.
b. credit claiming.
*c. position taking.
d. deception.
33. James Q. Wilson (in the Reader) says that effective change in bureaucratic organization comes from a combination of authority, culture, and
*a. incentives.
b. privatization.
c. oversight.
d. risk-taking.
34. According to
a. privatized.
*b. deregulated.
c. downsized.
d. overseen.
35. The main purpose of pork-barrel legislation is
a. to help farmers make profits.
b. to save taxpayers’ money.
c. to regulate the economy.
*d. to get members of Congress reelected.
36. If, as a representative, I know my constituents oppose new taxes, but I vote for them anyway because I think they are needed, I would be called a
a. principal agent.
b. delegate.
c. flip-flopper.
*d. trustee.
37. An incumbent is
a. someone who feels obligated to serve constituents.
*b. someone who is running for an office they already hold.
c. someone who is challenging an existing officeholder in an election.
d. someone who has gotten his or her job through political connections.
38. The Democrats hope to win a majority of seats in the U.S. Senate this year. In order to be able to defeat a filibuster by themselves, they would need to win
a. 50 seats.
b. 51 seats.
*c. 60 seats.
d. 67 seats.
39. The primary purpose of the whip system in each house of Congress is
*a. to communicate between the leadership and rank-and-file members.
b. to raise money and plan strategy to get members reelected.
c. to discipline members for defying their leaders.
d. to make the sessions of the House and Senate more efficient.
40. When President Bush makes an executive agreement, he is making it with
*a. another country.
b. a member of the Cabinet.
c. the leaders of Congress.
d. the Supreme Court.
Fall, 2008 – Exam #1
Form A
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. Gerald Posner’s “Not a Suicide Pact” argues in favor of
a. stronger protection of citizens’ First Amendment rights.
*b. restrictions on rights in order to combat terrorism.
c. equal rights for persons of different ethnic backgrounds.
d. abolition of the so-called “emergency power.”
2. Your textbook points out that a key element that defines representative democracy is
a. a Bill of Rights.
b. executive supremacy.
c. a common culture.
*d. delegation of authority.
3. In Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons,” the “tragedy” results from
*a. people pursuing their self-interest.
b. individuals’ dishonesty and deceit.
c. socialist ideology.
d. too much government regulation.
4. Federalism is defined as
a. separation of powers among three branches of government.
b. the expressed powers of Congress in the Constitution.
*c. division of power between the national government and the states.
d. government under a written Constitution.
5. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review is based on
a. Article I of the Constitution.
b. the Fourth Amendment.
c. authorization from Congress.
*d. the decision in Marbury v. Madison.
6. The antifederalists opposed the original Constitution because
*a. it made the national government too strong.
b. it did not have a unitary executive.
c. it allowed too much power to the states.
d. it gave too much authority to the courts.
a.
that
certain procedures must be followed in admitting new states to the
union.
b.
that the
*c.
that
federal rights have been applied to the states, but only one at a time.
d.
that the
federal government can regulate businesses.
8. According to Prof. Walcott, the development of political parties is an example of
a. legislative
elaboration.
*b.
custom
and usage.
c.
presidential practice.
d.
judicial
interpretation.
9. The use of categorical grants in aid is a characteristic of
*a. cooperative federalism.
b. dual federalism.
c. competitive federalism.
d. indirect federalism.
10. The case of Gibbons v. Ogden is important because it
a. made revenue sharing unconstitutional.
b. ruled that the right to bear arms applies to individuals.
*c. enlarged national government power through the commerce clause.
d. established that the Constitution contains a right to privacy.
11. Article I of the Constitution mainly answers the question:
*a. How
powerful will the government be?
b.
Who
governs?
c.
What
defines citizenship?
d.
How do we
protect citizens from the government?
12. An example of the Constitution’s checks and balances is
a. the states’ sovereign immunity.
*b. the president’s veto power.
c. protection of freedom of religion.
d. the Electoral College.
13. “Protection of the freedom of individuals from government interference” is a definition of
a. civil rights.
b. constitutionalism
*c. civil liberties.
d. conservatism.
a. how the “right to privacy” was developed.
*b. how the 14th amendment has “incorporated” certain rights.
c. how the courts define separation of church and state.
d. the protection against illegal searches and seizures.
15. When racial
discrimination is not the deliberate result of the law, we call it
*a. de
facto discrimination.
b. arbitrary
discrimination.
c. de
jure discrimination.
d.
coincident discrimination .
16. Which of the following best describes how the Supreme Court now views affirmative action as it applies to college admissions?
a. colleges may use any means they choose to insure a diverse student body.
*b. colleges may pursue the goal of diversity, but not use admissions quotas.
c. the Court has never ruled on affirmative action in cases relating to colleges.
d. all forms of affirmative action have been found unconstitutional.
17. If the government attempts to impose prior restraint, it is
a. jailing a suspect before that person is convicted of any crime.
b. outlawing sexual activity that occurs in private.
c. prohibiting certain religious practices that involve drugs.
*d. trying to prevent the media from publishing something.
18. When
a. making government more efficient.
b. allowing the wisest people to have the most power.
*c. making tyranny less likely.
d. encouraging the formation of political parties.
19. Your text discusses President Nixon’s claim of “executive privilege.” The privilege that Nixon sought was
a. immunity from prosecution after impeachment.
*b. protection of his files and tapes from use in a trial.
c. the right to detain enemy soldiers indefinitely with no trial.
d. to force TV networks to carry a presidential speech.
20. In the Constitution, the framers tried to give supremacy to
a. the executive branch.
*b. the legislative branch.
c. the judicial branch.
d. the states.
a. separation of powers.
b. bicameral legislatures.
*c. federalism.
d. confederacies.
22. In Federalist
#10,
a. a strong educational system.
b. a powerful Supreme Court.
*c. a large and diverse population.
d. a strong chief executive.
23. The case of Miranda v. Arizona involved
a. the use of busing to achieve racial balance in schools.
b. whether the government could suppress news stories.
*c. the rights of a criminal suspect under interrogation.
d. the grading practices of a teaching assistant.
24. The outcome of the Gideon v. Wainwright case was
a. to uphold the exclusionary rule
*b. to apply a provision of the Bill of Rights to state law.
c. to limit the right to free expression of religion.
d. to clarify the meaning of affirmative action.
25. In Daniel Elazar’s typology of regional political cultures (as described by Prof. Walcott in class), most of the South is classified as
*a. traditional.
b. individualistic.
c. moralistic.
d. collectivistic.
26. The case of District of
Columbia v. Heller, which
was decided after your text was written, concerned
a. the treatment of suspected terrorists.
*b. an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.
c. prayers at public school graduations.
d. affirmative action in the hiring of police officers.
a.
English common law.
b.
practical experience.
c.
the
*d.
God.
a. the House is the least important part of the legislative branch.
*b. frequent elections make representatives more responsive to voters.
c. that is the same as the term for Senators and state governors.
d. the English parliament had 2-year terms for members.
29. When we talk about the “Madisonian model” we are referring to
a. federalism.
b. constitutionalism.
*c. separation of powers.
d. property rights.
30. According
to Prof. Walcott in lecture,
citizens view government as legitimate if
*a. they accept its right to make and
enforce laws.
b. they trust it to protect them.
c. they understand that disobedience
will be punished.
d. they agree with the policies of
its leaders.
31. Cooperative federalism was at its peak during the decade of
a. the 1820s.
b. the 1860s.
c. the 1920s.
*d. the 1960s.
32. The “Great Compromise” at the constitutional convention reconciled the competing views of
*a. large vs. small states.
b. North vs. South.
c. Federalists vs. Antifederalists.
d. the colonists vs. the British.
33. If a
*a. the citizen is entitled to a lawyer and some kind of trial.
b. the citizen has no rights at all.
c. the citizen may consult with a lawyer, but has no right to a trial.
d. the citizen has a right to a trial, but must represent himself.
34. The case of McCulloch v. Maryland expanded federal power via a broad interpretation of
*a. the “necessary and proper” clause.
b. the commerce clause.
c. the establishment clause.
d. the taxation clause.
a.
Plessy v
*b. Brown v Board of Education
c.
Near v.
d. Grutter
v. Bollinger
36. The establishment clause refers to
a. free speech.
*b. freedom of religion.
c. freedom to assemble.
d. freedom to own private property.
37. What level of review does the Supreme Court apply to cases alleging gender discrimination?
a. strict scrutiny.
b. minimal scrutiny.
c. enhanced scrutiny.
*d. intermediate scrutiny.
38. In
lecture, Prof. Walcott stressed that the
Constitution answered two basic philosophical questions.
The first was “how powerful is the national
government?”
The second was
a. how powerful are the state and
local governments?
b. what are the criteria for
citizenship?
c. what taxing powers will the
government have?
*d. what kind of people will be the
rulers?
39. Virginia Tech’s land grant status is an example of
a. the exercise of state powers.
b. an unfunded mandate.
*c. cooperation between national and state governments.
d. unilateral exercise of presidential power.
40. Civil rights cases typically involve protecting the rights of
*a. members of minority groups.
b. wealthy individuals.
c. the government.
d. unpopular people
Political Science 1014
Fall, 2008 – Exam #1
Form B
Fill in the letter of
the correct answer on your answer sheet.
For each question there is only one correct answer.
1. “Selective
incorporation” means:
a.
that
certain procedures must be followed in admitting new states to the
union.
b.
that the
*c.
that
federal rights have been applied to the states, but only one at a time.
d.
that the
federal government can regulate businesses.
2. According to Prof. Walcott, the development of political parties is an example of
a.
legislative elaboration.
*b.
custom
and usage.
c.
presidential practice.
d.
judicial
interpretation.
3. The use of categorical grants in aid is a characteristic of
*a. cooperative federalism.
b. dual federalism.
c. competitive federalism.
d. indirect federalism.
4. The case of Gibbons v. Ogden is important because it
a. made revenue sharing unconstitutional.
b. ruled that the right to bear arms applies to individuals.
*c. enlarged national government power through the commerce clause.
d. established that the Constitution contains a right to privacy.
5. Article I of the Constitution mainly answers the question:
*a. How
powerful will the government be?
b.
Who
governs?
c.
What
defines citizenship?
d.
How do we
protect citizens from the government?
6. An example of the Constitution’s checks and balances is
a. the states’ sovereign immunity.
*b. the president’s veto power.
c. protection of freedom of religion.
d. the Electoral College.
a. civil rights.
b. constitutionalism
*c. civil liberties.
d. conservatism.
8. The case of Gideon v. Wainwright, discussed in class, illustrated
a. how the “right to privacy” was developed.
*b. how the 14th amendment has “incorporated” certain rights.
c. how the courts define separation of church and state.
d. the protection against illegal searches and seizures.
9. When racial
discrimination is not the deliberate result of the law, we call it
*a. de
facto discrimination.
b. arbitrary
discrimination.
c. de
jure discrimination.
d.
coincident discrimination .
10. Which of the following best describes how the Supreme Court now views affirmative action as it applies to college admissions?
a. colleges may use any means they choose to insure a diverse student body.
*b. colleges may pursue the goal of diversity, but not use admissions quotas.
c. the Court has never ruled on affirmative action in cases relating to colleges.
d. all forms of affirmative action have been found unconstitutional.
11. If the government attempts to impose prior restraint, it is
a. jailing a suspect before that person is convicted of any crime.
b. outlawing sexual activity that occurs in private.
c. prohibiting certain religious practices that involve drugs.
*d. trying to prevent the media from publishing something.
12. When
a. making government more efficient.
b. allowing the wisest people to have the most power.
*c. making tyranny less likely.
d. encouraging the formation of political parties.
13. Your text discusses President Nixon’s claim of “executive privilege.” The privilege that Nixon sought was
a. immunity from prosecution after impeachment.
*b. protection of his files and tapes from use in a trial.
c. the right to detain enemy soldiers indefinitely with no trial.
d. to force TV networks to carry a presidential speech.
14. In the Constitution, the framers tried to give supremacy to
a. the executive branch.
*b. the legislative branch.
c. the judicial branch.
d. the states.
a. separation of powers.
b. bicameral legislatures.
*c. federalism.
d. confederacies.
16. In Federalist
#10,
a. a strong educational system.
b. a powerful Supreme Court.
*c. a large and diverse population.
d. a strong chief executive.
17. The case of Miranda v. Arizona involved
a. the use of busing to achieve racial balance in schools.
b. whether the government could suppress news stories.
*c. the rights of a criminal suspect under interrogation.
d. the grading practices of a teaching assistant.
18. The outcome of the Gideon v. Wainwright case was
a. to uphold the exclusionary rule
*b. to apply a provision of the Bill of Rights to state law.
c. to limit the right to free expression of religion.
d. to clarify the meaning of affirmative action.
19. In Daniel Elazar’s typology of regional political cultures (as described by Prof. Walcott in class), most of the South is classified as
*a. traditional.
b. individualistic.
c. moralistic.
d. collectivistic.
20. The case of District of Columbia v. Heller, which was decided after your text was written, concerned
a. the treatment of suspected terrorists.
*b. an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.
c. prayers at public school graduations.
d. affirmative action in the hiring of police officers.
a.
English common law.
b.
practical experience.
c.
the
*d.
God.
a. the House is the least important part of the legislative branch.
*b. frequent elections make representatives more responsive to voters.
c. that is the same as the term for Senators and state governors.
d. the English parliament had 2-year terms for members.
23. When we talk about the “Madisonian model” we are referring to
a. federalism.
b. constitutionalism.
*c. separation of powers.
d. property rights.
24. According
to Prof. Walcott in lecture,
citizens view government as legitimate if
*a. they accept its right to make and
enforce laws.
b. they trust it to protect them.
c. they understand that disobedience
will be punished.
d. they agree with the policies of
its leaders.
25. Cooperative federalism was at its peak during the decade of
a. the 1820s.
b. the 1860s.
c. the 1920s.
*d. the 1960s.
26. The “Great Compromise” at the constitutional convention reconciled the competing views of
*a. large vs. small states.
b. North vs. South.
c. Federalists vs. Antifederalists.
d. the colonists vs. the British.
27. If a
*a. the citizen is entitled to a lawyer and some kind of trial.
b. the citizen has no rights at all.
c. the citizen may consult with a lawyer, but has no right to a trial.
d. the citizen has a right to a trial, but must represent himself.
28. The case of McCulloch v. Maryland expanded federal power via a broad interpretation of
*a. the “necessary and proper” clause.
b. the commerce clause.
c. the establishment clause.
d. the taxation clause.
a.
Plessy v
*b. Brown v Board of Education
c.
Near v.
d. Grutter
v. Bollinger
30. The establishment clause refers to
a. free speech.
*b. freedom of religion.
c. freedom to assemble.
d. freedom to own private property.
31. What level of review does the Supreme Court apply to cases alleging gender discrimination?
a. strict scrutiny.
b. minimal scrutiny.
c. enhanced scrutiny.
*d. intermediate scrutiny.
32. In
lecture, Prof. Walcott stressed that the
Constitution answered two basic philosophical questions.
The first was “how powerful is the national
government?”
The second was
a. how powerful are the state and
local governments?
b. what are the criteria for
citizenship?
c. what taxing powers will the
government have?
*d. what kind of people will be the
rulers?
33. Virginia Tech’s land grant status is an example of
a. the exercise of state powers.
b. an unfunded mandate.
*c. cooperation between national and state governments.
d. unilateral exercise of presidential power.
34. Civil rights cases typically involve protecting the rights of
*a. members of minority groups.
b. wealthy individuals.
c. the government.
d. unpopular people
a. stronger protection of citizens’ First Amendment rights.
*b. restrictions on rights in order to combat terrorism.
c. equal rights for persons of different ethnic backgrounds.
d. abolition of the so-called “emergency power.”
36. Your textbook points out that a key element that defines representative democracy is
a. a Bill of Rights.
b. executive supremacy.
c. a common culture.
*d. delegation of authority.
37. In Hardin’s “The Tragedy of the Commons,” the “tragedy” results from
*a. people pursuing their self-interest.
b. individuals’ dishonesty and deceit.
c. socialist ideology.
d. too much government regulation.
38. Federalism is defined as
a. separation of powers among three branches of government.
b. the expressed powers of Congress in the Constitution.
*c. division of power between the national government and the states.
d. government under a written Constitution.
39. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review is based on
a. Article I of the Constitution.
b. the Fourth Amendment.
c. authorization from Congress.
*d. the decision in Marbury v. Madison.
40. The antifederalists opposed the original Constitution because
*a. it made the national government too strong.
b. it did not have a unitary executive.
c. it allowed too much power to the states.
d. it gave too much authority to the courts.