Question 1

Which of the following statements best reflects
the pluralist theory of American politics?

Accepted Answer

Public policies emerge from compromises
reached among competing groups.

Question 2

Which of the following is generally the most
significant influence on an individualâs
identification with a particular political party?

Accepted Answer

Family

Question 3

Which of the following committee assignments
would confer the most power and influence on
members of the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

Ways and Means

Question 4

Which of the following statements about Brown
v. Board of Education of Topeka is correct?

Accepted Answer

It declared segregation by race in the public
schools unconstitutional.

Question 5

Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, literacy
tests were used by some southern states to

Accepted Answer

prevent African Americans from exercising
their right to vote

Question 6

The practice whereby individual senators can
veto federal judicial nominations in their
respective states is called

Accepted Answer

senatorial courtesy

Question 7

Differences between House and Senate versions
of a bill are resolved

Accepted Answer

in a conference committee

Question 8

Which of the following principles protects a
citizen from imprisonment without trial?

Accepted Answer

Due process

Question 9

The passage of legislation in Congress often
depends on mutual accommodations among
members. This suggests that, to some extent,
congressional behavior is based on

Accepted Answer

the principle of reciprocity

Question 10

Which of the following statements accurately
describes the presidentâs veto power?

Accepted Answer

I. A president sometimes threatens to veto a
bill that is under discussion in order to
influence congressional decision making.
III. Congress is usually unable to override a
presidentâs veto.

Question 11

All of the following issues were decided at the
Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

voting qualifications of the electorate

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of soft
money?

Accepted Answer

Money that is given to a political party for
advertisements about the partyâs goals

Question 13

The usefulness to the president of having cabinet
members as political advisers is undermined by
the fact that

Accepted Answer

the loyalties of cabinet members are often
divided between loyalty to the president and
loyalty to their own executive departments

Question 14

All of the following are constitutional rights that
neither the federal government nor the states can
restrict EXCEPT the right to

Accepted Answer

be indicted by grand jury

Question 15

In the electoral history of the United States,
third parties have been effective vehicles of
protest when they

Accepted Answer

dramatized issues and positions that were
being ignored by the major parties

Question 16

Which of the following best defines the term
âjudicial activismâ?

Accepted Answer

The attempts by judges to influence public
policy through their case decisions

Question 17

High levels of political participation have been
found to be positively associated with which of
the following?

Accepted Answer

I. A high level of interest in politics
II. A sense of political efficacy
III. A strong sense of civic duty

Question 18

In the past 30 years, the single most important
variable in determining the outcome of an
election for a member of the House of
Representatives has been

Accepted Answer

incumbency

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the
concept of federalism embodied in the United
States government?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution divides power between a
central government and its constituent
governments, with some powers being
shared.

Question 20

The power of the Rules Committee in the House
of Representatives primarily stems from its
authority to

Accepted Answer

limit the time for debate and determine
whether amendments to a bill can be
considered

Question 21

Which of the following is a function of the
White House Office?

Accepted Answer

Advising the president on political decisions

Question 22

A major difference between political parties and
interest groups is that interest groups generally
do NOT

Accepted Answer

occupy a place on the ballot

Question 23

An election is a realigning or critical election if

Accepted Answer

there is a lasting change in party coalitions

Question 24

Which of the following Supreme Court cases
involved the principle of one person, one vote?

Accepted Answer

Baker v. Carr

Question 25

The passage of broad legislation that leaves the
making of specific rules to the executive branch
is an example of

Accepted Answer

delegated authority

Question 26

The redrawing of congressional districts in such
a way as to give special advantage to one
political party is referred to as

Accepted Answer

gerrymandering

Question 27

The details of legislation are usually worked out
in which of the following settings?

Accepted Answer

A subcommittee

Question 28

A theoretical explanation of the operation of
diverse interests in American politics is
found in

Accepted Answer

The Federalist papers

Question 29

The framers of the original Constitution thought
that which of the following would best protect
judicial independence?

Accepted Answer

Life tenure during good behavior

Question 30

Which of the following activities of American
labor unions is permissible by law?

Accepted Answer

Engaging in strikes

Question 31

Which of the following best describes the
relationship between socioeconomic status and
participation in politics?

Accepted Answer

The higher oneâs socioeconomic status, the
greater the probability of active involvement
in the political process.

Question 32

According to the information in the chart above, public office. which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The most recent presidents held fewer press
conferences per year than presidents in the
1920s and 1930s.

Question 33

One important change in political culture since
the Second World War is that United States
citizens have become

Accepted Answer

less trusting of governmental institutions
and leaders

Question 34

All of the following statements correctly
describe judicial appointments at the federal
level EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Congress nominates and confirms all
appointments to the federal judiciary

Question 35

Which of the following agencies determines the
domestic monetary policy of the United States?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Reserve Board

Question 36

Under which of the following conditions are
interest groups most likely to influence
policymaking?

Accepted Answer

When the issue is a highly technical one
requiring very detailed legislation

Question 37

All of the following help to explain the
presidentâs difficulty in controlling cabinet-level
agencies EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The president cannot dismiss appointees
after they have been confirmed by the
Senate.

Question 38

In the Constitution as originally ratified in
1788, the provisions regarding which of the
following most closely approximate popular,
majoritarian democracy?

Accepted Answer

Election of members of the House of
Representatives

Question 39

The most likely and often the most powerful
policy coalition of interests is likely to include a
federal agency plus which of the following?

Accepted Answer

An interest group and a congressional
subcommittee

Question 40

Throughout most of the twentieth century,
which of the following was most likely to occur
in midterm congressional elections?

Accepted Answer

The party of the president typically lost
seats in Congress, regardless of whether the
president was a Republican or a Democrat.

Question 41

Delegates to the Republican and Democratic
national conventions are primarily chosen

Accepted Answer

in primaries

Question 42

The chart above supports which of the following
statements?

Accepted Answer

II. Most groups trust their own state
governments more than the federal
government.
III. Democrats trust the federal government
more than Republicans.

Question 43

Which of the following political philosophers
most influenced the writing of the United
States Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Locke

Question 44

The concept of responsible party government
emphasizes which of the following about
elections?

Accepted Answer

Political parties will take clear, unambiguous
positions.

Question 45

Which of the following is a difference between
the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The Senate has the exclusive power to
ratify treaties.

Question 46

Which of the following was a consequence of
the New Deal legislation passed during the
Great Depression under the administration of
Franklin D. Roosevelt?

Accepted Answer

The federal government became a more
important agent of change than in previous
presidential administrations.

Question 47

Congressional oversight is best described as

Accepted Answer

monitoring the federal bureaucracy

Question 48

The differences between the political attitudes
of men and women are referred to as

Accepted Answer

the gender gap

Question 49

According to the Constitution, which of the
following decides the presidential election
outcome in the event that a single candidate
does not get a majority of electoral votes?

Accepted Answer

The House of Representatives

Question 50

If the vice presidency of the United States is
vacated, the Constitution stipulates that the
president must

Accepted Answer

appoint a new vice president with the
approval of both houses of Congress

Question 51

James Madisonâs goal of setting power against 
power to minimize the concentration of authority 
in any one branch of government is outlined in 
the Constitution as a system of

Accepted Answer

checks and balances

Question 52

The declining number of marginal seats in 
Congress means that

Accepted Answer

fewer seats are won by 55% or less of the vote

Question 53

The ability of the media to define the importance 
of particular events and issues is called

Accepted Answer

agenda setting

Question 54

The power of judicial review was established in

Accepted Answer

Marbury v. Madison

Question 55

Which of the following is true of both the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Accepted Answer

Both chambers employ a complex system 
of permanent committees to assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.

Question 56

The authority of a chief executive to withhold approval from specific parts of appropriations bills passed by the legislature is known as

Accepted Answer

a line-item veto

Question 57

The weakening of political parties is most often traced to

Accepted Answer

Progressive Era reforms

Question 58

Which of the following contemporary political ideologies posits that government power should be used to promote individual economic security and redistribute resources, but rejects the notion that gov should favor a particular set of social values?

Accepted Answer

Liberalism

Question 59

Which of the following best describes a referendum?

Accepted Answer

Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state legislature.

Question 60

Which of the following is true of federal administrative agencies?

Accepted Answer

They have substantial influence over public policy through administrative discretion.

Question 61

Which of the following is a check on the power of the United States Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

Congress controls the number of justices who may sit on the Court.

Question 62

States, according to the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution

Accepted Answer

must honor public records, acts, and judicial proceedings of every other state

Question 63

Which of the following is most likely to weaken party leadership in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The use of filibuster by individual senators

Question 64

The principal source of presidentsâ political influence is their

Accepted Answer

constitutional authority to execute public policies

Question	Answer
Which of the following statements best reflects the pluralist theory of American politics?	Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups.
Which of the following is generally the most significant influence on an individualâs identification with a particular political party?	Family
Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the House of Representatives?	Ways and Means
Which of the following statements about Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is correct?	It declared segregation by race in the public schools unconstitutional.
Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, literacy tests were used by some southern states to	prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote
The practice whereby individual senators can veto federal judicial nominations in their respective states is called	senatorial courtesy
Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved	in a conference committee
Which of the following principles protects a citizen from imprisonment without trial?	Due process
The passage of legislation in Congress often depends on mutual accommodations among members. This suggests that, to some extent, congressional behavior is based on	the principle of reciprocity
Which of the following statements accurately describes the presidentâs veto power?	I. A president sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to influence congressional decision making. III. Congress is usually unable to override a presidentâs veto.
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT	voting qualifications of the electorate
Which of the following is an example of soft money?	Money that is given to a political party for advertisements about the partyâs goals
The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is undermined by the fact that	the loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the president and loyalty to their own executive departments
All of the following are constitutional rights that neither the federal government nor the states can restrict EXCEPT the right to	be indicted by grand jury
In the electoral history of the United States, third parties have been effective vehicles of protest when they	dramatized issues and positions that were being ignored by the major parties
Which of the following best defines the term âjudicial activismâ?	The attempts by judges to influence public policy through their case decisions
High levels of political participation have been found to be positively associated with which of the following?	I. A high level of interest in politics II. A sense of political efficacy III. A strong sense of civic duty
In the past 30 years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been	incumbency
Which of the following best describes the concept of federalism embodied in the United States government?	The Constitution divides power between a central government and its constituent governments, with some powers being shared.
The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives primarily stems from its authority to	limit the time for debate and determine whether amendments to a bill can be considered
Which of the following is a function of the White House Office?	Advising the president on political decisions
A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that interest groups generally do NOT	occupy a place on the ballot
An election is a realigning or critical election if	there is a lasting change in party coalitions
Which of the following Supreme Court cases involved the principle of one person, one vote?	Baker v. Carr
The passage of broad legislation that leaves the making of specific rules to the executive branch is an example of	delegated authority
The redrawing of congressional districts in such a way as to give special advantage to one political party is referred to as	gerrymandering
The details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following settings?	A subcommittee
A theoretical explanation of the operation of diverse interests in American politics is found in	The Federalist papers
The framers of the original Constitution thought that which of the following would best protect judicial independence?	Life tenure during good behavior
According to the table above, which of the following statements is true?
Which of the following activities of American labor unions is permissible by law?	Engaging in strikes
Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics?	The higher oneâs socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process.
According to the information in the chart above, public office. which of the following statements is true?	The most recent presidents held fewer press conferences per year than presidents in the 1920s and 1930s.
One important change in political culture since the Second World War is that United States citizens have become	less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders
All of the following statements correctly describe judicial appointments at the federal level EXCEPT:	Congress nominates and confirms all appointments to the federal judiciary
Which of the following agencies determines the domestic monetary policy of the United States?	The Federal Reserve Board
Under which of the following conditions are interest groups most likely to influence policymaking?	When the issue is a highly technical one requiring very detailed legislation
All of the following help to explain the presidentâs difficulty in controlling cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT:	The president cannot dismiss appointees after they have been confirmed by the Senate.
In the Constitution as originally ratified in 1788, the provisions regarding which of the following most closely approximate popular, majoritarian democracy?	Election of members of the House of Representatives
The most likely and often the most powerful policy coalition of interests is likely to include a federal agency plus which of the following?	An interest group and a congressional subcommittee
Throughout most of the twentieth century, which of the following was most likely to occur in midterm congressional elections?	The party of the president typically lost seats in Congress, regardless of whether the president was a Republican or a Democrat.
Delegates to the Republican and Democratic national conventions are primarily chosen	in primaries
The chart above supports which of the following statements?	II. Most groups trust their own state governments more than the federal government. III. Democrats trust the federal government more than Republicans.
Which of the following political philosophers most influenced the writing of the United States Constitution?	Locke
The concept of responsible party government emphasizes which of the following about elections?	Political parties will take clear, unambiguous positions.
Which of the following is a difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate?	The Senate has the exclusive power to ratify treaties.
Which of the following was a consequence of the New Deal legislation passed during the Great Depression under the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt?	The federal government became a more important agent of change than in previous presidential administrations.
Congressional oversight is best described as	monitoring the federal bureaucracy
The differences between the political attitudes of men and women are referred to as	the gender gap
According to the Constitution, which of the following decides the presidential election outcome in the event that a single candidate does not get a majority of electoral votes?	The House of Representatives
If the vice presidency of the United States is vacated, the Constitution stipulates that the president must	appoint a new vice president with the approval of both houses of Congress
James Madisonâs goal of setting power against power to minimize the concentration of authority in any one branch of government is outlined in the Constitution as a system of	checks and balances
The declining number of marginal seats in Congress means that	fewer seats are won by 55% or less of the vote
The ability of the media to define the importance of particular events and issues is called	agenda setting
The power of judicial review was established in	Marbury v. Madison
Which of the following is true of both the House of Representatives and the Senate?	Both chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.
The authority of a chief executive to withhold approval from specific parts of appropriations bills passed by the legislature is known as	a line-item veto
The weakening of political parties is most often traced to	Progressive Era reforms
Which of the following contemporary political ideologies posits that government power should be used to promote individual economic security and redistribute resources, but rejects the notion that gov should favor a particular set of social values?	Liberalism
Which of the following best describes a referendum?	Citizens vote directly on laws proposed by a state legislature.
Which of the following is true of federal administrative agencies?	They have substantial influence over public policy through administrative discretion.
Which of the following is a check on the power of the United States Supreme Court?	Congress controls the number of justices who may sit on the Court.
States, according to the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution	must honor public records, acts, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Which of the following is most likely to weaken party leadership in the Senate?	The use of filibuster by individual senators
The principal source of presidentsâ political influence is their	constitutional authority to execute public policies
Among the expressed powers of the federal government enumerated in the Constitution of the United States is the power to	regulate interstate trade and commerce
Which of the following accounts for the greatest percentage of expenditure for state and local governments in the United States?	Elementary and secondary education
The use of initiative and referendum illustrates which of the following theories of governance?	Direct democracy

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