Q&A Hero

Q: In Near v.Minnesota, the Supreme Court further developed which of the following? a. exclusionary rule b. due process clause c. incorporation doctrine d. free exercise clause e. equal protection clause

Q: How many of the thirteen colonies voted for independence? a. thirteen b. ten c. eight d. twelve e. nine

Q: If the Federal Reserve wanted to increase lending by banks, what would it do to reserve requirements? a. Lower the discount rate on bank reserve requirements. b. Lower the rate of taxation on bank reserve requirements. c. Lower the reserve requirements for banks. d. Increase the discount rate on bank reserve requirements. e. Raise the reserve requirements for banks.

Q: What typically precedes a major party realignment? a. a caucus b. censure c. a critical election d. economic crises e. a key nomination

Q: In 1789, three executive departments existed under the Articles of Confederation: Foreign Affairs, War, and __________.

Q: Which statement is true of the House of Representatives? a. Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on geographic size. b. Members are elected every two years and apportioned to states based on population. c. Members are elected every four years and apportioned to states based on geographic size. d. Members are elected every four years and apportioned to states based on population. e. Members are elected every six years and apportioned to states based on population.

Q: The doctrine of prior restraint prevents the government from prohibiting speech or publication __________. a. that is obscene b. after the fact c. that is illegal d. that is critical of the government e. before the fact

Q: Which Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence? a. Second b. Third c. Fourth d. Fifth e. Tenth

Q: Which of the following is an example of monetary policy? a. decreasing federal spending b. increasing food and drug regulations c. increasing taxes on wealthy Americans d. lowering interest rates e. lowering state property and sales tax

Q: Which of the following is a minor party that was formed to oppose desegregation? a. the American Independent Party b. the Green Party c. the Liberty/Free Soil Party d. the Progressive/Bull Moose Party e. the States' Rights Party

Q: Independent regulatory commissions differ from independent agencies in that they are less subject to presidential control.

Q: How might a bill become law if it has been pocket vetoed? a. Congress may override the pocket veto with a three-fourths vote in each chamber. b. Congress may override the pocket veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. c. The bill can never become law. d. The bill must be reintroduced in the next session of Congress. e. The president may sign the bill at his or her discretion.

Q: In 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that detainees have a right to which of the following? a. due process b. the assistance of counsel c. equal protection d. habeas corpus e. a bill of attainder

Q: Which of the following required all paper items in the colonies to carry a stamp of the Crown? a. Crown Act b. Paper Act c. Stamp Act d. Tax Act e. Royal Act

Q: Health care costs in the United States __________. a. have lowered dramatically in the last few years b. have risen dramatically in the last few years c. have risen slowly in the last few years d. are influenced by science research funding e. reflect the excellence of U.S. health care

Q: What is the single greatest influence in establishing a person's first party identification? a. economic status b. geography c. hot-button social issues d. parents e. religion

Q: The Environmental Protection Agency is subject to less congressional and presidential oversight than the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Q: What best explains the overwhelming advantage incumbents possess in seeking reelection over opposition candidates? a. additional financial support from constituent taxes b. additional financial support from the federal government campaign fund c. demonstrated ability to lead and public record of votes d. name recognition, access to media, and franking privilege e. name recognition and access to district taxes

Q: According to Justice Blackmun, a woman had which type of right to an abortion in her first trimester? a. an absolute right b. no right c. a qualified right d. a partial right e. an arguable right

Q: During the colonial era, the colonists retained the right to do which of the following? a. wage war b. regulate trade c. negotiate treaties d. levy taxes e. require compulsory tithing

Q: If you support laissez-faire economic policies, you would generally favor __________. a. a reduction in the amount of economic regulation by the government b. a reduction in the level of taxes assessed by state governments c. an increase in the amount of economic regulation by the government d. an increase in the collective bargaining rights for labor unions e. an increase in the tariffs assessed on goods imported into the United States

Q: One of the various ways in which parties contribute to democratic governance is by __________. a. dividing the electorate b. narrowing voter choice c. running candidates d. reducing accountability mechanisms e. reducing inter-party competition

Q: Both Congress and the president are involved in appointing individuals to key positions in the federal bureaucracy.

Q: During an election, an incumbent representative might point to local allocations of a federal highway bill as a reason to be re-elected. This is an example of __________. a. credit claiming b. gerrymandering c. passing the buck d. redistricting e. spin control

Q: Which of the following generally is unconstitutional in school? a. fighting b. a weapon c. free speech d. prayer e. punishment

Q: Which of the following philosophers greatly influenced the colonists' views on the role of government? a. John Dewey b. John Locke c. Martin Heidegger d. Michael Foucalt e. George Berkley

Q: Which of the following most accurately describes the recent financial crisis in the United States? a. a depression b. a full employment cycle c. a mild recession d. a severe recession e. an inflationary cycle

Q: Which of the following is a provision of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007? a. certification rules for lobbyists b. lobbying disclosure requirements c. a ban on PAC contributions d. a rule banning lobbyists from running for office e. a rule banning elected officials from leaving government to becoming lobbyists

Q: When a federal agency adjudicates, or issues quasi-judicial decisions about legal disputes, the agency's decisions can be appealed in a federal court.

Q: On average, each member of the House represents __________ voters. a. 7,000 b. 107,000 c. 700,000 d. 1,700,000 e. 7,000,000

Q: According to Table 4.1, How Has Selective Incorporation Made the Bill of Rights Applicable to the States?, which of the constitutional amendments was the first to be incorporated and applied to the states? a. Fourth b. Fifth c. First d. Second e. Eighth

Q: Which constitutional amendment allowed voting for citizens who were eighteen or older? a. Twenty-Sixth b. Fifteenth c. Twentieth d. Twenty-Seventh e. Nineteenth

Q: Which of the following is accurate with regard to the national debt? a. The national debt as a percentage of GDP has drastically increased in recent years. b. The national debt as a percentage of GDP has not changed in the past decade c. The national debt is a product of balanced federal budgets. d. The national debt is not affected by external events such as war or a natural disaster. e. The national debt has only increased under Democratic presidents.

Q: In order to overcome the free rider problem, many interest groups offer material benefits. What are material benefits? a. the policies that interest groups help to bring about b. gifts given to members of Congress in return for their support on legislation c. benefits given only to group members d. campaign contributions to elected officials e. bonuses given to the most effective lobbyists

Q: Regulations are usually created by Congress.

Q: __________is the only formal method for ending a filibuster, and requires the approval of __________ senators. a. abrogation, fifty-one b. abrogation, sixty c. censure, sixty d. cloture, fifty-one e. cloture, sixty

Q: Profanity, obscenity, and threats are examples of which of the following? a. hate speech b. prior restraints c. fighting words d. free speech e. free exercise

Q: The Constitution specifically provides for both the election and the removal of which of the following? a. secretary of defense b. president c. secretary of state d. chief justice e. Speaker of the House

Q: What do Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security have in common?a. They are all health care programs.b. They are all entitlement programs.c. They all provide financial assistance to senior citizens only.d. They all provide food stamps to people in poverty.e. They all provide small business loans to get the poor out of poverty.

Q: What is a trade association? a. a coalition of public interest groups in a specific policy area, such as environmental policy b. an organization that coordinates exchanges of information and resources among multiple interest groups c. a type of labor union d. an organization that represents businesses within a specific industry e. an organization that represents the federal government during the negotiation of international trade agreements

Q: Over the course of the twentieth century, the federal government has grown considerably in response to the need for new government agencies.

Q: Congressional whips serve what main function? a. act as official spokespersons for their chambers b. help the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate c. meet with members of the executive cabinet d. persuade party members to toe the party line e. serve as personal assistants to the majority and minority leaders

Q: The free exercise clause guarantees that the national government will not interfere with which of the following? a. education b. finance c. business d. speech e. religion

Q: Which of the following is a branch of the U.S. government? a. Congress b. Supreme Court c. presidency d. legislative e. Senate

Q: Which of the following would indicate that the economy is experiencing inflation? a. Interest rates are increasing. b. Goods are becoming less expensive. c. The federal government is lowering tax rates. d. The Federal Reserve is increasing the money supply. e. The federal tax rates are increasing.

Q: The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts. a. free rider b. pluralist c. collective good d. group coordination e. group formation

Q: Bureaucrats often have considerable discretion in the implementation of federal laws.

Q: Successful members of Congress share the same policy interests as voters, according to the __________. a. conscience model of representation b. delegate model of representation c. majority-minority model of representation d. politico model of representation e. trustee model of representation

Q: What did Abington School District v.Schempp find to be unconstitutional? a. state-mandated Bible reading b. forced sterilization c. segregated education d. discrimination against homosexuals e. imprisonment without a trial

Q: Of the fifty-five delegates who attended some portion of the Constitutional Convention, how many ultimately signed it? a. thirty-nine b. twenty-nine c. fifty-four d. forty-eight e. forty-five

Q: Which is an argument in favor of federal involvement in public policy?a. The states have a long-standing tradition of extending rights to citizens.b. The states are often viewed as laboratories of democracy.c. The federal government can best deal with some problems or matter of concern.d. Federal legislation often increases inequality.e. Federal power is usually transferred to the states.

Q: What is lobbying? a. communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy position b. conducting surveys to gauge public opinion on a policy issue c. convincing potential members to join an interest group by offering them material benefits d. fundraising for political candidates e. educating the public about the activities of government

Q: As noted in Table 8.1, according to the Hatch Act, federal employees may make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections.

Q: "Pork" legislation may aid the district of a member of Congress by __________. a. diverting unallocated funds to the service sector b. increasing jobs and revenue with federally funded projects c. increasing revenue through private market investment d. taxing corporations less so they provide health insurance for employees e. taxing waste producers more to pay for environmental cleanup

Q: Today, the United States is the only western country to use which of the following to punish crime? a. prison system b. juvenile justice system c. Eighth Amendment d. death penalty e. corporal punishment

Q: In what year was the U.S. Constitution ratified? a. 1776 b. 1797 c. 1791 d. 1788 e. 1777

Q: Upon taking office in 2009, which of the following did President Obama advocate to deal with the economic crisis? a. dropping interest rates b. increasing government spending c. lowering taxes d. raising interest rates e. reducing taxes

Q: Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates? a. 527 organizations b. coordinating committees c. 501(c)3 organizations d. political action committees e. party committees

Q: As illustrated in the box entitled "The Composition of the Federal Workforce," the federal workforce is split evenly between men and women.

Q: A __________ is a special committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate. a. conference committee b. joint committee c. select committee d. special committee e. standing committee

Q: What does the Sixth Amendment guarantee to those accused of a crime? a. assistance of counsel b. access to law books c. a jury trial d. assistance by the press e. a written indictment

Q: How many amendments have been made to the Constitution since its ratification? a. twenty-seven b. ten c. thirty-six d. twelve e. fifteen

Q: In an economic slowdown, Keynesian economic policy would advocate __________. a. decreasing inflation b. increasing government spending c. increasing the money supply d. increasing the unemployment rate e. raising interest rates

Q: When a case that an interest group is interested in, but not actually sponsoring, comes before a court, the group can __________. a. meet with judges to explain the group's policy preferences b. file an amicus curiae brief to present the group's analysis of the case c. file an appeal to move the case to a different court d. file a petition to get the group added to the list of plaintiffs e. offer monetary incentives to the judges in the case

Q: Each independent agency in the executive branch is headed by a Cabinet secretary.

Q: Members of Congress differ from the larger American population in they are disproportionately__________. a. socially conservative and fiscally liberal b. socially liberal and fiscally conservative c. socially and fiscally moderate d. white, upper-middle-class, middle-aged, and male e. white, upper-middle-class, Protestant, and female

Q: The Constitution protects against search of an individual's person, home, or vehicle without __________. a. due process b. permission c. a warrant d. compensation e. a good reason

Q: The __________ proposed proportional representation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. a. Ohio Plan b. Virginia Plan c. New Jersey Plan d. Massachusetts Plan e. Pennsylvania Plan

Q: Which of the following provides the greatest source of revenue for the federal government? a. income taxes b. Medicaid taxes c. regressive taxes d. Social Security taxes e. taxes on cigarettes

Q: In Federalist No. 10, James Madison described how a government could be designed to control the effects of __________. a. monarchies b. factions c. representative government d. political parties e. trade associations

Q: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an example of a government corporation.

Q: In the House of Representatives, who is second in authority to the Speaker of the House? a. majority leader b. majority whip c. minority leader d. minority whip e. president pro tempore (or pro tem)

Q: Which amendment protects the right to bear arms? a. First b. Second c. Third d. Fourth e. Fifth

Q: Which of the following generally favored a strong national government and supported the proposed U.S. Constitution? a. Tories b. Whigs c. Federalists d. Anti-Federalists e. Constitutionalists

Q: An entitlement program provides benefits to __________. a. all citizens of the United States b. citizens who have made payroll tax contributions c. citizens who meet eligibility criteria d. legal immigrants with a work visa e. only the very wealthy

Q: Describe the framing process. Why is it important? Select and discuss an example of how the media has framed a recent event. Analyze how such coverage influences the public's interpretation of the event.

Q: The president and Congress share oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

Q: Over the past century, partisan polarization has __________ along with __________. a. decreased; gender equality b. decreased; income equality c. increased; gender inequality d. increased; income inequality e. remained constant; income inequality

Q: A false written statement is __________; the same statement spoken aloud is __________. a. defamation, slander b. slander, libel c. libel, defamation d. libel, slander e. slander, defamation

Q: Which clause provides that the Constitution shall be the supreme law of the land? a. full faith and credit b. legal c. primacy d. due process e. supremacy