Constitutional Principles and Landmark Supreme Court Cases, Exams of Nursing

Download Constitutional Principles and Landmark Supreme Court Cases and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CLEP QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2024- 2025 Which of the following is not a standing committee of the United States Congress? (A) Agriculture (B) Appropriations (C) Veterans' Affairs (D) Investigations (E) Budget - ANSWER>>D. Investigations A person who votes based on what a candidate says he or she will do in the future is said to be: (A) engaging in retrospective voting (B) responding to attack ads (C) responding to contrast ads (D) engaging in prospective voting (E) responding to name recognition - ANSWER>>D. engaging in prospective voting Should presidential candidates receive an equal number of electoral votes, the election is decided by: (A) the legislatures of Maine and Nebraska (B) a constitutional convention (C) the House of Representatives (D) the Senate (E) the Supreme Court - ANSWER>>C. the House of Representatives "A form of government in which the people are the ultimate political authority." These words best define what political arrangement? (A) Republicanism (B) Democracy (C) One person, one vote (D) Constitutional monarchy (E) Mobocracy - ANSWER>>B. Democracy New England's town meetings are examples of: (A) a parliamentary system (B) oligarchy (C) direct democracy (D) democratic socialism (E) concurrence - ANSWER>>C. direct democracy Under the pen name "Publius," Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote: (A) The Federalist Papers (B) The Anti-Federalist Papers (C) Common Sense (D) Leviathan (E) Second Treatise on Government - ANSWER>>A. The Federalist Papers Federal district court judges are: (A) nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. (B) nominated by the Chief Justice and confirmed by the Senate. (A) domestic aggregate demand and supply. (B) international trade and economic growth. (C) fair prices and stable markets for producers and consumers. (D) improved technology through research, development, and demonstration. (E) better working conditions and improved relations between labor and management. - ANSWER>>B. international trade and economic growth. In the debates over the Constitution, the federalists and anti-federalists spoke of "factions" the way we today speak of (A) delegates (B) earmarks (C) executive orders (D) interest groups (E) caucuses - ANSWER>>D. interest groups Which of the following Supreme Court cases refuted the doctrine of "separate but equal"? (A). Baker v. Carr (B) McCulloch v. Maryland (C) Garcia v. San Antonio (D) Brown v. Board of Education (E) Miranda v. Arizona - ANSWER>>D. Brown v. Board of Education The US Constitution requires that political authority be divided among the three branches of government. This is referred to as (A) the separation of powers (B) checks and balances (C) cloture (D) stare decisis (E) the wall of separation - ANSWER>>A. the separation of powers The English philosopher whose words are heavily drawn on in the Declaration of Independence was (A) Thomas Hobbes (B) John Locke (C) Edmund Burke (D) Davide Hume (E) Adam Smith - ANSWER>>B. John Locke All of the following are typical stances of American liberals EXCEPT (A) support for abortion rights. (B) concern for the rights of the accused. (C) resistance to state involvement with religious institutions. (D) support for international organization such as the United Nations. (E) opposition to the expansion of governmental activity and regulation. - ANSWER>>E. opposition to the expansion of governmental activity and regulation. Insofar as the Constitution is concerned, members of Congress receive payment for their work from (A) their political parties (B) their state legislatures (C) the US Treasury (D) political gifts (E) interest groups - ANSWER>>C. the US Treasury Which of the following Amendments to the United States Constitution were repealed? I. The 18th Amendment (Prohibition) II. The 4th Amendment (Search and Seizure) III. The 19th Amendment (The Right to Vote) (A) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III - ANSWER>>A. I only (The 18th Amendment [Prohibition]) The vice president of the US is the president of what government body? (A) Federal judiciary (B) Senate (C) House of Representatives (D) Dept. of Homeland Security (E) Military - ANSWER>>B. Senate What is the minimum age specified in the Constitution for members of the House of Representatives (A) 18 (B) 20 (C) 25 (D) 28 (E) 30 - ANSWER>>C. 25 (B) I and II only (C) II and III only (D) III only (E) I, II, and III - ANSWER>>B. I and II only Which of the following is NOT an example of congressional oversight? (A) Committee inquiries and hearings (B) Senate advice and consent for presidential nominations (C) House of Representatives impeachment proceedings and Senate trials (D) Override of a presidential veto (E) Formal consultations with and reports from the President - ANSWER>>D. Override of a presidential veto The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution states that government powers "not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States" are reserved for the (A) courts (B) political parties (C) state legislatures only (D) state legislatures and the people (E) state legislatures, the people, and the courts - ANSWER>>D. state legislatures and the people One of the objects of "Jim Crow" laws was to (A) disenfranchise Americans of color. (B) limit soft-money contributions. (C) empower southern blacks. (D) protect the economies of southern states. (E) desegregate southern schools. - ANSWER>>A. disenfranchise Americans of color. Which of the following is the largest interest group in the United States? (A) The American Medical Association (AMA) (B) The National Rifle Association (NRA) (C) The United Auto Workers (UAW) (D) The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (E) The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) - ANSWER>>D. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Proponents of limited government, unregulated free markets, national self-reliance, and conventional social values are best describes as (A) liberals. (B) socialists. (C) libertarians. (D) conservatives. (E) leftists. - ANSWER>>D. conservatives. Which of the following methods may be used to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution? I. By the passage of a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress II. By the request of three-fourths of the state legislatures III. By a national constitutional convention called by Congress on the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures (A) I only (B) II only (C) III only (D) I and II only (E) I and III only - ANSWER>>E. I and III only Senators have the power to "talk a bill to death." What is the formal term for this procedure? (A) filibuster (B) concurrence (C) cloture (D) anarchism (E) gridlock - ANSWER>>A. filibuster Which of the following is responsible for the conservation of America's natural resources? (A) Department of the Interior (B) Department of Justice (C) Department of State (D) Department of the Treasury (E) Environmental Protection Agency - ANSWER>>A. Department of the Interior The term "administrative discretion" refers to which of the following? (A) the president sets the nation's political agenda (B) Congress sets guidelines for government agencies to follow (C) one chamber of Congress fails to pass a bill that does pass in the other chamber (D) standing committees determine what bills will and will not receive attention (E) federal courts can declare unconstitutional laws passed by Congress and signed by presidents - ANSWER>>B. Congress sets guidelines for government agencies to follow The Real ID Act of 2005 was an example of (C) Office of Personnel Management. (D) Office of Management and Budget. (E) General Accounting Office. - ANSWER>>E. General Accounting Office. What do unanimous consent agreements accomplish? (A) they move legislation quickly through the House committee system (B) they provide for political party unanimity at nominating conventions (C) they meld various concurrent opinions into a single document (D) they provide for unanimous votes in the Senate (E) they end debate in the Senate - ANSWER>>E. they end debate in the Senate The federal and state court systems (A) are distinct and deal with completely separate legal issues and jurisdictions. (B) are both subordinate to federal and state constitutions. (C) work together to interpret federal law and to uphold the Constitution. (D) function in a parallel manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts. (E) have differing jurisdictions so that no federal court can hear an appeal from a state court. - ANSWER>>D. function in a parallel manner so that federal courts may receive appeals from state courts. When voting for presidential candidates, residents of the states are saying that they want their state's Electoral College votes to go to that candidate. This is an example of (A) indirect democracy (B) nullification (C) logrolling (D) tyranny of the majority (E) eminent domain - ANSWER>>A. indirect democracy An interest group perceives a problem and then works to encourage legislation that addresses the problem. Interest groups can legally promote their agendas by doing all of the following EXCEPT (A) paying a legislator in exchange for a vote in favor of the interest group (B) using the interest group's legislative power to swing the vote (C) writing letters to the president (D) using letters, e-mails, or phone calls to get the legislator's attention (E) organizing peaceful protests - ANSWER>>A. paying a legislator in exchange for a vote in favor of the interest group Which of the following interest groups might make use of litigation rather than lobbying to advance their interests? (A) Prisoners (B) Unions (C) Corporations (D) Senior Citizens (E) Educators - ANSWER>>A. Prisoners Which of the following were weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? I. The government lacked the power to compel states to honor national obligations. II. The government had no powers of taxation. III. It failed to provide the authority to negotiate peace with England. (A) I only (B) I and II (C) I, II, and III (D) II and III (E) III only - ANSWER>>B. I and II When a bill has passed through a subcommittee, a full committee, and both Congressional houses, the president can still kill the bill via veto. What must happen for a presidential veto to be overturned? (A) a two-thirds vote must occur in both Congressional chambers (B) a presidential veto cannot be overturned (C) a two-thirds vote must occur in the Senate alone (D) the president's cabinet may override his decision with a majority vote (E) a two-thirds vote must occur in the House of Representatives - ANSWER>>A. a two-thirds vote must occur in both Congressional chambers If a president neither signs nor vetoes a piece of legislation within 10 days and Congress remains in session, what becomes of the bill? (A) it is pocket vetoed (B) it becomes law (C) it is referred to the states (D) it is returned to the relevant Congressional standing committees (E) it is referred to the courts - ANSWER>>B. it becomes law The number of representatives from each state to serve in the House of Representatives is determined by the (A) State Legislatures; state legislatures then define congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court. (B) Congress; state legislatures then define congressional voting districts acting within constraints set down by Congress and the Supreme Court. (C) Department of Commerce's decennial census; federal district courts then determine the congressional districts within the states. (E) Sir Francis Bacon - ANSWER>>A. Baron de Montesquieu A Congressperson's franking privileges pertain to (A) international travel related to official business (B) official mail (C) the right to subpoena government officials (D) access to the Congressional gym (E) immunity from prosecution for things said in the course of a debate - ANSWER>>B. official mail All bills to raise government revenue must originate in the (A) House of Representatives. (B) Senate. (C) Senate Budget Committee. (D) Department of the Treasury. (E) Internal Revenue Service. - ANSWER>>A. House of Representatives. Agreements between the US and foreign nations can be made by a president's administration, but for the agreement to go into effect it must have the concurrence of (A) a majority of the Senate (B) a majority of the House and the Senate (C) two-thirds of the Senate alone (D) two-thirds of both Congressional chambers (E) two-thirds of the president's cabinet members - ANSWER>>C. two-thirds of the Senate alone All of the following are Constitutional checks on executive power EXCEPT (A) the Senate must approve international treaties. (B) the Senate must confirm judicial appointees. (C) Congress has the power to impeach the president. (D) the President cannot propose legislation. (E) the Judiciary can declare Executive actions unconstitutional. - ANSWER>>D. the President cannot propose legislation. The view that the Supreme Court should interpret the Constitution or laws to advance social goals is known as (A) judicial activism. (B) judicial restraint. (C) judicial review. (D) judicial conservatism. (E) judicial liberalism. - ANSWER>>A. judicial activism. The highest person in the military's chain or command is the (A) chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (B) majority leader of the Senate (C) director of the CIA (D) Speaker of the House of Representatives (E) the US president - ANSWER>>E. the US president In non-partisan elections for state or local government offices, (A) political parties may not contribute to campaigns. (B) ballots do not list party affiliations. (C) most voters are independents. (D) incumbent candidates run unopposed. (E) candidates cannot be registered members of any political party. - ANSWER>>B. ballots do not list party affiliations. Since the Second World War, presidential approval ratings have generally (A) risen gradually until mid-term elections then fallen between election cycles. (B) declined gradually after inauguration through to the end of the administration. (C) increased gradually from inauguration through to the end of the administration. (D) fallen dramatically after mid-term elections then risen. (E) risen dramatically after inauguration through to the end of the administration. - ANSWER>>B. declined gradually after inauguration through to the end of the administration. The governmental system of dividing power between a central government and several regional governments is known as (A) democracy. (B) federalism. (C) republicanism. (D) oligarchy. (E) colonialism. - ANSWER>>B. federalism. Which of the following allow the President to influence the legislative process in Congress? I. The President's access to the federal bureaucracy allows quick and effective access to experts and information. II. The President has better access to, and influence on, public opinion than does the Congress. III. The threat of a presidential veto can change a bill while it is still in committee. (A) I only (B) I and II only (C) I and III only (B) Bowsher v. Synar (C) Korematsu v. United States (D) Bowers v. Hardwick (E) Gibbons v. Ogden - ANSWER>>D. Bowers v. Hardwick Presidents can shape the nation's legislative agenda in all of the following ways EXCEPT (A) requiring the vice president, as president of the Senate, to participate in Senate votes (B) spelling out a legislative agenda in a State of the Union address (C) as a leader of his/her political party, shaping the legislative direction of that party in Congress (D) using or threatening to use the veto (E) lobbying Congress members - ANSWER>>A. requiring the vice president, as president of the Senate, to participate in Senate votes (because VPs only vote in tie-votes) An increased focus on national rather than local issues on radio, television, and other mass media has (A) caused Americans from different regions to share similar ideas and perspectives. (B) caused a divergence of political beliefs and attitudes across America. (C) reduced public interest in foreign affairs. (D) limited the influence of the media on domestic politics. (E) pushed the political parties away from the political center. - ANSWER>>A. caused Americans from different regions to share similar ideas and perspectives. Who were the authors of the Federalist Papers? (A) John Adams, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson (B) Samuel Adams, John Jay, and John Quincy Adams (C) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (D) James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson (E) Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson - ANSWER>>C. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay In times of national emergency, or when the government needs to act quickly and flexibly, Congress has done what with its federal powers? (A) delegated them to the president (B) delated them to the courts (C) delegated them to the state legislatures (D) delegated them to the local jurisdictions (E) delegated them to the town mayors - ANSWER>>A. delegated them to the president All of the following aspects of Congress affect the legislative process EXCEPT (A) parties. (B) committees. (C) hours. (D) rules. (E) staff. - ANSWER>>C. hours The Bill of Rights contains amendments related to all of the following areas EXCEPT (A) freedom of speech. (B) the right to bear arms. (C) the right to a speedy trial. (D) the right to sexual freedom. (E) freedom not to have soldiers stationed in one's home. - ANSWER>>D. the right to sexual freedom. The Constitution allows the federal government to do all of the following EXCEPT (A) change state boundaries. (B) tax imports. (C) tax exports. (D) overturn state laws. (E) impose taxes. - ANSWER>>A. change state boundaries. Which of the following is NOT part of the Executive Office of the President? (A) National Economic Council (B) Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare (C) Office Management and Budget (D) National Security Council (E) Office of National Drug Control Policy - ANSWER>>B. Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare Which of the following is NOT a right of due process? (A) Right to a fair and public trial conducted in a competent manner (B) Taxes may only be taken for public purposes (C) Right to an impartial jury (D) Private property cannot be taken for public use (E) Right to be present at the trial - ANSWER>>D. Private property cannot be taken for public use Over the last five presidential elections, women have tended to (A) vote for Republican Party candidates. (B) ignore military issues important to male voters. (B) aristocratic. (C) parliamentary. (D) unitary. (E) egalitarian. - ANSWER>>A. republican. When Congress authorized the President to eliminate individual elements from proposed legislation, it was known as a(an) (A) presidential prerogative. (B) line item veto. (C) executive decision. (D) legislative veto. (E) subpoenaed document. - ANSWER>>B. line item veto. The Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale (1962) (A) made abortion legal across the country (B) made laws against contraception illegal (C) allowed the president to pursue anticommunist measures in Vietnam (D) eliminated prayer organized by public schools (E) required the desegregation of public schools - ANSWER>>D. eliminated prayer organized by public schools After hearings are complete, a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as (A) an open door session (B) a markup session (C) a closed door session (D) a joint resolution session (E) a full house session - ANSWER>>B. a markup session Charles Schenck was arrested and charged with the federal crime of trying to inhibit military recruitment in a time of war. What was the Supreme Court's decision in the resulting case, Schneck v. United States (1919)? (A) Schneck's right to speak and act against the war was protected by the First Amendment, though within vague limits (B) Schneck's speech and action had presented a public danger in a time of war, and his conviction was upheld (C) Schneck, not being a citizen, was deported before the case was decided (D) a sharply divided court allowed Schneck's anti-war speech in the abstract but not when aimed at individuals who might be recruited (E) the right to freedom of speech is absolute and the government was wrong to arrest him - ANSWER>>B. Schneck's speech and action had presented a public danger in a time of war, and his conviction was upheld A temporary panel that works to reconcile different final House and Senate versions of a bill is known as (A) a joint committee. (B) a quorum. (C) a conference committee. (D) an executive session. (E) a pro-forma session. - ANSWER>>C. a conference committee. Which of the following acts, signed by President Clinton, resulted in a balanced budget and a surplus for the first time since the end of the 1960s? (A) Budget and Impoundment Control Act (B) Gramm-Rudman Act (C) Balanced Budget Act (D) Patriot Act (E) Budgetary Restraint and Fiscal Responsibility Act - ANSWER>>C. Balanced Budget Act The power of judicial review grants the Supreme Court the ability to (A) overturn or modify the enforcement of laws that violate the Constitution. (B) evaluate all judicial appointments prior to Senate consent proceedings. (C) edit bills under consideration prior to enactment. (D) consider all state laws for constitutionality prior to their enactment. (E) rate the effectiveness of all federal laws and regulations. - ANSWER>>A. overturn or modify the enforcement of laws that violate the Constitution. The effect of the Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland led to (A) strengthen federal power at the expense of state power (B) strengthen state power at the expense of federal power (C) strengthen the Senate at the expense of the House (D) strengthen the House at the expense of the Senate (E) strengthen the presidency at the expense of Congress - ANSWER>>A. strengthen federal power at the expense of state power The role of caucuses in Congress is to (A) promote group interests through legislation, policy, and pressure on the agencies. (B) measure existing support for a bill before the House of Representatives makes a binding vote on it. (C) muster support before an election cycle. (D) bind members to vote for or against legislation prior to the full House of Representatives vote. (A) Justice. (B) State. (C) Interior. (D) Transportation. (E) Energy. - ANSWER>>A. Justice. The Grand Old Party (GOP) is a lesser-used name for what political party? (A) Democratic (B) Republican (C) Whig (D) Reform (E) Libertarian - ANSWER>>B. Republican The "wall of separation" that the Constitution maintains between church and state is contained in the (A) free exercise clause. (B) establishment clause. (C) incorporation doctrine. (D) community standards clause. (E) due process clause. - ANSWER>>B. establishment clause Which of the following presidential candidates from the last two decades of the 20th century is most closely associated wit raising the issue of the federal government's budget deficit? (A) Ross Perot (B) George H.W. Bush (C) Bill Clinton (D) John Kerry (E) John Edwards - ANSWER>>A. Ross Perot The State's Rights Democratic Party, also called the Dixiecrat Party, split from the Democrat Party in 1948 because it opposed (A) the New Deal (B) racial desegregation (C) war with China (D) war with Germany (E) the Democratic Party's reluctance to purse civil rights legislation - ANSWER>>B. racial desegregation The concept of "popular sovereignty" as incorporated in the Constitution was first promoted by which philosopher? (A) Thomas Hobbes (B) Jean Jacque Rousseau (C) John Locke (D) John Stewart Mill (E) Jeremy Bentham - ANSWER>>C. John Locke The major agency of fiscal policy is the (A) Council of Economic Advisors. (B) Office of Management and Budget. (C) Export-Import Bank. (D) Federal Reserve Board. (E) Treasury Department. - ANSWER>>E. Treasury Department. All of the following are reasons two major parties dominate American politics EXCEPT (A) American voters tend to be centrist in their political outlook (B) victory in electoral college votes pushes the political system toward two parties (C) congressional seats are winner-take-all (D) campaign financing is biased against third parties (E) several state constitutions prohibit more than two political parties - ANSWER>>E. several state constitutions prohibit more than two political parties What 20th century presidential candidate received fewer votes than his opponent but still won the election? (A) Harry Truman (B) Woodrow Wilson (C) John F. Kennedy (D) Gerald Ford (E) George W. Bush - ANSWER>>E. George W. Bush The Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction in a dispute between (A) two states. (B) two multinational corporations. (C) a foreign and an American citizen. (D) a foreign and an American corporation. (E) political parties. - ANSWER>>A. two states. Marble-cake federalism is a term political scientists use to describe (A) dual federalism (B) unitary federalism (C) cooperative federalism (D) essential spending. (E) discretionary spending. - ANSWER>>C. entitlement spending. The political system that divides power between states and federal government is referred to as (A) socialism (B) right wing (C) federalism (D) democracy (E) sovereignty - ANSWER>>C. federalism According to the Supreme Court, First Amendment free speech protections do not apply to (A) the desecration of the American flag. (B) obscenity. (C) protests, rallies, or strikes against the democratically elected government. (D) sexual content acceptable by community standards. (E) verbal or written attacks on public figures. - ANSWER>>B. obscenity The Fifteenth Amendment made it unconstitutional to prevent citizens from voting based on race or skin color. Which of the following is an example of an initiative set up by some states to continue to prevent African-Americans from voting? (A) affirmative action (B) apartheid (C) Jim Crow laws (D) busing (E) poll taxes - ANSWER>>E. poll taxes The Constitution does NOT give Congress the authority to (A) impeach and remove federal judges. (B) refuse to ratify treaties negotiated by the President. (C) override a presidential veto. (D) pardon people convicted of federal crimes. (E) raise taxes and authorize spending. - ANSWER>>D. pardon people convicted of federal crimes. Which of the following acts penalized employers who hired illegal immigrants and gave amnesty to most of the undocumented aliens in the country? (A) Volstead Act (B) Immigration and Nationality Act (C) Homeland Labor Act (D) Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (E) Patriot's Initiative - ANSWER>>D. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Why must the House of Representatives readopt rules of procedure at the beginning of each new session, while the Senate has not done so since 1789? (A) Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate gives the individual states an equal say in rules as in legislation. (B) The House of Representatives committee structure aggravates political infighting and leads to frequent rule changes. (C) Although the Constitution outlines Senate procedure, it gives House of Representatives members the freedom to create their own rules. (D) While a two-thirds majority is needed to amend Senate rules, only a simple majority is needed to change those of the House of Representatives. (E) The Senate is a continuing body, while House of Representatives members must stand for election every two years. - ANSWER>>E. The Senate is a continuing body, while House of Representatives members must stand for election every two years. How many votes are necessary for unanimous consent agreement to be passed in the Senate? (A) three-quarters majority (B) two-thirds majority (C) 100% (D) 70% (E) 90% - ANSWER>>C. 100% Which department has the largest number of career government professionals working abroad? (A) Department of Transportation (B) Department of Defense (C) Department of State (D) Department of Commerce (E) Department of Justice - ANSWER>>B. Dept. of Defense Which of the following functions is NOT performed by the major political parties in the American system? (A) Helping to connect the people with their government (B) Increasing the diversity of viewpoints represented in the political arena (C) Stimulate and focusing public discussion (D) Promoting candidates and voter participation (E) Helping resolve political conflicts and promoting national unity - ANSWER>>B. Increasing the diversity of viewpoints represented in the political arena All of the following programs were part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society and war on poverty programs EXCEPT (A) Medicare I. Narrows the range of political perspectives available to most Americans II. Lowers journalistic standards for the reporting of political issues III. Grants media owners a large amount of political influence (A) I only (B) II only (C) III only (D) I and III only (E) I, II, and III - ANSWER>>D. I and III only In the mid-term elections following a President's inauguration, his party tends to (A) lose seats in Congress. (B) gain seats in Congress. (C) lose House of Representatives seats but gain Senate seats. (D) lose Senate seats but gain House of Representatives seats. (E) lose control of Congress. - ANSWER>>A. lose seats in Congress. Which category of interest groups has been the strongest and most effective in lobbying Washington? (A) Ideological interest groups (B) Religious interest groups (C) Economic interest groups (D) Government interest groups (E) Single-issue interest groups - ANSWER>>C. Economic interest groups Which of the following is NOT true of state militias? (A) they are established to enforce the will of the people (B) they are used to put down insurrections (C) they have been superseded by the National Guard (D) they are supposed to resist invasions (E) they are discussed in Article 1 of the Constitution - ANSWER>>A. they are established to enforce the will of the people Those calling for the adoption of the Constitution presented all of the following arguments EXCEPT that Federalism would (A) protect individual rights while allowing the government to work for the common good. (B) help prevent tyranny. (C) help prevent war between the states. (D) allow the states to be a testing ground for new policies and programs. (E) give the states greater sovereignty and independence. - ANSWER>>E. give the states greater sovereignty and independence. To prevent jurors from hearing about a trial in the media, judges will sometimes impose what restriction on journalists? (A) gag order (B) writ of prevention (C) discretion order (D) order of cessation (E) noncompliance order - ANSWER>>A. gag order The Constitution gives Congress the power to (A) declare war. (B) command U.S. armed forces. (C) appoint ambassadors. (D) negotiate treaties. (E) nominate federal judges. - ANSWER>>A. declare war The Supreme Court's power to determine what is and what is not constitutional is referred to as (A) judicial temperament (B) senatorial courtesy (C) judicial activism (D) judicial review (E) judicial implementation - ANSWER>>D. judicial review All of the following are examples of legal symbolic expression EXCEPT (A) burning a draft card (B) burning a flag (C) libeling of a congressman in a newspaper editorial (D) wearing of a black armband in protest of a war (E) wearing a t-shirt that reads, "the president is a fool" - ANSWER>>A. burning a draft card (because it is federal property) The practice of submitting proposed legislation for approval by a popular vote is known as a (A) plebiscite. (B) gridlock. (C) primary. (D) referendum. (E) recall. - ANSWER>>D. referendum. Evidence obtained illegally cannot be used against a defendant. This principle is known as (B) Equal Pay Act (C) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964) (D) Gibbons v. Ogden (E) Faragher v. City of Boca Raton - ANSWER>>D. Gibbons v. Ogden Why are unfunded mandates so popular for Congress? (A) Unfunded mandates improve relationships between representatives and their constituencies. (B) Representatives can satisfy constituents without being obligated to find funding. (C) Most representatives have served at the state level and wish to return favors. (D) State agencies are more efficient and flexible than the federal bureaucracy. (E) State problems are best solved at the state level. - ANSWER>>B. Representatives can satisfy constituents without being obligated to find funding. Which of the following courts is responsible for granting government agents the authority to post surveillance on suspected spies? (A) trial courts (B) FISC (C) appellate courts (D) circuit courts (E) common law courts - ANSWER>>B. FISC In presidential campaigns, federal matching funds are provided to (A) all candidates. (B) minor party candidates only. (C) major party candidates only. (D) winning candidates only. (E) candidates who pass the fundraising threshold. - ANSWER>>E. candidates who pass the fundraising threshold. Which of the following terms refers to a potential check on federal judicial power? (A) review (B) implementation (C) restraint (D) temperament (E) activism - ANSWER>>B. implementation In the Mayflower Compact, we see the emergence of two enduring principles important to the American political system: (1) willingness to live under the rule of law and (2) (A) a bicameral legislature (B) separation of powers (C) checks and balances (D) separation of church and state (E) government by the consent of the governed - ANSWER>>E. government by the consent of the governed Civil liberties are freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Because civil liberties set limits on the extent to which government can control citizens' affairs, they are sometimes referred to as (A) civil rights (B) inalienable rights (C) negative rights (D) positive rights (E) key rights - ANSWER>>C. negative rights Which of the following cases stressed government neutrality toward religion? (A) Agostini v. Felton (B) Zelmon v. Simmons-Harris (C) Engle v. Vitale (D) Lynch v. Donnelly (E) Lemon v. Kurtzman - ANSWER>>A. Agostini v. Felton According to a Supreme Court decision, the clear-and-present-danger test prohibited what type of action? (A) speaking against the government during wartime (B) expressing a threatening, countercultural idea (C) symbolically protesting a federal decision (D) using provocative language that upsets the peace (E) speaking publicly about how to prevent potential terrorist threats - ANSWER>>A. speaking against the government during wartime Which of the following allowed President Lyndon B. Johnson to "take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the force of the US and to prevent further aggression"? (A) War Powers Act (B) Anticipatory Defense Act (C) Hanoi Resolution (D) Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (E) Truman Doctrine - ANSWER>>D. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Which of the following was called for in the Virginia Plan? (A) a bicameral legislature with representatives based on population (B) equal state representation in a unicameral legislature (B) cooperation, communication, and collaboration among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government (C) political discussion among peers and colleagues (D) the tendency for children to share political views with parents (E) the tendency for individuals to undergo shifts in political affiliation during a university education - ANSWER>>D. the tendency for children to share political views with parents Which of the following voters is LEAST likely to favor Republican candidates? (A) a voter who is religiously conservative (B) a voter who opposes taxation, regulation, and welfare programs (C) a voter who opposes abortion (D) a voter who lives in a small town (E) a voter who supports a small military - ANSWER>>E. a voter who supports a small military What polling term is used to describe a situation in which a large majority of Americans favor or oppose an issue? (A) normal distribution (B) skewed distribution (C) bimodal distribution (D) weighted distribution (E) stable distribution - ANSWER>>B. skewed distribution Which of the following statements is NOT true? (A) members of Congress cannot be arrested while Congress is in session except for treason, felony, and breach of peace (B) members of Congress cannot be prosecuted outside of Congress for words spoken during congressional speeches and debates (C) members of Congress cannot be appointed to civil offices created during a contemporaneous term in Congress (D) members of Congress cannot hold office for more than 24 years (E) members of Congress are compensated for their labor from the US treasury - ANSWER>>D. members of Congress cannot hold office for more than 24 years (can hold office for life if reelected) The Constitution gives the power of formally initiating tax legislation to which of the following? (A) the people (B) the president (C) the Senate (D) the Supreme Court (E) the House of Representatives - ANSWER>>E. the House of Representatives (because theoretically most accountable to the people) Regarding US taxes, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT (A) Americans pay some of the highest taxes in the world (B) US income tax is progressive (C) sales taxes are regressive (D) estate taxes are progressive (E) employers are required to match what each of their employees pays in Medicare and Social Security taxes - ANSWER>>A. Americans pay some of the highest taxes in the world The main fiscal duties of Congress are (A) minting currency and regulating the stock market (B) regulating the stock market and collecting taxes (C) collecting taxes and import duties, borrowing money, and paying the nation's debts (D) borrowing money, paying the nation's debts, and regulating the stock market (E) regulating corporations and minting currency - ANSWER>>C. collecting taxes and import duties, borrowing money, and paying the nation's debts All of the following provide the government with financial resources EXCEPT (A) tariffs and duties (B) public debt (C) payroll taxes (D) bonds (E) hidden taxes - ANSWER>>B. public debt The Budget and Accounting Act (1921) had which of the following results? (A) it changed the fiscal year from January 1 through December 31, to October 1 through September 30. (B) it standardized the accounting procedures and rules for US business and corporations (C) it required that all US corporations submit to budgetary and fiscal regulation (D) it required all US corporations to submit budgetary and fiscal regulation (E) it required that the president prepare the budget and seek Congressional approval - ANSWER>>E. it required that the president prepare the budget and seek Congressional approval What is the first formal step in the hearing of a case by the U.S. Supreme Court? (A) the Court asks the solicitor general to present the case (B) justices on the Court begin doing research on the case (C) attorneys make oral arguments before the Court (D) the Court issues a writ of certiorari to lower courts (E) the justices of the Court meet and discuss their opinions on the case - ANSWER>>D. the Court issues a writ of certiorari to lower courts (D) the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act made it easier for PACs to raise and spend money in elections (E) the Federal Election Committee has encouraged PACs to fund elections because of a lack of public financing - ANSWER>>A. campaign finance laws prevent individuals from giving large amounts of money directly to candidates Which type of federalism is closest to that laid out in the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? (A) dual federalism (B) cooperative federalism (C) layer-cake federalism (D) marble-cake federalism (E) sovereign federalism - ANSWER>>A. dual federalism How did the Seventeenth Amendment change the process of U.S. government? (A) it gave women the right to vote (B) it required parties to hold primary elections (C) it allowed for the direct election of senators (D) it barred poll taxes and literacy tests (E) it guaranteed African American suffrage - ANSWER>>C. it allowed for the direct election of senators On which concept of U.S. government did the Supreme Court overturn the doctrine of "separate but equal" established in Plessy v. Ferguson? (A) due process (B) equal protection (C) federalism (D) minority rights (E) checks and balances - ANSWER>>B. equal protection Which of the following is an example of progressive taxation? (A) sales taxes (B) Social Security taxes (C) poll taxes (D) Medicare taxes (E) income taxes - ANSWER>>E. income taxes Offices of the federal bureaucracy are often concerned with (A) managing foreign relations (B) lobbying federal lawmakers (C) making rules and regulations (D) setting income tax policy (E) determining federal budgets - ANSWER>>C. making rules and regulations How did the ruling in Barron v. Baltimore affect the United States? (A) it limited the power of lower courts to challenge rulings (B) it expanded voting rights for women and African Americans (C) it barred the use of Jim Crow laws and poll taxes in the South (D) it established the supremacy of the federal government over the states (E) it stated that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government - ANSWER>>E. it stated that the Bill of Rights applied only to the federal government Which of the following is most closely associated with a tendency to vote for liberal Democratic candidates and issues? (A) high level of education (B) being male (C) residence in the South (D) high level of income (E) membership in an evangelical religion - ANSWER>>A. high level of education How do different members of the U.S. government work together to make and approve treaties? (A) the House of Representatives make treaties, and the president approves them (B) the president makes treaties, and the Senate approves them (C) the vice-president and president make treaties but need no outside approval (D) the president makes treaties, and the Supreme Court approves them (E) the Senate makes treaties, and the president approves them - ANSWER>>B. the president makes treaties, and the Senate approves them What is a faithless elector? (A) a caucus delegate who votes for whichever candidate he or she prefers without regard for local voters (B) a member of Congress who breaks from the party line to support legislation introduced by the other party (C) a member of the Electoral College who abstains from voting in a presidential election because he or she does not like any candidate (D) a party official who disregards the ideas of other party leaders during the primary nominating process (E) a member of the Electoral College who votes for a candidate other than the one he or she has pledged to vote for - ANSWER>>E. a member of the Electoral College who votes for a candidate other than the one he or she has pledged to vote for Those who argued for the inclusion of a series of defined individual liberties as a condition for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution drew inspiration largely from the (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> The Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision (A) led to the establishment of a personal right to privacy (B) ordered the racial desegregation of public schools (C) ended laws against homosexual activity between consenting adults (D) protected journalists who criticized public officials (E) held that a right to physician-assisted suicide did not exist in the Constitution - ANSWER>>B. ordered the racial desegregation of public schools (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) - ANSWER>> (A) (B) (C) (D)