Understanding American Democracy & Federalism: Key Concepts & Supreme Court Cases - Prof. , Exams of Political Science

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Political Science 1014 Fall, 2008 – Exam # 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.
7. “Selective incorporation” means: a. that certain procedures must be followed in admitting new states to the union. b. that the U.S. reserves the right to deny citizenship to certain people. *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.

14. 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.

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 Madison defends separation of powers in the Federalist Papers, he claims that it will be effective in 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.
21. Prof. Walcott noted that the creation of “laboratories of democracy” is one of the virtues of a. separation of powers. b. bicameral legislatures. *c. federalism. d. confederacies.
22. In Federalist #10, Madison argued that the “mischiefs of factions” could be controlled because the U.S would have 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.
27. In the Declaration of Independence it is asserted that all men have certain rights. What is the source of those rights, according to the Declaration? a. English common law. b. practical experience. c. the Virginia constitution. *d. God.
    28. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve 2 year terms because 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 U.S. citizen is declared an “enemy combatant” in the war on terrorism, the Supreme Court has ruled that *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. 35.. The separate-but-equal doctrine was overturned by which court case?

    a. Plessy v Ferguson *b. Brown v Board of Education c. Near v. Minnesota d. Grutter v. Bollinger

35. The establishment clause refers to a. free speech. *b. freedom of religion. c. freedom to assemble. d. freedom to own private property.

36. 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.

37. 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 # Form B Fill in the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet. For each question there is only one correct answer.
41. “Selective incorporation” means: a. that certain procedures must be followed in admitting new states to the union. b. that the U.S. reserves the right to deny citizenship to certain people. *c. that federal rights have been applied to the states, but only one at a time. d. that the federal government can regulate businesses.
42. 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.

7. “Protection of the freedom of individuals from government interference” is a definition of 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 Madison defends separation of powers in the Federalist Papers, he claims that it will be effective in 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.
15. Prof. Walcott noted that the creation of “laboratories of democracy” is one of the virtues of a. separation of powers. b. bicameral legislatures. *c. federalism. d. confederacies.
16. In Federalist #10, Madison argued that the “mischiefs of factions” could be controlled because the U.S would have 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.
21. In the Declaration of Independence it is asserted that all men have certain rights. What is the source of those rights, according to the Declaration? a. English common law. b. practical experience. c. the Virginia constitution. *d. God.

22. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve 2 year terms because 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 U.S. citizen is declared an “enemy combatant” in the war on terrorism, the Supreme Court has ruled that *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. 29.. The separate-but-equal doctrine was overturned by which court case?

    a. Plessy v Ferguson *b. Brown v Board of Education c. Near v. Minnesota d. Grutter v. Bollinger

29. The establishment clause refers to a. free speech. *b. freedom of religion. c. freedom to assemble. d. freedom to own private property.

30. 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 35 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.”

35. 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.