Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government (5-15%)

1. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government (5-15%)

2. 1) Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10? a) A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism b) Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics c) The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities d) Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny e) The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny

3. a) A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism!

4. 2) All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the constitutional Convention of 1787 except… a) Dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties b) Fear for the stability of the central government c) Desire to promote trade among the states d) The need to give the central government the power to levy taxes

5. b)Fear for the stability of the central government

6. 3) In the organization of the government, the principle of federalism is illustrated best by the: • Presidents power as commander in chief • A separation of powers between the united states supreme court and congress • Representation system for electing senators • Qualifications for the office of president • Federal bureaucracy

7. Representation system for electing senators

8. 4. The largest source of federal revenue is the _____. a) Capital gains tax b) Social security tax c) Property tax d) Income tax e) Sales tax

9. d) Income tax • Political Beliefs and Behaviors (10-20%)

10. 6. Voting patterns of members of congress correlate most strongly with.. a) The populations density of their districts b) Their economic background c) Their educational level d) Their political party affiliation e) The location of their districts

11. d) Their political party affiliation

12. 7) Of the following, which best predicts the likelihood that citizens will vote? • Their race • Their religion • Their education level • Their gender • Their region of residence

13. Their education level

14. 8) Of the following groups of eligible voters, which is the least likely to vote? • The young with low education levels • The middle-aged with low education levels • Middle-aged and older women • Blue-collar workers • Middle-class African American citizens

15. The young with low education levels

16. Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (10-20%) • Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media (10-20%)

17. 8. Which of the following is true of “amicus curiae” briefs? • A. They are used by interest groups to lobby courts • B. They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups • C. They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups • D. They are now unconstitutional • E. They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision

18. A. They are used by interest groups to lobby courts

19. 27. Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through: • A. “Winning and dining” legislators • B. Orchestrating petition drives and letter-writing campaigns • C. Placing persuasive advertisements in the media • D. Threatening to help the legislator’s opponent in the next election

20. D. Threatening to help the legislator’s opponent in the next election

21. 9) The primary election system of selecting presidential candidates has had which of the following effects? a) It has increased the importance of state party organizations b) It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process c) It has reduced the role of citizens in the candidate selection process d) It has lowered the cost of running for office e) It has led to a decline in the importance of party voter-registration drives

22. b) It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process

23. 10) Political parties serve which of the following functions in the United States? • I. Informing the public about political issues • II.Mobilizing voters and getting them to the polls • III.Organizing diverse interests within a society • IV.Establishing the rules of governing financial contributions to political candidates a) II only b) I and II only c) III and IV only d) I, II, and III only e) I, III, and IV only

24. d) I, II, and III only

25. 11. Which of the following statements about democrats and republicans is true? a) City dwellers are more likely to call themselves republicans than democrats b) Republicans are more likely than democrats to label themselves “conservatives” c) African American citizens are more likely to call themselves republicans than democrats d) Republicans are more likely than democrats to believe that adequate medical care should be guaranteed by the federal government e) People in working class occupations are more likely to call themselves republicans than democrats

26. b) Republicans are more likely than democrats to label themselves “conservatives”

27. 12. All of the following contribute the success of incumbent members of congress in election campaigns except… A) Incumbents usually raise more campaign funds than do their challengers B) Incumbents tend to understand national issues better than do their challengers C) Incumbents are usually better known to voters than are their challengers D) Incumbents can use legislative staff to perform campaign services E) Incumbents often sit on committees that permit them to serve district interests

28. d) Incumbents can use legislative staff to perform campaign services

29. 13) An interest group likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake… • Is a narrow in scope and low in public visibility • Is part of the president’s legislative package • Has been dramatized by the media • Engages legislator’s deeply held convictions • Divides legislators along party lines

30. Is a narrow in scope and low in public visibility

31. Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts (35-45%)

32. 22. The rules committee is considered one of the most powerful in the House of Representatives because it has great power over the… • A. Ethical conduct of House members • B. Number of subcommittees that a standing committee may establish at any given time • C. Scheduling of vote3s and the conditions under which bills are debated and amended • E. Regulations governing federal elections

33. E. Regulations governing federal elections

34. 14. In vetoing a bill, the president does which of the following.. a) Rejects only part of the bill without rejecting it entirely b) Prevents any further action on the bill c) Sends the bill back to conference committee d) Rejects all sections of the bill e) Decides the bill’s constitutionality

35. d) Rejects all sections of the bill

36. 33. Which of the following is NOT a presidential role authorized by the Constitution? • A. To be commander in chief of the armed forces • B. To lead the political party of the president • C. To negotiate treaties with foreign countries • D. The be chief executive • E. To present the State of the Union address

37. B. To lead the political party of the president

38. 11. Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation? • A. Ways and Means • B. Appropriations • C. Judiciary • D. Rules • E. Government Operations

39. D. Rules

40. 15. All of the following are true about the relationship between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate, except a) Agency employees are often recruited from the regulative industry b) Agencies often rely on support from regulative industries and making budget requests before congress c) An agency’s relationship with a regulative industry may change when a new president takes office d) Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulative industry e) Agency employees often are employed by the regulated industry once they leave the agency

41. d) Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulative industry

42. 38. The Supreme Court ruled the legislative veto unconstitutional on the grounds that such vetoes… • A. Were the province of the courts alone • B. Violated the principle of separation of powers • C. Would give the executive branch too much power • D. Would give too much authority to non elected officials • E. Were unwarranted infringement on the rights of state governments

43. B. Violated the principle of separation of powers

44. Public Policy (5-15%)

45. 24. Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts? • A. It results in more Democrats being elected to the House. • B. It results in more Republicans being elected to the House. • C. It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented. • D. It creates districts that favor one political party over another • E. It violates the principle of one-person, one-vote.

46. D. It creates districts that favor one political party over another

47. 22. The franking privilege often refers to the: • A. Federal Reserve Board’s control over interest rates • B. Practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees • C. Practice whereby legislatures with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve • D. Right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee • E. Right of members of congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense

48. E. Right of members of congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense

49. 16) Federal spending for which of the following is determined by laws that lie outside the regular budgetary process? • Military procurement • Regulatory agency funding • Government-subsidized housing programs • Educational assistance programs such as student loans • Entitlement programs such as Social Security

50. Entitlement programs such as Social Security