American Government Test Questions Part I

Exam 1 (Complete) 1. When Justice William Douglas stated that the First Amendment is absolute and shall not be abridged, he was espousing which theory of Constitutional interpretation? a. original-intent theory b. plain-meaning-of-text theory c. judicial review d. living-constitution theory e. none of the above 2. During the ratification debates, the development of a strong national government was opposed by a. the Federalists b. the Republicans c. businessmen d. most of the population e. the Anti-Federalists 3. Party whips a. communicate the leadership’s position to the members b. count votes c. link the party’s leadership to the rank-and-file d. report back to the leadership on the views of the rank-and-file e. all of the above 4. Someone who enjoys the nuts and bolts of day-to-day policy making is often referred to as a a. staff member b. legislator c. policy work d. bureaucrat e. technocrat 5. Rapid changes in personal can a. leave government without sufficient continuity to get things done b. bring energy and new ideas into government c. both A and B d. neither A nor B e. none of the above 6. The influence of Congress on the bureaucracy begins with a. confirmation hearings in both chambers b. the Senate confirmation process c. advice and consent in the House of Representatives d. hearings on policy decisions e. all of the above 7. When the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by another, it is called a. gridlock b. bicameralism c. divided government d. multiparty government e. all of the above 8. The Defense of Marriage Act established what? a. gay marriages are illegal b. the Supreme Court would have to rule on the legality of each application for same-sex marriage c. gay marriages are recognized by the federal government, but do not have to be recognized by other states d. gay marriages did not have to be recognized by the federal government and other state governments e. even though the federal government will not recognize gay marriages, state are obligated to recognize them 9. According to the lecture, which of these is not a reason why Huntington believes immigrants from Latin America will not assimilate into larger American culture? a. language b. race c. proximity to home nation d. concentration e. none of these 10. In order to have his legislative agenda passed into law, the president a. is usually able to convince Congress to go along with his ideas b. must work with congress to gain approval c. is rarely able to achieve his goals d. can go straight to the people and have them approve his policies e. none of these 11. Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito a. are Judicial activists b. are all former chief justices c. believe in narrowly interpreting the Constitution d. have all been impeached e. none of the above 12. Including the House and the Senate, how many individuals represent the state of Texas in Congress? a. 34 b. 36 c. 32 d. 20 e. 27 13. The class discussion of democracy points out that the relationship between the level of democracy and the level of bliss a person experiences with government is what type of relationship? a. curvilinear relationship b. no relationship c. positive relationship d. negative relationship e. stochastic relationship 14. In 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that domestic violence a. cannot be regulated as interstate commerce b. is committed to state regulation because of state sovereign immunity c. can be regulated by Congress under the necessary and proper clause d. should be outlawed regardless of state laws e. should be nullified 15. Which of these describe Nancy Pelosi a. representative from California b. current Speaker of the House c. representative from New York d. republican e. none of these 16. If no presidential candidate wins a majority of the Electoral College votes, then the president is chosen by a. the Supreme Court b. the previous president c. the Senate d. the House of Representative's e. the states 17. Which of these characterizes people who vote in primaries? a. they are usually more liberal b. they are usually more conservatives c. they are usually more involved and more committed than those who don’t vote d. they are generally single-issue voters e. they are usually younger and more committed than those who don’t vote 18. An informal rule that the Senate will not confirm nominees within or from a state unless they have approval of the senior senator of the state form the president’s party is known as what? a. senatorial courtesy b. senatorial denial c. state-senate committee directive d. senatorial veto e. the senate confirmation rule 19. Political scientist Martin Grodzins rejects the theory of dual sovereignty which viewed levels of government as a “layer cake” with which each level separate and independent from the other. Instead he posited a theory of interlaced powers which he referred to as a. a marble cake b. brownies c. a cheesecake d. a bundt cake e. a coffee cake 20. In the lecture, I discussed an issue that could be considered an “easy” issue. What was that issue? a. abortion b. soft money regulations c. defense spending d. national free trade agreement e. texas school funding 21. Which of these individuals is currently the Majority Whip in the House of Representatives? a. Nancy Pelosi b. Bernie Sanders c. Mitch McConnell d. Steny Hoyer e. none of these 22. Which one of these is an argument made by Adler, Scott, Gent, and Overmeyer’s in their article, “The Homestyle Homepage”? a. the Internet was not used by Congressmen in 1997 b. as of 1997, more democrats and republicans do not operate a homepage than those who do c. even if congressmen represent districts that are not likely to be computer literate, they out to “log on” and create a page for their campaign d. expansionist members are more likely to create home pages than protectionist members of Congress e. the early stage of the Internet was not a time for congressmen in the House of Representatives to communicate politically and express their home style 23. How does the congressional process hinder majorities? a. majorities must build many winning coalitions in subcommittees b. a minority that controls only a single stage of the process can block action c. potential majorities sometimes decide not to act, calculating that the costs of overcoming all the obstacles are not worth the effort d. majorities must build consensus in both chambers e. all of the above 24. What is the formal constitutional check on the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review? a. statutory revision b. putting the decision into receivership c. non-implementation d. impeachment e. the power to amend the Constitution 25. The doctrine that asserts that both the state and national governments are sovereign in their own sphere is called a. supremacy b. dual sovereignty c. cooperative federalism d. nullification e. multiple sovereignty 26. A committee with membership for both houses of Congress is called a ________ committee. a. select b. bilateral c. joint d. standing e. bilateral 27. What is the congressional check to the presidential power to recommend? a. there is no congressional check to the presidential power to recommend b. appointments are subject to the “Advice and Consent of the Senate” c. congress’s ability to override a veto with ⅔ of the Senate and House of Representatives d. the congressional impeachment power e. only Congress may enact measures into law 28. The diversity in the establishment and use of congressional home pages during the introduction of the Internet provides a useful venues for what? a. electioneering during congressional elections b. analyzing alternatives for interest groups to deliver grievances to congressmen c. PACs to mobilize support without spending money for presidential campaigns d. eliminating the problem of free riding e. examining theories regarding variation in legislators’ constituent contact and home styles 29. What was created as a result of the 9/11 attacks? a. Coordinator of Homeland Security b. Homeland Security Director c. Homeland Security Agency d. Department of Homeland Security e. none of these 30. In 39 stats, appellate and trial judges are a. appointed by the president b. appointed by the state legislature c. appointed by the governor d. chosen through the civil service e. subject to election 31. The job of linking the rank-and-file to the party leadership falls to the a. committee chairmen b. majority and minority leaders c. sergeants at arms d. whips e. steering committee 32. Which is NOT a defense of earmarks? a. they help legislation to be passed b. if Congress does not make spending decisions then bureaucrats will c. they make up a small part of the budget d. they nearly always support important local projects that address critical local needs e. these are all defenses of earmarks 33. Which of the following is a negative consequence of the prevalence of political appointees at the highest levels of the government? a. administrators who don’t stay in any position for more than two years b. administrators who can’t communicate with other agencies c. the continual promotion of low-level administrators to run their respective agencies d. top level of jobs are blocked to qualified civil servants e. administrators who are too loyal to the president 34. Which of these is NOT a department of the inner cabinet? a. the State Department b. the Defense Department c. the Treasury Department d. the Department of Justice e. the Department of the Interior 35. If Congress enacts a law, the president has ten days to act. If Congress adjourns within that ten days and the president does not sign the law, the law dies. This is called a(n) a. line item veto b. inactive veto c. death warrant d. administrative veto e. pocket veto 36. According to a figure in Gaines’s analysis of public trust, approval of Democrats in Congress ____ after the September 11 attacks? a. maintained high approval b. could not be determined c. appreciated d. depreciated e. stagnated 37. A democracy is a system in which a. b. c. d. e. governmental powers are held by a single person or group power is gained through heredity government is unnecessary power is shared by all citizens power is held by a small group of people 38. What helps make bureaucracies slow to adjust? a. too few leaders b. standardized procedures c. too much money d. impossible expectations e. none of the above 39. Under the commerce clause, the federal government may regulate a. interstate commerce b. no commercial activity other than manufacturing c. all commerce d. intrastate commerce e. specific commercial activities enumerated in the Constitution 40. According to the findings from the 2010 Texas Poll, Whites, Blacks and Latinos all equally prioritize what value? a. free market system b. eradication of poverty c. limited government d. strong work ethic e. racial equality 41. Recently, a federal judge in Florida rules aspects of the recent health care reform law unconstitutional. What was his basis for ruling the law unconstitutional? a. it violates the First Amendment b. it violates the Thirteenth Amendment c. it violates the Commerce Clause d. it violates the Articles of Confederation e. it Violates the Spending Clause 42. In the discussion of the Texas Constitution, I pointed out the constitutions provide organization, operation, limitations and what? a. simplicity b. legitimacy c. deliberation d. discussion e. suppression 43. Why is the doctrine of stare decisis important? a. it sets legal precedents that guide the decisions of other judges b. we would have no laws without it c. it allows the courts a great deal of leeway in interpreting the law d. it allows for no flexibility in interpretation e. it determines the number of justices that sit on the Supreme Court 44. Which is NOT a key function of government? a. coerce citizens b. regulate social and economic relationships c. defend the country from foreign aggression d. provides services e. protect citizens from unlawful activity 45. Samuel Huntington believes that from three centuries, “race was central to American national identity” and, more specifically, that _____ a. Americans did not differentiate among the disparate races and instead held nonprejudicial and impartial attitudes about “the other” b. There will come a day “when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right” c. Americans were white, blacks were enslaved (and then discriminated against and then segregated), Asians were excluded, and Indians were massacred and set apart on reservations d. During those three centuries, American’s considered themselves multiracial and multiethnic e. Native Americans could no longer live in America 46. President Barack Obama wishes to appoint Roger Dodger as director of the PEA. Given Senatorial Courtesy, which of these individuals should he contact to get permission to appoint Roger Dodger to director of the EPA? a. Kay Bailey Hutchison b. John Cornyn c. David Dewhurst d. both A and B e. none of these 47. A constitution that outlines the basic functions of government is called what type of constitution? a. Statutory Constitution b. Judicial Constitution c. Legislative Constitution d. Ideal Constitution e. Compulsory Constitution 48. Which of the following states has NOT become home to a disproportionately high number of recent immigrants? a. California b. Washington c. Texas d. New Jersey e. Illinois 49. How do presidents fulfill their Constitutional obligation to enforce the laws? a. by managing the federal budget b. by creating departments c. by creating regulatory agencies d. by overseeing the federal bureaucracy e. by establishing legal precedents using the Supreme Court 50. When the Supreme Court sends a case back to a lower court for implementation it is called a. a plenary decision b. remanding c. a remedy d. sentencing e. concurring 51. the doctrine that says that states cannot be sued under federal law by private parties is called___ a. elasticity b. federalism c. state sovereign immunity d. judicial review e. supremacy 52. The House and Senate combined have _____ members. a. 535 b. 435 c. 455 d. 550 e. 355 53. In lecture, there was a discussion about Robert Dahl's interpretation of Democratic Theory, what what his understanding of Democratic Theory? a. The political scientist's approach to democracy is correct. b. There is no one theory that explains democracy. c. The Enlightenment period offered the best definition of democracy. d. The economists discussion of democracy is correct. e. The ancient Greek discussion of democracy is correct. 54. What is one of the drawbacks associated with the president having a national constituency? a. The president must respond to the voters before he can address his responsibilities to Congress. b. The relationship with Congress can be more contentious due to the results of a national election. c. The voters hold the president responsible for many events and conditions over which he has little control. d. The voters only get to voice their opinions once every four years. e. Polling becomes less accurate in a national forum thus giving the president false information about the success or failure of his administration. 55. Whereas Political Scientist and Sociologist Alan Wolfe argues that Samuel Huntington's book is about immigration, Huntington posits that his work meditates primarily on what? a. Federalism b. Constitutional amendments on immigration c. How federal laws, for the most part, undermine the ratification and implementation of local laws d. History of public opinion of immigration e. The salience and substance of America's national identity 56. The doctrine that says states cannot be sued under federal law by private parties is called a. b. c. d. e. elasticity federalism state sovereign immunity judicial review supremacy 57. Under the commerce clause, the federal government may regulate a. all commerce b. interstate commerce c. intrastate commerce d. specific commercial activities enumerated in the Constitution e. no commercial activity other than manufacturing 58. What is the congressional check to the presidential power to recommend? RED a. Congress's ability to override a veto with 2/3 of the Senate and House of Representatives b. The Congressional impeachment power c. There is no congressional check to the presidential power to recommend d. Appointments are subject to the "advice and Consent of the Senate" e. Only Congress may enact measures into law 59. Historically, the U.S. has spent more of its income on ________ than most other democracies.R a. the young b. health care c. justice d. education e. minorities 60. In 39 states, appellate and trial judges are a. chosen through the civil service b. appointed by the president c. appointed by the state legislature d. appointed by the governor e. subject to election 61. Huntington would probably agree that Balkanization promotes what? a. America's adoption of Easter European constitutions b. Patriotism that brings several cultures together c. A multiculturalism that splits up a nation d. A multiculturalism that works and unifies a nation e. A multiculturalism that is unquestionably un-American 62. For at least the first half of the twentieth century, presidential nominations to the Supreme Court were a. former members of Congress b. approves as a matter of course c. often defeated in the Senate d. rarely confirmed e. often highly controversial 63. According to the Foreign Affairs debate between Samuel Huntington and Alan Wolfe, Huntington contends that - a. Despite our nation's fondness to designate America as a 'melting pot,' few immigrants are not adapting or assimilating to American culture b. Many immigrants are assimilating to American culture c. Too many people are immigrating to America d. Alan Wolfe is socialist and with ant-American attitudes e. Not enough people are immigrating to America 64. According to the lecture, which of these is not the type of response you would hear from someone who ascribes to individualism. a. The poor deserve their poverty. b. People should mat it on their own. c. Work induces pride and self-esteem. d. The government should protect the less fortunate. e. People should be responsible for themselves. 65. Which of these topics did President Obama not address in his 2011 State of the Union address? a. Gay Marriage. b. Foreign Affairs. c. The Economy. d. Education. e. Immigration. 66. When Gunnar Myrdal refers to this belief system as being "centered in the belief of equality and in the rights of liberty",what is he talking about? a. The Democratic Dilemma. b. The American Creed. c. Manifest Destiny. d. The Texan Creed. e. The Principles of Americana. 67. Which of these individuals is not currently on the Supreme Court? a. Samuel Alito b. Elena Kagan c. Clarence Thomas d. Antonin Scalia e. Samantha Day O'Connor 68. A plaintiff is a. the judge's assistant. b. the person who prosecutes the case. c. the person bringing the complaint. d. the person against whim a complaint is made e. none of the above 69. The influence on Congress on the bureaucracy begins with a. the Senate confirmation process. b. hearing on policy decisions. c. confirmation hearing in both chambers. d. advice and consent in the House of Representatives e. all of the above