UNIT 1
What is a characteristic of authoritarian government?
a. Freedom of the press is protected.
b. The government has limited powers.
c. Voting rights are given to all citizens.
d. Individual rights are restricted.
d. Individual rights are restricted.
Montgomery County students vote for the student member of the Board of Education who will participate in county school board meetings.
Which type of government does this example illustrate?
a. oligarchy
b. monarchy
c. representative democracy
d. direct democracy
c. representative democracy
Which statement describes the effect of the media on elections?
a. Media has little influence on elections.
b. Media influence is greatest in rural areas.
c. Media influences which issues receive the most attention.
d. Media provides fair and balanced coverage of campaign issues.
c. Media influences which issues receive the most attention.
People are the source of all government power. What principle does this statement most demonstrate?
a. popular sovereignty
b. checks and balances
c. federalism
d. separation of powers
a. popular sovereignty
Which principle of government is the following quote expressing a concern about?
“In the year 2016, with a political campaign finance system that is corrupt and increasingly controlled by billionaires and special interests, I fear very much that, in fact, government of the people, by the people, and for the people is beginning to perish in the United States of America.” - Senator Bernie Sanders
a. representative democracy
b. federalism
c. separation of powers
d. majority rule
a. representative democracy
What constitutional principle is best illustrated when Congress votes to override the president’s veto?
a. federalism
b. checks and balances
c. separation of powers
d. limited government
b. checks and balances
Which of the following is an example of separation of powers?
a. Representatives rewrite a bill in committee meetings.
b. Representatives hold hearings to allow citizens to voice opinions.
c. The president enforces a law passed by Congress.
d. The president fires a cabinet member who is performing poorly.
c. The president enforces a law passed by Congress.
The Montgomery County Board of Education is considering a dress code requirement for high school students.
What is the most effective way for a student to influence this decision?
a. complain to neighbors about the dress code
b. write a letter to the Governor of Maryland
c. send a petition to the Student Member of the Board
d. vote for representatives in the U.S. Congress
c. send a petition to the Student Member of the Board
How have constitutional amendments influenced the right of citizens to vote over time?
a. Amendments have restricted the right of citizens to vote over time.
b. Amendments have expanded the right of citizens to vote over time.
c. Amendments have not changed the right of citizens to vote over time.
d. Amendments have made it more difficult for minority groups to vote over time.
b. Amendments have expanded the right of citizens to vote over time.
Based on the headline below, where is the candidate most likely campaigning?
"Delegate Wagner Vows to Reopen Clothing Factory to Expand Jobs"
a. an area with high employment and many college graduates
b. a residential area worried about pollution from factories
c. a farming area that does not want any factories
d. an area with many people looking for work
d. an area with many people looking for work
What was the ruling of the Supreme Court in McCulloch v. Maryland?
a. The federal government does not have the authority to create a bank.
b. State laws are allowed to contradict national laws.
c. States are allowed to tax the national government.
d. National laws are supreme to, or above, state laws.
d. National laws are supreme to, or above, state laws. NATIONAL SUPREMACY
The power to raise an army and navy is an example of…
a. a power DELEGATED to the national government.
b. a power RESERVED to the states.
c. a power CONCURRENT (SHARED) to both levels of government.
d. a power DENIED to both levels of government.
a. a power DELEGATED to the national government.
Which statement best describes a role of third parties in American politics?
a. Third parties have no impact on American politics.
b. Third parties increase public attention to important issues.
c. Third parties raise campaign funds for major party candidates.
d. Third parties provide candidates who frequently win elections.
b. Third parties increase public attention to important issues.
Which statement below best explains the difference between political parties and interest groups?
a. Political parties select candidates, interest groups influence the government.
b. Political parties approve government programs, interest groups fund programs.
c. Political parties finance candidates, interest groups nominate candidates.
d. Political parties influence laws, interest groups pass laws.
a. Political parties select candidates, interest groups influence the government.
Which of the following is a power of both the governor and county executive?
a. the power to be commander in chief
b. the power to negotiate treaties
c. the power to propose budgets
d. the power to impeach judges
c. the power to propose budgets
Which principle of American government is best represented by the following three excerpts?
“All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress. . .” (Article I)
“The executive Power shall be vested in a President . . .” (Article II)
“The judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court. . .” (Article III)
a. federalism
b. separation of powers
c. limited government
d. checks & balances
b. separation of powers
The following headlines represent a debate over which principle of government?
"It’s time to shrink the size of our government!"
"Government needs to do more to help America!"
a. separation of powers
b. limited government
c. federalism
d. checks and balances
b. limited government
How do primary elections reflect the principle of representative democracy?
a. Voters choose the winner of the general election.
b. Primaries determine who will serve as vice president.
c. Voters choose which candidates will be in the general election.
d. Primaries determine the number of electoral votes each candidate has won.
c. Voters choose which candidates will be in the general election.
The Sierra Club is an interest group whose goal is to protect natural resources and the earth’s environment.
How would lobbyists most likely help the Sierra Club reach its goal?
a. volunteer to clean up a polluted lake
b. oppose candidates who promote clean air
c. increase public support to fund new highway construction to increase trade
d. present information to lawmakers to persuade them to support the environment
d. present information to lawmakers to persuade them to support the environment
Proposing new laws while delivering the State of the Union address is an example of which role of the president?
a. commander in chief
b. chief diplomat
c. chief legislator
d. chief of state
c. chief legislator
According to the following excerpt, why was the First Amendment added to the U.S. Constitution?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”
a. to strengthen the power of the federal courts
b. to divide powers between the state and federal governments
c. to protect the rights of citizens from abuses by the government
d. to preserve the power of the legislative branch
c. to protect the rights of citizens from abuses by the government
Which principle of government does the following scenario demonstrate?
The president declares southern Maryland a Federal Disaster Area after it suffers a severe drought. The national government then provides money to the Maryland state government. The Maryland government gives the money to county governments in southern Maryland. The county governments use the money to support farmers hurt by the drought.
a. federalism
b. separation of powers
c. checks and balances
d. limited government
a. federalism
The Supreme Court ruled in Baker v. Carr that Courts could enforce legislative redistricting to ensure compliance with the principle of “one person, one vote”.
How does this decision apply to redistricting today?
a. Congressional districts are changed to be similar in population size.
b. A vote in an urban area counts more than a vote in a rural area.
c. Polling places in some areas stay open later than in other areas.
d. Legislative districts are made equal in square miles.
a. Congressional districts are changed to be similar in population size.
A statewide referendum resulted in a decision to allow slot machine gambling in order to raise revenue to support education.
How did the referendum allow citizens to influence the political system?
a. Voters had decreased influence on how to raise revenue.
b. Voters decided which candidates support slot machines.
c. Voters voted directly for or against using slot machines to raise revenue.
d. Voters signed a petition to support slot machines to raise revenue.
c. Voters voted directly for or against using slot machines to raise revenue.
What concept does the following conflict demonstrate?
"Congress and the president couldn’t agree on several issues related to education. As a result a bill establishing an education policy was not passed and states did not receive new funding"
a. The powers of the US government have changed over time.
b. Checks and balances can interfere with the functioning of government power.
c. The government must balance the protection of rights with maintaining order.
d. The government always tries to promote the common good.
b. Checks and balances can interfere with the functioning of government power.