Unit 1 Democracy
The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be __.
(A)less powerful than the executive
(B)slow and deliberate in the law-making process
(C)able to ensure that all citizens are equally represented
What is (B) - slow and deliberate in the law-making process?
A new president has been elected and has a number of positions to fill within the federal bureaucracy. This scenario is an example of filling a position based on political patronage.
(A)Choosing a secretary of state to appease members from the opposition party
(B)Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand
(C)Reappointing the secretary of defense even though he or she was appointed by the previous president, who is a member of the opposite party
What is (B) - Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand?
Based on previous court rulings, what school system decision would most likely violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
What is "A public school system uses race-based segregation"?
This policy is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of individualism and equality of opportunity.
(A)Expanding the national defense system
(B)Reducing environmental regulations
(C)Implementing affirmative action programs
What is (C) - Implementing affirmative action programs?
Iron Triangles can be best described as this.
What is "the long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas"?
This scenario would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power.
(A)A state passes a law that increases the pay of state legislators.
(B)A state places a tax on furniture made overseas.
(C)A state raises the drinking age to 25 years of age.
What is (B) - A state places a tax on furniture made overseas?
The president can do this to limit the Supreme Court’s power.
What is "refuse to enforce a ruling by the court"?
This action by public school students would most likely be protected symbolic speech based on the precedent established by Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969).
What is "Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision"?
This term refers to the shared values and beliefs about government that shape Americans’ political attitudes—often influenced by family, education, media, and social environment.
What is political socialization?
This is a consequence of the Electoral College system.
What is "a candidate can win the presidency without winning the national popular vote"?
This principle, embedded in the Constitution, divides power between national and state governments to prevent tyranny and allow local decision-making.
What is federalism?
This statement describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process.
(A)Members of the bureaucracy often lack the expertise to carry out the president’s preferred policies.
(B)Members of the president’s Cabinet can be removed at any time by Congress.
(C)Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president’s agenda.
What is (C) - Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president’s agenda?
A state passes a law requiring all children to attend public school until age 16. A group of Amish parents refuse to send their children to high school after eighth grade, arguing that doing so violates their religious beliefs and community traditions.
This Supreme Court case would most directly support the parents’ claim.
What is Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)?
This process helps pollsters ensure that survey results reflect demographic characteristics of the population by weighting responses to match census data.
What is sampling/weighting (or demographic weighting)?
This is a consequence of candidate-centered campaigns.
(A)Parties tighten their control over candidate fund-raising to ensure compliance with regulations.
(B)Candidates have less accountability for their positions because the importance of the party platform increases.
(C)Candidates’ ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.
What is (C) - Candidates’ ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions?
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 authorized the government to deny income tax deductions for employer health plans that did not offer employees the option of keeping their health insurance after leaving the job. This enumerated power allowed Congress to make the law.
What is "regulating commerce among the states"?
The president is most likely to use an executive order to make important policy when ___.
What is "when a compromise cannot be reached with Congress"?
Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is most likely to view a case concerning ___ as a right-to-privacy case.
(A)A university whose admissions standards prevent women from attending the institution
(B)A high school student who leaves class at a specified time during each school day for daily prayer
(C) A woman who is prevented from an abortion
What is (C) - A woman who is prevented from an abortion?
A president adhering to Keynesian economic principles most likely employ this measure during an economic recession.
What is "a budget with significant increases in spending for unemployment benefits and public works projects"?
This important function of democracy would most likely be more difficult without political parties.
(A)Educating the public about upcoming elections
(B)Ensuring that only eligible voters can vote
(C)Reducing gridlock in Congress
What is (A) - Educating the public about upcoming elections?
This compromise at the Constitutional Convention resolved disputes between large and small states by creating a bicameral legislature—one chamber based on population and one with equal representation.
What is the Connecticut (Great) Compromise?
During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus and detained thousands of citizens who protested the war. This statement best illustrates this scenario.
(A)There is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees the right to a fair trial.
(B)There is a tension between civil liberties and public order.
(C)Freedom of speech is an absolute right.
What is (B) - There is a tension between civil liberties and public order?
Supporters of Hamilton’s view that a bill of rights could be dangerous to liberty could point to this SCOTUS case.
Schenck V United States(1919)
A recent poll indicates that 60 percent of all people in the United States support a flat tax system. This kind of error supports the credibility of the poll result.
What is a sampling error?
This U.S. political party era, beginning in the late 1960s, is marked by divided government and shifting voter coalitions, including the rise of Southern Republicans.
What is the era of party realignment?