Question 1

What are some of the barriers to political thinking in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The major barrier to political thinking ...

Question 2

As described in the text,"political thinking"

Accepted Answer

A)  is the reflection of an individual's ideological position when applied to political issues.
B)  results from an individual allowing personal bias to inform all thoughts about political issues,instead of doing objective learning or research to form an opinion.
C)  involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue.
D)  is the result of an individual's attempts to seek out news media that reinforce a pre-existing political bias.
E)  is a strategy taken by those seeking election to public office in which their publicly stated positions are designed to maximize their attractiveness to the widest voting bloc.Essay QuestionsF) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 3

The United States' economy operates primarily as a

Accepted Answer

A)  free-market system.
B)  free-market system with major elements of socialism.
C)  socialist system with some free-market elements.
D)  socialist system.
E)  communist system.F) A) and B)
G) A) and D)

Question 4

Which of the following has democracy come to mean in practice?

Accepted Answer

A)  pluralistic government through the combination of popularly elected representatives and the influence of interest groups
B)  oligarchic government through a legislature chosen through popular election
C)  elitist control through interest group politics
D)  pluralism through the election of representatives and the influence of corporate interests
E)  majority rule through the free and open election of representativesF) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 5

Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent

Accepted Answer

A)  activist organizations.
B)  labor unions.
C)  business firms.
D)  foreign-based political action groups.
E)  nonprofit organizations.F) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 6

________ is the ability of persons,groups,or institutions to influence political developments.

Accepted Answer

A)  Apathy
B)  Politics
C)  Power
D)  Liberty
E)  Political cultureF) B) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 7

In a survey of college students,the Intercollegiate Studies Association found that the best predictor of a student's later participation in the nation's civic and political life is

Accepted Answer

A)  a college degree.
B)  a solid understanding of public affairs.
C)  participation in student government.
D)  participation in Greek life.
E)  attending a school with a residential campus versus a "commuter" campus.F) None of the above
G) All of the above

Question 8

Compared to two decades ago,contemporary Americans are,on average,

Accepted Answer

A)  far better informed about political affairs.
B)  at about the same level of being informed about political affairs.
C)  getting most of their news from traditional media sources such as newspapers.
D)  much more knowledgeable about the functioning of America's political institutions.
E)  paying more attention to news sources that have an obvious ideological bias.F) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 9

This person was the chief architect of the United States Constitution and also one of America's top political scientists:

Accepted Answer

A)  James Madison.
B)  Andrew Jackson.
C)  Woodrow Wilson.
D)  Benjamin Franklin.
E)  John Adams.F) B) and C)
G) A) and B)

Question 10

To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?

Accepted Answer

A)  the majoritarian nature of the voting and election system
B)  the ability of any individual to aspire to high political office
C)  the judicial nature of American politics,in which any individual can challenge powerful interests
D)  the emphasis that Americans place on economic self-reliance and free markets
E)  the ability of the individual to join in labor unions and interest groups to pursue his or her political and financial self-interestsF) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 11

In a democratic society,who or what is responsible for personal development?

Accepted Answer

A)  the education system
B)  political parties
C)  the progressive being
D)  the individual
E)  parents,ministers,and political leadersF) C) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 12

Describe the differences between how Americans define themselves and how other,older nations define what it means to be a part of their nations' cultural identity.

Accepted Answer

Other people take their identity from th...

Question 13

What is a major limit on majoritarianism suggested by the text?

Accepted Answer

A)  The public as a whole takes an interest in only a few of the hundreds of policy decisions that U.S.officials make each year.
B)  The public lacks access to the information required to take informed political action on most issues dealt with by the government each year.
C)  The actions of special interest groups are ultimately more influential than the voting power of the public.
D)  The rapid turnover of government officials and members of the legislature prevents the majority public from making a sustained effort for any single issue.
E)  The most power tends to reside with a wealthy minority of the voting public,preventing the majority public from setting the issue agenda.F) D) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 14

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

Accepted Answer

A)  a guarantee of freedom of speech.
B)  a division of governmental authority into three branches.
C)  checks and balances among the three branches of government.
D)  restrictions against the power of corporations to influence the election process.
E)  term limits for elected officials to reduce their power.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 15

Pluralism contends that,on most issues,

Accepted Answer

A)  corporate elites have more control over economic policy than do "the politicians in the visible government."
B)  the will of the majority of the voting public determines government policy.
C)  it is the preferences of special interests that largely determine what government does.
D)  true authority lies with the elected politicians,and not with the public that put them in office.
E)  the diverse nature of the citizenry enhances the democratic process in policymaking.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 16

How could one argue that America is not run by a small power elite?

Accepted Answer

One could argue that due to the diversit...

Question 17

Which one of the following is NOT true of cultural or political beliefs in America?

Accepted Answer

A)  America's origins as a wilderness society led to the belief that government is responsible for providing material assistance to its citizens.
B)  Americans place a greater emphasis than Europeans on personal advancement through education.
C)  Americans have traditionally favored a free-market economy.
D)  America has a strong individualistic culture.
E)  America's individualistic culture has not proven to be an absolute barrier to government assistance programs.F) A) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 18

From 1945 until the late 1960s,there was the highest degree of bipartisanship in the area of

Accepted Answer

A)  economic regulation.
B)  taxation levels.
C)  civil rights.
D)  foreign affairs.
E)  environmental policy.F) B) and C)
G) None of the above

Question 19

Which important aspect of European thought had a big impact on the formation of the political culture of America?

Accepted Answer

A)  Romanticism
B)  Reformation
C)  Renaissance
D)  Rationalism
E)  EnlightenmentF) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 20

What new policy was established by the U.S.Supreme Court's landmark Gideon v.Wainwright ruling?

Accepted Answer

A)  the right to trial by jury
B)  the need to charge an arrested suspect with a specific crime within 24 hours of arrest
C)  the requirement that police read a suspect his rights before or during arrest
D)  government provision of free legal counsel to the accused if they are too poor to hire a lawyer
E)  the practice of allowing a suspect out on bail until the time of the trialF) None of the above
G) A) and E)

Exam 1: Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Describe the differences between how Americans define themselves and how other,older nations define what it means to be a part of their nations' cultural identity.

Correct AnswerverifiedOther people take their identity from th...View AnswerShow Answer

Pluralism contends that,on most issues,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is a major limit on majoritarianism suggested by the text?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ is the ability of persons,groups,or institutions to influence political developments.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As described in the text,"political thinking"

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a democratic society,who or what is responsible for personal development?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How could one argue that America is not run by a small power elite?

Correct AnswerverifiedOne could argue that due to the diversit...View AnswerShow Answer

What are some of the barriers to political thinking in the United States?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe major barrier to political thinking ...View AnswerShow Answer

This person was the chief architect of the United States Constitution and also one of America's top political scientists:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In a survey of college students,the Intercollegiate Studies Association found that the best predictor of a student's later participation in the nation's civic and political life is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which one of the following is NOT true of cultural or political beliefs in America?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following has democracy come to mean in practice?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Compared to two decades ago,contemporary Americans are,on average,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

From 1945 until the late 1960s,there was the highest degree of bipartisanship in the area of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The United States' economy operates primarily as a

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which important aspect of European thought had a big impact on the formation of the political culture of America?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution,among other things,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What new policy was established by the U.S.Supreme Court's landmark Gideon v.Wainwright ruling?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Other people take their identity from th...
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One could argue that due to the diversit...
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The major barrier to political thinking ...
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