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Web 2.0 Tools | | | Exam: 04.20 Midterm Exam52Score:
52 of 100 pointsInstructions: You are about to enter a TIMED EXAM! You have 50 minutes to complete this exam. One point will be deducted for each minute you go over the allotted time. Once you enter the exam, you cannot stop the clock.Answer Key-------------------------------------------------
Top of FormQuestion 1 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following statements about states� ratification of the Constitution is best supported by the information in the graph?------------------------------------------------- New Jersey had the most delegates reject the Constitution.------------------------------------------------- Pennsylvania delegates tend to reject more often than Delaware delegates.------------------------------------------------- In 1787, the maximum number of delegates to reject the Constitution was 30.------------------------------------------------- Delegates from New Jersey and Delaware unanimously approved the Constitution.------------------------------------------------- Both Delaware and Pennsylvania delegates thought similarly about the Constitution�s effectiveness.Points earned on this question: 2Question 2 (Worth 2 points)Evidence from both the Declaration of Independence and individual state constitutions points to the colonists� desire to------------------------------------------------- justify uprisings.------------------------------------------------- extend voting rights.------------------------------------------------- establish an official church.------------------------------------------------- define political powers in written documents.------------------------------------------------- reconcile the struggle between the rich and the poor.Points earned on this question: 2Question 3 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following principles from John Locke�s Second Treatise of Civil Government supports limited government?------------------------------------------------- Leaders have a divine right to rule.------------------------------------------------- The government may choose which taxes to levy.------------------------------------------------- All property is ultimately owned by the government.------------------------------------------------- People have an innate tendency to obey their government.------------------------------------------------- A government�s legitimacy is determined by the public�s consent.Points earned on this question: 2Question 4 (Worth 2 points)Ralph Nader�s founding of the Public Citizen and various Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are examples of------------------------------------------------- a public-interest organizational strategy.------------------------------------------------- conservative public interest groups.------------------------------------------------- nonpartisan public interest groups.------------------------------------------------- groups formed by purposive incentives.------------------------------------------------- groups formed by solidary incentives.Points earned on this question: 2Question 5 (Worth 2 points)The decline in union membership since 1945 can be explained by all of the following EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- a shift away from industrial production.------------------------------------------------- a shift toward service delivery.------------------------------------------------- a decline in popular opinion of unions.------------------------------------------------- disinterest in the social movements that supported unionism.------------------------------------------------- difficulty in sustaining union revenue.Points earned on this question: 0Question 6 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following best describes one effect of the Internet�s growth on American citizens� political beliefs?------------------------------------------------- Because cable news web sites create homogeneous audiences, more Americans share similar beliefs.------------------------------------------------- Because the Internet presents more accessible sources, fewer Americans consider print sources to be trustworthy.------------------------------------------------- Because of the Internet�s unreliability, more citizens believe what they read in newspapers than in the past.------------------------------------------------- Because more Americans think information published on political blogs is fact, more Americans develop uninformed beliefs.------------------------------------------------- Because local media web sites increasingly strive to appeal to national audiences, more Americans support local political beliefs.Points earned on this question: 2Question 7 (Worth 2 points)If a candidate or current officeholder is accused of putting a "spin" on a particular issue, the media is referring to the politician's attempt to:------------------------------------------------- avoid answering a controversial question------------------------------------------------- present actions or stance on an issue in the most favorable light possible------------------------------------------------- blame their political party for an unpopular program back home------------------------------------------------- answer a question presented by the media as directly and honestly as possible------------------------------------------------- shed responsibility for previous campaign promisesPoints earned on this question: 2Question 8 (Worth 2 points)Which statement best explains the effect that the rise of mass media had on American politics during the 1920s and 1930s?------------------------------------------------- The popularity of mass media resulted in increased partisanship.------------------------------------------------- The radio allowed politicians to directly address American citizens.------------------------------------------------- Mass media contributed to growing political activism in the 1930s.------------------------------------------------- Americans only learned about politics during national election campaigns.------------------------------------------------- Citizens preferred to learn about politics from radio addresses rather than from live speeches.Points earned on this question: 0Question 9 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following economic policies would Alexis de Tocqueville most likely support?------------------------------------------------- Protectionist tariffs------------------------------------------------- Increased corporate tax rates------------------------------------------------- Government regulation of the stock market------------------------------------------------- Tax incentives to encourage entrepreneurship------------------------------------------------- Deficit spending to stimulate the economyPoints earned on this question: 0Question 10 (Worth 2 points)American political culture has greatly encouraged the development of the------------------------------------------------- cable news media.------------------------------------------------- political spoils system.------------------------------------------------- free-market economy.------------------------------------------------- progressive income tax.------------------------------------------------- immigration quota system.Points earned on this question: 0Question 11 (Worth 2 points)The American value of equality is most strongly reflected in which of the following statements?------------------------------------------------- Votes and public opinion are not determined by class distinctions.------------------------------------------------- Cultural identities do not affect voters� beliefs about political leaders.------------------------------------------------- Civic involvement is universal and encouraged by the government.------------------------------------------------- Political efficacy levels have remained the same since the 1960s.------------------------------------------------- Trust in the government remains strong among all citizens in America�s diverse population.Points earned on this question: 2Question 12 (Worth 2 points)What is the purpose of limited government in a democratic system?------------------------------------------------- To protect citizens from discrimination by others------------------------------------------------- To guarantee that all citizens have the right to vote------------------------------------------------- To enable interest groups to influence policy decisions------------------------------------------------- To ensure that elected officials pay attention to public opinion------------------------------------------------- To prevent the majority from infringing on the rights of the minorityPoints earned on this question: 2Question 13 (Worth 2 points)Followers of the pluralist view would agree with all of the following statements EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- elites respond to their followers� investment in policies.------------------------------------------------- political resources are allocated evenly among elite groups.------------------------------------------------- bureaucrats and corporations dominate many of the political processes.------------------------------------------------- many government institutions exercise power over political processes.------------------------------------------------- availability of mass media allows more Americans more power.Points earned on this question: 0Question 14 (Worth 2 points)The Democratic Party�s late-1970s and early-1980s reforms for choosing delegates for the national convention created a system that is an example of the------------------------------------------------- equality-of-results principle.------------------------------------------------- equality-of-opportunity principle.------------------------------------------------- aims of the Equal Rights Amendment.------------------------------------------------- statutes of the Fourteenth Amendment.------------------------------------------------- selection method used by the Republican Party.Points earned on this question: 0Question 15 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following best describes political party organization?

I. Political parties follow a hierarchical structure, with national-level politics at the top and local-level politics at the bottom. II. Grassroots campaigns at the local level keep party members loyal. III. The process of selecting presidential candidates controls party organization at the national level. IV. Political parties follow a linear structure, with both local- and national-level party politics equally influential.------------------------------------------------- IV only------------------------------------------------- II and III------------------------------------------------- III and IV------------------------------------------------- I, III, and IV------------------------------------------------- I, II, and IIIPoints earned on this question: 2Question 16 (Worth 2 points)In the United States, the first political parties largely emerged from a split over------------------------------------------------- the United States� engagement in the War of 1812.------------------------------------------------- the states� opinions on how to create a new Congress.------------------------------------------------- the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.------------------------------------------------- issues of slavery and states� rights, ultimately leading to the Civil War.------------------------------------------------- debates led by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton over government power.Points earned on this question: 2Question 17 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following circumstances spurred mass participation in political parties in the Jacksonian era?

I. Diminished power of the caucus system II. Enlargement of the eligible voter population III. Public funding for the two largest political parties IV. Conventions that allowed for local control of nominations------------------------------------------------- III only------------------------------------------------- I and II------------------------------------------------- III and IV------------------------------------------------- I, II, and IV------------------------------------------------- II, III, and IVPoints earned on this question: 0Question 18 (Worth 2 points)The role of the media in the election process has led most directly to a large increase in------------------------------------------------- grassroots organizing.------------------------------------------------- campaign fund-raising.------------------------------------------------- minor party candidacies.------------------------------------------------- voter registration and participation.------------------------------------------------- political party power at the local level.Points earned on this question: 2Question 19 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following is most strongly affected by political party affiliation?------------------------------------------------- Prospective voting------------------------------------------------- Retrospective voting------------------------------------------------- Campaign fund-raising------------------------------------------------- Congressional elections------------------------------------------------- Electoral college selectionPoints earned on this question: 0Question 20 (Worth 2 points)How have the changes in radio and television stations affected the political system?------------------------------------------------- Formerly marginalized viewpoints are receiving more public attention.------------------------------------------------- Major news outlets have significantly reduced their political coverage.------------------------------------------------- Politicians are crafting their messages to a more ideologically narrow audience.------------------------------------------------- Interest groups are unable to broaden their appeal to a more heterogeneous audience.------------------------------------------------- Voters are less likely to receive conflicting viewpoints on political issues.Points earned on this question: 0Question 21 (Worth 2 points)The spread of radio and television allowed politicians to connect with voters

I. without using interest group liaisons II. through sensationalist journalism III. by altering voters� political ideologies IV. without using publications from the party press------------------------------------------------- I only------------------------------------------------- II only------------------------------------------------- III and IV------------------------------------------------- I and III------------------------------------------------- I and IVPoints earned on this question: 0Question 22 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following does not happen in a state that requires a plurality of votes for victory?------------------------------------------------- A manual recount------------------------------------------------- A runoff election------------------------------------------------- Split-ticket voting------------------------------------------------- An unchallenged seat------------------------------------------------- Victory by a third-party candidatePoints earned on this question: 2Question 23 (Worth 2 points)The Twenty-Fouth Amendment was ratified after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment because some states------------------------------------------------- ignored the Fifteenth Amendment.------------------------------------------------- made it illegal for African Americans to vote.------------------------------------------------- used taxes to negatively affect African American turnout.------------------------------------------------- promoted a system of segregation founded upon �separate but equal.�------------------------------------------------- fought the Fifteenth Amendment because they believed it unconstitutional.Points earned on this question: 0Question 24 (Worth 2 points)In the U.S. system of government, concurrent powers are those that are exercised by------------------------------------------------- the state governments only.------------------------------------------------- the federal government only.------------------------------------------------- the executive and legislative branches.------------------------------------------------- all three branches of the federal government.------------------------------------------------- the state governments and the federal government.Points earned on this question: 2Question 25 (Worth 2 points)During the period of dual federalism, the states and the federal government------------------------------------------------- shared power in most areas of law.------------------------------------------------- divided most government functions.------------------------------------------------- cooperated in making and carrying out policy.------------------------------------------------- operated completely separate systems of government.------------------------------------------------- struggled for control of primary government functions.Points earned on this question: 2Question 26 (Worth 2 points)Grants-in-aid that are paid by the federal government to the state governments------------------------------------------------- serve to increase the autonomy of state governments.------------------------------------------------- represent a return to the original doctrine of state-centered federalism.------------------------------------------------- are a significant source of deficit spending by the federal government.------------------------------------------------- are a major source of federal influence over the decisions of state governments.------------------------------------------------- allow the federal government to redistribute income more evenly across the nation.Points earned on this question: 0Question 27 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following are examples of the separation of powers in action?

I. The Senate refused to pass the Treaty of Versailles in 1920. II. State governments have established different criteria for issuing marriage licenses. III. The power to establish school systems is reserved to state and local governments. IV. In 1913, Congress passed the 16th Amendment, establishing a federal income tax.------------------------------------------------- I and II------------------------------------------------- I and III------------------------------------------------- I and IV------------------------------------------------- I, II, and III------------------------------------------------- I, III, and IVPoints earned on this question: 0Question 28 (Worth 2 points)How do the three branches of federal government work together to craft and ensure just laws for the United States?------------------------------------------------- Legislature proposes laws. Executive writes laws. Judiciary approves or denies laws.------------------------------------------------- Legislature writes laws. Judiciary approves or denies laws. Executive decides questions of law.------------------------------------------------- Legislature writes laws. Executive enforces the law. Judiciary interprets the law.------------------------------------------------- Executive proposes and writes laws. Legislature approves or denies laws. Judiciary decides questions of law.------------------------------------------------- Judiciary proposes and writes laws. Executive approves or denies laws. Legislature decides questions of law.Points earned on this question: 2Question 29 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following statements best explains how this excerpt from President Obama�s State of the Union address reflects the separation of powers?

�With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests�including foreign corporations�to spend without limit in our elections. I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America�s most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people. And I�d urge Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to correct some of these problems.�

�President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address to Congress, January 27, 2010

------------------------------------------------- The president overturns the Supreme Court�s decision.------------------------------------------------- The Supreme Court censors the president for seeking to influence its ruling.------------------------------------------------- The Supreme Court writes a new law regarding the influence of special interests.------------------------------------------------- The president asks Congress to pass a new law regarding the influence of special interests.------------------------------------------------- Congress asks the Supreme Court to overturn a law regarding the influence of special interests.Points earned on this question: 2Question 30 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following demonstrates belief in one�s civic duty?

I. Voting II. Running for office III. Paying minimal or no taxes IV. Volunteering at a local food pantry V. Taking time to learn about current events------------------------------------------------- I only------------------------------------------------- II and III------------------------------------------------- II, III, and IV------------------------------------------------- I, II, IV, and V------------------------------------------------- I, III, IV, and VPoints earned on this question: 2Question 31 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following problems might be solved with electronic voting equipment?------------------------------------------------- Lack of voter turnout------------------------------------------------- Insufficient staffing at polls------------------------------------------------- Disputed ballots and ballot counts------------------------------------------------- Discrepancies in polls and election results------------------------------------------------- Mistrust in the government and the political systemPoints earned on this question: 2Question 32 (Worth 2 points)All of the following are true about political action committees (PACs) EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- both parties have become dependent on PAC money.------------------------------------------------- neither party has become dependent on PAC money.------------------------------------------------- the typical contributions they give are rather small.------------------------------------------------- they tend to spread small amounts of money over many candidates.------------------------------------------------- there is no systematic evidence that they affect how Congress members vote.Points earned on this question: 0Question 33 (Worth 2 points)A political cue signals to an official

I. who is for a specific issue II. who is against a specific issue III. which direction he or she should vote IV. how the issue fits into his or her political beliefs------------------------------------------------- I and III------------------------------------------------- I and II------------------------------------------------- II and III------------------------------------------------- II and IV------------------------------------------------- I, II, and IIIPoints earned on this question: 0Question 34 (Worth 2 points)Political views on bilingual education show that which of the following factors most influence political beliefs and attitudes on this issue?------------------------------------------------- Age------------------------------------------------- Gender------------------------------------------------- Ethnicity------------------------------------------------- Income level------------------------------------------------- Religious affiliationPoints earned on this question: 2Question 35 (Worth 2 points)According to recent studies, when citizens develop different political opinions from their parents, they typically------------------------------------------------- lose interest in politics.------------------------------------------------- switch to the opposing party.------------------------------------------------- become very active in politics.------------------------------------------------- embrace extreme ideological views.------------------------------------------------- identify themselves as independent.Points earned on this question: 0Question 36 (Worth 2 points)The targeted information presented on blogs, such as Daily Kos and Power Line, is an example of------------------------------------------------- headlining.------------------------------------------------- gatekeeping.------------------------------------------------- muckraking.------------------------------------------------- narrowcasting.------------------------------------------------- yellow journalism.Points earned on this question: 0Question 37 (Worth 2 points)Since the nation�s founding, newspapers have------------------------------------------------- transformed from largely independent publications to organizations directed by political parties and special-interest groups.------------------------------------------------- shifted from highly partisan publications with select readerships to more populist publications with mass readership.------------------------------------------------- diversified and split into many smaller publications, lessening the influence of corporate owners and expanding their reach.------------------------------------------------- become more heavily regulated by government institutions and begun to print more news and opinions from political officials.------------------------------------------------- reflected less about the bias of editors, owners, and readers and more about the ideologies of political parties and other sponsors.Points earned on this question: 2Question 38 (Worth 2 points)The nation�s founders created checks on public opinion because they------------------------------------------------- recognized the failings of public opinion polling.------------------------------------------------- hoped to concentrate power in the legislative branch.------------------------------------------------- wished to find middle ground between good governance and public will.------------------------------------------------- believed that people were not sufficiently politically informed to rule themselves.------------------------------------------------- did not anticipate that technological advances would allow rapid opinion-gathering surveys.Points earned on this question: 2Question 39 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following is the most common fault associated with public opinion polls when they fail to accurately predict the winners of national elections?------------------------------------------------- Data interpretation errors------------------------------------------------- Incorrect stratified sampling------------------------------------------------- Unbalanced opinion saliency------------------------------------------------- Loaded or emotional survey questions------------------------------------------------- Unequal results among random surveysPoints earned on this question: 0Question 40 (Worth 2 points)How does judicial passivity limit the power of the Supreme Court?------------------------------------------------- The court does not have any say over the confirmation of new justices.------------------------------------------------- The court does not have the ability to declare a state law null and void.------------------------------------------------- The court does not have jurisdiction over actions taken by executive branch officials.------------------------------------------------- The court cannot announce rules or policies in areas where Congress has responsibility.------------------------------------------------- The court cannot rule on the constitutionality of a law unless that law has been challenged in court.Points earned on this question: 2Question 41 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following actions involves all three branches of the federal government?------------------------------------------------- Passing a joint resolution------------------------------------------------- Declaring a law unconstitutional------------------------------------------------- Ratifying a treaty with a foreign nation------------------------------------------------- Appointing new Supreme Court justices------------------------------------------------- Overturning a regulation made by an independent agencyPoints earned on this question: 0Question 42 (Worth 2 points)All of the following are ways that Congress checks the power of the executive branch EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- impeachment.------------------------------------------------- judicial review.------------------------------------------------- the veto override.------------------------------------------------- ratification of treaties.------------------------------------------------- Senate confirmation of nominees.Points earned on this question: 2Question 43 (Worth 2 points)Progressives at the beginning of the 20th century shared all of the following opinions about elections EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- eliminating political machines.------------------------------------------------- creating stricter voter-registration requirements.------------------------------------------------- holding nonpartisan elections at the local level.------------------------------------------------- increasing patronage and reducing civil service.------------------------------------------------- replacing nomination conventions with primary elections.Points earned on this question: 0Question 44 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following is not an example of political party realignment?------------------------------------------------- The Federalists� defeat of the Jeffersonian Republicans in 1800------------------------------------------------- The rise to power of the Jacksonian Democrats in 1828------------------------------------------------- The collapse of the Whig Party in 1860------------------------------------------------- The defeat of William Jennings Bryan by the Republicans in 1896------------------------------------------------- The advent of Democrats under Roosevelt in 1932Points earned on this question: 0Question 45 (Worth 2 points)A PAC may have marked influence on legislation in all of the following EXCEPT------------------------------------------------- Social Security tax code.------------------------------------------------- telecommunications regulations.------------------------------------------------- levels of ethanol in gasoline.------------------------------------------------- regulations affecting only the soybean industry.------------------------------------------------- consumer protections on financial services products.Points earned on this question: 2Question 46 (Worth 2 points)The primary factor behind the initial creation of PACs was------------------------------------------------- judicial activism.------------------------------------------------- increased partisanship.------------------------------------------------- campaign finance reform.------------------------------------------------- expanded federal grant programs.------------------------------------------------- the growth of lobbying organizations.Points earned on this question: 0Question 47 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following explains why organizations form political action committees (PACs)?------------------------------------------------- To attract politically motivated members------------------------------------------------- To enable them to apply for federal grants------------------------------------------------- To contribute money to political candidates------------------------------------------------- To gain membership on congressional committees------------------------------------------------- To allow contributors to deduct donations from their taxesPoints earned on this question: 0Question 48 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following types of interest groups emerged in large numbers during the 1960s and 1970s?------------------------------------------------- Business associations------------------------------------------------- Religious associations------------------------------------------------- Craft and trade unions------------------------------------------------- Chambers of commerce------------------------------------------------- Political reform organizationsPoints earned on this question: 0Question 49 (Worth 2 points)Talk shows and town meetings as political forums have------------------------------------------------- decreased the use of sound bites.------------------------------------------------- used controversial tactics to grow viewership.------------------------------------------------- lessened the appeal of other media for politicians.------------------------------------------------- increased politicians� access to the electronic media.------------------------------------------------- created a widening gap of opinion between rich and poor.Points earned on this question: 2Question 50 (Worth 2 points)Which of the following best describes how the media presents politics?------------------------------------------------- It presents political information without bias or slant.------------------------------------------------- It is a mirror that objectively reflects current political events.------------------------------------------------- It is a for-profit business that uses current political events only to entertain.------------------------------------------------- It is a prism that both interprets and influences current political events.------------------------------------------------- It serves only as an outside observer interested in informing the public of politics.Points earned on this question: 2Bottom of Form | | | | | | |
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