Question 1

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) A) and E)
G) B) and C)

Question 2

According to political scientist Louis Hartz, the United States

Accepted Answer

A)   constitutes a "corporate dictatorship."
B)   was "born free."
C)   formed a perfect union.
D)   is basically a monarchical state.
E)   "perfected" socialist democracy.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

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) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

A government's authority

Accepted Answer

A)   is evidenced when government officials use their right to exercise power.
B)   is by definition not coercive.
C)   does not include the power to arrest and imprison.
D)   ensures that lawlessness prevails most of the time.
E)   is based on pluralism.F) A) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 5

How many lawyers does the United States have in comparison to Britain, Germany, and Italy?

Accepted Answer

A)   The U.S. has twice as many lawyers on a per capita basis.
B)   The U.S. has roughly the same amount of lawyers on a per capita basis.
C)   The U.S. has roughly twice as many lawyers, in terms of total numbers.
D)   The U.S. has roughly five times as many lawyers on a per capita basis.
E)   The U.S. has roughly half as many lawyers on a per capita basis.F) A) and B)
G) B) and D)

Question 6

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 C)

Question 7

The citizens of which of the following countries pay the lowest tax rates relative to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) ?

Accepted Answer

A)   Germany
B)   Canada
C)   France
D)   the United States
E)   Great BritainF) A) and B)
G) D) and E)

Question 8

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) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 9

French philosopher Michel Foucault referred to politics as "________."

Accepted Answer

A)   like making sausage
B)   the burden of citizens
C)   a means to an end
D)   war by other means
E)   a necessary evilF) B) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 10

________ 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 D)
G) B) and E)

Question 11

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) B) and C)
G) D) and E)

Question 12

Enormous concentrations of wealth and power exist in the U.S. private sector, primarily in the hands of

Accepted Answer

A)   the largest labor unions.
B)   elite political families such as the Kennedys and the Bushes.
C)   middle class Americans.
D)   small businesses.
E)   large corporations.F) A) and C)
G) A) and E)

Question 13

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) A) and B)
G) All of the above

Question 14

In a constitutional system,

Accepted Answer

A)   there are no restrictions on the lawful uses of power, as long as this power is obtained by majority rule.
B)   there are lawful restrictions on a government's power.
C)   the economy is based on the free enterprise system.
D)   officials govern according to the traditions established by their predecessors.
E)   all citizens have absolute free speech rights.F) C) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 15

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) A) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 16

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) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 17

Based on his conception of responsible citizenship, John Stuart Mill felt that the best form of government was

Accepted Answer

A)   authoritarianism.
B)   anarchism.
C)   communism.
D)   democracy.
E)   socialism.F) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 18

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) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 19

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 20

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) None of the above
G) All of the above

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

Enormous concentrations of wealth and power exist in the U.S. private sector, primarily in the hands of

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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

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

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According to political scientist Louis Hartz, the United States

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

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The United States' economy operates primarily as a

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Pluralism contends that, on most issues,

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

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A government's authority

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The citizens of which of the following countries pay the lowest tax rates relative to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) ?

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

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

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French philosopher Michel Foucault referred to politics as "________."

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

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Based on his conception of responsible citizenship, John Stuart Mill felt that the best form of government was

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In a constitutional system,

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many lawyers does the United States have in comparison to Britain, Germany, and Italy?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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Other people take their identity from th...
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