Community Night Watch
Created in 2011 by:
· Central Organizer: Brandon Khan
· Multiple Choice coordinator: Ganggas Harjianto
· Multiple Choice researcher: James D Van Cleaf
· Short Answer Questions coordinator: Alexis Maxwell
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Section I
1. Individuals have power when they are able to
(A) get elected to office.
(B) be present at behind-the-scenes political meetings.
(C) serve their fellow human beings.
(D) get others to do what they want.
(E) vote without being influenced by outside forces
2.The term democracy was originally associated with
(A) Jesus Christ.
(B) Vladimir Lenin.
(C) Aristotle.
(D) Thomas Jefferson.
(E) Kierkegaard
3. Jefferson's phrase, "the pursuit of happiness," stated in the second
paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, was more specifically
interpreted by the colonists to mean the right to
(A) Self-employment.
(B) Political liberty.
(C) Taxation only with representation.
(D) Property.
(E) Assemble.
4. The Federalist papers contain the results of studies of various
forms of government assembled by
(A) Benjamin Franklin.
(B) Thomas Jefferson.
(C) John Adams.
(D) George Washington.
5. Shays's Rebellion, an early test of the powers of the Articles of
Confederation, took place in
(A) Virginia.
(B) Rhode Island.
(C) Massachusetts.
(D) Maryland.
(E) Pennsylvania.
6. The presiding officer at the Philadelphia convention was
(A) James Madison.
(B) George Washington.
(C) Thomas Jefferson.
(D) Alexander Hamilton.
(E) Benjamin Franklin.
7. The Great Compromise finally allocated representation on the
basis of
(A) population, in both houses.
(B) equality, in both houses.
(C) population in the House and equality in the Senate.
(D) equality in the House and population in the Senate.
(E) None of these.
8. The Founders did not include in the U.S. Constitution an explicit
statement of state powers but added it later in the
(A) Second Amendment.
(B) Seventh Amendment.
(C) Tenth Amendment.
(D) Fourteenth Amendment.
(E) None of these.
9. States cannot declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. In other
words, states do not have the right of
(A) nullification.
(B) local mandate.
(C) dual federalism.
(D) habeas corpus.
(E) recall.
10. According to Alexis de Tocqueville, one of the reasons a democratic republic took root in the United States was because of the
(A) minimal taxes imposed by the government.
(B) insistence on economic equality for all.
(C) presence of fertile lands and rich resources.
(D) absence of foreign intervention.
(E) high levels of religiosity.
11. What was Swedish sociologist Gunnar Myrdal referring to when he spoke of "America's dilemma"?
(A) affluence
(B) race relations
(C) corporate dominance
(D) political ignorance
(E) economic disparities
12. Young people are most inclined to agree with their parents on the issue of
(A) political efficacy.
(B) party identification.
(C) policy preferences.
(D) civil liberties.
(E) constitutional interpretation.
13. Which of the following spearheaded a broad-based political movement in the 1990’s and aimed to represent the views of conservative evangelical Christians?
(A) Christian Coalition
(B) Moral Majority
(C) Bob Jones University Fellows
(D) Promise Keepers
(E) Bad Attitude Baptists
14. Why should college professors tend to be more liberal than other professional groups?
(A) because professors are more affluent, and affluence is closely associated with liberalism
(B) because professors tend to come from families with parents who hold strong political beliefs
(C) because intellectuals tend to be more critical of accepted values and existing institutions
(D) because professors tend to come from families with parents who hold strong religious beliefs
(E) because researchers are often baffled by the landscape of American politics
15. Presidential races differ from congressional races in that the former generally
(A) are less competitive.
(B) relate more closely to what the candidate can do for constituents.
(C) allow the incumbent less opportunity to deny responsibility for the "mess" in Washington.
(D) produce a smaller voter turnout.
(E) and D.
16. Ronald Reagan made a dozen speeches a day to audiences all over the country while
(A) is acting career was in full swing.
(B) working for General Electric.
(C) running for president in 1980.
(D) running for president in 1984.
(E) campaigning for George Bush.
17. Although campaigns in the United States have historically emphasized broad themes over specific details, what has emerged in recent years is the
(A) ower of political parties.
(B) influence of political fat cats.
(C) importance of primary elections.
(D) impact of major political realignments.
(E) influence of lawyers in the selection of candidates.
18. Which of the following statements is true about most presidential elections?
(A) they are decided by retrospective voting.
(B) They produce a major party realignment.
(C) they provide the winner with a clear mandate.
(D) they are fought over a dominant issue.
(E) they are decided by prospective voters.
19. People can join a party for reasons other than patronage. The text cites all of the following other reasons except
(A) to promote a cause (ideological parties).
(B) to be with friends (solidary associations).
(C) to support a charismatic leader (personal followings).
(D) to join a delegating committee (caucus groups).
(E) to promote a philosophy (ideological parties).
20. The political involvement of the United Auto Workers (UAW) in Detroit provides an example of a(n)
(A) sponsored party.
(B) political machine.
(C) ideological party.
(D) solidary group.
(E) reciprocal party.
21. Why should elections based on a plurality system discourage new parties from forming?
(A) because a plurality system discourages patronage and reduces voter interest in joining a party
(B) because a plurality system requires parties to form alliances with other parties to win elections
(C) because under this winner-take-all system no incentive is given for finishing second (or lower)
(D) because a plurality system requires each party to be as narrowly based as possible, leaving little room for new parties
(E) because a plurality system gives an advantage to savy political unknowns who can grab the media spotlight
22. The two periods in U.S. history in which the number of interest groups expanded most rapidly were
(A) 1790 to 1810 and 1970 to 1990.
(B) 1860 to 1880 and 1950 to 1970.
(C) 1900 to 1920 and 1960 to 1980.
(D) 1920 to 1940 and 1950 to 1970.
(E) 1800 to 1820 and 1940 to 1960.
23. The formation of antislavery organizations in the 1830s and 1840s was an example of interest groups forming as a result of
(A) government policy.
(B) the emergence of talented leadership.
(C) the enlargement of governmental responsibilities.
(D) broad economic developments.
(E) legislative capitulation.
24. The primary purpose of legislative ratings used by various interest groups is to
(A) inform the genral electorate of major issues.
(B) compare the prformances of different legislators
(C) provide a cover for illegal influence peddling.
(D) influence the behavior of legislators.
(E) guide administrative officers in the interpretation of federal regulations and statutes.
25. In the early years of the republic, newspapers were financially supported by
(A) advertising.
(B) payments from the Associated Press.
(C) subsidies from political parties and politicians.
(D) mass circulation.
(E) religious clubs and organizations.
26. An innovative news establishment set up in 1948 to provide systematic dissemination of news to publications of different political persuasions was the
(A) ticker tape.
(B) Pony Express.
(C) Associated Press.
(D) Washington Globe.
(E) Rider’s Club.
27. For all their excesses, the sensationalist mass newspapers of the late nineteenth century effected several important changes in the press, including
(A) demonstrating how profitable criticism of government could be.
(B) encouraging cultural and political diversity in U.S. society.
(C) limiting the role of technology in journalism.
(D) giving greater power to a social elite.
(E) giving greater power to a political elite.
28. The Bill of Rights was added to the U.S. Constitution at the insistence of the
(A) Founders.
(B) State ratifying conventions.
(C) First Continental Congress.
(D) Federalist Party.
(E) Alexander Hamilton.
29. A state cannot apply a license fee on Jehovah's Witnesses who solicit door to door. This is in keeping with the
(A) free-exercise clause of the First Amendment.
(B) wall of separation called for by Thomas Jefferson.
(C) establishment clause of the First Amendment
(D) three-part test for constitutional aid to religions.
(E) B and C.
30. On the question of church and state in the schools, the Supreme Court has permitted
(A) public bus service to Catholic schools.
(B) homeroom prayer exercises in public schools.
(C) required release-time from public school for religious instruction.
(D) equal time for evolutionism and creationism.
(E) Bible reading in public schools if unaccompanied by commentary.
31. The effect of the Hyde Amendment was to
(A) prohibit abortion except to save a woman's life.
(B) forbid the use of federal funds for abortions.
(C) offer abortion on demand to any woman.
(D) allow abortions up to the last trimester of pregnancy.
(E) prohibit abortions for women under the age of
32. The chief question on civil rights legislation during the 1970s was whether the federal government should
(A) merely treat the races equally, or offer catch-up help to traditionally disadvantaged blacks.
(B) enforce civil rights itself or leave this mostly to state governments.
(C) move rapidly or gradually in forcing compliance with Supreme Court rulings.
(D) focus only on blacks or include Hispanics and other racial minorities as well.
(E) focus only on Hispanics
33. The Supreme Court's position on quotas for minorities can best be described as
(A) strongly supportive.
(B) strongly opposed.
(C) extreme.
(D) largely unconcerned.
(E) deeply divided
34. If you work on the staff of a member of Congress, you are most likely to
(A) become an advocate of bills that are clearly in the public interest.
(B) see the public interest through the eyes of your employer.
(C) remain objective about the bills that are supported by your employer.
(D) be an independent thinker.
(E) be a Libertarian.
35. Which of the following types of bills is most likely to move speedily through Congress?
(A) one that deals with spending money
(B) one that involves the regulation of business
(C) one that embodies a clear and appealing idea
(D) one that involves foreign trade
(E) one that involves off axis satellite reconnaissance.
36. A mark-up session is one in which
(A) a committee or subcommittee makes changes in the original version of a bill.
(B) the party leadership assigns priority ratings to numerous bills.
(C) the Rules Committee determines the conditions under which floor debate will be conducted.
(D) a conference committee makes key compromises before reporting back to both houses.
(E) committee chairmen meet to discuss the order of discussion for revenue bills.
37. The effect of allowing bills to be debated under open rather than closed or restrictive rules is to
(A) reduce the time needed to vote on a final bill.
(B) increase the influence of special interests.
(C) set a time limit on debate.
(D) increase the number of amendments.
(E) give greater control to the committees.
38. Which of the following statements about different methods of voting for a bill in the House and Senate is correct?
(A) Roll-call votes in the House are handled orally.
(B) Individual votes may or may not be recorded.
(C) Roll-call votes are less numerous today than forty years ago.
(D) A division vote involves members shouting yea or nay.
(E) In a teller vote, members sit and raise their hands.
39. One of the fears expressed by the Founders about aspects of the Presidency was the fear of a president's
(A) claiming certain inherent powers by virtue of his position.
(B) using the militia to overpower state governments.
(C) using his position to shape public opinion.
(D) powers to appoint select Supreme Court justices without congressional approval.
(E) powers to pardon.
40. The personality of which president began to alter the relationship between the president and Congress and the nature of presidential leadership?
(A) Andrew Jackson
(B) Ulysses Grant
(C) Richard Nixon
(D) Jimmy Carter
(E) William H. Harrison
41. A trend in recent cabinet appointments has been to
(A) include those with independent followings.
(B) appoint both Democrats and Republicans.
(C) include those without political followings.
(D) appoint party leaders and workers.
(E) appoint former judges and lawyers.
42. Personality plays a more important role in explaining the presidency than it does in explaining Congress because a president is
(A) more likely to rely on hands-on politics and persuasiveness to enact policy.
(B) less constrained by the rules and roles that operate within government.
(C) more likely to be judged by his character in addition to his accomplishments.
(D) relatively immune from public opinion and polls.
(E) less constrained by the judiciary or current notions of constitutional principles.
43. One major constraint on a president's ability to plan and develop a program is the
(A) lack of qualified academic support.
(B) Twenty-third Amendment.
(C) threat of a legislative veto.
(D) risk of adverse reaction to the program.
(E) proliferation of special interests.
44. From 1913 to 1940, the average American paid approximately ________ in income taxes each year.
(A) $7
(B) $850
(C) $3,000
(D) $14,000
(E) $25,000
45. A public official who decides to follow a course of action that is not specified by law but could be inferred from it is most likely to be
(A) overstepping his or her authority.
(B) violating the law.
(C) playing politics.
(D) exercising discretionary authority.
(E) undermining the spirit of the law.
46. The broad factors that best explain the behavior of bureaucratic officials include all of the following except
(A) how they are recruited.
(B) their personal attributes.
(C) the influence of outside forces on them.
(D) their party preferences.
(E) how they are rewarded.
47. A post office worker or Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent would typically be part of the federal bureaucracy known as
(A) the competitive service.
(B) Schedule C positions.
(C) the merit service.
(D) the contingent service.
(E) the excepted service.
48. One advantage of the merit system to presidents is that it
(A) protects their patronage appointees from new presidents.
(B) grants them the power of appointment.
(C) insulates them from control by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
(D) excludes employees in the excepted service.
(E) exempts them from bureaucratic procedures which are not outlined in Article II.
49. Fee shifting refers to the practice of
(A) dividing attorneys' fees among all participants in a class-action suit.
(B) reducing fees if the votes of appellate court judges are divided.
(C) getting the government to pay the fees of all parties.
(D) having attorneys adjust their fees according to their experience and the damages awarded.
(E) getting the loser to pay court costs.
50. The rules regarding standing to bring a case to federal court involve all of the following except
(A) the existence of a controversy between adversaries.
(B) the probability of reaching a satisfactory solution.
(C) evidence that actual harm has occurred.
(D) a stake in the outcome beyond that of being a taxpayer.
(E) A and C.
51. Brown v. Board of Education is an example of a
(A) taxpayer suit.
(B) class-action suit.
(C) Section 1983 suit.
(D) reapportionment suit.
(E) client participatory suit.
52, The Fourteenth Amendment overturned