Page 1

Question 1. 1.(TCO 1) Historians and political scientists are different because historians _____ and political scientists _____.  (Points : 2)

are reluctant to generalize; look for generalizations

look for generalizations; are reluctant to generalize

are more likely to look for comparisons; focus on differences

tend to focus on nature-based explanations; focus on nurture-based explanations

Question 2. 2.(TCO 1) Which are both true for most political scientists? (Points : 2)

They think practically and seek accuracy

They seek popularity and are skeptical of power

They offer single causes and think abstractly

They are skeptical of power and offer long-term consequences

Question 3. 3.(TCO 1) When people base their views on beliefs that may not be based in reality, they are behaving _____. (Points : 2)

irrationally

rationally

politically

legitimately

Question 4. 4.(TCO 1) A political leader’s ability to command respect and exercise power is known as _____. (Points : 2)

sovereignty

corruption

authority

legitimacy

Question 5. 5.(TCO 1) Despite a disputed 2000 presidential election, once President George W. Bush took office, few people doubted his _____. (Points : 2)

charisma

control

legitimacy

sovereignty

Question 6. 6.(TCO 1) Relating concepts in a way that connects them in an empirical manner is the basis of _____ building.(Points : 2)

scholarship

theory

power

culture

Question 7. 7.(TCO 1) The term for measuring with numbers is _____. (Points : 2)

quantifying

hypothesis

qualifying

empirical

Question 8. 8.(TCO 4) What type of law—which was developed by medieval Catholic theologians—argues that observing nature reveals God’s will? (Points : 2)

Natural law

Divine law

God’s law

Higher law

Question 9. 9.(TCO 4) Which of the following issues is a civil concern? (Points : 2)

Extortion

Theft

Divorce

Trafficking

Question 10. 10.(TCO 4) Describe the significance of Marbury v. Madison. (Points : 2)

The ruling laid precedent for judicial review.

The ruling stated that the president is subject to the court’s decisions.

The ruling decreed that current administrations must honor the appointments of previous administrations.

The ruling claimed that federal taxes could not be levied on the states.

Question 11. 11.(TCO 4) Who nominates and approves federal judges in the U.S. court system? (Points : 2)

The president and the Senate

The Senate and the House

The president and Speaker of the House

The Senate and the Secretary of State

Question 12. 12.(TCO 4) Which of the following was an argument against granting the U.S. Supreme Court the power of judicial review? (Points : 2)

Many feared that such a power would give the court a double check and compromise its neutrality

Some thought that such power would create untrustworthy judges.

The founders argued that judicial review would lead to undue indictments by the court.

Drafters of the Constitution feared that few laws would ever be set in stone.

Question 13. 13.(TCO 4) Examine the ideal role of American judges. (Points : 2)

Judges should intervene frequently, interpreting the law according to their expertise and ensuring a fair trial

Judges should act as umpires, passively watching the legal drama and ruling only on disputed points of procedure.

Judges should not intervene unless attorneys object, at which point they may either overrule or sustain the objection.

Judges should take an active role, questioning witnesses, eliciting evidence, and commenting on procedure.

Question 14. 14.(TCO 4) Compare the Warren Court to those immediately succeeding it. (Points : 2)

The Warren Court was generally considered conservative, but subsequent courts were seen as more liberal.

Subsequent courts were conservative, but not nearly as conservative as the Warren Court.

Succeeding Courts failed to represent the conservative agenda of the Warren Court.

While the Warren Court was rather progressive, subsequent courts were viewed as conservative.

Question 15. 15.(TCO 5) Why do the responsibilities of legislative and executive powers often overlap? (Points : 2)

Separation of powers is rarely clear-cut.

Separation of powers is rare among industrialized nations.

Separation of powers is absolute.

Separation of powers grants obtuse levels of power to the executive branch.

Question 16. 16.(TCO 5) In a parliamentary system, voters directly elect _____. (Points : 2)

members of Parliament and the prime minister

members of Parliament and the ministerial cabinet

members of Parliament only

the prime minister only

Question 17. 17.(TCO 5) Because of the separation of powers inherent in a presidential system, some scholars think that executive-legislative _____ is common in systems like that used in the United States. (Points : 2)

cooperation

stagnation

deadlock

insolvency

Question 18. 18.(TCO 5) The head of ministry is equivalent to the _____ in the United States. (Points : 2)

chief of government

head of state

departmental secretary

premier

Page 2

Question 1. 1.(TCO 5) The only political system that could guarantee the cooperation between the legislative and executive branches is _____. (Points : 2)

a monarchy

a dictatorship

a democracy

an oligarchy

Question 2. 2.(TCO 5) Describe how the election process in a parliamentary system slightly resembles presidential elections in the United States. (Points : 2)

Party chiefs run as candidates for prime minister.

Citizens vote directly for the each new prime minister.

Citizens vote for a party member with the knowledge that the next prime minister will be the head of the largest party.

The prime minister is appointed for a 4-year term and can be reappointed one time

Question 3. 3.(TCO 5) Explain which type of candidate parliamentary systems seek out to become ministers. (Points : 2)

Those who have experience winning elections and serving on a parliamentary committee

Newcomers who can bring in a fresh perspective to the ministry

Individuals who possess a great knowledge of the specific ministry’s area

Those who have political experience regardless of whether or not they have been elected in the past

Question 4. 4.(TCO 7) Describe how today’s conservatives use the term political economy. (Points : 2)

Conservatives use the term to try to get back to the pure market system advocated by Adam Smith.

Conservatives understand the term within the context of Machiavelli’s The Prince

Conservatives veer toward John Stuart Mill’s usage, which advocated utilitarianism

Conservatives take a neo-utilitarian approach, hoping to benefit the weakest members of society

Question 5. 5.(TCO 7) Early 20th-century European governments subscribed to _____ doctrines, generally keeping their hands away from the economy.(Points : 2)

classic liberal

inflationary

neoclassical

Smithian

Question 6. 6.(TCO 7) Conservatives hold that Johnson’s Great Society was a waste of money, locking recipients into _____ and encouraging a subculture of drugs and crime. (Points : 2)

entitlement benefits

perpetual subsidies

social safety nets

welfare dependency

Question 7. 7.(TCO 7) Differentiate between the rising costs of Medicare and Medicaid. (Points : 2)

Medicare anticipates rising costs due to changing proportions of people over 65.

Medicaid expects rising costs due to looming financial busts.

Medicare plans to keep spending down by raising the eligibility age to 69.

Medicaid hopes to beat rising costs by adjusting the poverty level.

Question 8. 8.(TCO 7) Why are many politicians wary about limiting Social Security and Medicare expenses? (Points : 2)

Many would be left without enough to support them.

Caps to these programs would undermine the welfare state.

It can cost them votes.

Both are primary social safety nets.

Question 9. 9.(TCO 7) Compare American and Canadian views on the size of government. (Points : 2)

Americans believe the government is too small, and Canadians feel that government intrudes on individual privacy.

As citizens of similar nations located in North America, both Americans and Canadians feel that government is too large.

Americans and Canadians generally agree that government should be larger, funding welfare programs such as Medicaid and food stamps

Many Americans believe government is too large, and Canadians recognize that government has a pivotal role to play and accept higher taxes

Question 10. 10.(TCO 7) Many conservative economists argue that some banks are _____, because they would topple the rest of the economy with them.(Points : 2)

inherently successful

too big to fail

destined for profit

practically invincible

Question 11. 11.(TCO 9) Rarely the work of small bands and conspirators alone, _____ are usually the result of system collapse, which permits small but well-organized groups (often military) to take over. (Points : 2)

the erosion of legitimacy

acts of genocide

dictatorships

coups d’état

Question 12. 12.(TCO 9) Describe what can often happen in a changing society when, during times of prosperity, some people get rich faster than others.(Points : 2)

Jealousy is aroused.

Politicians pay more attention to poverty.

The very poor revolt.

Economists become confused.

Question 13. 13.(TCO 9) Why might a period of prosperity bring about revolution? (Points : 2)

When people move in and out of poverty, they have no hope for the future, and so see nothing to lose in rebelling.

When things improve for the wealthy, they start imagining an even better future. No longer content with their already luxurious lot, they want improvement faster than even a growing economy can deliver.

When things improve for the poor, they realize just how bad they’ve had it and their anger is unleashed.

When things improve for the poor, people start imagining a better future. No longer content with their lot, they want improvement faster than even a growing economy can deliver.

Question 14. 14.(TCO 9) Some states engage in _____, despite officially denouncing terrorism. (Points : 2)

sharing intelligence with nongovernmental militias

“state-sponsored terrorism”

targeting specific groups for violence

democracy

Question 15. 15.(TCO 9) According to Hannah Arendt, the American struggle was indeed a revolution, perhaps history’s only complete revolution, _____.(Points : 2)

because it alone ended with democratic institutions.

because it became an example for other nations.

because it managed to route what was then the great world power.

because it alone ended with a new foundation of liberty instead of the tyranny that came after other revolutions

Question 16. 16.(TCO 9) The United States hesitated supporting the _____ revolutions because it feared they would fall under extremist influences. (Points : 2)

Cuban

Arab Spring

Iranian

“velvet”

Question 17. 17.(TCO 9) Hannah Arendt pointed out that rage is the fuel of revolution, but what is now the greatest cause of rage?(Points : 2)

The low level of education in developing nations

The enormous economic mismanagement in industrialized nations

The extreme violence utilized by industrialized nations against developing nations

The massive corruption now found in developing lands

Page 3

Question 1. 1.

(TCO 2) Identify and discuss the key differences between the presidential and parliamentary systems of government. Your answer should include a comparison of electoral processes which brings a party to power, how the executive and his/her cabinet are selected and the checks and balances the legislative branch uses in each system to control the executive branch

2. (TCO 8) Traditionally, Political Parties perform six functions in the political process. Identify and explain any four of them. Then identify and explain one way interest groups and political parties differ.

3.(TCO 6)

In essay form explain how entitlements are different from welfare. Then explain what constitutes a welfare payment and how much welfare accounts for in overall federal spending. Finally, how has Tax Expenditures enabled the US to avoid being labeled a European Welfare State?

4. (TCO 3) Examine the Supreme Court. Explain how its members are selected, what consideration if any is given to race, gender or ideology in the selection process, what cases the court predominantly hears, and the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint.