ConstitutionalUnderpinnings

1. AmongthepowerstheConstitutiondelegatestothenational
governmentisthepowerto_______
A. Acquireterritorybyexploration
B. administergrantsinaid
C. buyjetfighters
D. establishanationalbank
E. fixstandardweightsandmeasures
2.AccordingtoJamesMadison,whichofthefollowingistheprimary
sourceofconflict?
A. Differentreligiousviews
B. Differentpoliticalideologies
C. Selfinterestedhumannature
D. Thedistributionofwealth
E. Thelackofeducation
3.
Whichofthefollowingisalinkageinstitutionthatacitizenmight
employtogetanissueonthepolicyagenda?
A. Interestgroup
B. Email
C. Publiceducation
D. TheIRS
E. Themilitary
4.Comparedtoothermoderndemocracies,whydomanyconsiderthe
healthoftheamericangovernmenttobepoor?
A. Americahassomeofthelowestvoterturnoutintheworld
B. Americansarelimitedinthewaystheycancriticizethegovernment
C. Amongdevelopednations,americaisseenasoneofthemost
corrupt
D. Politicalparticipationislimitedtoaselectfewinamerica
E. Therearefewwaysinamericatochangethecourseofgovernment

PoliticalBeliefsandBehaviors
5.Whendoesreapportionmentofcongressionalrepresentationtakeplace?
A. Attheendofeachcalendaryear
B. Everytwoyearsafteramidtermelection
C. Everyfouryearsafterthepresidentialelection
D. Every10yearsaftereachcensus
E. Onarotationalbasisdeclaredbythegovernment
6.Whichofthesewouldmostinfluencetheaccuracyofapoll?
A. Dayofweekthepollisconducted
B. Numberofpeoplebeingsampled
C. Politicalpositionofpollsters
D. Timeofdaythepollisconducted
E. Unbiasedwording
7.Howdointerestgroupsprimarilydifferfrompoliticalparties?
A. Theyareformednotasarequirementoftheconstitutionbutoutof
politicalneeds
B. Theyaremoredirectlyconcernedwithinfluencingpublicpolicy
C. Theyaremoredirectlyconcernedwithorganizingtheelectorateto
winpublicoffice
D. Theydonothavetoabidebythesameconstitutionalrulesand
restrictionsthatgovernparties
E. Theydonotrequirememberstobeparticularlyactivetoaccomplish
theirgoals
8.Whichofthefollowingtheoriesoffersthemostpositiveinterpretationof
theeffectofinterestgroupsonamericandemocracy?
A. Elitetheory
B. Freemarkettheory
C. HyperElitisttheory
D. Hyperpluralism
E. pluralism
9.Whymightsomelargelobbyinggroupsnotregisteraslobbyists?

A. Itisnotalawthattheyregister
B. Lobbyingisnottheirprincipalactivity
C. Theirclientsaskthemnottoregister
D. TheirofficesarenotinWashingtonD.C
E. Theywishtoavoidcertaintaxregulations
10.Accordingtocriticsofpluralism,whichofthefollowinggroupsismost
likelytotakeadvantageofamericanpoliticalsystem?
A. Children
B. Immigrants
C. Minorities
D. Therich
E. Thepoor

PoliticalParties,InterestGroups,andMassmedia
11.Inwhatsituationcanthehouseofrepresentativesdeterminethewinner
ofanelection?
A. Whenacandidatedoesnotgainthepresident'ssupport
B. Whenacandidatefailstowinamajorityofthepopularvote
C. Whenacandidatefailstowinanyofthefivestateswiththemost
electoralvotes
D. Whenacandidate'ssupportisconcentratedinoneregion
E. Whentheelectoralcollegecannotproduceamajority

12.Howcanagendasettingaffectpublicpolicy?
A. Thepublicprefersthatthemediaemphasizelocalissuesornational
ones.
B. Thepublictendstoassumethattheitemsemphasizedbythemedia
willbeaddressedbypoliticians
C. Thepublictendsdistrustmediacoverageofpoliticaltopics
D. Thepublictendstoevaluateprogramsandpolicybasedontheitems
emphasizedbythemedia

E. Thepublictendstoignorenewsitemsemphasizedbythemedia

13.Whymaythefilibusterbeconsideredundemocratic?
A. Itisusedbythemajoritytodefeattheminority
B. Itisusedbytheminoritytodefeatthemajority
C. Itisusedinthesenatebutnotinthehouseofreps.
D. Itisusedtopreventlogrollingincongress
E. Itisusedtounderminethepowerofthespeakerofthehouse.

14.Theefforttocontrolthefederalbureaucracythroughbudgetary
appropriationfallsunderthejurisdictionofwhichpartofgovernment?
A. Congress
B. Officeofmanagementandbudget
C. Theinternalrevenueservice
D. Thepresident
E. Thesupremecourt
15.Unlikeallotherdevelopednations,theunitedstatesdoesnot
have_____
A. Federalhealthinsurance
B. Healthinsurancedesignatedespeciallyforchildrenunderthe
ageof18
C. Healthinsurancedesignatedespeciallyforinfants
D. Localhealthinsurance
E. Nationalhealthinsurance
16.Whydopartyorganizationsfavorclosedprimariesoveropen
primaries?
A. Theyallowmorevoterstotakepart
B. Theyarecheapertooperate
C. Theyarenotregulatedbystateelectionlaw
D. Theyfavorideologicalpurity
E. Theyreducechancesofvoterfraud

InstitutionsofNationalGovernment
17.Thenotionthatthepeoplemustagreeonwhotheirrulerswillbeis
referredtoas________
A. Consentofthegoverned
B. Directdemocracy
C. Limitedgovernment
D. Naturalrights
E. Sanctityofpropertyrights
18.WhatwasoneobjectiontheAntiFederalistsmadetotheconstitution?
A. Itdidnotlistrights,therebyrestrictingpersonalfreedoms
B. Itlimitedtheroleofthecentralgovernment
C. Itprovidedforagovernmentthatwouldtaxthecitizensheavily
D. Itprovidedforaweakcentralgovernment
E. Itwouldstrengthenthepowerofthestate
19.Theframersintendedtocreatewhichtypeofnationalgovernment?
A. Confederal
B. Decentralized
C. Independent
D. Subordinate
E. Unitary
20.CongressssocalledImpliedpowersaredirectlyderivedfrom______
A. Enumeratedpowers
B. Habit
C. Legalprecedent
D. TheConstitution
E. Tradition
21.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribestheimpactofinternetonpolitics?
A. Citizensaremoreinformed
B. Citizenshavemoreaccesstoinformation
C. Citizensaremorelikelytobeliberal
D. Citizenshavemoretrustingovernment

E. Citizenshavelessfreedomofexpression
22.Whatisagendasetting?
A. Theabilityofthemediatoinfluencepublicopinionaboutwhich
issuesthegovernmentshouldaddress
B. Thetendencytorememberonlythosenewsstoriesthatare
consistentwithone'spredispositions
C. Theabilityofmediatoinfluencethepublic'sopiniononissues
D. Themedia'sfocusonscandalandcorruption
E. Thepublic'sabilitytodeterminewhichissuesthemediacovers
23.AllofthefollowingaretrueaboutthesupremecourtEXCEPT
A. Casesarenotallowedtobetelevised
B. Membersareseatedinalphabeticalorder
C. Therewereoriginallysixmembersinthecourt
D. Therehavebeenasmanyastenmembersinthecourt
E. Theirmembersaretheonlyonestobecalledjustice
24.Thisisarequestforthesupremecourttoorderuptherecordsfroma
lowercourttoreviewthecase
A. Informapauperis
B. Concurrentopinion
C. Writofcertiorari
D. Staredecisis
E. Writofhabeascorpus
25.Underwhichofthefollowingscenariosisthecourtmostlikelytodecide
toacceptacase?
A. Whenatleastthreejusticesdecidethecasehasmerit
B. Whentheattorneysforthepartiesinthecasemakeapersonal
appealforahearing
C. Whenthecaseisappealedfromastatesupremecourt
D. Whenthejusticeshaveadditionalclerkstohelpreadnumerous
appeals
E. Whenthesolicitorgeneralsofficedecidestoappealacasethe
governmenthaslostinlowercourt
26.WhocanchallengealawinanAmericancourt?

A. Anycitizencanchallengeanylaw
B. Anytaxpayingcitizencanchallengeanylaw
C. Onlyalawyercanchallengealaw
D. Onlyapersonwhohasaseriousinterestinacasecan
challengealaw
E. Onlyapersonwhoisincludedinaclassactionsuitcan
challengealaw
27.Whenbureaucratsareaskedtoexecuteorderswithwhichtheydonot
agree,_________
A. Implementationfollowsstandardoperatingprocedures
B. Slippageislikelytooccurbetweenpolicydecisionsand
performance
C. Theyarelikelytolosetheirjobsiftheydonotfollowthrough
withtheorders
D. Theycanfileaconflictofinterestformandwillbeexempted
fromthatdutybytheirboss
E. Theyusuallyignoretheorders
28.Whatarethepartsofthefederalbureaucracywithresponsibilityfor
differentsectorsoftheeconomy,andmakingandenforcingrulesdesigned
toprotectthepublicinterest?
A. Cabinetdepartments
B. Governmentcorporations
C. Independentexecutiveagencies
D. Independentregulatorycommissions
E. Privatesectors
29.Whatdoexecutiveagreementsrequire?
A. Ratificationbythehouseofrepresentatives
B. Ratificationbythesenate
C. Ratificationbybothhousesofcongress
D. Supportofthecabinet
E. Theagreementofneithercongressnorotherofficials
30.Whichofthefollowingstatementsbestdescribestheroleofthevice
presidenttoday?

A. Thevicepresident'smainjobiswaiting
B. Thevicepresident'smainjobiscastingtiebreakingvotesinthe
senate
C. Thevicepresident'smainjobistobalancethepresidential
ticketduringtheelection
D. Thevicepresident'smainjobistoplayacentralrolein
administrationpolicyandadvising
E. Thevicepresident'smainjobistonegotiatetreatieswithother
nations
31.Allofthefollowinginfluencetheselectionoffederaljudgesand
supremecourtjusticesEXCEPT
A. Campaigncontributions
B. Partisanship
C. Ideology
D. Experience
E. Judicialphilosophy
32.AllofthefollowingareintheexecutiveofficeofthepresidentEXCEPT
A. Thecouncilofeconomicadvisors
B. Thegeneralaccountingoffice
C. Thenationalsecuritycouncil
D. Theofficeofthevicepresident
E. Theofficeofmanagementandbudget
33.Oneoftheprimarytoolspresidentsusetocontrolbureaucracyis
A. Thelineitemveto
B. Congressionaloversightcommittees
C. Campaignfinancereform
D. Thepresidentialpowertoappointandremovetoplevel
administrators
E. Thepresidentialpowertopardon
34.Congresscanoverrideapresidentialvetooflegislation
A. ByappealingtotheU.S.supremecourt
B. Bynegotiatingadealwiththevicepresident
C. Bygettingapprovalofthebillinofstatelegislature

D. Withamajorityvoteofthehouserulescommittee
E. Withavoteinbothhousesofcongress
35.Whichofthefollowingismostlikelytodetermineacandidate'schance
ofgettingelectedtocongress?
A. Theirpersonalwealth
B. Theirconnectionstothemedia
C. Theirincumbencystatus
D. thercampaignstyle
E. Thepromisestheymaketotheirconstituents
36.Whichofthefollowingendsadebateinthesenate?
A. Cloture
B. Votebytherulescommittee
C. Conferencecommittee
D. Markup
E. Rider
37.Thetermforredrawingcongressionaldistrictstofavoraparticular
politicalpartyis
A. Apportionmentparadox
B. Gerrymandering
C. Redistricting
D. Redlining
E. Malapportionment

PublicPolicy
38.Whichbestdescribesapresident'sconstitutionaldutytocongress?
A. Thepresidentmustgivecongressanoccasionalupdateonthe
stateoftheunion
B. Thepresidentmusthaveatleastonecabinetmemberofthe
opposingparty
C. Thepresidentmustmaintainpartysupportincongress
D. Thepresidentmustinformcongressofthereasoningbehinda
veto

39.Whichofthesepowersisconstitutionalpowerthatthepresidentwith
thesenate?
A. Makingtreaties
B. Declaringwar
C. Grantingpardons
D. Receivingforeignambassadors
40.Whyisitsodifficulttocontrolfederalexpenditures?
A. Itisdifficulttoestimatefuturespendingneedswhenpopulation
growthissoerratic
B. Manyexpendituresareuncontrollableentitlements
C. Technologicaladvancementsrequiresignificantincreasesin
governmentexpenditures
D. TheAmericanbudgetaryprocessisrankwithcorruption
E. Thedepartmentofthedefenseresistsanyattemptstolimitits
increasingfunding
41.Whichofthefollowingisanexampleofataxexpenditure?
A. Deductionforpoliticalcampaigncontribution
B. Deferralofincomefrommultinationalcompanies
C. Exclusionofcapitalgainfromsalesofpubliclytradedstock
D. Exclusionoftaxesonindividualretirementand401Kaccount
contributionsandearnings
E. Totalnationalspendingincompliancewiththetaxcode

CivilRights&CivilLiberties
42.Whichofthefollowingcourtdecisionsrestrictedtheabilityofpublic
officialstosuethepressforlibel?
A. NewYorktimesV.Sullivan(1964)
B. NewYorktimesV.UnitedStates(1974)
C. UnitedStatesV.Nixon(1974)
D. NebraskaPressAssociationV.Stuart(1976)
E. CollinV.Smith(1978)

43.Whatisthelegalconceptunderwhichthesupremecourthas
nationalizedthebillofrights?
A. Thedueprocessclause
B. Theestablishmentdoctrine
C. Theinclusiondoctrine
D. TheIncorporationdoctrine
E. Theprivilegesandimmunitiesclause
44.Thepurposeofthesecondamendment_____
A. Canbeinterpretedbythestates
B. Islimitedtoprotecttherightsofnoncitizens
C. Limitedtotheuseofhandgunsandrifles
D. Toensurethatallgunsareobtainedlegally
E. Istoguaranteetherightforcitizenstobeararms
45.Whichofthefollowingmostoftenconflictswiththedemandforgreater
civilrights?
A. Affirmativeaction
B. Democracy
C. Equality
D. Individualliberty
E. Minorityrule

FRQ
1. Thejudicialbranchisoftenassumedtobeinsulatedfrompolitics.
However,politicsaffectsmanyaspectsofthejudiciary.

(a)Describetwopoliticalfactorsthataffectpresidentsdecisionstoappoint
membersofthefederaljudiciary.
(b)Identifytwopoliticalfactorsthataffecttheconfirmationprocessofa
presidentsnomineesandexplainhoweachfactorcomplicatesa
confirmation.

(c)Explainhowonelegislativepowerservesasacheckoncourt
decisions.
(d)Explainhowoneexecutivepowerservesasacheckoncourtdecisions.

FRQRESPONSE
A. Twopoliticalfactorsthataffectpresident'sdecisionstoappoint
membersofthefederaljudiciaryarethemember'spartyaffiliation
andhowwellthepoliticalideologiesmatchesthepresident.
B. (1)onepoliticalfactorthataffectstheconfirmationprocessofa
president'snomineesisifthenomineeistooliberalorconservative,
thiswouldcomplicatetheprocessofnominationbecausecongress
maynotwantsomeonetoliberalorconservative.
(2)Asecondpoliticalfactorthataffectstheconfirmationprocessisif
thenomineemaybeinvolvedinanytypeofscandal,thiscouldaffectthe
conformationbecausecongressdoesnotwantascandalontheirhands
withanewjudge.
C.Onelegislativepowerthatservesasacheckoncourtdecisionsisby
whatnomineesorjudgestheyapprove.
D.Oneexecutivepowerthatservesasacheckoncourtdecisionsisby
whothepresidentnominatesforthesupremecourtjudges.