GOVT 2305 Exams 1-4 Questions With
Verified Answers
EXAM 1 - ANSWER
What is a democracy? - ANSWER A system of selecting policymakers and
organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's
preferences.
Which principle of traditional democratic theory is violated when the wealthy
have disproportionate influence over government decisions? - ANSWER Citizen
control of the agenda
In a democracy, policies should reflect the will of more than half of the voters,
which is known as the principle of _____________. - ANSWER Majority rule
Which theory of American democracy posits that group competition results in a
rough approximation of the public interest in public policy? - ANSWER Pluralism
Which theory of American democracy holds that special interest groups have
become so powerful that governments is weakened and unable to operate
effectively? - ANSWER Hyperpluralism
What is public policy? - ANSWER Proposed legislation that is supported by the
public
All of the following are true of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, EXCEPT they
____________. - ANSWER Were only concerned with problems immediately facing
the new nation.
How does representative democracy differ from direct democracy? - ANSWER
In a direct democracy the individual citizens directly make policies, rules, and
other governing decisions.
Which of the following accurately describes an indirect democracy? - ANSWER
Regular elections allow voters to choose representatives.
All of the following form the core set of values that define the American political
culture, EXCEPT ___________. - ANSWER A common ancestry
What is the feature of the Constitution that allows each branch of government to
limit the power of the other branches? - ANSWER Checks and balances
, What type of legislature did the United States have under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANSWER A single chamber with each state receiving equal
power.
How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER
The constitution created a stronger national government than did the Articles of
Confederation.
According to James Madison in Federalist 10, what is the most common source
of political conflict? Or, in his words, what was the "most common and durable
source of factions"? - ANSWER The unequal distribution of wealth.
Which of the following is a reason for the separation of power? - ANSWER To
prevent tyranny by any one branch.
What was Madison's concern regarding tyranny of the majority? - ANSWER A
majority of the public could infringe on the rights of a minority.
Under the Articles of Confederation, a separate institution to perform the
executive function of government - ANSWER Did not exist.
The first plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention was the ____________,
which called for three branches of government and a bicameral legislature, with
membership in each house proportional to each state's population. - ANSWER
Virginia Plan
The principle that each branch of government enjoys separate and independent
powers and areas of responsibility is know as - ANSWER Separation of powers
What is the purpose of the governmental system of "checks and balances"? -
ANSWER To allow for multiple branches of government to have the same power.
Which of the following is the best definition of federalism? - ANSWER A
constitution arrangement by which two or more levels of government share
formal authority over the same area and people.
How common are federal systems throughout the world? - ANSWER Only a few
nations have a federal system.
The preemption of state and local laws by federal laws is based on which clause
of the U.S. Constitution? - ANSWER Supremacy
Which clause of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court interpret in
McCulloch v. Maryland as allowing Congress to create a national bank? -
ANSWER Necessary and proper
Verified Answers
EXAM 1 - ANSWER
What is a democracy? - ANSWER A system of selecting policymakers and
organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's
preferences.
Which principle of traditional democratic theory is violated when the wealthy
have disproportionate influence over government decisions? - ANSWER Citizen
control of the agenda
In a democracy, policies should reflect the will of more than half of the voters,
which is known as the principle of _____________. - ANSWER Majority rule
Which theory of American democracy posits that group competition results in a
rough approximation of the public interest in public policy? - ANSWER Pluralism
Which theory of American democracy holds that special interest groups have
become so powerful that governments is weakened and unable to operate
effectively? - ANSWER Hyperpluralism
What is public policy? - ANSWER Proposed legislation that is supported by the
public
All of the following are true of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, EXCEPT they
____________. - ANSWER Were only concerned with problems immediately facing
the new nation.
How does representative democracy differ from direct democracy? - ANSWER
In a direct democracy the individual citizens directly make policies, rules, and
other governing decisions.
Which of the following accurately describes an indirect democracy? - ANSWER
Regular elections allow voters to choose representatives.
All of the following form the core set of values that define the American political
culture, EXCEPT ___________. - ANSWER A common ancestry
What is the feature of the Constitution that allows each branch of government to
limit the power of the other branches? - ANSWER Checks and balances
, What type of legislature did the United States have under the Articles of
Confederation? - ANSWER A single chamber with each state receiving equal
power.
How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation? - ANSWER
The constitution created a stronger national government than did the Articles of
Confederation.
According to James Madison in Federalist 10, what is the most common source
of political conflict? Or, in his words, what was the "most common and durable
source of factions"? - ANSWER The unequal distribution of wealth.
Which of the following is a reason for the separation of power? - ANSWER To
prevent tyranny by any one branch.
What was Madison's concern regarding tyranny of the majority? - ANSWER A
majority of the public could infringe on the rights of a minority.
Under the Articles of Confederation, a separate institution to perform the
executive function of government - ANSWER Did not exist.
The first plan proposed at the Constitutional Convention was the ____________,
which called for three branches of government and a bicameral legislature, with
membership in each house proportional to each state's population. - ANSWER
Virginia Plan
The principle that each branch of government enjoys separate and independent
powers and areas of responsibility is know as - ANSWER Separation of powers
What is the purpose of the governmental system of "checks and balances"? -
ANSWER To allow for multiple branches of government to have the same power.
Which of the following is the best definition of federalism? - ANSWER A
constitution arrangement by which two or more levels of government share
formal authority over the same area and people.
How common are federal systems throughout the world? - ANSWER Only a few
nations have a federal system.
The preemption of state and local laws by federal laws is based on which clause
of the U.S. Constitution? - ANSWER Supremacy
Which clause of the U.S. Constitution did the Supreme Court interpret in
McCulloch v. Maryland as allowing Congress to create a national bank? -
ANSWER Necessary and proper
