Test Bank For
Introduction to American Government Twelfth Edition Charles Turner
Chapters 1-16
Chapter 1
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the central message of this textbook?
a. Power corrupts.
b. Politics and government matter.
c. U.S. democracy is the best form of government.
d. In a democracy, the will of the people will ultimately prevail.
Answer: b
Topic: Chapter Introduction
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
2. Compared with older Americans, younger Americans __________.
a. are more knowledgeable about politics
b. are more likely to believe that they have much at stake in elections
c. are less likely to follow and participate in politics
d. are less active in their communities
Answer: c
Topic: Chapter Introduction
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
,3. The institutions that make a society‘s public policy decisions are collectively
known as __________.
a. political culture
b. the courts
c. government
d. the presidency
Answer: c
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4. Why does a government maintain armed forces?
a. to protect its national sovereignty
b. to promote justice in the world
c. to provide a mechanism for ensuring the collection of taxes
d. to provide employment opportunities for the young
Answer: a
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
5. Which of the following is a collective good?
a. access to clean air and clean water
b. medical care
c. Social Security
d. unemployment insurance
Answer: a
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
,6. The ways in which people get involved in politics constitute their __________.
a. political ideology
b. political participation
c. political party affiliation
d. political opinions
Answer: b
Topic: Politics
Learning Objective: 1.2 Define politics in the context of democratic government.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
7. Which of the following best describes a linkage institution?
a. a channel through which people‘s concerns are communicated to policymakers
b. a location where one can express a political opinion
c. the formation of a special interest group
d. an environment where one learns about the political process
Answer: a
Topic: People Shape Policy
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
8. The government‘s policy agenda consists of __________.
a. the issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail
b. the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people
involved in politics
c. the issues that are asked about on public opinion polls
d. the issues that concern interest groups
Answer: b
Topic: People Shape Policy
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
, 9. What are public policies?
a. decisions that government makes
b. the root causes of political culture
c. the public‘s political concerns, as determined by elections
d. proposed legislation that is supported by the public
Answer: a
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
10. A law passed by Congress and a regulation adopted by an agency are both
examples of __________.
a. collective action
b. political knowledge
c. public policies
d. an informed citizenry
Answer: c
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
11. Why are the impacts of policies analyzed?
a. to determine the extent of financial compensation that will be awarded to the
policymakers
b. to ensure that policies are consistent with the principles of social justice
c. to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost
d. to pinpoint which level of government will be responsible for implementing a
policy
Answer: c
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
Introduction to American Government Twelfth Edition Charles Turner
Chapters 1-16
Chapter 1
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. What is the central message of this textbook?
a. Power corrupts.
b. Politics and government matter.
c. U.S. democracy is the best form of government.
d. In a democracy, the will of the people will ultimately prevail.
Answer: b
Topic: Chapter Introduction
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
2. Compared with older Americans, younger Americans __________.
a. are more knowledgeable about politics
b. are more likely to believe that they have much at stake in elections
c. are less likely to follow and participate in politics
d. are less active in their communities
Answer: c
Topic: Chapter Introduction
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
,3. The institutions that make a society‘s public policy decisions are collectively
known as __________.
a. political culture
b. the courts
c. government
d. the presidency
Answer: c
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
4. Why does a government maintain armed forces?
a. to protect its national sovereignty
b. to promote justice in the world
c. to provide a mechanism for ensuring the collection of taxes
d. to provide employment opportunities for the young
Answer: a
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
5. Which of the following is a collective good?
a. access to clean air and clean water
b. medical care
c. Social Security
d. unemployment insurance
Answer: a
Topic: Government
Learning Objective: 1.1 Identify the key functions of government and explain
why they matter.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
,6. The ways in which people get involved in politics constitute their __________.
a. political ideology
b. political participation
c. political party affiliation
d. political opinions
Answer: b
Topic: Politics
Learning Objective: 1.2 Define politics in the context of democratic government.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
7. Which of the following best describes a linkage institution?
a. a channel through which people‘s concerns are communicated to policymakers
b. a location where one can express a political opinion
c. the formation of a special interest group
d. an environment where one learns about the political process
Answer: a
Topic: People Shape Policy
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
8. The government‘s policy agenda consists of __________.
a. the issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail
b. the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people
involved in politics
c. the issues that are asked about on public opinion polls
d. the issues that concern interest groups
Answer: b
Topic: People Shape Policy
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
, 9. What are public policies?
a. decisions that government makes
b. the root causes of political culture
c. the public‘s political concerns, as determined by elections
d. proposed legislation that is supported by the public
Answer: a
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
10. A law passed by Congress and a regulation adopted by an agency are both
examples of __________.
a. collective action
b. political knowledge
c. public policies
d. an informed citizenry
Answer: c
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
11. Why are the impacts of policies analyzed?
a. to determine the extent of financial compensation that will be awarded to the
policymakers
b. to ensure that policies are consistent with the principles of social justice
c. to see how well a policy has met its goal and at what cost
d. to pinpoint which level of government will be responsible for implementing a
policy
Answer: c
Topic: Policies Impact People
Learning Objective: 1.3 Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy
and how policies can impact people.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
