PLSC MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A free press is considered critical to democracy because - Answer- (It helps insure
freedom of speech and expression, it is an important "linkage" mechanism connecting
citizens and government, it informs and educates citizens about government activities
and policies)
All of the above.
Each of the following is an example to symbolic speech EXCEPT: - Answer- Using
vulgar language.
This case about a married couple arrested for buying contraceptives, established the
"penumbra" under which the right to privacy was interpreted as being in the U.S.
Constitution: - Answer- Griswold v. Connecticut
The controversy over school prayer is related to the Supreme Court's interpretation of -
Answer- the establishment clause
The Lemon test (Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971) does not have this component part when
deciding who may receive government aid: - Answer- (Primary effect cannot be either to
advance or inhibit religion, Must have a secular purpose, Cannot foster excessive
entanglement of government with religion)
All of these are components of the Lemon test
Griswold v. Connecticut - Answer- ruled that Connecticut could not prohibit the use of
contraceptives by married couples.
The original Constitution (i.e. before any amendments) - Answer- specifically prohibited
any religious test as a requirement for holding public office.
Those who argue that the federal government should place no restrictions on the
freedom of speech are taking what approach to interpreting the First Amendment? -
Answer- absolutist approach
In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court rule that the Second Amendment
right of an individual to keep and bear arms applies to states as well as the federal
government? - Answer- McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
, When Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to salute the flag, they cannot be legally affected by
government intervention due to this freedom: - Answer- Freedom of religion
The Supreme Court has stated the Constitution has "penumbras" which create a right to
privacy. What does this mean? - Answer- Various portions of the Constitution, when
combined together, imply a right to privacy.
This most recent legal decision rule concerning freedom of speech allows for speech
supporting the breaking of the law in the abstract (e.g. "All good Americans must resist
paying taxes!") - Answer- Imminent lawless action test
The conflict between the Patriot Act and the individual freedoms guaranteed by the
Fourth Amendment is an example of - Answer- the conflict between liberty and
authority.
In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court - Answer- overruled Bowers v.
Hardwick, which allowed states to make engaging in homosexual sex a crime.
Brandenburg v. Baltimore (1969) - Answer- upheld a KKK member's right to
controversial speech, which supported lawbreaking in the abstract, because it contained
no incitement to commit an "imminent or specific" crime.
The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties by - Answer- outlining the limits of
governmental power and authority over individuals.
Compared to the prime minister in a parliamentary democracy, the president's
legislative preferences - Answer- are approved less often.
Presidential scholar George Edwards found that president's speeches ______ moved
public opinion. - Answer- seldom
The agency within the Executive Office of the President that is responsible for assisting
the president in his budget recommendations is the - Answer- Office of Management
and Budget.
Those consisting of the heads of the executive agencies and other officials designated
by the President (POTUS) and serving the interests of the president above and beyond
providing advice and using their positions to pursue the administration's agenda are
known as: - Answer- The Cabinet
What academic discipline is dedicated to the study of government, political institutions,
processes, and behavior? - Answer- Political Science
A positive relationship occurs when - Answer- The dependent variable goes down when
the independent variable goes down
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A free press is considered critical to democracy because - Answer- (It helps insure
freedom of speech and expression, it is an important "linkage" mechanism connecting
citizens and government, it informs and educates citizens about government activities
and policies)
All of the above.
Each of the following is an example to symbolic speech EXCEPT: - Answer- Using
vulgar language.
This case about a married couple arrested for buying contraceptives, established the
"penumbra" under which the right to privacy was interpreted as being in the U.S.
Constitution: - Answer- Griswold v. Connecticut
The controversy over school prayer is related to the Supreme Court's interpretation of -
Answer- the establishment clause
The Lemon test (Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971) does not have this component part when
deciding who may receive government aid: - Answer- (Primary effect cannot be either to
advance or inhibit religion, Must have a secular purpose, Cannot foster excessive
entanglement of government with religion)
All of these are components of the Lemon test
Griswold v. Connecticut - Answer- ruled that Connecticut could not prohibit the use of
contraceptives by married couples.
The original Constitution (i.e. before any amendments) - Answer- specifically prohibited
any religious test as a requirement for holding public office.
Those who argue that the federal government should place no restrictions on the
freedom of speech are taking what approach to interpreting the First Amendment? -
Answer- absolutist approach
In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court rule that the Second Amendment
right of an individual to keep and bear arms applies to states as well as the federal
government? - Answer- McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
, When Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to salute the flag, they cannot be legally affected by
government intervention due to this freedom: - Answer- Freedom of religion
The Supreme Court has stated the Constitution has "penumbras" which create a right to
privacy. What does this mean? - Answer- Various portions of the Constitution, when
combined together, imply a right to privacy.
This most recent legal decision rule concerning freedom of speech allows for speech
supporting the breaking of the law in the abstract (e.g. "All good Americans must resist
paying taxes!") - Answer- Imminent lawless action test
The conflict between the Patriot Act and the individual freedoms guaranteed by the
Fourth Amendment is an example of - Answer- the conflict between liberty and
authority.
In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court - Answer- overruled Bowers v.
Hardwick, which allowed states to make engaging in homosexual sex a crime.
Brandenburg v. Baltimore (1969) - Answer- upheld a KKK member's right to
controversial speech, which supported lawbreaking in the abstract, because it contained
no incitement to commit an "imminent or specific" crime.
The Bill of Rights protects individual liberties by - Answer- outlining the limits of
governmental power and authority over individuals.
Compared to the prime minister in a parliamentary democracy, the president's
legislative preferences - Answer- are approved less often.
Presidential scholar George Edwards found that president's speeches ______ moved
public opinion. - Answer- seldom
The agency within the Executive Office of the President that is responsible for assisting
the president in his budget recommendations is the - Answer- Office of Management
and Budget.
Those consisting of the heads of the executive agencies and other officials designated
by the President (POTUS) and serving the interests of the president above and beyond
providing advice and using their positions to pursue the administration's agenda are
known as: - Answer- The Cabinet
What academic discipline is dedicated to the study of government, political institutions,
processes, and behavior? - Answer- Political Science
A positive relationship occurs when - Answer- The dependent variable goes down when
the independent variable goes down
