Major Field Test – Political Science (2026/2027), Comprehensive Questions with Verified Answers

Major Field Test: Political Science
Questions and Answers 100% Verified!
2026/2027.
Instructions

This examination consists of 75 questions testing your cumulative knowledge across the major
subfields of political science. Select the best answer for each question. The exam covers
American Government & Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory
& Philosophy, and Research Methodology & Quantitative Analysis.



DOMAIN 1: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS (25 Questions)

Sub-Topic 1.1: Constitutional Foundations (5 Questions)

Question 1 (Multiple Choice) In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argues that the best remedy
for the "mischiefs of faction" is: A) A small, homogeneous republic where citizens share identical
interests B) A large republic with diverse interests that makes majority faction less likely C) The
elimination of liberty, which is the root cause of factions D) A strict property qualification for
voting to limit popular participation

[CORRECT] B — Madison argues that a large republic extends the sphere of government,
encompassing a greater variety of parties and interests, making it less probable that a majority
faction can form and oppress minority rights. This is the central argument of Federalist No. 10:
you cannot remove the causes of faction without destroying liberty, so you must control its
effects through an extended republic.



Question 2 (Select-All-That-Apply) Which of the following arguments were made by the Anti-
Federalists in opposition to ratification of the Constitution? (Select all that apply.) A) The
Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties B) The national government
would be too distant from the people to be responsive C) The separation of powers would
create gridlock and inefficiency D) The Senate and presidency would become aristocratic
institutions E) A strong central government was necessary to control interstate commerce

[CORRECT] A, B, D — Anti-Federalists, writing as Brutus and Federal Farmer, feared that the
Constitution concentrated too much power in a distant national government and that the

,Senate (with six-year terms) and presidency would evolve into aristocratic bodies. They
demanded a Bill of Rights as essential protection. Argument C reflects a modern critique, not an
Anti-Federalist position; E is a Federalist argument.



Question 3 (Multiple Choice) The constitutional principle that "ambition must be made to
counteract ambition" (Federalist No. 51) is most directly associated with: A) Federalism B)
Popular sovereignty C) Separation of powers with checks and balances D) Judicial review

[CORRECT] C — Madison's famous phrase refers to the institutional design of separating powers
among branches so that each branch's self-interest (ambition) checks the others. This is the
theoretical foundation of checks and balances, not federalism (which divides power between
national and state governments).



Question 4 (Multiple Choice) In Marbury v. Madison (1803), Chief Justice John Marshall
established which constitutional principle? A) The supremacy of federal law over state law B)
Judicial review of acts of Congress C) The incorporation of the Bill of Rights against the states D)
The doctrine of implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause

[CORRECT] B — Marshall ruled that Section 13 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 was unconstitutional
because it expanded the Court's original jurisdiction beyond Article III. In doing so, Marshall
established the Supreme Court's power of judicial review—the authority to declare acts of
Congress unconstitutional. Option A was established in McCulloch; C developed throughout the
20th century; D was also McCulloch.



Question 5 (Scenario Analysis) A state legislature passes a law criminalizing the publication of
any article criticizing the governor. A newspaper challenges the law in federal court. The court
strikes down the law, citing the First Amendment. Which constitutional doctrine allows the
federal court to apply the First Amendment to the state? A) The Supremacy Clause B) The
Commerce Clause C) Selective incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process
Clause D) The Full Faith and Credit Clause

[CORRECT] C — The incorporation doctrine (specifically selective incorporation) applies
provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process
Clause. Gitlow v. New York (1925) began this process for free speech; the scenario describes a
classic incorporation case. The Supremacy Clause (A) establishes federal law precedence but
does not apply the Bill of Rights to states.

, Sub-Topic 1.2: Political Institutions (6 Questions)

Question 6 (Multiple Choice) The House of Representatives and the Senate differ in their
constitutional design primarily because: A) The House was intended to be more deliberative
while the Senate was designed to be closer to the people B) The House was designed to be
closer to the people while the Senate was intended to be a more deliberative "cooling saucer"
C) Both chambers were designed with identical functions but different sizes D) The Senate was
created to represent population while the House was created to represent states equally

[CORRECT] B — The House (2-year terms, smaller districts, all seats up simultaneously) was
designed to be immediately responsive to public opinion. The Senate (6-year terms, staggered
elections, originally selected by state legislatures) was designed by the Framers as a "cooling
saucer" to temper House legislation and provide stability. Option D reverses the
representational schemes.



Question 7 (Multiple Choice) A conference committee in Congress is primarily responsible for:
A) Holding hearings to investigate executive branch agencies B) Reconciling differences between
House and Senate versions of a bill C) Reviewing the credentials of presidential nominees D)
Drafting the annual federal budget

[CORRECT] B — Conference committees are ad hoc committees composed of members from
both chambers that resolve disagreements when the House and Senate pass different versions
of the same bill. This is a critical step in the legislative process before a bill can be sent to the
president.



Question 8 (Select-All-That-Apply) Which of the following are examples of the bureaucracy
exercising legislative, judicial, and executive functions simultaneously? (Select all that apply.) A)
An agency issuing regulations with the force of law (legislative) B) An agency adjudicating
disputes over compliance with its regulations (judicial) C) An agency enforcing its regulations
through investigations and sanctions (executive) D) An agency requesting appropriations from
Congress (legislative) E) An agency testifying before congressional committees (executive)

[CORRECT] A, B, C — This describes the classic "iron triangle" and bureaucratic discretion
problem: agencies make rules (quasi-legislative), enforce them (quasi-executive), and adjudicate
violations (quasi-judicial). Requesting appropriations (D) is part of the budget process, not
lawmaking; testifying (E) is informational, not an executive function.