PSC 101 Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Collective Action Problem - CORRECT ANSWER Difficulty of getting people to work
together for common goals.
Free Rider Problem - CORRECT ANSWER People benefit without contributing.
Transaction Costs - CORRECT ANSWER Time, effort, and resources needed to make
agreements.
Institutions - CORRECT ANSWER Rules and procedures shaping political behavior.
Madisonian System - CORRECT ANSWER Separation of powers to prevent tyranny.
Principal-Agent Problem - CORRECT ANSWER Delegating authority can lead to conflicts of
interest.
Articles of Confederation - CORRECT ANSWER Weak national government (no taxes, no
executive branch).
Shays's Rebellion - CORRECT ANSWER Highlighted the need for a stronger federal
government.
Constitutional Convention - CORRECT ANSWER Created the U.S. Constitution (1787).
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER Representation debates (population
vs. equal).
Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Bicameral Congress: House (population) + Senate
(equal).
, Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Counting enslaved people for representation.
Checks & Balances / Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Prevent any branch from
gaining too much power.
Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER Division of power between state and national government.
Supremacy Clause - CORRECT ANSWER Federal law overrides state law.
Bill of Rights - CORRECT ANSWER First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties.
Dual Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER State and national governments have separate powers
('layer cake').
Cooperative Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER Levels of government share responsibilities
('marble cake').
Enumerated / Implied / Reserved Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Powers given to Congress,
inferred powers, powers kept by states.
Concurrent Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Shared by federal and state governments.
Grants-in-Aid - CORRECT ANSWER Financial aid from the federal government to state
governments.
Categorical Grants - CORRECT ANSWER For specific programs (strict rules).
Block Grants - CORRECT ANSWER Flexible funding.
Unfunded Mandates - CORRECT ANSWER Federal requirements without funding.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Collective Action Problem - CORRECT ANSWER Difficulty of getting people to work
together for common goals.
Free Rider Problem - CORRECT ANSWER People benefit without contributing.
Transaction Costs - CORRECT ANSWER Time, effort, and resources needed to make
agreements.
Institutions - CORRECT ANSWER Rules and procedures shaping political behavior.
Madisonian System - CORRECT ANSWER Separation of powers to prevent tyranny.
Principal-Agent Problem - CORRECT ANSWER Delegating authority can lead to conflicts of
interest.
Articles of Confederation - CORRECT ANSWER Weak national government (no taxes, no
executive branch).
Shays's Rebellion - CORRECT ANSWER Highlighted the need for a stronger federal
government.
Constitutional Convention - CORRECT ANSWER Created the U.S. Constitution (1787).
Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan - CORRECT ANSWER Representation debates (population
vs. equal).
Great Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Bicameral Congress: House (population) + Senate
(equal).
, Three-Fifths Compromise - CORRECT ANSWER Counting enslaved people for representation.
Checks & Balances / Separation of Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Prevent any branch from
gaining too much power.
Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER Division of power between state and national government.
Supremacy Clause - CORRECT ANSWER Federal law overrides state law.
Bill of Rights - CORRECT ANSWER First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties.
Dual Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER State and national governments have separate powers
('layer cake').
Cooperative Federalism - CORRECT ANSWER Levels of government share responsibilities
('marble cake').
Enumerated / Implied / Reserved Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Powers given to Congress,
inferred powers, powers kept by states.
Concurrent Powers - CORRECT ANSWER Shared by federal and state governments.
Grants-in-Aid - CORRECT ANSWER Financial aid from the federal government to state
governments.
Categorical Grants - CORRECT ANSWER For specific programs (strict rules).
Block Grants - CORRECT ANSWER Flexible funding.
Unfunded Mandates - CORRECT ANSWER Federal requirements without funding.
