Chapter 1—The Democratic Republic
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In 2008, the United States faced the worst _______ crisis in 80 years.
a. environmental
b. national defense
c. economic
d. international relations
e. elections fraud
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Introduction
2. Politics is
a. the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups.
b. becoming an increasingly low-stakes game.
c. a type of antisocial behavior by individuals.
d. fundamentally irrelevant.
e. the equitable distribution of power among organizations or informal groups.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Politics and
Government
3. Harold Lasswell defined politics as
a. a necessary evil.
b. the way conflict in society is perpetuated.
c. who gets what, when, and how.
d. promoting equality among citizens.
e. a system for guiding individuals’ decision-making.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Politics and
Government
4. An institution can best be defined as
a. a religious organization.
b. an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
c. any organized group.
d. a democratic government.
e. part of an interest group.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2 TOP: Politics and
Government
5. Government can be defined as
a. an institution within which decisions are made that resolve conflicts.
b. a figurehead institution with little actual authority.
c. any club that sets up a platform.
d. the same in most countries.
e. a concept with a universally accepted interpretation.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 2 TOP: Politics and
Government
6. One of the original purposes of government is
a. maintaining security or order.
b. ensuring liberty or freedom.
c. promoting equality among citizens.
, d. promoting economic development.
e. promoting development of cultural capital.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 2
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
7. Which of the following most accurately describes the Afghan government?
a. The Taliban were recently voted into office by the people.
b. The current government has gained complete control over the country.
c. The government has provided exceptional personal security for its citizens.
d. The government has survived only because of the assistance provided by the U.S. and its
allies.
e. The issue of corruption has finally been effectively controlled by the government.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 2
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
8. A complete collapse of order and security is
a. a disturbingly common event.
b. actually an uncommon event.
c. much more common than the reverse—too much government control.
d. a part of every nation’s political development.
e. a problem usually confined to highly urbanized countries.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
9. Liberty can be defined as
a. freedom of individuals to do whatever they want.
b. freedom of individuals to own and control property.
c. the greatest freedom of the individual consistent with the freedom of other individuals.
d. incompatible with government.
e. a uniquely American value.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
10. Governments have authority
a. when they are first organized.
b. when they are popular.
c. when they are internationally recognized.
d. when they have the right and power to enforce their decisions.
e. when people choose to obey the laws they create.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
11. Legitimacy in government is
a. the condition of having no government.
b. only applicable to democratic governments.
c. popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise
authority.
d. only needed in times of emergency.
e. useful to control immigration.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
,12. To say that authority is legitimate is to
a. state the obvious.
b. say that authority is broadly accepted.
c. imply that the ruler has not always been perceived as the legal power.
d. suggest that decisions are of little practical value.
e. imply that those in power do not have the good of the public in mind when making
important decisions.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
13. In 2011 in Egypt and Tunisia, regime change finally came when
a. soldiers resorted to violence against demonstrators.
b. the populace became more educated.
c. international governments intervened.
d. the rulers lost legitimacy.
e. the rulers lost authority.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
14. Totalitarianism as a concept means
a. that every aspect of political, social, and economic life is controlled by the government.
b. the condition of having no government and no laws.
c. that ultimate political authority is vested in the people.
d. a limited republic where people elect officials to make decisions for them for a specific
period of time.
e. a unified government.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
15. Authoritarianism differs from totalitarianism in that
a. freedom of speech is allowed.
b. the leaders may be voted out of office.
c. it is considered a legitimate form of government.
d. only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler.
e. all aspects of political, social, and economic life are controlled by the ruler.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
16. Aristocracy means rule by
a. the majority.
b. the “best.”
c. the “few.”
d. those who can read and write.
e. religious leaders.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
17. The literal meaning of theocracy is
a. rule by society’s elders.
b. rule by the most educated.
c. rule by God (or the gods).
d. rule by the eldest son of the previous ruler.
, e. rule by priests.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
18. The most important feature of Athenian democracy was that
a. everyone could vote.
b. elected delegates made the important decisions.
c. it was an aristocracy.
d. the legislature was composed of all the citizens.
e. women were included in the legislature.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
19. The initiative and the referendum are both
a. ways to remove a public official from office before to the end of his or her elected term.
b. procedures used in Congress to prevent the passage of a bill by talking it to death.
c. provided for in the Bill of Rights.
d. constitutional mechanisms that are unique to California.
e. modern adaptations of direct democracy.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
20. A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from office before his
or her term has expired is called
a. a referendum.
b. direct democracy.
c. a recall.
d. an initiative.
e. popular sovereignty.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
21. Consent of the people means
a. governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.
b. the people must consent to everything the government does.
c. government must get consent of the people before it can go to war.
d. universal suffrage.
e. only Congress needs to get consent from the people.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
22. Regarding direct democracy, James Madison and other politicians of his time
a. believed it would lead to a more educated population.
b. believed it was the safest and most stable system of government.
c. feared it would lead to a tyranny of the minority.
d. championed it as the only acceptable form of government.
e. feared it would deteriorate into mob rule.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
23. A republic is
a. a conservative form of government.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In 2008, the United States faced the worst _______ crisis in 80 years.
a. environmental
b. national defense
c. economic
d. international relations
e. elections fraud
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Introduction
2. Politics is
a. the struggle over power or influence within organizations or informal groups.
b. becoming an increasingly low-stakes game.
c. a type of antisocial behavior by individuals.
d. fundamentally irrelevant.
e. the equitable distribution of power among organizations or informal groups.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Politics and
Government
3. Harold Lasswell defined politics as
a. a necessary evil.
b. the way conflict in society is perpetuated.
c. who gets what, when, and how.
d. promoting equality among citizens.
e. a system for guiding individuals’ decision-making.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 1 TOP: Politics and
Government
4. An institution can best be defined as
a. a religious organization.
b. an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
c. any organized group.
d. a democratic government.
e. part of an interest group.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2 TOP: Politics and
Government
5. Government can be defined as
a. an institution within which decisions are made that resolve conflicts.
b. a figurehead institution with little actual authority.
c. any club that sets up a platform.
d. the same in most countries.
e. a concept with a universally accepted interpretation.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 2 TOP: Politics and
Government
6. One of the original purposes of government is
a. maintaining security or order.
b. ensuring liberty or freedom.
c. promoting equality among citizens.
, d. promoting economic development.
e. promoting development of cultural capital.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 2
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
7. Which of the following most accurately describes the Afghan government?
a. The Taliban were recently voted into office by the people.
b. The current government has gained complete control over the country.
c. The government has provided exceptional personal security for its citizens.
d. The government has survived only because of the assistance provided by the U.S. and its
allies.
e. The issue of corruption has finally been effectively controlled by the government.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 2
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
8. A complete collapse of order and security is
a. a disturbingly common event.
b. actually an uncommon event.
c. much more common than the reverse—too much government control.
d. a part of every nation’s political development.
e. a problem usually confined to highly urbanized countries.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
9. Liberty can be defined as
a. freedom of individuals to do whatever they want.
b. freedom of individuals to own and control property.
c. the greatest freedom of the individual consistent with the freedom of other individuals.
d. incompatible with government.
e. a uniquely American value.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
10. Governments have authority
a. when they are first organized.
b. when they are popular.
c. when they are internationally recognized.
d. when they have the right and power to enforce their decisions.
e. when people choose to obey the laws they create.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
11. Legitimacy in government is
a. the condition of having no government.
b. only applicable to democratic governments.
c. popular acceptance of the right and power of a government or other entity to exercise
authority.
d. only needed in times of emergency.
e. useful to control immigration.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
,12. To say that authority is legitimate is to
a. state the obvious.
b. say that authority is broadly accepted.
c. imply that the ruler has not always been perceived as the legal power.
d. suggest that decisions are of little practical value.
e. imply that those in power do not have the good of the public in mind when making
important decisions.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 3
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
13. In 2011 in Egypt and Tunisia, regime change finally came when
a. soldiers resorted to violence against demonstrators.
b. the populace became more educated.
c. international governments intervened.
d. the rulers lost legitimacy.
e. the rulers lost authority.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Why Is Government Necessary
14. Totalitarianism as a concept means
a. that every aspect of political, social, and economic life is controlled by the government.
b. the condition of having no government and no laws.
c. that ultimate political authority is vested in the people.
d. a limited republic where people elect officials to make decisions for them for a specific
period of time.
e. a unified government.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
15. Authoritarianism differs from totalitarianism in that
a. freedom of speech is allowed.
b. the leaders may be voted out of office.
c. it is considered a legitimate form of government.
d. only the government itself is fully controlled by the ruler.
e. all aspects of political, social, and economic life are controlled by the ruler.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
16. Aristocracy means rule by
a. the majority.
b. the “best.”
c. the “few.”
d. those who can read and write.
e. religious leaders.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
17. The literal meaning of theocracy is
a. rule by society’s elders.
b. rule by the most educated.
c. rule by God (or the gods).
d. rule by the eldest son of the previous ruler.
, e. rule by priests.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
18. The most important feature of Athenian democracy was that
a. everyone could vote.
b. elected delegates made the important decisions.
c. it was an aristocracy.
d. the legislature was composed of all the citizens.
e. women were included in the legislature.
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
19. The initiative and the referendum are both
a. ways to remove a public official from office before to the end of his or her elected term.
b. procedures used in Congress to prevent the passage of a bill by talking it to death.
c. provided for in the Bill of Rights.
d. constitutional mechanisms that are unique to California.
e. modern adaptations of direct democracy.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
20. A procedure allowing the people to vote to dismiss an elected official from office before his
or her term has expired is called
a. a referendum.
b. direct democracy.
c. a recall.
d. an initiative.
e. popular sovereignty.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
21. Consent of the people means
a. governments and laws derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed.
b. the people must consent to everything the government does.
c. government must get consent of the people before it can go to war.
d. universal suffrage.
e. only Congress needs to get consent from the people.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
22. Regarding direct democracy, James Madison and other politicians of his time
a. believed it would lead to a more educated population.
b. believed it was the safest and most stable system of government.
c. feared it would lead to a tyranny of the minority.
d. championed it as the only acceptable form of government.
e. feared it would deteriorate into mob rule.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 5
TOP: Democracy and Other Forms of Government
23. A republic is
a. a conservative form of government.
