Chapter 1: American Political Stories:
Claiming Rights, Demanding to Be
Heard
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Politics is best described as the process of ______.
a. making and enforcing laws and policies
b. selecting governmental leaders
c. influencing actions and policies of a government
d. administering and executing governmental activities
Ans: C
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
2. Politics and government are seen as ______.
a. synonymous with each other
b. closely connected to each other
,c. unrelated to each other
d. opposed to each other
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
3. Bridget Mergens’s request to start a new club on her high school campus was different
because she wanted to start a campus-sponsored ______.
a. Christian Bible study club
b. athletic booster club
c. Gay and Lesbian Alliance club
d. political debate club
Ans: A
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. The legal basis of Bridget Mergens’ claim against her high school was which of the
following?
a. the Equal Rights Amendment
,b. the 14th Amendment
c. the Civil Rights Act of 1964
d. the Equal Access Act of 1984
Ans: D
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. The purpose of the Equal Access Act of 1984 was to ______.
a. enable the ability of public high schools to place limits on faith-based clubs and
organizations
b. restrict the ability of public high schools to limit faith-based clubs and organizations
c. create new opportunities for students to start a variety of new clubs and organizations
d. place limits on the types of new clubs and organizations that could be created on a public
school campus
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. Which of the following best explains the outcome of the Mergens’ case?
, a. The Court reaffirmed the principle of separation of church and state by forbidding the
creation of faith-based clubs on campus.
b. The Court upheld students’ rights to establish faith-based clubs and organizations on high
school campuses.
c. The Court refused to acknowledge the Equal Access Act in its application to high school
campuses.
d. The Court decided that high school students lacked the maturity to conduct faith-based
activities on campus.
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Hard
7. An unintended consequence of the Mergens decision was the application of the Equal
Access Act to organizations and clubs related to ______.
a. intramural sports
b. free speech and debate
c. LGBT associations
d. Bible study groups
Ans: C
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Claiming Rights, Demanding to Be
Heard
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. Politics is best described as the process of ______.
a. making and enforcing laws and policies
b. selecting governmental leaders
c. influencing actions and policies of a government
d. administering and executing governmental activities
Ans: C
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
2. Politics and government are seen as ______.
a. synonymous with each other
b. closely connected to each other
,c. unrelated to each other
d. opposed to each other
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Introduction
Difficulty Level: Medium
3. Bridget Mergens’s request to start a new club on her high school campus was different
because she wanted to start a campus-sponsored ______.
a. Christian Bible study club
b. athletic booster club
c. Gay and Lesbian Alliance club
d. political debate club
Ans: A
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. The legal basis of Bridget Mergens’ claim against her high school was which of the
following?
a. the Equal Rights Amendment
,b. the 14th Amendment
c. the Civil Rights Act of 1964
d. the Equal Access Act of 1984
Ans: D
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Medium
5. The purpose of the Equal Access Act of 1984 was to ______.
a. enable the ability of public high schools to place limits on faith-based clubs and
organizations
b. restrict the ability of public high schools to limit faith-based clubs and organizations
c. create new opportunities for students to start a variety of new clubs and organizations
d. place limits on the types of new clubs and organizations that could be created on a public
school campus
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. Which of the following best explains the outcome of the Mergens’ case?
, a. The Court reaffirmed the principle of separation of church and state by forbidding the
creation of faith-based clubs on campus.
b. The Court upheld students’ rights to establish faith-based clubs and organizations on high
school campuses.
c. The Court refused to acknowledge the Equal Access Act in its application to high school
campuses.
d. The Court decided that high school students lacked the maturity to conduct faith-based
activities on campus.
Ans: B
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
Difficulty Level: Hard
7. An unintended consequence of the Mergens decision was the application of the Equal
Access Act to organizations and clubs related to ______.
a. intramural sports
b. free speech and debate
c. LGBT associations
d. Bible study groups
Ans: C
TOP: Learning Outcome: Articulate the foundations of American government, including its
history, critical concepts, and important documents and achievements.
KEY: Learning Objective: 1.1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the
same political tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government.
REF: Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: American Students Claim Their Rights
