GOVT 3e Chapter 1: America in the Twenty-First Century
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Conservative economists contend that continued growth in government will necessarily lead to
a. higher incomes.
b. higher taxes.
c. lower taxes.
d. less government regulation.
e. faster economic growth.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2
2. Liberal economists believe in times of recession we should
a. reduce government assistance to needy persons.
b. increase the government deficit.
c. balance the federal budget.
d. reduce the size of government.
e. leave everything to an unregulated, uncontrolled free market.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2
3. Resolving conflicts over what society’s priorities should be is the essence of
a. power.
b. authority.
c. politics.
, d. capitalism.
e. war.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
4. According to political scientist Harold Lasswell, ____is the process of determining “who gets
what, when, and how in a society.”
a. government
b. authority
c. power
d. political culture
e. politics
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 3-4
5. Political scientist Harold Lasswell defined politics as the process of determining:
a. “How to get what you want from government.”
b. “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
c. “How to wield influence and exercise power” in a society.”
d. “Who gets what, when, and how” in a society?”
e. “Who gets to do what to whom?”
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 3-4
6. Government can best be defined as
a. an experiment in social conflict.
b. the individuals and institutions that make society’s rules and that also possess the power
, and authority to enforce those rules.
c. an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
d. a group of agencies that encourage social conflict.
e. the institutions that have been created to maintain the power of the ruling elite.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 4
7. For a government to exercise authority, its power must be legitimate. In other words, its power
a. is derived from a strong military.
b. rests in a monarchy.
c. stems from coercion.
d. is imposed on society by force.
e. is collectively recognized by society as legally and morally correct.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 4
8. Which of the following is not considered a major role of government?
a. Resolve conflicts so that public order is maintained
b. Defend the country
c. Provide public goods
d. Run private industry
e. Provide security
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4-5
9. In a(n) ____, the power and authority of the government are in the hands of a single person.
a. constitutional monarchy
, b. direct democracy
c. divine right democracy
d. autocracy
e. republic
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 7
10. The divine right theory
a. held that God gave those of royal birth the unlimited right to govern other men and
women.
b. held that even God could be judged by those of royal birth.
c. was used to justify the American presidency.
d. required monarchs to obey the wishes of the people.
e. held that the decisions of governmental rulers were divinely inspired.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 7
11. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies in which the monarch shares
governmental power with
a. the church.
b. elected lawmakers.
c. the people.
d. representatives of large corporations.
e. ceremonial leaders.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 7
12. Most constitutional monarchs today serve
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Conservative economists contend that continued growth in government will necessarily lead to
a. higher incomes.
b. higher taxes.
c. lower taxes.
d. less government regulation.
e. faster economic growth.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2
2. Liberal economists believe in times of recession we should
a. reduce government assistance to needy persons.
b. increase the government deficit.
c. balance the federal budget.
d. reduce the size of government.
e. leave everything to an unregulated, uncontrolled free market.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 2
3. Resolving conflicts over what society’s priorities should be is the essence of
a. power.
b. authority.
c. politics.
, d. capitalism.
e. war.
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: 3
4. According to political scientist Harold Lasswell, ____is the process of determining “who gets
what, when, and how in a society.”
a. government
b. authority
c. power
d. political culture
e. politics
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 3-4
5. Political scientist Harold Lasswell defined politics as the process of determining:
a. “How to get what you want from government.”
b. “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
c. “How to wield influence and exercise power” in a society.”
d. “Who gets what, when, and how” in a society?”
e. “Who gets to do what to whom?”
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 3-4
6. Government can best be defined as
a. an experiment in social conflict.
b. the individuals and institutions that make society’s rules and that also possess the power
, and authority to enforce those rules.
c. an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society.
d. a group of agencies that encourage social conflict.
e. the institutions that have been created to maintain the power of the ruling elite.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 4
7. For a government to exercise authority, its power must be legitimate. In other words, its power
a. is derived from a strong military.
b. rests in a monarchy.
c. stems from coercion.
d. is imposed on society by force.
e. is collectively recognized by society as legally and morally correct.
ANS: E PTS: 1 REF: 4
8. Which of the following is not considered a major role of government?
a. Resolve conflicts so that public order is maintained
b. Defend the country
c. Provide public goods
d. Run private industry
e. Provide security
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 4-5
9. In a(n) ____, the power and authority of the government are in the hands of a single person.
a. constitutional monarchy
, b. direct democracy
c. divine right democracy
d. autocracy
e. republic
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: 7
10. The divine right theory
a. held that God gave those of royal birth the unlimited right to govern other men and
women.
b. held that even God could be judged by those of royal birth.
c. was used to justify the American presidency.
d. required monarchs to obey the wishes of the people.
e. held that the decisions of governmental rulers were divinely inspired.
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: 7
11. Most modern monarchies are constitutional monarchies in which the monarch shares
governmental power with
a. the church.
b. elected lawmakers.
c. the people.
d. representatives of large corporations.
e. ceremonial leaders.
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: 7
12. Most constitutional monarchs today serve
