PS 101: Introduction to American Government Final Exam (Chapters 1-16) with 35 Questions and Answers 100% Correct

PS 101: Introduction to American Government Final Exam (Chapters 1-16) with 35 Questions and Answers 100% Correct PS 101: Introduction to American Government Final Exam (Chapters 1-16) with 35 Questions and Answers 100% Correct Student: (Print Name) Test No. Questions 1-20 Multiple Choice (5 points each) (Circle the correct answer) Question 1: The constitutional requirement that each state honor every other state’s public acts, records, and judicial proceedings is called the: A. Necessary and Proper Clause. B. Implied Powers Clause. C. Full Faith and Credit Clause. D. Expressed Powers Clause. E. Inherent Powers Clause. Question 2: Which of the following is NOT a guaranteed right of the criminally accused? A. Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. B. Protection against self-incrimination. C. Right to a speedy trial. D. Prohibition against double jeopardy. E. The right to have a case heard before the Supreme Court. Question 3: Of the major identifiable racial/ethnic minority groups, which one has out- performed the others in terms of socio-economic gains? A. Black/African American B. Asian C. Native American (Indian) D. Hispanic/Latin Origin E. None of the above. Question 4: Many people join/support a political party with the hope of being rewarded with governmental jobs or contracts. This “spoils system” is called: A. Patronage. B. Party Activism. C. Splinter Spending. D. Solidarity. E. None of the above. Question 5: The most common and recent law enacted by many local jurisdictions (State, and County/Municipality, not Federal) that has the effect of discouraging voter turnout, especially amongst lower income and minority voters, under the guise of reducing “voter fraud” has been: A. Mandatory internet voting. B. Requiring multiple forms of I.D. (passport/birth certificate in addition to driver’s license) as a prerequisite to voting. C. Requiring a two-year residency before voting eligibility. D. Poll taxes. E. Literacy Tests. Question 6: A political candidate’s press advisor who tries to convince reporters to give a story or event concerning the candidate a particular slant or interpretation is called a: A. Campaign Finance Chairman. B. Biased Commentator. C. Political Guru. D. Spin Doctor. E. None of the above. Question 7: “Pork Barrel Spending” is a provision in a Congressional bill that benefits or applies to only a small number of people, usually thrown in to make the bill attractive to fringe Congress-people who may now vote for it. The formal name for “Congressional Pork” is A. Gerrymandering. B. Delegated Expenditure. C. An Earmark. D. An Apportionment. E. None of the above. Question 8: The Government Agency most likely to regulate the treatment of LGBTQs in the workplace (investigate allegations of discrimination and unfair treatment) would be: A. SBA (Small Business Administration). B. FTC (Federal Trade Commission). C. Department of Justice. D. Health and Human Services. E. EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). Question 9: In the last ten years, the U.S. Postal Service shed almost 200,000 jobs; the most of any Federal Bureaucracy. This was due to: A. The rise in “mailing alternatives” such as Federal Express, USPS, etc. B. Technology: The Internet and use of “E-mail”. C. The Armed Forces would have shed more service people, but the Middle East conflict kept military enrollment high. D. The majority of “lost government jobs” occurred at the local levels. E. All of the above. Question 10: The principal duties of the Department include negotiating treaties, developing foreign policy, and protecting citizens abroad. A. Justice. B. State. C. Homeland Security. D. Commerce. E. Defense. Question 11: “The Rules of Precedent”: A primary tenet of American jurisprudence; is a court decision that furnishes an example or authority for deciding subsequent cases involving identical or similar facts and legal issues. This doctrine of stare decisis is employed when deciding cases arising out of: A. Constitutional Law. B. Statutory Law. C. Administrative Law. D. Case Law. E. All of the above. Question 12: if the U.S. Supreme Court “denies certiorari”, then A. The ruling of the lower court is reversed. B. The case must get a two-thirds vote from the Senate to proceed further. C. Only the President can order the case heard by another court. D. The ruling of the lower court remains the law within that court’s jurisdiction. E. None of the above. Question 13: The text parallels the federal court system to that of: A. A teacher in school. B. An umpire in sport. C. A commanding officer in the military. D. A conductor in an orchestra. E. All of the above. Question 14: Policy making is a complicated process requiring many compromises. When the Trump Administration tried to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, they could not, because: A. The Republicans made no attempt to win Democratic support for their plan. B. Under the Republican plan, Low-income persons would face a striking increase in their health care premiums, and eventually 24 million people would lose their coverage altogether. C. Only Upper-income persons would realize a tax savings. D. The Republican bill would cut Medicaid benefits below what they were before Obamacare was adopted. E. All of the above. Question 15: The Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) is an Independent Executive Agency, not a member of the President’s cabinet; and as such: A. The CIA Director does not have to report to the President. B. The CIA does not have to get its budget approved by Congress. C. The CIA can invade the privacy of anyone on American soil without a warrant. D. The CIA is only mandated to support the covert missions of the majority party in the Senate. E. None of the above, The CIA can do none of these things. Question 16: According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, more than percent of this nation’s households pay no income taxes at all. A. 10. B. 25. C. 40. D. 65. E. None, everybody with a job, pays some income tax. Question 17: Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution authorizes the President to make treaties with foreign nations, which then must be approved: A. By a 2/3 vote of the Senate. B. By a majority of the popular vote at a general election. C. By the Departments of State and Defense. D. By a simple majority of those affected members of the United Nations. E. All of the above. Question 18: Which of the following was not created as a direct result of World War II? A. The NSC (National Security Council). B. The Department of Homeland Security. C. The Central Intelligence Agency. D. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). E. None of the above, all were created within five years following WW II. Question 19: When the framers created the office of President, they created a uniquely American institution. Nowhere else in the world at that time was there a chief executive: A. Who was also in charge of the Armed Forces. B. Who was the chief diplomat regarding all foreign policy. C. Who could serve as long as he lived. D. Who was elected by popular vote. E. All of the above. Question 20: President James Monroe () established the founding fathers’ position on foreign policy, entitled the “Monroe Doctrine”: Basically, this initial foreign policy was centered around: A. Moral idealism. B. Political realism. C. National Security. D. Interventionism. E. Isolationism. Questions 21-35 Short Answer (10 points each) Question 21: As seen following the terrorist attacks of 911, and the concerns of National Security and individual privacy; the fundamental conflict of American Government is the ongoing struggle between and . Freedom and order Question 22: The Constitution (1787) replaced the , an earlier (1781), yet flawed attempt at organizing a central government. Articles of Confederation Question 23: On Tuesday, April 28, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument on “Obergefell v Hodges”; challenging the constitutional validity of same sex marriages. Which Amendment governed this challenge in the Court’s ruling? The 14th amendment Question 24: A “Special Interest” group can form out of a fear or threat to a particular part of the population or lifestyle (i.e. AARP or NRA). The “National Right to Life” Committee was formed in response to which landmark Supreme Court case? This committee was formed in response to Roe V. Wade. Question 25: To be elected President, a candidate needs 270 electoral votes. Technically, a candidate need only capture the 11 most populous states. Name 5 of the top 11 states with the most electoral votes. Extra credit (5 points) to correctly name all 11. California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey. Question 26: When Cable TV Networks appeal to or target particular viewing groups (BET: Black Entertainment Television), Hobbyist (Cooking Channel), or History buffs (Military History Channel), this is called: This is called narrow casting Question 27: The Bicameral legislature has two chambers: the House and the Senate. By design, each chamber of the legislature was originally designed to represent one distinct group. The House was to represent , and the Senate was to represent . The will of the people, the interest of the state Question 28: Incumbent politicians have a great deal of power compared to those who look to challenge them in elections (which is why incumbents win so often and by such large margins). List three of the advantages (as detailed in the text) that incumbents enjoy. Three advantages are that incumbents have access to media, law making power, and name recognition. Question 29: The twelve-month period that is established for bookkeeping or accounting purposes is called a fiscal year. The Government’s fiscal year runs from: to . October 1st to September 30th Question 30: The President’s most significant “check” against Congress is the power to: The power to veto Question 31: Name 2 of the 3 largest components of Federal Government spending (together, the “big 3” make up just over 50% of the Federal Government’s total annual budget). Mandatory spending and discretionary spending Question 32: After the financial scandal surrounding the building (and now dismantling) of the new County Jail, Wayne County decides to sell off the rights to operate a State funded correctional facility to a non-public corporation. This is called: Privatization Question 33: Explain the principal difference between civil and criminal law. The principal difference between civil and criminal law is that civil law deals with duties people owe each other whereas criminal law is wrongful doings against people or society. Both are payable by fines but in criminal law you also lose liberties. Question 34: What is the fundamental difference between Medicare and Medicaid? The fundamental difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that Medicare is a federal program for Americans 65 and over. Medicaid is joint between state and federal and pays for lower income households health care. Question 35: Name the only country to use a nuclear weapon on a foreign civilian population? The United States Bonus Question (10 points): What Landmark Supreme Court Civil Rights Case from the 1970’s, cited in the text, did Professor McCree’s father argue while Solicitor General of the United States (Were you paying attention)? California v. Bakke