POS 2041 U.S GOVERNMENT FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Module 1 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅American Political Culture
Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅institutions and procedures through which a territory and its
people are ruled
Politics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments
Political Efficacy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the ability to influence government and politics
Citizenship - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅informed and active membership in a political community
Autocracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a form of government in which a single individual--a king, queen, or
dictator--rules
Oligarchy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a form of government in which a small group--landowners, military
officers, or wealth merchants--controls most of the governing decisions.
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the
governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials
Constitutional Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which formal and effective limits
are placed on the powers of the government
Authoritarian Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which the government
recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions
Totalitarian Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which the government recognizes
no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might
challenge it
,*print out figure 1.2* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅
Power - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies
Representative Democracy (republic) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of government in which the
populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
Direct Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws
and policies
Pluralism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for
influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation
Political Culture - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the
government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and
democracy.
Liberty - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅freedom from governmental control
Limited Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a principle of constitutional government; a government
whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution
Laissez-Faire Capitalism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅an economic system in which the means of production
and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government
interference
Equality of Opportunity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a widely shared American ideal that all people should
have the freedom whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Political Equality - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the right to participate in politics equally, based on the
principle of "one person, one vote"
,Popular Sovereignty - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a principle of democracy in which political authority rests
ultimately in the hands of the people
Majority Rule, Minority Rights - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the democratic principle that a government
follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority
Which of the following is an instrument of direct democracy?
a.
the U.S. Senate
b.
the U.S. House of Representatives
c.
the electoral college
d.
litigation
e.
initiatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅e.
initiatives
The U.S. House of Representatives was designed to
, be the least democratic chamber of Congress.
b.
check the power of tyrannical state governors.
c.
ensure majority rule.
d.
ensure minority rights.
e.
protect the rights of citizens who belong to third parties. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅c.
ensure majority rule.
Which of the following statements about property restrictions on the right to vote in the United States is
true?
a.
They are spelled out in the Constitution and have been in effect since 1789.
b.
AND ANSWERS
Module 1 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅American Political Culture
Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅institutions and procedures through which a territory and its
people are ruled
Politics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments
Political Efficacy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the ability to influence government and politics
Citizenship - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅informed and active membership in a political community
Autocracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a form of government in which a single individual--a king, queen, or
dictator--rules
Oligarchy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a form of government in which a small group--landowners, military
officers, or wealth merchants--controls most of the governing decisions.
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the
governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials
Constitutional Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which formal and effective limits
are placed on the powers of the government
Authoritarian Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which the government
recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions
Totalitarian Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule in which the government recognizes
no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might
challenge it
,*print out figure 1.2* - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅
Power - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies
Representative Democracy (republic) - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of government in which the
populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making
Direct Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws
and policies
Pluralism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for
influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation
Political Culture - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the
government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and
democracy.
Liberty - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅freedom from governmental control
Limited Government - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a principle of constitutional government; a government
whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution
Laissez-Faire Capitalism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅an economic system in which the means of production
and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government
interference
Equality of Opportunity - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a widely shared American ideal that all people should
have the freedom whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential
Political Equality - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the right to participate in politics equally, based on the
principle of "one person, one vote"
,Popular Sovereignty - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a principle of democracy in which political authority rests
ultimately in the hands of the people
Majority Rule, Minority Rights - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the democratic principle that a government
follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority
Which of the following is an instrument of direct democracy?
a.
the U.S. Senate
b.
the U.S. House of Representatives
c.
the electoral college
d.
litigation
e.
initiatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅e.
initiatives
The U.S. House of Representatives was designed to
, be the least democratic chamber of Congress.
b.
check the power of tyrannical state governors.
c.
ensure majority rule.
d.
ensure minority rights.
e.
protect the rights of citizens who belong to third parties. - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅c.
ensure majority rule.
Which of the following statements about property restrictions on the right to vote in the United States is
true?
a.
They are spelled out in the Constitution and have been in effect since 1789.
b.
