We The People Test Bank (15th Edition) – Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir &
Tolbert
Chapter 1. Americans and Their Political Values
1. Government is best defined as the
a. institutions and procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled.
b. set of political principles and values that guide political life.
c. means by which wealth is redistributed.
d. invisible hand that turns private interests into public goods.
2. Members of Congress engaging in discussions and conflicts over the best
policies to address an economic recession is an example of
a. direct democracy.
b. oligarchy.
c. politics.
d. equality of results.
3. Which of the following statements about government is true?
a. Government is able to provide public goods, like defense or regulation of air
quality, that citizens need but are likely unable to provide for themselves.
b. Government in the United States was created to be limited and therefore
has very little influence over the daily lives of Americans today.
c. Governments have always sought and received the support of the people
whom they serve.
d. Most of the global population lives in a democratic form of government.
,4. Suppose in a closely divided Senate, there are two senators whose support for
policies is pivotal for those policies to pass. These senators have
a. political equality.
b. political power.
c. executive privileges.
d. equality of opportunity.
5. What is the principal difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?
a. the number of people in charge
b. the level of wealth of the rulers
c. international diplomatic recognition
d. the strength of the military
6. A government that is not constrained by legal limits and also seeks to eliminate
any challenges to its authority is known as a(n) ________ government.
a. authoritarian
b. totalitarian
c. democratic
d. republican
7. Which term describes a form of government in which a small group, typically
landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants, controls most of the
governing decisions?
a. democratic
b. oligarchic
c. autocratic
, d. totalitarian
8. An autocracy exists when
a. the government is controlled by a single individual.
b. the government is controlled by a small but powerful group of people.
c. the constitution of a government is followed strictly.
d. citizens play a significant part in government by electing key public officials.
9. The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not by
political or legal institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ________ regime.
a. totalitarian
b. authoritarian
c. democratic
d. monarchic
10.A government that is formally limited by laws and rules is called
a. democratic.
b. constitutional.
c. oligarchic.
d. totalitarian.
11.Which of the following would be an example of a totalitarian government but not
an authoritarian one?
a. A government abolishes elections and instead the ruling party declares that
it will remain in power until it has completed all its objectives and it believes
the country is ready to return to democracy.
, b. A large labor union allies itself with the monarch to gain more benefits from
the state.
c. A ruler places himself as a godlike figure at the center of the state’s only
permitted religion.
d. While a government does technically permit elections, only its approved
candidates can run.
12.Which of the following describes a system of rule that permits citizens to play a
significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key
public officials?
a. dictatorship
b. autocracy
c. democracy
d. oligarchy
13.Which of the following describes a system of government in which the populace
selects representatives who play a significant role in governmental decision
making?
a. pluralism
b. constitutional government
c. direct democracy
d. representative democracy
14.Having some share or say in the composition of a government’s leadership, how
it is organized, or what its policies are going to be is called
a. government.
b. political power.
c. autocracy.
Tolbert
Chapter 1. Americans and Their Political Values
1. Government is best defined as the
a. institutions and procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled.
b. set of political principles and values that guide political life.
c. means by which wealth is redistributed.
d. invisible hand that turns private interests into public goods.
2. Members of Congress engaging in discussions and conflicts over the best
policies to address an economic recession is an example of
a. direct democracy.
b. oligarchy.
c. politics.
d. equality of results.
3. Which of the following statements about government is true?
a. Government is able to provide public goods, like defense or regulation of air
quality, that citizens need but are likely unable to provide for themselves.
b. Government in the United States was created to be limited and therefore
has very little influence over the daily lives of Americans today.
c. Governments have always sought and received the support of the people
whom they serve.
d. Most of the global population lives in a democratic form of government.
,4. Suppose in a closely divided Senate, there are two senators whose support for
policies is pivotal for those policies to pass. These senators have
a. political equality.
b. political power.
c. executive privileges.
d. equality of opportunity.
5. What is the principal difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy?
a. the number of people in charge
b. the level of wealth of the rulers
c. international diplomatic recognition
d. the strength of the military
6. A government that is not constrained by legal limits and also seeks to eliminate
any challenges to its authority is known as a(n) ________ government.
a. authoritarian
b. totalitarian
c. democratic
d. republican
7. Which term describes a form of government in which a small group, typically
landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants, controls most of the
governing decisions?
a. democratic
b. oligarchic
c. autocratic
, d. totalitarian
8. An autocracy exists when
a. the government is controlled by a single individual.
b. the government is controlled by a small but powerful group of people.
c. the constitution of a government is followed strictly.
d. citizens play a significant part in government by electing key public officials.
9. The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not by
political or legal institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ________ regime.
a. totalitarian
b. authoritarian
c. democratic
d. monarchic
10.A government that is formally limited by laws and rules is called
a. democratic.
b. constitutional.
c. oligarchic.
d. totalitarian.
11.Which of the following would be an example of a totalitarian government but not
an authoritarian one?
a. A government abolishes elections and instead the ruling party declares that
it will remain in power until it has completed all its objectives and it believes
the country is ready to return to democracy.
, b. A large labor union allies itself with the monarch to gain more benefits from
the state.
c. A ruler places himself as a godlike figure at the center of the state’s only
permitted religion.
d. While a government does technically permit elections, only its approved
candidates can run.
12.Which of the following describes a system of rule that permits citizens to play a
significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key
public officials?
a. dictatorship
b. autocracy
c. democracy
d. oligarchy
13.Which of the following describes a system of government in which the populace
selects representatives who play a significant role in governmental decision
making?
a. pluralism
b. constitutional government
c. direct democracy
d. representative democracy
14.Having some share or say in the composition of a government’s leadership, how
it is organized, or what its policies are going to be is called
a. government.
b. political power.
c. autocracy.
