poli sci test 3

Grading Summary

The computed results for this student's exam are below. Date Taken: 5/20/2010

Time Spent: 0: 50: 15 (2: 00 allowed)

Points Received: 46 / 53 (86.8%)

Question Type: # Questions: # Correct: Multiple Choice 53 46

Grade Details

of 3 Page: 1. Question : A filibuster can be ended through Student Answer: cloture.

logrolling.

a majority vote.

gerrymandering.

Points Received: 1 of 1

Comments: 2. Question : Senators who support a bill that is being filibustered must find at least

__________ votes to invoke cloture. Student Answer: 50

51

60

67


Comments: 3. Question : Informal codes of behavior that help Congress function smoothly over

time are called Student Answer: norms.

filibusters.

unanimous consent agreements.

logrolling.


Comments: 4. Question : If the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days and the

Congress adjourns within that period, the bill Student Answer: becomes law.

will be sent back to Congress.

1

will be recalled by the next Congress for further action.

has been pocket vetoed.


Comments: 5. Question : Observers have noticed a recent trend within Congress for members of

each party to Student Answer: serve longer apprenticeships before speaking on the floor.

vote with their own party more often.

defer more to seniority.

cooperate with the other party more often.


Comments: 6. Question : On issues of high visibility and great concern to constituents, members

of Congress are most likely to behave as Student Answer: delegates.

trustees.

advertisers.

tribunes.


Comments: 7. Question : If you wanted to make Congress more majoritarian and less pluralist in

its operation, you might Student Answer: increase the size of the individual members' personal staffs.

make the committee system more responsive to the majority party leadership. make the majority party leadership more responsive to committee chairpersons. weaken the party caucuses.


Comments: 8. Question : Permanent committees that specialize in a particular area of legislation

are called ________ committees. Student Answer: conference

select

joint

standing


Comments:

9. Question : Differences in the House and Senate versions of a minor bills are most frequently ironed out

Student Answer: informally by committee or subcommittee leaders from both houses. by a select committee.

by a conference committee.

by the Speaker of the House.


Comments: 10. Question : The Great Compromise provided for Student Answer: equal representation for all states in the Senate and

population-based representation in the House. equal representation for all states in both houses. equal representation for all states in the House and population-based representation in the Senate. population-based representation in both houses.


Comments: 11. Question : Every two years, ________ of the Senate must stand for reelection. Student Answer: one-fourth

one-third

one-half

all


Comments: 12. Question : The number of seats granted to each state in the House of

Representatives Student Answer: is reapportioned every two years at the time of each congressional

election. was set by the U.S. Constitution.

is reapportioned only when a new state is admitted to the Union.

is reapportioned every 10 years after the national census.


Comments: 13. Question : If you went to a typical markup session, you would see Student Answer: the House and Senate leaders negotiating with a representative

from the White House. members of a committee or subcommittee debating and amending legislation. the hostile interrogation of a witness at a committee hearing.

the first efforts of the Congressional Budget Office to pull together a budget.


Comments: 14. Question : Congressional oversight of the executive branch since the 1970s Student Answer: has declined substantially as the congressional staff has decreased.

has declined somewhat, despite the growth of congressional staff. has increased because Congress gave itself additional staff and analytical capability. has increased because of increased job security for members of Congress as the incumbency effect has grown.


Comments: 15. Question : The Senate (rather than the House) has the sole power to approve or

reject all of the following except Student Answer: presidential appointments to federal judgeships.

presidential declarations of war.

treaties with foreign nations.

presidential nominees for ambassador.


Comments: 16. Question : The question of what powers are appropriate to Congress Student Answer: was answered clearly and finally by the lengthy enumeration of

powers in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. was a matter of controversy during the early years of the U.S. Constitution but no longer generates much controversy. continues to generate substantial controversy, despite the lengthy enumeration of powers in the U.S. Constitution. concerns only insignificant issues today.


Comments: 17. Question : The American public generally holds Student Answer: Congress as an institution in higher regard than it holds individual

members of Congress. individual members of Congress in higher regard than it holds Congress as an institution. Congress in higher regard than it holds the president.

neither Congress nor its members in high regard.


Comments:

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Grade Details

Page 2 of 3 Page: 1. Question : The heads of departments in the executive branch form the Student Answer: council.

Executive Office of the President.

cabinet.

National Security Council.


Comments: 2. Question : Which of the following is not a cause of the weakness of the cabinet as

an advisory body? Student Answer: Each cabinet member is a specialist in a particular area.

The cabinet is a fairly new development in presidential politics and has not yet found a role. The size of the cabinet makes discussion unwieldy. Cabinet members are often chosen for ethnic, racial, gender, or geographic balance.


Comments: 3. Question : International conflict, such as the war in Iraq during George W. Bush's

administration, can affect Student Answer: a president's formal powers.

a president's position as commander-in-chief.

a president's choice of vice president.

a president's approval rating.


Comments: 4. Question : What was true of the executive branch under the Articles of

Confederation?

2

Student Answer: The presidency rotated among the 13 state governors on an annual basis. There was a plural executive with a council of three administrators. There was no single head of state.

There was a strong president.


Comments: 5. Question : Which article of the U.S. Constitution sets forth the responsibilities of

the president? Student Answer: Article I

Article II

Article III

Article VIII


Comments: 6. Question : Presidents' concern with public opinion can be defended as a means of

furthering Student Answer: pluralist democracy.

majoritarian democracy.

congressional goals.

elitist theory.


Comments: 7. Question : The president does not share one of the following powers with

Congress. Which power can the president exercise without consulting Congress?

Student Answer: Granting pardons and reprieves

Appointing Supreme Court justices

Making treaties

Waging war


Comments: 8. Question : Over time, presidential power has Student Answer: fluctuated without showing a consistent pattern.

declined consistently.

remained constant.

generally shown a continuing tendency to expand.


Comments: 9. Question : explanation for the divided government that has characterized most of

the years since World War II? Student Answer: Candidates are no longer allowed to put party labels next to their

names on election ballots. Americans have distrusted the man they elect president so they chose a Congress of the opposite party to keep an eye on him. Presidents are elected on the basis of a national campaign and national issues; members of Congress are chosen on the basis of quite separate local issues. No significant policy difference exists between the parties so voters do not care which party controls the presidency and Congress.


Comments: 10. Question : Presidents present information to the Congress on the state of the Union

because Student Answer: presidents since George Washington have found it to be the best

way to lobby for their legislative agenda. an annual speech to the Congress is required by the Constitution.

they must justify their veto decisions.

the Constitution requires them to do so from time to time.


Comments: 11. Question : Reflecting his political values, Ronald Reagan's second inaugural

address emphasized Student Answer: justice.

equality.

freedom.

social service programs.


Comments: 12. Question : When a president issues an executive order, he is exercising a(n) Student Answer: inherent power.

formal power.

enumerated power.

delegated power.


Comments:

13. Question : When Congress willingly gives the president responsibility to administer programs, which of the following is occurring?

Student Answer: Use of inherent power

Delegation of powers

Congressional oversight

Caving in to presidential demands


Comments: 14. Question : President Nixon's imposition of wage and price controls was an

example of Student Answer: an inherent power.

the constitutional provision that the president “shall regulate the economy.” a congressional delegation of power.

the commander-in-chief powers.


Comments: 15. Question : Presidents act as “fundraiser in chief” for Student Answer: the White House.

congressional operations.

their political party.

All of the above.


Comments: 16. Question : Which of the following is considered a model of effective crisis

management? Student Answer: Ronald Reagan and the Grenada invasion

Ronald Reagan and the TWA hijacking

John Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis

Jimmy Carter and the Iranian hostage crisis


Comments: 17. Question : Presidents like Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush have preferred

a __________ advisory system in the White House. Student Answer: collegial

competitive management

hierarchical

horizontal


Comments: 18. Question : In contrast to the traditional role vice presidents played throughout most

of the twentieth century, Dick Cheney has been Student Answer: unusually engaged.

rarely consulted.

in charge of the executive branch.

largely ignored by the president.


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 3 of 3 Page: 1. Question : There are __________ U.S. district courts. Student Answer: 3

13

94

679


Comments: 2. Question : The primary function of the U.S. courts of appeals is to Student Answer: consider the rulings and procedures followed in the trial

courts. clarify the issues in cases that will be sent up to the Supreme Court. conduct trials in federal cases of great importance.

hear appeals from the 50 state supreme courts.

3


Comments: 3. Question : Stare decisis is the Student Answer: process of building consensus among appellate court judges.

Supreme Court's general policy of refusing to reconsider issues previously decided. slow, technical process of moving an appeal up through the federal court system. judicial principle of tending to honor precedents in similar cases.


Comments: 4. Question : Supreme Court cases must Student Answer: raise a federal question.

involve a constitutional issue.

pass through district courts.

begin in state courts.


Comments: 5. Question : The ________ represents the federal government before the Supreme

Court. Student Answer: attorney general

chief justice

secretary of justice

solicitor general


Comments: 6. Question : The solicitor general is appointed by the Student Answer: chief justice.

attorney general.

president.

Congress.


Comments: 7. Question : Judges who interpret existing laws and precedents loosely and interject

their own values in court decisions are demonstrating judicial Student Answer: restraint.

activism.

review.

temperament.


Comments: 8. Question : Judges who practice judicial restraint tend to Student Answer: adapt the law to the perceived wishes of the popular majority.

adhere closely to statutes and decisions in previous cases.

employ their own ideology or values when interpreting the law.

lobby their fellow members of the Court.


Comments: 9. Question : The Court's power of judicial review is Student Answer: specifically granted in the U.S. Constitution.

granted by executive order of the president. inferred by the Court from the text and structure of the U.S. Constitution. granted by statute passed by Congress.


Comments: 10. Question : When state law conflicts with federal law, Student Answer: federal law takes precedence.

state law takes precedence.

the Supreme Court decides which shall take precedence.

Congress decides which shall take precedence.


Comments: 11. Question : If the chief justice is in the majority, the majority opinion is written by Student Answer: the attorney general.

all of the justices in the majority.

the solicitor general. the chief justice or by another associate in the majority who has been selected by the chief justice.


Comments: 12. Question : The custom of senatorial courtesy Student Answer: encourages polite behavior on the floor of the Senate.

gives senators a voice in who is appointed to serve as a judge in

their state court system. gives a senator of the president's party a role in the selection of district court judges that will serve in the senator's state. requires the House of Representatives to vote for all Senate-approved judicial nominees.


Comments: 13. Question : President ________ was not known for using ethnic and gender

diversity as a factor in selecting judges. Student Answer: Carter

Reagan

Bush

Clinton


Comments: 14. Question : There are literally millions of cases heard in court across the United

States each year. Where is the largest set of them heard? Student Answer: State courts of last resort

U.S. district courts

State trial courts

U.S. Supreme Court


Comments: 15. Question : The U.S. Supreme Court receives approximately ________ requests for

review each year. Student Answer: 180

580

2,800

7,800


Comments: 16. Question : The idea that the courts make up a policymaking branch of government

and that the individual values and interests of the judges should reflect the different values and interests within the population at large is most consistent with

Student Answer: majoritarian democracy.

direct democracy.

the elite model of the American system.

pluralist democracy.


Comments: 17. Question : By definition, class-action suits involve Student Answer: Marxist analysis.

student activists.

people from the same socioeconomic status.

similarly situated individuals.


Comments: 18. Question : When judges adjudicate cases and present explanations justifying their

rulings, they publish them in the form of Student Answer: opinions.

precedents.

writs.

briefs.


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 1 of 3 Page: 1. Question : The most important job of the party leaders in the U.S. Congress is Student Answer: scheduling legislation.

guiding bargaining and negotiation over the content of legislation. controlling the content of all legislation.

appointing committee and subcommittee chairpersons.


1

Comments: 2. Question : Floor debate in the House is generally governed by Student Answer: standing committees.

the Rules Committee.

unanimous consent.

no one.


Comments: 3. Question : The classic Senate delay tactic of talking a bill to death is called Student Answer: cloture.

logrolling.

filibustering.

gerrymandering.


Comments: 4. Question : When making contributions to candidates for Congress, political action

committees (PACs) show a strong preference for Student Answer: Democrats.

Republicans.

candidates who are challenging incumbents.

incumbents.


Comments: 5. Question : In its broader meaning, an agenda is a Student Answer: calendar of bills to be voted on.

imprecise and unwritten set of issues an institution is considering. legislative process that converts a bill into a law.

the order in which amendments to a bill will be considered.


Comments: 6. Question : In the U.S. House of Representatives, the length of debate and types of

amendments that can be proposed on the floor are specified by Student Answer: the House Ways and Means Committee.

unanimous consent agreements.


cloture.


Comments: 7. Question : Democracies such as Britain and Japan have an alternative form of

government known as a(n) Student Answer: executive-legislative system.

congressional system.

parliamentary system.

junta.


Comments: 8. Question : Differences in the House and Senate versions of important or

controversial bills are most frequently ironed out Student Answer: informally by committee or subcommittee leaders from both

houses. by a select committee.




Comments: 9. Question : The minority counterpart to a committee chairperson is called a(n) Student Answer: ranking minority member.

vice chairperson.

minority whip.

assistant chairperson.


Comments: 10. Question : ________ of the seats in the House of Representatives are up for

reelection every two years. Student Answer: All

One-third

One-half

Two-thirds


Comments: 11. Question : The power to declare war resides with the Student Answer: Senate only.

president only.

House of Representatives alone.

House and Senate together.


Comments: 12. Question : If you went to a typical markup session, you would see Student Answer: the House and Senate leaders negotiating with a representative

from the White House. members of a committee or subcommittee debating and amending legislation. the hostile interrogation of a witness at a committee hearing. the first efforts of the Congressional Budget Office to pull together a budget.


Comments: 13. Question : A congressional committee that holds a hearing to determine whether

the Department of Justice is administering a counterterrorism program as Congress intended is engaging in

Student Answer: logrolling.

legitimating behavior.

legislative oversight.

agenda setting.


Comments: 14. Question : Congressional oversight of the executive branch since the 1970s Student Answer: has declined substantially as the congressional staff has decreased.

has declined somewhat, despite the growth of congressional staff. has increased because Congress gave itself additional staff and analytical capability. has increased because of increased job security for members of Congress as the incumbency effect has grown.


Comments: 15. Question : The leader of the majority party in the House is the Student Answer: president pro tempore.

Vice President of the United States.

Speaker.

Parliamentarian.


Comments:

16. Question : The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives is the Student Answer: president pro tempore.


Speaker.

Parliamentarian.


Comments: 17. Question : The Speaker's counterpart in the opposing party is the Student Answer: president pro tem.


majority leader.

minority leader.


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 2 of 3 Page: 1. Question : The “character issue” Student Answer: weakened Bill Clinton's image in the eyes of the public.

was never mentioned until after the 1992 election.

made foreign governments distrust Clinton in negotiations. has never been raised about presidential candidates other than Bill Clinton.


Comments: 2. Question : A president who comes to Washington with a large set of

predetermined goals and pursues them all unbendingly will probably

2

Student Answer: be considered strong and successful.

be respected by Congress for his political skills.

overpower all political resistance. be unsuccessful at winning the support of Congress and the bureaucracy.


Comments: 3. Question : When designing the presidency, delegates to the Constitutional

Convention were torn between Student Answer: fear of the people and commitment to democracy.

a desire for strong leadership for the new government and fear of a powerful presidency. concern for freedom and concern for equality.

a hereditary or an elected executive.


Comments: 4. Question : What was true of the executive branch under the Articles of

Confederation? Student Answer: The presidency rotated among the 13 state governors on an annual

basis. There was a plural executive with a council of three administrators. There was no single head of state.

There was a strong president.


Comments: 5. Question : Forcing compliance from fellow Washingtonians by going over their

heads to appeal to their constituents is called Student Answer: persuasion.

an inherent power.

legislation by coercion.

going public.


Comments: 6. Question : Presidents' concern with public opinion can be defended as a means of

furthering Student Answer: pluralist democracy.

majoritarian democracy.

congressional goals.

elitist theory.


Comments: 7. Question : The phrases “the executive power shall be vested in a president” and

“he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed” are the constitutional foundations for the president's

Student Answer: pardon power.

power as commander-in-chief.

administrative power.

enumerated powers.


Comments: 8. Question : The treaty-making process consists of Student Answer: the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to the

Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required. Congress negotiating the details and submitting the treaty to the president for his signature or veto. the House negotiating the treaty, which is then submitted to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, where a unanimous vote is required to pass or defeat it. the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to both houses, where a simple majority is needed for passage.


Comments: 9. Question : What is the most plausible explanation for the divided government that

has characterized most of the years since World War II? Student Answer: Candidates are no longer allowed to put party labels next to their









Comments: 11. Question : Reflecting his political values, Ronald Reagan's second inaugural

address emphasized Student Answer: justice.

equality.

freedom.



Comments: 12. Question : The president's role in legislative leadership Student Answer: is virtually nonexistent.

was significant only in the early years of the United States.

has always been significant.

is largely a twentieth-century phenomenon.


Comments: 13. Question : The main day-to-day communication link between the White House and

Congress consists of Student Answer: the Chief of Staff.

party leaders.

the vice president and his staff.

the legislative liaison staff.


Comments: 14. Question : Many of the steps taken by President Franklin Roosevelt to address the

economic problems of the Great Depression were Student Answer: justified on the basis of his need to “take care that the laws be

faithfully executed.” actions required of the president by the U.S. Constitution.

taken under congressional delegation of power.

in direct violation of congressional intent.


Comments: 15. Question : The War Powers Resolution of 1973 is an example of

Student Answer: enumerated powers.

the power of a pocket veto.

Congress seeking to reassert eroded authority.

presidential delegation of authority to his staff.


Comments: 16. Question : The White House is willing to work with interest groups because they

are Student Answer: able to mobilize their constituents to contact members of

Congress. a resource Congress tends to ignore. able to donate financial resources to support the First Lady's travel. numerous.


Comments: 17. Question : The president's role as party leader is Student Answer: similar to that of the British prime minister.

a twentieth-century phenomenon.

an informal duty or role.

specified in Article II of the U.S. Constitution.








Comments:

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Grade Details

Page 3 of 3 Page: 1. Question : With few exceptions, litigation in the federal court system begins in the Student Answer: Supreme Court.

county courts.

district courts.

courts of appeals.


Comments: 2. Question : Imagine that you see a picture of a courtroom showing a judge,

attorneys, and a witness. This can only be a picture of Student Answer: the Supreme Court.

a court of appeals.

a district court.

either a district court or a circuit court of appeals.


Comments: 3. Question : Stare decisis is the Student Answer: process of building consensus among appellate court judges.

Supreme Court's general policy of refusing to reconsider issues previously decided. slow, technical process of moving an appeal up through the federal court system. judicial principle of tending to honor precedents in similar cases.


Comments: 4. Question : The Supreme Court first struck down a law as unconstitutional in Student Answer: Brown v. Board.

Marbury v. Madison.

McCullough v. Maryland.

Griswald v. Connecticut.


Comments: 5. Question : In general, who decides which cases the Supreme Court will hear in a

particular term?

3

Student Answer: The solicitor general

The chief justice

The Supreme Court

The American Bar Association


Comments: 6. Question : The Supreme Court's power to declare laws invalid if they violate the

Constitution is called Student Answer: the judicial veto.

cloture.

judicial review.

cancellation.


Comments: 7. Question : The ________ represents the federal government before the Supreme

Court. Student Answer: attorney general

chief justice

secretary of justice

solicitor general


Comments: 8. Question : Since the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Supreme Court has used

judicial review to invalidate ________ provisions of national law. Student Answer: only 12

approximately 150

more than 500

5more than 2,000


Comments: 9. Question : The Court's power of judicial review is Student Answer: specifically granted in the U.S. Constitution.

granted by executive order of the president. inferred by the Court from the text and structure of the U.S. Constitution. granted by statute passed by Congress.


Comments: 10. Question : The final authority on the meaning of the U.S. Constitution is Student Answer: the published debates of the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

the Supreme Court.

Congress.

the president.


Comments: 11. Question : The logical basis of judicial review is that Student Answer: people cannot be trusted.

government is responsible to a higher authority, as embodied in the U.S. Constitution. judges have superior wisdom and knowledge about public policy. only the courts can effectively enforce the law on controversial issues.


Comments: 12. Question : According to the Constitution, federal judges stay in office Student Answer: until they reach the age of 70.

until they die.

for up to two 10-year terms.

during good behavior.



gives senators a voice in who is appointed to serve as a judge in their state court system. gives a senator of the president's party a role in the selection of district court judges that will serve in the senator's state. requires the House of Representatives to vote for all Senate-approved judicial nominees.


Comments: 14. Question : President ________ was not known for using ethnic and gender

diversity as a factor in selecting judges. Student Answer: Carter

Reagan

Bush

Clinton


Comments: 15. Question : Most traditional criminal offenses (murder, theft, arson) are defined and

tried at the Student Answer: state level.

federal level.

appellate level.

federal and state levels equally.


Comments: 16. Question : The judicial interpretation of legislative acts is called Student Answer: statutory construction.

the common law.

a writ of mandamus.

all of the above.


Comments: 17. Question : Most criminal cases in the United States Student Answer: are heard in federal court.

are resolved before trial by a plea bargain.

are resolved by a trial before a jury.

end in a bench trial.


Comments: 18. Question : When judges adjudicate cases and present explanations justifying their

rulings, they publish them in the form of Student Answer: opinions.

precedents.

writs.

briefs.


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 1 of 3 Page: 1. Question : Most of the money contributed to candidates for Congress goes to Student Answer: incumbents.

Democratic challengers.

Republican challengers.

candidates in open races.


Comments: 2. Question : Floor debate in the House is generally governed by Student Answer: standing committees.


unanimous consent.

no one.


Comments: 3. Question : The classic Senate delay tactic of talking a bill to death is called Student Answer: cloture.

logrolling.

filibustering.

gerrymandering.


Comments: 4. Question : In the 1980s, Congress and the Supreme Court encouraged states to Student Answer: maintain a segregated electoral process.

consider race in an affirmative way in drawing district lines.

be “color-blind” in the drawing of districts.

1

decrease the number of electoral districts.


Comments: 5. Question : Taken together, the essence of the Supreme Court's position in Shaw v.

Reno and later decisions is that Student Answer: states must act affirmatively through the redistricting process to

maximize black congressional representation. illegal aliens must be granted public services that are offered to citizens. states cannot use race as the dominant and controlling factor in drawing congressional district lines. all districts must be approximately equal in population.


Comments: 6. Question : If the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days while

Congress is in session, the bill Student Answer: becomes law.

will be sent back to Congress.

will be recalled by Congress for further action.

has been pocket vetoed.


Comments: 7. Question : Democracies such as Britain and Japan have an alternative form of

government known as a(n) Student Answer: executive-legislative system.

congressional system.

parliamentary system.

junta.


Comments: 8. Question : Bargaining and compromise in the Congress Student Answer: first developed during World War II.

date back to efforts to prevent the Civil War in 1860.

are impossible because of the presence of political parties.

are likely given the forces of pluralism.


Comments: 9. Question : The minority counterpart to a committee chairperson is called a(n)

Student Answer: ranking minority member.

vice chairperson.

minority whip.

assistant chairperson.


Comments: 10. Question : Every two years, ________ of the Senate must stand for reelection. Student Answer: one-fourth

one-third

one-half

all


Comments: 11. Question : The number of seats granted to each state in the House of

Representatives Student Answer: is reapportioned every two years at the time of each congressional

election. was set by the U.S. Constitution.




Comments: 12. Question : Prior to 1913, Senators were selected by __________; today they are

selected by __________. Student Answer: state legislatures; the people

the House of Representatives; the people

the electoral college; the people

the electoral college; state legislatures


Comments: 13. Question : As a result of the 2000 U.S. census, several states in the Northeast and

Midwest lost seats in the House of Representatives, and California gained seats. This change happened through the process known as

Student Answer: cloture.

reapportionment.

redistricting.

gerrymandering.


Comments: 14. Question : Congress created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and

strengthened the General Accounting Office (GAO) to Student Answer: assist executive branch agencies in gathering information.

streamline the budgetary process within Congress.

help Congress perform closer oversight of the bureaucracy. gain information on the economic and scientific strength of rival nations.


Comments: 15. Question : The Speaker's counterpart in the opposing party is the Student Answer: president pro tem.


majority leader.

minority leader.


Comments: 16. Question : Which of the following is a direct result of the incumbency effect? Student Answer: An extremely high likelihood that House members seeking

reelection will win their election A general reduction in name recognition of all candidates

An increase in rate of defeat of House members seeking reelection A greater likelihood for senators than for House members to be reelected


Comments: 17. Question : In the congressional setting, franking refers to Student Answer: members' being honest with their constituents.

challengers' demanding honesty of incumbents.

members' helping constituents with problems.

members' right to send mail free of charge.


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 2 of 3 Page: 1. Question : Over the last four decades, the president's cabinet has generally Student Answer: guided the White House staff by outlining principles they should

implement on the president's behalf. assumed much greater power. been overshadowed by other decision-making groups on which the president depends. made major domestic policy decisions but not foreign or defense policy decisions.


Comments: 2. Question : Which of the following statements most accurately characterizes the

cabinet's relationship with the president? Student Answer: Modern presidents rely much more on the cabinet than on the

White House staff in making policy. Cabinet meetings seem doomed to be little more than symbolic exercises. The small size of the cabinet makes it quite useful for the give-and-take of political decision making. Cabinet members are always personally close to the president and easy for him to work with.


Comments: 3. Question : The “character issue” Student Answer: weakened Bill Clinton's image in the eyes of the public.

was never mentioned until after the 1992 election.

made foreign governments distrust Clinton in negotiations. has never been raised about presidential candidates other than Bill Clinton.


Comments: 4. Question : According to the constitution, how old must a president be to serve? Student Answer: At least 30 years

2

At least 35 years

At least 40 years

At least 50 years


Comments: 5. Question : Which article of the U.S. Constitution sets forth the responsibilities of

the president? Student Answer: Article I

Article II

Article III

Article VIII


Comments: 6. Question : The impact of the events of September 11, 2001, on President Bush's

popularity was Student Answer: negligible.

to cause his public approval rating to drop dramatically.

to push his public approval rating up to over 90 percent.

to nudge his public approval rating up slightly.


Comments: 7. Question : How does the presidency today compare with the Framers' conception

of it? Student Answer: The presidency is far stronger than the Framers' conception.

The presidency is about as strong as the Framers' conception. There is no basis for comparison because the Framers had no vision of presidential power. The presidency is weaker than the Framers' conception.


Comments: 8. Question : George W. Bush's use of the veto power is different from his

predecessors because Student Answer: he has never threatened to veto a piece of legislation.

he has vetoed legislation more frequently. he has vetoed more bills supported by his own party than other presidents have. he has vetoed much less frequently than other recent past presidents.


Comments: 9. Question : What is the most plausible explanation for the divided government that

has characterized most of the years since World War II? Student Answer: Candidates are no longer allowed to put party labels next to their









Comments: 11. Question : Lyndon Johnson used the term justice rhetorically to refer to Student Answer: fair court procedures.

economic and social equality.

halting communism in Southeast Asia.

government deregulation.


Comments: 12. Question : The contemporary role of the president in the legislative process is best

described as one in which the president Student Answer: distances himself from the process because of the separation of

powers. proposes and the Congress disposes. may serve as chief lobbyist, active in all stages of the legislative process. is active only if his party controls both houses of Congress.


Comments: 13. Question : When Congress willingly gives the president responsibility to

administer programs, which of the following is occurring? Student Answer: Use of inherent power

Delegation of powers

Congressional oversight

Caving in to presidential demands


Comments: 14. Question : Many of the steps taken by President Franklin Roosevelt to address the

economic problems of the Great Depression were Student Answer: justified on the basis of his need to “take care that the laws be

faithfully executed.” actions required of the president by the U.S. Constitution.




Comments: 15. Question : Presidents act as “fundraiser in chief” for Student Answer: the White House.

congressional operations.

their political party.

All of the above.


Comments: 16. Question : Compared to his father, President George W. Bush has been Student Answer: more intent on building a coalition-based foreign policy.

more willing to act unilaterally in foreign policy. more successful at assembling a large coalition of allies to deal with Iraq. more dedicated to strengthening the control of the United Nations over international affairs.








Comments: 18. Question : Presidents like Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush have preferred

a __________ advisory system in the White House. Student Answer: collegial

competitive management

hierarchical

horizontal


Comments:


Grading Summary





Grade Details

Page 3 of 3 Page: 1. Question : There are __________ U.S. district courts. Student Answer: 3

13

94

679


Comments: 2. Question : Appellate court proceedings may include Student Answer: oral argument.

witnesses.

cross-examination.

3

jurors.


Comments: 3. Question : The judicial branch became involved in the 2000 presidential election

because Student Answer: very close electoral outcomes always require the certification of

the state supreme court. it is the Supreme Court that ultimately elects the president when results are very close. various provisions of Florida law conflicted with each other, and judges had to negotiate the legal meaning of these conflicts. all recounts must be supervised by personnel appointed by the judiciary in each state.


Comments: 4. Question : The Supreme Court first struck down a law as unconstitutional in Student Answer: Brown v. Board.

Marbury v. Madison.

McCullough v. Maryland.

Griswald v. Connecticut.


Comments: 5. Question : In general, who decides which cases the Supreme Court will hear in a

particular term? Student Answer: The solicitor general

The chief justice

The Supreme Court



Comments: 6. Question : The Supreme Court's power to declare laws invalid if they violate the

Constitution is called Student Answer: the judicial veto.

cloture.

judicial review.

cancellation.


Comments:

7. Question : An amicus curiae brief is submitted to the Court by Student Answer: the plaintiff.

the defendant.

the prosecutor.

someone who is not a party to the case.


Comments: 8. Question : Since the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Supreme Court has used

judicial review to invalidate ________ provisions of national law. Student Answer: only 12

approximately 150

more than 500

5more than 2,000


Comments: 9. Question : If a Supreme Court justice votes with the majority of the Court but

would prefer to base the judgment upon different reasoning, he or she might write a

Student Answer: writ of dictatum.

dissenting opinion.

concurring opinion.

friend-of-the-Court brief.


Comments: 10. Question : If the chief justice is in the majority, the majority opinion is written by Student Answer: the attorney general.


the solicitor general. the chief justice or by another associate in the majority who has been selected by the chief justice.


Comments: 11. Question : If the chief justice is not in the majority when a case is decided, the

responsibility for opinion assignment rests with the Student Answer: most junior justice on the Court.

most senior associate justice in the majority.

chief justice, as in other cases.

most senior associate justice in the minority.


Comments: 12. Question : According to the Constitution, federal judges stay in office Student Answer: until they reach the age of 70.

until they die.

for up to two 10-year terms.

during good behavior.



gives senators a voice in who is appointed to serve as a judge in their state court system. gives a senator of the president's party a role in the selection of district court judges that will serve in the senator's state. requires the House of Representatives to vote for all Senate-approved judicial nominees.


Comments: 14. Question : Disputes arising out of accidents, contractual obligations, and divorce

are Student Answer: federal cases.

appellate cases.

criminal cases.

civil cases.


Comments: 15. Question : The U.S. Supreme Court receives approximately ________ requests for

review each year. Student Answer: 180

580

2,800

7,800


Comments: 16. Question : Most criminal cases in the United States Student Answer: are heard in federal court.

are resolved before trial by a plea bargain.




Comments: 17. Question : The idea that the courts make up a policymaking branch of government

and that the individual values and interests of the judges should reflect the different values and interests within the population at large is most consistent with


direct democracy.

the elite model of the American system.



Comments: 18. Question : A state court can avoid review of a case by the U.S. Supreme Court by Student Answer: stating that the decision is final and that the citizens of the state do

not want it reviewed. basing its decision solely on federal law and specifying relevant precedents and sections of the U.S. Constitution. appealing to four justices and obtaining an amicus curiae judgment. basing its decision solely on state law or plainly stating that its decision rests on both state and federal law.


Comments:


Time Remaining: 1. In the U.S. Senate, the starting time, length, and conditions of debate on legislation are set by(Points :1) unanimous consent agreements. the majority party leadership. the Senate Rules Committee. the vice president, as presiding officer.

2. Floor debate in Congress has traditionally been characterized by(Points :1) the norm of courtesy, whereby even opposing legislators treat each other with deference. oral attacks on the personality and morals of opposing legislators. loss of temper and physical sparring. presentations given by clerks or staff members acting in the name of the legislator.

3. Informal codes of behavior that help Congress function smoothly over time are called(Points :1) norms. filibusters. unanimous consent agreements. logrolling.

4. During a midterm election,(Points :1) only members of the House of Representatives stand for reelection. the president stands for reelection. the president's party usually gains seats in the Senate. the president's party generally loses seats in the House.

5. Taken together, the essence of the Supreme Court's position in Shaw v. Reno and later decisions is that(Points :1) states must act affirmatively through the redistricting process to maximize black congressional representation. illegal aliens must be granted public services that are offered to citizens. states cannot use race as the dominant and controlling factor in drawing congressional district lines.

all districts must be approximately equal in population.

6. In its broader meaning, an agenda is a(Points :1) calendar of bills to be voted on. imprecise and unwritten set of issues an institution is considering. legislative process that converts a bill into a law. the order in which amendments to a bill will be considered.

7. What effect does the committee system have on an individual member's influence over public policy?(Points :1) It increases the member's influence over the broad range of public policy. It makes individual members of Congress powerless cogs in a complex machine. It increases every member's influence over particular areas and the broad range of policy. It increases the member's influence over some specialized policy areas but limits his or her ability to get involved in the broad range of policy.

8. A ________ is a temporary committee established to deal with issues not included in the areas of expertise of standing committees.(Points :1) subcommittee joint committee conference committee select committee

9. All revenue bills must originate in(Points :1) the White House. the House of Representatives.

the Senate. the Office of Management and Budget.

10. The Great Compromise provided for(Points :1) equal representation for all states in the Senate and population-based representation in the House. equal representation for all states in both houses. equal representation for all states in the House and population-based representation in the Senate. population-based representation in both houses.

11. In the House of Representatives, the states with the most voting power are those that have(Points :1) the largest population. been in the Union the longest. the largest territory. the oldest representatives.

12. The power to declare war resides with the(Points :1) Senate only. president only. House of Representatives alone. House and Senate together.

13. You are introduced to a senator and are told that he is a committee chair. What is the one thing that you can say about him with absolute certainty?(Points :1) He is a confidant of the president. He is the senior member of his committee.

He is a member of the majority party in the Senate. He was elected by a large majority.

14. Congress created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and strengthened the General Accounting Office (GAO) to(Points :1) assist executive branch agencies in gathering information. streamline the budgetary process within Congress. help Congress perform closer oversight of the bureaucracy. gain information on the economic and scientific strength of rival nations.

15. The Speaker's counterpart in the opposing party is the(Points :1) president pro tem. Vice President of the United States. majority leader. minority leader.

16. The question of what powers are appropriate to Congress(Points :1) was answered clearly and finally by the lengthy enumeration of powers in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. was a matter of controversy during the early years of the U.S. Constitution but no longer generates much controversy. continues to generate substantial controversy, despite the lengthy enumeration of powers in the U.S. Constitution. concerns only insignificant issues today.

17. The American public generally holds(Points :1) Congress as an institution in higher regard than it holds individual members of Congress.

individual members of Congress in higher regard than it holds Congress as an institution. Congress in higher regard than it holds the president. neither Congress nor its members in high regard. 1. Over the last four decades, the president's cabinet has generally(Points :1) guided the White House staff by outlining principles they should implement on the president's behalf. assumed much greater power. been overshadowed by other decision-making groups on which the president depends. made major domestic policy decisions but not foreign or defense policy decisions.

2. According to Richard Neustadt, a president's influence depends primarily upon(Points :1) legislative successes. a lengthy career in government. his ability to delegate authority. his professional reputation and public prestige.

3. International conflict, such as the war in Iraq during George W. Bush's administration, can affect(Points :1) a president's formal powers. a president's position as commander-in-chief. a president's choice of vice president. a president's approval rating.

4. According to the constitution, how old must a president be to serve?(Points :1) At least 30 years

At least 35 years At least 40 years At least 50 years

5. Forcing compliance from fellow Washingtonians by going over their heads to appeal to their constituents is called(Points :1) persuasion. an inherent power. legislation by coercion. going public.

6. President Clinton's legislative strategy early in his first term was to(Points :1) try to shape public opinion and use it to sway Congress. govern based on the latest opinion polls. deal directly and secretly with Congress. passively wait for congressional action.

7. Research on the impact of divided government(Points :1) shows that divided governments are more productive than unified ones. proves that divided governments produce gridlock. shows that divided government has no meaningful impact. has produced mixed or inconclusive results.

8. Which of the following powers is not specifically granted to the president?(Points :1) Serving as administrative head of the nation Convening Congress

Drafting legislation Vetoing legislation

9. The treaty-making process consists of(Points :1) the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required. Congress negotiating the details and submitting the treaty to the president for his signature or veto. the House negotiating the treaty, which is then submitted to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, where a unanimous vote is required to pass or defeat it. the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to both houses, where a simple majority is needed for passage.

10. According to Stephen Skowronek, presidents with the most favorable environment for exerting strong presidential leadership are those(Points :1) who come to power right after critical elections. who come to power just before critical elections. who come to power when a party system has matured. who exhibit the power to persuade.

11. Lyndon Johnson's policies consisted of a(Points :1) reduction of social welfare programs in favor of defense spending. renewed emphasis on economic freedom. belief that the president should not get involved in the legislative process. wide range of federal programs designed to promote social equality.

12.

When President Lincoln issued several orders at the beginning of the Civil War that exceeded the then-accepted limits of presidential authority, he did so(Points :1) under his constitutional power as commander-in-chief. by claiming inherent powers to preserve the Union. under his constitutional power to tax and spend for the general welfare. under emergency powers granted by the U.S. Constitution.

13. When Congress willingly gives the president responsibility to administer programs, which of the following is occurring?(Points :1) Use of inherent power Delegation of powers Congressional oversight Caving in to presidential demands

14. President Nixon's imposition of wage and price controls was an example of(Points :1) an inherent power. the constitutional provision that the president “shall regulate the economy.” a congressional delegation of power. the commander-in-chief powers.

15. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 is an example of(Points :1) enumerated powers. the power of a pocket veto. Congress seeking to reassert eroded authority. presidential delegation of authority to his staff.

16. The White House is willing to work with interest groups because they are(Points :1) able to mobilize their constituents to contact members of Congress. a resource Congress tends to ignore. able to donate financial resources to support the First Lady's travel. numerous.

17. Presidents act as “fundraiser in chief” for(Points :1) the White House. congressional operations. their political party. All of the above.

18. The fundamental objectives presidents have in international relations include(Points :1) the direct protection of the United States and its citizens. fostering a peaceful international environment. protection of U.S. economic interests. All of the above. 1. Imagine that you see a picture of a courtroom showing a judge, attorneys, and a witness. This can only be a picture of(Points :1) the Supreme Court. a court of appeals. a district court. either a district court or a circuit court of appeals.

2.

The primary function of the U.S. courts of appeals is to(Points :1) consider the rulings and procedures followed in the trial courts. clarify the issues in cases that will be sent up to the Supreme Court. conduct trials in federal cases of great importance. hear appeals from the 50 state supreme courts.

3. The judicial branch became involved in the 2000 presidential election because(Points :1) very close electoral outcomes always require the certification of the state supreme court. it is the Supreme Court that ultimately elects the president when results are very close. various provisions of Florida law conflicted with each other, and judges had to negotiate the legal meaning of these conflicts. all recounts must be supervised by personnel appointed by the judiciary in each state.

4. In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court(Points :1) ruled that the Court had the power to order the president to perform an act required by congressionally passed statute. declared that it had the power to strike down laws that were unconstitutional. saw its decision ignored by the president. ruled that the Court could not enter a dispute between Congress and the president.

5. The Supreme Court's power to declare laws invalid if they violate the Constitution is called(Points :1) the judicial veto. cloture.

judicial review. cancellation.

6. The solicitor general is appointed by the(Points :1) chief justice. attorney general. president. Congress.

7. Judges who interpret existing laws and precedents loosely and interject their own values in court decisions are demonstrating judicial(Points :1) restraint. activism. review. temperament.

8. Since the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Supreme Court has used judicial review to invalidate ________ provisions of national law.(Points :1) only 12 approximately 150 more than 500 5more than 2,000

9. The Court's power of judicial review is(Points :1) specifically granted in the U.S. Constitution. granted by executive order of the president. inferred by the Court from the text and structure of the U.S.

Constitution. granted by statute passed by Congress.

10. The power of judicial review extends to(Points :1) national laws. state laws. presidential acts. all of the above.

11. Which of the following can be used to overturn a Supreme Court decision declaring a federal law unconstitutional?(Points :1) Congressional nullification Appealing the decision Presidential veto Amending the U.S. Constitution

12. The custom of senatorial courtesy(Points :1) encourages polite behavior on the floor of the Senate. gives senators a voice in who is appointed to serve as a judge in their state court system. gives a senator of the president's party a role in the selection of district court judges that will serve in the senator's state. requires the House of Representatives to vote for all Senate-approved judicial nominees.

13. Most traditional criminal offenses (murder, theft, arson) are defined and tried at the(Points :1) state level. federal level.

appellate level. federal and state levels equally.

14. The U.S. Supreme Court receives approximately ________ requests for review each year.(Points :1) 180 580 2,800 7,800

15. A court judgment resolving parties' claims and ultimately enforced by the government is called(Points :1) a statute. a precedent. stare decisis. adjudication.

16. Most criminal cases in the United States(Points :1) are heard in federal court. are resolved before trial by a plea bargain. are resolved by a trial before a jury. end in a bench trial.

17. By definition, class-action suits involve(Points :1) Marxist analysis. student activists. people from the same socioeconomic status.

similarly situated individuals.

18. A state court can avoid review of a case by the U.S. Supreme Court by(Points :1) stating that the decision is final and that the citizens of the state do not want it reviewed. basing its decision solely on federal law and specifying relevant precedents and sections of the U.S. Constitution. appealing to four justices and obtaining an amicus curiae judgment. basing its decision solely on state law or plainly stating that its decision rests on both state and federal law.

1. Question : After an elderly relative fails to receive her monthly social security benefit, you turn to a member of Congress for help. The member's office contacts the Social Security Administration and straightens out the situation. This is an example of a congressional office

Student Answer: invoking cloture.

gerrymandering.

doing casework.

showing unethical favoritism.


Comments:

2. Question : Floor debate in the House is generally governed by

Student Answer: standing committees.


unanimous consent.

no one.


Comments:

3. Question : In the modern filibuster,

Student Answer: a representative in the House can block a bill by talking continuously.

a senator can block a bill by talking continuously.

cloture is not allowed.

a senator can block a bill without talking continuously.


Comments:

4. Question : An underlying assumption of the concept of descriptive representation seems to be that

Student Answer: minorities can be effectively represented only by people of their own kind.

any citizen can be represented by any congressional representative.

elected representatives should follow their own conscience.

representatives should carefully heed public opinion polls.


Comments:

5. Question : Taken together, the essence of the Supreme Court's position in Shaw v. Reno and later decisions is that

Student Answer: states must act affirmatively through the redistricting process to maximize black congressional representation.

illegal aliens must be granted public services that are offered to citizens.

states cannot use race as the dominant and controlling factor in drawing congressional

district lines.

all districts must be approximately equal in population.


Comments:

6. Question : On issues of high visibility and great concern to constituents, members of Congress are most likely to behave as

Student Answer: delegates.

trustees.

advertisers.

tribunes.


Comments:

7. Question : What effect does the committee system have on an individual member's influence over public policy?

Student Answer: It increases the member's influence over the broad range of public policy.

It makes individual members of Congress powerless cogs in a complex machine.

It increases every member's influence over particular areas and the broad range of policy.

It increases the member's influence over some specialized policy areas but limits his or her ability to get involved in the broad range of policy.


Comments:

8. Question : Most of the day-to-day work of drafting legislation takes place

Student Answer: on the floor of the House and Senate.

in the Committee on Committees.

in conference committees.

in standing committees.


Comments:

9. Question : Differences in the House and Senate versions of

important or controversial bills are most frequently ironed out

Student Answer: informally by committee or subcommittee leaders from both houses.

by a select committee.




Comments:

10. Question : The number of seats granted to each state in the House of Representatives

Student Answer: is reapportioned every two years at the time of each congressional election.

was set by the U.S. Constitution.




Comments:

11. Question : Prior to 1913, Senators were selected by __________; today they are selected by __________.

Student Answer: state legislatures; the people

the House of Representatives; the people

the electoral college; the people

the electoral college; state legislatures


Comments:

12. Question : Which of the following statements is true about seniority in the House?

Student Answer: It has become less important in recent years.

It determines who will be the Speaker of the House.

It is the only criteria for determining committee chairs.

It determines who will be the president pro tem.


Comments:

13. Question : A congressional committee that holds a hearing to determine whether the Department of Justice is administering a counterterrorism program as Congress intended is engaging in

Student Answer: logrolling.

legitimating behavior.

legislative oversight.

agenda setting.


Comments:

14. Question : Congressional oversight of the executive branch since the 1970s

Student Answer: has declined substantially as the congressional staff has decreased.

has declined somewhat, despite the growth of congressional staff.

has increased because Congress gave itself additional staff and analytical capability.

has increased because of increased job security for members of Congress as the incumbency effect has grown.


Comments:

15. Question : The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives is the

Student Answer: president pro tempore.


Speaker.

Parliamentarian.


Comments:

16. Question : The question of what powers are appropriate to Congress

Student Answer: was answered clearly and finally by the lengthy enumeration of powers in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.

was a matter of controversy during the early years of the U.S. Constitution but no longer generates much controversy.

continues to generate substantial controversy, despite the lengthy enumeration of powers in the U.S. Constitution.

concerns only insignificant issues today.


Comments:

17. Question : The redrawing of congressional districts is called

Student Answer: redistricting.

reapportionment.

the incumbency effect.

electioneering.

1. Question : Which of the following is not a cause of the weakness of the cabinet as an advisory body?

Student Answer: Each cabinet member is a specialist in a particular area.

The cabinet is a fairly new development in presidential politics and has not yet found a role.

The size of the cabinet makes discussion unwieldy.

Cabinet members are often chosen for ethnic, racial, gender, or geographic balance.


Comments:

2. Question : According to Richard Neustadt, a president's influence depends primarily upon

Student Answer: legislative successes.

a lengthy career in government.

his ability to delegate authority.

his professional reputation and public prestige.


Comments:

3. Question : International conflict, such as the war in Iraq during George W. Bush's administration, can affect

Student Answer: a president's formal powers.

a president's position as commander-in-chief.

a president's choice of vice president.

a president's approval rating.


Comments:

4. Question : The powers of the president as outlined in the U.S. Constitution are

Student Answer: more elaborately described than those of Congress.

extensively and specifically described.

briefly stated and comparatively vague.

less detailed than the description of the executive in the Articles of Confederation.


Comments:

5. Question : Presidential appeals to the public for support for a program or action

Student Answer: have been an accepted part of the presidency since Washington's administration.

are known collectively as “going public.”

are ineffective.

were used frequently by Abraham Lincoln and imitated by all subsequent presidents.


Comments:

6. Question : President Clinton's legislative strategy early in his first term was to

Student Answer: try to shape public opinion and use it to sway Congress.

govern based on the latest opinion polls.

deal directly and secretly with Congress.

passively wait for congressional action.


Comments:

7. Question : The U.S. Constitution does not give the president power to

Student Answer: veto legislation.

serve as commander-in-chief of the military.

grant pardons.

declare war.


Comments:

8. Question : The president does not share one of the following powers with Congress. Which power can the president exercise without consulting Congress?

Student Answer: Granting pardons and reprieves

Appointing Supreme Court justices

Making treaties

Waging war


Comments:

9. Question : The treaty-making process consists of

Student Answer: the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required.

Congress negotiating the details and submitting the treaty to the president for his signature or veto.

the House negotiating the treaty, which is then submitted to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, where a unanimous vote is required to pass or defeat it.

the president negotiating a treaty, then submitting it to both houses, where a simple majority is needed for passage.


Comments:

10. Question : When a new president argues that he has a mandate, he is claiming that

Student Answer: economic conditions require quick attention.

Congress has delegated a great deal of authority to the executive branch since the 1930s.

voters elected him to carry out specific policies discussed during the campaign.

he won by a large margin.


Comments:

11. Question : Lyndon Johnson's policies consisted of a

Student Answer: reduction of social welfare programs in favor of defense spending.

renewed emphasis on economic freedom.

belief that the president should not get involved in the legislative process.

wide range of federal programs designed to promote social equality.


Comments:

12. Question : Reflecting his political values, Ronald Reagan's second inaugural address emphasized

Student Answer: justice.

equality.

freedom.



Comments:

13. Question : The president's role in legislative leadership

Student Answer: is virtually nonexistent.

was significant only in the early years of the United States.

has always been significant.

is largely a twentieth-century phenomenon.


Comments:

14. Question : Many of the steps taken by President Franklin Roosevelt to address the economic problems of the Great Depression were

Student Answer: justified on the basis of his need to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”

actions required of the president by the U.S. Constitution.




Comments:

15. Question : The War Powers Resolution of 1973 is an example of

Student Answer: enumerated powers.

the power of a pocket veto.

Congress seeking to reassert eroded authority.

presidential delegation of authority to his staff.


Comments:

16. Question : The White House is willing to work with interest groups because they are

Student Answer: able to mobilize their constituents to contact members of Congress.

a resource Congress tends to ignore.

able to donate financial resources to support the First Lady's travel.

numerous.


Comments:

17. Question : The purpose of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 was to

Student Answer: give the president greater flexibility in using the military to protect U.S. interests abroad.

limit the president's ability to pursue armed conflict without explicit congressional approval.

provide retroactive congressional approval for U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.

end U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.


Comments:

18. Question : Which of the following is considered a model of effective crisis management?

Student Answer: Ronald Reagan and the Grenada invasion




1. Question : A circuit is

Student Answer: a group of policymakers with whom a judge is friendly.

a procedural path along which an appeal must travel.

the geographical area from which a court of appeals hears cases.

the set of procedures that Supreme Court justices use to select cases for review.


Comments:

2. Question : Stare decisis is the

Student Answer: process of building consensus among appellate court judges.

Supreme Court's general policy of refusing to reconsider issues previously decided.

slow, technical process of moving an appeal up through the federal court system.

judicial principle of tending to honor precedents in similar cases.


Comments:

3. Question : The Supreme Court's decision in the 2000 presidential election demonstrates that the Court

Student Answer: is above political controversy.

cannot settle difficult questions.

is not seen as nonpolitical.

did not trust Al Gore.


Comments:

4. Question : The courts established by the U.S. Constitution include

Student Answer: district courts and courts of appeal.

district courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court.

district courts and the Supreme Court.

only the Supreme Court.


Comments:

5. Question : In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court

Student Answer: ruled that the Court had the power to order the president to perform an act required by congressionally passed statute.

declared that it had the power to strike down laws that were unconstitutional.

saw its decision ignored by the president.

ruled that the Court could not enter a dispute between Congress and the president.


Comments:

6. Question : In general, who decides which cases the Supreme Court will hear in a particular term?

Student Answer: The solicitor general

The chief justice

The Supreme Court



Comments:

7. Question : The solicitor general is appointed by the

Student Answer: chief justice.

attorney general.

president.

Congress.


Comments:

8. Question : Since the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the Supreme Court has used judicial review to invalidate ________ provisions of national law.

Student Answer: only 12

approximately 150

more than 500

5more than 2,000


Comments:

9. Question : When state law conflicts with federal law,

Student Answer: federal law takes precedence.

state law takes precedence.

the Supreme Court decides which shall take precedence.

Congress decides which shall take precedence.


Comments:

10. Question : If the chief justice is in the majority, the majority opinion is written by

Student Answer: the attorney general.


the solicitor general.

the chief justice or by another associate in the majority who has been selected by the chief justice.


Comments:

11. Question : A violation of public order is called a

Student Answer: civil dispute.

crime.

tort.

breach of contract.


Comments:

12. Question : A legal requirement for all district and circuit court judges is that they

Student Answer: reside in the district or circuit to which they are appointed.

be at least 35 years old.

be attorneys.

share the same political party identification as the president.


Comments:

13. Question : Voters have an opportunity to retain or reject sitting judges

Student Answer: at all levels of U.S. courts.

only in federal courts.

only at the federal district court level.

in some states but nowhere in the federal system.


Comments:

14. Question : President ________ was not known for using ethnic and gender diversity as a factor in selecting judges.

Student Answer: Carter

Reagan

Bush

Clinton


Comments:

15. Question : There are literally millions of cases heard in court across the United States each year. Where is the largest set of them heard?

Student Answer: State courts of last resort

U.S. district courts

State trial courts

U.S. Supreme Court


Comments:

16. Question : Most criminal cases in the United States

Student Answer: are heard in federal court.

are resolved before trial by a plea

bargain.




Comments:

17. Question : Over time, Supreme Court decisions tend to

Student Answer: lead public opinion.

lag behind public opinion.

contradict prevailing ideological preferences in the public.

change public opinion.


Comments:

18. Question : Class action lawsuit are most compatible with the view that America has a


direct democracy.

elitist government.


poli sci test 3

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