CHAPTER 1: Introduction: The Citizen and Government

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The stock market crashed in ________, which plunged the United States into the Great Depression.
a. 1912
d. 1933
b. 1921
e. 1941
c.
1929
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Remembering
2. In general, Americans trust in their government has ________ since the 1960s.
a. remained stable
d. fallen slightly
b. risen slightly
e. fallen sharply
c.
risen sharply
ANS: E
DIF: Easy
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Remembering
3. The belief that citizens can influence what government does is called ________.
a. political efficacy
d. autocracy
b. political saliency
e. oligarchy
c.
popular sovereignty
ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Remembering
4. Today, the federal government is
a. nonexistent in the lives of most Americans.
b. a small institution that enacts a small number of programs that affect a relatively small
number of people.
c. an enormous institution that enacts a large number of programs affecting virtually all
Americans.
d. an enormous institution that enacts a small number of programs affecting a relatively small
number of people.
e. an enormous institution that is constitutionally banned from regulating economic activities.
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Understanding
5. What do people expect from the government?
a. security
d. information about severe weather
b. education
e. all of the above
c.
a safe food supply
ANS: E
DIF: Easy
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Applying
6. How is a decline in political efficacy likely to matter for the health of the American democracy?
a. It is likely to lead to an increase in political participation and a renewed interest in political
life.
b. It is likely to lead to a decline in political participation and a withdrawal from political life.
c. It is likely to lead to less dishonesty by elected representatives.

d. It is likely to lower the total national debt.

e. It is likely to lead to a stronger belief in the values of liberty and equality.
ANS: B
DIF: Medium
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Understanding
7. Political apathy among Americans hurts which core political value the most?
a. democracy
d. equality of opportunity
b. freedom of religion
e. equality of outcome
c.
economic liberty
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Applying
8. The first prerequisite to increasing political efficacy is ________.
a. increasing political knowledge
d. reducing trust in government
b. decreasing political knowledge
e. increasing political indifference
c.
reducing political participation
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Applying
9. Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in
government?
a. Distrust threatens the governments ability to attract good workers to the public sector.
b. Distrust makes people less willing to pay the taxes necessary for public activities.
c. Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political
campaigns, and running for office.
d. Distrust weakens the governments ability to help people in times of crisis.
e. Distrust weakens the governments ability to defend our national interest in the world
economy.
ANS: C
DIF: Difficult
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Understanding
10. Which of the following is NOT a reason for the declining levels of trust in the United States in recent
years?
a. revelations about the faulty information that led up to the war in Iraq
b. the governments inability to get the economy moving following the recession of 2008
c. an increase in the citizens knowledge of how the political system operates
d. the bitter congressional battle over raising the national debt limit in 2011
e. the government shutdown in 2013
ANS: C
DIF: Difficult
REF: Government Affects Our Lives Every Day
OBJ: Explore Americans attitudes toward government
MSC: Understanding
11. In order to be a good citizen, it is most critical to possess ________.
a. powerful friends
d. strongly held convictions
b. money
e. a doctoral degree in political science
c.
political knowledge
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Citizenship is Based on Political Knowledge and Participation
OBJ: Describe the role of the citizen in politics
MSC: Understanding
12. Survey data demonstrates that the level of Americans political knowledge is

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

uniformly high; Americans are very interested and knowledgeable about public affairs.
low and spotty.
high regarding local political figures but low regarding national political figures.
high concerning current events but low concerning history.
high regarding governmental processes but low concerning matters related to the U.S.
Constitution.

ANS: B
DIF: Medium
REF: Citizenship is Based on Political Knowledge and Participation
OBJ: Describe the role of the citizen in politics
MSC: Remembering
13. It is important for Americans to have political knowledge so that they will
a. be able to determine who is un-American.
b. not suffer from political efficacy.
c. be better able to assess their own interests when making political choices.
d. be better able to judge the legitimacy of other nations.
e. feel a stronger sense of patriotism.
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: Citizenship is Based on Political Knowledge and Participation
OBJ: Describe the role of the citizen in politics
MSC: Remembering
14. According to the authors of the text, democracy functions best when
a. all citizens are members of a political party.
b. less than a majority of citizens vote in every election.
c. citizens are informed.
d. all candidates for office are highly educated.
e. all candidates for office are wealthy.
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: Citizenship is Based on Political Knowledge and Participation
OBJ: Describe the role of the citizen in politics
MSC: Applying
15. Government can best be 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. legalized theft of citizens property.
d. invisible hand that turns private interests into public goods.
e. shared set of values, beliefs, and attitudes that people have about politics.
ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
16. A government that is not constrained by legal limits and also seeks to eliminate those organized social
groups that might challenge or limit its authority is known as a(n) ________ government.
a. oligarchic
d. democratic
b. authoritarian
e. republican
c.
totalitarian
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering

17. The willingness to be restrained by the power of social institutions, but not political or legal
institutions, is a hallmark of a(n) ________ regime.
a. totalitarian
d. oligarchic
b. authoritarian
e. monarchic
c.
democratic
ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
18. According to the authors of the text, what is the main benefit of a constitutional government?
a. The government is limited by the rule of law.
b. The government must lower taxes for the citizens.
c. The government will distribute social goods equally.
d. The government is stable.
e. The government will produce high levels of economic growth.
ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
19. A government that is formally limited by laws and rules is called ________.
a. democratic
d. authoritarian
b. constitutional
e. totalitarian
c.
oligarchic
ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
20. Which of the following is NOT an example of a totalitarian regime?
a. preWorld War II Italy
d. the Soviet Union under Stalin
b. preWorld War II Japan
e. the United Kingdom
c.
Nazi Germany
ANS: E
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
21. The ________ was the key group in Europe that pushed for limited government.
a. bourgeoisie
d. peasantry
b. gendarmes
e. Socialist Party
c.
libertarian group
ANS: A
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
22. Having some share or say in the composition of a governments leadership, how it is organized, or
what its policies are going to be is called ________.
a. government
d. federalism
b. power
e. constitutionalism
c.
autocracy
ANS: B
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled

OBJ: Define government and forms of government

MSC: Remembering

23. Direct democracy is best defined as

a. a state of continual revolution.
b. the system that allows people to vote by telephone or over the Internet.
c. a system that allows citizens to vote directly for laws and policies.
d. the competition between interest groups for governmental power.
e. a system that allows citizens to elect representatives who play a significant role in
governmental decision making.
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
24. A representative democracy is a system of government that
a. allows citizens to vote directly on laws and policies.
b. allows citizens to make, veto, or judge statutes personally.
c. gives citizens a regular opportunity to elect top government officials.
d. gives citizens the ability to make important constitutional decisions.
e. legally requires government officials to vote for policies that a majority of their
constituents prefer.
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
25. Which of the following is true regarding constitutional democracies in the world today?
a. Over 80 percent of the global population lives in a constitutional democracy.
b. Most people in the world experience democracy on a daily basis.
c. Over 80 percent of the global population lives in a dictatorship.
d. About 40 percent of the global population lives in a constitutional democracy.
e. none of the above
ANS: D
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
26. Prior to the eighteenth century,
a. governments were primarily democratic.
b. totalitarian rule was common.
c. governments rarely sought the support of their people.
d. most governments were based on respect for the rule of law.
e. autocracies were extremely rare.
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
27. The demand that there be no taxation without representation is a good example of what political
reform of the eighteenth century?
a. the decline of popular influence on government
b. more popular influence on government
c. the decline in citizenship
d. the spread of autocracy
e. greater attention to the economic effects of politics

ANS: B
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
28. What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government?
a. legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote
b. the right of revolution and the spread of socialism
c. debt relief for the poor and the right of average citizens to hold office
d. the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution
e. the growth in ethnic and religious diversity
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
29. The bourgeoisie sought to change which of the following institutions into instruments of political
participation?
a. monarchies
d. newspapers
b. universities
e. parliaments
c.
independent judiciaries
ANS: E
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
30. ________ described politics as who gets what, when, and how.
a. James Madison
d. Harold Lasswell
b. Abraham Lincoln
e. John Locke
c.
Franklin Roosevelt
ANS: D
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
31. Politics can be defined as
a. conflicts over the character, membership, and policies of any organization to which people
belong.
b. the informal, private organizations through which a land and its people are ruled.
c. a hierarchically structured organization that is designed to distribute labor among several
different groups of people.
d. a line-and-staff organization that is designed to facilitate control over complex social
arrangements.
e. alliances of various interest groups, policy experts, and elected representatives who unite in
order to promote a governmental solution to a problem.
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
32. According to the authors of the text, what is the goal of politics?
a. to get as much power as possible in order to serve ones own interests
b. to construct a perfect constitutional order
c. to construct a political system that is conducive to economic growth
d. to have a say in a governments leadership, organization, and policies

e. to construct a political system that provides as many people as possible with the chance to
participate
ANS: D
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
33. Which of the following is an instrument of direct democracy?
a. the electoral college
d. the U.S. House of Representatives
b. litigation
e. the U.S. Senate
c.
an initiative
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
34. Which of the following is an example of the process of direct democracy?
a. citizens in a state approving the use of medical marijuana
b. a citizen calling her representative to complain about potholes on local roads
c. a citizen who was never active in politics choosing to run for Congress
d. a group of citizens coming together to debate the pros and cons of higher taxes
e. a citizen deciding to contribute money to his preferred presidential candidate
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Applying
35. Why did the Progressives support womens suffrage in the early twentieth century?
a. The Progressives were dominated by women.
b. The Progressives wanted to make the United States as democratic as possible.
c. The Progressives believed women would support their reform movement.
d. The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit upper-class
northerners.
e. The Progressives needed to develop a voting bloc to check and limit lower-class
southerners.
ANS: C
DIF: Difficult
REF: Government is Made Up of the Institutions and Procedures by Which People are Ruled
OBJ: Define government and forms of government
MSC: Remembering
36. At the time of the founding of the republic, approximately ________ percent of nonNative American
inhabitants of the 13 states were of European ancestry.
a. 25
d. 80
b. 50
e. 98
c.
65
ANS: D
DIF: Easy
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
37. The population of America was about ________ million in 1790 and about ________ million in 2012.
a. 1; 250
d. 12; 400
b. 4; 315
e. 20; 450
c.
10; 355
ANS: B

DIF: Medium

REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time

OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
38. Which of the following statements about the changes in American society between 1900 and 2010 is
NOT true?
a. There has been a decline in the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as
Protestants.
b. The average age of Americans has fallen.
c. There has been an increase in the percentage of Americans who live in urban areas.
d. The percentage of Caucasians has decreased.
e. There has been an increase in the percentage of Americans who identify as multiracial.
ANS: B
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
39. The National Origins quota system
a. allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a
small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries.
b. allowed only a small quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but a
large quota of immigrants from eastern and southern European countries.
c. allowed the same quota of new immigrants from every country around the world.
d. abolished the quota system for immigrants from certain countries.
e. outlawed all immigration from European countries.
ANS: A
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
40. Which of the following statements is true?
a. Native Americans have always been recognized as citizens of the United States.
b. Native Americans became U.S. citizens in 1868 when African Americans were recognized
as citizens.
c. Native Americans became U.S. citizens in 1924.
d. Native Americans became U.S. citizens in 1965.
e. Native Americans have never become U.S. citizens in American constitutional law.
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
41. Which of the following statements best describes naturalization laws in the United States prior to
1870?
a. All free people could become naturalized citizens after living in the country for at least five
years.
b. All free people could become naturalized citizens after living in the country for at least 10
years.
c. Only free whites could become naturalized citizens.
d. Only freed African American slaves could become naturalized citizens.
e. Only Native Americans could become naturalized citizens.
ANS: C
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering

42. About ________ percent of the American adult population identifies with the Protestant, Catholic, or
Jewish faiths.
a. 25
d. 77
b. 42
e. 96
c.
60
ANS: D
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Remembering
43. How does the U.S. Constitution create a system that underrepresents urban areas?
a. It provides representation based on population in the U.S. House of Representatives.
b. It provides each state with two U.S. senators, regardless of population.
c. It provides for a system of direct democracy at the federal level.
d. It requires federal officials to spend the same amount of money in rural and urban areas of
the country.
e. It requires that federal officials impose higher taxes on people living in urban areas of the
country.
ANS: B
DIF: Medium
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Applying
44. Which of the following statements about the United States census is most accurate?
a. The census has always counted every person living within the boundaries of the United
States regardless of race or ethnicity.
b. The census has always categorized people in one of five racial groups: Native Americans,
Latino Americans, African Americans, Caucasian Americans, and Asian Americans.
c. The census has never categorized people by race or ethnicity.
d. Who officials count and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity have changed
significantly throughout American history.
e. The current census does not allow people to identify themselves as members of more than
one racial group.
ANS: D
DIF: Difficult
REF: The Identity of Americans Has Changed over Time
OBJ: Show how the social composition of the American population has changed over time
MSC: Understanding
45. The belief that political authority should rest with the people themselves is called ________.
a. equality of opportunity
d. popular sovereignty
b. political equality
e. federalism
c.
pluralism
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

D
DIF: Easy
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Remembering

46. The right of each citizen to vote is an example of ________.

a. equality of opportunity
d. educational opportunity
b. equality of result
e. laissez-faire capitalism
c.
political equality
ANS: C
DIF: Easy
REF: America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy

OBJ: Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
MSC: Remembering
47. Low voter turnout and political apathy endanger ________.
a. equality
d. constitutionalism
b. economic liberty
e. laissez-faire capitalism
c.
democracy
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Easy
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

48. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Americans express mixed views about government.
b. Americans have always given all people political equality.
c. Americans are highly engaged in public affairs.
d. both b and c
e. none of the above
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

A
DIF: Easy
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

49. Throughout American history, the concept of liberty has been linked to the
a. idea of privacy.
b. idea of limited government.
c. idea of unlimited government.
d. idea of economic equality.
e. Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union.
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

B
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Remembering

50. The essential documents of the American founding are the ________ and the ________.
a. Declaration of Independence; Constitution
b. Declaration of Independence; Magna Carta
c. Constitution; Magna Carta
d. Constitution; Mayflower Compact
e. Mayflower Compact; Magna Carta
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

A
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Remembering

51. One person, one vote reflects the principle of ________.

a. political equality
d. economic liberty
b. equality of opportunity
e. popular sovereignty
c.
majority rule
ANS: A

DIF: Medium

REF: America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy

OBJ: Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
MSC: Remembering
52. ________ are the three core values in American politics.
a. Liberty, equality, and democracy
b. Democracy, patriotism, and the rule of law
c. Equality, oligarchy, and free enterprise
d. Anarchy, equality, and patriotism
e. Socialism, oligarchy, and liberty
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

A
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

53. In American political culture, economic freedom means ________.

a. low inflation
d. the absence of income taxes
b. job security
e. a government-controlled stock market
c.
capitalism
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

54. The existence of slavery in the United States is a good example of how
a. American values are not always reflected in practice.
b. Americans do not value liberty.
c. European ideals have influenced American political culture.
d. political needs are often placed above economic needs.
e. liberty requires popular sovereignty.
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

A
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

55. The fact that the tax code in the United States is more advantageous to wealthy citizens than that of
almost any other Western nation supports the claim that Americans
a. strongly reject the ideal of popular sovereignty.
b. strongly endorse the ideal of equality of opportunity.
c. generally tolerate economic inequality.
d. vehemently oppose all forms of inequality.
e. believe in majority rule with minority rights.
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Understanding

56. The Bill of Rights was designed to protect ________.

a. equality
d. capitalism
b. liberty
e. socialism
c.
democracy

ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

B
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Applying

57. Which of the following statements best describes how Americans currently feel about laissez-faire
capitalism?
a. Americans strongly support capitalism and economic liberty and reject all restrictions on
economic freedom.
b. Americans strongly support capitalism and economic liberty but also endorse policies that
are designed to guarantee economic equality among all citizens.
c. Americans strongly support capitalism and economic liberty but also endorse some
restrictions on economic freedoms to protect the public.
d. Americans strongly oppose capitalism and economic liberty and endorse policies that are
designed to guarantee economic equality among all citizens.
e. Americans strongly oppose capitalism and economic liberty and endorse some restrictions
on economic freedoms to protect the public.
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Applying

58. The Constitutions Preamble, beginning with the words We the People, is an illustration of
________.
a. majority rule
d. minority rights
b. political equality
e. political rights
c.
popular sovereignty
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Applying

59. What is the most important check on majority rule in the United States?
a. popular sovereignty
b. pluralism
c. the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights
d. laissez-faire capitalism
e. one person, one vote
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

C
DIF: Medium
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Applying

60. Which of the following statements concerning political values in the United States is true?
a. American values often conflict with each other in practice.
b. Because of their diversity, Americans do not share a similar set of core political values.
c. The origins of American political values are found in the 1960s.
d. American politics relies on its value neutrality.
e. A belief in economic equality is the oldest and most strongly held American value.
ANS: A

DIF: Difficult

REF: America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy

OBJ: Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
MSC: Understanding
61. The U.S. House of Representatives was designed to
a. ensure minority rights.
b. ensure majority rule.
c. be the least democratic chamber of Congress.
d. protect the rights of citizens who belong to third parties.
e. check the power of tyrannical state governors.
ANS:
REF:
OBJ:
MSC:

B
DIF: Difficult
America is Built on the Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Democracy
Analyze whether the U.S. system of government upholds American political values
Applying

ESSAY
1. Political analysts have identified a decline in the trust citizens put in their government. Why is trust
such an important trait for politics? In what ways is it helpful for levels of trust to be high? What are
some of the causes of the decline in trust? How might trust be regained?
ANS:
Answer will vary
2. What does it mean to be a citizen? How have American ideals of citizenship been influenced by the
ancient Greeks? Why is political knowledge so vital for citizenship, and what are the different types of
political knowledge?
ANS:
Answer will vary
3. Describe some of the different types of governments in the world today. How would you define and
distinguish between them? What are the specific characteristics of a representative democracy?
ANS:
Answer will vary