Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

US Government > Tests > Flashcards

Tests Flashcards

0
Q

In a constitutional monarchy, the

A

head of state is a hereditary position

And primarily ceremonial

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

In some parliamentary systems, the head of state is a(n)

A

Monarch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which of the following series of words can apply to a dictatorship?

A

autocracy

oligarchy

authoritarian

totalitarian

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Which of the following terms have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably?

A

republic and democracy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

All of the following are principles of a democracy EXCEPT

A

providing justice without mercy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The European Union is to a confederal system as the United States is to a(n)

A

federal system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Successful governments attempt to establish policies that serve the

A

Public good

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

All of the following are central functions of a government EXCEPT

A

Pursuing truth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Most decisions made in a democracy are made by

A

Majority rule

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which of the following is a list of typical values held by the U.S. government?

A

caring for the elderly

providing good jobs

ensuring equality of opportunity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What term is used for power divided among local, state, and national governments?

A

federal system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What term is used for a system of government in which the ruler is primarily a ceremonial head of state?

A

constitutional monarchy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

A citizen in San Diego must obey local ordinances, as well as state and federal laws. What kind of power sharing system is this

A

A federal system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

According to philosopher John Locke, if a government does not secure its citizens natural rights, the people

A

may throw out the government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Term that means rule by few

A

Oligarchy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

In a unitary system of government,

A

all legal power is held by the national government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are two things that all laws have in common?

A

they deal with public problems and are enforceable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

In a constitutional monarchy,

A

the ruler holds mainly a ceremonial position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

The term sovereignty refers to

A

the absolute authority a government has over its citizens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that people created the state by

A

entering into a social contract

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Why were the colonial governors advised by councils, which sometimes had as much power as the governors?

A

this system reflected the ideals of limited government and representative government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Efforts to strengthen Congress’s power often failed because

A

amendments to the Articles required the approval of all states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

In terms of the presidency, the delegates to the Convention decided that

A

state electors, chosen by popular vote, would elect the president

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

The Articles did not give government the power to

A

regulate trade between states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What were the decisions of the Convention delegates on the issue of trade?

A

Importation of slaves could not be banned before 1808, and exported goods could not be taxed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Before 1215 which of the following actions would have seemed unusual for an English monarch?

A

providing a jury of peers for accused persons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Parliament originated as an advisory council or nobles and high religious officials. Into what kind of legislature did the council eventually evolve?

A

bicameral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

The colonists adopted from the British

A

limited government and representative government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

The Northwest Ordinance was important because it

A

served as a model for admitting new states

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Which of the following was not proposed under the Great Compromise?

A

Each state would have one vote in a unicameral legislature

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

One of the best reasons for the colonies to unite was

A

Defense

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

The ninth state to ratify the Constitution, which allowed its adoption, was

A

New Hampshire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Each of the following statements about Magna Carta is correct EXCEPT

A

it allowed judges to convict the accused without having trials

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

The Great Compromise concerned

A

representation in the two houses of Congress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

The Federalist Papers were written in support of

A

ratification of the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Shays’s Rebellion

A

highlighted the need for a strong national government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

The Declaration of Independence states that if government does not protect citizens’ rights, citizens have the authority to

A

change or abolish the government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Congress is permitted to veto the judicial branch’s decisions

A

False

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

The framers of the Constitution desired a national government that would do all of the following EXCEPT

A

Decrease taxes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Which one of the following bodies holds the power of the purse ?

A

Legislative branch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

All constitutional amendments have been

A

proposed in Congress by vote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Many of Congress’s powers are

A

implied by the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

The supremacy clause contained in Article VI states that the

A

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Under the Constitution’s system of checks and balances, each branch of government can restrict the powers of the

A

Other branches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

James Madison argued that the large size of the United States

A

would help prevent control by faction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Some critics charge that the Constitution’s system of checks and balances

A

makes it difficult for citizens to know who is responsible for problems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Current number of constitutional amendments

A

27

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Many of Congress’s powers are

A

implied by the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

The heads of the executive departments advise the president and together are known as the president’s

A

cabinet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Political parties

A

are not mentioned in the Constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What is the term that means to reject a piece of legislation

A

Veto

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Congress has used its constitutional power to control commerce among the states to

A

pass laws concerning working conditions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

According to Madison, the Constitution

A

ensures that all interests have an equal chance to be represented

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Congress passed the twenty-second amendment in order to

A

limit presidents to two terms in office

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Amendment that gave women the right to vote

A

19th

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

According to the Supremacy Clause

A

the Constitution is the highest law in the land

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

States are permitted the right not to

A

ratify constitutional amendments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Several large universities were given federally owned land because of

A

the Morrill Act

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

According to the Full Faith and Credit Clause, which of the following documents must be recognized by every state?

A

states’ official records

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Federal mandates are

A

requirements that the federal government imposes on state and local governments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

The Constitution denies the states the power to do all of the following EXCEPT

A

establish local governments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

According to the Constitution, federal courts may rule on cases that concern all of the following EXCEPT

A

State divorce laws

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

What allows Congress to make any law that is necessary and proper to exercise its powers?

A

the Elastic Clause

63
Q

Agreements on issues such as pollution and flood control are examples of

A

interstate compacts

64
Q

The United States contains

A

1 federal government, 50 state governments, and more than 80,000 local governments

65
Q

The three types of power held by the federal government are

A

expressed, implied, and inherent

66
Q

One way in which the federal system serves the public good is by

A

allowing and encouraging states to act as laboratories of democracy

67
Q

One responsibility the state governments have to the federal government is to

A

maintain National Guard units

68
Q

Only the Senate has the power to

A

Approve treaties

69
Q

All of the following statements describe senators EXCEPT

A

citizens of the state the senator represents can impeach him or her

70
Q

The 1964 Supreme Court case Wesberry v. Sanders established

A

the one person, one vote principle

71
Q

Members of the House of Representatives serve

A

two-year terms

72
Q

What type of powers result from the Elastic Clause?

A

implied powers

73
Q

senators are given more legal protection than House members

A

False

74
Q

The House of Representatives contains

A

435 members

75
Q

When your representative writes you a letter in response to your inquiry and does not put a stamp on the envelope, it is because he or she has the

A

franking privilege

76
Q

The population of the United States is counted

A

every ten years

77
Q

Representatives serve two-year terms and senators serve six-year terms

A

True

78
Q

People who live in a district of state and elect candidates for office are called

A

constituents

79
Q

When performing congressional duties, senators and representatives have a form of legal protection called

A

Immunity

80
Q

People who act together to achieve shared political goals are called

A

Interest groups

81
Q

Which of the following is a requirement for both representatives and senators?

A

must be legal resident of state he or she represents

82
Q

Groups that donate money to candidates who favor their point of view are called

A

political action committees

83
Q

The majority power in Congress uses referral power as a method of controlling

A

Legislation

84
Q

Conference committees are

A

temporary committees that try to reach a compromise between Senate and House versions of a bill

85
Q

A cloture puts an end to a filibuster because it sets a limit for

A

Discussion

86
Q

Following markup, proposed legislation must have

A

full committee approval before it can move to the Senate or House

87
Q

Which of the following people are permitted to suggest ideas for a bill?

A

interest groups, citizens, the president, and others

88
Q

Which of the following committees makes the rules that determine conditions for debate and amendment of a House bill?

A

House Rules Committee

89
Q

A bill that is privileged may

A

go to the floor at any time

90
Q

3 types of House floor rules are

A

open, closed, and modified

91
Q

After legislation is passed by both houses of Congress, the president can

A

sign it, veto it, keep it for 10 days without signing it, or pocket veto it

92
Q

The most serious action taken against a member of Congress for misconduct is

A

Expulsion

93
Q

The 6 main steps that a bill must go through before becoming a law are

A

referral to committee, hearings, markup, floor consideration, conference committee, presidential action

94
Q

The award of funds for unnecessary projects and grants is called

A

pork barrel spending

95
Q

Special interest groups gain influence over members of Congress by

A

contributing to their campaigns

96
Q

Local concerns represented in Congress are checked and balanced by

A

the judicial and executive branches

97
Q

Committee hearings are

A

open to the media and the public

98
Q

One reason congressional term limits have been a subject of debate is that

A

there are none, and some citizens want them

99
Q

The 2nd most influential member of the House is the

A

majority floor leader

100
Q

The president’s power to appoint Supreme Court justices is checked by

A

the Senate’s power to reject Supreme Court nominations

101
Q

If the president and the vice president were to die or otherwise leave office, who would become president?

A

the Speaker of the House

102
Q

The president can prevent the passage of laws by using the power of

A

The veto

103
Q

Which of the following is not a required qualification for a U.S. President

A

college educated

104
Q

The president can grant a reprieve, which

A

postpones the carrying out of a convicted person’s sentence

105
Q

Election at which candidates for each party are chosen is called

A

primary election

106
Q

The purpose of the 22nd Amendment to the constitution is to

A

impose a 2 term limit on the presidency

107
Q

U.S. citizens do not vote directly for

A

president and vice president

108
Q

How can the president affect congressional actions?

A

by lobbying congresspersons, recommending legislation, and vetoing legislation

109
Q

The War Powers Act orders that soldiers sent overseas by the president must be

A

brought back to the United States within 60 days unless Congress approves military action

110
Q

If the president, the vice president, and the Speaker were to resign, who would become president?

A

the president pro tempore

111
Q

Qualifications for U.S. president are

A

native-born citizen, U.S. resident at least 14 years, and at least 35 years old

112
Q

A presidential pardon

A

frees a convicted criminal

113
Q

All of the following government officials are appointed by the president EXCEPT

A

majority floor leaders

114
Q

The nomination process for vice presidents and presidents has

A

Changed a great deal

115
Q

The job, White House press secretary

A

provides briefings to the press and manages the press office

116
Q

The Department of Transportation, Energy, and Interior are all

A

executive departments

117
Q

Some people argue that having non elected government officials is undemocratic because

A

government rules should be made by the people’s representatives

118
Q

What sometimes takes years and produces thousands of pages of notes?

A

the rule-making procedures of government agencies

119
Q

Some people believe that government corporations

A

do a better job than most government agencies

120
Q

The people who run regulatory commissions are

A

members of the boards appointed by the president and approved by the Senate

121
Q

Certain government activities, such as arresting criminals, should not be contracted out to private companies because they are

A

done in the name of the American people

122
Q

Which of the following has the power to decide domestic policy and create laws?

A

Congress

123
Q

Which of the following has been controversial throughout most of U.S history?

A

how government jobs are filled

124
Q

Which of the following organizations is not a part of the Executive Office of the President?

A

Department of the Treasury

125
Q

Before an agency can make a new rule, it must

A

allow for public comment

126
Q

The president’s annual budget proposal to Congress is prepared by the

A

Office of Management and Budget

127
Q

Why are board members of regulatory commissions appointed for long terms?

A

to remain free of political pressure

128
Q

A system in which people take competitive written exams to land federal jobs is called

A

the merit system

129
Q

According to the Constitution, what are the 2 functions of the vice president?

A

to head the Senate and to be in line to succeed the president

130
Q

The goals of economic stabilization are

A

low inflation and full employment

131
Q

The total dollar value, or price, of all finished services and goods produced in a country in one year is the

A

gross domestic product

132
Q

The economic doctrine supporting active government stabilization is frequently called

A

Keynesianism

133
Q

Nontax sources of funds for the federal government include

A

fines, fees, and income earned by banks in the Federal Reserve System

134
Q

Spending limits are set in reconciliation bills, which

A

both houses of Congress must pass

135
Q

A large national debt

A

makes interest rates rise, which slows down the economy

136
Q

If the government spends more than it receives from tax and nontax revenue, the budget is in

A

deficit

137
Q

The U.S. national spending program is known as the

A

Federal budget

138
Q

A large national debt slows economic growth because

A

it decreases funds available for investment and leads to higher interest rates

139
Q

Another contributor to growing budget deficits is

A

rising interest payments on the national debt

140
Q

Which of the following is a source of nontax revenue for the federal government?

A

patent fees

141
Q

Which of the following is not a source of uncontrollable spending?

A

funding for the Department of Education

142
Q

Supply side economists believe that

A

tax cuts stimulate economic growth

143
Q

Glasnost and perestroika helped to end

A

the Cold War

144
Q

According to idealists, U.S. foreign policy should support

A

Human rights

145
Q

The framers created strict guidelines for the Defense Department because they

A

were afraid of a military state

146
Q

When the United States provides aid to foreign nations, it frequently

A

promotes the public good of its businesses and citizens

147
Q

The United States became involved in World War II because of

A

Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor

148
Q

The U.S. Department of State

A

has bureaus dealing with U.S. relations in specific regions of the globe and bureaus dealing with crosscutting foreign policy issues

149
Q

Since World War II, the U.S. government’s primary foreign policy principle has been

A

Realism

150
Q

The United States joined in the Spanish-American War because

A

of the sinking of the Maine

151
Q

Defense alliances

A

encourage collective security

152
Q

Which of the following is an argument made by supporters of U.S. foreign-aid programs?

A

countries receiving aid may provide good markets for U.S. exports

153
Q

An agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union to limit the production of some nuclear weapons was called the

A

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks agreement

154
Q

Through the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, the United States agreed to provide military protection to Japan in exchange for

A

the right to keep military forces in Japan

155
Q

What organization was proposed by Woodrow Wilson after World War I to help prevent future aggression?

A

League of Nations

156
Q

What event motivated the United States to drop its isolationist stance and become involved in World War II?

A

Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor

US Government (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions