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GOV CH 1-3 & CHAPT

 
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
MAIN IDEAS
 

 1. 
Among the broad purposes of the United States government spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution is the obligation to
a.
keep the executive and legislative branches of government separate.
b.
create an autocratic form of government.
c.
defend the country against Americans who oppose its policies.
d.
provide for justice and the people's general welfare.
 

 2. 
Locke, Harrington, Hobbes, and Rousseau would most likely agree that
a.
the state developed out of force.
b.
those of royal birth should rule the state.
c.
the state exists to serve the will of the people.
d.
government should be eliminated.
 

 3. 
The theory underlying modern democracies was developed to challenge the idea that
a.
those of royal birth have absolute authority to rule.
b.
the people as a whole are the sole source of political power.
c.
the head of a family, clan, or tribe has the natural right to govern.
d.
the strongest person or group has the right to control others by force.
 

 4. 
The dominant political unit in the world today is the
a.
government.
b.
nation.
c.
Constitution.
d.
state.
 

 5. 
A federal government is one in which
a.
all power is concentrated in the central government.
b.
limited powers are assigned to a central agency by independent states.
c.
power is divided between a central government and local governments.
d.
powers are divided between a legislative branch and an executive branch.
 

 6. 
Which of the following statements is NOT true of parliamentary government?
a.
The executive is chosen by the legislature.
b.
The legislature is subject to the direct control of the executive.
c.
The prime minister and cabinet are part of the legislative branch.
d.
The prime minister and cabinet must resign if they lose the support of a majority of the legislature.
 

 7. 
The individual 50 States lack which basic characteristic of a state?
a.
government
b.
sovereignty
c.
Constitution
d.
defined population
 

 8. 
The Internet seems especially suited to satisfy which of these needs in a democracy?
a.
to control the lives of citizens
b.
to be informed about the many different institutions and policies of the government
c.
the need for accurate, and always reliable, information on which to base decisions
d.
the need for an uneducated elite to run the government
 

 9. 
Which of the following is among the characteristics of a state?
a.
population
b.
territory
c.
government
d.
all of the above
 

 10. 
Which of the following statements about sovereign states is NOT true?
a.
Sovereign states decide their own foreign and domestic policies.
b.
Sovereign states can determine their own form of government.
c.
A county or city is considered sovereign because it is subordinate to a larger form of government.
d.
Sovereign states have supreme power within their own territories.
 

 11. 
In a democracy, the will of the majority
a.
cannot be changed or improved upon.
b.
is not open to compromise.
c.
rarely leads to satisfactory policy decisions.
d.
cannot be used to deprive rights to a member of a minority group.
 

 12. 
All political powers in a state are concentrated at the central level under which form of government?
a.
federal
b.
confederate
c.
unitary
d.
executive
 

 13. 
Which of the following is among the purposes of government outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution?
a.
defending the nation against foreign enemies
b.
insuring order and domestic tranquility
c.
promoting the general welfare of the citizens
d.
all of the above
 

 14. 
Which statement about the social contract theory is NOT true?
a.
The state was created voluntarily by a free people.
b.
The state is a natural extension of people's family structure.
c.
Governmental powers are granted by the people.
d.
Governmental powers may be limited by the people.
 

 15. 
Which of the following illustrates the concept of equality of opportunity?
a.
Public schools may not exclude students because of their sex or race.
b.
Citizens must obey the tax laws but may work to change them.
c.
Government may limit the beliefs and ideas of individuals.
d.
Senators consider testimony both for and against Supreme Court nominees.
 

 16. 
Which of the following statements about the Internet is false?
a.
The Internet makes it easier to gain knowledge about government.
b.
The Internet gives individuals the power to entertain and inform themselves.
c.
The Internet led to widespread on-line voting in the 2000 elections.
d.
The Internet contains information that is not always reliable.
 

 17. 
According to the social contract theory, the contract is
a.
a document describing the territory of the state.
b.
impossible without the king’s consent.
c.
the purpose of government.
d.
a constitution.
 

 18. 
Which of the following would be MOST threatened by the social contract theory?
a.
John Locke
b.
divine right advocates
c.
the people of a state
d.
the authors of the Declaration of Independence
 

 19. 
The decision to raise taxes is an example of
a.
the force theory.
b.
presidential powers.
c.
public policy.
d.
democracy.
 

 20. 
Politics is a(n) ____, while government is a(n) ____.
a.
process, institution
b.
policy, institution
c.
institution, process
d.
negative, positive
 

 21. 
“Promote the general welfare” really means that
a.
the government is a servant to its citizens.
b.
the government controls the economy.
c.
the state promotes private industry.
d.
the Constitution establishes the meaning of “welfare.”
 

 22. 
If you live under a democratic government that conducts its own foreign and domestic policies, in an area with a territory of 50 square miles and a population of 50,000, that area qualifies as a
a.
government.
b.
state.
c.
Constitution.
d.
nation.
 

 23. 
Where does sovereignty rest in a dictatorship?
a.
with a small group or a single person
b.
with the people
c.
with the legislature
d.
all of the above
 

 24. 
The United States does not have a unitary form of government because
a.
the British would not allow it.
b.
the States have powers reserved to them in the Constitution.
c.
the executive and legislative branches are separate.
d.
the States hold more power than does the Federal Government.
 

 25. 
Inability to resolve conflicts can be a characteristic of a
a.
dictatorship.
b.
unitary government.
c.
presidential government.
d.
parliamentary government.
 

 30. 
A government can be both
a.
federal and unitary.
b.
unitary and parliamentary.
c.
parliamentary and presidential.
d.
confederate and dictatorial.
 

 31. 
In a democracy, each minority has a right to
a.
determine public policy.
b.
criticize the majority.
c.
be heard.
d.
both b and c.
 

 32. 
Democracy’s belief in the worth of the individual is indirectly reflected in the
a.
Internet.
b.
law of supply and demand.
c.
free enterprise system.
d.
necessity of compromise.
 

 33. 
According to the law of supply and demand, if strawberries become scarce due to a drought in berry-producing regions, what happens to the price of strawberries?
a.
The price will rise.
b.
The price will drop.
c.
The price will rise, then drop.
d.
The price will remain the same.
 

 34. 
Which of the following would NOT happen in a free enterprise system?
a.
Hunt Enterprises is owned by one man, but his product is regulated by the government.
b.
Joanne’s Jewels goes out of business soon after a large department store opens nearby.
c.
Sun, Inc. realizes a year-end profit of over $500,000.
d.
The government orders K.P. & Co. to produce 30 million metric tons of steel per year.
 

 35. 
For what reason might the ruler(s) in a dictatorship feel threatened by the existence of the Internet?
a.
The Internet might not be accessible to everyone.
b.
The Internet might provide a forum through which people could unite and rebel.
c.
The Internet can be unreliable.
d.
The Internet can inform, but only when citizens make the effort to utilize its resources.
 



 
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