AnswersAP US Government and PoliticsUnit Test

Unit Test — Unit test Answers

25 verified answers3 views
1
Free Preview

A presidential candidate emerges from a new minor party that supports radical changes to the national government. This candidate challenges the candidates from the two major parties (Democratic and Republican). In almost all states, the candidate who receives a plurality of popular votes also receives all of the electoral votes for that state. On Election Day, the two major-party candidates divide all of the electoral votes; the minor-party candidate does not receive a plurality in any state.

A
It ensures that the government will be controlled by whichever party wins the presidential election.
B
It creates opportunities for minor parties to have an important impact on the national government’s policies.
C
It perpetuates the two-party system because minor parties do not attract a wide enough range of supporters to win.
D
It ensures that the same government policies will continue because most voters are not interested in new ideas.
2
Free Preview

Consider the chart.Which of the following rows is an accurate comparison of how different political ideologies inform the role of government in addressing social issues?

Question illustration
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
3

Refer to the cartoon.See How Much Better Things Are Without the Heavy Hand of Government

Question illustration
A
Republican policies reflecting the belief that business regulations are necessary to support economic growth.
B
Democratic policies reflecting the belief that environmental regulations have a negative impact on economic growth.
C
Republican policies reflecting the belief that banking and finance regulations have a negative impact on economic growth.
D
Democratic policies reflecting the belief that marketplace regulations are necessary to protect consumers and the environment.
4

Which of the following statements illustrates the impact of the reform era (1900–1920) on US political parties?

A
Reforms strengthened the ability of political parties to hold officeholders accountable.
B
Reforms limited the power of political parties by reducing the number of government positions they controlled.
C
Reforms led parties to reduce the influence of party bosses by using nominating conventions to choose their candidates.
D
Reforms led political parties to reduce voter requirements, making it easier for people to participate in elections.
5

Which of the following polls would yield the most scientifically accurate results?

A
an exit poll conducted on Election Day in major swing states
B
a poll of active voters conducted through surveys sent through the mail
C
a poll of random households conducted door-to-door in major swing states
D
a telephone poll randomly conducted using landlines and cell phones around the country
6

In which of the following scenarios did Congress choose a policy in response to the opinion of a politically engaged minority rather than the opinion of the majority of Americans?

A
Small business associations presented strong opposition to the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
B
Lobbying groups that did not favor guaranteeing women’s rights blocked ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
C
The strength of support from the NAACP forced Congress to pass the 24th Amendment despite opposition in many states.
D
Nationwide efforts by the National Rifle Association and other gun supporters have kept Congress from considering gun-control measures.
7

Refer to the graph.Based on the data, which of the following public responses is most likely?

Question illustration
A
The public may think that opportunities to influence the government are more available to average citizens.
B
The public may think that economically elite citizens have fewer opportunities to influence the government.
C
Average citizens may feel disenfranchised by their lack of opportunities to influence government as compared to economically elite citizens.
D
Average citizens and economically elite citizens may think that the government is not interested in their input.
8

Refer to the passage and the table.A significant portion of Americans mistakenly believe that the majority of immigrants in the US are undocumented, with only 45% correctly identifying that most are in the country are documented. Pew Research Center data from 2015 indicates that around 75% of immigrants in the US were documented residents. Educational background plays a role in these perceptions; 61% of college graduates recognize the documented status of most immigrants, compared to 38% of those without a degree. Age is another factor, with 58% of individuals aged 18 to 29 acknowledging the legality of most immigrants, in contrast to 35% of those aged 65 and above. Political affiliations also influence these views, with 54% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans believing most immigrants are documented. Among both parties, college graduates are more likely to hold this view, but college-educated Democrats are notably more inclined than their Republican counterparts to believe in the documented status of most immigrants. CategoryPercentage/DetailsAmericans aware of correct proportion of documented immigrants in US45%Americans who think most immigrants in US are undocumented35%College graduates aware of correct proportion61%Non-college graduates aware of correct proportion38%Age 18-29 aware of correct proportion58% Age 65 and older aware of correct proportion35%Democrats aware of correct proportion54%Republicans aware of correct proportion36%College-educated Republicans aware of correct proportion48%Non-college-educated Republicans aware of correct proportion32%College-educated Democrats aware of correct proportion69%Non-college-educated Democrats aware of correct proportion46%Difference between educated Democrats and Republicans21% (Dems more likely to be aware)No response13%Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data in the passage and the table?

A
Public-opinion data allow minority opinions to be heard more if these people are more politically active than the majority.
B
Despite information from public-opinion data, government policy is often responsive to the economic elite and not the majority.
C
A lack of correct information can be detrimental to the political process by causing public-opinion data to be formed on misinformation.
D
The reliability and veracity of public-opinion data make the data unusable by elected officials and cause the public to become disenfranchised.
9

Which of the following most accurately affects the modern ideologies of the two major American political parties regarding government action on social issues?

A
A Congress with a conservative agenda wants to increase spending on national defense, while a liberal president does not want to increase the military’s budget.
B
A president with a conservative agenda wants to increase US drilling for domestic oil, while a liberal Congress does not want to allow the drilling for environmental reasons.
C
A Congress with a liberal agenda wants to spend more money on airport security checkpoints and security agents, while a conservative president wants to hire private companies to do the work.
D
A president with a conservative agenda wants to limit taxpayer money spent on housing subsidies for the poor, while a liberal Congress wants to expand the housing subsidies to more citizens.
10

A university wishes to conduct a scientifically accurate public-opinion poll about a piece of environmental legislation. Which of the following questions would best elicit accurate polling data?

A
Should the federal government work to prevent climate change?
B
Should Congress support a new law that conserves natural resources?
C
Should automobile emissions be limited to one hundred parts per million?
D
Should oil companies be required to pay the entire cost of cleaning up oil spills?
11

Refer to the passage.It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the federal government and those reserved to the states or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government.–President Ronald Reagan, First inaugural address, January 20, 1981

A
Reagan presided over the largest expansion in the federal workforce in almost 50 years.
B
Reagan worked with Congress to ensure the long-term financial stability of Social Security.
C
Reagan issued multiple executive orders to reduce the costs for businesses complying with federal regulations.
D
Reagan signed tax-reform legislation that raised corporate tax rates in order to reduce the federal deficit.
12

A popular Libertarian governor presides over a highly polarized general assembly that is evenly split between urban progressives and rural Tea Party conservatives. Neither side supports the governor’s own agenda. The governor leans toward the conservative side on issues of gun control and taxation, and she leans progressive on issues of social justice and health care.

A
Both Democrats and Republicans will proceed as though they held a strong majority.
B
The Democrats and Republicans will work together to delegitimize the governor.
C
Each party will work to strengthen the governor when she is in their favor, while weakening her when she is opposed to their agenda.
D
Both parties will defer to the governor’s right to define the agenda and will work with her to promote her preferred aims and goals.
13

Refer to the cartoon below.

Question illustration
A
Corporations and lobbyists pay taxes to the government so the needs of all citizens can be met.
B
The government works best when it seeks advice on economic matters from profitable corporations.
C
The government tries to balance the needs of corporations and wealthy citizens with the needs of average citizens.
D
The government is more responsive to the concerns of people and corporations who contribute large sums to political campaigns.
14

Refer to the graph.Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data about the relationship between public opinion and the adoption of public policy?

Question illustration
A
Average citizens demonstrate political apathy with regard to changing US public policy.
B
Economically elite citizens place less value on influencing US public policy than average citizens do.
C
Regardless of social class, Americans are generally apathetic about influencing US public policy.
D
The government is more influenced by the economic elites than by average citizens when changing US public policy.
15

Refer to the chart regarding legislative branches of government.Which of the following rows accurately compares the political system in the United States to the French parliamentary system?

Question illustration
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
16

Refer to the passage.It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the federal government and those reserved to the states or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the federal government did not create the states; the states created the federal government.–President Ronald Reagan, First inaugural address, January 20, 1981

A
A member of Congress introduces a bill to reduce tax rates for all income groups.
B
The AARP lobbies for the expansion of Medicare to cover more people and provide more services.
C
A coalition of governors requests that Congress change a federal welfare program from a categorical grant to a block grant.
D
The president proposes a budget that reduces federal spending on education and health care, areas traditionally controlled by state governments.
17

Refer to the passages.This reform will help foster innovation, not hamper it. It is designed to make sure that everybody follows the same set of rules, so that firms compete on price and quality, not on tricks and not on traps. . . .In the end, our financial system only works—our market is only free—when there are clear rules and basic safeguards that prevent abuse, that check excess, that ensure that it is more profitable to play by the rules than to game the system.–President Barack Obama, Address on signing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, July 21, 2010 The legislation I’m signing today rolls back the crippling Dodd-Frank regulations that are crushing community banks and credit unions nationwide. . . .. . . By liberating small banks from excessive bureaucracy—and that’s what it was: bureaucracy—we are unleashing the economic potential of our people. . . .. . . We passed and signed a record number of bills terminating job-killing regulations.–President Donald Trump, Address on signing the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, May 24, 2018

A
Democratic ideology holds that financial regulations limit economic growth.
B
Republican ideology holds that financial regulations accelerate economic growth.
C
Republican ideology holds that financial regulations are necessary to reduce unemployment.
D
Democratic ideology holds that financial regulations are necessary to prevent abuse.
18

Refer to the passage.No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time; yet what are many of the most important acts of legislation, but so many judicial determinations, not indeed concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens? . . . . Justice ought to hold the balance between them. Yet the parties are, and must be, themselves the judges; and the most numerous party, or, in other words, the most powerful faction must be expected to prevail.–Federalist, no. 10, James Madison

A
Political parties can be trusted to work for the greater good.
B
Political parties are not factional and do not represent factions.
C
Parties are balancing agents that work to undo local self-interest in a federal context.
D
The strongest or most populous faction will win and proceed to make decisions in their own favor.
19

Refer to the passage and the table. A significant portion of Americans mistakenly believe that the majority of immigrants in the US are undocumented, with only 45% correctly identifying that most are in the country are documented. Pew Research Center data from 2015 indicates that around 75% of immigrants in the US were documented residents. Educational background plays a role in these perceptions; 61% of college graduates recognize the documented status of most immigrants, compared to 38% of those without a degree. Age is another factor, with 58% of individuals aged 18 to 29 acknowledging the legality of most immigrants, in contrast to 35% of those aged 65 and above. Political affiliations also influence these views, with 54% of Democrats and 36% of Republicans believing most immigrants are documented. Among both parties, college graduates are more likely to hold this view, but college-educated Democrats are notably more inclined than their Republican counterparts to believe in the documented status of most immigrants. CategoryPercentage/DetailsAmericans aware of correct proportion of documented immigrants in US45%Americans who think most immigrants in US are undocumented35%College graduates aware of correct proportion61%Non-college graduates aware of correct proportion38%Age 18-29 aware of correct proportion58% Age 65 and older aware of correct proportion35%Democrats aware of correct proportion54%Republicans aware of correct proportion36%College-educated Republicans aware of correct proportion48%Non-college-educated Republicans aware of correct proportion32%College-educated Democrats aware of correct proportion69%Non-college-educated Democrats aware of correct proportion46%Difference between educated Democrats and Republicans21% (Dems more likely to be aware)No response13%Based on the data in the table and the passage, which of the following outcomes is most likely when people vote or run for office?

A
Voters will support policies that match the misinformation on immigration.
B
Officials will expend resources informing voters of the correct facts about immigration.
C
Immigration will be ignored in most debates in favor of topics that the public is better informed about.
D
Candidates will support immigration policies without regard for public opinion due to a lack of quality data.
20

Which of the following events demonstrates the link between government policy and the core beliefs of the majority of US citizens?

A
The Senate filibustered a 2016 bill that proposed significant restrictions on gun ownership.
B
Congress approved government programs in the 1930s to ease unemployment during the Great Depression.
C
President Carter used executive orders in 1979 to create the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
D
The 1957 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka declared racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional.

Did you find these answers helpful?

More from this Course

Quiz
25 verified answers

Unit Test

Quiz
25 verified answers

Unit Test

Quiz
55 verified answers

Practice Exam I