Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer

1		The American national identity has been most strongly affected by common:
			A)	ethnicity.
			B)	religious beliefs.
			C)	political beliefs.
			D)	class consciousness.
2		Politics is described as the process that:
			A)	inculcates deep beliefs in idealized form.
			B)	gives people economic equality.
			C)	applies power fairly.
			D)	determines whose values will prevail in society.
			E)	provides for respect of individual differences.
3		Major patterns that characterize politics in the United States include all except which one of the following:
			A)	a highly fragmented governing system.
			B)	little or no confidence in capitalism.
			C)	a high degree of pluralism.
			D)	extraordinary emphasis on individual rights.
			E)	pronounced separation of the political and economic spheres.
4		The American political culture contains which of the following ideals: liberty equality diversity unity self-government
			A)	1 and 3.
			B)	1, 3, 5.
			C)	1, 2, 4.
			D)	1, 2, 3, 4.
			E)	all the above.
5		Cultural beliefs are said to be "mythical ideas," which means that they are:
			A)	almost completely unreal.
			B)	perfect representations of reality.
			C)	symbolic postures that reflect partly what is ideal and partly what is real.
			D)	perverted images of reality, as in the case of totalitarianism.
6		Political conflict within a nation is produced by the following two social conditions:
			A)	geographical size and racial diversity.
			B)	scarcity and opposing values.
			C)	militant culture and class stratification.
			D)	scarcity and ethnic diversity.
7		When compared with citizens in European democracies, Americans:
			A)	emphasize self-reliance and trust in the marketplace for security.
			B)	feel that success in life is determined by forces outside their control.
			C)	are willing to use government for redistributing economic resources.
			D)	a and b only.
			E)	a, b and c.
8		The American ideal of equality of opportunity has been difficult to attain for all except which of the following groups of citizens:
			A)	African Americans.
			B)	Americans of Chinese descent.
			C)	Native American Indians.
			D)	men of European background.
			E)	women
9		The relatively low levels of spending on social welfare in the United States most clearly reflects the American ideal of:
			A)	unity.
			B)	self-government.
			C)	equality.
			D)	individualism.
			E)	simplicity.
10		A major characteristic of American politics is pluralism, which is:
			A)	the power to make authoritative and binding decisions.
			B)	belief in equal distribution of economic resources.
			C)	competition for power among a great many interests of all kinds.
			D)	limiting access to power in society to a select few citizens.
11		When people are able to control policy decisions and prevail in political conflicts they are said to have:
			A)	political power.
			B)	political authority.
			C)	pluralism.
			D)	individualism.
			E)	diversity.
12		Fragmentation of authority in American politics is illustrated by its:
			A)	pervasive welfare system.
			B)	system of checks and balances.
			C)	economic complexity.
			D)	geographical diversity.
			E)	belief in "one person, one vote."
13		The American commitment to the principle of constitutionalism means that:
			A)	there is tyranny of the majority over the minority.
			B)	there are limits to the rightful power of government over citizens.
			C)	direct democracy will be favored over representative democracy.
			D)	a "mixed economy" must be upheld at all costs.
14		The two kinds of inputs in the political system are termed:
			A)	laws and decisions.
			B)	supports and demands.
			C)	branches of government.
			D)	culture and socialization.
15		When socialist and capitalist elements of economies are combined it is called:
			A)	pure free-enterprise capitalism.
			B)	communism.
			C)	a fixed economy.
			D)	a mixed economy.
			E)	impossible to mix the two.
16		Locke's conception of inalienable rights and the legitimacy of the social contract found its most explicit statement in:
			A)	original state constitutions.
			B)	the Constitution of the United States.
			C)	the Declaration of Independence.
			D)	colonial charters.
17		Which goals did the writers of the U.S. Constitution seek for government? imperialism self-government limited government anarchy
			A)	1 and 2.
			B)	2 and 4.
			C)	1 and 3.
			D)	2 and 3.
			E)	3 and 4.