FSOT : United States Government Questions! Trivia Quiz
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- 1.
- A.
Two real parties.
- B.
Parties must have a personal and substantial interest injury.
- C.
The case must be a real situation and not a hypothetical situation.
- D.
The case must be based on the common law.
- 2.A political device of drawing irregular district lines in order to favor one political power over another is called:
- A.
Gerrymandering.
- B.
Filibustering.
- C.
Federalizing.
- D.
Rezoning.
- 3.
- A.
Full, faith, and credit.
- B.
Due process.
- C.
Equal protection.
- D.
Right of rendition.
- 4.Congress can override a Presidential veto of a congressional bill by:
- A.
Not signing the bill.
- B.
Passing the bill again by a two-thirds majority in both houses.
- C.
Filibustering.
- D.
Voting to place the bill in the congressional record.
- 5.
- A.
Women.
- B.
Non-property owners.
- C.
African Americans.
- D.
Youth ages 18 to 21 years old.
- 6.Which of the following amendments to the constitution affect the political process by declaring that the Federal government should not interfere with the press?
- A.
First.
- B.
Fifth.
- C.
Seventh.
- D.
None - no amendment refers to the press.
- 7.Which of the following taxes would most likely be considered progressive?
- A.
Property tax.
- B.
Sales tax.
- C.
Income tax.
- D.
Cigarette tax.
- 8.
- A.
The buying and selling of securities by the Federal Reserve to affect the economy.
- B.
The reduction in trade barriers to facilitate trade (for example, NAFTA).
- C.
The clearance of checks by the Federal Reserve.
- D.
The lending by the Federal Reserve to member banks who then make loans.
- 9.
- A.
A responsive mechanism; the need of the city to be responsive to all groups in a city.
- B.
A representative mechanism; the city must have on the council exact proportions of each major social group in the city.
- C.
A service deliverer concerned with efficiency and economy of service provision.
- D.
A holding corporation whose purpose is to contract with private businesses to provide services.
- 10.Which of the following describes the differences between Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)?
- A.
TANF is entirely federal, which AFDC was a federal-state cooperative program.
- B.
There was no time limit on receiving AFDC; for TANF, you can only receive funding for five years.
- C.
AFDC did not go to non-citizen immigrants; TANF does include them.
- D.
AFDC included the provision of child care; TANF does not.
- 11.Medicare does use tax dollars from the general treasury for some of its programs. Other programs are restricted to amounts in the trust fund. For what are tax dollars used as a portion of the funding?
- A.
Hospital payment.
- B.
Physicians and outpatient services.
- C.
Nursing homes for custodial care.
- D.
Experimental procedures.
- 12.The Council of Economic Advisers advices which of the following on monetary and fiscal policy:
- A.
The Federal Reserve Bank.
- B.
The Joint Economic Committee of Congress.
- C.
The President of the United States.
- D.
The Senate Budget Committee.
- 13.On what basis does Medicare pay hospitals for the care of those covered by Medicare?
- A.
On the basis of what is charged.
- B.
By establishing a grant to the hospital based upon how many Medicare patients are treated.
- C.
By a price list for each service rendered (established by a national expenditure committee).
- D.
On the basis of a predetermined amount for the condition for which the person was admitted.
- 14.Concerning the poverty rate for senior citizens, which of the following is correct?
- A.
It has significantly increased over the last 25 years.
- B.
It has been reduced primarily because of the indexing of social security.
- C.
It has remained the same despite policy efforts to reduce it.
- D.
It fell from 1980 to 1990, then rose again, approximating the level in 1980.
- 15.Following WWII, the United States instituted a massive effort to rebuild Europe. What is the name to this policy?
- A.
The Marshall Plan.
- B.
NATO.
- C.
SEATO.
- D.
Point Four.
- 16.
- A.
Combined the CIA and the NSA.
- B.
Made the National Security Council a cabinet department equal with the State and Defense.
- C.
Created an independent office of Director of Intelligence, a job previously performed by the director of the CIA.
- D.
Removed the counter-intellicence function from the FBI and gave it to the CIA.
- 17.
- A.
Vice president.
- B.
Secretary of State.
- C.
Secretary of Defense.
- D.
Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff
- 18.Unless told otherwise, a professional journalist will most likely consider anything said by a source to be:
- A.
Off the record.
- B.
On the record.
- C.
On background.
- D.
Not attributable.
- 19.The National Labor Relations Act established:
- A.
A "cooling off" period before workers in a critical industry could strike.
- B.
The right of the federal workers in non-defense agencies to organize and strike.
- C.
The government's right to prohibit strikes by industrial workers during war time.
- D.
Collective bargaining and the right to organize as a national policy.
- 20.The Freedom of Information Act, enacted by the Congress in 1966, was expanded in 1996 to encompass:
- A.
Audiotaped transcripts.
- B.
Supreme Court deliberations.
- C.
Electronic records.
- D.
Presidential campaign contributions.
- 21.In federal government budgeting, "mandatory" spending differs from "discretionary" spending in which way?
- A.
Legislative committees may not cut mandatory spending levels.
- B.
Mandatory spending is not subject to the annual appropriations process.
- C.
Discretionary spending increases in one budget category must be offset by reductions elsewhere.
- D.
Bill to re-categorize mandatory funding as discretionary must originate in the House.
- 22.Why did President Franklin Roosevelt recommended expanding the size of the Supreme Court?
- A.
Because it had a large backlog of cases.
- B.
He wanted the court to represent a greater diversity of the population.
- C.
The Court had invalidated many New Deal programs.
- D.
He wanted to divide the court into a criminal and a civil panel.
- 23.Comparing 1964 to 1994, what happened to American's trust in government?
- A.
It declined.
- B.
It stayed about the same.
- C.
It rose.
- D.
It rose sharply, and then fell sharply.
- 24.President Bush has proposed a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage. To have this amendment added to the Constitution, what must happen?
- A.
The amendment must be proposed by three-fourths of both houses of Congress and approved by legislatures of two-thirds of the states.
- B.
The amendment must be proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress and approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.
- C.
The amendment must be proposed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, signed by the President, and approved by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.
- D.
Ame amendment must be approved by conventions in two-thirds of the states, and the approved by three-quarters of both houses of Congress.
- 25.If the Office of Vice President is vacant, what happens?
- A.
It remains vacant until the next election.
- B.
The president's political party holds a mini convention to select a new vice president.
- C.
The Senate selects a new vice president.
- D.
The president nominates a new vice president, who must be approved by a majority of the Congress.
- 26.The post-World War II defense policy used to maintain a balance of power in the world is known as:
- A.
Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD).
- B.
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
- C.
The Marshall Plan.
- D.
The Truman Doctrine.
- 27.What is the theory that suggested that U.S. democracy is based on many groups, each pressing its own interests?
- A.
Elistism.
- B.
Pluralism.
- C.
Entrepreneurial politics.
- D.
Conflict resolution.
- 28.Conference Committees are:
- A.
Permanent Joint Committees for dealing with serious national concerns, such as 9/11.
- B.
Temporary Committees of House and Senate members to resolve bill differences between the chambers.
- C.
Special Committees that study issues but have no power to report legislation.
- D.
Meetings between members of Congress and the Executive departments.
- 29.The President may veto:
- A.
The entire bill and items in an appropriations bill.
- B.
The entire bill and items in a tax bill.
- C.
The entire bill and items in any bill.
- D.
The entire bill only.
- 30.One consequence attributed to malapportionment was that:
- A.
Urban areas were overrepresented.
- B.
Urban areas were underrepresented.
- C.
Suburban areas were overrepresented.
- D.
The minority party was concentrated, resulting in fewer minorities being elected than their percentage population.
- 31.The function of the Office of Management and Budget to review all legislative proposals by the department of government for consistency and conformity with the president's policies is termed:
- A.
Central clearance.
- B.
Review and comment procedure.
- C.
Legislative oversight.
- D.
Bottom-up review.
- 32.The marble cake theory of federalism implies:
- A.
The establishment of separate functions for the national and state governments.
- B.
The sharing of functions between the national government and the states.
- C.
The reservation of all non-delegated powers to the states.
- D.
The establishment of a federal form rather than a confederational form of government.
- 33.The Constitution requires that members of the Supreme Court:
- A.
Be a member of a state bar.
- B.
Be at least 25 years old.
- C.
Be born in the United States.
- D.
No specific requirement is mentioned.
- 34.The courts are inundated with habeas corpus writs. The courts turn to Congress to help and ask them to suspend the writ for one year to allow them to get caught up. Can Congress do this?
- A.
Yes. Article I gives the Congress the right to do this.
- B.
No. Only the president can do this.
- C.
No. Congress can suspend the writ but only in cases of rebellion and invasion.
- D.
No. Habeas corpus is a fundamental right and cannot be suspended.
- 35.A writ of certiorari is employed when:
- A.
Appealing to the Supreme Court.
- B.
The police want to search one's home.
- C.
Obtaining an injunction to stop the implementation of a law.
- D.
The president wants to send a judicial nominee to the Senate for confirmation.
- 36.Judiciary review:
- A.
Is clearly supported in the Federalist Papers.
- B.
Was first applied to the Supreme Court in Marbury v. Madison.
- C.
Is explicitly defined in the Constitution.
- D.
Was a power given to the Supreme Court by the Judiciary Act of 1789.
- 37.Which of the following comes closest to defining stare decisis?
- A.
Majority opinion of the Supreme Court.
- B.
Predecent.
- C.
Legislative intent of a statute.
- D.
Dissenting opinion.
- 38.Freedom of religion would protect which of the following against state interference?
- A.
Polygamy practice by Mormons.
- B.
The refusal of the Amish to allow their children to attend school after 8th grade.
- C.
The use of deadly snakes in religious ceremonies.
- D.
The failure of Christian Scientists to seek treatment by an M.D. for their children who have a serious condition.
- 39.Medicare does use tax dollars from the general treasury for some of its programs. Other programs are restricted to amounts in the trust fund. For what are tax dollars used as a portion of the funding?
- A.
Hospital payment.
- B.
Physicians and outpatient services.
- C.
Nursing homes for custodial care.
- D.
Experimental procedures.
- 40.
- A.
The Supreme Court has overturned the act as violating the president's commander in chief powers.
- B.
Sanctions for violating the War Powers Act is a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than ten years.
- C.
Presidents must seek a resolution from Congress to continue military action more than 60 days (90 if it is necessary to get the troops out safely).
- D.
The act only allows a president to take defensive military action without a resolution of approval from the Congress.
- 41.In the war on poverty, what did maximum feasible participation mean?
- A.
The poor would serve on Community Action Agency (CAP) boards to develop community programs.
- B.
The poor must receive services regardless of race or religion.
- C.
Local governments must contribute the maximum percent of the cost of the program in order to be entitled to receive any federal funds.
- D.
CAP boards must be elected in community elections with efforts made to maximize turnout.
- 42.What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers?
- A.
To end slavery.
- B.
To convince conventions in the states to ratify the Constitution.
- C.
To seve as the original party platform of Washington and Adams, laying out their plans for the new nation.
- D.
To propose President Flanklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal
- 43.In Congressional elections, party loyalty is a variable that describes the largest percent of the vote. When someone votes for a candidate of the party opposite their party identification, what is the most frequent explanation for that vote?
- A.
Personality of the candidate.
- B.
Issues raised in the election.
- C.
Incumbency.
- D.
The state of the economy.
- 44.Concerning national turnout in presidential elections, which of the following is accurate?
- A.
It is high, typically around 70 percent of the eligible voters.
- B.
It typically is about 50 percent of the eligible voters.
- C.
Is is typically low, around 30 percent of eligible voters.
- D.
Is is very low at 15 percent.
- 45.Well known in American political history is the spoils system. What is it?
- A.
The allocation of projects to districts of powerful members of Congress.
- B.
The expiration of programs after a specified time.
- C.
Contracts given to large private corporations.
- D.
Jobs given to supporters of winning candidates.
- 46.Concerning economic inequality in the United States, which of the following is correct?
- A.
The distribution of income has become more unequal in the last two decades.
- B.
The distribution of income has remained relatively constant over the last two decades.
- C.
The distribution of income has become more equal in the last two decades.
- D.
The distribution is represented by a cycle -- more unequal for a decade, and then more equal for the subsequent decade.
- 47.The District of Columbia does not have voting representation in Congress. Because the electoral votes are allocated based upon the number in the Congressional delegate, can they provide votes in the Electoral College?
- A.
No. They have argued to be included for many years.
- B.
Yes. The district's population is included with Maryland's for the purpose of voting for president.
- C.
Yes. They have been given electoral votes equal to that of the smallest state (which is three).
- D.
Yes. They are given electoral votes based upon their population, just like a state.
- 48.
- A.
No. This would amount to double jeopardy.
- B.
No. The Constitution specifically prohibits civilian trials of public officials found not guilty at impeachment trials.
- C.
Yes. But only if the Senate approves by two-thirds vote.
- D.
Yes. The Constitution specially says that a person found guilty by the Senate can be subject to trial by law. By extension, a person found innocent could as well.
- 49.
- A.
That affirmative action is permissible if done in a systematic way, such as adding points to a minority's application for admission to school.
- B.
That affirmative action is discriminatory and cannot be used.
- C.
That affirmative action is permissible, and race can be taken into account in making admissions decisions.
- D.
Affirmative action is permissible but must be limited to encourage minority applicants to apply and cannot be used for the final admission decision.
- 50.A realigning election means:
- A.
That groups switch parties, and a new party comes out with a majority.
- B.
That an election has high turnout.
- C.
That an election has many competitive states (battleground states).
- D.
That a third party wins the election, changing the party system.
- 51.What is the constitutional reason limiting the regulation of spending by campaigns?
- A.
Elections are described in the Constitution and the addition of regulations would amount to adding provisions to the Constitution.
- B.
LImiting spending would limit the right of association.
- C.
Money is free speech, and you can't limit free speech.
- D.
There is no constitutional reason. It is rarely been done because of political opposition.
- 52.
- A.
The requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act that must be met for a school not to be labeled a "failing school."
- B.
A test that must be passed to vote in a number of states before being outlawed. It frequently was used to deny blacks the right to vote.
- C.
Legislation that was ruled unconstitutional in 1920 that all individuals elected to Congress must be able to read and write.
- D.
A requirement of immigrants in a number of states to be eligible for several benefit programs. The requirement is that they be literate in English. This is a backdoor method of declaring English as the nation's language.
- 53.How many Supreme Court justices are required to be appointed according to the Constitution?
- A.
Seven.
- B.
Nine.
- C.
Ten.
- D.
The Constitution does not specify the number
- 54.
- A.
The use of taxes and expenditures to control the economy.
- B.
The use of the interest rate by the Federal Reserve to regulate the economy.
- C.
The use of policy to improve the U.S trade balance.
- D.
The elimination of regulations to improve industrial competitiveness in the United States.
- 55.
- A.
Party voting was much stronger in the 1950s and 1960s than today.
- B.
Party voting has been very weak in the U.S. Congress.
- C.
Party voting has been very important in the last decades, much more important than in the 1950s and 1960s.
- D.
Party voting has been strong for Republicans but not for Democrats.
- 56.Majority minority districts have been created, especially in the South, since the 1990s reapportionment. What has the Supreme Court said about them?
- A.
They are not allowed because they constitute a racial gerrymander.
- B.
They are acceptable as long as race was not the primary factor in creating them.
- C.
They are acceptable because they make up for past discriminations.
- D.
They have not been allowed because the districts are not compact.
- 57.
- A.
Racial gerrymander.
- B.
Gerrymander to benefit incumbents.
- C.
Gerrymanders to increase a city's representation.
- D.
Party gerrymander.
- 58.All proposed rules issued by regulatory agencies and departments must be published where?
- A.
Federal Register.
- B.
Code of Federal Regulations.
- C.
Congressional Code.
- D.
U.S. Code.
- 59.Safe Harbor Rules are issued by federal agencies. What are they?
- A.
Maritime rules.
- B.
Rules on how to provide input into the rule-making process.
- C.
Rules that say that if you follow them you will be in compliance with federal rules and statutes.
- D.
Rules that the military must follow in a conflict.
- 60.If no candidate for president gets a majority in the Electoral College, how is the president selected?
- A.
By a majority of the 435 members of the House of Representatives
- B.
By a majority of the Senate.
- C.
By a majority vote in the House of Representatives. Each state has one vote.
- D.
By a majority of the House and Senate voting in a joint session.
- 61.What is the difference between block grants and categorical grants?
- A.
Block grants go to states, while categorical grants go to cities.
- B.
Block grants allow states or cities to use the money as needed, while categorical grants must be used in a specific policy area such as health.
- C.
Block grants require matching, while categorical grants do not.
- D.
Block grants allow states or cities flexibility to use the money to meet needs in a broad policy area, while categorical grants aim the money at a more specific use.
- 62.In some states, laws have been passed to protect journalists' sources. What are these laws called?
- A.
Shield laws.
- B.
Press protection laws.
- C.
1st Amendment laws.
- D.
Source protection laws.
- 63.You are a member of your state legislature. Your hometown newspaper has slandered you in an editorial. Can you sue?
- A.
Yes. You can sue like any citizen.
- B.
No. Public officials are not allowed to sue for newspaper editorials. They must accept accusations made, even if untrue.
- C.
Yes, but only if you can prove that the newspaper knew what it said was not true and that you can prove malice in their publication of the falsehood.
- D.
Yes, but as a state public official, you cannot sue in state courts. You must sue in federal court to avoid conflict of interest.
- 64.
- A.
In a closed primary, you can vote only in your party's primary. In an open primary, you can vote in either party's primary.
- B.
In a closed primary, you can vote only in your party's primary. In an open primary, you can vote in both parties' primaries for the same office.
- C.
In a closed primary, you can vote only in your party's primary. In an open primary, you can vote in both parties' primaries for different offices.
- D.
In a closed primary, you must have registered to vote before the primary. Open party primaries do not require registration.
- 65.Political Action Committees (PACs) have increased in the last few decades. What are they?
- A.
PACs often demonstrate for a group's interest.
- B.
PACs represent groups in giving money to political candidates.
- C.
PACs are groups similar to parties but with too few members to get on the ballot.
- D.
PACs are committees of legislators promoting a particular bill.
- 66.
- A.
The Food Stamps Program.
- B.
The building of roads.
- C.
The payment of salary of federal workers.
- D.
Money distributed in the No Child Left Behind Act.
- 67.Laissez-faire as a governmental philosophy means:
- A.
The government should regulate monopolies.
- B.
The government should allow the market to do the regulation through the invisible hand.
- C.
The national government should encourage state regulations rather than national regulations.
- D.
The government should join with our trading partners to enact joint regulations.
- 68.Job training is most likely to be applied to which of the following types of unemployment?
- A.
Frictional.
- B.
Structural.
- C.
Inadequate aggregate demand.
- D.
Cyclical.
- 69.Which kind of district system do we use for the election of members of Congress?
- A.
Multiple-member districts.
- B.
Single-member districts.
- C.
Proportional representation.
- D.
At-large system.
- 70.Gideon v. Wainwright was a precedent-setting case. What did it require?
- A.
An end to segregation of the schools.
- B.
That public facilities be integrated.
- C.
That districts be equal in population.
- D.
That individuals have a right to counsel. If they are too poor, the state has to appoint one.
- 71.Devolution describes today's federalism. How are powers distributed?
- A.
More power is given to the state government.
- B.
More federal control is exercised.
- C.
Money is given to cooperative regional groups.
- D.
Money is given to private groups to administer government programs.
- 72.There has been a movement for mandatory term limits on legislators. Has it been applied to members of the Congress?
- A.
No. The movement was restricted to state legislators.
- B.
Yes, they tried, but it was ruled unconstitutional.
- C.
Yes, and it is the law in several states.
- D.
Yes. There is now a national term limit of 12 years on members of Congress.
- 73.How is much of the business of the Senate conducted?
- A.
Under a rule issued by the Senate Rules Committee.
- B.
Through unanimous consent.
- C.
Through a motion adopted by a two-third vote.
- D.
Without any limitations, because the Senate operates under rules of unlimited debate.
- 74.If the president is disabled and refuses to step aside, what can be done, according to the Constitution?
- A.
Nothing.
- B.
The Senate can suspend him from office by a two-thirds vote until they feel he is capable of serving. The vice president takes over as acting president.
- C.
The vice president and majority of the heads of the executive departments must declare that the president is unable to discharge the duties of the office. In case the president chooses to dispute this, the Congress can keep the vice president as acting president by a two-thirds vote.
- D.
The Congress, through a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote, can by itself suspend the president.
- 75.What are 527 groups?
- A.
State party committees whose finances are regulated by the states.
- B.
National party committees, regulated by the Federal Elections Commission.
- C.
Groups not directly associated with political parties that have few campaign finance regulations.
- D.
Conduits that bundle money to be given to candidates as donations.
- 76.Political socialization refers to which of the following?
- A.
A command economy.
- B.
Newspaper coverage of political events.
- C.
Congressional review of administrative policies and practices.
- D.
Learning of attitudes and information about a political system.
- 77.What is political efficacy?
- A.
If refers to the extent to which a policy reduces targeted problems.
- B.
It refers to the power of the president to get his agenda enacted by the Congress.
- C.
It refers to individuals feeling that they can effectively influence the political process and their votes are important.
- D.
It refers to support that people have of the political system.
- 78.U.S. v. Nixon is an important case. What was its main point?
- A.
The president can withhold some documents from the Congress but cannot simply declare executive privilege as a blanket right.
- B.
The president can decide not to turn requested documents over to the Congress. Executive privilege is a fundamental tenet of the separation of powers doctrine.
- C.
The president cannot withhold any documents demanded by Congress in furtherance of its constitutionally prescribed roles.
- D.
Newspapers cannot be prohibited from publishing material. Prior censorship is not permitted by the 1st Amendment.
- 79.A rider refers to:
- A.
The consolidation of appropriations bills into one large omnibus bill.
- B.
The addition of specific tax exemptions to a general tax bill.
- C.
An amendment to a bill that is not germane to the subject of the bill.
- D.
Stipulation in a bill that the program being passed must be administered in a particular way.
- 80.What is a class-action suit?
- A.
A law suit brought by poor people, where filing fees are waived.
- B.
A case that charges discrimination by an employer.
- C.
Suits against private firms brought by public officials (for example, state attorneys general).
- D.
A suit in which all individuals under similar circumstances are included.
- 81.The initiative refers to:
- A.
The power of citizens to turn someone out of office prior to the end of his or her term.
- B.
The power of citizens to put a statute or a constitutional change directly on the ballot, bypassing the legislature.
- C.
State governments as laboratories of democracy.
- D.
The power of citizens to suspend a law enacted by the legislature.
- 82.Which of the following best describes the exclusionary rule?
- A.
Legislators having an economic interest in legislation are prohibited from voting on it.
- B.
Judges must recuse themselves if they have a personal or economic interest in an item before the court.
- C.
Groups that have been discriminated in the past are given preference for federal jobs or federal contracts.
- D.
Evidence illegally seized cannot be used in court.
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