Practice Exam #5
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This exam will be very helpful in preparing for the big exam.
- 1.
- A.
Police acting in good faith, with a legal warrant, may present evidence in court
- B.
The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment applies to illegal searches
- C.
Searches of criminal suspects are constitutional
- D.
Evidence may be used in cour if the evidence would have been inevitably discovered
- E.
The exclusionary rule does not apply to cases tried in state courts
- 2.If the United States government were to be sued, to which court(s) would those seeking damages take their case to be heard?
- A.
U.S. District Courts
- B.
U.S. Supreme Court
- C.
U.S. Court of Appeals
- D.
U.S. Tax Court
- E.
U.S. Court of Claims
- 3.What method of floor vote is used in the passage of a bill in both houses of Congress?I. Voice VoteII. standing voteIII. roll-call voteIV. teller voteV. electronic vote
- A.
I only
- B.
II only
- C.
III only
- D.
I, II, III
- E.
IV and V only
- 4.A constitutional duty of the vice president is to
- A.
Work with the Supreme Court on constitutional issues
- B.
Presides over the Senate and break tie votes
- C.
Balance the ticket
- D.
Preside over the House of Representatives and break tie votes
- E.
Issue directives, on the president's order, to the political parties
- 5.The United States Constitution has been amended
- A.
27 times
- B.
26 times
- C.
17 times
- D.
Originally only ten times including the Bill of Rights
- E.
28 times
- 6.The first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States was
- A.
Sandra Day O'Connor
- B.
Ruther Bader Ginsburg
- C.
Barbara Jordan
- D.
Jeannette Rankin
- E.
Geraldine Ferraro
- 7.Which of the following is a function that political parties are expeted to perform?I. Nominate candidates for officeII. Polically educate the electorateIII. create a sense of centralized responsibilityIV.Maintain the separation of powers in government
- A.
I and III only
- B.
I, II, III, and IV
- C.
III and IV only
- D.
I, II, and III only
- E.
I only
- 8.Regulating securties, financial markets, and investment companies, and prohibiting fraud and dishonest investment practices would be the major functions of which of the following independent regulatory agencies?
- A.
The Federal Reserve
- B.
Federal Trade Commission
- C.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- D.
Securities and Exchange Commission
- E.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
- 9.Which of the following would be a true statement if a presidnetial election had to be decided by the House of Representatives?
- A.
Each member of the House is allowed one vote.
- B.
Each state's delegation casts one vote.
- C.
Only the speaker votes.
- D.
The House votes as a single unit.
- E.
The House Rules Committee makes the decision.
- 10.Which of the following is most accurate regarding interest groups?
- A.
Interest groups always provide accurate and concise information.
- B.
Some interest groups have influence that is not proportional to their size.
- C.
Interest groups attempt to control government.
- D.
Interest groups are well financed.
- E.
Interest groups undermine the goals of the American political system.
- 11.The Necessary and Proper Clause found in Article I, Secion 8 of the United States Constitution is also known as the
- A.
Elastic clause
- B.
Expressed clause
- C.
Implied clause
- D.
The general practice clause of Congress
- E.
Congressional clause
- 12.Which of the following is a qualification required in order to be president of the United States?
- A.
Naturalized citizen
- B.
30 years of age
- C.
Natural born citizen
- D.
Previous experience in government
- E.
Resident of the United States for at least nine years
- 13.Which of the following is the best definition of the political socialization?
- A.
Individuals playing different political roles in society
- B.
Individuals with diverse beliefs about public policy
- C.
Individuals with diverse sets of balues and beliefs about public policy
- D.
Individuals acquiring their differing beliefs and political orientation
- E.
Individuals defining their political society in relation to their form of government
- 14.Which of the following is a right that would not be guaranteed to a noncitizen?
- A.
Freedom of speech
- B.
Freedom of religion
- C.
Freedom of press
- D.
Right to an attorney
- E.
Freedom to move about the country
- 15.In order for a case to be heard in the Supreme Court of the United States, a consensus must be reached among the justices. This agreement is known as:
- A.
A write of certiorari
- B.
A precedent
- C.
Amicus curiae
- D.
"the rule of four"
- E.
A certificate
- 16.Which of the following would be a true statement regarding judicial review and the power of the court to declare an act of government unconstitutional?
- A.
Only federal courts hold this power.
- B.
All federal courts and most state courts hold this power.
- C.
All federal courts and all state courts hold this power
- D.
Most federal courts and most state courts hold this power
- E.
Only the SUpreme Court of the United States holds this power.
- 17.The executive department charged with the administration of the largest entitlement program in the United States is
- A.
Health and Human Services
- B.
Homeland Security
- C.
Veterans Affairs
- D.
Labor
- E.
Education
- 18.Presidential impeachment
- A.
Requires a majority vote of the Senate for conviction
- B.
Exemplifies the concept of checks and balances.
- C.
Is the removal of a president from office
- D.
Is presided over by the vice president
- E.
Allows the Senate to bring charges against the president.
- 19.A group of individuals weeking to control government by winning an election and placing a candidate in office would best be described as a(n)
- A.
Caucus
- B.
Policial party
- C.
Interest group
- D.
Political action committee
- E.
Constituency
- 20.In order to get elected to the Congress, the most significant advantage is
- A.
Incumbency
- B.
An endorsement by a major business or community leader
- C.
Financial support
- D.
Knowledge of the workings of government
- E.
Military service
- 21.Constitutional amendments may be ratified by
- A.
State conventions called by Congress
- B.
A national convention
- C.
A two-thirds vote of each house of the Congress
- D.
Legislatures of three-fourths of the states
- E.
Legislatures of two-thirds of the states
- 22.Justices of the Supreme Court and the lower federal courts serve for a period of
- A.
25 years
- B.
Time determined by the president
- C.
Life, during good behavior
- D.
Time determined by Congress
- E.
Four years
- 23.James Madison applied the term "faction" to
- A.
Political parties and interest groups
- B.
Negative members of Congress
- C.
Splinter groups of the executive
- D.
Political parties
- E.
States not willing ot be a part of the federal union
- 24.The general beliefs that the American public has about politics and policy issues can best be defined as
- A.
Political socialization
- B.
Public policy
- C.
Policy formulation
- D.
Political ideology
- E.
Public opinion
- 25.Which of the following is NOT a check on the power of the executive branch?
- A.
Executive agreements
- B.
The power of the purse
- C.
Judicial review of executive actions
- D.
Public opinion
- E.
Approval powers over appointments
- 26.After a proposed bill has had its first reading, what is generally the next step that a bill might encounter?
- A.
The proposed bill is reviewed by an investigating committee
- B.
The proposed bill is sent to the president
- C.
The proposed bill is sent to a standing committee
- D.
The proposed bill is vetoed by the president
- E.
The proposed bill is voted on the entire Congress
- 27.Which of the following is true of the constitutional provision regarding the electoral college?
- A.
Each presidential electoral casts two ballots
- B.
State legislatures with the help of the electoral college choose the president
- C.
Electoal ballots are cast among political party lines
- D.
Electors are bound by federal law to vote for their party's candidate
- E.
Electors are bound by state law to vote for their party's candidate
- 28.Which of the following is NOT a correct statement regarding interest groups?
- A.
Interest groups sometimes form coalitions to strengthen their influence
- B.
Federal law requires political action committees to donate to several candidates
- C.
Interest groups seek to improve their image by appealing to the public
- D.
Interest groups comcentrate on influencing Congress without involving the courts
- E.
In recent years lobbying has become increasingly more regulated
- 29.Sometimes litigants that are not part of the formal proceeding of Supreme Court oral arguments wish to have their points of view presented. They may file what is known as a(an)
- A.
Per curiam decision
- B.
Certificate
- C.
Writ of certiorari
- D.
Amicus curiae brief
- E.
Stare decisis
- 30.Which of the following is NOT a basic principle of government found in the Constitution?
- A.
Popular sovereignty
- B.
Conservatism
- C.
Limited government
- D.
Judicial review
- E.
Federalism
- 31.Which of the following would best describe gerrymandering?
- A.
A group of Congress members teaming together in order to get legislation passed
- B.
The breakdown of a political party within the Congress
- C.
Dividing the states into regional electoral districts
- D.
Dividing states along party lines in order to determine party strategy
- E.
Drawing electoral districts within a state in order to favor a political party of candidate
- 32.The political theory proposed by John Locke, calling for a nation to be developed as a voluntary agreement between citizens and governmnet, is known as the
- A.
Divine right theory
- B.
Hyperpluralist theory
- C.
Social contract theory
- D.
State theory
- E.
Elite theory
- 33.The power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of a law passed by Congress is called
- A.
Judicial review
- B.
Supreme Court review
- C.
Constitutional review
- D.
Congressional review
- E.
Special review
- 34.Independent agencies that are usually beyond the reach of presidential control are called
- A.
Independent regulatory commissions
- B.
Executive agencies
- C.
Independent executive agencies
- D.
Government corporations
- E.
Independent government agencies
- 35.Which of the following is NOT and expressed presidential power found in the United States Constitution?
- A.
Making appointments
- B.
Commander of the military
- C.
Treaty making
- D.
Budget management
- E.
Granting pardons
- 36.Which of the following stages generally occurs earliest in the presidential election contest?
- A.
National party conventions
- B.
The popular elections
- C.
State primaries and caucuses
- D.
The electoral college election
- E.
Choosing a running mate
- 37.Which of the following are types of opinions that may be submitted by the justices when the Supreme Court reaches a decision in a case?I. majority opinionII. concurring opinionIII. dissenting opinionIV. concluding opinion
- A.
I only
- B.
I, II, and III only
- C.
II and IV only
- D.
II and III only
- E.
I, II, III, IV
- 38.The most effetive tool of any interest group wishing to influence the workings of government is
- A.
The political party
- B.
The American voter
- C.
The lobbyist
- D.
Propaganda
- E.
Grassroots organizations
- 39.All of the following are strategies typically used by successful interest groups EXCEPT
- A.
Engaging in acts of civil disobedience and violence
- B.
Litigation
- C.
Creating coalitions with other interest groups
- D.
Contributing to political candidates through political action committees
- E.
Bringing grassroots pressures on legislators
- 40.Poll taxes were fees paid by individuals in order to vote. Which amendment in the United States Constitution outlaws this practice?
- A.
Twentieth Amendment
- B.
Eighteenth Amendment
- C.
Twenty-first Amendment
- D.
Twenty-fifth Amendment
- E.
Twenty-fourth Amendment
- 41.Which of the following is NOT a role on the members of Congress?
- A.
Constituent servant
- B.
Gatekeeper
- C.
Policymaker
- D.
Delegate
- E.
Trustee
- 42.Amnesty would fall under which power of the president?
- A.
Ordinance power
- B.
Executive power
- C.
Judicial power
- D.
Immigration power
- E.
Naturalization power
- 43.In the United States government the creation of every bureaucratic agency may be traced back to
- A.
Congress
- B.
The president
- C.
The Constitution
- D.
State governments
- E.
The Articles of Confederation
- 44.What is the correct term for an organizational department of the government that has been created by the Congress but is still not located within the jurisdiction of one of the cabinet departments?
- A.
Legislative agency
- B.
Congressional agency
- C.
Independent agency
- D.
Government agency
- E.
Executive agency
- 45.During the 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt attempted to increase the size of the Supreme Court by an usual scheme. If he had been successful, six new positions would have been added. What was this scheme called?
- A.
Stare decisis
- B.
Amicus addendum
- C.
Court packing
- D.
Partisan control
- E.
Constitutional court controlling
- 46.Which of the following best describes the speaker of the House?
- A.
Presiding officer of the House
- B.
Shares power with the president pro tem
- C.
Appointed by the president
- D.
Appointed by members of his political party within the House
- E.
Controls Congress with the help of the president
- 47.Which of the following is NOT a function of an interest group?
- A.
Creates interest in public affairs
- B.
Provides for a system of checks and balances on government officials
- C.
Stimulates political participation by the people
- D.
Provides information to government officials
- E.
Provides an avenue for political parties to obtain the vote and confidence of the people
- 48.Which amendment of the United States Constitution altered the manner of voting in the electoral college?
- A.
Twenty-second Amendment
- B.
Twenty-fifth Amendment
- C.
Twelfth Amendment
- D.
Twentieth Amendment
- E.
Twenty-sixth Amendment
- 49.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the United States Constitution?
- A.
Political parties
- B.
Taxation
- C.
Impeachment
- D.
Treason
- E.
Ex post facto laws
- 50.The primary purpose of a conference committee is to
- A.
Provide an investigative step in the passage of a bill
- B.
Provide the president with an update on vetoed bills
- C.
Compromise proposed bills between the two houses of the Congress
- D.
Review revenue bills
- E.
Determine if proposed bills are worthy of continuing the legislative process
- 51.Which of the following is considered to be the main trial court within the federal court system?
- A.
The Supreme Court
- B.
A district court
- C.
An appellate court
- D.
A federal circuit court
- E.
A court of appeals
- 52.Which of the following best describes the action taken by the Congress when the presidnet vetoes a bill?
- A.
The bill is tabled
- B.
The bill is sent to a conference committee
- C.
The Speaker of the House is sent to discuss the bill with the president
- D.
The bill may become a law if both houses override the presidential veto by a two-thirds vote
- E.
The bill may become a law if both houses override the presidential veto by a simple majority in each house
- 53.Which of the following is a false statement about the United States Constitution?
- A.
It is the guideline for fundamental law in the United States
- B.
It provides for a system of checks and balances among the branches of governmnet
- C.
It limits the individual liberties of the American people
- D.
It provides for the protection of individual freedoms
- E.
It provides for the separation of power among the three branches of government
- 54.Which of the following is a characteristic of cooperative federalism?I. block grantsII. revenue sharingIII. federal grants-in-aidIV. devolution
- A.
I, II, and IV only
- B.
I, II, and III only
- C.
II, III, and IV only
- D.
I only
- E.
II only
- 55.In the absence of the vice president, who is the presiding officer in the United States Senate?
- A.
The president of the Senate
- B.
The president pro tem
- C.
The majority leader
- D.
The minority leader
- E.
The speaker
- 56.Where in the Constitution is the establishment of a federal court system found?
- A.
Article I
- B.
Article II
- C.
Articles I and II
- D.
Articles II and IV
- E.
Article III
- 57.Which of the Supreme Courts was the most active in the area of increasing the rights of the accused?
- A.
Warren Court
- B.
Rehnquist Court
- C.
Marshall Court
- D.
Nixon Court
- E.
Taft Court
- 58.Which of the following is part of the legislative process in the House of Representatives but NOT in the Senate?
- A.
Debate on the floor
- B.
A filibuster
- C.
Referral to committee
- D.
Roll-call vote
- E.
Assignment of rules
- 59.If a state is using a party-column ballot, what type of voting strategy is a voter more likely to use?
- A.
Split-ticket voting
- B.
Party-line voting
- C.
Nonpartisan voting
- D.
Straight-ticket voting
- E.
Partisan voting
- 60.According to James David Barber, which of the following is not a classification of presidential character?
- A.
Positive-assertive
- B.
Passive-negative
- C.
Active-negative
- D.
Passive-positive
- E.
Active-positive
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