2026 Pols 207 Exam 1 LATEST VERSION [QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST UPDATE 2026
GRADED A
federal government - CORRECT ANSWER a form of government in which powers
are divided between a central government and several local governments. American
government is one of the most complex systems to be found in any nation, system is
largely defined by the US constitution and US Supreme Court decisions interpreting it. If
the national government passes a law, it is the "supreme" law of the land, overriding any
states.
state and local government - CORRECT ANSWER each is part of the federal system
of government, and their local governments must largely comply with any standards
their state might impose. Each state has its own constitution that shapes actions in that
state. State and local create policies and activities that have the greatest impact on daily
lives.
United States v Lopez - CORRECT ANSWER 1995 - The Commerce Clause of the
Constitution does not give Congress the power to prohibit mere possession of a gun
near a school, because gun possession by itself is not an economic activity that affects
interstate commerce even indirectly.
term limits - CORRECT ANSWER in the case US Term Limits v. Thornton (1995), by
a narrow vote of 5-4, the Court declared that state restrictions on who could run for
Congress were unconstitutional. Even voters cannot set congressional standards other
than citizenship, a minimum age, and residency in the state where an official is elected.
Limits were struck down for Congress but let stand the limits on state legislators. All
states have great latitude in setting standards for who can run for state and local offices
and how elections are administered.
national speed limits - CORRECT ANSWER Congress first passed the 55 mph
national speed limit in 1973 to help conserve oil when OPEC threatened our oil supply.
The Supreme Court subsequently rules that setting a national speed limit exceeded the
powers granted to Congress by the Constitution. Congress bypassed the Court's ruling
by tying funds granted to the states for highways to their enactment of a 55 mph speed
limit, and all states did. The federal government retained the speed limit as a safety
measure, as supposedly, people driving slower saves lives - states retained the limits
only because they needed the federal dollars to build and maintain highways. As
,predicted, most removed the limit within days of Congress voting to allow the states to
regulate their highways.
carrying concealed weapons - CORRECT ANSWER in May of 1995, Texas governor
George W Bush signed into law the right of Texas to carry concealed handguns with
proper permits. Texas joined Florida and several other states in enacting this law that
was supposed to deter crime. The argument for claims criminals would hesitate knowing
a prospective victim was carrying; arguments against claim criminals might just shoot
first, carriers might shoot themselves or bystanders, and the result could be arguments
being solved with gunfire more regularly. Since the enactment of the law in Florida
years after Texas, nothing has happened differently than before enactment - crime has
not reduced and no greater number of innocent bystanders have been shot that before.
Why does evidence of the effect of proposed laws weigh so little in their enactment by
other states?
3 actors in federal system - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Congress and the president, 2)
state legislatures and executives, and 3) the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress can pass
laws, and the states can pass laws. When Congress passes a law and the president
signs it, we have a national standard set, such as having no handguns in schools and a
55 mph speed limit.
federal spending - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, the federal government spent
nearly $2.9 trillion. This would have allowed making 2.9 million millionaires, or about
one millionaire per every 104 Americans. With the population of the United States
having been nearly 302 million in 2007, federal spending was $9,508 for every
American.
state and local spending - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, American state and local
governments spent $1.9 trillion. Through simple arithmetic (2.9 + 1.9), we could
calculate total government spending as 4.8 trillion dollars, 60% federal and 40% state
and local. But that conclusion would be incorrect - federal grants, funds transferred from
the federal government to state and local governments, are included in both spending
totals. Federal grant funds in 2007 amounted to more than $376 billion, or 9% of
government spending. Total government spending in 2007 was comprised of 57%
raised and spent by the federal government, 34% raised and spent by the state and
local governments, and 9% raised by the federal government but spent by the state and
local governments.
importance of government spending - CORRECT ANSWER we can now appreciate
that a key element of American federalism is fiscal. The federal government takes the
blame for raising 66% of government spending. State and local governments collect the
other 34% but receive the credit for 43% of total government spending. No wonder that
most Americans view the federal government as extraordinarily wasteful and inefficient
and view state/local governments as more prudent and efficient! Without counting
federal grants twice, total spending by all governments in 2007 was $4.4 trillion. If you
, did not pay at least $14,521 in all government taxes and fees in 2007, you did not pay
your share.
government expenditures - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, the spending by all three
levels of government in top spending areas: the top 7 account for 78% of all spending,
the federal government provides Social Security and defense and more than half of
government funding for health, welfare, and social services, housing, and community
development, and natural resources. The federal gov pays the greatest share of
governmental interest payments, 76%. The fed gov does not do much in the areas of
elementary/secondary education; police, courts, and prisons; highways or fire services -
covered by state and local mostly. Health and hospitals is the most expensive
government service - about 20% of all governmental expenditures go to this service, fed
gov pays over half. National defense and Social Security are the 2nd and 3rd most
expensive - about 13% of expenditures, paid for mainly by the fed gov.
education expenditures - CORRECT ANSWER the 4th most expensive governmental
service, public primary and secondary education, takes 12% of all governmental
expenditures and is paid almost exclusively by state and local governments. The federal
government pays only 6% of primary and secondary education expenses. Considering
all the national discussion of our educational system's deficiencies, the supposed need
for us to compete other countries, and the claims of presidents that they would improve
education in the U.S., it may be surprising to find that the federal government does not
have much to do with financing mandatory public education.
vote with their feet - CORRECT ANSWER if Congress or the Supreme Court makes
a law, it is likely to reflect a national consensus and will be enforced at least fairly
consistently across the land. When a state or local government makes a law, however,
it is enforced only by that government and reflects only a local preference for the policy -
we might expect state and local laws to differ from one state or community to the next.
Local government laws may only apply with that city, county, or school district. This
allows people to move to state and locals governments with policies and tax levels they
prefer
finding the "best" state - CORRECT ANSWER states differ in many ways that have
important implications about the quality or performance of state government and about
the quality of our daily lives. We might prefer to live in a state that enacts programs
consistent with our personal values. While we may desire that the state with the best job
for us, with the best climate, and with people like us be the same as the state with the
best public policies, we probably forego the correct policies if we can satisfy other
desires. Most will move nearly anywhere in the U.S. for a good job. There is not "best"
state for everyone
physical and demographic attributes - CORRECT ANSWER state differences; this
includes the types of people that live within each state. The 50 states differ greatly both
in size and population. More populous and typically more diverse states, however,
assure a full range of occupations that result from more complex or well-developed
ANSWERS] WITH PRACTICE EXAM DETAILED AND
VERIFIED FOR GUARANTEED PASS- LATEST UPDATE 2026
GRADED A
federal government - CORRECT ANSWER a form of government in which powers
are divided between a central government and several local governments. American
government is one of the most complex systems to be found in any nation, system is
largely defined by the US constitution and US Supreme Court decisions interpreting it. If
the national government passes a law, it is the "supreme" law of the land, overriding any
states.
state and local government - CORRECT ANSWER each is part of the federal system
of government, and their local governments must largely comply with any standards
their state might impose. Each state has its own constitution that shapes actions in that
state. State and local create policies and activities that have the greatest impact on daily
lives.
United States v Lopez - CORRECT ANSWER 1995 - The Commerce Clause of the
Constitution does not give Congress the power to prohibit mere possession of a gun
near a school, because gun possession by itself is not an economic activity that affects
interstate commerce even indirectly.
term limits - CORRECT ANSWER in the case US Term Limits v. Thornton (1995), by
a narrow vote of 5-4, the Court declared that state restrictions on who could run for
Congress were unconstitutional. Even voters cannot set congressional standards other
than citizenship, a minimum age, and residency in the state where an official is elected.
Limits were struck down for Congress but let stand the limits on state legislators. All
states have great latitude in setting standards for who can run for state and local offices
and how elections are administered.
national speed limits - CORRECT ANSWER Congress first passed the 55 mph
national speed limit in 1973 to help conserve oil when OPEC threatened our oil supply.
The Supreme Court subsequently rules that setting a national speed limit exceeded the
powers granted to Congress by the Constitution. Congress bypassed the Court's ruling
by tying funds granted to the states for highways to their enactment of a 55 mph speed
limit, and all states did. The federal government retained the speed limit as a safety
measure, as supposedly, people driving slower saves lives - states retained the limits
only because they needed the federal dollars to build and maintain highways. As
,predicted, most removed the limit within days of Congress voting to allow the states to
regulate their highways.
carrying concealed weapons - CORRECT ANSWER in May of 1995, Texas governor
George W Bush signed into law the right of Texas to carry concealed handguns with
proper permits. Texas joined Florida and several other states in enacting this law that
was supposed to deter crime. The argument for claims criminals would hesitate knowing
a prospective victim was carrying; arguments against claim criminals might just shoot
first, carriers might shoot themselves or bystanders, and the result could be arguments
being solved with gunfire more regularly. Since the enactment of the law in Florida
years after Texas, nothing has happened differently than before enactment - crime has
not reduced and no greater number of innocent bystanders have been shot that before.
Why does evidence of the effect of proposed laws weigh so little in their enactment by
other states?
3 actors in federal system - CORRECT ANSWER 1) Congress and the president, 2)
state legislatures and executives, and 3) the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress can pass
laws, and the states can pass laws. When Congress passes a law and the president
signs it, we have a national standard set, such as having no handguns in schools and a
55 mph speed limit.
federal spending - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, the federal government spent
nearly $2.9 trillion. This would have allowed making 2.9 million millionaires, or about
one millionaire per every 104 Americans. With the population of the United States
having been nearly 302 million in 2007, federal spending was $9,508 for every
American.
state and local spending - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, American state and local
governments spent $1.9 trillion. Through simple arithmetic (2.9 + 1.9), we could
calculate total government spending as 4.8 trillion dollars, 60% federal and 40% state
and local. But that conclusion would be incorrect - federal grants, funds transferred from
the federal government to state and local governments, are included in both spending
totals. Federal grant funds in 2007 amounted to more than $376 billion, or 9% of
government spending. Total government spending in 2007 was comprised of 57%
raised and spent by the federal government, 34% raised and spent by the state and
local governments, and 9% raised by the federal government but spent by the state and
local governments.
importance of government spending - CORRECT ANSWER we can now appreciate
that a key element of American federalism is fiscal. The federal government takes the
blame for raising 66% of government spending. State and local governments collect the
other 34% but receive the credit for 43% of total government spending. No wonder that
most Americans view the federal government as extraordinarily wasteful and inefficient
and view state/local governments as more prudent and efficient! Without counting
federal grants twice, total spending by all governments in 2007 was $4.4 trillion. If you
, did not pay at least $14,521 in all government taxes and fees in 2007, you did not pay
your share.
government expenditures - CORRECT ANSWER in 2007, the spending by all three
levels of government in top spending areas: the top 7 account for 78% of all spending,
the federal government provides Social Security and defense and more than half of
government funding for health, welfare, and social services, housing, and community
development, and natural resources. The federal gov pays the greatest share of
governmental interest payments, 76%. The fed gov does not do much in the areas of
elementary/secondary education; police, courts, and prisons; highways or fire services -
covered by state and local mostly. Health and hospitals is the most expensive
government service - about 20% of all governmental expenditures go to this service, fed
gov pays over half. National defense and Social Security are the 2nd and 3rd most
expensive - about 13% of expenditures, paid for mainly by the fed gov.
education expenditures - CORRECT ANSWER the 4th most expensive governmental
service, public primary and secondary education, takes 12% of all governmental
expenditures and is paid almost exclusively by state and local governments. The federal
government pays only 6% of primary and secondary education expenses. Considering
all the national discussion of our educational system's deficiencies, the supposed need
for us to compete other countries, and the claims of presidents that they would improve
education in the U.S., it may be surprising to find that the federal government does not
have much to do with financing mandatory public education.
vote with their feet - CORRECT ANSWER if Congress or the Supreme Court makes
a law, it is likely to reflect a national consensus and will be enforced at least fairly
consistently across the land. When a state or local government makes a law, however,
it is enforced only by that government and reflects only a local preference for the policy -
we might expect state and local laws to differ from one state or community to the next.
Local government laws may only apply with that city, county, or school district. This
allows people to move to state and locals governments with policies and tax levels they
prefer
finding the "best" state - CORRECT ANSWER states differ in many ways that have
important implications about the quality or performance of state government and about
the quality of our daily lives. We might prefer to live in a state that enacts programs
consistent with our personal values. While we may desire that the state with the best job
for us, with the best climate, and with people like us be the same as the state with the
best public policies, we probably forego the correct policies if we can satisfy other
desires. Most will move nearly anywhere in the U.S. for a good job. There is not "best"
state for everyone
physical and demographic attributes - CORRECT ANSWER state differences; this
includes the types of people that live within each state. The 50 states differ greatly both
in size and population. More populous and typically more diverse states, however,
assure a full range of occupations that result from more complex or well-developed
