Test Bank For
We the People 2025 Release Thomas E. Patterson
Chapters 1-17
Chapter 01
Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen
Multiple Choice Questions
1. (p. 2) Which of the following characterizes journalist Walter Lippmann's views on
democracy?
A. He felt that well-funded private interest groups and lobbyists had taken the true
majoritarian power of democracy away from the voting public.
B. He felt that modern democratic government had become an unhealthy, pluralistic
enterprise.
C. He believed that among forms of government, only democracy could provide a citizen with
the ability to be a "progressive being."
D. He worried that most citizens are too uninformed to play the role democracy assigns them.
E. None of these answers is correct.
2. (p. 3) John Stuart Mill believed that any form of government should be judged on its ability
to
A. offer the individual a "plethora of policy options" in the democratic process.
B. transfer power peacefully from one set of governing officials to the next.
C. provide social services for its citizenry.
D. maintain peace and order in the territory over which it has control.
E. promote the individual as "a progressive being."
3. (p. 3) Based on his conception of responsible citizenship, John Stuart Mill felt that the best
form of government was
A. authoritarianism.
B. anarchism.
C. communism.
D. democracy.
E. socialism.
,4. (p. 3) What type of government suppresses individuality, forcing people to think and act in
prescribed ways or risk punishment?
A. communistic
B. socialistic
C. authoritarian
D. egalitarian
E. republican
5. (p. 3) In a democratic society, who or what is responsible for personal development?
A. the education system
B. political parties
C. the progressive being
D. the individual
E. parents, ministers, and political leaders
6. (p. 4) What is the major barrier to political thinking?
A. unwillingness of citizens to make the effort
B. lack of access to governmental institutions
C. elite control of political power resources
D. failure of politicians and government institutions to communicate policy details to the
public
E. lack of access to news media sources outside of sensationalist television or Internet content
7. (p. 4) Compared to two decades ago, contemporary Americans are, on average,
A. far better informed about political affairs.
B. at about the same level of being informed about political affairs.
C. getting most of their news from traditional media sources such as newspapers.
D. much more knowledgeable about the functioning of America's political institutions.
E. paying more attention to news sources that have an obvious ideological bias.
8. (p. 5) Research suggests which of the following is primarily to blame for the increase in
faulty perceptions of news items among the public?
A. changes in the forms of communication
B. a failure of government officials to communicate truthfully
C. a growing disinterest in seeking out news items
D. the growing public gap in access to more advanced forms of media transmission, such as
the Internet
E. the increasing political polarization of elected politicians
,9. (p. 6) In a survey of college students, the Intercollegiate Studies Association found that the
best predictor of a student's later participation in the nation's civic and political life is
A. a college degree.
B. a solid understanding of public affairs.
C. participation in student government.
D. participation in Greek life.
E. attending a school with a residential campus versus a "commuter" campus.
10. (p. 6) This person was the chief architect of the United States Constitution and also one of
America's top political scientists:
A. James Madison.
B. Andrew Jackson.
C. Woodrow Wilson.
D. Benjamin Franklin.
E. John Adams.
11. (p. 8) Which important aspect of European thought had a big impact on the formation of the
political culture of America?
A. Romanticism
B. Reformation
C. Renaissance
D. Rationalism
E. Enlightenment
12. (p. 9) Which of the following is NOT one of the core values of American political culture?
A. individualism
B. equality
C. cooperation
D. liberty
E. self-government
13. (p. 9) Which one of the following is NOT true of cultural or political beliefs in America?
A. America's origins as a wilderness society led to the belief that government is responsible
for providing material assistance to its citizens.
B. Americans place a greater emphasis than Europeans on personal advancement through
education.
C. Americans have traditionally favored a free-market economy.
D. America has a strong individualistic culture.
E. America's individualistic culture has not proven to be an absolute barrier to government
assistance programs.
, 14. (p. 9) According to political scientist Louis Hartz, the United States
A. constitutes a "corporate dictatorship."
B. was "born free."
C. formed a perfect union.
D. is basically a monarchical state.
E. "perfected" socialist democracy.
15. (p. 11) The citizens of which of the following countries pay the lowest tax rates relative to
the country's gross domestic product (GDP)?
A. Germany
B. Canada
C. France
D. the United States
E. Great Britain
16. (p. 11) To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they
labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?
A. the majoritarian nature of the voting and election system
B. the ability of any individual to aspire to high political office
C. the judicial nature of American politics, in which any individual can challenge powerful
interests
D. the emphasis that Americans place on economic self-reliance and free markets
E. the ability of the individual to join in labor unions and interest groups to pursue his or her
political and financial self-interests
17. (p. 11) Europeans have a greater acceptance than Americans of
A. tax and social policies that redistribute wealth.
B. the strength of the executive branch of government.
C. the majoritarian system of government.
D. the influence of corporate special interests in the legislative process.
E. the influence of corporate money in the election process.
We the People 2025 Release Thomas E. Patterson
Chapters 1-17
Chapter 01
Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen
Multiple Choice Questions
1. (p. 2) Which of the following characterizes journalist Walter Lippmann's views on
democracy?
A. He felt that well-funded private interest groups and lobbyists had taken the true
majoritarian power of democracy away from the voting public.
B. He felt that modern democratic government had become an unhealthy, pluralistic
enterprise.
C. He believed that among forms of government, only democracy could provide a citizen with
the ability to be a "progressive being."
D. He worried that most citizens are too uninformed to play the role democracy assigns them.
E. None of these answers is correct.
2. (p. 3) John Stuart Mill believed that any form of government should be judged on its ability
to
A. offer the individual a "plethora of policy options" in the democratic process.
B. transfer power peacefully from one set of governing officials to the next.
C. provide social services for its citizenry.
D. maintain peace and order in the territory over which it has control.
E. promote the individual as "a progressive being."
3. (p. 3) Based on his conception of responsible citizenship, John Stuart Mill felt that the best
form of government was
A. authoritarianism.
B. anarchism.
C. communism.
D. democracy.
E. socialism.
,4. (p. 3) What type of government suppresses individuality, forcing people to think and act in
prescribed ways or risk punishment?
A. communistic
B. socialistic
C. authoritarian
D. egalitarian
E. republican
5. (p. 3) In a democratic society, who or what is responsible for personal development?
A. the education system
B. political parties
C. the progressive being
D. the individual
E. parents, ministers, and political leaders
6. (p. 4) What is the major barrier to political thinking?
A. unwillingness of citizens to make the effort
B. lack of access to governmental institutions
C. elite control of political power resources
D. failure of politicians and government institutions to communicate policy details to the
public
E. lack of access to news media sources outside of sensationalist television or Internet content
7. (p. 4) Compared to two decades ago, contemporary Americans are, on average,
A. far better informed about political affairs.
B. at about the same level of being informed about political affairs.
C. getting most of their news from traditional media sources such as newspapers.
D. much more knowledgeable about the functioning of America's political institutions.
E. paying more attention to news sources that have an obvious ideological bias.
8. (p. 5) Research suggests which of the following is primarily to blame for the increase in
faulty perceptions of news items among the public?
A. changes in the forms of communication
B. a failure of government officials to communicate truthfully
C. a growing disinterest in seeking out news items
D. the growing public gap in access to more advanced forms of media transmission, such as
the Internet
E. the increasing political polarization of elected politicians
,9. (p. 6) In a survey of college students, the Intercollegiate Studies Association found that the
best predictor of a student's later participation in the nation's civic and political life is
A. a college degree.
B. a solid understanding of public affairs.
C. participation in student government.
D. participation in Greek life.
E. attending a school with a residential campus versus a "commuter" campus.
10. (p. 6) This person was the chief architect of the United States Constitution and also one of
America's top political scientists:
A. James Madison.
B. Andrew Jackson.
C. Woodrow Wilson.
D. Benjamin Franklin.
E. John Adams.
11. (p. 8) Which important aspect of European thought had a big impact on the formation of the
political culture of America?
A. Romanticism
B. Reformation
C. Renaissance
D. Rationalism
E. Enlightenment
12. (p. 9) Which of the following is NOT one of the core values of American political culture?
A. individualism
B. equality
C. cooperation
D. liberty
E. self-government
13. (p. 9) Which one of the following is NOT true of cultural or political beliefs in America?
A. America's origins as a wilderness society led to the belief that government is responsible
for providing material assistance to its citizens.
B. Americans place a greater emphasis than Europeans on personal advancement through
education.
C. Americans have traditionally favored a free-market economy.
D. America has a strong individualistic culture.
E. America's individualistic culture has not proven to be an absolute barrier to government
assistance programs.
, 14. (p. 9) According to political scientist Louis Hartz, the United States
A. constitutes a "corporate dictatorship."
B. was "born free."
C. formed a perfect union.
D. is basically a monarchical state.
E. "perfected" socialist democracy.
15. (p. 11) The citizens of which of the following countries pay the lowest tax rates relative to
the country's gross domestic product (GDP)?
A. Germany
B. Canada
C. France
D. the United States
E. Great Britain
16. (p. 11) To what aspect of America were William Watts and Lloyd Free referring when they
labeled it "the country of individualism par excellence"?
A. the majoritarian nature of the voting and election system
B. the ability of any individual to aspire to high political office
C. the judicial nature of American politics, in which any individual can challenge powerful
interests
D. the emphasis that Americans place on economic self-reliance and free markets
E. the ability of the individual to join in labor unions and interest groups to pursue his or her
political and financial self-interests
17. (p. 11) Europeans have a greater acceptance than Americans of
A. tax and social policies that redistribute wealth.
B. the strength of the executive branch of government.
C. the majoritarian system of government.
D. the influence of corporate special interests in the legislative process.
E. the influence of corporate money in the election process.
