Test Bank For
American Government Your Voice, Your Future, Seventh Edition Matthew R. Kerbel
Chapters 1-16
Chapter 1
Multiple Choice
1. Politics is best described as the process of
a. making and enforcing laws and policies.
b. selecting governmental leaders.
c. influencing actions and policies of a government.
d. administering and executing governmental activities.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Heading
Difficulty Level: Medium
2. Politics and government are seen as
a. synonymous with each other.
b. closely connected to each other.
c. unrelated to each other.
d. opposed to each other.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Heading
Difficulty Level: Medium
3. Bridget Mergens’s request to start a new club on her high school campus was different be-
cause she wanted to start a campus-sponsored ______.
a. Christian bible club.
b. athletic booster club.
c. Gay and Lesbian Alliance club.
d. political debate club.
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
,Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. The legal basis of Bridget Mergens’s claim against her high school was which of the follow-
ing?
a. the Equal Rights Amendment
b. the Fourteenth Amendment
c. the Civil Rights Act of 1964
d. the Equal Access Act of 1984
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
5. The purpose of the Equal Access Act of 1984 was to
a. enable the ability of public high schools to place limits on faith-based clubs and organizations.
b. restrict the ability of public high schools to limit faith-based clubs and organizations.
c. create new opportunities for students to start a variety of new clubs and organizations.
d. place limits on the types of new clubs and organizations that could be created on a public
school campus.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. Which of the following best explains the outcome of the Mergens case?
a. The Court reaffirmed the principle of separation of church and state by forbidding the creation
of faith-based clubs on campus.
b. The Court upheld students’ rights to establish faith-based clubs and organizations on high
school campuses.
c. The Court refused to acknowledge the Equal Access Act in its application to high school cam-
puses.
d. The Court decided that high school students lacked the maturity to conduct faith-based activi-
ties on campus.
Ans: B
,Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
7. An unintended consequence of the Mergens decision was the application of the Equal Access
Act (EAA) to organizations and clubs related to
a. intramural sports.
b. free speech and debate.
c. LGBT associations.
d. Bible study groups.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
8. In the American system of political culture, the emphasis tends to be on which of the follow-
ing?
a. equality of outcome
b. equality of income
c. equality of performance
d. equality of opportunity
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Medium
9. In the Declaration of Independence, those rights that are described as ―self-evident‖ are also
referred to as
a. inalienable rights.
b. privileges of opportunity.
c. equality of opportunity.
d. the Bill of Rights.
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: knowledge
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Easy
, 10. Which of the following best describes the difference between privileges and rights?
a. Privileges can only be granted by a government.
b. Rights must be earned through social status.
c. Privileges may be granted and withdrawn by government.
d. Rights and privileges are synonymous with each other.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Hard
11. When Thomas Jefferson wrote about the ―pursuit of happiness‖ in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, he was actually tapping into
a. the ideals of liberty.
b. fair and equal justice.
c. equality of outcome.
d. the American Dream.
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Equality
Difficulty Level: Medium
12. Which of these is a fundamental prerequisite to achieving the ―American Dream"?
a. talent and hard work
b. equality of outcome
c. economic privilege
d. advanced social status
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Equality
Difficulty Level: Medium
13. According to a recent Harvard study, which of the following statements is most correct with
regard to the American Dream?
a. Young people 18–27 showed no belief in the achievability of the American Dream.
American Government Your Voice, Your Future, Seventh Edition Matthew R. Kerbel
Chapters 1-16
Chapter 1
Multiple Choice
1. Politics is best described as the process of
a. making and enforcing laws and policies.
b. selecting governmental leaders.
c. influencing actions and policies of a government.
d. administering and executing governmental activities.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Heading
Difficulty Level: Medium
2. Politics and government are seen as
a. synonymous with each other.
b. closely connected to each other.
c. unrelated to each other.
d. opposed to each other.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: Heading
Difficulty Level: Medium
3. Bridget Mergens’s request to start a new club on her high school campus was different be-
cause she wanted to start a campus-sponsored ______.
a. Christian bible club.
b. athletic booster club.
c. Gay and Lesbian Alliance club.
d. political debate club.
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
,Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Easy
4. The legal basis of Bridget Mergens’s claim against her high school was which of the follow-
ing?
a. the Equal Rights Amendment
b. the Fourteenth Amendment
c. the Civil Rights Act of 1964
d. the Equal Access Act of 1984
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
5. The purpose of the Equal Access Act of 1984 was to
a. enable the ability of public high schools to place limits on faith-based clubs and organizations.
b. restrict the ability of public high schools to limit faith-based clubs and organizations.
c. create new opportunities for students to start a variety of new clubs and organizations.
d. place limits on the types of new clubs and organizations that could be created on a public
school campus.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Medium
6. Which of the following best explains the outcome of the Mergens case?
a. The Court reaffirmed the principle of separation of church and state by forbidding the creation
of faith-based clubs on campus.
b. The Court upheld students’ rights to establish faith-based clubs and organizations on high
school campuses.
c. The Court refused to acknowledge the Equal Access Act in its application to high school cam-
puses.
d. The Court decided that high school students lacked the maturity to conduct faith-based activi-
ties on campus.
Ans: B
,Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
7. An unintended consequence of the Mergens decision was the application of the Equal Access
Act (EAA) to organizations and clubs related to
a. intramural sports.
b. free speech and debate.
c. LGBT associations.
d. Bible study groups.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-1: Explain how diverse Americans have been able to use the same politi-
cal tools to achieve their own distinct visions of good government
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: AMERICAN STUDENTS CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS
Difficulty Level: Hard
8. In the American system of political culture, the emphasis tends to be on which of the follow-
ing?
a. equality of outcome
b. equality of income
c. equality of performance
d. equality of opportunity
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Medium
9. In the Declaration of Independence, those rights that are described as ―self-evident‖ are also
referred to as
a. inalienable rights.
b. privileges of opportunity.
c. equality of opportunity.
d. the Bill of Rights.
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: knowledge
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Easy
, 10. Which of the following best describes the difference between privileges and rights?
a. Privileges can only be granted by a government.
b. Rights must be earned through social status.
c. Privileges may be granted and withdrawn by government.
d. Rights and privileges are synonymous with each other.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: People Matter! But So Do Ideas
Difficulty Level: Hard
11. When Thomas Jefferson wrote about the ―pursuit of happiness‖ in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, he was actually tapping into
a. the ideals of liberty.
b. fair and equal justice.
c. equality of outcome.
d. the American Dream.
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Equality
Difficulty Level: Medium
12. Which of these is a fundamental prerequisite to achieving the ―American Dream"?
a. talent and hard work
b. equality of outcome
c. economic privilege
d. advanced social status
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1-2: Define the key elements of American political culture.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: Equality
Difficulty Level: Medium
13. According to a recent Harvard study, which of the following statements is most correct with
regard to the American Dream?
a. Young people 18–27 showed no belief in the achievability of the American Dream.
