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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Test Bank: American Government and Politics Today: Brief, 12th
Edition
Authors: Steffen Schmidt, Mack Shelley, Barbara Bardes, Brian King
Part I. The American System
1. The Democratic Republic
2. Forging a New Government: The Constitution
3. Federalism
4. Civil Liberties
5. Civil Rights
Part II. The Politics of American Democracy
6. Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and the Media
7. Interest Groups and Political Parties
8. Campaigns and Elections
Part III. Institutions of American Government
9. Congress
10. The Presidency
11. The Executive Branch
12. The Courts
Part IV. Policymaking
13. Domestic and Economic Policy
14. Foreign Policy
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Chapter 1 The Democratic Republic
1. What is the primary purpose of government according to the social contract theory?
a. T o maximize individual wealth and economic growth
b. To provide order and protect protect individual liberties
c. T o promote cultural and artistic development
d. To ensure equality in all aspects of life
ANSWER: b
2. Which of the following best describes the concept of legitimacy in government?
a. T he ability of a government to enforce laws through military power
b. The acceptance by society that the government has the rightful authority to
rule
c. T he formal authority granted to government offices and departments by law
d. The government's ability to provide order and maintain security for its citizens
ANSWER: b
3. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a "failed state"?
a.A country with a strong economy but limited political freedoms
b.A country where the government has lost the ability to provide order
c.A country with a high level of technological innovation but poor healthcare
d.A country with a democratic government but high levels of corruption
ANSWER: b
4. According to political scientists, what is the key function of politics in a society?
a. T o resolve conflicts and decide who gets what, when, and how
b. To maximize economic growth and prosperity
c. T o preserve cultural traditions and values
d. To protect individual rights and freedoms
ANSWER: a
5. Which of the following best describes the relationship between authority and legitimacy in government?
a.Authority is the power to enforce laws, while legitimacy is the acceptance of that
authority by society.
b. Authority is the right to make decisions, while legitimacy is the ability to carry out
those decisions through force.
c. Authority is granted by formal institutions, while legitimacy is granted by military
support.
d. Authority comes from constitutional powers, while legitimacy comes from economic
control.
ANSWER: a
6. Which of the following is a key difference between the political theories of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke?
a. H obbes believed in limited government, while Locke advocated for an all-powerful
government.
b. Hobbes emphasized the need for order, while Locke emphasized the protection of
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Chapter 1 The Democratic Republic
individual liberties.
c. H obbes supported the idea of a social contract, while Locke rejected it.
d. Hobbes believed in the divine right of kings, while Locke believed in the rule of the
majority.
ANSWER: b
7. What is the primary reason for limiting government power according to John Locke's political theory?
a. T o ensure that the government can effectively control the economy
b. To protect the liberties of the people from government abuse
c. T o allow the government to suppress dissent more effectively
d. To promote the concentration of power in the hands of a few leaders
ANSWER: b
8. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of "authority" in government?
a. A police officer directing traffic and enforcing laws based on legal authority
b. A private security guard patrolling a shopping mall
c. A community group recommending changes to traffic patterns
d. A neighborhood association suggesting property maintenance rules
ANSWER: a
9. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the loss of legitimacy in a government?
a. W idespread protests erupt after a disputed election, leading to the resignation of the
country's leader.
b. Military leaders refuse to follow government orders to suppress peaceful
demonstrations.
c. A president's approval ratings drop due to economic downturns, but they remain in
office.
d. A country enforces strict environmental regulations that some businesses oppose.
ANSWER: a
10. According to John Locke's social contract theory, what happens when individuals enter civil society?
a. A ll individual freedoms are surrendered to ensure social order
b. Some freedoms are given up in exchange for government
protection
c. I ndividual liberties become secondary to collective security
d. Government authority replaces individual autonomy
ANSWER: b
11. W hich of the following best describes the relationship between order and liberty in political theory?
a. O rder and liberty are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist.
b. Order is necessary for liberty to exist, but too much order can restrict liberty.
c. L iberty is necessary for order to exist, but too much liberty can restrict order.
d. Order and liberty must be balanced through the consent of the governed.
ANSWER: b