American Government CLEP - 2022 Study Guide Questions and Answers (Graded A)

Which of the following statements best reflects the pluralist theory of American politics? - Answer- Public policies emerge from compromises reached among competing groups. Which of the following is generally the most significant influence on an individual's identification with a particular political party? - Answer- Family Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the House of Representatives? - Answer- Ways and Means Which of the following statements about Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is correct? - Answer- It declared segregation by race in the public schools unconstitutional. Prior to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, literacy tests were used by some southern states to - Answer- prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote The practice whereby individual senators can veto federal judicial nominations in their respective states is called - Answer- senatorial courtesy Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved - Answer- in a conference committee Which of the following principles protects a citizen from imprisonment without trial? - Answer- Due process The passage of legislation in Congress often depends on mutual accommodations among members. This suggests that, to some extent, congressional behavior is based on - Answer- the principle of reciprocity Which of the following statements accurately describes the president's veto power? I. A president sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to influence congressional decision making. II. A president typically vetoes about a third of the bills passed by Congress. III. Congress is usually unable to override a president's veto. - Answer- I and III only All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT - Answer- voting qualifications of the electorate The principle of stare decisis refers to which of the following? - Answer- The judicial principle of following precedents that were established in previous court decisions The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is undermined by the fact that - Answer- the loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the president and loyalty to their own executive departments All of the following are constitutional rights that neither the federal government nor the states can restrict EXCEPT the right to - Answer- be indicted by grand jury In the electoral history of the United States, third parties have been effective vehicles of protest when they - Answer- dramatized issues and positions that were being ignored by the major parties Which of the following best defines the term "judicial activism"? - Answer- The attempts by judges to influence public policy through their case decisions High levels of political participation have been found to be positively associated with which of the following? I. A high level of interest in politics II. A sense of political efficacy III. A strong sense of civic duty - Answer- I, II, and III In the past 30 years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been - Answer- incumbency Which of the following best describes the concept of federalism embodied in the United States government? - Answer- The Constitution divides power between a central government and its constituent governments, with some powers being shared. The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives primarily stems from its authority to - Answer- limit the time for debate and determine whether amendments to a bill can be considered Which of the following is a function of the White House Office? - Answer- Advising the president on political decisions A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that interest groups generally do NOT - Answer- occupy a place on the ballot An election is a realigning or critical election if - Answer- there is a lasting change in party coalitions Which of the following Supreme Court cases involved the principle of one person, one vote? - Answer- Baker v. Carr The passage of broad legislation that leaves the making of specific rules to the executive branch is an example of - Answer- delegated authority The redrawing of congressional districts in such a way as to give special advantage to one political party is referred to as - Answer- gerrymandering The details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following settings? - Answer- A subcommittee A theoretical explanation of the operation of diverse interests in American politics is found in - Answer- The Federalist papers The framers of the original Constitution thought that which of the following would best protect judicial independence? - Answer- Life tenure during good behavior According to the table above, which of the following statements is true? - Answer- In the 1996 election, women between the ages of 18 and 29 were more likely to identify themselves as Democrats than were men between the ages of 18 and 29. Which of the following activities of American labor unions is permissible by law? - Answer- Engaging in strikes Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics? - Answer- The higher one's socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process. According to the information in the chart above, which of the following statements is true? - Answer- The most recent presidents held fewer press conferences per year than presidents in the 1920s and 1930s. One important change in political culture since the Second World War is that United States citizens have become - Answer- less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders All of the following statements correctly describe judicial appointments at the federal level EXCEPT: - Answer- Congress nominates and confirms all appointments to the federal judiciary. Which of the following agencies determines the domestic monetary policy of the United States? - Answer- The Federal Reserve Board