POSC 100 FINAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which of the following are provided by the government as public goods?
a
national defense, police protection
b
toll roads, air pollution
c
regulation of prescription drugs, local electric service
d
Social Security, national health insurance - Answers - a
national defense, police protection
Which of the following are included among Congress's enumerated powers?
a
assisting those who are in need
b
providing for public schools
c
establishing a common currency
d
passing an antitrust law - Answers - c
establishing a common currency
When did it become common for the national government to actively manage the overall
economy?
a
the Cold War (1950s to 1980s)
b
the Great Depression (1930s)
c
the Roaring 20s.
d
the Gilded Age (1880s and 1890s) - Answers - b
the Great Depression (1930s)
National defense fell from about 62 percent of all federal spending in 1955 to
approximately what percentage in 2019? - Answers - 15.4
Which of the following is consistently the smallest category of federal spending?
a
health
,b
income security
c
international
d
national defense - Answers - c
international
Medicare and Medicaid did not exist until 1965. By 2019, approximately what
percentage of federal spending was allocated to health care?
a
10
b
18
c
28
d
40 - Answers - c
28
Which of the following statements best characterizes the overall shift in federal
government spending since 1955?
a
National defense is no longer important.
b
There is much greater emphasis on social insurance and redistribution.
c
The national debt is clearly out of control.
d
Functions in the "Other" category are being neglected. - Answers - b
There is much greater emphasis on social insurance and redistribution.
Which of the following were part of democracy in ancient Greece?
a
civil rights and liberties
b
voting rights for free adult native-born men
c
discrimination based on race
d
separation of powers - Answers - b
voting rights for free adult native-born men
The Bill of Rights refers to what part of the U.S. Constitution?
,a
Article 1, section 8
b
Amendments I to VIII
c
Amendments I to X
d
the Preamble - Answers - c
Amendments I to X
True or False: The Constitution states that whichever political party has the most seats
will control Congress.
a
True
b
False - Answers - b
False
True or False: Voters in the United States are never allowed to vote directly on public
policies at the national level.
a
True
b
False - Answers - a
True
Social Security is a form of insurance that mostly protects against which of the following
conditions?
a
being no longer employed due to age
b
being poor
c
being disabled
d
being temporarily unemployed - Answers - a
being no longer employed due to age
Which of the following policies is most likely to redistribute money from wealthy
taxpayers to poor beneficiaries?
a
, Social Security
b
Medicaid
c
tax deductions for charitable contributions
d
agricultural price supports - Answers - b
Medicaid
Which of the following may be justified as a means to discourage undesirable
preferences?
a
a tax deduction for interest on home mortgages
b
laws requiring car drivers to carry collision insurance
c
a law stating that English is the official language of the United States
d
a law requiring that public officials profess a belief in a supreme being - Answers - b
laws requiring car drivers to carry collision insurance
What percentage of those surveyed by the Pew Research Center believe that
government is dominated by a few big interests? - Answers - 76
Which branch of government consistently receives the lowest ratings in public opinion
polls?
a
legislative
b
executive
c
judicial
d
military - Answers - a
legislative
Prior to 2018, when was the last time a non-presidential election saw a voter turnout
rate of more than 50 percent?
a
1900
b
1914
c
1946
Which of the following are provided by the government as public goods?
a
national defense, police protection
b
toll roads, air pollution
c
regulation of prescription drugs, local electric service
d
Social Security, national health insurance - Answers - a
national defense, police protection
Which of the following are included among Congress's enumerated powers?
a
assisting those who are in need
b
providing for public schools
c
establishing a common currency
d
passing an antitrust law - Answers - c
establishing a common currency
When did it become common for the national government to actively manage the overall
economy?
a
the Cold War (1950s to 1980s)
b
the Great Depression (1930s)
c
the Roaring 20s.
d
the Gilded Age (1880s and 1890s) - Answers - b
the Great Depression (1930s)
National defense fell from about 62 percent of all federal spending in 1955 to
approximately what percentage in 2019? - Answers - 15.4
Which of the following is consistently the smallest category of federal spending?
a
health
,b
income security
c
international
d
national defense - Answers - c
international
Medicare and Medicaid did not exist until 1965. By 2019, approximately what
percentage of federal spending was allocated to health care?
a
10
b
18
c
28
d
40 - Answers - c
28
Which of the following statements best characterizes the overall shift in federal
government spending since 1955?
a
National defense is no longer important.
b
There is much greater emphasis on social insurance and redistribution.
c
The national debt is clearly out of control.
d
Functions in the "Other" category are being neglected. - Answers - b
There is much greater emphasis on social insurance and redistribution.
Which of the following were part of democracy in ancient Greece?
a
civil rights and liberties
b
voting rights for free adult native-born men
c
discrimination based on race
d
separation of powers - Answers - b
voting rights for free adult native-born men
The Bill of Rights refers to what part of the U.S. Constitution?
,a
Article 1, section 8
b
Amendments I to VIII
c
Amendments I to X
d
the Preamble - Answers - c
Amendments I to X
True or False: The Constitution states that whichever political party has the most seats
will control Congress.
a
True
b
False - Answers - b
False
True or False: Voters in the United States are never allowed to vote directly on public
policies at the national level.
a
True
b
False - Answers - a
True
Social Security is a form of insurance that mostly protects against which of the following
conditions?
a
being no longer employed due to age
b
being poor
c
being disabled
d
being temporarily unemployed - Answers - a
being no longer employed due to age
Which of the following policies is most likely to redistribute money from wealthy
taxpayers to poor beneficiaries?
a
, Social Security
b
Medicaid
c
tax deductions for charitable contributions
d
agricultural price supports - Answers - b
Medicaid
Which of the following may be justified as a means to discourage undesirable
preferences?
a
a tax deduction for interest on home mortgages
b
laws requiring car drivers to carry collision insurance
c
a law stating that English is the official language of the United States
d
a law requiring that public officials profess a belief in a supreme being - Answers - b
laws requiring car drivers to carry collision insurance
What percentage of those surveyed by the Pew Research Center believe that
government is dominated by a few big interests? - Answers - 76
Which branch of government consistently receives the lowest ratings in public opinion
polls?
a
legislative
b
executive
c
judicial
d
military - Answers - a
legislative
Prior to 2018, when was the last time a non-presidential election saw a voter turnout
rate of more than 50 percent?
a
1900
b
1914
c
1946
