American Politics Today Test Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025
Re distributive Tax Policies - Answers Policies, generally favored by democratic politicians, that use
taxation to attempt to create greater social equality (i.e. higher taxation of the rich to provide programs
for the poor)
Collective Action Problem - Answers a situation in which the members of a group would benefit by
working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and
reaping benefits from those who do the work
Republican Democracy - Answers a form of government in which the interests of the people are
represented through elected leaders
Republicanism - Answers A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at
the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
Federalist 10 - Answers An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a
large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority
more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.
Size Principle - Answers As a large and diverse republic majority interests would be less likely to organize
Virginia Plan - Answers "Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional
representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus
prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan - Answers A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new
congress
Great Compromise - Answers 1787; This compromise was between the large and small states of the
colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the
House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of
size, would have 2 senators. All tax bills and revenues would originate in the House. This compromise
combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their
problems.
National Supremacy Clause - Answers the constitutional provision that declares that the Constitution
and laws of the United States take precedence over the constitutions and laws of the states
3/5ths compromise - Answers agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of
other persons in determining representation in Congress
Necessary and Proper Clause - Answers Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting
forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the
right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national
government
Re distributive Tax Policies - Answers Policies, generally favored by democratic politicians, that use
taxation to attempt to create greater social equality (i.e. higher taxation of the rich to provide programs
for the poor)
Collective Action Problem - Answers a situation in which the members of a group would benefit by
working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and
reaping benefits from those who do the work
Republican Democracy - Answers a form of government in which the interests of the people are
represented through elected leaders
Republicanism - Answers A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at
the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.
Federalist 10 - Answers An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a
large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority
more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.
Size Principle - Answers As a large and diverse republic majority interests would be less likely to organize
Virginia Plan - Answers "Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional
representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus
prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.
New Jersey Plan - Answers A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new
congress
Great Compromise - Answers 1787; This compromise was between the large and small states of the
colonies. The Great Compromise resolved that there would be representation by population in the
House of Representatives, and equal representation would exist in the Senate. Each state, regardless of
size, would have 2 senators. All tax bills and revenues would originate in the House. This compromise
combined the needs of both large and small states and formed a fair and sensible resolution to their
problems.
National Supremacy Clause - Answers the constitutional provision that declares that the Constitution
and laws of the United States take precedence over the constitutions and laws of the states
3/5ths compromise - Answers agreement providing that enslaved persons would count as three-fifths of
other persons in determining representation in Congress
Necessary and Proper Clause - Answers Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting
forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the
right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national
government
