Pols 102 Final Exam (MacDonald WVU)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | 2025
U.S. Code - ANSWER contains the general and permanent laws of the U.S.
Problem solving, Politics, and Interest group benefits as bases for laws -
ANSWER -An economic crisis due to the burst in the housing bubble spurred
the toxic assets relief program.
-A hole in the ozone layers spurred the stratosphere ozone protection act.
-instability in crop prices can cause farmers to go out of business, leading to farm
subsidy laws.
Politics - ANSWER Members of Congress and parties in congress believe they
will benefit electorally if they enact laws
-President Bush and republicans and the creation of medicare part D in 2003.
-The combination of the need to solve problems and the elected officials to
associate themselves with solving these problems leads Congress to enact laws.
Distributive Laws - ANSWER The government provides payments to
individuals/organizations.
-Ex: Farm subsidies- distribution of money to farmers to get them to not farm.
Regulatory Laws - ANSWER stipulate what individuals and organizations
(corporations/small businesses) can and can not do.
-Ex:Federal crime laws and health care laws.
,Redistributive Laws - ANSWER The government provides transfers of
income/wealth to individuals to foster some minimum standard of living.
EX: social security, medicare/caid
Majority Party - ANSWER party that holds substantial influence in a country's
politics, compared to a minority party
Proximate Goal - ANSWER Doing something and wanting something to
immediately happen/change afterwards.
Filibuster - ANSWER tactic used to stop action on a bill. It involved making long
speeches until the majority retreats.
Cloture - ANSWER -Procedure used to close debate.
-Used in the senate to cut off filibusters.
-3/5 of senators or 60, must vote for cloture to halt a filibuster
Authorization Laws - ANSWER Congress and the president establish programs
through the authorization process.
Ex: may specify how much money should be spent on a program, but doesnt
actually set the money aside.
Appropriation Laws - ANSWER congress and the president state the amount of
money that will be spent on federal programs during the next fiscal year.
, Median voter - ANSWER a majority rule voting system will select the outcome
most preferred by the median voter.
Speaker of the house - ANSWER -the presiding officer of the house of
representatives.
-speaker has substantial control over the legislative agenda of the house
Making moderates comply - ANSWER -republicans elect the speaker and
majority leader
-the 10 conservatives out vote the 2 moderates in choosing these leaders
-republican steering committee makes committee assign
and can punish moderates (or any members) by denying committee assignments if
they dont adhere to party positions.
Unitary Executive - ANSWER president possesses the power to control the
entire executive branch
Vesting Clause - ANSWER executive power is vested into a specific body or
group.
Chief Magistrate - ANSWER a public official whose office is the highest in its
class.
Divided Government - ANSWER situation in which one party controls the
presidency while the other party controls congress
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | 2025
U.S. Code - ANSWER contains the general and permanent laws of the U.S.
Problem solving, Politics, and Interest group benefits as bases for laws -
ANSWER -An economic crisis due to the burst in the housing bubble spurred
the toxic assets relief program.
-A hole in the ozone layers spurred the stratosphere ozone protection act.
-instability in crop prices can cause farmers to go out of business, leading to farm
subsidy laws.
Politics - ANSWER Members of Congress and parties in congress believe they
will benefit electorally if they enact laws
-President Bush and republicans and the creation of medicare part D in 2003.
-The combination of the need to solve problems and the elected officials to
associate themselves with solving these problems leads Congress to enact laws.
Distributive Laws - ANSWER The government provides payments to
individuals/organizations.
-Ex: Farm subsidies- distribution of money to farmers to get them to not farm.
Regulatory Laws - ANSWER stipulate what individuals and organizations
(corporations/small businesses) can and can not do.
-Ex:Federal crime laws and health care laws.
,Redistributive Laws - ANSWER The government provides transfers of
income/wealth to individuals to foster some minimum standard of living.
EX: social security, medicare/caid
Majority Party - ANSWER party that holds substantial influence in a country's
politics, compared to a minority party
Proximate Goal - ANSWER Doing something and wanting something to
immediately happen/change afterwards.
Filibuster - ANSWER tactic used to stop action on a bill. It involved making long
speeches until the majority retreats.
Cloture - ANSWER -Procedure used to close debate.
-Used in the senate to cut off filibusters.
-3/5 of senators or 60, must vote for cloture to halt a filibuster
Authorization Laws - ANSWER Congress and the president establish programs
through the authorization process.
Ex: may specify how much money should be spent on a program, but doesnt
actually set the money aside.
Appropriation Laws - ANSWER congress and the president state the amount of
money that will be spent on federal programs during the next fiscal year.
, Median voter - ANSWER a majority rule voting system will select the outcome
most preferred by the median voter.
Speaker of the house - ANSWER -the presiding officer of the house of
representatives.
-speaker has substantial control over the legislative agenda of the house
Making moderates comply - ANSWER -republicans elect the speaker and
majority leader
-the 10 conservatives out vote the 2 moderates in choosing these leaders
-republican steering committee makes committee assign
and can punish moderates (or any members) by denying committee assignments if
they dont adhere to party positions.
Unitary Executive - ANSWER president possesses the power to control the
entire executive branch
Vesting Clause - ANSWER executive power is vested into a specific body or
group.
Chief Magistrate - ANSWER a public official whose office is the highest in its
class.
Divided Government - ANSWER situation in which one party controls the
presidency while the other party controls congress
