POLS 207 Exam Answered
What is meant by states' "police powers"? - Answer- This is the power to make laws for
the general welfare
What are some of the policy responsibilities of states and local governments? - Answer-
-public order and safety (law and order, police and firefighters, etc.)
-social (public schools, health, insurance trust, etc.)
- economic (transportation, infrastructure, land use/property sales, civil law, etc.)
What is "demography"? What are some demographic trends in how the U.S. population
has changed in recent years? - Answer- the composition of a particular human
population, The US will be majority mixed by 2048
What is "religiosity"? How do social scientists measure this concept? - Answer- -how
important is religion as a social force (abortion, same sex marriage, legalization of
certain drugs, physician assisted suicide)
-Scientists measure through: worship attendance and polls
How does the comparative method attempt to explain political phenomena? - Answer- It
compares multiple variables that lead to differing policies
In your own words, define political ideology. - Answer- the coherent set of values and
beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
-NOT equal to party affiliation
What is the difference between liberalism and conservatism on: i) the role of
government in the economy; ii) the role of government in society? - Answer- Liberals
believe that the government should regulate the economy for the general good of the
people, conservatives support a deregulated economy.
Conservatives believe that government should support traditional views in society,
Liberals want more social freedoms.
What kinds of policies might be favored by a liberal or by a conservative? (Think of
examples of public figures who fit these labels.) - Answer- Liberals might favor social
freedoms like gay marriage and abortion (Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow)
Conservatives might favor things like deregulation of corporations, or gun ownership
(Donald Trump, Steven Crowder)
What does it mean when someone is labeled: a libertarian; ii) a populist? What kinds of
policies might each favor? (Think of examples of public figures who fit these labels.) -
, Answer- A Liberatarian might favor abolishing income tax, and legalizing prostitution
(Kurt Russell)
A populist might favor lower wages for government officials, and more goverment
transparency (Edward Snowden)
What is political culture? What is the mechanism that drives differences of political
culture? - Answer- What is political culture?
- shared framework of values, beliefs, and habits related to government and politics
What is the mechanism that drives differences of political culture?
- how the state uses their police powers
-cultural values of early settlers
Describe how each of Elazar's three principal classifications of political culture views: i)
the place of government in society; and ii) the reasons people participate in politics and
enter government. - Answer- moralistic (government is good),
traditionalistic (government is for the elites)
individualistic (government protects the market)
According to Elazar's classifications, which regions of the U.S. are associated with each
political culture? What kind of political culture does Texas have? - Answer- Texas has a
traditionalistic culture
North: Individualistic
South: Traditionalistic
Midwest: Moralistic
In what ways can power be shared between a central government and sub-national
units such as states? Describe each of these arrangements. - Answer- Power,
Participation and Policy
-shared political power
- local participation in government
- local policy diversity
What are some of the arguments in favor of having a federal system of government? By
contrast, what are some of the disadvantages of federalism? - Answer- Pros of
Federalism
-Power is shared
-Participation in government
-Policy diversity
Cons of Federalism
-Complexity of government
What is meant by states' "police powers"? - Answer- This is the power to make laws for
the general welfare
What are some of the policy responsibilities of states and local governments? - Answer-
-public order and safety (law and order, police and firefighters, etc.)
-social (public schools, health, insurance trust, etc.)
- economic (transportation, infrastructure, land use/property sales, civil law, etc.)
What is "demography"? What are some demographic trends in how the U.S. population
has changed in recent years? - Answer- the composition of a particular human
population, The US will be majority mixed by 2048
What is "religiosity"? How do social scientists measure this concept? - Answer- -how
important is religion as a social force (abortion, same sex marriage, legalization of
certain drugs, physician assisted suicide)
-Scientists measure through: worship attendance and polls
How does the comparative method attempt to explain political phenomena? - Answer- It
compares multiple variables that lead to differing policies
In your own words, define political ideology. - Answer- the coherent set of values and
beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals
-NOT equal to party affiliation
What is the difference between liberalism and conservatism on: i) the role of
government in the economy; ii) the role of government in society? - Answer- Liberals
believe that the government should regulate the economy for the general good of the
people, conservatives support a deregulated economy.
Conservatives believe that government should support traditional views in society,
Liberals want more social freedoms.
What kinds of policies might be favored by a liberal or by a conservative? (Think of
examples of public figures who fit these labels.) - Answer- Liberals might favor social
freedoms like gay marriage and abortion (Taylor Swift, Gwyneth Paltrow)
Conservatives might favor things like deregulation of corporations, or gun ownership
(Donald Trump, Steven Crowder)
What does it mean when someone is labeled: a libertarian; ii) a populist? What kinds of
policies might each favor? (Think of examples of public figures who fit these labels.) -
, Answer- A Liberatarian might favor abolishing income tax, and legalizing prostitution
(Kurt Russell)
A populist might favor lower wages for government officials, and more goverment
transparency (Edward Snowden)
What is political culture? What is the mechanism that drives differences of political
culture? - Answer- What is political culture?
- shared framework of values, beliefs, and habits related to government and politics
What is the mechanism that drives differences of political culture?
- how the state uses their police powers
-cultural values of early settlers
Describe how each of Elazar's three principal classifications of political culture views: i)
the place of government in society; and ii) the reasons people participate in politics and
enter government. - Answer- moralistic (government is good),
traditionalistic (government is for the elites)
individualistic (government protects the market)
According to Elazar's classifications, which regions of the U.S. are associated with each
political culture? What kind of political culture does Texas have? - Answer- Texas has a
traditionalistic culture
North: Individualistic
South: Traditionalistic
Midwest: Moralistic
In what ways can power be shared between a central government and sub-national
units such as states? Describe each of these arrangements. - Answer- Power,
Participation and Policy
-shared political power
- local participation in government
- local policy diversity
What are some of the arguments in favor of having a federal system of government? By
contrast, what are some of the disadvantages of federalism? - Answer- Pros of
Federalism
-Power is shared
-Participation in government
-Policy diversity
Cons of Federalism
-Complexity of government
