American Government Institutions and Policies 15th Edition by James Q. Wilson - Test Bank 1.06.20 PM

,Name: Class: Date:


Chapter 1 - The Study of American Government
The Study of American Government

1. The financial position of the state and national governments under the Articles of Confederation could be best
described as
a. sound, strong, and based on a large surplus of revenue.
b. sound, strong, but uncertain around the edges.
c. uniformly stable at the state level, but the national government struggled with debt.
d. stable at the national level with little cause for concern in any of the states.
e. growing debt at the national level and several states with financial crises.

ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: The Study of American Government
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

2. Which of the following expressed sincere concern that ratification of the Constitution would result in “an immense
increase in taxes”?
a. James Madison
b. Alexander Hamilton
c. George Washington
d. Patrick Henry
e. John Jay

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: The Study of American Government
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

3. The federal budget initially proposed for 2016 called for almost __________ trillion dollars in spending.
a. 1
b. 2
c. 4
d. 5
e. 7

ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: The Study of American Government
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1




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,Name: Class: Date:


Chapter 1 - The Study of American Government
The Study of American Government

4. The textbook refers to the activity by which an issue is agitated or settled as
a. government
b. policy
c. politics
d. participation
e. None of these choices is correct.

ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

5. Individuals have power when they are able to
a. get elected to office.
b. be present at behind-the-scenes political meetings.
c. serve their fellow human beings.
d. get others to do what they want them to do.
e. vote without being influenced by outside forces.

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

6. The text notes a tendency for issues that once were _________ to become __________.
a. simple; complicated
b. public; secret
c. social; political
d. private; public
e. economic; social

ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1




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, Name: Class: Date:


Chapter 1 - The Study of American Government
The Study of American Government

7. By authority, the authors mean the
a. right to use power.
b. manner in which power is spread.
c. use of power for good causes.
d. desire to have power.
e. desire to give power to others.

ANSWER: a
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

8. Formal authority refers to a right to exercise power that is derived from a(n)
a. official ceremony.
b. majority vote.
c. consensus.
d. popular consensus.
e. governmental office.

ANSWER: e
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1

9. Today, a primary source of legitimate political authority in the United States is the
a. Bill of Rights.
b. will of the people.
c. U.S. Constitution.
d. concept of civil liberty.
e. notion of civil rights.

ANSWER: c
REFERENCES: Politics and Democracy
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: AGIP.WILS.17.1.1 - LO1.1




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