GOV 310L TEST 1 Questions and All
Actual Detailed Answers 2026
Updated.
"Voter identification" law - Answer Definition: law requiring people bring a photo I.D. when
they vote
Significance: fair by definition but not neutral in its effect-- has the effect of restricting
Democratic voter turnout
Politics - Answer Definition: public management/resolution of conflict within a basic
consensus/community
Significance: disagreement is public (not private)... ideas becomes politicized when they
becomes public
The Keating Five (1986) - Answer Definition: 5 US Senators who in 1986, gave into private
influence to convince Federal Home Loan Bank Board not to shut down Lincoln Savings and
Loan-- company failed the next year, costing tax payers more money than it should have
Significance: This is an example of the harmful effects of private influence over public policy,
which is detrimental to democracy - citizens are the ones that suffer.
Ideology - Answer Definition: system of logically coherent beliefs and values: how we got
here, where we are going, and what's right/wrong.
Significance: These are weapons of group conflicts
Political ideology - Answer Definition: Addresses the question of what kind of
government/governmental action is legitimate
Significance: Determines what you believe legitimizes rule that is morally right/defensible
Classical Conservatism - Answer Definition: rule of the people by royalty, aristocracy and the
church, believed:
-serfs who wanted to move up were "cancer" in the "body" metaphor of society
-Humans are born and die unequal - they rule or serve, and there's no way to change it
,-People are not individuals, but members of a group/class and government is responsible for
welfare
-Change is bad because this society was ordained by god (no distinction b/w God and
Government).
-Competition considered immoral, discouraged big ideas.
-Government was responsible for the wellbeing of the people
Significance: Acted as a springboard for classical liberalism e.g, Classical Liberalism is a response
due to unrest from the increasingly rich, yet powerless, middle class. Also legitimized rule of
people by aristocracy
Classical Liberalism - Answer Definition: saw society as a "marketplace" and believed in
individualism and decision making in buying and selling (competition)
-Most important thing is individual liberty.
-Change is good; spurns the Industrial Revolution...
-Born equal, but do not die equal... "equality of opportunity"... this promotes competition in the
market, leads to "moral equality".
-Keep religion and government separate from monetary market... government shouldn't
interfere with individual economic decisions...
-Lack of interference means lack of protection (Children, poor, coal miners, etc...)
Significance: Huge influence on American political legacy in both dominant parties... Classical
Libs. Defeated Classical Cons. in American revolution, ejected losing ideology from U.S.
legitimized rebellion. Founded on principles of Puritanism
Classical Socialism - Answer Definition:
-Born from the industrial revolution... thought classical liberalism was immoral
-Society is like a "factory".
-Human equality - need equality of result, leading to redistribution of wealth
-The government should protect the people from the market
-Cooperation, not competition.
"equality of both opportunity as well as result"
Significance: has influence on modern Democratic Party; is a counter to classical liberalism...
legitimized Leftist revolutions in other countries.
Modern conservatism - Answer Definition: No government regulation of economy, but pro
government regulation of social issues.
, Republicans
Significance: Internal contradiction because social issues and economic issues often intersect...
deregulation of the economy positively affects the wealthy
Modern liberalism - Answer Definition: Pro government regulation of the economy, but anti-
government regulation of social issues.
Democrats
Significance: Internal contradiction... people are more free if they aren't subject to the whims of
their economic status.
Government Shutdown - Answer Definition: Shutdown in response to Congress demanding
cuts that Obama would not agree to... initially people were supportive, but that support quickly
faded as agencies that people supported began to shut down... like the CDC (Center for Disease
Control).
Significance: This illustrates the oddity of American politics and the populace... they dislike
government at an ideological level, but generally support public policy.
Ideological opinions - Answer Definition: general ideas about government... people tend to
be anti-government on basic principle; accuse government of being wasteful and inefficient
Significance: Americans have contradicting values; people tend to be ideologically opposed to
government
Operational opinions - Answer Definition: specific policy questions; people tend to be
generally pro-government when asked about a specific issue
Significance: Americans have contradicting values; people tend to be supportive of specifics in
government... particularly concerning policy and certain representatives.
Legitimacy - Answer Definition: the belief of the people that the government is right, or
moral, and as such, have an obligation to obey the law. If you're allowed to participate, you are
morally obligated to obey the law.
Significance: Our government gets its legitimacy from the principles of Democratic Theory.
People have given their consent be governed and have a fair say in who rules and what laws are
passed, therefore we are obligated to follow those laws.
Actual Detailed Answers 2026
Updated.
"Voter identification" law - Answer Definition: law requiring people bring a photo I.D. when
they vote
Significance: fair by definition but not neutral in its effect-- has the effect of restricting
Democratic voter turnout
Politics - Answer Definition: public management/resolution of conflict within a basic
consensus/community
Significance: disagreement is public (not private)... ideas becomes politicized when they
becomes public
The Keating Five (1986) - Answer Definition: 5 US Senators who in 1986, gave into private
influence to convince Federal Home Loan Bank Board not to shut down Lincoln Savings and
Loan-- company failed the next year, costing tax payers more money than it should have
Significance: This is an example of the harmful effects of private influence over public policy,
which is detrimental to democracy - citizens are the ones that suffer.
Ideology - Answer Definition: system of logically coherent beliefs and values: how we got
here, where we are going, and what's right/wrong.
Significance: These are weapons of group conflicts
Political ideology - Answer Definition: Addresses the question of what kind of
government/governmental action is legitimate
Significance: Determines what you believe legitimizes rule that is morally right/defensible
Classical Conservatism - Answer Definition: rule of the people by royalty, aristocracy and the
church, believed:
-serfs who wanted to move up were "cancer" in the "body" metaphor of society
-Humans are born and die unequal - they rule or serve, and there's no way to change it
,-People are not individuals, but members of a group/class and government is responsible for
welfare
-Change is bad because this society was ordained by god (no distinction b/w God and
Government).
-Competition considered immoral, discouraged big ideas.
-Government was responsible for the wellbeing of the people
Significance: Acted as a springboard for classical liberalism e.g, Classical Liberalism is a response
due to unrest from the increasingly rich, yet powerless, middle class. Also legitimized rule of
people by aristocracy
Classical Liberalism - Answer Definition: saw society as a "marketplace" and believed in
individualism and decision making in buying and selling (competition)
-Most important thing is individual liberty.
-Change is good; spurns the Industrial Revolution...
-Born equal, but do not die equal... "equality of opportunity"... this promotes competition in the
market, leads to "moral equality".
-Keep religion and government separate from monetary market... government shouldn't
interfere with individual economic decisions...
-Lack of interference means lack of protection (Children, poor, coal miners, etc...)
Significance: Huge influence on American political legacy in both dominant parties... Classical
Libs. Defeated Classical Cons. in American revolution, ejected losing ideology from U.S.
legitimized rebellion. Founded on principles of Puritanism
Classical Socialism - Answer Definition:
-Born from the industrial revolution... thought classical liberalism was immoral
-Society is like a "factory".
-Human equality - need equality of result, leading to redistribution of wealth
-The government should protect the people from the market
-Cooperation, not competition.
"equality of both opportunity as well as result"
Significance: has influence on modern Democratic Party; is a counter to classical liberalism...
legitimized Leftist revolutions in other countries.
Modern conservatism - Answer Definition: No government regulation of economy, but pro
government regulation of social issues.
, Republicans
Significance: Internal contradiction because social issues and economic issues often intersect...
deregulation of the economy positively affects the wealthy
Modern liberalism - Answer Definition: Pro government regulation of the economy, but anti-
government regulation of social issues.
Democrats
Significance: Internal contradiction... people are more free if they aren't subject to the whims of
their economic status.
Government Shutdown - Answer Definition: Shutdown in response to Congress demanding
cuts that Obama would not agree to... initially people were supportive, but that support quickly
faded as agencies that people supported began to shut down... like the CDC (Center for Disease
Control).
Significance: This illustrates the oddity of American politics and the populace... they dislike
government at an ideological level, but generally support public policy.
Ideological opinions - Answer Definition: general ideas about government... people tend to
be anti-government on basic principle; accuse government of being wasteful and inefficient
Significance: Americans have contradicting values; people tend to be ideologically opposed to
government
Operational opinions - Answer Definition: specific policy questions; people tend to be
generally pro-government when asked about a specific issue
Significance: Americans have contradicting values; people tend to be supportive of specifics in
government... particularly concerning policy and certain representatives.
Legitimacy - Answer Definition: the belief of the people that the government is right, or
moral, and as such, have an obligation to obey the law. If you're allowed to participate, you are
morally obligated to obey the law.
Significance: Our government gets its legitimacy from the principles of Democratic Theory.
People have given their consent be governed and have a fair say in who rules and what laws are
passed, therefore we are obligated to follow those laws.
