BYU FINAL EXAM GOVT-041-S003 AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENSHIP EXPECTED
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1.
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
ANSWER
Charles-Louis Montesquieu
Question 2.
"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the
pursuit of Happiness." In which document are these words written by Thomas Jefferson?
ANSWER
the Declaration of Independence
Question 3.
Why is Tocqueville still relevant today?
ANSWER
Citizens should beware of being too self-absorbed and not participating in the political process.
Question 4.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America?
ANSWER
It was a time when Americans worked together for the common good of others.
Question 5.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After the
terrorist attack on Septemand Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, which expanded the power of
law enforcement to secretly investigate potential terrorists. What does this suggest?
ANSWER
The president believed Americans had too much liberty and too little security.
Question 6.
What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on?
ANSWER
Government is necessary to protect life and property.
1
,Question 7.
What term is best used to describe our government?
ANSWER
representative republic
Question 8.
How long is the term for a member in the House of Representative before they face re-election?
ANSWER
2 years
Question 9.
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights?
ANSWER
It was included in the Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of
the Constitution.
Question 10.
A prominent political scientist famously described American government as separate
institutions sharing powers; Which ciples are embodied in this statement?
ANSWER
separation of powers and checks and balances
Question 11.
According to Tocqueville, civic virtue means simply that individuals have interests and desires
that are not solely focused on themselves. Rather, they are willing to give up some of the things
they want in order to promote the common good. What did he mean by this?
ANSWER
People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual welfare.
Question 12.
If you were to read about a country whose government allows their president to declare war on
another country, and individually coin money to fight the war without the consent of any other
government official. Which of the following would best describe this system as compared with
the gov- States?
ANSWER
In the United States the president can neither declare nor fund a war without the vote of Congress.
2
,Question 13.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers?
ANSWER
executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Question 14.
What does civilian control of the military mean?
ANSWER
Military leaders do not have any independent authority, but are the servants of the elected
representatives of the people.
Question 15.
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if living
in a state of nature?
ANSWER
Perilous
Question 16.
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction?
ANSWER
politics
Question 17.
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system?
ANSWER
It provides both state and national governments with the ability to protect citizens from abuses of
power by the other.
Question 18.
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? cal system where some decisions
are made in local legislatures and others are made in the national legislature. Whose
government would this most likely be compared to?
ANSWER
encouraging civic groups to help the poor
3
, Question 19.
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches?
ANSWER
Power is not completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of
power.
Question 20.
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy?
ANSWER
Plato
Question 21.
The Founders established a republican form of government. Why did they do this?
ANSWER
They believed elected officials could represent citizens and could be kept in check through elections.
Question 22.
Classical republicanism is principal- ly concerned with ____________ while classical liberalism is
concerned with _______________.
ANSWER
liberty; order
Question 23.
wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution, and a separation of
religious and secular government?
ANSWER
Machiavelli
Question 24.
You are writing a speech for school about the need for citizens to participate in their political
system. Who would you quote as the earliest proponent of this notion?
ANSWER
Aristotle
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GOVERNMENT AND CITIZENSHIP EXPECTED
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Question 1.
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
ANSWER
Charles-Louis Montesquieu
Question 2.
"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the
pursuit of Happiness." In which document are these words written by Thomas Jefferson?
ANSWER
the Declaration of Independence
Question 3.
Why is Tocqueville still relevant today?
ANSWER
Citizens should beware of being too self-absorbed and not participating in the political process.
Question 4.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America?
ANSWER
It was a time when Americans worked together for the common good of others.
Question 5.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After the
terrorist attack on Septemand Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, which expanded the power of
law enforcement to secretly investigate potential terrorists. What does this suggest?
ANSWER
The president believed Americans had too much liberty and too little security.
Question 6.
What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on?
ANSWER
Government is necessary to protect life and property.
1
,Question 7.
What term is best used to describe our government?
ANSWER
representative republic
Question 8.
How long is the term for a member in the House of Representative before they face re-election?
ANSWER
2 years
Question 9.
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights?
ANSWER
It was included in the Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of
the Constitution.
Question 10.
A prominent political scientist famously described American government as separate
institutions sharing powers; Which ciples are embodied in this statement?
ANSWER
separation of powers and checks and balances
Question 11.
According to Tocqueville, civic virtue means simply that individuals have interests and desires
that are not solely focused on themselves. Rather, they are willing to give up some of the things
they want in order to promote the common good. What did he mean by this?
ANSWER
People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual welfare.
Question 12.
If you were to read about a country whose government allows their president to declare war on
another country, and individually coin money to fight the war without the consent of any other
government official. Which of the following would best describe this system as compared with
the gov- States?
ANSWER
In the United States the president can neither declare nor fund a war without the vote of Congress.
2
,Question 13.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers?
ANSWER
executive, legislative, and judicial branches
Question 14.
What does civilian control of the military mean?
ANSWER
Military leaders do not have any independent authority, but are the servants of the elected
representatives of the people.
Question 15.
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if living
in a state of nature?
ANSWER
Perilous
Question 16.
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction?
ANSWER
politics
Question 17.
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system?
ANSWER
It provides both state and national governments with the ability to protect citizens from abuses of
power by the other.
Question 18.
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? cal system where some decisions
are made in local legislatures and others are made in the national legislature. Whose
government would this most likely be compared to?
ANSWER
encouraging civic groups to help the poor
3
, Question 19.
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches?
ANSWER
Power is not completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of
power.
Question 20.
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy?
ANSWER
Plato
Question 21.
The Founders established a republican form of government. Why did they do this?
ANSWER
They believed elected officials could represent citizens and could be kept in check through elections.
Question 22.
Classical republicanism is principal- ly concerned with ____________ while classical liberalism is
concerned with _______________.
ANSWER
liberty; order
Question 23.
wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution, and a separation of
religious and secular government?
ANSWER
Machiavelli
Question 24.
You are writing a speech for school about the need for citizens to participate in their political
system. Who would you quote as the earliest proponent of this notion?
ANSWER
Aristotle
4
