BYU Government Final Exam with
Verified Solutions
John Locke is cited for influencing our founding fathers with the phrase "life, liberty, and
property," a phrase which was modified slightly by Thomas Jefferson when he wrote "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? Correct Ans-
the Declaration of Independence
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
Correct Ans-Charles-Louis Montesquieu
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America? Correct Ans-It was a time
when Americans worked together for the common good of others.
According to the author of this course, why is Tocqueville still relevant today? Correct Ans-
Citizens should beware of being too self-absorbed and not participating in the political process.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After the
terrorist attack on September 11, President Bush and Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, which
expanded the power of law enforcement to secretly investigate potential terrorists. What does
this suggest? Correct Ans-The president believed Americans had too much liberty and too
little security.
,What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on? Correct Ans-Government
is necessary to protect life and property.
To keep our elected officials in check with the citizens they represent, frequent elections are
held. According to the lesson, how long is the term for a member in the House of
Representative before they face re-election? Correct Ans-2 years
In Federalist 10, James Madison describes our form of government where political ideas or
current issues are enlarged or refined "by passing them through the medium of a chosen body
of citizens whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country." What term is best
used to describe our government? Correct Ans-representative republic
For the separation of powers or Three Branches of Government to work in practice, what
item(s) are needed? Correct Ans-The use of checks and balances.
What are two examples of the checks and balances the Executive Branch has on Congress and
the Judicial Branch? Correct Ans-Veto power, nominating judges
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights? Correct Ans-It was included in the
Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of the Constitution.
If a country has a political 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? Correct Ans-the U.S. system of government created in Philadelphia
,Which of the following documents outlines the purpose of government to protect the social
rights of its citizens, chiefly among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Correct Ans-Declaration of Independence
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? Correct Ans-encouraging civic
groups to help the poor
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? Correct Ans-
People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual welfare.
Which of the following is not one of the three types of government outlined by Montesquieu?
Correct Ans-Democracy
Which political thinker wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution, and
a separation of religious and secular government? Correct Ans-Machiavelli
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system? Correct Ans-It provides both state and national governments with the ability
to protect citizens from abuses of power by the other.
, Classical republicanism is principally concerned with ____________ while classical liberalism is
concerned with _______________. Correct Ans-liberty; order
As discussed in the chapter, what term is used to describe each branch of government's
separate and distinct sphere of power? Correct Ans-separation of powers
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches? Correct Ans-Power is
not completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of power.
Which of the following IS NOT an example of checks and balances in the United States
Constitution? Correct Ans-The president can veto a Supreme Court decision, but only with
the support of a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers? Correct Ans-executive,
legislative, and judicial branches
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy? Correct Ans-Plato
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if
living in a state of nature? Correct Ans-Perilous
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction? Correct Ans-
politics
Verified Solutions
John Locke is cited for influencing our founding fathers with the phrase "life, liberty, and
property," a phrase which was modified slightly by Thomas Jefferson when he wrote "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? Correct Ans-
the Declaration of Independence
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers?
Correct Ans-Charles-Louis Montesquieu
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America? Correct Ans-It was a time
when Americans worked together for the common good of others.
According to the author of this course, why is Tocqueville still relevant today? Correct Ans-
Citizens should beware of being too self-absorbed and not participating in the political process.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After the
terrorist attack on September 11, President Bush and Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, which
expanded the power of law enforcement to secretly investigate potential terrorists. What does
this suggest? Correct Ans-The president believed Americans had too much liberty and too
little security.
,What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on? Correct Ans-Government
is necessary to protect life and property.
To keep our elected officials in check with the citizens they represent, frequent elections are
held. According to the lesson, how long is the term for a member in the House of
Representative before they face re-election? Correct Ans-2 years
In Federalist 10, James Madison describes our form of government where political ideas or
current issues are enlarged or refined "by passing them through the medium of a chosen body
of citizens whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country." What term is best
used to describe our government? Correct Ans-representative republic
For the separation of powers or Three Branches of Government to work in practice, what
item(s) are needed? Correct Ans-The use of checks and balances.
What are two examples of the checks and balances the Executive Branch has on Congress and
the Judicial Branch? Correct Ans-Veto power, nominating judges
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights? Correct Ans-It was included in the
Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of the Constitution.
If a country has a political 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? Correct Ans-the U.S. system of government created in Philadelphia
,Which of the following documents outlines the purpose of government to protect the social
rights of its citizens, chiefly among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?
Correct Ans-Declaration of Independence
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? Correct Ans-encouraging civic
groups to help the poor
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? Correct Ans-
People should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual welfare.
Which of the following is not one of the three types of government outlined by Montesquieu?
Correct Ans-Democracy
Which political thinker wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution, and
a separation of religious and secular government? Correct Ans-Machiavelli
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system? Correct Ans-It provides both state and national governments with the ability
to protect citizens from abuses of power by the other.
, Classical republicanism is principally concerned with ____________ while classical liberalism is
concerned with _______________. Correct Ans-liberty; order
As discussed in the chapter, what term is used to describe each branch of government's
separate and distinct sphere of power? Correct Ans-separation of powers
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches? Correct Ans-Power is
not completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of power.
Which of the following IS NOT an example of checks and balances in the United States
Constitution? Correct Ans-The president can veto a Supreme Court decision, but only with
the support of a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers? Correct Ans-executive,
legislative, and judicial branches
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy? Correct Ans-Plato
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if
living in a state of nature? Correct Ans-Perilous
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction? Correct Ans-
politics
