Test Bank and Solutions For We The People, 14th Edition Essentials by Benjamin Ginsberg.pdf

Test Bank and Solutions For We The People, 14th
Edition Essentials by Benjamin Ginsberg
Leading, Managing and Developing People (University of Wales)
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,Chapter 1 V




1. What are the rights and responsibilities that citizens have in a democratic political system
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like the United States? Do most Americans seem to live up to this ideal of citizenship? In
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your answer, be sure to discuss how political knowledge is important and whether most
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Americans have the requisite amount of political knowledge to live up to our ideals.
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2. By one measure, most of the global population lives in electoral and closed autocracies.
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a. True
b. False


3. Government is best defined as the V V V V V




a. institutions and procedures by which a territory and its people are ruled.
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b. set of political principles and values that guide political life.
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c. means by which wealth is redistributed.
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d. invisible hand that turns private interests into public goods.
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4. There are many types of governments in the world today. What characteristics do political
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scientists use to distinguish between different types of government? What are the defining
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characteristics of an autocracy, an oligarchy, and a democracy? What are the defining
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characteristics of a constitutional government, an authoritarian government, and a
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totalitarian government?
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5. Define government and its purpose. What are some of the most noteworthy forms of
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government?
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6. The Founders, such as James Madison, believed that direct democracy was the best
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approach for safeguarding the rights of the minority.
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a. True
b. False

,7. What is the principal difference between an autocracy, a democracy, and an oligarchy?
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Give an example of each.
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8. Members of Congress engaging in discussions and conflicts over the best policies to
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address an economic recession is an example of
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a. direct democracy. V




b. public goods. V




c. equality of opportunity. V V




d. politics.



9. What is political knowledge? Why is political knowledge important for American
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democracy?
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10. Which of the following statements about government is true?
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a. Government is able to provide public goods, like defense or regulation of air
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quality, that citizens need but are likely unable to provide for themselves.
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b. Government in the United States was created to be limited and therefore has very
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little influence over the daily lives of Americans today.
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c. Governments have always sought and received the support of the people whom
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they serve.
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d. Most of the global population lives in a democratic form of government.
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11. Because all interests are free to compete in the United States, a concept known as
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Vpluralism, each group has equal influence, preventing some groups from exercising too
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Vmuch influence.
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a. True
b. False

, 12. Although equality is an essential element of American political culture, there is little
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Vagreement on exactly what it means and how to best achieve it. What are some of the
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Vdifferent meanings of equality, and how have these different meanings produced conflict
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Vover the public’s role in addressing inequality? In your answer, be sure to discuss at least
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Vtwo specific controversies involving government action and equality.
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13. The United States has experienced significant changes in its population over time. Explain
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Vhow the nature and character of who Americans are has evolved over time in three key
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Vareas. What might explain the major factors that have driven these changes? How does the
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Vchanging nature of the population shape American political culture and politics?
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14. Political knowledge is an important ingredient for political participation.
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a. True
b. False


15. What is political efficacy? How has Americans’ degree of political efficacy changed over
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Vtime?



16. Suppose in a closely divided Senate, there are two senators whose support for policies is
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Vpivotal for those policies to pass. These senators have
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a. political equality. V




b. political power. V




c. executive privileges. V




d. equality of opportunity. V V




17. With greater access to information, Americans’ political knowledge has increased
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Vsignificantly since 2000. V V




a. True
b. False