POLS 200 Exam set complete with
Questions and correct Answers
Actions practiced by individuals that engage in civic and public life - correct answer-✅-Individual
volunteerism
-Organizational involvement
-Electoral participation
-Fundraising
-Writing elected officials
Number of branches identified in U.S. Constitution - correct answer-✅Executive: consists of the
president, VP, and the cabinet. Their purpose is to ensure the laws get carried out and taxes are paid,
homeland and security etc.
Legislative: consists of the House of Representatives and Senate (congress). Senate has 2 people for each
state (total of 100) while the House has a different number based on the state population. Currently
there are 435 members. Their job is to pass the nation's laws and fund for the federal government
Judicial: United States Supreme Court consists of 9 justices chosen by the President. Their job is to hear
cases that challenge/question the current legislation.
What branch interprets the law? - correct answer-✅Judicial branch
What two European political philosophers influenced the Declaration of Independence? - correct
answer-✅John Locke & Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Total number of U.S. Constitutional Amendments - correct answer-✅27
Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution create the Electoral College to elect presidents? - correct
answer-✅The framers didn't fully trust the citizens to make the right decisions & to save time (counting
each districts votes) one person will cast his vote to represent his district
Minimum percentage of states required to ratify a Constitutional Amendment - correct answer-✅3/4
What amendment banned slavery? - correct answer-✅13th
What does due process mean? - correct answer-✅requires notice and an opportunity to be heard
before adverse action is taken against you
What amendment allows for selective incorporation? - correct answer-✅14th
selective incorporation: rights outlined in the constitution applied to the states in the requirement that
state laws and constitutions must observe these unalienable rights
What does habeas corpus create? - correct answer-✅is a court order to a person (prison warden) or
agency (institution) holding someone in custody to deliver the imprisoned individual to the court issuing
the order.
The 1964 Civil Rights Acts prohibit business from discriminating in hiring decisions based on what
characteristics? - correct answer-✅-race
-color
-religion
-sex
-national origin
What U.S. Supreme Court case barred state laws prohibiting interracial marriage? - correct answer-
✅Loving v. Virginia
Women were granted the right to vote nationally in what year? - correct answer-✅1920
Plessy v. Ferguson - correct answer-✅separate but equal. different sides: colored vs. whites
(man on train sat on a white only side)
1896
, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka - correct answer-✅reverses Plessy vs. Ferguson segregation is
inherently unequal
everyone comes together
Political socialization definition - correct answer-✅is a lifelong process by which individuals learn
political attitudes and behaviors
ex:
- family + social environment
- education (used to be primary source)
- peers + peer group influence
- opinion leaders' influence
- churches
- media (PRIMARY SOURCE TODAY)
What presidential election (year) first demonstrated a gender gap? - correct answer-✅1980
What governmental branch consistently scores highest in public trust? - correct answer-✅executive
Alexis de Tocqueville called Americans, in 1835, "a nation of?" - correct answer-✅a nation of joiners
What does elite theory posit? - correct answer-✅there are specific people who should run the
democracy (aka the smartest, richest people & their squaaaaaad)
What social groups are over represented by interest groups? - correct answer-✅elites who can pay
politicians
Types of incentives for joining interest groups? - correct answer-✅solidary (feeling of belonging),
purposive (ideological or moral), economic (provide them with economic benefits)
Joining an interest group for discounts given to members is what type of incentive? - correct answer-
✅economic
What is a free rider? - correct answer-✅someone benefiting from others' actions due to the nature of
collective goods
Political party definition - correct answer-✅a group of political activists who organize to win elections,
to operate the gov't & to determine public policy
What are the characteristics of political parties? - correct answer-✅Each party typically has national,
state and local organizations which help choose, fund and support party candidates in various
elections.Individually, members may have varying beliefs, but tend to identify closer to the ideas of one
party as a whole over another party. A November 2011 Rasmussen poll showed that 35% of Americans
adults identified themselves as Democrats, and 34% Republicans. The remaining 31% would be either
independent (no political party affiliation) or members of other parties.The Republican party supports a
conservative platform including smaller government and lower taxes, pro-business regulations, pro-life
and anti-gay rights, and individual responsibility.The Democratic party has a more liberal or progressive
platform including strengthening federal programs to help the poor and disadvantaged (including
universal healthcare), pro-labor policies, strong environmental regulations, and pro-choice and gay
rights.
What role does the party in the majority play in legislatures at all levels? - correct answer-✅to
represent his party, and make policy formation and decisions
Define divided government - correct answer-✅One party controls presidency (executive), other party
controls congress (legislature)
What best describes the electoral system in the United States? - correct answer-✅538 electors, 270
votes = winner, system used to elect a president with most popular vote representation, "winner takes
all"
Who is allowed to vote in an open primary? - correct answer-✅all voters, don't need to vote with
affiliation
Which groups typically sponsor initiatives? - correct answer-✅citizens & interest groups
Questions and correct Answers
Actions practiced by individuals that engage in civic and public life - correct answer-✅-Individual
volunteerism
-Organizational involvement
-Electoral participation
-Fundraising
-Writing elected officials
Number of branches identified in U.S. Constitution - correct answer-✅Executive: consists of the
president, VP, and the cabinet. Their purpose is to ensure the laws get carried out and taxes are paid,
homeland and security etc.
Legislative: consists of the House of Representatives and Senate (congress). Senate has 2 people for each
state (total of 100) while the House has a different number based on the state population. Currently
there are 435 members. Their job is to pass the nation's laws and fund for the federal government
Judicial: United States Supreme Court consists of 9 justices chosen by the President. Their job is to hear
cases that challenge/question the current legislation.
What branch interprets the law? - correct answer-✅Judicial branch
What two European political philosophers influenced the Declaration of Independence? - correct
answer-✅John Locke & Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Total number of U.S. Constitutional Amendments - correct answer-✅27
Why did the framers of the U.S. Constitution create the Electoral College to elect presidents? - correct
answer-✅The framers didn't fully trust the citizens to make the right decisions & to save time (counting
each districts votes) one person will cast his vote to represent his district
Minimum percentage of states required to ratify a Constitutional Amendment - correct answer-✅3/4
What amendment banned slavery? - correct answer-✅13th
What does due process mean? - correct answer-✅requires notice and an opportunity to be heard
before adverse action is taken against you
What amendment allows for selective incorporation? - correct answer-✅14th
selective incorporation: rights outlined in the constitution applied to the states in the requirement that
state laws and constitutions must observe these unalienable rights
What does habeas corpus create? - correct answer-✅is a court order to a person (prison warden) or
agency (institution) holding someone in custody to deliver the imprisoned individual to the court issuing
the order.
The 1964 Civil Rights Acts prohibit business from discriminating in hiring decisions based on what
characteristics? - correct answer-✅-race
-color
-religion
-sex
-national origin
What U.S. Supreme Court case barred state laws prohibiting interracial marriage? - correct answer-
✅Loving v. Virginia
Women were granted the right to vote nationally in what year? - correct answer-✅1920
Plessy v. Ferguson - correct answer-✅separate but equal. different sides: colored vs. whites
(man on train sat on a white only side)
1896
, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka - correct answer-✅reverses Plessy vs. Ferguson segregation is
inherently unequal
everyone comes together
Political socialization definition - correct answer-✅is a lifelong process by which individuals learn
political attitudes and behaviors
ex:
- family + social environment
- education (used to be primary source)
- peers + peer group influence
- opinion leaders' influence
- churches
- media (PRIMARY SOURCE TODAY)
What presidential election (year) first demonstrated a gender gap? - correct answer-✅1980
What governmental branch consistently scores highest in public trust? - correct answer-✅executive
Alexis de Tocqueville called Americans, in 1835, "a nation of?" - correct answer-✅a nation of joiners
What does elite theory posit? - correct answer-✅there are specific people who should run the
democracy (aka the smartest, richest people & their squaaaaaad)
What social groups are over represented by interest groups? - correct answer-✅elites who can pay
politicians
Types of incentives for joining interest groups? - correct answer-✅solidary (feeling of belonging),
purposive (ideological or moral), economic (provide them with economic benefits)
Joining an interest group for discounts given to members is what type of incentive? - correct answer-
✅economic
What is a free rider? - correct answer-✅someone benefiting from others' actions due to the nature of
collective goods
Political party definition - correct answer-✅a group of political activists who organize to win elections,
to operate the gov't & to determine public policy
What are the characteristics of political parties? - correct answer-✅Each party typically has national,
state and local organizations which help choose, fund and support party candidates in various
elections.Individually, members may have varying beliefs, but tend to identify closer to the ideas of one
party as a whole over another party. A November 2011 Rasmussen poll showed that 35% of Americans
adults identified themselves as Democrats, and 34% Republicans. The remaining 31% would be either
independent (no political party affiliation) or members of other parties.The Republican party supports a
conservative platform including smaller government and lower taxes, pro-business regulations, pro-life
and anti-gay rights, and individual responsibility.The Democratic party has a more liberal or progressive
platform including strengthening federal programs to help the poor and disadvantaged (including
universal healthcare), pro-labor policies, strong environmental regulations, and pro-choice and gay
rights.
What role does the party in the majority play in legislatures at all levels? - correct answer-✅to
represent his party, and make policy formation and decisions
Define divided government - correct answer-✅One party controls presidency (executive), other party
controls congress (legislature)
What best describes the electoral system in the United States? - correct answer-✅538 electors, 270
votes = winner, system used to elect a president with most popular vote representation, "winner takes
all"
Who is allowed to vote in an open primary? - correct answer-✅all voters, don't need to vote with
affiliation
Which groups typically sponsor initiatives? - correct answer-✅citizens & interest groups
