American Politics Exam 1 2025 Questions
and Answers
Aristocracy - ANSWER✔✔-A government by the few, in which the leaders are meritorious and
chosen by virtue of their birth into noble families.
Constituents - ANSWER✔✔-Those people legally entitled to vote for an officeholder.
Delegate - ANSWER✔✔-A representative who reflects the opinions of those who elected him or
her into office.
Democracy - ANSWER✔✔-A government in which all citizens share their power
Direct Democracy - ANSWER✔✔-A type of government in which all citizens participate personally
in making government decisions.
Electoral Incentive - ANSWER✔✔-Desire to be elected or re-elected to office.
General Election - ANSWER✔✔-Final election that selects an officeholder.
Government - ANSWER✔✔-The institution in society holding a monopoly on the legitimate use of
physical force.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Initiative - ANSWER✔✔-Proposed law or state constitutional amendment placed on the ballot in
response to a citizen petition.
Majority - ANSWER✔✔-50% + 1
Oligarchy - ANSWER✔✔-A government by the few, in which the individuals in power are not
titled nobility but capture power either through military action or through a political party.
Permanent Campaign - ANSWER✔✔-Condition that prevails in the new American democracy
when the next election campaign begins as soon as the last has ended and the line between
electioneering and governing has disappeared.
Primary Election - ANSWER✔✔-A preliminary contest that narrows the number of the parties'
candidates and determines who will be the nominees in the general election.
Proposition - ANSWER✔✔-An initiative or a referendum that often provides a basis for political
action.
Prospective Voting - ANSWER✔✔-Voting pattern in which citizens look to the future while voting,
taking into account each candidates campaign promises; each election becomes an occasion to
decide the future direction of public policies.
Recall Elections - ANSWER✔✔-Attempts to remove incumbents from office before the
completion of their terms.
Referendum - ANSWER✔✔-A law or state constitutional amendment that is proposed by a
legislature or other elected body but goes into effect only if approved by a specified majority of
voters.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Representatives - ANSWER✔✔-Individuals, periodically chosen by citizens, who have the authority
to decide what governments do.
Retrospective Voting - ANSWER✔✔-Voting on the basis of past policies rather than guessing at
the results of future policies.
Single-issue Voters - ANSWER✔✔-Voters who care so deeply about some particular issue that their
votes are determined by a candidates position on this one issue.
Trustee - ANSWER✔✔-One who acts on behalf of the interests of the citizens rather than
according to the citizens' past preferences.
Advice and Consent - ANSWER✔✔-Support for a presidential action by a designed number of
senators.
Annapolis Convention - ANSWER✔✔-Meeting in 1786 to discuss constitutional reform
Anti-Federalists - ANSWER✔✔-Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation - ANSWER✔✔-The first (1781-1789) basic governing document of the
United States and forerunner to the Constitution.
Bill of Rights - ANSWER✔✔-The first 10 amendments in the Constitution, which guarantee civil
liberties and protect states' rights
-Restricts government power
-James Madison's major victory
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
and Answers
Aristocracy - ANSWER✔✔-A government by the few, in which the leaders are meritorious and
chosen by virtue of their birth into noble families.
Constituents - ANSWER✔✔-Those people legally entitled to vote for an officeholder.
Delegate - ANSWER✔✔-A representative who reflects the opinions of those who elected him or
her into office.
Democracy - ANSWER✔✔-A government in which all citizens share their power
Direct Democracy - ANSWER✔✔-A type of government in which all citizens participate personally
in making government decisions.
Electoral Incentive - ANSWER✔✔-Desire to be elected or re-elected to office.
General Election - ANSWER✔✔-Final election that selects an officeholder.
Government - ANSWER✔✔-The institution in society holding a monopoly on the legitimate use of
physical force.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Initiative - ANSWER✔✔-Proposed law or state constitutional amendment placed on the ballot in
response to a citizen petition.
Majority - ANSWER✔✔-50% + 1
Oligarchy - ANSWER✔✔-A government by the few, in which the individuals in power are not
titled nobility but capture power either through military action or through a political party.
Permanent Campaign - ANSWER✔✔-Condition that prevails in the new American democracy
when the next election campaign begins as soon as the last has ended and the line between
electioneering and governing has disappeared.
Primary Election - ANSWER✔✔-A preliminary contest that narrows the number of the parties'
candidates and determines who will be the nominees in the general election.
Proposition - ANSWER✔✔-An initiative or a referendum that often provides a basis for political
action.
Prospective Voting - ANSWER✔✔-Voting pattern in which citizens look to the future while voting,
taking into account each candidates campaign promises; each election becomes an occasion to
decide the future direction of public policies.
Recall Elections - ANSWER✔✔-Attempts to remove incumbents from office before the
completion of their terms.
Referendum - ANSWER✔✔-A law or state constitutional amendment that is proposed by a
legislature or other elected body but goes into effect only if approved by a specified majority of
voters.
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Representatives - ANSWER✔✔-Individuals, periodically chosen by citizens, who have the authority
to decide what governments do.
Retrospective Voting - ANSWER✔✔-Voting on the basis of past policies rather than guessing at
the results of future policies.
Single-issue Voters - ANSWER✔✔-Voters who care so deeply about some particular issue that their
votes are determined by a candidates position on this one issue.
Trustee - ANSWER✔✔-One who acts on behalf of the interests of the citizens rather than
according to the citizens' past preferences.
Advice and Consent - ANSWER✔✔-Support for a presidential action by a designed number of
senators.
Annapolis Convention - ANSWER✔✔-Meeting in 1786 to discuss constitutional reform
Anti-Federalists - ANSWER✔✔-Those who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Articles of Confederation - ANSWER✔✔-The first (1781-1789) basic governing document of the
United States and forerunner to the Constitution.
Bill of Rights - ANSWER✔✔-The first 10 amendments in the Constitution, which guarantee civil
liberties and protect states' rights
-Restricts government power
-James Madison's major victory
FOR STUDY PURPOSES ONLY COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
