PLS 101 Exam 1 Review (Ch. 1-3)
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
According to the text, does it matter if Americans trust their government? Why? What might be
some
of the effects of long-term distrust? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, because most
Americans rely on government for a wide range of services and laws they take for granted.
Long-term distrust can result in:
-public refusal to pay the taxes necessary to support such widely approved public activities
-difficulties for government in attracting talented and effective workers to public service
-harmed capacity of the U.S. and a weakened national security
According to the text, why is it important for citizens to be informed about government? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Democracy functions best when citizens are informed and have
the knowledge needed to participate in political debate. Citizens need political knowledge to
figure out how best to act in their interests
Fundamental differences between U.S. and other Western Democracies - CORRECT
ANSWER - -police/public schools are controlled primarily at a local level while they are
controlled at a national level in Europe
-U.S. has a broad-based two party system: no one large party (socialist, communist,etc.)
-political parties in U.S. are focused more on winning elections by sometimes trading off core
beliefs to obtain new voters while political parties in Europe are strongly attached to values of
their party and do not switch easily
-U.S. pays 1/2 taxes of other European countries
-U.S. Government owns few industries (automobile, airlines, oil, telephone lines, etc.)
Presidential System - CORRECT ANSWER - -belongs to U.S.
-deliberately separate chief executive and legislature
-parties controlling president and Congress can be different
, -people pick president, not Congress
-bureaucracy works for both Congress & president
-much harder to get things done
Parliamentary System (European) - CORRECT ANSWER - -people elect legislature
-legislature elects chief executive (prime minister)
-often same party controlling prime minister and legislature
-prime minister and cabinet make all key decisions
-bureaucracy, prime minister, and legislature all work together
-courts rarely interfere
direct democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - a system that permits citizens to vote directly
on laws and policies
representative democracy (republic) - CORRECT ANSWER - population selects
representatives who play a significant role
Arguments in favor of representative democracy over direct democracy - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Direct democracy is not as practical for citizens
-Public opinion can be easily swayed
-Direct democracy makes compromise difficult
-Should important policies be decided by a public opinion poll?
Liberalism - CORRECT ANSWER - government should play active role in economy
(regulating business) but should not interfere with our personal lives
Conservatives - CORRECT ANSWER - government should NOT play a role in the
economy but they should legislate morality and interfere within our personal lives
UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
According to the text, does it matter if Americans trust their government? Why? What might be
some
of the effects of long-term distrust? - CORRECT ANSWER - Yes, because most
Americans rely on government for a wide range of services and laws they take for granted.
Long-term distrust can result in:
-public refusal to pay the taxes necessary to support such widely approved public activities
-difficulties for government in attracting talented and effective workers to public service
-harmed capacity of the U.S. and a weakened national security
According to the text, why is it important for citizens to be informed about government? -
CORRECT ANSWER - Democracy functions best when citizens are informed and have
the knowledge needed to participate in political debate. Citizens need political knowledge to
figure out how best to act in their interests
Fundamental differences between U.S. and other Western Democracies - CORRECT
ANSWER - -police/public schools are controlled primarily at a local level while they are
controlled at a national level in Europe
-U.S. has a broad-based two party system: no one large party (socialist, communist,etc.)
-political parties in U.S. are focused more on winning elections by sometimes trading off core
beliefs to obtain new voters while political parties in Europe are strongly attached to values of
their party and do not switch easily
-U.S. pays 1/2 taxes of other European countries
-U.S. Government owns few industries (automobile, airlines, oil, telephone lines, etc.)
Presidential System - CORRECT ANSWER - -belongs to U.S.
-deliberately separate chief executive and legislature
-parties controlling president and Congress can be different
, -people pick president, not Congress
-bureaucracy works for both Congress & president
-much harder to get things done
Parliamentary System (European) - CORRECT ANSWER - -people elect legislature
-legislature elects chief executive (prime minister)
-often same party controlling prime minister and legislature
-prime minister and cabinet make all key decisions
-bureaucracy, prime minister, and legislature all work together
-courts rarely interfere
direct democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - a system that permits citizens to vote directly
on laws and policies
representative democracy (republic) - CORRECT ANSWER - population selects
representatives who play a significant role
Arguments in favor of representative democracy over direct democracy - CORRECT
ANSWER - -Direct democracy is not as practical for citizens
-Public opinion can be easily swayed
-Direct democracy makes compromise difficult
-Should important policies be decided by a public opinion poll?
Liberalism - CORRECT ANSWER - government should play active role in economy
(regulating business) but should not interfere with our personal lives
Conservatives - CORRECT ANSWER - government should NOT play a role in the
economy but they should legislate morality and interfere within our personal lives
