PSCI 1101 Exam Prep Test with Questions
Solved with 100% Correct answers
Politics - Answer The process that determines what government does.
3 Key Ideas of Politics - Answer Politics is conflictual, the political process matters, and
politics is everywhere
Free Market - Answer An economic system based on competition among business
without government interference
Economic Individualism - Answer The sovereignty of individuals to manage their own
financial decisions without government interference
Redistributive Tax Policies - Answer Policies, generally favored by Democratic politicians,
that use taxation to attempt to create greater social equality.
Ex: higher taxation of the rich to provide programs for the poor--an attempt to create
greater social equality
Racial Separatists - Answer See white-dominated society as oppressive and
discriminatory
Ex: the Muslims' view of US
Multiculturalists - Answer Argue that there is strength in diversity and embrace a
"tossed salad" version of assimilation (each ingredient remains distinct, but contributes
to the overall quality of the salad).
,Ideology - Answer A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used to organize and evaluate the
political world
Conservatives - Answer Support lower taxes, a free market, and a more-limited
government
Liberals - Answer Support stronger government programs and more market regulation
Libertarians - Answer Those who prefer very limited government and therefore tend to
be conservative on issues such as welfare policy, environmental policy, and public
support for education, but liberal on issues of personal liberty such as free speech,
abortion, and the legalization of drugs
Governmental Capacity - Answer Some governmental institutions don't have enough
capacity to achieve things, while others have too much capacity which results in too
much power
Ex: surveillance
Liberty - Answer Political freedom, such as the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and
religion that are outlined in the Bill of Rights
Democracy - Answer Government by the people. In most contexts, this means
representative democracy in which the people elect leaders to enact policies.
Democracies must have fair elections with at least two alternatives.
Equality - Answer Equality before the law, political equality (one person, one vote), and
equality of opportunity (the equal chance for everyone to realize their potential), but
not material equality (equal income or wealth).
,Agency
*affects politics more than structure - Answer Individual actions (voting, campaigning)
Structure - Answer The way rules and institutions were set up (electoral college,
bicameral legislature)
Empirical Questions - Answer How DOES the system work? How does this help us
understand what will happen in the future?
Ex: How can we explain and predict political phenomena?
EXPLAIN: What factors led to Donald Trump winning the presidential election rather
than Hillary Clinton?
PREDICT: Will there be a competitive third party in US national politics?
Normative Questions - Answer How SHOULD the system work? What kind of political
system allows us to pursue the good life?
Ex: How should our political system work to promote justice, fairness, liberty, and other
ideals? What ideals should we pursue?
Does the US political system meet the ideals of a democracy?
Articles of Confederation - Answer The first attempt at a new American government
that was later decided restricted national government too much, and they were
repealed by the Constitution (too much of a limited government)
Limited Government - Answer A political system in which the powers of the government
are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights
, Republicanism - Answer The interests of the people are represented through elected
leaders
"Consent of the Governed" - Answer The idea that government gains its legitimacy
through regular elections in which the people living under that government participate
to elect their leaders
Natural rights (aka "unalienable rights") - Answer The Declaration of Independence
defines them as "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Founders believed that
upholding these rights should be the government's central purpose
Authors of The Federalist Papers - Answer James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
Federalist 51 - Answer View of human nature: People are driven by self interest, so
there is a need for republican government and a system of separated powers
Federalist 10 - Answer The central problem for government: the need to control factions
Federalists - Answer Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong
national government and a system of separated powers
Anti-Federalists - Answer Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored strong
state governments and feared that a strong national government would be a threat to
individual rights
Pluralism - Answer The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within
government will strengthen the system, ensuring that no group possesses total control
Solved with 100% Correct answers
Politics - Answer The process that determines what government does.
3 Key Ideas of Politics - Answer Politics is conflictual, the political process matters, and
politics is everywhere
Free Market - Answer An economic system based on competition among business
without government interference
Economic Individualism - Answer The sovereignty of individuals to manage their own
financial decisions without government interference
Redistributive Tax Policies - Answer Policies, generally favored by Democratic politicians,
that use taxation to attempt to create greater social equality.
Ex: higher taxation of the rich to provide programs for the poor--an attempt to create
greater social equality
Racial Separatists - Answer See white-dominated society as oppressive and
discriminatory
Ex: the Muslims' view of US
Multiculturalists - Answer Argue that there is strength in diversity and embrace a
"tossed salad" version of assimilation (each ingredient remains distinct, but contributes
to the overall quality of the salad).
,Ideology - Answer A cohesive set of ideas and beliefs used to organize and evaluate the
political world
Conservatives - Answer Support lower taxes, a free market, and a more-limited
government
Liberals - Answer Support stronger government programs and more market regulation
Libertarians - Answer Those who prefer very limited government and therefore tend to
be conservative on issues such as welfare policy, environmental policy, and public
support for education, but liberal on issues of personal liberty such as free speech,
abortion, and the legalization of drugs
Governmental Capacity - Answer Some governmental institutions don't have enough
capacity to achieve things, while others have too much capacity which results in too
much power
Ex: surveillance
Liberty - Answer Political freedom, such as the freedom of speech, press, assembly, and
religion that are outlined in the Bill of Rights
Democracy - Answer Government by the people. In most contexts, this means
representative democracy in which the people elect leaders to enact policies.
Democracies must have fair elections with at least two alternatives.
Equality - Answer Equality before the law, political equality (one person, one vote), and
equality of opportunity (the equal chance for everyone to realize their potential), but
not material equality (equal income or wealth).
,Agency
*affects politics more than structure - Answer Individual actions (voting, campaigning)
Structure - Answer The way rules and institutions were set up (electoral college,
bicameral legislature)
Empirical Questions - Answer How DOES the system work? How does this help us
understand what will happen in the future?
Ex: How can we explain and predict political phenomena?
EXPLAIN: What factors led to Donald Trump winning the presidential election rather
than Hillary Clinton?
PREDICT: Will there be a competitive third party in US national politics?
Normative Questions - Answer How SHOULD the system work? What kind of political
system allows us to pursue the good life?
Ex: How should our political system work to promote justice, fairness, liberty, and other
ideals? What ideals should we pursue?
Does the US political system meet the ideals of a democracy?
Articles of Confederation - Answer The first attempt at a new American government
that was later decided restricted national government too much, and they were
repealed by the Constitution (too much of a limited government)
Limited Government - Answer A political system in which the powers of the government
are restricted to prevent tyranny by protecting property and individual rights
, Republicanism - Answer The interests of the people are represented through elected
leaders
"Consent of the Governed" - Answer The idea that government gains its legitimacy
through regular elections in which the people living under that government participate
to elect their leaders
Natural rights (aka "unalienable rights") - Answer The Declaration of Independence
defines them as "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." The Founders believed that
upholding these rights should be the government's central purpose
Authors of The Federalist Papers - Answer James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay
Federalist 51 - Answer View of human nature: People are driven by self interest, so
there is a need for republican government and a system of separated powers
Federalist 10 - Answer The central problem for government: the need to control factions
Federalists - Answer Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored a strong
national government and a system of separated powers
Anti-Federalists - Answer Those at the Constitutional Convention who favored strong
state governments and feared that a strong national government would be a threat to
individual rights
Pluralism - Answer The idea that having a variety of parties and interests within
government will strengthen the system, ensuring that no group possesses total control
