PS 110 GRCC Exam #1 UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Politics - CORRECT ANSWER - Deciding who gets what, when, and how
"kto-kovo" - CORRECT ANSWER - Who does what (defeats, rules, oppresses, kills) to
whom
Political Science - CORRECT ANSWER - The study of politics; for what ends, and by what
means; look at:
Participants: voters, interest groups, media, etc.
The Political Process: Campaigns, election, law making, lobbying
Public Policies: Social welfare, economics, foreign affairs
Normative: how things should be
Empirical: How things are
Government - CORRECT ANSWER - Society-wide institution that can apply and uphold its
decisions through the legitimate use of force; the formal organization through which policies are
made and the state is managed
Legitimacy - CORRECT ANSWER - Something is widely accepted as necessary, rightful, and
legally binding
The State (3 definitions) - CORRECT ANSWER - the basic unit of territorial government;
could mean:
An American state, or a regional government
A nation-state; the government of a whole country
Any government: national, regional, or local
,The Purposes of Government - as listed in the preamble to the Constitution - CORRECT
ANSWER - Establish justice - est. the rule of law: a just social and political order
Insure domestic tranquility - keep the peace; prevent rebellion, anarchy
Provide for the common defense - military, anti-terrorism
Promote the general welfare - provide public goods; improve the economy
Secure the blessings of liberty - ensure freedoms for all
Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER - Government implies a contract among the people;
they obey the laws and receive protection of their rights and safety
Public Goods - CORRECT ANSWER - Those best delivered by public, not private, means,
because either:
Individuals cannot afford to provide them for themselves; OR
"Free Riders" cannot be prevented from gaining benefits at others' costs
Free Market - CORRECT ANSWER - Voluntary buying and selling of goods and services in
an open, competitive marketplace
Gross Domestic Product (GDP - CORRECT ANSWER - Total national value of all goods and
services produced; a measure of national economic growth
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is held by the people, either directly or through
representatives (republic); from Greek "rule by the many"
Democratic Principles (4) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1) Individual dignity - presumes personal
freedoms
2) Equality before the law - not economic equality
3) Widespread political participation
4) Majority rule, with "one person - one vote" = political equality
, Representative Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Public decisions are delegated to elected
leaders
Direct Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Citizens make key governing decisions
collectively, by majority vote; very rare for regular functions (New England town hall, ancient
Greek city-states)
Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER - Fundamental law(s) that limit state powers, esp. over
personal freedoms
Monarchy - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is vested in hereditary kings and queens; can exist
under a constitution
Authoritarianism - CORRECT ANSWER - Or "dictatorship"; power is held by a small elite;
no political challenge to the rulers is allowed
Totalitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER - The state (and/or party) claims total, god-like
control over all persons and institutions; no free thought or action is tolerated
e.g. N. Korea, Cuba; also USSR, Nazi Germany
Elitist Theory - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is concentrated in a small number of
individuals and/or institutions; Lasswell & Lerner are key theorists; also Marx, etc.
Pluralist Theory - CORRECT ANSWER - Many organized groups compete for political
power, & individuals can participate through groups and election activities; equilibrium nears
society's goals
American Exceptionalism - CORRECT ANSWER - American uniqueness in the world; is
America a "Shining City Upon a Hill"? How do we compare to other countries?
ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Politics - CORRECT ANSWER - Deciding who gets what, when, and how
"kto-kovo" - CORRECT ANSWER - Who does what (defeats, rules, oppresses, kills) to
whom
Political Science - CORRECT ANSWER - The study of politics; for what ends, and by what
means; look at:
Participants: voters, interest groups, media, etc.
The Political Process: Campaigns, election, law making, lobbying
Public Policies: Social welfare, economics, foreign affairs
Normative: how things should be
Empirical: How things are
Government - CORRECT ANSWER - Society-wide institution that can apply and uphold its
decisions through the legitimate use of force; the formal organization through which policies are
made and the state is managed
Legitimacy - CORRECT ANSWER - Something is widely accepted as necessary, rightful, and
legally binding
The State (3 definitions) - CORRECT ANSWER - the basic unit of territorial government;
could mean:
An American state, or a regional government
A nation-state; the government of a whole country
Any government: national, regional, or local
,The Purposes of Government - as listed in the preamble to the Constitution - CORRECT
ANSWER - Establish justice - est. the rule of law: a just social and political order
Insure domestic tranquility - keep the peace; prevent rebellion, anarchy
Provide for the common defense - military, anti-terrorism
Promote the general welfare - provide public goods; improve the economy
Secure the blessings of liberty - ensure freedoms for all
Social Contract - CORRECT ANSWER - Government implies a contract among the people;
they obey the laws and receive protection of their rights and safety
Public Goods - CORRECT ANSWER - Those best delivered by public, not private, means,
because either:
Individuals cannot afford to provide them for themselves; OR
"Free Riders" cannot be prevented from gaining benefits at others' costs
Free Market - CORRECT ANSWER - Voluntary buying and selling of goods and services in
an open, competitive marketplace
Gross Domestic Product (GDP - CORRECT ANSWER - Total national value of all goods and
services produced; a measure of national economic growth
Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is held by the people, either directly or through
representatives (republic); from Greek "rule by the many"
Democratic Principles (4) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1) Individual dignity - presumes personal
freedoms
2) Equality before the law - not economic equality
3) Widespread political participation
4) Majority rule, with "one person - one vote" = political equality
, Representative Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Public decisions are delegated to elected
leaders
Direct Democracy - CORRECT ANSWER - Citizens make key governing decisions
collectively, by majority vote; very rare for regular functions (New England town hall, ancient
Greek city-states)
Constitution - CORRECT ANSWER - Fundamental law(s) that limit state powers, esp. over
personal freedoms
Monarchy - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is vested in hereditary kings and queens; can exist
under a constitution
Authoritarianism - CORRECT ANSWER - Or "dictatorship"; power is held by a small elite;
no political challenge to the rulers is allowed
Totalitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER - The state (and/or party) claims total, god-like
control over all persons and institutions; no free thought or action is tolerated
e.g. N. Korea, Cuba; also USSR, Nazi Germany
Elitist Theory - CORRECT ANSWER - Power is concentrated in a small number of
individuals and/or institutions; Lasswell & Lerner are key theorists; also Marx, etc.
Pluralist Theory - CORRECT ANSWER - Many organized groups compete for political
power, & individuals can participate through groups and election activities; equilibrium nears
society's goals
American Exceptionalism - CORRECT ANSWER - American uniqueness in the world; is
America a "Shining City Upon a Hill"? How do we compare to other countries?
