POLS 207 PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+<RECENT
VERSION>
1. Which level of government handles defense, immigration, and foreign policy? - ANSWER
Federal government
2. Which level of government handles education, healthcare, and transportation? - ANSWER
State government
3. Which level of government handles zoning, police, and local roads? - ANSWER Local
government
4. What is policy conservatism? - ANSWER Belief in limited government, low taxes, traditional
values, and free market.
5. What is policy liberalism? - ANSWER Support for active government, social programs, civil
rights, and economic regulation.
6. Where do state governments get most of their revenue? - ANSWER Income tax, sales tax,
and federal grants
7. Where do local governments get most of their revenue? - ANSWER Property taxes, sales
taxes, and fees
8. What is federalism? - ANSWER A system where power is shared between national and state
governments
,9. What is a unitary system? - ANSWER Central government holds all the power
10. What is a confederation? - ANSWER States hold most power; central government is weak
11. Why are states called "laboratories of democracy"? - ANSWER They can experiment with
policies before national adoption
12. What is nullification? - ANSWER A theory that states can invalidate federal laws they
consider unconstitutional
13. What are enumerated powers? - ANSWER Powers specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution
for the federal government
14. What are implied powers? - ANSWER Powers not listed but necessary to carry out
enumerated powers
15. What does the 10th Amendment state? - ANSWER Powers not given to the federal
government are reserved to the states or people
16. What was the result of Marbury v. Madison (1803)? - ANSWER Established judicial review
17. What was the result of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)? - ANSWER Established federal
supremacy and validated implied powers
18. Why are federal grants - ANSWER in-aid important? - They allow the federal government to
influence state policy
19. What are mandates? - ANSWER Federal requirements states must follow, sometimes
without funding
20. What is preemption? - ANSWER When federal law overrides state/local law
, 21. What is usually included in state constitutions? - ANSWER Bill of Rights, policy details,
structure of government
22. What is a city charter? - ANSWER A city's governing document, like a constitution
23. What is eminent domain? - ANSWER Government can take private land for public use with
compensation
24. What is home rule? - ANSWER Cities can govern themselves with more autonomy from the
state
25. What are some electoral devices used at the local level? - answer Initiative, Recall, and
Referendum
26. What are some examples of the fate of some recent ballot initiatives in the states? - answer
Recall: In Plymouth, California, voters recalled the mayor and two city council members for
supporting efforts by the Mikok Indian tribe to purchase 200 acres to build a casino inside the
city limits
Referendum: In Miami Beach, Florida, voters said the city should provide employee benefits to gay
& heterosexual domestic partners
Initiative: In Greenfield, Massachusetts, voters rejected the city's involvement in wood burring
"biomass" power plant.
27. What is the role of organized interests in initiative campaigns? - answer Special interests:
specific businesses or industries that sponsor initiative campaigns
Organized interests are the backbone for legalizing laws and funding these campaigns
28. What are some Reform Proposals? - answer -Neutral voter guides be printed by the state
-Names & affiliations of major contributors to initiative campaigns be published
-Courts scrutinize titles on initiatives to ensure that they accurately reflect their purposes and
intent
29. Arguments in support of Direct democracy - answer -enhances government responsiveness
and accountability
-allows citizen groups to bring their concerns directly to the public
-stimulates debate about policy issues
WITH CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS |
ALREADY GRADED A+<RECENT
VERSION>
1. Which level of government handles defense, immigration, and foreign policy? - ANSWER
Federal government
2. Which level of government handles education, healthcare, and transportation? - ANSWER
State government
3. Which level of government handles zoning, police, and local roads? - ANSWER Local
government
4. What is policy conservatism? - ANSWER Belief in limited government, low taxes, traditional
values, and free market.
5. What is policy liberalism? - ANSWER Support for active government, social programs, civil
rights, and economic regulation.
6. Where do state governments get most of their revenue? - ANSWER Income tax, sales tax,
and federal grants
7. Where do local governments get most of their revenue? - ANSWER Property taxes, sales
taxes, and fees
8. What is federalism? - ANSWER A system where power is shared between national and state
governments
,9. What is a unitary system? - ANSWER Central government holds all the power
10. What is a confederation? - ANSWER States hold most power; central government is weak
11. Why are states called "laboratories of democracy"? - ANSWER They can experiment with
policies before national adoption
12. What is nullification? - ANSWER A theory that states can invalidate federal laws they
consider unconstitutional
13. What are enumerated powers? - ANSWER Powers specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution
for the federal government
14. What are implied powers? - ANSWER Powers not listed but necessary to carry out
enumerated powers
15. What does the 10th Amendment state? - ANSWER Powers not given to the federal
government are reserved to the states or people
16. What was the result of Marbury v. Madison (1803)? - ANSWER Established judicial review
17. What was the result of McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)? - ANSWER Established federal
supremacy and validated implied powers
18. Why are federal grants - ANSWER in-aid important? - They allow the federal government to
influence state policy
19. What are mandates? - ANSWER Federal requirements states must follow, sometimes
without funding
20. What is preemption? - ANSWER When federal law overrides state/local law
, 21. What is usually included in state constitutions? - ANSWER Bill of Rights, policy details,
structure of government
22. What is a city charter? - ANSWER A city's governing document, like a constitution
23. What is eminent domain? - ANSWER Government can take private land for public use with
compensation
24. What is home rule? - ANSWER Cities can govern themselves with more autonomy from the
state
25. What are some electoral devices used at the local level? - answer Initiative, Recall, and
Referendum
26. What are some examples of the fate of some recent ballot initiatives in the states? - answer
Recall: In Plymouth, California, voters recalled the mayor and two city council members for
supporting efforts by the Mikok Indian tribe to purchase 200 acres to build a casino inside the
city limits
Referendum: In Miami Beach, Florida, voters said the city should provide employee benefits to gay
& heterosexual domestic partners
Initiative: In Greenfield, Massachusetts, voters rejected the city's involvement in wood burring
"biomass" power plant.
27. What is the role of organized interests in initiative campaigns? - answer Special interests:
specific businesses or industries that sponsor initiative campaigns
Organized interests are the backbone for legalizing laws and funding these campaigns
28. What are some Reform Proposals? - answer -Neutral voter guides be printed by the state
-Names & affiliations of major contributors to initiative campaigns be published
-Courts scrutinize titles on initiatives to ensure that they accurately reflect their purposes and
intent
29. Arguments in support of Direct democracy - answer -enhances government responsiveness
and accountability
-allows citizen groups to bring their concerns directly to the public
-stimulates debate about policy issues
