POSC 1010 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is disturbance theory? - Answer- The idea that external events or shocks can
spark the mobilization of interest groups.
What is the role of material incentives in interest group formation? - Answer- To
encourage individuals to participate by offering tangible rewards.
What is the significance of mandatory membership in some interest groups? - Answer-
It can help overcome collective action problems by ensuring participation.
What is public opinion? - Answer- A collection of popular views about something, such
as a person, event, idea, or policy.
What factors influence public opinion in politics? - Answer- Public views on policy
proposals and candidates.
Who constitutes 'the public' in public opinion research? - Answer- It varies depending on
the research question and basic demographics of the US.
What is political socialization? - Answer- The process by which people come to
understand their political world, starting from a young age.
What are some agents of political socialization? - Answer- Family, school, religious
organizations, popular culture, major events, and news media.
What is news judgement? - Answer- The decision made by news media on whether to
cover a particular issue.
What does framing refer to in the context of public opinion? - Answer- The way
information is presented to the public.
What is political ideology? - Answer- A set of attitudes, beliefs, and values that shape
how people view the world, especially regarding government and policy.
How do Democrats and Republicans generally align ideologically? - Answer- Democrats
tend to be ideological liberals, while Republicans tend to be conservative.
,What is classical liberalism? - Answer- An ideology that promotes individual liberties
and rights.
What does modern liberalism advocate for? - Answer- Economic and social equality
through government action, willing to expand the size and scope of government.
What is the difference between liberal and progressive ideologies? - Answer-
Progressives prioritize group-level equity (equality of outcomes), while liberals focus on
individual rights.
What factors have contributed to the increase in the number and type of interest
groups? - Answer- New interests, technological change, redistribution of power,
increased specialization, and professionalization.
What is the purpose of legislative liaisons? - Answer- To represent the interests of
government entities in lobbying efforts.
How do interest groups help overcome collective action problems? - Answer- By
organizing individuals and providing incentives to participate.
What is the impact of partisan news media on political polarization? - Answer- It creates
echo chambers that reinforce ideological divides.
What is the relationship between interest groups and public policy? - Answer- Interest
groups attempt to influence public policy outcomes to align with their objectives.
What is the primary purpose of interest groups? - Answer- To enable political
participation and influence policy.
What are grassroots movements? - Answer- Bottom-up efforts that start locally to
promote political change.
What do civil liberties limit? - Answer- Government power
What does the First Amendment protect? - Answer- Freedom of religion, speech, press,
assembly, and petition
What is the main purpose of civil rights? - Answer- To guarantee equal treatment under
the law
What does the Fourteenth Amendment ensure? - Answer- Citizenship and equal
protection under the law
How are civil liberties primarily characterized? - Answer- As negative rights
How are civil rights primarily characterized? - Answer- As positive rights
, What historical document enshrines civil liberties in the U.S.? - Answer- The
Constitution, primarily the Bill of Rights
What is selective incorporation? - Answer- The process of applying the Bill of Rights to
the states piece-by-piece
What does the First Amendment's establishment clause prohibit? - Answer- Official
religion or favoritism by the government
What is the significance of the case Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017)? - Answer- It
addressed the inclusion of religious symbols in public spaces
What does the free exercise clause of the First Amendment protect? - Answer- Limits
on government control of religious practices
What does the Second Amendment state? - Answer- The right of the people to keep
and bear Arms shall not be infringed
What was established in DC v. Heller (2008)? - Answer- The right to bear arms is an
individual right
What does the Fourth Amendment protect against? - Answer- Unreasonable searches
and seizures
What is required for a search warrant under the Fourth Amendment? - Answer-
Probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation
What does the Fifth Amendment's double jeopardy clause prevent? - Answer- Repeated
trials after acquittal
What rights are included in the Sixth Amendment? - Answer- Right to a speedy trial,
impartial jury, and assistance of counsel
What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee? - Answer- Right to a jury trial in civil
suits exceeding twenty dollars
What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit? - Answer- Excessive bail, excessive fines,
and cruel and unusual punishments
What does the Ninth Amendment state about rights? - Answer- Enumerated rights shall
not deny or disparage others retained by the people
What does the Tenth Amendment reserve? - Answer- Powers not delegated to the
United States are reserved to the states or the people
AND ANSWERS
What is disturbance theory? - Answer- The idea that external events or shocks can
spark the mobilization of interest groups.
What is the role of material incentives in interest group formation? - Answer- To
encourage individuals to participate by offering tangible rewards.
What is the significance of mandatory membership in some interest groups? - Answer-
It can help overcome collective action problems by ensuring participation.
What is public opinion? - Answer- A collection of popular views about something, such
as a person, event, idea, or policy.
What factors influence public opinion in politics? - Answer- Public views on policy
proposals and candidates.
Who constitutes 'the public' in public opinion research? - Answer- It varies depending on
the research question and basic demographics of the US.
What is political socialization? - Answer- The process by which people come to
understand their political world, starting from a young age.
What are some agents of political socialization? - Answer- Family, school, religious
organizations, popular culture, major events, and news media.
What is news judgement? - Answer- The decision made by news media on whether to
cover a particular issue.
What does framing refer to in the context of public opinion? - Answer- The way
information is presented to the public.
What is political ideology? - Answer- A set of attitudes, beliefs, and values that shape
how people view the world, especially regarding government and policy.
How do Democrats and Republicans generally align ideologically? - Answer- Democrats
tend to be ideological liberals, while Republicans tend to be conservative.
,What is classical liberalism? - Answer- An ideology that promotes individual liberties
and rights.
What does modern liberalism advocate for? - Answer- Economic and social equality
through government action, willing to expand the size and scope of government.
What is the difference between liberal and progressive ideologies? - Answer-
Progressives prioritize group-level equity (equality of outcomes), while liberals focus on
individual rights.
What factors have contributed to the increase in the number and type of interest
groups? - Answer- New interests, technological change, redistribution of power,
increased specialization, and professionalization.
What is the purpose of legislative liaisons? - Answer- To represent the interests of
government entities in lobbying efforts.
How do interest groups help overcome collective action problems? - Answer- By
organizing individuals and providing incentives to participate.
What is the impact of partisan news media on political polarization? - Answer- It creates
echo chambers that reinforce ideological divides.
What is the relationship between interest groups and public policy? - Answer- Interest
groups attempt to influence public policy outcomes to align with their objectives.
What is the primary purpose of interest groups? - Answer- To enable political
participation and influence policy.
What are grassroots movements? - Answer- Bottom-up efforts that start locally to
promote political change.
What do civil liberties limit? - Answer- Government power
What does the First Amendment protect? - Answer- Freedom of religion, speech, press,
assembly, and petition
What is the main purpose of civil rights? - Answer- To guarantee equal treatment under
the law
What does the Fourteenth Amendment ensure? - Answer- Citizenship and equal
protection under the law
How are civil liberties primarily characterized? - Answer- As negative rights
How are civil rights primarily characterized? - Answer- As positive rights
, What historical document enshrines civil liberties in the U.S.? - Answer- The
Constitution, primarily the Bill of Rights
What is selective incorporation? - Answer- The process of applying the Bill of Rights to
the states piece-by-piece
What does the First Amendment's establishment clause prohibit? - Answer- Official
religion or favoritism by the government
What is the significance of the case Trinity Lutheran v. Comer (2017)? - Answer- It
addressed the inclusion of religious symbols in public spaces
What does the free exercise clause of the First Amendment protect? - Answer- Limits
on government control of religious practices
What does the Second Amendment state? - Answer- The right of the people to keep
and bear Arms shall not be infringed
What was established in DC v. Heller (2008)? - Answer- The right to bear arms is an
individual right
What does the Fourth Amendment protect against? - Answer- Unreasonable searches
and seizures
What is required for a search warrant under the Fourth Amendment? - Answer-
Probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation
What does the Fifth Amendment's double jeopardy clause prevent? - Answer- Repeated
trials after acquittal
What rights are included in the Sixth Amendment? - Answer- Right to a speedy trial,
impartial jury, and assistance of counsel
What does the Seventh Amendment guarantee? - Answer- Right to a jury trial in civil
suits exceeding twenty dollars
What does the Eighth Amendment prohibit? - Answer- Excessive bail, excessive fines,
and cruel and unusual punishments
What does the Ninth Amendment state about rights? - Answer- Enumerated rights shall
not deny or disparage others retained by the people
What does the Tenth Amendment reserve? - Answer- Powers not delegated to the
United States are reserved to the states or the people
