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Chapter 1: Introducing Government in America

Multiple Choice

Multiple Choice


This activity contains 20 questions.

	A choice that government makes in response to some issue is called a   policy agenda. public policy. public good. political institution.

	A popular definition of politics is   what candidates do to win elections. the choice that government makes in response to an issue. who gets what, when, and how. the resolution of conflict in a way that serves the public.

	A public good is defined as   a public policy that is good for the nation as a whole. something provided by the government that could be provided by the private sector. something in which every member of society can share. a choice that government makes in response to a political issue.

	Compared to most other Western democratic nations, the United States   actually spends a larger percentage of its resources on government. levies a higher tax burden on its citizens. is more involved in health care. spends a small amount on its government.

	Government is defined as the institutions   that bring problems to the attention of public officials. that make authoritative decisions for a society. concerned with national problems. that implement policies that have been enacted in the private sector.

	One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is the prominence of   elites. individualism. groups. money.

	Policy impacts are concerned with   how a policy gets on the public agenda. the problems and interests of the people. the effects that a policy has on people and on society's problems. who formulates public policy.

	Political issues   are limited in number in the United States. are always acted upon by the government. usually emerge out of group consensus on a problem. arise when people disagree about a problem or public policy choices made to combat a problem.

	The "what" of politics refers to   the behavior of the candidates. the political parties. benefits and burdens from government. elections.

	The formal institutions of the American national government include all of the following EXCEPT   Congress. the bureaucracy. courts. political parties.

	The government's policy agenda   refers to who gets what, when, and how. determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies they pursue. is a list of subjects or problems to which government officials are paying serious attention at any given time. is a choice that government makes in response to some issue.

	The largest percentage of the federal budget is devoted to   national defense. Social Security. Medicare. aid to state and local budgets.

	The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time is called   political decision-making. a policymaking system. a policy agenda. a linkage institution.

	The theory that argues that group competition results in a rough approximation of the public interest in public policy is   elite and class theory. pluralist theory. bureaucratic theory. hyperpluralist theory.

	The theory that sees wealth as the basis of power is the   democratic theory. elite and class theory. pluralist theory. hyperpluralist theory.

	When interest groups disagree and use their influence to thwart those whose policy proposals they oppose, the result is often   compromise. majority rule. policy gridlock. policy impact.

	Which of the following is NOT one of the cornerstones of an ideal democracy?   equality in voting. effective participation. economic equality. citizen control of the agenda.

	Which of the following statements about public goods is FALSE?   Public goods are things that everyone can share. Clean air and clean water are public goods. Public goods are often restricted to those who meet certain criteria. The government usually provides public goods.

	Which of the following statements regarding young Americans and politics is TRUE?   Young Americans are more actively involved in politics than ever. Young Americans today are more informed about public policy than were their parents. Today's young people have grown up in an environment in which public affairs news has not been as readily visible as it was in the past. Young Americans are more politically knowledgeable than elderly Americans.

	Which of the following would NOT be considered a linkage institution?   Congress the media interest groups elections

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