Course Review

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

• The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign governments, but for the treaty to take effect, it requires approval by the Senate.

• As commander-in-chief of the military, the president orders troops to a foreign nation to address a potential threat to national security

• A Senate committee holds a hearing to discuss potential misuse of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs

• The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation?

• A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners

• A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads

• A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

• A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases

In which of the following situations would the Supreme Court be most likely to utilize the doctrine of selective incorporation?

• When an individual claims that a right protected by the Bill of Rights is infringed upon by a state

• When there is a conflict among the branches of the national government

• When a federal policy shifting oversight authority from a national agency to a state agency is challenged

• When a former employee files a wrongful termination claim against a company headquartered in another state

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

• Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary.

• Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

• The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press

• There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

Which of the following describes the Twenty-Fourth Amendment?

• It required elections for the United States Senate.

• It desegregated places of public accommodation.

• It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender

• It eliminated poll taxes.

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan dead on arrival. Among the cited issues was Obama’s request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?

• Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president’s proposal because the president may veto the bill.

• The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.

• The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent.

• The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . .

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.

George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796

Which of the following newspaper headlines best summarizes the excerpt from Washington’s Farewell Address?

• Washington Boasts of the Potential of the New Republic

• Washington Warns of Dangerous Party Factions

• Washington Endorses a Stronger Executive Branch

• Washington Takes Negative View of Checks and Balances

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . .

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.

George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796

In what respect does the Constitution address Washington’s concern regarding the “spirit of encroachment” expressed in the excerpt?

• The Constitution provides for equal representation of all citizens in Congress.

• The Constitution distributes power across national institutions.

• The Constitution requires a simple majority vote in Congress to overturn a veto.

• The Constitution requires the Supreme Court to approve all legislation.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . .

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism.

George Washington’s Farewell Address, 1796

Which of the following scenarios illustrates Washington’s concerns?

• An increasing number of voters are not turning out to vote in elections.

• Federalism can lead to different public policy outcomes between states.

• Ideological divisions within Congress can lead to partisan gridlock.

• Members of the press fail to report on the illegal activities of certain members of the bureaucracy.

Which of the following sets of policies would most likely be supported by a libertarian?

• Increase income and capital gains taxes on the wealthy to raise revenue for social security benefits

• Elimination of the estate tax and promotion of government-funded prekindergarten education

• Legalization of the commercial sale of marijuana and a reduction in government spending on prisons

• Expansion of the welfare state and a reduction in spending on national defense