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American Federal Government Chapter 16
General Test Questions & Answers
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A common reference to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) passed by Congress in October 2008 is the
bailout.
 
A poll of the general public would likely show the strongest support for maintaining which of the following
programs or department at its current level of funding?
Social Security
 
According to the textbook, which of the following is true about business organizations?
They are the most consistently powerful groups in economic policymaking.
 
Ben Bernanke was appointed to head which federal organization in 2005?
Federal Reserve Board
 
Fiscal policy has become less effective in counteracting fluctuations in the business cycle because
discretionary spending has become a smaller portion of the annual budget.
 
Fiscal policy refers to
the government's taxing and spending decisions
 
Gross ____ is the same measure as gross national product except that it excludes income from foreign investments.
domestic product
 
If someone making less money is forced to pay a higher percentage of their income toward a tax than someone
making more money, we refer to that type of tax as
regressive.
 
In which decade did Americans first come to expect the national government to take an active role in the
economy because of the Great Depression?
1930s
 
Monetary policy refers to
managing the supply of money and credit in the economy
 
More than 23 large firms in the United States have joined environmentalists in a coalition called the
U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) to press for
a carbon emissions cap-and-trade system.
 
Republicans are most likely to see unemployment as a problem
of workers who lack appropriate job skills.
 
The dominant form of public policy of the national government in the nineteenth century was
subsidies.
 
The exercising of antitrust policy might involve the government
breaking up a large business into smaller companies.
 
The federal funds rate is the interest rate that member banks of the Federal Reserve System charge
each other.
 
The tax reform laws of 1981 and 1986 did which of the following to the federal income tax?
significantly reduced its progressiveness
 
What effect did the 2008 financial crisis have on federal regulation of the economy?
It created two new financial protection regulatory agencies.
 
What entity bears primary responsibility for preparing the president's budget?
the Office of Management and Budget
 
Which of the following is true of current American attitudes toward government regulation?
Americans tend to express strong support for maintaining or even strengthening current regulations.
 
Which of the major American political parties is generally more willing to accept economic regulation to
help attain social or environmental objectives?
the Democratic Party
 
What is the goal of fiscal policy?
to have a balanced federal budget
 
Public policy ________.
requires multiple actors and branches to carry out
 
Keynesian economic theory became popular during ___________.
the Great Depression
 
The national debt continues to _________.
increase
 
Why have social safety net programs been criticized?
inefficiency and incentivizing welfare dependence
 
___________ is a system that increases the effective tax rate as the taxpayer's income increases.
Progressive taxation
 
What is the goal of public policy?
to address matters of concern to large parts of society
 
Excise taxes are sometimes referred to as _______.
sin taxes
 
Resources like air, roads, and national security are considered ________.
public goods
 
A supply-side economic advocate would argue for increased regulation and taxes.
False
 
Which of the following statements is true of regressive taxation?
It lowers the overall tax rate as individuals make more money
 
Which of the following is a basic principle of free market economics?
it is largely unnecessary for the government to the protect the value of private goods
 
Keynesian economic theory became popular during ___________.
the Great Depression
 
How is Social Security funded?
payroll taxes
 
Which stage of the public policy process is directly tied to a policy's desired outcomes?
evaluation
 
Why are some social welfare programs known as entitlements?
they guarantee benefits to members of a specific group or segment of the population
 
____________ is primarily associated with programs tied to age, which continue to grow in obligation.
Mandatory spending
 
Which of the following does the Federal Reserve board oversee?
monetary policy
supervising and regulating banks
providing financial services to banks like loans
all of the above
 
Which of the following tends to argue that sound public policy requires very little government action?
Libertarians
 
One way the government protects consumers is through ________.
regulation
 
Which of the following is one the largest and oldest pieces of social welfare policy in the United States?
Social Security
 
The amount by which expenditures are greater than revenues is known as ________.
deficit
 
Toll goods differ from public goods in that _________.
they require the payment of a fee upfront
 
The overwhelming portion of the government's education money is spent on which of the following?
student loans, grants, and work-study programs
 
Cellphone service is an example of a _______.
toll good
 
Social Security and Medicare are notable for their assistance to which group?
the elderly
 
By raising or lowering banks' interest rates, the Federal Reserve chair has the ability
to __________ or ___________.
reduce inflation; stimulate growth
 
Policy can be made when government refuses to act in ways that would change the status quo when circumstances
or public opinion begin to shift.
True
 
In a _________ system, it is believed that the forces of supply and demand, working without any government intervention,
are the most effective way for markets to operate.
free market
 
Which of the following is an example of a monetary policy action?
raising or lowering interest rates
 
Advocates have a tendency to _______ and ________.
understate costs; overstate benefits
 
Taxable income is distorted by tax credits, deductions, and government incentives.
True
 
In _________, the federal government dictates the specifics of the policy and each state implements it the same exact way.
top-down implementation
 
How is the role of the federal government expressed in higher education?
student loans, grants, and work-study programs
 
Which of the following is used in monetary policy to affect the overall economy?
money supply
 
Policy analysts seek ________.
evidence
 
U.S. monetary policy involves ______ and _______.
interest rates; money supply
 
Setting aside Social Security and Medicare, other entitlement programs in the U.S. government _______________.
constitute well under one-quarter of the budget
 
Most of the goods you interact with on a daily basis are ________.
private
 
The Great Depression resulted in a set of policies known as a ____________.
social safety net
 
Contraction phases in which there is no economic growth for two consecutive quarters are known as ________.
recession
 
Which type of program is Medicare?
entitlement
 
The Congressional Budget Office is responsible for which of the following?
scoring the impact of all proposed legislation to assess its net effect on the budget
 
Which stage of the public policy process includes identification of problems in need of fixing?
agenda setting
 
Supply-side proponents advocate for _________ and ______ to spur economic growth.
reducing taxes; reducing regulation
 
Keynesian economic theory calls for _________ to counter _________.
increased government spending; economic downturns
 
All policies serve a beneficial purpose for everyone.
False
 
Monetary policy is a function of which of the following?
the Federal Reserve
 
Which of the following goods is prone to the tragedy of the commons?
public
 
Which three programs make up the lion's share of total federal government spending?
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
 
Entitlement (or mandatory) spending is _________.
formula-based spending that goes to individual citizens
 
What are the two main types of state courts?
Trial and appellate courts
 
Which of the following best describes the purpose of zoning laws?
specifying how land can be used
 
Which of the following is a power held by many governors but not by the president?
power to veto parts of a bill
 
Which of the following officials is often responsible for overseeing state elections?
secretary of state
 
Criminals cases involve laws related to:
public order
 
How is Nebraska's legislature unique?
It is unicameral.
 
If you buy a $2 item and the store charges you $2.10, you are paying:
10 percent sales tax
 
In Louisiana, counties are called:
parishes
 
In what circumstances may a case move from a state court to the federal court system?
The case involves a federal law or the Constitution
 
Of the following, which is the best example of a concurrent power in our federal system?
setting up courts
 
he Massachusetts constitution is unique in that it:
is the world's oldest constitution still in effect
 
The position of lieutenant governor is comparable to that of what federal official?
vice president
 
The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial Review
 
The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution
Judicial Restraint Approach
 
The view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the Constitution and apply them to
modern circumstances
Activist Approach
 
A federal court authorized by Article III of the Constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior for
life and prevents their salaries from being reduced. They are the Supremem Court (created by Constitution) and
appellate and district courts created by Congress
Constitutional Court
 
The lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here. 94 total.
District Court
 
Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts; no trials. 12 total.
Courts of Appeals
 
Courts created by Congress for specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of
Article III of the Constitution and term not for life. Created by Article I
Legislative Courts
 
An examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge
Litmus Test
 
Cases concerning the Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
Federal-Question Cases
 
Cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal courts
Diversity Cases
 
An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review
Writ of Certiorari
 
A method whereby a poor person can have his or her case heard in federal court without charge.
Who is famous for this?
In Forma Pauperis; Clarence Earl Gideon
 
A rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins
Fee Shifting
 
The party that initiates a lawsuit
Plaintiff
 
A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit
Standing
 
The rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the government's consent
Sovereign Immunity
 
A case brought by someone to help both himself or herself and all others who are similarly situated
Class-Action Suit
 
A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it
Brief
 
A brief submitted by a "friend of the court"
Amicus Curiae
 
A brief, unsigned court opinon
Per Curiam Opinion
 
A signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court
Opinion of the Court
 
A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons
Concurring Opinion
 
A signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view
Dissenting Opinion
 
"Let the decision stand" or allowing prior rulings to control the current case
Stare Decisis
 
An issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches to decide
Political Question
 
A judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong
Remedy
 
This is law made or given by God in the Scriptures. Cannot be broken
Revealed Law
 
This is law that is discernable by all men as image-bearers of God - written on Man's heart and without excuse.
Revealed through his conscience
Natural Law
 
These are elements of God's will he has revealed that are for the law. No human law should violate these
Higher Law
 
This is law made by man for the purpose of ruling man
Positive Law
 
This is law by judges sometimes called "case law" or "bench law" based on historical custom or tradition and bench-made by judges
Common law
 
This is law made by legislatures or some authoritative body that is codified and written
Statutory Law
 
This was invented when common law did not render an adequate remedy; it attempts to make restitution
Equity
 
This is a writ issued by a court to stop an action
Injunction
 
This is a writ issued by the court to compel someone or a group to act
Court Order
 
This is law based on a written document. Considered our fundamental law
Constitutional Law
 
This is law made by bureaucratic agencies
Administrative Law
 
What granted Supreme Court the Writ of Mandamus power?
Judiciary Act of 1789
 
This was called the flying fish case, involved an order by President John Adams, issued in 1799 during our brief war with France,
authorizing the Navy to seize ships bound for french ports
Little v. Barreme
 
What two types of court did Congress make to take part of the load off of supreme court
Constitutional and Legislative
 
This means literally to say the law, it’s the right of a court to hear a case - two types of this
Jurisdiction
 
This is the right of a court to be the first to hear a case
Original Jurisdiction
 
In disputes between states, the court's jurisdiction is not only original, it is also ____
Exclusive
 
This is the right of a court to hear a case on appeal from a lower court
Appellate Jurisdiction
 
Judges must be approved by that state's senators for District Courts
Senatorial Courtesy
 
Who has the heavier case load, state or federal courts?
State.
 
Most court cases go to (federal or state)
State
 
Some court cases can be tried in either federal or State Court
True
 
In a court case, this is when both federal and state laws have been broken
Dual Sovereignty
 
A federal court can hear a diversity case involving questions of state law if the opposing parties are what?
If opposing parties are citizens of different states
 
Who after initially failing in California state court, successfully won his case in Federal Court for the violation of his civil
rights by police officers who beat him?
Rodney King
 
Where are the only place where trials occur?
District Courts
 
What two ways can a case reach Supreme Court?
Original or Appellate Jurisdiction (most come from appellate)
 
This is when the U.S. Court of Appeals requests instructions from the Supreme Court on a point of law that was never before decided.
Writ of Certification
 
When a conflict is too early to be heard by courts? Too late to be heard?
Ripe; Moot
 
Who decides political questions? Legal questions? What’s the one exception?
Legislature or people; Court; Malapportionment (14th amendment)
 
What is the rule of four?
a case may be given petition if
4 justices want to hear it, and
they believe they can convince …
a fifth.
 
Is voting secret or open
Secret
 
How long are lawyers given to answer Justices' questions?
1/2 hour
 
Regarding the light system used in Supreme Court, what does white mean? red?
5 mins remaining; stop
 
The court has enforcement power if need be.
False