Talk:American Government Final Exam

1. 20--Choice C has a typo. --Jdellaro 22:13, 10 January 2008 (EST)

Thank you! Fixed now.--Aschlafly 22:15, 10 January 2008 (EST)

My exam answers

1. C 2. A 3. A 4. E 5. D 6. E 7. A 8. E 9. A 10. E 11. C 12. E 13. A 14. E 15. E 16. C 17. C 18. B 19. D 20. B 21. B 22. C 23. B 24. E 25. B 26. D 27. B 28. C 29. B 30. A 31. E 32. A 33. A 34. B 35. B 36. A 37. E 38. D 39. B 40. E 41. C 42. B 43. C 44. A 45. B 46. D 47. D 48. B 49. D 50. A

Please grade. Thanks. Cmh 22:28, 10 January 2008 (EST)

47/50!!!!! THAT'S AWESOME!!!! You should be teaching. I'll post the answer key in a few days, after others have a chance to try.--Aschlafly 23:17, 10 January 2008 (EST)

Took a shot

American Government 101
Final Exam - Closed Book.
50 questions; no points deducted for wrong answers.

To avoid traps on difficult questions, eliminate wrong answers before picking the correct one. Manage your time wisely. Do not leave any answers blank.

1. The number and types of the branches of the federal government are:
(c) 3, legislative, executive and judiciary

2. Which of the following must be true about every President of the United States?
(a) He is at least 35 years old.

3. When government hurts you by violating your rights under the U.S. Constitution, what is usually your strongest response?
(d) sue in federal court.

4. Which entity has the most influence over the rules concerning homeschooling?
(e) state government.

5. “Federalism” refers to:
(d) a system of co-sovereigns that allows for a strong state government

6. Which is the fastest growing age group in America?
(e) Over 65.

7. The “Supremacy Clause” is:
(a) a clause in the Constitution that says federal law is supreme over local laws.

8. An “exit poll” means:
(e) asking people how they just voted on Election Day.

9. A “leak” in government is:
(a) an unauthorized release of information to the press.

10. All of the following are examples of “checks and balances” EXCEPT:
(e) the President can order that the atomic bomb be dropped on a foreign country.

11. In the 2008 presidential elections, the primaries accomplish which purpose?
(c) selecting the nominees for president for political parties.

12. Who is a “lobbyist”?
(e) an unelected person whose job is to try to persuade elected officials how to vote.

13. “Affirmative action” consists of:
(a) giving special preferences to someone because of their race or gender.

a is the closest answer, though this is a strawman of what Affirmative Action actually is.

14. The phrase the “separation of church and state” can be found where?
(e) in none of the above, but in arguments by people seeking to censor Christianity.

e - it was in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association confirming that the 1st amendment would guarantee that their right to free expression of their religion would never be interfered with by the federal government.

15. Rank the following in terms of how open they are to public participation, from least open to most open:

I. closed primary
II. open primary
III. caucus
(b) I, III, II

16. The Miranda warning is given to whom?
(c) criminal suspects.

17. The vote of how many Justices in your favor is necessary to ensure victory in the U.S. Supreme Court (choose the minimum amount necessary):
(c) 5.

18. The decision that had the effect of ending prayer in school was:
(b) Engel v. Vitale (1962).

Engel v Vitale had the effect of ending teacher-led prayer in public school as an improper establishment of religion by a government institution. Students are still perfectly free to pray provided that it doesn't disrupt class.

19. From year to year, the “sound bite” is becoming:
(d) shorter.

d - This is a question about government? It sounds like a question about media to me.

20. If someone comes to your door and asks if he can search your house, what would your attorney most likely tell you to do?
(b) ask to see a search warrant first and not allow him in without a warrant.

21. One good reason to spend more time working for an interest group than a political party is:
(b) sometimes political change requires attracting support from both major parties.

22. The broadest support for a food regulation is for:
(c) requiring disclosure of the contents of the food.

23. On Tuesday, John McCain won the Republican primary in New Hampshire, and Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary there. What did they really win?
(b) They won some delegates to their political parties’ national conventions, and status as frontrunners for future primaries in other states.

24. The President has almost complete control over:
(a) spending by government

a - Spending bills must be approved by the president unless overridden by veto, which is rare.

25. Why is it important to get involved in a major political party?
(b) because politics is like a team sport, and elections are usually won by major political parties

26. All of the following are interest groups EXCEPT:
(d) Congress

27. A journalist "shield law" does which of the following:
(b) allows journalists to keep the identities of their sources secret.

28. Which of the following is the best predictor of how people will vote?
(c) how often they worship God.

Knowing Conservapedia, this must be the answer, however I'm skeptical without some statistics to back it up.

29. Early polling data are often unreliable because:
(b) The views of voters change as Election Day approaches.

30. Which of the following is a fundamental right protected by the Constitution?
(a) right to trial by jury.

31. If you wanted to run for President, you would want to do all of the following things EXCEPT:
(e) always speak the truth, even if it offends many voters.

Though technically the only thing on this list that is an actual requirement is a.

32. One of the most reliable political polls is the approval rating of the President. Why?
(c) everyone knows who the president is

33. What might the Republican Party cite to stop a disliked candidate from running as a Republican?
(d) freedom of religion

This is a guess, but the question is really poorly designed.

34. Which of the following are true about federal courts?

I. The Supreme Court usually won't hear a case unless four Justices want to.
II. Except for big lawsuits between citizens of different states, a plaintiff must usually cite violation of a federal law to gain access to federal court.
III. The Chief Justice of the United States always decides who writes the opinion for the Court.

(a) I, II and III.

Questions 35 and 36 are based on Lopez v. United States (1995), in which the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. That law had made it a federal offense "for any individual knowingly to possess a firearm at a place that the individual knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, is a school zone."

35. Suppose you were the attorney for the United States arguing in favor of the constitutionality of the federal law. What clause in the Constitution would help you most?
(b) Commerce Clause.

36. Suppose you were the attorney for Mr. Lopez. What principle or doctrine would help you most in arguing that the federal law is invalid?
(a) federalism.

37. The longest-serving Supreme Court Justice in history, William O. Douglas, once said, "I don't follow precedents, I make ’em." What is that an example of?
(e) judicial activism.

Questions 38 and 39 are based on how a new federal law is enacted:

38. A new statute is typically prepared and revised by whom?
(d) a committee in Congress.

39. When the President vetoes new legislation, what options are left for trying to pass it?
(b) try to override the veto with 2/3rds vote in both houses of Congress.

40. Each of the following are departments in the Executive Branch EXCEPT:
(e) Department of Homeschooling.

41. How many votes are required for a successful filibuster in the U.S. Senate?
(c) 41.

42. What job is performed by the Attorney General of the United States?
(b) He enforces the laws by managing the Department of Justice.

43. How might you best phrase a preliminary question in a poll about the death penalty to (falsely) increase the number of people opposed to it?
(c) “Do you think an innocent man should receive the death penalty?”

44. The Constitution gives the power to declare war to which branch of government?
(a) legislative.

45. The minimum age for drinking alcohol is 21 in all 50 states because of political efforts of _____________:
(b) an interest group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving

46. The “peace dividend” was expected as the result of which of the following?
(d) the end of the Cold War.

47. The Equal Rights Amendment:
(d) was defeated because many Americans (i) oppose treating men and women identically in the military, (ii) oppose same-sex marriage, and (iii) oppose taxpayer-funded abortion.

d, though again the reasons listed here are primarily strawmen.

48. The main defect in the Lemon Test is that:
(b) it is so broad that it can be easily manipulated against religion.

b is the answer, though I believe the question is faulty.

49. “Incorporation doctrine” means which of the following:
(d) The Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Bill of Rights to apply against the states.

50. The “legislative veto” gave Congress the power to veto or invalidate an action taken by the President, such as a decision to deport an illegal alien. The legislative veto was in nearly 200 federal statutes until it was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in INS v. Chadha (1983). What doctrine do you think the U.S. Supreme Court used to invalidate it?
(c) separation of powers.

45/50, also an awesome score!!!! I'm very, very impressed. I'll post the answer key after some others have a chance. You raise some good discussion points also, but let's wait a few days before discussing because it will give away the answers.--Aschlafly 23:17, 10 January 2008 (EST)

My answers!

I linked them from here so that I wouldn't add things to the talk page so much; I also added a few comments, because some of the questions seemed unclear, and I'd appreciate help so I can learn from seeing my mistake!-MexMax

I hope I get a grade too; waiting eagerly...-MexMax 16:58, 11 January 2008 (EST)

46 out of 50!!!! AWESOME!!!! Very, very impressive. Godspeed.--Aschlafly 17:04, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Thanks so much! Can you tell me (at some point - I know you haven't disclosed the key yet) which ones I got wrong, so I can review?-MexMax 17:06, 11 January 2008 (EST)

I'll post the answers by Sunday. It's sad, but last time I immediately told people which one's they got wrong I feel that someone exploited that to derive the correct answers and inflate his score here.--Aschlafly 17:08, 11 January 2008 (EST)

That's very depressing. The school I went to for college had a very strict, student-enforced honor code (I'll make an article); we all took it very, very seriously, and found it to be an integral part of the experience. Maybe, based on that, I expect too much of others :-( -MexMax 17:30, 11 January 2008 (EST)

New User's Answers

Please remember that I am a new reader, and I havent done any study and I am not an American

1C 2A 3D 4E 5D 6B 7A 8E 9A 10E 11C 12E 13A 14E 15B 16C 17C 18B 19D 20B 21B 22C 23B 24E 25A 26D 27B 28C 29B 30A 31E 32A 33A 34A 35C 36B 37E 38D 39B 40E 41C 42C 43C 44B 45B 46D 47A 48B 49D 50C

Is this test just for fun?—The preceding unsigned comment was added by JimmyB (talk)

41 out of 50. Well done!--Aschlafly 16:03, 11 January 2008 (EST)

I'll answer in absentia for Mr. Schlafly. The short answer is no. The long answer is no, no, no. Andy and Conservapedia are part of a growing movement in the United States, whereby conservatives educate their students at home to avoid liberal bias in the public schools. So, this test is designed to form the endcap to a homeschooling unit. As an incidental note, you'll see that many of the questions are targeted at teaching students to avoid liberal bias: look at question 14. You'd be surprised how few people can answer that question correctly...-MexMax 12:05, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Thank you MexMax: as you said, this test is not "just for fun." Students worked hard to get scores as high as 48/50. I'll grade the latest attempt above shortly.--Aschlafly 12:19, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Sorry, I had no intention of insulting anyone who worked towards this. But if it is part of a schooling module, what form does the credit take? What level would it come at? In the UK, we have GCSEs that are taken at the age of 16, and A Levels that are taken at the age of 18. If you do well enough in GCSEs, then you can take A Levels and if you do well enough in A Levels, you get to go to university. Roughly where in that scale would this test be placed?

Education is not so bureaucratic in America. Top students in this course can earn college (university) credit for it simply by doing well on a special exam. The students taking the class were of high school (secondary school) teenage.--Aschlafly 13:07, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Really? A university would accept this test as credit towards a module? As we say in England, BLIMEY! :) --JimmyB 13:21, 11 January 2008 (EST)

No, that isn't what I said. I said top students can earn college (university) credit by doing well on a special exam, such as CLEP or AP. Those exams are not conceptually harder than the above exam, but do have liberal bias.--Aschlafly 13:26, 11 January 2008 (EST)

How did I do?--JimmyB 15:57, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Is my grade a secret?--JimmyB 15:13, 12 January 2008 (EST)

What are you talking about? I graded your exam above.--Aschlafly 23:28, 12 January 2008 (EST)

Sorry, I was looking at the bottom, rather than the top! Thanks for grading me. And now you have answered your question from the main page. We know that a liberal who hasnt done any study and isnt even an America would do "well" on the test! --JimmyB 08:04, 13 January 2008 (EST)

answers

1c 2a 3d 4e 5d 6e 7a 8e 9a 10e 11a 12e 13c 14e 15a 16c 17c 18b 19d 20b 21b 22c 23b 24e 25b 26d 27b 28c 29b 30a 31e 32c 33a 34b 35b 36a 37e 38d 39b 40e 41c 42b 43c 44b 45b 46d 47d 48b 49d 50c

Thought I'd give it a shot. Luke 14:00, 11 January 2008 (EST)

45 out of 50. That's awesome!!!! Tremendous effort, Luke. Godspeed.--Aschlafly 15:48, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Here's my answers

1. C 2. A 3. E 4. E 5. D 6. E 7. A 8. E 9. A 10. E 11. C 12. E 13. A 14. E, though Jefferson used the phrase in letters. 15. C, because caucuses require a large time committment, and so they are hard for many people to attend. 16. C 17. B 18. B 19. D 20. B 21. B 22. C 23. B 24. E 25. B 26. D 27. B 28. C 29. B 30. A 31. E 32. C 33. A, though I must say this question confused me. 34. B 35. B 36. A 37. E 38. D 39. B 40. E 41. C 42. B 43. C 44. A 45. D 46. D 47. D 48. B 49. D 50. C

How are they? TRipp 17:18, 11 January 2008 (EST)

Excellent. 46 out of 50! Congratulations.--Aschlafly 23:27, 12 January 2008 (EST)

My answers

1. C 2. A 3. E 4. E 5. D 6. D 7. A 8. E 9. A 10. E 11. D 12. E 13. A 14. E 15. E 16. E 17. C 18. B 19. E 20. B 21. B 22. C 23. B 24. B 25. D 26. D 27. B 28. C 29. D 30. C 31. B 32. C 33. A 34. E 35. D 36. D 37. E 38. E 39. B 40. E 41. C 42. B 43. C 44. A 45. D 46. D 47. D 48. B 49. A 50. C

Did I do well? DM 19:38, 11 January 2008 (EST)

32 out of 50. Good effort! You could benefit further from my classes, and you'd be welcome.--Aschlafly 23:22, 12 January 2008 (EST)

Well, I'm not American so I didn't really have a clue about most of the questions. That's a given though, it is the American Government Final Exam. Oh well. DM 00:10, 13 January 2008 (EST)

Your score is awesome for a non-American. And an A+ for the effort. Godspeed.--Aschlafly 00:11, 13 January 2008 (EST)

My Answers

1)C 2)A 3)D 4)E 5)D 6)B 7)A 8)E 9)A 10)E 11)C 12)E 13)A 14)E 15)C 16)C 17)C 18)B 19)D 20)B 21)B 22)C 23)B 24)E 25)A 26)D 27)B 28)C 29)B 30)B 31)D 32)A 33)A 34)C 35)B 36)A 37)E 38)D 39)B 40)E 41)C 42)B 43)C 44)A 45)B 46)D 47)D 48)B 49)D 50)C (unsigned by CPAdmin1)

grading now ... --Aschlafly 14:22, 12 January 2008 (EST)

45 out of 50. Well done!--Aschlafly 14:26, 12 January 2008 (EST)

My Answers (Phineas Bogg)

1c, 2a, 3d, 4e, 5d, 6e, 7a, 8e, 9a, 10e, 11c, 12e, 13a, 14e, 15a, 16c, 17c, 18b, 19d, 20b, 21b, 22c, 23b, 24e, 25b, 26d, 27b, 28c, 29b, 30a, 31e, 32a, 33a, 34c, 35b, 36a, 37e, 38d, 39b, 40e, 41c, 42b, 43c, 44a, 45b, 46a, 47d, 48b, 49c, 50c

Interesting!--PhineasBogg 22:57, 12 January 2008 (EST)

46 out of 50. Very well done!!!!--Aschlafly 23:01, 12 January 2008 (EST)

Thanks!!! I will definitely have to look some things up for the ones I missed (and the ones I got with lucky guesses)! --PhineasBogg 23:57, 12 January 2008 (EST)

He

at question #2 I had to stop after seeing all of the answers begining with "He"...

Wow. The gender police strike again!--Aschlafly 19:55, 15 March 2008 (EDT)

New user's scores

1c, 2a, 3d, 4e, 5d, 6e, 7a, 8e, 9a, 10e,
11c, 12e, 13a, 14e, 15c, 16c, 17c, 18b, 19d, 20b,
21b, 22c, 23b, 24e, 25b, 26d, 27b, 28d, 29b, 30a,
31e, 32c, 33a, 34b, 35a, 36a, 37e, 38d, 39b, 40e,
41a, 42b, 43c, 44a, 45e, 46a, 47d, 48b, 49d, 50a.
Fishal 16:36, 14 January 2008 (EST)

43 out of 50. Well done!!!--Aschlafly 23:26, 14 January 2008 (EST)

Newbie Answers

Just found this site. Hope I do okay. No College experience in this type of thing. My answers:

1-C 2-A 3-D 4-E 5-D 6-E 7-A 8-E 9-A 10-E 11-C 12-E 13-A 14-E 15-D 16-C 17-C 18-B 19-E 20-B 21-B 22-C 23-B 24-E 25-A 26-D 27-D 28-C 29-B 30-A 31-B 32-C 33-A 34-C 35-B 36-C 37-E 38-D 39-B 40-E 41-A 42-B 43-C 44-A 45-C 46-D 47-D 48-E 49-D 50-C

Today is April 20th. Ruby B's answers:

1. (c) 3, legislative, executive and judiciary 2. (b) He was born in one of the 50 states. 3. (d) sue in federal court. 4. (e) state government. 5. (d) a system of co-sovereigns that allows for a strong state government. 6. (e) Over 65. 7. (a) a clause in the Constitution that says federal law is supreme over local laws. 8. (e) asking people how they just voted on Election Day. 9. (a) an unauthorized release of information to the press. 10. (e) the President can order that the atomic bomb be dropped on a foreign country. 11. (c) selecting the nominees for president for political parties. 12. (e) an unelected person whose job is to try to persuade elected officials how to vote. 13. (a) giving special preferences to someone because of their race or gender. 14. (e) in none of the above, but in arguments by people seeking to censor Christianity. 15. (c) III, I, II 16. (c) criminal suspects. 17. (c) 5. 18. (b) Engel v. Vitale (1962). 19. (e) uglier. 20. (b) ask to see a search warrant first and not allow him in without a warrant. 21. (b) sometimes political change requires attracting support from both major parties. 22. (c) requiring disclosure of the contents of the food. 23. (b) They won some delegates to their political parties’ national conventions, and status as frontrunners for future primaries in other states. 24. (e) dealings and negotiations with foreign nations: foreign policy 25. (b) because politics is like a team sport, and elections are usually won by major political parties 26. (d) Congress 27. (b) allows journalists to keep the identities of their sources secret. 28. (c) how often they worship God. 29. (b) The views of voters change as Election Day approaches. 30. (e) right to pursuit of happiness. 31. (e) always speak the truth, even if it offends many voters. 32. (c) everyone knows who the president is 33. (a) freedom of association 34. (e) I only. 35. (d) Fourth Amendment. 36. (b) Supremacy Clause. 37. (e) judicial activism. 38. (d) a committee in Congress. 39. (b) try to override the veto with 2/3rds vote in both houses of Congress. 40. (e) Department of Homeschooling 41. (e) 51. 42. (b) He enforces the laws by managing the Department of Justice. 43. (c) “Do you think an innocent man should receive the death penalty?” 44. (b) executive. 45. (b) an interest group, Mothers Against Drunk Driving 46. (d) the end of the Cold War. 47. (c) was defeated because men and women are already treated exactly identically. 48. (a) it infringes on commercial speech. 49. (d) The Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Bill of Rights to apply against the states. 50. (c) separation of powers.

1.C 2.B 3.C 4.C 5.D 6.A 7.A 8.E 9.A 10.E 11.C 12.E 13.B 14.A 15.B 16.C 17.B 18.C 19.B 20.B 21.B 22.B 23.B 24.E 25.A 26.D 27.B 28.A 29.B 30.B 31.E 32.C 33.B 34.D 35C 36.D 37.A 38.D 39.B 40D 41.B 42.A 43.C 44.D 45.C 46.A 47.A 48.B 49.B 50.B

my answers

1.C 2.B 3.C 4.C 5.D 6.A 7.A 8.E 9.A 10.E 11.C 12.E 13.B 14,A 15.B 16.C 17.B 18.C 19.B 20.B 21.B 22.B 23.B 24.E 25.A 26.D 27.B 28.A 29.B 30.B 31.E 32.C 33.B 34.D 35.C 36.D 37.A 38.D 39.B 40.D 41.B 42.A 43.C 44.D 45.C 46.A 47.A 48.B 49.B 50.B

Conservapedia Am Gov Final Answers

1, c. 2, a. 3, c. 4, e. 5, d. 6, e. 7, e. 8, e. 9, a. 10, e. 11, c. 12, e. 13, a. 14, e. 15, c.
16, c. 17, c. 18, b. 19, d. 20, b. 21, b. 22, c. 23, b. 24, d. 25, b. 26, d. 27, b. 28, a. 
29, c. 30, a. 31, d. 32, c. 33, a. 34, a. 35, b. 36, a. 37, e. 38, d. 39, b. 40, e. 41, b. 42, b.
43, c. 44, a. 45, b. 46, d. 47, d. 48, b. 49, d. 50, c.

I hadn't noticed that it was so old until I saw when the answers (and gradings) were posted. Well, I hope you still look at this. WaltRB 15:07, 19 August 2010 (EDT)