Free FCLE American Government and Political Institutions Test 1

Question 1

According to Thomas Hobbes, life without government:

Accepted Answer

Would be nasty, brutish, and short.

Answer

Would be free of unnecessary intrusion.

Answer

Is unnecessary, given man’s inherent qualities.

Answer

Is a utopian ideal.

Question 2

The preamble of the U.S. Constitution:

Accepted Answer

Defines the two central duties of national government.

Answer

Protects basic rights of Americans.

Answer

Establishes the limits of government power.

Answer

Acknowledges life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as fundamental human rights.

Question 3

Checks and balances limits government power by ________________; separation of powers limits government power by _____________.

Accepted Answer

Giving each branch some power over the others; dividing the government into three branches

Answer

Dividing power across state and national government; giving distinct duties to each branch of government

Answer

dividing power between state and national government; giving each branch some power over the others

Answer

Dividing the government into three branches; giving each branch some power over the others

Question 4

The president’s power to veto congressional legislation is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Checks and balances.

Answer

Separation of powers.

Answer

Federalism.

Answer

Factionalism

Question 5

According to Madison, factions arise out of

Accepted Answer

People’s self-interest.

Answer

People’s opposition to powerful government.

Answer

A desire to improve the public good.

Answer

People’s altruistic tendencies.

Question 6

The Founders incorporated separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism into the structure of American government in order to:

Accepted Answer

Counter the effects of powerful factions.

Answer

Mimic the structure of English government.

Answer

Promote altruism.

Answer

Prevent class-based politics.

Question 7

Tyranny within American government is most effectively prevented by:

Accepted Answer

A system of checks and balances.

Answer

Competing political ideologies.

Answer

Citizens’ strong commitment to the free market and economic individualism.

Answer

The collective action problem.

Question 8

It is often necessary for government to provide public goods because:

Accepted Answer

Public goods are often underproduced in a free market.

Answer

Citizens are incapable of organizing efficient methods of distribution.

Answer

Only the government has the power to limit negative externalities.

Answer

According to several states’ laws, public goods must be funded by tax dollars.

Question 9

Collective action problems arise because each individual is ____________ off when _________ to cooperate and benefit from those who do work.

Accepted Answer

Better; refusing

Answer

Worse; refusing

Answer

Better; agreeing

Answer

Worse; agreeing

Question 10

The size of the federal government is evidence that:

Accepted Answer

Politics is everywhere.

Answer

Politics is conflictual.

Answer

The political process matters.

Answer

The government is corrupt