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Short Bio
Ishmael Tarikh was born in the segregated former capitol of the
Confederacy. Shortly after birth he and his family moved to Compton,
CA. In 1978 he graduated from Alain Locke Senior High School, a school
that was founded in the aftermath of the Watts Rebellion of 1965. That summer he was a member of the inaugural class of the Summer Bridge Program at the University of California, San Diego. After
his freshman year of college, he enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps. In
1980 Ishmael Tarikh transferred to the University of California, Los
Angeles, and immediately began a lifetime of "giving back" through
community service. He was conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Political Science in 1983. In 1986 Ishmael was conferred a Master of
Arts degree in Afro American Studies from UCLA. In 2001
Ishmael was conferred a Juris Doctor degree from the University of
California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings Ishmael was
active in the Black Law Students Association; he directed basketball
intramurals; he sat on the Admissions Committee for the Legal Education
Opportunity Program (where he was also a T. A.); he was an instructor
in "Street Law"; and he was an intern who was certified to practice law
at the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. Since law school
Ishmael has maintained his personal commitment to community service in
the capacities as an Instructor for the Center for Youth Development
through Law at Boalt Hall; Coach of McClymonds (West Oakland) High
School's Mock Trial Team; and as the Director of the Ella Baker Center
for Human Rights' Bay Area PoliceWatch. It is as an organizer/activist
with EBC that Ishmael co-authored successful legislation [Proposition
H, passed by the voters of San Francisco in November, 2003] in San
Francisco to hold the San Francisco Police Department more accountable
for their excesses. During those advocacy struggles Ishmael appeared
frequently in the media of radio, newsprint, and television interviews.
His viewpoints on police accountability have been broadcast throughout
the nation, and via AP, Reuters, and the Internet, they have been noted
worldwide. Ishmael has taught compulsory public education,
community college, and has been academically appointed as a Lecturer at
the California State University at Chico, the University of
California at Santa Cruz, and San Jose State University. He also taught UC, Berkeley undergraduates
for one year in field studies of Urban Education. Ishmael is
currently the sole proprietor of Tarikh Consulting Services. He has
been a consultant for the University of San Francisco Law School's
Street Law Program; the Boalt Police Review Advocates; the June Jordan
Small School for Equity; McClymonds High School Mock Trial Team; Making
Waves Education Program; the California State University at Chico; the City of San Francisco's Department of Children, Youth, and Families; Prentice-Hall Publishers; and the Educational Testing Service. He is currently a member of the Bay Area Know Your Rights Coalition, and is a published author.
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Greetings!!! My name is Ishmael Tarikh, and I am a part-time faculty member in the Department of Political Science. I joined the faculty at De Anza in 2006, and I teach the flagship course American Government and Politics.
Classes - Winter Quarter 2010:
Poli-001.10L; - American Government and Politics - F, 1:00-4:40pm, L72.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This is an introductory course. As such, we cover a great deal of material, but will not go into the depths that are available to you through more advanced Political Science course offerings here at De Anza. We lay the basic foundation for understanding the creation, development, and perpetuation of our fundamental political institutions. This is done with an initial focus on our national government, and a subsequent focus on our state government.
At the outset we review the historical record of the founding of the American body politic, and will quickly move to a structural (what is the government made of), functional (how does its many parts interact), and practical (what is my role as an individual citizen) analysis. This course exposes enrolled students to the text of the United States and California State Constitutions; the evolution and interpretations of their texts; constitutional principles; key and current events; and finally, to the prospects and possibilities for a more inclusive and democratic society within the set framework.
Political Science 1 fulfills the General Education A.A. degree requirement (Social and Behavioral Sciences) for De Anza College; the General Education Breadth requirement for all California State Universities (CSUs); and the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for all CSUs and UCs.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is designed for any student who wishes to make a serious study of these issues, and is prepared to do the extensive reading, writing, and research that are course requirements. However, the most important objective will always be the encouragement and development of critical reading, writing, and thinking skills.
This course yields four units of academic credit in a lecture format. It adheres to all of the dictates of the promulgated De Anza College policies outlined in the Schedule of Classes, and found in the current college catalog. Of immense importance and emphasis are the policies attendant to Academic Integrity and Academic Freedom. Strict adherence will be followed. Please read these passages in the most sober and careful manner. Unlike much of our contemporaneous society, in this course we will agree, disagree, and agree to disagree while maintaining the decorum befitting a fine institution of higher learning.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
In most cases, the instructor will develop the subjects of the sessions and place them in proper perspective so that a meaningful discussion can follow among the reader, students, and the instructor. In these discussions, the subject will be viewed from various sides, and a comparison will be made between what the instructor has said and what was written in the required and general references relating to the subject or event. In this course the student will be required to participate in the discussion following the formal lecture. There will also be small group collaborations, and debates. The grade the student receives will result from a combination of attendance, class participation, a research paper, and examinations. Term paper topics will be chosen by the students on subjects relating to the field of Political Science, with prior instructor approval.
TEXTS
I have compiled a packet (“bundle”) that is available for purchase in the Campus Bookstore. The Pocket Guide to Critical Thinking by Epstein, Richard; and Thinking Globally, Acting Locally by Soares, John are suggested readings. The three texts where readings will be required are:
There are three required texts:
Schmidt, S., Shelley, M., Bardes, B.
American Government and Politics Today, 2008-2009 Brief Edition.
Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2009. ISBN 978-0-4955-0322-4.
Gerston, L., Christensen, T.
California Politics and Government, A Practical Approach, 10th Edition.
Wadsworth Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-0-4955-6650-2.
Tarikh, I.
Guide to American Government.
Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2009. ISBN 978-0-7575-7112-1.
There will also be occasional handouts, videos, and required research. Your attendance is mandatory in order to receive a passing grade. Supplemental reading and research assignments will be given during lecture. An Attendance Sheet will be circulated once, during the first 10 minutes of each meeting. If you have 2 consecutive unexcused absences, or excessive absences whether consecutive or not, you will be dropped from the class. However, it is your personal responsibility to see to it that you have removed yourself from the Academic Record through the appropriate administrative channels (ie. Admissions and Records). Electronic devices are not allowed in lecture, except with prior instructor or Disabled Student Services approval. Please mute your cell phones before the beginning of our class sessions – they can be tremendously disruptive.
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT
1) Attendance
2) Participation
3) Quizzes (7) = 30 minutes, 25 item objective tests administered 15 January 2010;
22 January 2010; 29 January 2010; 5 February 2010; 19 February 2010; 12 March 2010; and 19 March 2010.
4) 3-4 page Research Paper due 5 March 2010.
10% = attendance
10% = participation
60% = quizzes (7 total, but 6 count {drop the low score})
20% = Research Paper
Final Grades will be calculated on a straight grading scale. This means attendance is worth 100 possible points = 10 points/meeting; participation is worth 100 points; the quizzes are worth 600 possible points (each item is worth 4 points); and the Research Paper is worth 200 possible points. The total possible points is 1000. There is no final examination.
A+ = 950-1000 pts A = 900-949 A- = 875-899 B+ = 850-874 B = 800-849
B- = 775-799 C+ = 750-774 C = 675-749 D+ = 650-674
D = 600-649 D- = 575-599 F = below 575 pts
I am also available for meeting by appointment.
Meeting Dates (There are 10 meetings) – we will take periodic breaks that are dependent on our progress during class meetings.
Topic(s) Reading /Assignment
8 January 2010: Introduction/Syllabus/Overview TChs. 1-3
Appendices A,B,C
Writing will compare Executive Orders from Truman and G.W. Bush. Either threatening to the Madisonian Model?
15 January 2010: Power, Authority, Legitimacy TChs. 4-6
Quiz #1 Chs. 1&2
Madisonian model, separation of powers, checks and balances, republicanism, federalism, limited government. Any contradictions? The effect of authority on conflict resolution (techniques: force, negotiation, compromise, adjudication, rational analysis)
22 January 2010: Federalism Ch. 3, and CA Chs. 1&10
Quiz #2
Red State, Blue State (Regional Differences), Manifest Destiny, Territorial Acquisition through war, conquest, fraud, diplomacy, and purchase, No Child Left Behind Act (Unfunded Mandates), Immigration Reform, 10th Amendment (McCulloch v. Maryland)
29 January 2010: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Chs. 4 & 5 CA Ch. 6
Quiz #3
The Bill of Rights, 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th Amendments, Individual influence, Korematsu v. U.S., Govt. response to political movements: Shay’s Rebellion, Alien and Sedition Acts, Abolitionism, Suffragism, Labor, Civil Rights, Anti War, Black Power, Women’s, Gay/Lesbian, Disability, Environmental (Earth Day, 1972), Equal Protection Analysis, etc.
5 February 2010: Judiciary Ch. 12
Quiz #4
The 15 Circuits, the federal bench, judicial appointments (Bork and Thomas), the Supreme Court, the establishment of judicial review (cf. Marbury v. Madison, the Pentagon Papers, the impending Nixon impeachment), infamous cases: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Korematsu v. U.S., Brown v. Bd. of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, Roe v. Wade, Bakke v. UC Regents, Jones v. Clinton, Bush v. Gore, the current make-up of the Supreme Court
19 February 2010: Public Opinion/Media/Interest Groups Ch. 6, CA Ch. 2
Quiz #5
Pervasive Ignorance, Culture Wars, 4 media sources, 1996 Telecommunications Act, TalkRadio and Spin Doctors, Polling, 1st Amendment, DoubleSpeak, statistics, representative and random samples, margin of error, propaganda (e.g. “war on terror”, quotas, patriotism, political correctness, etc.) Images, symbols, and myths and their role in formulating nationalistic feelings, Proposition 13’s impact on CA governance
26 February 2010: Political Parties/Campaigns/Elections Chs. 7, 8
CA Chs. 3, 4
The electoral process, participatory enough? The Electoral College, A Nation Divided, “winner takes all”, campaign finance reform, referenda/initiatives, recalls, term limits, the elections of 1824, 1876, 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008
5 March 2010: Congress Ch. 9
Research Paper due
Comparison with parliamentary system, two parties, or one hegemony?, re-apportionment, redistricting, filibuster, cloture, supermajorities, types of committees, how a bill becomes a law, porkbarreling, role of oversight, the nuclear option, taxing and spending, deficits
12 March 2010: The Presidency Ch. 10
Quiz #6
The scope of presidential power, re-visiting authority and its sources, the Monroe Doctrine, Roosevelt Corrollary, Executive Order 9066, FDR court packing, the Imperial Presidency, Watergate, U.S. v. Nixon, Carter Administration, the Reagan “Revolution”, military build-ups and deficit spending, Iran-Contra Gate, the Clinton impeachment, unitary executive theory, executive privilege, Guantanamo Bay Detainees, rendition, Blackwater, signing statements, executive privilege
19 March 2010: Domestic/Economic Policy Chs. 13, 14
Foreign/Defense Policy
Quiz #7
The new federalism (unfunded mandates), one nation?, housing policy, health policy, education policy, tax policy, fiscal policy, immigration policy, capitalism and globalism’s impact, the war on terrorism’s impact, the global police mentality, the only superpower, picking our patsies/using our proxies, India/Pakistan, China/Taiwan/North Korea, Israel, Russia, the European Union, NATO, Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran, the black budget, the United Nations and the arrogance of unilateral, preemptive actions, Powell Doctrine
I am also available to meet by appointment.
THERE IS NO FINAL EXAMINATION FOR THIS TERM
Mail:
Faculty Box (by name) in the Social Sciences/Humanities Division Offices, L13.
Office Hours: Fridays, before/after class, L-72; and by appointment.
Electronic Mail:
tarikhishmael@fhda.edu
Telephone:
(408) 864-8999, extension 3668
American Government
Study Guide
Which of the following states does not use the winner-take-all system in presidential elections?
a: Hawaii b: Missouri c: Puerto Rico d: Maine e: Oregon
If a woman alleges an equal protection violation based on gender, courts will use this analysis:
a: stare decisis b: police power c: intermediate scrutiny d: strict scrutiny
Identify the correct number of members needed to override a presidential veto in the House and Senate (respectively): a: 435/100 b: 535/100 c: 218/51 d: 291/67
Qualifying a proposed law in California requires _______% of the votes cast for governor in the previous election.
a: 50% b: 5% c: 15% d: 25%
What percentage of initiatives are rejected by voters in California?
a: 50% b: 25% c: 5% d: 10% e: 67%
If it’s a state executive officeholder in California, it will take (signatures on petition) _______% of those who voted in the previous state election to recall them:
a: 5% b: 12% c: 95% d: 51% e: 25%
For only the second time in U.S. history, a governor was recalled. His name:
a: Gray Davis b: Arnold Schwarzenegger c: Cruz Bustamente d: Antonio Villaraigoza
This political group in California was responsible for weakening the party system through split ticket voting, and the elimination of the party column ballot:
a: the Progressives c: the Doors c: the Reactionaries d: the Zealots
How does the Gerston text describe political parties in California?
a: they are strong b: they are fun c: they are fun and strong d: they are weak
Which California ethnic group is most underrepresented in holding public office?
a: Hippies b: Asian Americans c: Dark Americans d: Light Americans
The voting electorate in California is more conservative because:
a: people are closet racists out here b: only 21% of those age 18-24 vote
c: people live the American Dream here d: only 30% of non whites vote
Although whites comprise only 41% of the population in California, they are ______% of the electorate.
a: 100 b: 50 c: 70 d: 25 e: 90
Select either of two descriptive groups which have the resources to collect the necessary signatures, or to pay for expensive election campaigns.
a: broad based b: grass roots c: well-financed d: super duper
Which of the following techniques is not used by interest groups?
a: lobbying b: campaign support c: rioting d: litigation e: direct democracy
Interest groups are broken into the following categories except:
a: demographic groups b: bigots c: single-issue groups d: public interest groups
The longest-lived third parties have been those with strong ___________________ foundations that are typically at odds with the majority mind-set.
a: economic b: structural c: moral d: ethical e: ideological
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is also known by the names of the two Senators who sponsored it. It is frequently called the ________________ Act.
a: Pelosi/Gingrich b: Jobs/Wozniak c: McCain/Feingold d: Byrd/Hatch
In lecture, what has been called the “Great Writ” [dating back almost 800 years]?
a: rigor mortis b: stare decisis c: coitus interruptus d: habeas corpus
Between 1977 and 2003 the number of registered lobbyists in California:
a: quadrupled b: declined c: doubled d: increased
Although people do not have much confidence in government institutions, polls show that they:
a: expect government to solve major problems b: expect nonprofits to solve major problems c: expect individuals to solve major problems by dropping out of society d: avoid thinking about problems
The most important problems(s) facing the nation according to poll reports in 2009, is:
a: morality b: terrorism and the war in Iraq c: the economy d: unemployment and crime e: racism and unfairness
The most important influence on political socialization is:
a: peer group b: family c: political events d: video games e: education
The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of adults is referred to as:
a: political opinion b: propaganda c: public opinion d: an ideology
The theory that views politics as a struggle among interest groups is ________________.
a: bipolarism b: pluralism c: democracy d: elitism
What is the nation’s largest interest group?
a: AARP b: NAACP c: NAZI d: NRA
Interest groups tend to have a _____________________ bias.
a: lower class b: racial c: ethnic d: middle to upper-class
Which of the following is not one of the main techniques used by interest groups?
a: rioting b: lobbying c: ratings of legislative behavior d: campaign assistance
Interest groups are often spawned by mass:
a: media b: hysteria c: social movements d: spectrometer
A situation in which one major party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress is referred to as ______________ ________________.
a: problematic b: a balance of power c: divided government d: good government
Historically, the major division in American politics has been over _____________ issues.
a: political b: racial c: economic d: health care
What percentage of today’s electorate are registered as independent voters?
a: 100% b: 50% c: 40% d: 33% e: 75%
How can Congress check/balance the President?
a: through lobbying b: through the veto override c: through using the bully pulpit d: Congress can not
The best indication that political parties have weakened in the last three decades is: a: they’re not the show they used to be b: the election of Barack Obama c: the divorce rate d: Florida 2000 e: low party identification
The main feature differentiating a faction from a political party is that a faction:
a: has a permanent organized structure b: has no structure c: has no leaders
d: does not have a permanent organized structure
According to the Census Bureau, approximately what % of “illegal” immigrants live in California?
a: 33% b: 10% c: 25% d: 90% e: 75%
A set of beliefs that includes a limited role for the national government in helping individuals, support for traditional values and lifestyles, and a cautious response to change is called ________________________.
a: capitalism b: conservatism c: fascism d: liberalism
What is the main subject discussed in Madison’s Federalist Paper No. 51?
a: separation of powers b: factions c: the Declaration of Independence d: political parties e: the Madisonian Model
A league of independent states, where the central government has only those matters expressly delegated to it is a:
a: democratic system b: federal system c: unitary system d: confederate system
The power of judicial review comes from:
a: executive agreements b: the Constitution c: the case of Marbury v. Madison
d: the Bill of Rights e: natural rights
The biggest economic problem for minorities in California today is the cost of:
a: housing b: food c: education d: drugs e: gas
What is the twenty year trend of federal dollars received by California?
a: it has decreased sharply b: it has increased sharply c: it has decreased slightly
d: it has increased slightly e: it has stayed the same
What approximate % of California is owned by the state and federal governments?
a: 50% b: 10% c: 100% d: 90% e: 25%
The fastest growing minority in the U.S. are:
a: African-Americans b: Muslims c: Asian-Americans d: Latinos
What is the number of California’s delegation to the U.S. Congress?
a: 25 b: 10 c: 435 d: 100 e: 55
Initiative is a procedure by which voters can:
a: remove elected officials b: propose a law or constitutional amendment
c: directly make laws d: place candidates on a ballot
Grants to state and local governments designed for very specific programs and projects are referred to as:
a: block grants b: revenue sharing c: unfunded mandates d: categorical grants-in-aid e: porkbarrelling
According to lecture, ______________ is the mother’s milk of American politics.
a: money b: power c: fame d: Enfamil e: Similac
To get around the soft money ban enacted in 2002, interest groups set up ___________ organizations, named
after the section of the tax code that provides for them.
a: 187 b: 527 c: 911 d: 360 e: 451
This political movement introduced direct democracy to California:
a: the Workingmen’s Party b: the Progressives c: the Toga Party d: the Rangers
e: the Grangers
These immigrants provided the bulk of the cheap labor that built California’s railroads:
a: Africans b: Japanese c: Irish d: Mexicans e: Chinese
Which of the following cities has not been California’s capitol?
a: San Jose b: San Francisco c: Vallejo d: Benecia e: Sacramento
For every California tax dollar sent to Washington, D.C., how much is received back?
a: 79 cents b: 25 cents c: $1.06 d: 95 cents e: $1.15
Punishment is __________________ for whites than for minorities convicted of the same crime.
a: scarier b: less severe c: funnier d: harsher e: the same
In terms of the Women’s Movement in the U.S., the anti-slavery movement had the effect of:
a: retarding organized political action by women b: enslaving women and creating a secondary status for them c: allowing women to become the dominant force in this movement d: creating the first political cause in which women could become actively engaged
Paid advertising can be constitutionally protected as a form of:
a: symbolic speech b: exempted speech c: private speech d: commercial speech
More than _________ % of all judges, prosecutors, public defenders, and other court officials are white, even though whites are the minority in California.
a: 80% b: 100% c: 25% d: 10% e: 50%
The Equal Rights Amendment was first introduced in Congress in:
a: 1944 b: 1966 c: 1923 d: 1772 e: 1977
The Exclusionary Rule was first extended to state court proceedings in the Supreme Court case of:
a: Nix v. Williams b: Miranda v. Arizona c: Betts v. Brady d: Mapp v. Ohio
Nearly _____ % of all criminal cases are resolved by plea bargaining.
a: 1% b: 11% c: 90% d: 50% e: 25%
Discrimination in most housing was forbidden by the:
a: Civil Rights Act of 1870 b: Voting Rights Act of 1965 c: Civil Rights Act of 1964 d: Equal Housing Act of 1965 e: Civil Rights Act of 1968
The burning of an American flag in a peaceful protest is an example of:
a: a protected action under the symbolic speech concept b: a violation of the Constitution c: a protected action under the clear and present danger concept d: an issue not yet decided by the Supreme Court
The lecture on Public Opinion included the following information on polling and statistics except:
a: representative samples b: random samples c: free samples d: telephone surveys e: margin of error
I am alleging that my fundamental rights have been violated by the government. If I cite the 14th Amendment,
courts will use this analysis:
a: stare decisis b: police power c: intermediate scrutiny d: strict scrutiny
This is the only state that has completely abandoned physical precinct polling places:
a: Hawaii b: Missouri c: Puerto Rico d: Maine e: Oregon
On a per capita basis, California’s rate of civil disputes is:
a: out of control b: good for business c: above the national average d: acceptable e: below the national average
Which President appointed the most women to his Cabinet?
a: George W. Bush b: Bill Clinton c: Richard Nixon d: George H. W. Bush e: Barack Obama
The Exclusionary Rule prohibits:
a: defendants from testifying in their own behalf b: a spouse from testifying in a criminal case c: improperly obtained evidence from being used by prosecutors d: a spouse from testifying in a civil case e: self incrimination
Identify the two major effects of California’s “three strikes” law:
a: the rich got richer, the poor got poorer b: the lamb laid down with the lion, the eagle flew c: quick increases in the state prison population, and in spending on prisons d: tort attorneys made a killing, and judges got embarrassed
The effect of Plessy v. Ferguson on racial segregation was to establish a:
a: “clear and present danger” principle to further integration b: pattern to outlaw segregation in the South
c: pattern for racial integration throughout the country d: constitutional cornerstone of racial discrimination throughout the country
The Establishment Clause deals with which Amendment, based on which civil liberty?
a: 1st/freedom of religion b: 2nd/right to bear arms c: 4th/right to privacy d: 5th/right to due process
According to the “clear and present danger” test:
a: a speech must be unclear as to its intent for it to be ruled unconstitutional b: the action called for must be constitutionally “vague” in order to be ruled unconstitutional c: free speech may not be curbed, because speech alone cannot bring about action d: free speech may not be curbed, because we live in America e: free speech can be curbed if such speech would cause a condition that Congress has the power to prevent
Why did a 1999 University of California study conclude that “most of the decline in crime has nothing to do with the “three strikes” law?
a: because they are Berkeley Liberals b: because there has not been a decline in crime
c: because the law applies to such a small percentage of cases d: that wasn’t the study’s conclusion
The “glass ceiling” refers to:
a: solar heating b: Alice in Wonderland c: subtle barriers that prevent women from being promoted to top positions in corporations d: national laws designed to protect women from wage discrimination e: reverse discrimination against men
The Roe v. Wade case decided the abortion issue on the basis of:
a: right to privacy b: freedom of religion c: freedom of speech d: gender
On what basis did a federal judge rule parts of Proposition 187 unconstitutional in 1995?
a: only the federal government has authority over immigration b: stare decisis
c: welfare benefits are for everyone d: English cannot be the official language where the majority of the people are not English
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 has:
a: only applied when women and men do exactly the same job b: never been enforced
c: only applied to comparable worth situations d: totally equalized pay between women and men
Gag orders are:
a: designed to eliminate illegal speech b: designed to eliminate unlawful assembly
c: part of the controversy over the death penalty d: restrictions on publications of news concerning pretrial hearing or trials in progress
This man is most closely identified with Public Interest Groups:
a: Andrew Jackson b: Ralph Nader c: Ralph Cramden d: Ralph Bunche e: Andrew Johnson
Today, a person with only a high school education is more likely to vote for a candidate from which
major political party?
a: Republican b: Green c: Libertarian d: Democrat e: Peace and Freedom
The American political period of 1865-1877 is also known as:
a: Reconstruction b: Era of Good Feelings c: Deconstruction d: Era of Isolationism
How can the Supreme Court check/balance the President or Congress?
a: through judicial review b: through legal enforcement c: it can not d: through public opinion
Between the time of the beginning of the European colonization of California (1769), and the entrance into the Union (1849), what % of the native population was wiped out?
a: 100% b: 150% c: 75% d: 33% e: 67%
Sexual harassment of women in the workplace is:
a: no longer prohibited by statute b: prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 c: considered a form of reverse discrimination against men d: considered “protective” legislation that the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional
Public officials may sue for libel if they can prove the statement:
a: was false b: hurt the official’s reputation c: hurt the official’s feelings d: was made with actual malice
e: was true
The California Supreme Court’s conservatism is reflected in its tendency:
a: to be pro defendant b: to vote for Republicans c: to be pro active d: to be pro prosecution in criminal cases e: to be pro business in economic cases
The Reconstruction statutes had the effect of:
a: setting the stage for the Civil War b: securing equality for African Americans in their civil rights c: doing little to secure equality for African Americans in their civil rights d: restructuring society to provide for greater equality of opportunity
The view that most of the protections of the Bill of Rights are included under the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection against state government is called the:
a: necessary and proper theory b: inclusionary theory c: nullification theory
d: incorporation theory e: low end theory
How many of the 7 California State Supreme Court’s current justices are Democrats?
a: all b: none c: 9 d: 4 e: 1
The Dred Scott case:
a: contributed to making the Civil War inevitable b: provided full citizenship for all African Americans
c: freed the slaves in the South d: contributed to a more peaceful resolution to the slavery issue
When we are speaking of civil liberties, we are referring to limitations on government as outlined in the:
a: Madisonion Model b: Declaration of Independence c: Articles of Confederation
d: Magna Carta e: Bill of Rights
Today, a person with a postgraduate education is more likely to vote for a candidate from which major political party?
a: Republican b: Green c: Libertarian d: Democrat e: Peace and Freedom
This event (that lasted over a year) formalized the Civil Rights Movement:
a: the Port Chicago Mutiny b: the Montgomery Bus Boycott c: the Tet Offensive d: the Civil War
e: Watergate
Approximately how much money did Presidential candidate Barack Obama raise in his quest for the White House?
a: $500 thousand b: $500 million c: $500 billion d: $50 billion e: $50 million
The requirement of the issuance of a warrant (based on probable cause) to search can be found in the ____ Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
a: 1st b: 2nd c: 3rd d: 4th e: 5th
Which of the following is not one of the 3 constitutional qualifications for the office of president?
a: natural born citizens b: be a white man c: 35 years of age d: be a 14-year resident of the U.S.
The group that now controls the nomination process for president is the:
a: mass public b: party elites c: mass media d: presidential nominees themselves
The framers of the Constitution established the Electoral College because they wanted: a: to ensure the general population would have an opportunity to directly vote for the president b: the choice of president and vice-president to be made by a few dispassionate, reasonable men c: only candidates for president and vice-president who graduated from the Electoral College d: the political parties to be able to control the selection of president and vice-president
The major parties are not in favor of eliminating the Electoral College because:
a: the founding fathers wanted it that way b: our system is the best in the world
c: constitutional amendments are tough to pass d: they fear it would give minor parties a more influential role in elections
Which statement is correct with respect to age as a factor in voting? a: age is not a significant factor in voting b: younger voters tend to turn out in higher percentages than older voters c: turnout increases the older the age groups until the age of 65 and older d: younger voters have more than enthusiasm for voting than older voters
As a factor in voting, more education seems to be correlated with voting _________________.
a: Democratic b: Republican c: Green d: Libertarian
How can the President check/balance Congress?
a: she/he can not b: through use of the veto power c: through public opinion d: through news conferences
What percentage of initiatives have passed since the beginning of the Progressive legacy (1912) in California?
a: 50% b: 33% c: 5% d: 10% e: 67%
The Confrontation Clause deals with which Amendment, based on which civil liberty?
a: 6th/right to cross examine b: 2nd/right to bear arms c: 4th/right to privacy d: 5th/right to due process
Since their introduction in the late nineteenth century, voter registration laws have:
a: reduced the voting of African Americans and immigrants b: made America a better place c: made America the best democracy in the world d: increased the voting of African Americans and immigrants
Which of the following measures to improve voter turnout have not been tried?
a: mail-in voting b: registering when you apply for a driver’s license c: absentee voting d: declaring election day a national holiday e: multiple election days
Extension of the franchise to Black males occurred with the passage of the _______ Amendment in 1870.
a: 15th b: 16th c: 17th d: 18th
The Senate is the chamber of the Congress that: a: must first approve all money bills b: must first approve amendments c: ratifies treaties d: has the first opportunity to override presidential vetoes
Some functions are restricted to only one house of Congress. The Senate is the only house that can:
a: propose amendments b: approve presidential appointments c: approve the budget d: investigate the president
The central difference between the House and the Senate is that the:
a: House is much larger in membership than the Senate b: House represents people, the Senate represents geography c: Senate ratifies treaties d: House first appropriates money
For the House of Representatives: a: each state is allowed at least one representative b: there is no set number of minimum or maximum for each state c: each state is allowed two representatives d: membership for each state is determined by the House itself
Midterm Congressional elections: a: usually result in the president’s party losing seats in Congress
b: attract more voters than presidential elections c: attract as many voters as presidential elections d: usually result in the president’s party gaining seats in Congress
Gerrymandering refers to the process of : a: ending debate in the Senate
b: redrawing legislative boundaries c: forcing a bill out of committee d: selecting a committee chair
In the House of Representatives, the majority leader:
a: acts as the spokesperson for the majority party in the House b: serves as Speaker of the House
c: is elected in a vote of all members of the House d: is rarely able to exert any meaningful leadership because of the dominance of the Speaker
The fiscal year (FY) of the federal government is:
a: January to December b: April to February c: October to September d: July to June
What is the ultimate check that Congress has over the bureaucracy? a: the blank check b: withholding the appropriations of money c: the rubber check d: the pocket veto
The term “human bomb” refers to:
a: changing the facts on the ground b: biological warfare c: infant mortality rates d: none of the choices
This massive economic rebuilding effort was put into action after World War II:
a: the Keynesian Plan b: the Marshall Plan c: Perestroika d: Glasnost e: containment
How huge is the current approximate U.S. national debt?
a: $2 trillion b: $20 trillion c: $12 trillion d: $200 billion e: $5.6 trillion
Which of the following was not listed as a suggested governmental reform in the last chapter of the Tarikh text?
a: mandatory military service b: elimination of the Electoral College c: elimination of the two party system d: elimination of the federal income tax e: mandatory voting
The major requirement imposed by the “Government in the Sunshine Act” is that:
a: all multi-headed federal agencies conduct their business regularly in public session
b: all multi-headed federal agencies conduct their business regularly in private session
c: all multi-headed federal agencies conduct their business regularly in secret
d: all multi-headed federal agencies conduct their business regularly in D.C.
The most common occupation of presidents has been:
a: politicians b: governors c: capitalists d: lawyers
In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the Electoral College votes, the president is selected:
a: by the Senate b: by the House c: by the People d: by the Supreme Court
Can the president remove federal judges from office?
a: yes b: maybe c: sometimes d: no
The role in which the president has probably exercised more authority than in any other role is ____________________.
a: party leader b: Commander-in-Chief c: moral leader d: media mogul
What is the only requirement of a president in issuing an executive order?
a: that it be written b: that it be verbal c: that it be true d: that it be published in the Federal Register
The ability of the president to withhold certain information from Congress and/or the courts is based on:
a: pure power b: abuse of power c: congressional privilege d: executive privilege
Which constitutional amendment established procedures for presidential succession and disability?
a: 25th b: 27th c: 29th d: 12th
Which Congressional Act resolved the question of who shall be president if both the president and vice president die?
a: The Presidential Act of 2004 b: The National Act of 1941 c: The Succession Act of 1947 d: The Act of the Apostle
Which government official is third in line of succession to the presidency?
a: vice president b: governor c: Secretary of State d: Senate president pro tempore
Who were the two presidents impeached by the House of Representatives?
a: Nixon and Clinton b: Nixon and Johnson c: Johnson and Clinton d: Nixon and Bush
Which California ethnic group is most underrepresented in holding public office?
a: African Americans b: Black Americans c: Mexican Americans d: Asian Americans
The main feature differentiating a faction from a political party is that a faction:
a: has a permanent organized structure b: has no structure c: has no leaders
d: does not have a permanent organized structure
A situation in which one major party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress is referred to as ____________.
a: problematic b: a balance of power c: divided government d: good government
Stare decisis is a doctrine: a: enabling court decisions to vary from case to case
b: providing guidance to judges when common law does not apply c: encouraging the following of precedent or previous court decisions d: requiring hearings about complaints arising from regulations
Policies regulating the amount of money in circulation are part of a :
a: fiscal policy b: national economizing c: monetary policy d: zero sum budgeting
The level of trial courts in the federal judiciary hierarchy is the:
a: district courts b: Circuit Court of Appeals c: Supreme Court d: state courts
The foreign policy that allows the U.S. to sell weapons to dictators who support American business interests around the world and to repel terrorism with force is the policy of: a: détente b: moral idealism
c: counterintelligence d: political realism
One major reason for the massive increase in U.S. public debt in recent years is:
a: massive increases in social welfare spending b: the war in Iraq c: new prison construction d: tax increases on the rich
The justices who believe that the Court should use its power to alter or challenge the policy direction of Congress, state legislatures, or administrative agencies are advocating:
a: judicial restraint b: judicial activism c: strict constructionism d: moderate pragmatism
The fastest-growing subgroup of the homeless population is:
a: street people b: the mentally ill c: illegal immigrants d: families
The courts that have become “stepping stones” to appointment to the Supreme Court are the: a: District Courts b: State Supreme Courts c: Circuit Courts of Appeal d: Tax Court
Concern over nuclear weapon proliferation intensified in 1999 when the Senate rejected the: a: China/North Korea Treaty b: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty c: Middle East Peace Treaty d: Nuclear Terrorism Treaty
Appellate jurisdiction means the authority of a court to:
a: serve as a trial court b: hear cases for the first time c: review decisions from a lower court d: establish grand juries
The Powell Doctrine states each of the following about the U.S. entering war except:
a: there should be a clear, obtainable objective b: we should strike our enemies before they strike us
c: all other non violent means have been exhausted d: the action should be supported by the American people
e: there should be genuine, broad international support
The major provision of the War Powers Act was to:
a: limit the president’s use of troops in military action without congressional approval
b: allow the president more freedom in the use of military troops throughout the world
c: give the president new powers in the area of foreign policy
d: prevent aggressor nations from becoming too strong militarily
A writ of certiorari is issued by the Supreme Court only when:
a: a majority of justices vote for such a request b: four justices vote for such a request
c: a unanimous Court supports such a request d: the Solicitor General approves such a request
Monetary policy is primarily made by the: a: President b: Congress c: Federal Reserve d: Treasury Secretary
A Justice who accepts the majority decision, but not the reasons for it may write his/her own:
a: minority opinion b: majority opinion c: amicus curiae opinion d: concurring opinion
The event that signified the Soviet Union had relinquished its political and military control over the states of Eastern Europe was the:
a: renewed interest in Cuba b: fall of the Berlin Wall c: defeat in Afghanistan d: dissolution of the Soviet Union
The United States ran a budget surplus under the presidency of:
a: Ronald Reagan b: Jimmy Carter c: Bill Clinton d: George W. Bush
The Monroe Doctrine states that the U.S.:
a: had territorial dominion over South America b: was neutral in its relations with Europe and Asia c: could trade openly with China d: would not accept foreign intervention in the Western Hemisphere
The official who represents the national government in the Supreme Court is the:
a: Attorney General b: Solicitor General c: Vice-President d: Chief Justice
Foreign policy based on moral imperatives is often unsuccessful for the U.S. because it: a: makes policy making difficult to understand b: assumes that other nations agree with American views of morality and politics
c: requires the president to establish absolute standards of conduct for U.S. personnel d: makes too many enemies
In terms of enforcement powers, the Supreme Court: a: has now acquired its own police force b: relies upon the good will of the public to see that its decisions are enforced c: does not make decisions that have to be enforced d: must rely on other units of government to carry out its decisions
The U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Florida Supreme Court over vote counting in the 2000 Presidential election surprised many observers because: a: of judicial review b: of support of civil rights cases
c: of support of rights of accused cases d: of support of states’ rights cases
To ensure that majority rule does not become oppressive, modern democracies: a: have constitutions that are difficult to amend b: hold free, competitive elections c: provide guarantees of minority rights d: use plurality voting for most decisions
One of the revolutionary ideas of John Locke was the idea that people have: a: a right to a secure job b: a right to welfare if they need it c: natural rights d: a right to adequate health care e: a right to checks and balances in government
Which slaveholding “founding father” is the author of the Declaration of Independence?
a: Washington b: Roosevelt c: Hamilton d: Jefferson e: Adams
To the framers of the Constitution, the appeal of federalism was that it: a: allowed the states to control the process of government decision-making b: retained state traditions and local power while it established a strong national government c: was acceptable to the British Parliament d: did not change the status quo
What % of California’s population today do whites comprise?
a: the majority b: 65% c: less than half d: 25% e: the minority
Pluralist theory asserts that decisions are made in American politics by:
a: the competition between groups trying to gain benefits for their members b: the mass population
c: the governing elites d: the wealthy
Shay’s Rebellion demonstrated that the central government:
a: had the capability to protect citizens from riots and civil unrest b: dared not confront the state militias c: could easily incite citizens to riot d: did not care about the welfare of the people
e: could not protect the citizenry from armed rebellion
What is the main subject discussed in Madison’s Federalist Paper #10?
a: friction b: interdiction c: factions d: actions e: political parties
The Great Compromise: a: resulted in the Bill of Rights being added to the Constitution b: broke the deadlock between the large and small states over the nature of representation in the new national government c: established the Electoral College as the vehicle for electing the president d: allowed George Washington to be nominated and elected the first president
Name the 3 authors of the Federalist Papers: a: Tinkers, Evers, Chance b: Washington, Adams, Paine c: Burr, Hamilton, Adams d: Hamilton, Jay, Madison e: Roosevelt, Lincoln, Jefferson
Because of the supremacy clause the states cannot: a: deny citizens of another state the same privileges and immunities they extend to their own citizens b: discriminate against citizens from another state c: use their reserved or concurrent powers to thwart national policies d: tax their citizens beyond national governmental rates e: institute an official religion
Identify the number of Articles and Amendments (respectively) to the U.S. Constitution:
a: 7/17 b: 10/20 c: 3/25 d: 10/23 e: 7/27
The Madisonian Model of a government scheme refers to: a: direct democracy b: judicial review
c: a separation of powers d: the supremacy of national laws over state laws
The constitutional concept of police powers is created by the: a: interstate commerce clause
b: necessary and proper clause c: 10th Amendment d: combined power clause e: supremacy clause
What argument did the US Supreme Court embrace in their infamous decision in Bush v. Gore (2000)?
a: judicial review b: an equal protection violation c: voter fraud d: conservatism
Which of the following was not a concept within John Locke’s political philosophy? a: life, liberty, and the pursuit of property b: consent of the governed c: natural rights of man d: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
How many times does the word slavery or slaves appear in the original U.S. Constitution?
a: none b: twice c: twenty d: two hundred and twenty
What was the official margin of victory for Bush in FL (2000)?
a: 735 b: 175,000 c: 1784 d: 1776 e: 537
How many votes were never included in the Florida 2000 presidential election count?
a: none b: all of them c: 175,000 d: 383 e: 537
What mechanism was used in the Florida 2000 presidential election to disenfranchise Black voters?
a: bait and switch b: affirmative action c: hanging chads d: felon purge list e: Katherine Harris
How many illegal absentee ballots were in the final tally certified by FL Sec. of State Katherine Harris?
a: 68,800 b: 8660 c: 68 d: 6880 e: 680
How many blank conviction dates were there on FL’s felon purge list?
a: 4,000 b: 400,000 c: 4 million d: 40,000 e: 40 million
How many votes were never certified in FL 2000?
a: 750 b: 750,000 c: 666 d: 75,000 e: 175,000
In the Florida 2000 presidential election, how many so called “ex offenders” were purged from the voting lists? a: 383 b: none c: 175,000 d: 2883 e: 75,000
The Declaration of Independence is:
a: beautifully written b: a sham c: an amendable document d: a long list of grievances
The first two opposing groups in U.S. politics were the:
a: Republicans and Whigs b: Democrats and Republicans c: Federalists and Anti-Federalists
d: Loyalists and Colonialists e: Cavaliers and Roundheads
According to the state text, the explosion of __________________ on the ballot is not due to greater democratic participation, but due to the power and opportunism of special interests.
a: candidates b: political novices c: propositions d: third party candidates
Which “third party” may have cost Democrat Al Gore the presidency in the 2000 election?
a: Peace and Freedom b: Libertarian c: Natural Rights d: Green
Why did Congress create agencies within the federal bureaucracy?
a: to implement federal legislation b: to implement state legislation c: to stop government corruption d: to create a system of patronage
If you are either skeptical of, or oppose almost all government activities, on the traditional political spectrum you would be labeled a:
a: socialist b: liberal c: conservative d: libertarian e: communist
In order to change the U.S. Constitution, either Congress or the state conventions must have this fraction voting in favor (respectively): a: 3/5 & 7/8 b: 2/3 & 3/4 c: 3/5 & 1/2 d: 1/3 & 5/6
Which of the following was not an issue of irregularity in the Ohio 2004 presidential election vote
a: felon purge list b: electronic voting machines c: voter registration d: voter suppression
According to Chapter 1 of the main text, in this type of regime the government is fully controlled by the ruler, but not all social and economic institutions:
a: totalitarian b: authoritarian c: libertarian d: democratic e: theocratic
According to exit polls conducted after the Ohio 2004 presidential election, ________________ was winning by millions of votes: a: Nader b: Bush c: Gore d: Guiliani e: Kerry
Which of these tools did G.W. Bush frequently use to subvert the Madisonian Model?
a: the pocket veto b: the war on Iraq c: the bully pulpit d: recess appointments e: presidential signing statements
Law that is made by judges is also known as:
a: judicial restraint b: judicial economy c: bad precedent d: jurisdiction e: common law
O. J. Simpson was acquitted in criminal court, yet held liable in civil court due to the:
a: Crackerbarrel Doctrine b: Sustained Responsibility Doctrine c: Stare Decisis Doctrine
d: Separate Sovereignty Doctrine
Sunset legislation refers to: a: the use of the pocket veto b: the idea of automatic program termination after a prescribed period unless Congress reauthorizes it c: environmental protection laws d: safe transportation laws
What proportion of current federal judges were appointed by Republican presidents?
a: 7/8 b: 1/2 c: 3/4 d: 1/4 e: 5/6
According to the Congressional Research Service approximately how many times did G.W. Bush challenge laws through signing statements, and on what theory/doctrine?
a: 100/conspiracy theory b: 160/unitary executive theory c: 500/imperial doctrine
d: 140/big bang theory e: he never has
The majority of arrests today involve:
a: murder b: drug offenses c: federal crimes d: white collar crimes
An unfunded mandate is: a: the same as porkbarreling b: the same as gerrymandering c: when the federal government doesn’t provide money to carry out a policy d: when a social event is ruined by a cheapskate
G. W. Bush’s foreign policy of “getting them before they get us” is known as:
a: cowboy up b: preemptive action c: sabre rattling d: gunboat diplomacy
The Republican failure to do this in California has resulted in Democratic majorities in the state legislature, the congressional delegation, and in all statewide offices except the governorship:
a: register enough voters b: be exciting c: win support from minority voters d: be fair
In recent years, serious crimes committed by _______________ significantly increased.
a: women b: juveniles c: immigrants d: the elderly
Which California elected official holds the highest national leadership position ever held by a woman? a: Nancy Pelosi b: Barbara Boxer c: Diane Feinstein d: Kamala Harris
The current U.S. Supreme Court has: a: 5 Independents and 4 Democrats b: 2 Democrats and 7 Republicans c: 4 Republicans and 3 Democrats d: 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 1 Independent
e: 5 Republicans and 4 Democrats
Which U.S. Supreme Court case overturned the separate-but-equal doctrine?
a: Brown v. Bd. of Education b: Plessy v. Ferguson c: Dred Scott v. Sandford
d: Korematsu v. U.S. e: Mapp v. Ohio
Which of the following inalienable (fundamental) rights is not explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution?
a: gun ownership b: privacy c: liberty d: protecting property
Which “liberal” president ordered Japanese Americans into concentration camps during WWII?
a: Ronald Reagan b: Woodrow Wilson c: FDR d: LBJ e: BLT
Our prison system emphasizes: a: getting even b: hard work c: punishment over rehabilitation
d: paying your debt to society e: rehabilitation over punishment
Both the U.S. and California constitutions prohibit involuntary servitude except:
a: for Blacks b: for illegal aliens c: to punish crime d: to pay debts
A technically incorrect search warrant can be legal under the concept of:
a: the “good faith” exception b: the Miranda rule c: the unreasonable search and seizure
d: the right to an attorney if you cannot afford one
Do civil juries in California have to render a unanimous verdict?
a: yes b: sometimes c: no d: civil juries don’t render verdicts
Since its first passage in 1849, about how many times has the California state constitution been amended? a: none b: 500 c: 27 d: 100 e: 72
Senate Rule 22 refers to the closing of debate and:
a: judicial appointments b: the “nuclear option” c: cloak and dagger d: majority rule
e: filibustering
Most of the protections found in the Bill of Rights: a: apply only to the national government
b: have been extended by the Supreme Court to be applicable at the national and state levels
c: apply only to the state governments d: none of the above
"Incorporation" of the Bill of Rights is the same as: a: nationalization b: industrialization
c: emancipation d: adjudication e: ameliorization
The wall of separation between church and state is best found in what clause of the U.S. Constitution?
a: the free exercise clause b: the establishment clause c: the equal protection clause
d: the wall of separation clause e: the elastic clause
The term "suffrage" refers to: a: the miseries that come from being unable to vote b: the right to vote c: paying poll taxes d: the right to hold public office
What were the Alien and Sedition Acts? a: laws passed in the 1790's that made it a crime to say or publish anything that would defame the government of the United States b: laws that made it a crime for foreign immigrants to belong to the Communist Party or other anti-American organizations
c: a law passed by Congress denying property rights to all non-citizens d: laws passed during the Civil War denying Confederate sympathizers the right of free speech
The term "turnout" describes the number of people who:
a: register to vote b: actually vote c: vote for the incumbent d: a & b
The phenomenon called the "gender gap" refers to the fact that: a: more women vote for Democrats than do men b: more men vote than do women c: in families, it is usually women who determine how the family votes d: more men than women have had their ballot invalidated
The president who warned the nation of the influence of the military-industrial complex was:
a: Eisenhower b: Nixon c: Reagan d: Clinton
The use of fiscal policy to alter economic variables is the underlying premise for:
a: supply and demand b: Keynesian economics c: Marxist economic theory d: the global economy
In the realm of the Judiciary, ADR stands for: a: automatic determination of rights
b: alternative dispute resolution c: attention deficit review d: all defendant's rights
Law that is made by legislatures/judges is also known (respectively) as:
a: statutory/civil law b: commoner/civilian law c: judicial/natural law
d: jurisdiction e: civil/common law
Which of the following is not listed in the main text as one of the top ten most influential interest groups?
a: NRA b: ATLA c: NEA d: AFL-CIO e: NAACP
From the 1820's to the 1980's, about how many times were presidential signing statements used?
a: 750 b: 75 c: 350 d: 35 e: 500
What changed the Black allegiance from the Republican to the Democrat party?
a: the New Deal b: Andrew Johnson c: the Square Deal d: Abraham Lincoln
e: the Raw Deal
How many types of interest groups does the main text identify, and what are their categories (respectively)?
a: two = economic/noneconomic b: four = business/labor/professional/public interest
c: one = pluralistic d: none = the book doesn’t identify any
Members of which ethnic group is least likely to be registered to vote in California?
a: Latinos b: African Americans c: Asian Americans d: Republicans e: poor white trash
The network of policy making that includes congressional committees is called the:
a: issue network b: internetwork c: iron triangle d: social movements
Which of the following political parties was the precursor to the Republican party?
a: Tories b: Libertarians c: Whigs d: KKK e: Federalists
What is a “free rider”? a: a freeloader b: a beneficiary c: pro bono legal representation
d: a beneficiary who doesn’t contribute
According to lecture, approximately what percentage of adult people in California “make the decisions”?
a: 150% b: 15% c: 30% d: 45% e: 60%
This man is the “poster boy” for corruption in lobbying practices:
a: Mike Huckabee b: Jack Abramoff c: Vernon Jordan d: Michael Jordan e: Ralph Nader
According to lecture, although Latinos are 32% of California’s population, they are only _____% of the likely voters. a: 14 b: 7 c: 25 d: 4 e: 50
Since 1986, the % of independent voters in California has:
a: stayed the same b: doubled c: tripled d: quadrupled
Why is it always better to plead nolo contendere instead of guilty?
a: because of the lower burden of proof in a civil court b: because latin sounds sexy
c: because of double jeopardy d: because of the higher burden of proof in a civil
The right to sue and the power of a court to hear a suit are also known by these legal terms (respectively):
a: standing/jurisdiction b: standing/sitting c: civil liberties/jurisdiction
d: jurisdiction/standing e: de novo/stare decisis
Each of the following explains why the two-party system has endured except:
a: political socialization b: the winner-take-all electoral system c: it is the best d: state and federal laws favoring it
Identify the two U.S. presidents who had the lowest and highest percentages (respectively) of objecting to provisions within laws they signed [through signing statements]:
a: Clinton/G.W. Bush b: Clinton/Reagan c: G.H.W. Bush/G.W. Bush d: Reagan/G.H.W. Bush
The level of trial courts in the state/federal judiciary hierarchy (respectively) is the:
a: superior/district courts b: Circuit Court of Appeals c: Supreme Court
d: inferior/superior courts e: municipal/superior courts
Who received the most infamous presidential pardon?
a: Scooter Libby b: Richard Nixon c: G. Gordon Liddy d: Charles Lindbergh
e: Dick Cheney
Each of the following will enable suit to be brought in federal court except:
a: a federal question is involved b: diversity jurisdiction exists c: the federal government is a party
d: an advisory opinion is sought e: there is a habeas corpus petition involved
How many political parties have qualified for the 2010 California ballot?
a: 2 b: 4 c: 8 d: 12 e: 6
Is a line item veto constitutional? a: yes b: no c: maybe d: sometimes
e: yes, but only as related to military spending
Which government official is second in line of succession to the presidency?
a: vice president b: governor c: Speaker of the House d: Secretary of State
Which government official is fourth in line of succession to the presidency?
a: vice president b: governor c: Speaker of the House d: Secretary of State
Which government official is fifth in line of succession to the presidency?
a: vice president b: governor c: Speaker of the House d: Secretary of State
In order to convict the President during an impeachment trial, this many senators must vote to do so:
a: 49 b: 51 c: 60 d: 67 e: 75
According to lecture, this is an example of interventionism “gone wild”:
a: Iran/Contra Gate b: Vietnam c: the black budget d: the international space station
American foreign policy has fluctuated between:
a: the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary b: a rock and a hard place c: compromise and inflexibility d: isolationism and interventionism
What is the meaning of stare decisis? a: let the decision stand b: look the devil in the eye
c: be confident in the rule of law d: the body is stiffening
Which of the following is not a source of law? a: U.S. Constitution b: statutes
c: common law d: law enforcement e: case law
The definition of a civil society is one where: a: there is the rule of law b: there is
the rule of thumb c: there is the rule of 4 d: there is the rule of might
According to lecture, the judiciary is divided into these four realms:
a: constructionist/activist/obstructionist/practical b: state/federal/civil/criminal
c: district/supreme/state/federal d: liberal/conservative/left/right
Compared with Western Europe, America has a ___________ turnout in elections.
a: higher b: lower c: roughly equivalent d: not comparable
Differing levels of voter turnout throughout the world can best be explained by:
a: the saliency of the election b: whether voting is mandatory c: the degree of proportional representation d: all of the above
According to lecture, the single most important year in American political history was:
a: 1776 b: 1968 c: 1619 d: 2008 e: 1944
This 1976 Supreme Court case declared it unconstitutional for Congress to limit the amount of money that an individual candidate could spend on her or his own behalf:
a: Buckley v. Valeo b: U. S. v. Nixon c: Plessy v. Ferguson d: Dred Scott v. Sandford
Which 3 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution detail the rights of the accused?
a: 1/2/3 b: 2/3/4 c: 3/4/5 d: 4/5/6 e: 7/8/9
What was the basis cited by the California Supreme Court when in 2009 it ruled that same sex marriage should be again declared illegal?
a: DOMA b: state law, as approved by the voters in 2008
c: stare decisis d: fags are a drag e: dikes I don’t like
The first form of the U.S. government was:
a: anarchy, because of Shay’s Rebellion b: the Bill of Rights c: the Constitution d: the Federalist Papers
e: the Articles of Confederation
Posted by Ishmael Tarikh on 8/28/06; 4:06:11 PM
from the dept.
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