BYU Final Exam GOVT-041-S003:
American Government and Citizenship
Exam Questions With Correct Answers
Which leading political thinker is given credit for his influence on the separation of powers? -
answer✔✔Charles-Louis Montesquieu
"we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by
their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit
of Happiness." In which document are these words written by Thomas Jefferson? - answer✔✔the
Declaration of Independence
Why is Tocqueville still relevant today? - answer✔✔Citizens should beware of being too self-
absorbed and not participating in the political process.
How did Alexis de Tocqueville describe the 1830s in America? - answer✔✔It was a time when
Americans worked together for the common good of others.
After studying and reading examples about liberty and order consider the following: After the
terrorist attack on September 11, President Bush and Congress passed the PATRIOT Act, which
expanded the power of law enforcement to secretly investigate potential terrorists. What does
this suggest? - answer✔✔The president believed Americans had too much liberty and too little
security.
What is a statement that Hobbes and Locke would both agree on? - answer✔✔Government is
necessary to protect life and property.
What term is best used to describe our government? - answer✔✔representative republic
How long is the term for a member in the House of Representative before they face re-election? -
answer✔✔2 years
Which of the following is true of the Bill of Rights? - answer✔✔It was included in the
Constitution as a concession to the Anti-federalists who opposed ratification of the Constitution.
, THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 8/20/2024 8:37 PM
A prominent political scientist famously described American government as separate institutions
sharing powers; Which two constitutional principles are embodied in this statement? -
answer✔✔separation of powers and checks and balances
According to Tocqueville, civic virtue means simply that individuals have interests and desires
that are not solely focused on themselves. Rather, they are willing to give up some of the things
they want in order to promote the common good. What did he mean by this? - answer✔✔People
should help one another because the welfare of others affects individual welfare.
If you were to read about a country whose government allows their president to declare war on
another country, and individually coin money to fight the war without the consent of any other
government official. Which of the following would best describe this system as compared with
the government in the United States? - answer✔✔In the United States the president can neither
declare nor fund a war without the vote of Congress.
Which of the following best describes separation of powers? - answer✔✔executive, legislative,
and judicial branches
What does civilian control of the military mean? - answer✔✔Military leaders do not have any
independent authority, but are the servants of the elected representatives of the people.
According to Hobbes, what would life be like without limits on an individual's behavior or if
living in a state of nature? - answer✔✔Perilous
What does unit 1 say is perhaps the most complex form of human interaction? -
answer✔✔politics
How can the principle of federalism promote the protection of civil rights in the American
federal system? - answer✔✔It provides both state and national governments with the ability to
protect citizens from abuses of power by the other.
Which of the following would Tocqueville most likely endorse? - answer✔✔encouraging civic
groups to help the poor
If a country has a political system where some decisions are made in local legislatures and others
are made in the national legislature. Whose government would this most likely be compared to? -
answer✔✔the U.S. system of government created in Philadelphia
How does the Constitution divide power between the three branches? - answer✔✔Power is not
completely separated, allowing each branch to limit the other branches' exercise of power.
Who was considered to be the inventor of philosophy? - answer✔✔Plato
, THEBRIGHT EXAM SOLUTIONS 8/20/2024 8:37 PM
The Founders established a republican form of government. Why did they do this? -
answer✔✔They believed elected officials could represent citizens and could be kept in check
through elections.
Classical republicanism is principally concerned with ____________ while classical liberalism is
concerned with _______________. - answer✔✔liberty; order
Which political thinker wrote The Prince, where he justified popular sovereignty, revolution, and
a separation of religious and secular government? - answer✔✔Machiavelli
You are writing a speech for school about the need for citizens to participate in their political
system. Who would you quote as the earliest proponent of this notion? - answer✔✔Aristotle
Which of the following IS NOT an example of checks and balances in the United States
Constitution? - answer✔✔The president can veto a Supreme Court decision, but only with the
support of a two-thirds majority vote in Congress.
Examples:
- The Supreme Court can review laws passed by congress and declare them unconstitutional if
they deem them inconsistent with the Constitution.
- The president can veto laws passed by Congress, but Congress can override a veto by a two-
thirds majority vote in both houses.
- If the House believes the president is guilty of "high crimes or misdemeanors," it can formally
charge or impeach the president. A trial to decide whether to remove the president from office is
held in the Senate.
Which of the following is not one of the three types of government outlined by Montesquieu? -
answer✔✔Democracy
The 3 types:
- Despotism
- Republican government
- Monarchy
Which of the following documents outlines the purpose of government to protect the social rights
of its citizens, chiefly among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? -
answer✔✔Declaration of Independence
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Thebright. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $12.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
