Ohio AIR Test Review: American Gov't

1.  Citizens must choose between a plan to build a new city auditorium or a plan to restore the old one.  Supporters of the new auditorium claim that building a new auditorium would be more economical than restoring the old one.   In evaluating the credibility of this claim, citizens should pay particular attention to:

• A. the number of performances held in the auditorium each year. 
• B.  the amount of money the supporters spend on promoting their position. 
• C. the popularity of the supporters as community leaders. 
• D. the project cost data provided by architects and accountants.  

1.  In response to public concern about downtown parking availability, a city’s mayor appoints a panel of traffic engineers, transportation officials and citizens to study the issue. Six months later, the panel published a 30-page report documenting its findings.   Which factor will contribute to the credibility of the report as a source on the topic? 

• A. the length of the report 
• B. the cost of the report to the city 
• C. the number of tables and charts in the report 
• D. the qualifications of the contributors to the report 

1.  A state is considering an amendment to its constitution requiring that judges be appointed rather than elected.  A supporter of the amendment makes the following statement: Electing judges allows choices to be made on the basis of political influence, not merit.  I believe that it is time to consider changing this practice to a system whereby judges are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the legislature. Our State Bar (lawyers) Association supports this change because during election years, campaigning and fundraising for the election of judges delays the hearing of cases, this creates a backlog in the year following the election.  Furthermore, a survey of voter habits by the State Election Commission reports that 60% of voters fail to vote for judges at all.  Voters say they lack relevant criteria for making selections.  The Commission has stated its support for the amendment in order to better assure that judges have been chosen on their merits rather than their appeal to special interests. Explain why the use of the particular sources presented by the supporter of the amendment makes the supporter’s position credible.  Be sure to refer to: ·  the qualifications of the sources; ·  the consistency (agreement) between the sources.

• Points Possible:  2 Complete explanation of the qualifications of the sources.  The response offers an appropriate explanation of the consistency between the sources to make the supporter’s position credible
• 1 Point response: Response addresses qualifications of the sources, but did not address consistency between sources.

1.  Legislators use various methods to resolve differences of opinion when considering legislation.   Identify the method used to influence legislators in the passage of a bill in each scenario.   Write the method into the correct blank box.

• a
• a

1.  People rely on public records and surveys as source materials to analyze issues.     Determine whether each statement describes public records or surveys.    Place a check in the boxes you want to select next to each of the three statements. 

• a
• a

1.  Federalism is one of the basic principles established in the U.S. Constitution.   Describe how government in the United States reflects a federal structure. 
All answers are correct!!

• Power is divided between the state and the federal governments.
• Power is divided among the central government and regional governments.
• Power is distributed between the national government and its constituent units (states).

1.  Which constitutional principle is identified with the concept of “consent of the governed?” 

• rule of law 
• popular sovereignty 
• checks and balances 
• separation of powers 

1.  During the 1920s, the manufacture, sale, transportation, import, or export of alcoholic beverages was illegal across the United States.   Why did it take the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution in 1933 to make alcohol manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation legal again? 

• The states each had conflicting versions of the law. 
• A.  The Supreme Court refused to rule on the federal law banning alcohol. 
• A.  Congressional representatives knew they would lose votes if they reversed the original federal law. 
• Alcohol was banned by an amendment to the Constitution, and only another amendment could repeal it. 

1.  The Supreme Court takes on a case about the constitutional merits of a law.  After hearing arguments for and against the law, they issue a verdict that the law goes against certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Once determined unconstitutional, the law is struck down, or voided. 

• judicial review 
• federal appeal 
• limited government 
• popular sovereignty 

1.  The Supreme Court takes on a case about the constitutional merits of a law.  After hearing arguments for and against the law, they issue a verdict that the law goes against certain provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Once determined unconstitutional, the law is struck down, or voided. 

• judicial review 
• federal appeal 
• limited government 
• popular sovereignty