American Government Post-Test Review

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 publishes a 30-page report documenting its findings.

Which factor will contribute to the credibility of the report as a source on the topic?

• the number of tables and charts in the report

• the cost of the report to the city

• the length of the report

• the qualifications of the contributors to the report

Legislators use various methods to resolve differences of opinion when considering legislation.

If one legislator used data to sway an undecided legislator to help with the passage of a bill, which method was used?

• Compromise

• Persuasion

• Consensus Building

• Negotiation

Legislators use various methods to resolve differences of opinion when considering legislation.

If one legislator removed a line from the bill that was an impediment to a legislator's support to help with the passage of a bill, which method was used?

• Compromise

• Persuasion

• Consensus Building

• Negotiation

Legislators use various methods to resolve differences of opinion when considering legislation.

If one legislator emphasized parts of the bill that opposing members agreed upon during debate to help with the passage of a bill, which method was used?

• Compromise

• Persuasion

• Consensus Building

• Negotiation

A business group wants its city to finance construction of a new airport. The city commissioners and some citizens feel that a new airport will be too expensive and that the proposed site is too close to an old city neighborhood with many low-income residents. The business leaders supporting the new airport can take a number of different approaches to get it built.

Which approach below is NOT an example of the approaches that represent the democratic process of compromise, consensus building, negotiation, and persuasion.

• Bring people on both sides of the issue together to try to settle their differences through discussion.

• Make a concession to their opponents by offering to build the airport in a different location in the city.

• Run commercials explaining how the cost of the airport will be offset by the economic benefits that it will bring.

• Try to replace the members of the city commission with officials who support the existing plan without changes.

• Hold neighborhood meetings to discuss how to address the concerns residents have about the new airport.

A business group wants its city to finance construction of a new airport. The city commissioners and some citizens feel that a new airport will be too expensive and that the proposed site is too close to an old city neighborhood with many low-income residents. The business leaders supporting the new airport can take a number of different approaches to get it built.

Which of the approaches below IS an example of the approaches that represent the democratic process of compromise, consensus building, negotiation, and persuasion? (Note - 3 are NOT).

• Build the airport as proposed despite opposition.

• Make a concession to their opponents by offering to build the airport in a different location in the city.

• Buy homes in the neighborhood to force the residents to move away so that the airport faces less opposition.

• Try to replace the members of the city commission with officials who support the existing plan without changes.

What do compromise, persuasion, negotiation, and consensus building all have in common?

• All of them involve getting each party to make sacrifices.

• All of them typically produce unequal results for opposing parties.

• All of them involve enabling opposing parties to have their positions accepted.

• All of them are nonviolent methods of conflict resolution.

Consensus building as a way of solving conflict is an important tool for citizens of a democratic society.

Which statement describes consensus building?

• Both parties search for common ground or areas of mutual agreement in order to solve a conflict.

• Both parties try to convince each other that their idea is better in order to solve a conflict.

• Both parties sacrifice something they want in order to resolve a conflict.

• Both parties agree to a series of meetings in order to discuss solutions to a conflict.

Before the U.S. Constitution was adopted, each state held a ratifying convention to discuss and vote on the Constitution.

Alexander Hamilton attended the New York state ratifying convention. A quote from one of his speeches during the convention is shown.

"Here [in the U.S. House of Representatives], sir, the people govern; here they act by their immediate representatives."

Which basic principle of governance is Hamilton highlighting in this quote?

• separation of powers

• popular sovereignty

• limited government

• federalism

Which constitutional principle is identified with the concept of "consent of the governed?"

• separation of powers

• popular sovereignty

• checks and balances

• rule of law