CHAPTER 7: GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES

Americans don’t want to have a strong national government because

• they are afraid of their political leaders.

• they are afraid it will put limits on their individual freedom.

• they are much more concerned with national glory.

The Constitution of the United States

• gives by far the most power to Congress.

• gives by far the most power to the president.

• tries to give each branch enough power to balance the others.

The president of the United States

• has the power to make official treaties with foreign governments without the approval of Congress.

• can veto a bill that has been passed by Congress.

• is elected if his political party wins most of the seats in Congress.

The Bill of Rights

• explains the rights of Congress and the rights of the president.

• guarantees citizens of the United States specific individual rights and freedoms.

• is part of the Declaration of Independence.

The American ideal of the free individual

• was exemplified by the farmers and the frontier settlers in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

• was exemplified by the businessman before the Civil War of the 1860s.

• caused the national government to grow in size and strength during the late 1800s.

The number of electoral votes a candidate receives

• is determined by who wins the total popular vote nationwide.

• is determined by the electoral votes of the states the candidate wins.

• is equal to the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives.

Which of these statements is TRUE about the 2000 presidential election?

• George W. Bush became president in 2000 because he won a plurality of votes nationwide.

• The Supreme Court played a major role in the 2000 election.

• Jeb Bush played an important role in the election because he was governor of California.

Stronger gun-control laws are favored by

• the National Rifle Association

• most of the American people.

• very few Americans.

Which statement about lobby groups is NOT true?

• They have become less powerful in recent years.

• They try to influence the government and public opinion.

• They have caused the government to get larger.

Which statement about the traditional beliefs of the political parties is FALSE?

• The Democrats believe that government should play a major role in solving society’s problems.

• The Republicans believe that business and free market can solve society’s problems.

• The Republicans and the Democrats basically agree about the role of government, and they have the same political beliefs.