POLS 1110 Exam 1 UTOP

Autocracy can best be defined as rule by

• All

• Many

• Few

• One

When a small group of landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants controls most
of the governing decisions, the government is said to be a(n)

• Oligarchy

• Autocracy

• Democracy

• Thalassocracy

In the years leading up to World War II, the National Socialist (Nazi) Party rose to power
in Germany and consolidated its hold on political institutions by effectively striking down
any significant opposition through violence and intimidation. Nazi Germany achieved
almost absolute control over every facet of its citizens’ lives. In terms of limits on
governmental power, the political system of Nazi Germany would most accurately be
categorised as

• Monarchical

• Democratic

• Totalitarian

• Authoritarian

The saying “All political behavior has a purpose” is an expression of the

• Rationality principle

• Institutional principle

• History principle

• Policy priniciple

When politicians vote in a particular way in order to win reelection, their behavior is best
described as

• Wise

• Instrumental

• Ethical

• Corrupt

A large number of members of the House of Representatives publicly support legislation
to increase the federal minimum wage. However, the bill must pass through the
Education and the Workforce Committee before being brought to the floor for a vote. The
chair of the committee decides whether to allow the committee to vote on the bill. The
committee chair’s decision is an example of

• Jurisdiction

• Veto power

• Agenda power

• Decisiveness

In American representative democracy, citizens are considered to function as
__________ of elected officials

• Principals

• Agents

• Share-holders

• Delegates

What can make principal-agent relationships difficult for both parties?

• Agents are often not rational.

• Institutions sometimes force principal-agent relationships underground

• Principals often force agents to do things against their will.

• The interests of the agent and the principal may not be well aligned.

The tragedy of the commons suggests that

• mutual trust is based on an ongoing process of give and take

• an ongoing process of give and take is based on mutual trust

• individual preferences may sometimes clash with collective welfare.

• collective preferences may sometimes clash with individual preferences.

A senator depends on private contributions to fund his reelection campaigns since public
campaign financing is not available. Though he is personally concerned about the
environmental impact of burning coal, he accepts large campaign contributions from
powerful coal companies in his state. This senator also sits on the Senate Energy and
Natural Resources committee and uses his position to protect the interests of the coal
industry to ensure he receives future campaign contributions. The policies promoted by
this senator best reflect which motivations?

• Transaction costs

• Electoral ambitions

• Institutional ambitions

• Personal corruption