CFU #1: Political Socialization

Which of the following public policies is best supported by the core value of free enterprise?

• The government subsidizing the cost of milk

• Congress passing legislation bailing out the automobile industry

• Taxpayers funding a national high-speed railway service

• After a review, the Federal Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers

Answer explanation

The Free Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers is the best example of the core value of free enterprise as it illustrates the government's willingness to allow private companies operate without government interference.

A person loses his job and refuses to accept any government assistance to get back on his feet, instead relying on savings and seeking a new job immediately. Which of the following core values would this person most relate to?

• Rule of law

• Free enterprise

• Individualism

• Equality of opportunity

Answer explanation

The core value of individualism most directly relates to the scenario described, as the idea of protecting and respecting the rights of the individual is an important component of the American political system.

Which of the following is the best example of the democratic ideal of limited government?

• Interest groups lobbying the government to influence legislation on a particular issue

• The media covering a confirmation hearing for a potential Supreme Court justice

• Citizens voting to elect a new member of the United States Congress

• The United States Constitution enumerating specific powers to Congress

Answer explanation

The United States Constitution’s enumerating specific powers to Congress is a good example of the democratic value of limited government since those enumerated powers are viewed as an attempt to limit the powers of Congress.

Based on the line graph, which of the following statements about church attendance in 1972 is true?

• In 1972, about 30% of people surveyed reported attending church monthly or less.

• In 1972, more people surveyed reported attending church weekly than reported attending rarely or never.

• In 1972, most people surveyed reported attending church yearly.

• In 1972, more people surveyed reported attending church yearly than reported attending weekly

Answer explanation

The line graph indicates that in 1972 about 41% of people attended church weekly and 30% attended church rarely or never.

Based on the line graph, what percentage of people surveyed attended church weekly in 1990 ?

• 35%

• 30%

• 25%

• 15%

Answer explanation

The line graph indicates that 35 percent of people surveyed attended church weekly in 1990.

Which of the following best describes how the generations view themselves in regards to the idealistic trait?

• Millennial respondents are the least likely to consider themselves idealistic.

• Each group is less likely to identify as idealistic as they get older.

• Baby-Boomer respondents are more likely to consider themselves idealistic than Generation X respondents.

• Silent Generation respondents are the most likely to consider themselves idealistic.

Answer explanation

Baby-Boomer respondents are more likely (31 percent) to consider themselves idealistic than Generation X respondents (28 percent).

Which generation group is most likely to oppose a protest of national symbols or ceremonies?

• Silent

• Boomer

• Generation X

• Millennial

Answer explanation

The Silent Generation is the most patriotic and would be the most likely to oppose a protest of national symbols or ceremonies.

Which of the following best describes a trend in the data?

• The older the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as patriotic.

• Generation X respondents are more likely to be politically active than the Baby-Boomer respondents.

• Baby Boomer respondents are the most likely to consider themselves self-reliant.

• The younger the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as religious and moral.

Answer explanation

The younger the respondents, the less likely they are to identify as religious and moral. The older the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as religious and moral.

One of the principal effects of 9/11 was instilling in Americans a fear that their personal security was at greater risk than ever before. Many aspects of the post-9/11 world are indeed new, but the fear it evokes echoes that felt by prior generations. At times, the country has met those fears while still holding fast to its core democratic principles. Other times, fear has overruled American principles, especially the protect of individual freedoms. The most important legacy of the American the American experience following 9/11 will not be the novelty of fear, but rather how well the country copes with that fear while adhering to its constitutional framework.

The experience of those who lived through 9/11 needs to create which of the following outcomes, according to the author of the passage?

• Citizens should not let their fear of another terror attack override the country’s ability to adhere to the civil liberties protections outlined in the Constitution.

• Citizens need to acknowledge that the 9/11 attack was a unique event and work to develop a new strategy to combat future terror attacks.

• Citizens have to be willing to sacrifice some civil liberties in order to protect the country from future terroristic attacks.

• Citizens can rely on the government to develop plans to protect them in the event of a future attack on the United States.

Answer explanation

The author argues that citizens should not let their fear of another terror attack allow the country to dismantle the civil liberties protections outlined in the Constitution.

One of the principal effects of 9/11 was instilling in Americans a fear that their personal security was at greater risk than ever before. Many aspects of the post-9/11 world are indeed new, but the fear it evokes echoes that felt by prior generations. At times, the country has met those fears while still holding fast to its core democratic principles. Other times, fear has overruled American principles, especially the protect of individual freedoms. The most important legacy of the American the American experience following 9/11 will not be the novelty of fear, but rather how well the country copes with that fear while adhering to its constitutional framework.

The passage is most related to which of the following concepts?

• Political participation

• Political socialization

• Political ideology

• Political polling

Answer explanation

The passage is most related to the concept of political socialization, the process by which people develop their individual political beliefs. In this case the agent of this process is major political events.