DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
POSC 105
Review Questions for the Third Test
- Presidents face many hurdles when attempting to create and implement major policy changes.
One of the major obstacles is
- bureaucratic politics
- "iron triangles"
- "Groupthink"
- All of the above.*
- A president trying to convince the Defense Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to agree
to an arms control proposal is an example of
- the separation of powers.
- federalism
- an iron triangle.
- bureaucratic politics.*
Recall that I said "within" government negotiations are often as difficult as between (or inter-government) bargaining. Policy does not flow from a simple presidential command or directive
but results from bureaucratic in-fighting.
- The disadvantages of interest group politics include
- some groups in society are not adequately represented.
- the preferences of the majority sometimes lose out to minority preferences.
- political parties are weakened.
- all of the above.*
- Which of these is an example of the "conflict of interest" problem discussed in class?
- Health care
- Individual campaign contributions.
- The Rasmussen report to the AEC regarding reactor safety.*
- The Kinsey Report to the Congress.
You had to be in class to know this. Remember that I talked about how the AEC used
outside consultants to evaluate the safety of nuclear reactors and that the consultants came or
worked for the nuclear industry.
- Theoretically, the supreme power of a national party is the:
- ward committee.
- state convention.
- national convention.*
- the president.
- Most of us have been taught that the national government consists of three branches. The
lecturer, however, feels that which of the following should also be considered a "branch"
of government? as well?
- The Federal Reserve system (FED)*
- The voters
- The Executive Office
- All of the above
I can't stress this point enough.
- The film, "What Happened to Bill Clinton?" suggests that which of the following is the
most important or effective presidential power?
- The line item veto
- Control of the armed forces
- Reputation*
- Knowledge
Besides being a central point in the film, I mentioned it explicitly in class.
- After individual contributions the main source of campaign contributions is:
- Businesses
- Labor unions
- Political action committees (PACs)*
- Political parties
Parties do not contribute as much as PACs. So, to whom will a candidate feel obligated to
support if elected?
- The lecturer thinks that modern campaign techniques, with the emphasis on the use of
"adtech," has which of these effects?
- Increase the interest and excitement of elections.
- Make people more aware of issues.
- Weakens political discourse and hence discourages political participation*
- Force candidates to state their positions on issues clearly
- Americans want their representatives to be
- protectors of state or local interests.*
- loyal to their party.
- to look after the needs of the country even if doing so means ignoring local or
regional interests.
- wealthy and healthy.
- Public funding is available for which of these campaigns?
- Presidential
- Congressional
- Presidential and congressional
- Primaries
Note: I stressed that public financing applies only to presidential elections. A hotly debated
idea or proposal is to extend such funding to congressional elections. But that reform has not yet
been accepted.
Again, I suggest that you follow the strategy I have mentioned several times before: read
the question and think about the general proposition or point that it addresses before looking at
the alternatives. As you do, ask "what would I expect one of the choices to be?" Then pick the
best response.
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