Chapter 4 – The U.S. Political Landscape Multiple Choice Questions 1. Favoring political candidates because of attributes like gender, race, or religion is called ________ politics. A. diversity politics. B. identity politics. C. magnetism politics. D. immigrant politics. E. popularity politics. 2. Someone who believes that the American way of life is inherently better and superior in every way to any other on earth is demonstrating A. fascism. B. patriotism. C. nationalism. D. ethnocentrism. E. socialism. 3. A major difference between the United States and other countries is A. the centuries-long common history U.S. citizens share. B. the homogenous sense of deity in the U.S. C. the adoption of an official language in the U.S. D. the large immigrant component to the U.S population. E. the sense of national identity is unified in the U.S. 4. The United States has a diverse population in part because A. it has been more accepting of strangers than many other nations. B. of the influence of its popular culture felt abroad. C. widespread economic opportunity has attracted immigrants. D. it promises religious and political freedom. E. All of these. 5. People in the same demographic categories tend to vote alike despite individual differences in socioeconomic standing; they share certain A. political socialization that can predict political behavior. B. cross-cutting cleavages that can predict political behavior. C. reinforcing cleavages that can predict political behavior. D. political predispositions that can predict political behavior. E. group identities that can predict political behavior. 6. The process by which parents and others teach children about the values, beliefs, and attitudes of a political culture is called A. political socialization. B. political indoctrination. C. demographic socialization. D. patriotic transfer. E. cultural socialization. . 7. The study of population characteristics in terms age, education, religion, and occupation is called A. census studies. B. demographics. C. human geography. D. nativism. E. cultural studies. . 8. When social and economic differences coincide, making political conflict more intense and polarizing society, social scientists call them A. reinforcing cleavages. B. additive cleavages. C. polarizing cleavages. D. cross-cutting cleavages. E. predisposing cleavages. . 9. If the rich and the poor of all religions sometimes vote on the basis of their religion but sometimes vote on the basis of their wealth, it is an illustration of A. reinforcing cleavages. B. ethnocentrism C. polarizing cleavages. D. cross-cutting cleavages. E. political socialization . 10. In the 1830s Alexis de Tocqueville concluded that the United States had had no great wars because of its A. great technological advances. B. relative lack of social and political tensions. C. long periods of stability. D. lack of powerful neighbors on its borders. E. reluctance to become involved in foreign wars. . 11. The idea that the United States should be a continent-spanning nation was called A. expansion destiny. B. colonial destiny. C. manifest destiny. D. national destiny. E. exceptional destiny. . 12. The view that the United States is unique among nations, morally superior, and should use its military power in pre-emptive wars is called A. American Militarism. B. American Destiny. C. American Exceptionalism. D. American Fascism. E. American Dominion. . 13. The lower voter registration rates of African Americans compared to White Americans is largely explained by differences in A. economic issues. B. rates of picture id card possession. C. rural versus urban residence. D. political party membership. E. education rates. . 14. Which region of the United States has the fastest rate of population growth? A. The Sun Belt. B. The West. C. The South. D. The Midwest. E. The Northeast. . 15. Which statement is accurate? A. Population growth in the South is driven by young people and in the West by those aged 65 and over. B. Population growth in the West is driven by young people and in the South by those aged 65 and over. C. Population growth in the South and West is driven by those aged 65 and over. D. Population growth in the South and West is driven by young people. E. There is no population growth in the South or West. . 16. Since 1960 the Republican vote for U.S. Representatives has grown by about A. 50%. B. 40%. C. 30%. D. 20%. E. 10%. . 17. California stands out in U.S. politics today because A. nearly one in eight U.S. citizens live in the state. B. its members of the House of Representatives exceed the number of representatives of the next largest 10 states combined. C. it has 155 presidential electoral votes. D. it recalled Governors Davis and Frazier, replacing them with Arnold Schwarzenegger. E. 20 states owe California in excess of one billion dollars each, making it the largest lender to the states. . 18. Four out of five citizens of the United States live in A. rural areas. B. suburban areas. C. exurb areas. D. urban areas. E. central city areas. . 19. In the United States population movement since the 1950s has been to the A. rural areas. B. suburban areas. C. exurb areas. D. urban areas. E. central city areas. . 20. The least urban state is A. Idaho B. Wyoming C. Maine D. Vermont E. Alaska . 21. The most urban state is A. California. B. New York. C. Florida. D. New Jersey. E. Massachusetts. . 22. The most urban areas of the United States are A. the South and Midwest. B. the Midwest and Northwest. C. the Northwest and West. D. the West and Northeast. E. The Northeast and South. . 23. The most rural areas of the United States are A. the South and Midwest. B. the Midwest and Northwest. C. the Northwest and West. D. the West and Northeast. E. the Northeast and South. . 24. The population of African Americans living in suburbs changed from 20% in 1980 to about what percent today? A. 60% B. 50% C. 40% D. 30% E. 10% . 25. The percentage of White Americans living in central cities is now approximately A. 15%. B. 25%. C. 35%. D. 45%. E. 55%. . 26. Because of the unrelieved impact of Hurricane Katrina the population of New Orleans has declined by about A. 10%. B. 20%. C. 30%. D. 40%. E. 50%. . 27. Delineating the boundaries between cities, suburbs, and rural areas has crucial implications for A. tax revenues. B. legislative representation. C. zoning laws. D. governmental priorities. E. All of these. . 28. Sectional distinctions separate populations by A. race and ethnicity. B. census and demographic statistics. C. gender and religion. D. geography and region. E. education and wealth. . 29. Race can be defined as a group of human beings with distinctive physical characteristics determined by genetic inheritance, but some scholars define it as A. more demographically determined than physically determined. B. strictly physical with no genetic components. C. less genetically determined than ethnically determined. D. strictly genetic with no physical implications. E. more culturally determined than genetically determined. . 30. A social division based on national origin, religion, language, and a sense of attachment to one’s group forms a(n). A. racial group. B. national group. C. ethnic group. D. cultural group. E. socioeconomic group. . 31. According to U.S. Bureau of the Census projections, the non-Hispanic White American population will decline to about what fraction of the population by the year 2050? A. one quarter B. one third C. one half D. two thirds E. three quarters . 32. Also by 2050, American Hispanics will constitute roughly how much of the U.S. population? A. 18% B. 24% C. 29% D. 36% E. 38% . 33. The Native American population will remain steady between now and 2050 at about what percentage of the overall population of the United States? A. 9% B. 7% C. 5% D. 3% E. 1%. 34. By 2050 the U.S. Bureau of the Census predicts that the Asian and Pacific Islander American population will almost be A. half what it is today. B. almost completely absorbed into the Hispanic American population. C. twice what it is today. D. more than the Hispanic American population. E. less than the Native American population. . 35. The highest poverty rates occur within this group A. Non-Hispanic White Americans. B. Hispanic Americans. C. African Americans. D. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. E. Native Americans, Inuits, and Aleuts. . 36. Despite the surge in this group’s population there has not been a similar surge in the group’s political participation or representation in government. A. African Americans. B. Hispanic Americans. C. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. D. Native Americans, Inuits, and Aleuts. E. White Americans. 37. Researchers cite many reasons for Hispanic American’s relative lack of political participation and representation,including: A. redistricting. B. lack of common party commitment. C. low motivations for voting. D. None of these. E. All of these. 38. This percentage of African American families live below poverty level: A. 89% B. 76% C. 44% D. 30% E. 22% 39. All of the following are true EXCEPT: A. 58% of African Americans go on to college. B. The median family income for African Americans is about $35,000. C. African American’s net worth is about 10% that of White American’s. D. 50% of African Americans are below the poverty line. E. 35% of African American households earn more than $50,000 annually. 40. A profile of African American life in the United States would include all of the following EXCEPT: A. The African American population is somewhat older than the White American population. B. African Americans tend to have lower levels of education than White Americans. C. The African American population is concentrated in economically hard-pressed central cities. D. African Americans have a higher unemployment rate than White Americans. E. The African American population has lower net worth than the White American population. 41. Virtually all African American voters cast their vote for which presidential candidate? A. Nixon B. Regan C. Johnson D. Bush E. Eisenhower 42. The textbook cites evidence of growing African American political power represented by a dramatic increase in the numbers of African American A. state legislators between 1970 and 2004. B. governors between 1970 and 2004. C. U.S. senators between 1970 and 2004. D. U.S. congressmen/women between 1970 and 2004. E. presidential candidates between 1970 and 2004. 43. Cuban Americans tend to vote for A. Republicans B. other Cuban Americans C. Independents D. Castro E. Democrats 44. Hispanic political importance is somewhat blunted because A. they tend to vote with absentee ballots. B. they are a united voting bloc. C. they tend to vote as a group. D. they are not a united voting bloc. E. they are too old to vote. 45. Hispanics of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban descent tend to support A. decreased spending on education. B. making English the national language. C. a liberal domestic agenda. D. a conservative domestic agenda. E. decreased spending on drug control. . 46. Hispanic political power is diminished because A. there are many noncitizen Hispanics living in the United States. B. more Hispanics than any other ethnic group are too young to vote. C. many Hispanics are forbidden to vote due to lawsuits against the government. D. major political parties are not cultivating their votes. E. Both A and B are correct. 47. Hispanic political power has been diminished by A. redistricting after the 2000 census. B. lawsuits to eliminate gerrymandering. C. political parties aggressively cultivating Hispanic candidates. D. a highly dispersed population density. E. bilingual education’s impact on voting patterns. 48. Which Asian American subgroup is most likely to register as Democrats? A. Korean Americans. B. Thai Americans. C. Indian Americans. D. Japanese Americans. E. Chinese Americans. 49. The largest wave of new immigrants came to the United States in the years between A. 1840 and 1860. B. 1864 and 1896. C. 1900 and 1924. D. 1950 and 1984. E. 1989 and 2004. 50. Today, immigrants represent what percentage of the U.S. population? A. 5% B. 8% C. 10% D. 14% E. 19% 51. In the 1890s the immigrant population was A. greater than now as a percentage of the overall population. B. negligible, there were very few immigrants at the time. C. less than now as a percentage of the overall population. D. mostly from Africa. E. 35.6 million in number. 52. The framers of the Constitution did not sanction a national church because A. they could not agree upon a denomination so they left it to the States. B. they wished for the people to be allowed to vote for a national church. C. they believed that religious liberty flourishes when there is no official faith. D. they were not of faith themselves. E. they were deists. 53. Women first gained the right to vote in A. southern states. B. northeastern states. C. midwestern states. D. western states. E. southwestern states. 54. In 1848, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized this convention in Seneca Falls, New York. A. Anti-Capital Punishment. B. Temperance. C. Abolition. D. Women’s Rights. E. Labor Rights. . 55. Women gained the right to vote in the entire United States in A. 1848 B. 1910 C. 1918 D. 1920 E. 1942 56. This is the term for the persistent difference between men and women in voting preferences and in attitudes on important issues. A. gender gap B. political socialization C. comparable worth D. divided preference E. comparison elector 57. EMILY’s List provides early campaign funds for A. Republican female candidates. B. Democratic female pro-life candidates. C. Republican female pro-life candidates. D. Democratic female pro-choice candidates E. Republican female pro-choice candidates. 58. All of the following statements are true about gender inequality EXCEPT A. As age increases the earnings gap decreases. B. Among college graduates ages 25 to 34, women earn an average of 84 cents for every dollar earned by men. C. As a whole women earn on average about 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. D. An increasing number of women are the sole economic support of their families. E. About three times as many men as women earn over $75,000 a year. 59. The movement for expanded rights for lesbians and gays traces its roots to which major U.S. city? A. Boston B. San Francisco C. Chicago D. New York E. Miami 60. Massachusetts was the first state to allow A. private employers to grant health care for same-sex domestic partners. B. antidiscrimination statutes regarding housing and employment. C. restrictions based on sexual orientation. D. same-sex marriages. E. “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies in the state militia. . 61. This Congressional Act excludes same-sex spouses and partners from Federal employment benefits A. Hatch Act B. Defense of Marriage Act C. Civil Rights Act D. Lesbian and Gay Act E. Freedom of Association Act . 62. Well educated people are more likely to A. favor democratic ideals. B. participate politically. C. have confidence in dealing with government. D. be aware of the issues. E. All of these. . 63. Today, unequal distribution of wealth and income in the United States results in A. formation of an aristocracy. B. laws of primogeniture. C. estate redistribution laws. D. political divisions and conflicts. E. similar ideologies across the entire income spectrum. . 64. Aside from race, the most important factor in explaining views on issues, partisanship, and ideology is A. ethnicity. B. income. C. religion. D. citizenship. E. gender. . 65. Before 1900 most people in the United States worked primarily as A. farmers. B. railroaders. C. factory workers. D. craftspeople. E. Ship fitters. . 66. Daniel Bell defines a postindustrial society as one that A. is primarily a technical society. B. awards less on the basis of inheritance and property and more on the basis of education and skill. C. has greater affluence. D. All of these are correct. E. Only a and b are correct. . 67. According to Daniel Bell, the organizing device for the postindustrial era is A. education. B. knowledge. C. income. D. computer skills. E. technology. . 68. The percentage of Americans engaged in agricultural production is about A. 1%. B. 5%. C. 10%. D. 25%. E. 30%. . 69. Socioeconomic status is a division of the population based on A. wealth, ethnicity, and religion. B. occupation, race, and class. C. education, bourgeoisie, and race. D. income, occupation, and education. E. class, wealth, and education. 70. Compared to other countries, class divisions in the United States are A. reinforced by competitive individualism. B. defined by degree of hostility to organized labor. C. less defined and less important to politics. D. defined by degree of acceptance of organized labor. E. stronger in union states and weaker in right-to-work states. . 71. The demographic change that has increased the proportion of the population over age 65 is called A. the graying of America. B. the baby boomers. C. the American gray lobby. D. the generational effect. E. life cycle effects. . 72. Older Americans are a strong political force because A. they vote more often than other age groups. B. they have more discretionary time. C. they have a clear focus on issues. D. they form effective organizations E. All of these. . 73. Which statement is true regarding Lifecycle effects? A. The most elderly are most conservative. B. The middle aged are most liberal. C. The young are most concerned with government services. D. The most elderly are most liberal. E. The young are least mobile. . 74. According to the figure summary on page 124, the median age of the countries in the sample A. are going to rise and fall between now and 2050. B. are going to decrease by 2050. C. do not show any clearly identifiable trends. D. are going to rise for some and fall for others by 2050. E. are going to rise for all by 2050. 75. Social scientists used to describe the U.S as an ethnic melting pot but now describe it as a A. ham sandwich. B. potato cake. C. salad bowl. D. fruit cake. E. bag of nuts. . True/False Questions 1. Hillary Clinton was the first woman to run for the Presidency. True or false? . 2. Barack Obama was the first African American man to run for the Presidency. True or false? 3. People often assume that others share their economic opportunities, social attitudes, sense of civic responsibility, and self confidence. True or false? 4. Most nations consist of groups of people who have lived together for centuries. True or false? 5. Political socialization does not significantly influence how individuals see politics as they mature into adulthood. True or false? 6. Reinforcing cleavages tend to make political conflict more intense. True or false? 7. Cross-cutting cleavages tend to pull people in different directions. True or false? 8. Early American colonists were welcoming toward different religions. True or false? 9. The attacks of September 11, 2001 were the first time a foreign enemy struck successfully within the continental United States. True or false? 10. Early settlers used the notion of manifest destiny to justify taking land from other settlers, ignoring the Canadians and Mexicans. True or false? 11. Unlike other countries, geography in the United States does not define an ethnic or religious division. True or false? . 12. The section of the United States with the most distinct regional identity is the industrial Northeast, including Boston, New York City and most of New England. True or false? 13. Republicans have made major inroads into the old “solid Midwest” of pre 1964 democratic control. True or false? 14. State identities have begun to erode, in part, because we elect members of Congress and the President at the national level. True or false? 15. Fewer African Americans than ever before now live in suburban areas. True or false? 16. City tax bases have not increased in proportion to the problems they must solve. True or false? 17. Race is a social division based on national origin, religion, and language. True or false? 18. So called “Indian Casinos” have solved the economic problems of the vast majority of Native Americans. True or false? 19. Hispanic Americans are not a monolithic group; they often differ depending on which country their forebears emigrated from. True or false? 20. The relative youth of the Hispanic population increases the group’s political power. True or false? 21. The Constitution of the United States clearly allows for the practice of sampling in order to get accurate Census numbers. True or false? 22. In 1838, the Governor of Missouri issued an order that made legal the killing of any Mormons in the state. True or false? 23. About half the people in the United States describe themselves as Protestant. True or false? 24. Evangelical Protestants have the highest percentage of voter turn-out. True or false? 25. Women were not allowed to vote anywhere in the United States until 1920. True or false? 26. Starting in 1980 women turn out to vote in greater numbers than men. True or false? 27. Wish List, like EMILY’s List, gives money to pro-choice candidates. True or false? 28. Men and women in the United States make the same amount of money for the same amount of work. True or false? 29. Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, excluding same-sex spouses from federal employment benefits like health insurance. True or false? 30. Education is one of the most important variables prediction political participation. True or false?