Question 1

The history of fire protection in America can best be described as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   a governmental responsibility since the founding
B)   a natural national monopoly
C)   the evolution of a private good to a governmental responsibility
D)   a congressional responsibility pursuant to Article I of the Constitution

Question 2

Which of the following is a good formal definition of politics?

Accepted Answer

A)   a controlled study of the impact of an independent variable on a dependent variable
B)   the process through which individuals and groups seek agreement on a course of common action
C)   any system where the governed make all important decisions regarding governance
D)   a two-party system that governs nationally B

Question 3

What are transaction costs?

Accepted Answer

A)   fees associated with the Electoral College
B)   the costs only associated with the enactment of laws
C)   the time, effort, and resources required to make collective decisions
D)   the money necessary to inhibit specific types of actions

Question 4

Rules and procedures for promoting successful collective action are necessary for the success of all kinds of communities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Coordination problems ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   can be solved by larger groups by designating and following a leader
B)   generally decrease as groups get larger because the stakes are lower
C)   represent a trade-off with the prisoner's dilemma
D)   are unique to English-speaking countries

Question 6

What accounts for coordination problems and why is it a problem?

Accepted Answer

Uncertainty and incomplete inf...

Question 7

Because of the large size of populations and the complexity of the issues to be resolved, the degree of success that people have in politics depends largely on which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   whether they are capable of engaging in politics on a day-to-day basis
B)   whether they have developed constitutions and governments that work
C)   whether they pay attention to their nation's politics
D)   whether they are interested in policy in a meaningful way

Question 8

Politics occurs whenever a solution to a problem requires cooperation even when that cooperation is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   achieved through force alone
B)   costly or difficult
C)   irrelevant to the success of the course of action
D)   already what everyone agrees on

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE of the constitution of a nation?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is always set down in writing.
B)   It is divinely inspired and theologically grounded.
C)   It creates the governing institutions and the set of rules prescribing the political process these institutions must follow.
D)   It creates barriers to collective agreements so that the political process does not get captured by special interests.

Question 10

The passage of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 illustrated that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   it will be easy for the two sides to reach agreements since they agree on the major issues facing the country
B)   gridlock will prevail because President Obama will veto many bills passed by Congress
C)   working together comes with compromises that neither side is particularly enthusiastic about
D)   significant policy changes will occur because there is now unified control of the federal government C

Question 11

To say we regard preferences as "givens" means which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   Individuals and groups know what they want.
B)   Those who create institutions impose or give preferences to others.
C)   Individuals and groups always disclose their preferences.
D)   Preferences in society are easily reconciled.

Question 12

A prominent cue that helps individuals recognize the preferences of others with whom they want to cooperate is called a(an)  ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   ideal point
B)   status quo ante
C)   focal point
D)   inversion point

Question 13

The fear that state actors in a political negotiation may renege on or fail to abide by any agreement may lead to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   a quick and mutually acceptable resolution
B)   a clear agreement enforced only through the good faith and trust of the parties
C)   war as the preferred alternative
D)   a complete capitulation by one side on all issues C

Question 14

Proposing a change to a state's law or constitution is referred to as a ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   constitutional amendment
B)   referendum
C)   recall
D)   initiative

Question 15

Without rules and procedures for promoting successful collective action, as participants and preferences multiply ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   government grows more efficient
B)   broadly acceptable collective decisions are made more rapidly
C)   unstructured negotiation rarely yields a collective decision all parties can accept
D)   the institutions of governance become less important

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a private good?

Accepted Answer

A)   national defense
B)   toll road
C)   air
D)   clean water

Question 17

All of the following scenarios illustrates institutional durability EXCEPT for ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   the local community college has closed down and turned into a remedial high school
B)   a university remains the same institutions, but all of its students and professors have been replaced
C)   the USPS has done a complete reorganization, but its employees still remain
D)   a Supreme Court justice has passed away, but another one was nominated and confirmed to take their place

Question 18

Success at politics requires which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   gridlock
B)   bargaining
C)   majority leadership
D)   constituent support

Question 19

The Framers designed a government that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   maximizes conformity costs by limiting transaction costs
B)   limits free riding to allow the national government more authority
C)   minimizes conformity costs through increased transaction costs such as separation of powers and limited national authority
D)   took control of the means of production to produce a much stronger national economy, essential for building an empire

Question 20

The costless consumption by a large number of individuals of a public good that results in its ruination is called ______.

Accepted Answer

A)   a tragedy of the commons
B)   a perfectly elastic supply curve
C)   an imperfect market solution
D)   institutional rigidity

Exam 1: The Logic of American Politics

The history of fire protection in America can best be described as which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is a good formal definition of politics?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

What are transaction costs?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Rules and procedures for promoting successful collective action are necessary for the success of all kinds of communities.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Coordination problems ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What accounts for coordination problems and why is it a problem?

Correct AnswerverifiedUncertainty and incomplete inf...View AnswerShow Answer

Because of the large size of populations and the complexity of the issues to be resolved, the degree of success that people have in politics depends largely on which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Politics occurs whenever a solution to a problem requires cooperation even when that cooperation is which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is TRUE of the constitution of a nation?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The passage of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 illustrated that ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedC

To say we regard preferences as "givens" means which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A prominent cue that helps individuals recognize the preferences of others with whom they want to cooperate is called a(an) ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The fear that state actors in a political negotiation may renege on or fail to abide by any agreement may lead to which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Proposing a change to a state's law or constitution is referred to as a ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Without rules and procedures for promoting successful collective action, as participants and preferences multiply ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is an example of a private good?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All of the following scenarios illustrates institutional durability EXCEPT for ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Success at politics requires which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Framers designed a government that ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The costless consumption by a large number of individuals of a public good that results in its ruination is called ______.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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B

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Uncertainty and incomplete inf...
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C

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C

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