Unit 4: American Political Ideologies & Beliefs
US Gov · Unit 4 · Paper 1

American Political Ideologies & Beliefs unit test

A test on this unit alone, marked as a percentage and a letter grade — for the test your class is actually sitting, rather than for May. Answer everything, then submit once: seeing the answer to question 3 before attempting question 4 makes the final percentage meaningless.

Paper 1Paper 2Paper 3
Each paper is built from this unit’s 16 terms and is the same for everyone, so a teacher can assign “Unit 4, Paper 1” and every student sits the identical test. Multiple choice is marked objectively; the written sections you mark yourself against the model answer and rubric.
Suggested time 30 min 27 points0/17 attempted
1

Political culture

2

Party identification

3

Random sampling

4

Sampling error

5

Keynesian vs supply-side economics

6

Libertarian ideology

7

Conservative ideology

8

Bandwagon effect

9

Political efficacy

10

Liberal ideology

11

Generational effect

12

Political socialization

Short answer 1. Define or explain: Monetary vs fiscal policy

3 pts

Short answer 2. Define or explain: Benchmark, tracking and exit polls

3 pts

Short answer 3. Define or explain: Polarization

3 pts

Short answer 4. Define or explain: Question wording effects

3 pts

Free response

3 pts

This course has no free-response prompt tagged to this unit, so one from elsewhere in the course is used. It is still worth writing — the skill transfers.

CONCEPT APPLICATION. A freshman member of the U.S. House representing a closely divided suburban district is assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee. A bill to raise the federal gasoline tax by 15 cents per gallon to fund highway repair is referred to her committee. The Highway Contractors Association and a state department of transportation both lobby heavily in favor; local commuter groups organize against it. After reading the scenario, respond to A, B, and C. (A) Describe one power congressional committees exercise in the lawmaking process. (B) In the context of the scenario, explain how the representative’s constituency could influence her vote on the gasoline tax. (C) In the context of the scenario, explain how an iron triangle could shape the implementation of highway policy.