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Unit 4

4.12 MC Answers and Review

5 min read•june 18, 2024

AP US Government 👩🏾‍⚖️

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Answers and Review for Multiple Choice Practice on American Political Ideologies and Beliefs

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⛔STOP ⛔ Before you look at the answers make sure you gave this practice quiz a try so you can assess your understanding of the concepts covered in Unit 4. Click here for the practice questions: AP US Gov Unit 4 Multiple Choice Questions.

Facts about the test: The AP US Government exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and you will be given 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete the section. That means it should take you around 22 minutes to complete 15 questions.

The following questions were not written by CollegeBoard and although they cover information outlined in the AP US Government Course and Exam Description

1. Which of these is the most significant agent of political socialization?

A. Media

B. Schools

C. Friends

D. Family

Explanation: While each of these is an agent of socialization, family is the primary agent of socialization for most people.

📄 Study Unit 4.2: Political Socialization

2. Which of the following would decrease the margin of error on a public opinion poll?

A. Using multiple survey methods (phone, face-to-face, etc.)

B. Increasing the sample size

C. Decreasing the sample size

D. Including only multiple-choice questions

Explanation: The larger the sample size, the smaller the margin of error. Polls are more accurate when a greater percentage of the universe is surveyed.

📄 Study Unit 4.5: Measuring Public Opinion

3. Democrats typically prefer which fiscal policy?

A. Deflationary economics

B. Laissez-Faire economics

C. Keynesian economics

D. Supply-side economics

Explanation: Liberals typically argue in favor of increasing government spending during times of economic downturn, a key feature of Keynesian economics.

🎥 Watch AP Gov Unit 4 Review

4. American political culture includes all of the following beliefs EXCEPT:

A. Equality of Opportunity

B. Equality of Outcome

C. Individualism

D. Liberty

Explanation: Equality of outcome - where all individuals receive the same results - is not a major element of American political culture.

📄 Study Unit 4.0: Unit 4 Overview

5. Public opinion polls are most accurate if they make use of:

A. Loaded Questions

B. Face-to-Face Interaction

C. Random Sampling

D. Exit Polling

Explanation: Random Sampling is an essential element of accurate polling, as it removes biases from the process of selecting participants. 📄 Study Unit 4.5: Measuring Public Opinion

6. Which of the following polls will be least accurate?

A. A national poll based on a random sample

B. A poll conducted by a presidential candidate's campaign

C. A social media poll open to all who wish to respond

D. A local poll based on a random sample

Explanation: A poll open to those who wish to respond can be subject to voluntary response bias, which would bias the potential results.

📄 Study Unit 4.6: Evaluating Public Opinion Data

7. Libertarian political ideology favors which of the following?

A. Increased government regulation of the economy

B. Decreased government regulation of the economy

C. Government restrictions on personal activities

D. Government passage of safety-net programs to protect those in need

Explanation: Libertarians prefer a small government - both economically and socially - thus wanting decreased government regulation. 📄 Study Unit 4.0: Unit 4 Overview

8. Which of these views is most likely to be held by a political liberal?

A. Businesses should have the freedom to make any decisions that would benefit their bottom line

B. All Americans should pay the same amount of taxes - regardless of income

C. The government should cut spending on all of its programs in times of economic crisis

D. Minimum wage laws are an important part of economic policymaking

Explanation: Liberal economic policy emphasizes the importance of government regulations to protect workers, like minimum wage laws.

📄 Study Unit 4.9: Ideology and Economic Policy

9. Monetary policy, as carried out by the Federal Reserve, can include all of the following actions except:

A. Increasing the discount rate

B. Raising the reserve requirements

C. Lowering the interest rate

D. Printing additional money

Explanation: The Federal Reserve has a variety of tools it can use to regulate monetary policy, but printing money is not something within its power - that is done by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. 📄 Study Unit 4.9: Ideology and Economic Policy

10. Polls that seek to match representative characteristics of a population make use of:

A. Random Sampling

B. Quantitative Sampling

C. Qualitative Sampling

D. Quota Sampling

Explanation: Quota sampling ensures that participants are selected in a way that matches the overall characteristics of the universe's population. 📄 Study Unit 4.0: Unit 4 Overview

11. Most individuals adopt the political party affiliation of:

A. Their teachers

B. Their parents

C. Their friends

D. Their governor

Explanation: Parents are one of the foremost sources of political socialization, and children most often adopt the political beliefs of their parents. 📄 Study Unit 4.2: Political Socialization

12. Which of the following best describes an element of conservative ideology?

A. Government should decrease its regulation of businesses

B. Government should increase the minimum wage

C. Government should increase taxes to provide more services

D. Government should not interfere with the right to an abortion

Explanation: Conservative ideology typically prefers laissez-faire economic decisions, reducing the government's role in the economy. 📄 Study Unit 4.9: Ideology and Economic Policy

13. Supply-side fiscal policy entails:

A. Cutting taxes on the working class

B. Increasing Social Security benefits

C. Cutting taxes on the wealthy

D. Increasing taxes of the top 1%

Explanation: Supply-side economics, or trickle-down economics, believes cutting taxes on the wealthy will positively impact the entire economy.

🎥 Watch: Comparing Economic Ideology

14. Political culture is best defined as

A. beliefs and attitudes about the political process

B. entertainment performances designed to increase public support for a candidate

C. beliefs and attitudes about the proper role of government

D. personal beliefs that influence one's selection of political party

Explanation: Political Culture refers to the collective beliefs about the political process - while political ideology refers to beliefs about the proper role of government.

📄 Study Unit 4.3: Changes in Political Ideology

15. Which political ideology is not affiliated with a major political party in the United States?

A. Authoritarian

B. Liberal

C. Conservative

D. Libertarian

Explanation: The Democrats (liberal), Republicans (conservative), and Libertarian (libertarian) party are major parties in the US, whereas there is no major party with a stated authoritarian ideology. 📄 Study Unit 4.0: Unit 4 Overview

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