For Order This And Any Other Test Banks And Solutions Manuals, Course, Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Exams, Contact us At: johnmate1122@gmail.com Test Bank Government in America 2014 Elections and Updates Edition 16th Edition Introducing Government in America ď ° Multiple-Choice Questions 1.
What are the institutions that make public policy decisions for a society collectively known as? a. political culture b. the courts c. government d. Congress Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.1 Topic: Government Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Page Reference: 8 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
2.
How does government usually protect its national sovereignty? a. by maintaining armed forces
b. by maintaining schools, libraries, hospitals, and highways c. by collecting taxes d. by politically socializing the young Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.2 Topic: Government Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Page Reference: 9 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate 3.
What determines whom we select as our governmental leaders and what policies these leaders pursue? a. the media b. public opinion c. politics d. public policy Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.3 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
4.
The ways in which people get involved in politics make up their political __________. a. ideals b. participation c. party d. opinions Answer: b Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.4 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
5.
How does our government respond to the priorities of its people?
a. through public opinion polls b. through political science c. through political tolerance d. through a policymaking system Answer: d Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.5 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 11 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate 6.
What best describes a linkage institution? a. a channel through which people’s concerns become part of the political agenda b. a location to express a political opinion c. the formation of a special interest group d. an environment where one learns about the political process Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.6 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 12 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
7.
What makes up the government’s policy agenda? a. all of the issues that candidates talk about on the campaign trail b. the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other political actors c. the issues that are asked about on public opinion polls d. the issues that concern single-issue interest groups Answer: b Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.7 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 12 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
8.
What are policy impacts? a. issues that attract serious attention of public officials b. government institutions that are charged with taking action on political issues c. the effects that a policy has on people and on society’s problems d. systems of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.8 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 13 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
9.
What is democracy? a. a system that ensures freedom, justice, and peace to all citizens b. a system that perpetuates the status quo and upholds the values of the party in power c. a system that selects policymakers and organizes government so that policy represents and responds to the public’s preferences d. a system that grants a status of privilege to the most active and informed voters Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.9 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 14 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
10.
What most closely exemplifies equality in voting? a. adequate and equal resources for expressing preferences b. freedom of speech and of the press c. one person, one vote d. universal citizenship Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.10 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 14
Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate 11.
The __________ principle is that, in a democracy, policies should reflect the will of more than half of the voters. a. enlightened rule b. pluralism c. representation d. majority rule Answer: d Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.11 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
12.
What is the theory that argues that group competition results in a rough approximation of the public interest in public policy? a. pluralism b. hyperpluralism c. balance-of-power theory d. elite-and-class theory Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.12 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
13.
Which theory contends that American society is divided along class lines? a. pluralism b. hyperpluralism c. balance of power d. elitism Answer: d Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.13 Topic: Democracy in America
Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 16 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate 14.
Which theory argues that special interest groups have essentially become sovereign, and the government is merely their servant? a. pluralism b. hyperpluralism c. balance of power d. bureaucratism Answer: b Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.14 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 17 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
15.
What condition occurs when interests conflict and no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy, yet each may be strong enough to thwart the will of the others? a. divided government b. hyperpluralism c. policy gridlock d. separation of powers Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.15 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 18 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
16.
A set of values widely shared within a society is referred to as which of the following? a. government b. politics c. public policy d. political culture
Answer: d Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.16 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 19 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy 17.
The U.S. preference for __________ economic policies helps to explain why we have a smaller and more limited government than do most other advanced industrialized countries. a. laissez-faire b. populist c. pluralist d. egalitarian Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.17 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 21 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
18.
A law passed by Congress and the adoption of a regulation by an agency are examples of which of the following? a. interest groups b. red tape c. public policies d. public opinion Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.18 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 11 – 14 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
19.
What is an example of a collective good? a. clean air
b. medical care c. a college education d. food stamps Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.19 Topic: Government Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate 20.
The withdrawal of American troops from Iraq resulted from which of the following? a. a regulation b. a budgetary choice c. a congressional statute d. a presidential action Answer: d Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.20 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 13 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
21.
What kind of public policy involves the legislative enactment of taxes and expenditures? a. budgetary choice b. regulation c. court decision d. presidential action Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.21 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 13 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
22.
Which principle of traditional democracy theory is violated in circumstances in which the wealthy have influence over the government’s policy agenda that far exceeds what would be expected based on their numbers? a. citizen control of the agenda b. effective participation c. enlightened understanding d. equality in voting Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.22 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
23.
What is public policy? a. all government decisions b. the root causes of political culture c. the public’s policy preferences d. only legislation enacted by Congress Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.23 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 13 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
24.
Free speech and a free press are essential to which principle of traditional democratic theory? a. inclusion b. effective participation c. enlightened understanding d. equality in voting Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.24 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15
Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate 25.
In the United States, pluralism suggests which of the following? a. Because most citizens fail to pay attention to serious issues, government has become an elite institution. b. Congress is stronger and more influential than the presidency. c. Many groups vie for power with no one group dominating politics. d. Too many influential groups cripple government’s ability to govern. Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.25 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
26.
Who is at the center of all theories of elitism? a. big business b. Congress c. ordinary citizens d. interest groups Answer: a Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.26 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 16 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Difficult
27.
According to James Q. Wilson, __________ is an “intense commitment to a candidate, a culture, or an ideology that sets people in one group definitively apart from people in another, rival group.” a. laissez-faire economics b. liberalism c. polarization d. socialization Answer: c Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.27 Topic: Democracy in America
Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 21 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
True-False Questions 28.
Governments instill in children knowledge of and pride in the nation and its political system and values. Answer: TRUE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.28 Topic: Government Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
29.
The media usually focus on the substance of politics and government. Answer: FALSE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.29 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
30.
Elections investigate social problems and inform people about them. Answer: FALSE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.30 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 12 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
31.
It is a physical impossibility for government to be “by the people” in a nation of over 300 million people.
Answer: TRUE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.31 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 14 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate 32.
Hyperpluralism maintains that who holds office in Washington is of marginal consequence; the corporate giants always have the power. Answer: FALSE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.32 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 17 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
33.
During the Cold War, a common bumper sticker was “Better Dead Than Red,” reflecting many Americans’ view that they would prefer to fight to the bitter end than submit to the oppression of communist rule. Answer: TRUE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.33 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 19 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Difficult
34.
The national debt is currently about $17 billion. Answer: FALSE Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.5.34 Topic: The Scope of Government in America Learning Objective: LO 1.5: Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Page Reference: 24 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
35.
Congress, the presidency, and the courts are all policymaking institutions. Answer: TRUE
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.35 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 13 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
ď ° Fill-in-the-Blank Questions 36.
Groups that have a narrow interest on which their members tend to take an uncompromising stance are known as __________ groups. Answer: single-issue Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.36 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 11 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
37.
__________ can best be defined as a political philosophy supporting the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites. Answer: Populism Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.37 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 21 Skill Level: Remember the Facts Difficulty Level: Easy
38.
Some are concerned that the United States has become too __________, which means that our political divisions have intensified in recent years. Answer: polarized Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.38 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 21 – 22 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
39.
__________ opposed the 2009 stimulus bill, arguing that such increases in the scope of the federal government would result in less freedom and prosperity. Answer: Conservatives Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.5.39 Topic: The Scope of Government in America Learning Objective: LO 1.5: Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Page Reference: 23 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
40.
Those who are inclined to support a(n) __________ role for government argue that government intervention is sometimes the only means of achieving important goals in American society. Answer: active Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.5.40 Topic: The Scope of Government in America Learning Objective: LO 1.5: Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Page Reference: 23 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate
ď ° Short Answer Questions 41.
What are the five major functions provided by all governments? Give one example each of how these functions are performed in the United States. Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Identify maintaining a national defense and provide an example. For example, the United States maintains armed forces. 2. Identify providing public goods and services and provide an example. These include those that are provided to everyone, such as roads and public schools, as well as those that are provided to some of the population but not all (such as Social Security). 3. Identify preserving the order and provide an example. For example, the National Guard may be called to maintain order following a protest. 4. Identify socializing the young and provide an example. For example, schoolchildren often start the day with the Pledge of Allegiance. 5. Identify collecting taxes by the federal, state, and local governments and provide an example. These pay for various services.
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.1.41 Topic: Government Learning Objective: LO 1.1: Identify the key functions of government and explain why they matter. Page Reference: 9 – 10 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate 42.
What is Harold Lasswell’s definition of politics? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Define politics according to Lasswell as “Who gets what, when, and how.” 2. Discuss the who—the voters, groups, and parties; the what—the substance of politics; and the how—the ways in which people participate in politics. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.42 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 10 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
43.
What is a single-issue group? Give an example of a single-issue group. Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Define single-issue groups as having only one issue with which they are concerned. 2. Explain that this one issue generally determines how a member might vote. 3. Provide an example of a single-issue group, such as a group that either favors or is opposed to abortion rights. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.2.43 Topic: Politics Learning Objective: LO 1.2: Define politics in the context of democratic government. Page Reference: 11 Skill Level: Apply What You Know Difficulty Level: Moderate
44.
According to Figure 1.4, The Policymaking System, how does government policy come into being and become part of a policy agenda? Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Describe how government policy typically begins with the people. People have interests, problems, and concerns that government may consider addressing. 2. Discuss how linkage institutions such as parties, elections, media, or interest groups help transmit the public’s preferences to government. This facilitates political issues making it to the policy agenda. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.3.44 Topic: The Policymaking System Learning Objective: LO 1.3: Assess how citizens can have an impact on public policy and how policies can impact people. Page Reference: 12 Skill Level: Understand the Concepts Difficulty Level: Moderate 45.
Compare and contrast majority rule and minority rights. How does democracy provide for both? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Indicate that majority rule means that policies should reflect the will of more than half the people. 2. Explain that minority rights protect the minority from having their rights deprived by the majority. Restraints are placed on the majority to prevent them from limiting the rights of the minority. 3. Provide examples of democratic governments emphasizing both majority rule and minority rights. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.45 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 14 – 15 Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult
46.
Compare and contrast the role of wealth in pluralist and elite theories. Which do you find most convincingly portrays the reality of contemporary U.S. politics, and why? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Explain that in pluralism, groups compete for access to decision making with no one group dominating. Both the wealthy and the non-wealthy have the ability to influence the government’s policy agenda. 2. Note that elite theory suggests that the upper class has greater influence over decision making, thus the wealthy control policy decisions. 3. Argue in favor of one of these. If supporting pluralist theory, note that many different groups gain different access points. If supporting elite theory, note that certain groups have access to greater resources and are therefore in a beneficial position.
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.46 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 15 – 17 Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult
Essay Questions 47.
Describe the five principles of traditional democratic theory as understood by Robert Dahl. To what extent does the United States fit this theory? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Identify equality in voting as the idea that no one person’s vote counts more than another’s. 2. Note that in effective participation citizens must have adequate and equal opportunities to promote their preferences in the decision-making process. 3. Explain that enlightened understanding requires free speech and a free press for an informed citizenry. 4. Describe how citizens have the ability to control the agenda. 5. Discuss how government should include and extend rights to all in society. 6. Evaluate the extent to which the United States fits these criteria. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.47 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 14 – 15 Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult
48.
What is political culture? Is America experiencing a “culture war”? How do you know? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Define political culture as the set of overall values that are widely shared within society. Americans have a set of shared beliefs, based on the Declaration of Independence. 2. Explain what is meant by a culture war. 3. Provide the competing views on whether or not there is a culture war. For example, some scholars like John Q. Wilson have noted the polarization between liberals and conservatives. This polarization may set people against one another. On the other hand, some scholars suggest that there is no
culture war in America. Wayne Baker, for example, finds little evidence of a culture war. Even contentious issues like abortion do not provide evidence of a culture war. 4. Evaluate whether we are having a cultural war in the United States. Weigh the arguments on both sides of the culture war discussion and consider what a culture war would look like. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.48 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 19 – 22 Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult 49.
What are the five elements of the American creed? Where and in what ways are each of the five elements embedded in contemporary American politics? Provide examples. Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Describe the five elements of the American creed: liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, laissez-faire economics, and populism. 2. Note that liberty involves freedoms. Thomas Jefferson considered it alongside other inalienable rights that people are entitled to. Egalitarianism involves the concept of equality of opportunity. Individualism is the notion that people can and should get ahead on their own. Laissez-faire economics promotes free markets and limited government intervention in economic activity. Populism focuses on the people. 3. Discuss how each of these applies to contemporary American politics. Most Americans still believe in liberty and the protection against government tyranny; New Hampshire’s official state motto is “Live Free or Die.” Modern egalitarianism suggests that Americans should have equal opportunity; equal voting rights for all adult American citizens is still an issue in recent elections. Individualism is still of fundamental importance; immigrants see America as a place where one can make it on one’s own without interference from government. Views on laissez-faire economics likely vary based on ideological predispositions, but Americans have a lighter tax burden than citizens of other democratic nations. Modern populism focuses on a political philosophy that supports the rights of average citizens in their struggle against privileged elites, and can be seen in the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.4.49 Topic: Democracy in America Learning Objective: LO 1.4: Identify the key principles of democracy and outline theories regarding how it works in practice and the challenges democracy faces today. Page Reference: 19 – 21 Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Moderate 50.
Those who are inclined to support an active role for government argue that its intervention is sometimes the only means of achieving important goals in American society; others argue that such increases in the scope of the federal government result in less freedom and prosperity. In the case of the 2009 economic stimulus package, which argument do you agree with? Why? Answer: An ideal response will: 1. Provide the basic arguments for and against the 2009 economic stimulus package. President Obama, for example, argued that government intervention was necessary to stimulate the economy and to get the country out of recession. Conservatives, including Republican John Boehner, argued that this was another example of big government and that the stimulus bill would reduce freedom and prosperity. 2. Argue for or against the stimulus bill. If arguing in favor, note that only government has the adequate resources to stimulate the economy and get the nation out of recession. The government also has the ability to ensure that certain people are not discriminated against. Finally, proponents of the bill would argue that government intervention has improved the economy. If arguing against the stimulus, note that big government is not the solution to the economic crisis. Big government limits freedom and prosperity. Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q1.5.50 Topic: The Scope of Government in America Learning Objective: LO 1.5: Outline the central arguments of the debate in America over the proper scope of government. Page Reference: 23 – 25 Skill Level: Analyze It Difficulty Level: Difficult