All GED Social Studies Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #81 : Ged Social Studies
On a traditional political spectrum, which of these groups would appear furthest to the left?
Radicals
Moderates
Liberals
Reactionaries
Conservatives
Radicals
The traditional political spectrum (from left to right) goes like this: Radical; Liberal; Moderate; Conservative; Reactionary. So the furthest to the left would be a radical. A radical would support complete, dramatic, and immediate overhaul of existing social or political norms. Radicals might resort to violence in order to achieve their goals.
Example Question #82 : Ged Social Studies
In the contemporary American political landscape, the number of independent voters is __________.
fairly consistent
falling rapidly
climbing steadily
climbing rapidly
falling steadily
climbing steadily
For many Americans, party loyalty is the least pronounced it has ever been. Recent elections have seen a greater and greater number of voters who would declare themselves independent. This mirrors another contemporary trend in the American political landscape: more and more Americans are voting based on the candidate and his orher policies rather than simply voting along party lines; however, it is worth nothing that the majority of voters still vote very consistently for the same party.
Example Question #1 : Political Parties
Which of these political parties has never existed in United States history?
Progressive
Federalists
Whigs
Democratic-Republicans
Liberal-Democrats
Liberal-Democrats
Of these answer choices, only the Liberal-Democrats (a British political party) have never existed in United States political history.
Example Question #1 : Content Areas
Which American political party passed the Alien and Sedition Acts?
Federalists
Democratic-Republicans
Republicans
Whigs
Democrats
Federalists
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalists in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams. The stated reason for passing the Alien and Sedition Acts was to provide greater security for the young nation in the wake of rising tensions with the French. The Alien Act made immigration more difficult for people from certain nations, and the Sedition Act made it illegal to speak out against the government or to incite rebellion against the government. The Acts were heavily criticized by Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.
Example Question #1 : Civics And Government
On the traditional political spectrum, which of these groups would appear furthest to the right?
Conservatives
Radicals
Reactionaries
Liberals
Moderates
Reactionaries
The traditional political spectrum (from left to right) goes like this:
Radical - Liberal - Moderate - Conservative - Reactionary
So, the furthest to the right would be a reactionary. Someone who holds reactionary ideas passionately (and sometimes violently) opposes some kind of political or social change. Reactionaries may even want to return to a previous social or political order.
Example Question #1 : Civics And Government
How many major parties are there in US politics?
4
3
1
2
2
The correct answer is "2." Currently, those two parties are the Democrats and the Republicans (and have been since the Civil War). That's not to say that there are NO other parties in the US, simply that there are only two major parties. This is partially due to our electoral system (that is, the way that we vote).
Example Question #1 : Civics And Government
In return for providing financial assistance to the Senator during his congressional campaign a prominent business man is able to get his son a position within the Department of Education. This arrangement is known as __________.
None of these answers is correct.
the Coattail Effect
political patronage
meritocracy
the Reverse-Income Effect
political patronage
Political patronage is the term used to describe the granting of favors, passing favorable legislation, or making government appointments in exchange for financial support during a campaign. Meritocracy is fairly close to being the opposite, as it is a system whereby only the most qualified and skilled person is able to get a job.
Example Question #1 : Campaigning And Media
Which of these is a consequences of the American two-party system?
Politicians adopt narrow and specific opinions to ensure their policies stand out in an election cycle.
Fundraising and campaign advertising plays a small role in determining the winner.
The media is generally unable to predict which of the two major parties will win an election.
Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.
The American voting public has many options to choose from.
Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.
In the American two-party system politicians often adopt broad opinions on a wide variety of issues to appeal to the largest number of people as possible. This generally ensures that both political parties are quite moderate when compared to the liberal or conservative parties in countries with a multi-party system.
Example Question #3 : Civics And Government
An election in which many voters switch their political party allegiance is called a __________.
a dealignment election
an irate election
a bemusing election
a tipping point election
a realignment election
a realignment election
A realignment election takes place when many votes switch their political-party allegiance. Often, a realignment election sees the rise of a third party or a previously unknown party into the two-party system. Other times it sees voters switching which of the two major parties they support. A realignment election often reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with one or both of the two major parties.
Example Question #1 : Content Areas
A presidential candidate must win a majority of __________________ in order to become the next president.
The Affection of Different States
The Electoral College
The Popular Vote
None of these
The Electoral College
A presidential candidate must win a majority of the Electoral College in order to become the next President. This is a slightly tricky question. Many people are under the incorrect assumption that a candidate must win a majority of the popular vote in order to become President. In reality, becoming the President requires a majority of the Electoral College-- which does not necessarily require a majority of the popular vote (due to the way that we count votes).
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