Civics Trivia Questions for College Students

What was the Marshall Plan?

• AA plan that provided economic assistance to rebuild Europe.
• BA plan that provided Europe with military assistance to counter the Soviet threat
• CA plan to provide aid to Greece and Turkey in their stand against Soviet and Soviet-assisted threats
• DThe plan designed to stop communism in Asia

Détente, or the relaxing of tensions coupled with firm guarantees of mutual security, represented a shift in American foreign policy toward the communist world ushered in by

• ALyndon Johnson.
• BRichard Nixon.
• CEugene McCarthy
• DRobert Kennedy.

What was meant by the term 'American multiplication table'?

• AIncrease in US international influence
• BIncrease in US military capability
• CIncrease in the US population
• DIncrease in US finances

How did the 2008 financial crisis affect America's international reputation?

• AIt reduced global use of the US dollar
• BIt damaged support for the US model of political economy and capitalism
• CIt created anger at the United States for exaggerating the crisis
• DIt increased support for American global leadership under President Obama

The foreign policy doctrine that European nations should stay out of Latin America is known as

• Athe Monroe Doctrine.
• Bthe Bush Doctrine.
• Cthe Roosevelt Doctrine.
• Dthe Powell Doctrine.

What is meant by the phrase 'empire by invitation'?

• AVoluntary reliance on an external power for security
• BWillful openness to colonization
• CCultural imperialism
• DOpen advocacy of imperialism for economic gain

What is the structure of the United Nations Security Council?

• A5 permanent members with veto power, 10 rotating members with no veto power
• B10 permanent members with veto power, and 5 rotating members without veto power
• C15 permanent members with veto power
• D5 permanent members and 10 rotating members, all with veto power

Why did Congress oppose Wilson's proposal for the League of Nations?

• ABoth a and b
• BIt feared the League would commit the US to an international alliance
• CIt feared the League would encourage Soviet influence in the US
• DIt feared the League would be anti-democratic

What was the 'Domino Theory'?

• AThe idea that the fall of one state to communism would inexorably lead to the fall of its neighbors
• BThe idea that the Cold War operated according to the principles of game theory
• CThe idea that the growth of democracy in one state would inexorably lead to its growth in others
• DThe idea that certain states were of higher value than others to the US during the Cold War

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of

• Athe critical domestic and foreign policy advisers to the president.
• Bforeign policy advisers who meet with the president daily.
• Cthe highest-ranking generals in the U.S. Army.
• Dthe commanding officers of each branch of the armed services, along with a chairperson and vice chairperson.

What is direct diplomacy?

• AMembers of Congress negotiating directly with foreign governments
• BBilateral talks that do not involve a third-party negotiator
• CThe president consulting Congress on foreign policy issues
• DFace-to-face meetings between state leaders

What is soft power?

• AIneffective use of one's power
• BWays in which the values and culture of a country provide it with influence in the international system
• CWhen states use carrots (incentives) instead of sticks (threats) to influence other countries.
• DUse of coercive measures short of war, such as economic sanctions

International trade will almost always benefit both countries, so why do countries try to protect their own firms from exposure to the world market?

• AInternational conflict prevents trade
• BRegime type
• CCosts of free trade are concentrated, but benefits are dispersed
• DIrrationality on the part of the leadership

How many major powers are there in a multipolar system?

• A3 or more
• B0
• C1
• D2

International development may be tied to the security of the state, why?

• AThreats to the state centralize political and economic power, threatening state development
• BThreats to the state encourage socialism
• CToo many casualties drain the productive power of the state
• DThe two are correlated, but there is no causal effect

What did Paul Kennedy argue in his book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers?

• AThe soft power of the United States would allow it to avoid decline
• BThe United States could no longer remain a superpower and was in decline
• CAll of the world's leading economies were declining due to low growth and inflation
• DThe rise of Japan had been exaggerated

In what sense might exceptionalism link isolationist and internationalist strategies?

• ABoth can be viewed as different means of achieving the same liberal ends
• BIt doesn't - the two are fundamentally opposed
• CBoth encourage world government
• DBoth focus on the decline of the American power

The importance of oil in shaping U.S. foreign policy helps to highlight

• Athe need to drill for domestic sources.
• Bhow the importance of oil is often overexaggerated.
• Cthe importance of military superiority.
• Dthe increasing importance of economic instruments of foreign policy.

What, according to Systemic theories, is the primary determinant of a state's foreign policy?

• AThe distribution of power within a state's governmental system
• BThe character of a state's leader
• CThe distribution of power in the international system
• DA state's political ideology

The best known and perhaps most important international organization is

• Athe World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Bthe United Nations.
• Cthe Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
• Dthe North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution?

• AIt curtailed US involvement in Vietnam
• BIt allowed the US to intensify its involvement in Vietnam
• CIt enhanced Congressional control over the Vietnam War
• DIt illustrated the influence of public opinion on US foreign policy

The realm of policy decisions concerned primarily with relations between the United States and the rest of the world is known as

• Aterrorism policy.
• Bforeign policy.
• Ceconomic policy.
• Dinternational policy.

Bureaucratic politics suggests we should be worried about which of the following with regard to nuclear weapons?

• ABureaucratic politics provides no information about nuclear proliferation and use
• BHaving the capability to deter the most powerful rival
• CHaving the capability to deter smaller states
• DHow nuclear attacks are identified and responded to; who controls the weapons

Which is not a nonstate actor that poses a threat to the United States?

• AOrganized crime
• BTerrorists
• CChina
• DDrug traffickers

During the early years of his administration, Reagan's foreign and defense policies emphasized

• Aanticommunism.
• Bdétente.
• Cinternational free trade.
• Dnuclear disarmament.

The role of gathering and interpreting intelligence about foreign countries in order to allow policymakers to make good foreign policy decisions was given to

• Athe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
• Bthe Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
• CBoth A and B are correct.
• Dthe National Security Council.

What is the core reason why the US is viewed as exceptional?

• ABecause of its despotic character, which is rooted in a sense of its special mission
• BBecause it is a great power but uses that power sparingly
• CBecause of its exclusive concentration on issues of power and security
• DBecause of its intensely liberal character, which is rooted in a sense of its special mission

How did relations with Russia develop under George H.W. Bush?

• ADenouncement of Gorbachev, but support for Yeltsin
• BCautious support for Gorbachev and Yeltsin
• CUnreserved support for Gorbachev and Yeltsin
• DDenouncement of Gorbachev and Yeltsin

What led Britain to impose new taxes on their American colonies?

• AAnger at America's growing prosperity
• BThe growing costs of war with France
• CPressure from rich merchants
• DTo increase the wealth of King George III

Who is considered the "father" of containment?

• AHenry Kissinger
• BDwight Eisenhower
• CGeorge Kennan
• DJohn Foster Dulles

Growing tension between the United States and the Soviet Union resulted in a policy that John Foster Dulles referred to as

• A"realism."
• B"not in my backyard."
• C"mutual assured destruction."
• D"brinkmanship."

Within the United Nations, real power is located in

• Athe Chamber of Deputies.
• Bthe Secretariat.
• Cthe Council of Ministers.
• Dthe Security Council.

Why might the 'Philadelphian System' be linked to the idea of American exceptionalism?

• AIt encouraged the centralization of political power in the US
• BIt created a large standing army
• CIt encouraged greater involvement in European politics
• DIt was designed as the antithesis of European politics

What policies did Alexander Hamilton pursue to build the American economy?

• AEstablishment of a national currency and higher government spending
• BLimits on immigration and imported technology to encourage higher wages
• CFree trade with all European countries on an equal basis and a smaller government role in the economy
• DTariffs to protect American manufacturing, establishment of a national bank, and the repayment of all debts.

What was a main organizational change proposed by the 9/11 Commission with regard to the U.S. intelligence community?

• AMoving the Department of Defense Intelligence Agencies to the CIA for better coordination
• BCreation of the Department of Homeland Security
• CMoving the domestic intelligence component of the FBI to the CIA
• DCreation of the National Intelligence Director

Within American politics, the power to accord official recognition to other countries belongs to

• Athe chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
• Bthe Secretary of State.
• Cthe Senate.
• Dthe president.

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was the first accord

• Acutting conventional arms in Europe.
• Bon nuclear weapons signed between the United States and the Soviet Union.
• Cto be rejected by the U.S. Senate.
• Dmandating the elimination of many long-range nuclear missiles.

Why do realists tend to object to the influence of exceptionalism on American foreign policy?

• AIt leads to a diminished focus on security, power and interest
• BIt diminishes the prospects for world government
• CIt enhances the prospects for world government
• DIt leads to a diminished focus on collective security

What case did President Eisenhower make against the 'military-industrial complex' in his farewell speech?

• AThat private companies would undermine the role of the Armed Forces
• BThat the capitalist search for profits was the leading cause of armed conflict
• CThat the United States no longer needed to be militarily strong
• DThat military spending gave the arms industry unwarranted influence on politics and government

The trade-off between defense and social spending is often referred to as a choice between

• Abread and butter.
• Bbombs and books.
• Cwar and peace.
• Dguns and butter.

In general, how do conservatives and liberals differ when it comes to defense spending?

• AConservatives favor social spending over defense spending; liberals favor defense spending over social spending.
• BConservatives emphasize strong economies; liberals emphasize strong military readiness.
• CConservatives advocate increases in defense spending; liberals are generally skeptical of increases in defense spending.
• DConservatives are skeptical of increases in defense spending; liberals advocate increases in defense spending.

Who were the original five permanent members on the UN Security Council?

• AUnited States, Great Britain, Republic of China, India, and Brazil
• BUnited States, Soviet Union, Germany, France, and Great Britain
• CUnited States, Soviet Union, France, Great Britain, and Republic of China
• DUnited States, Germany, France, Great Britain, and Japan

Intergovernmental organizations SELDOM do which of the following?

• AReduce transaction costs for agreements
• BProvide fora for discussion
• CProvide strong enforcement
• DMonitor parties

What was unique about the NATO intervention in Kosovo?

• AIt was the first time NATO used military force
• BIt was the first time the US became involved in the Balkans
• CIt was the first war to employ 'smart weapons'
• DIt was the first war won by airpower alone

What is meant by a grand strategy of 'primacy'?

• AStriving for American dominance in the international system
• BPutting America's interests first
• CPromotion of America as the world's first democracy
• DAssurance of US parity with other powers

Which of these is not a component of the 'American Creed'?

• AEquality
• BAutocracy
• CIndividualism
• DLiberty

What was the 'New Populism'?

• AA strand of neo-isolationist sentiment
• BA strand of internationalist sentiment
• CIncreased incorporation of public opinion in foreign policy making
• DAn expression of American cultural superiority

Who was the first American president to visit communist China?

• ARonald Reagan
• BGeorge H. W. Bush
• CJimmy Carter
• DRichard Nixon

The dominant course for foreign policy throughout most of American history can be categorized as

• Aprotectionism.
• Bneoconservatism.
• Ccontainment.
• Disolationism.

What were the 'open-door notes'?

• AAn American declaration that the US was always open to Chinese immigration
• BAn American declaration of support for Chinese economic protectionism
• CAn American proclamation that China should be open to US trade and missionaries
• DAn American proclamation that China should be divided up between the US, Japan and the European empires