Civics Trivia Questions for College Students — page 2
106 trivia questions with answers, college. Multiple-choice trivia with answers, sorted by topic and level. Reveal the answers below, pick one at random, or present them full-screen.
- 51.
The president's principal civilian adviser on the military is the
- Asecretary of state.
- Bdirector of the CIA.
- Cnational security adviser.
- Dsecretary of defense.
Answer: secretary of defense. - 52.
What is the implication of American exceptionalism in terms of global economics?
- AIt encourages nationalization
- BIt encourages redistribution of wealth
- CIt encourages liberalization of global trade
- DIt encourages the use of tariffs
Answer: It encourages liberalization of global trade - 53.
In what way did the George W Bush administration change the direction of US foreign policy?
- AIt increased international support for the United States
- BIt criticized international organizations, rather than trying to strengthen them
- CIt focused on a more personal style of leadership
- DIt expanded NATO to include former Soviet states
Answer: It criticized international organizations, rather than trying to strengthen them - 54.
What was the significance of the Truman Doctrine?
- AIt indicated US reluctance to get involved in incidents outside of its immediate sphere of influence
- BIt indicated that the US would now view all local revolts through a geopolitical lens
- CIt indicated the special place of Greece and Turkey in American interests
- DIt was Truman's first statement on European affairs
Answer: It indicated that the US would now view all local revolts through a geopolitical lens - 55.
What tend to be the effects of oil and other natural resource trade on developing states?
- AIt encourages stability of the regime
- BIt has no real effect
- CIt democratizes countries
- DIt changes the nature of the investor
Answer: It encourages stability of the regime - 56.
Historically, what has been the general pattern of defense spending in the United States?
- AIncreased spending during wars, with demobilization bringing spending down but not back to prewar levels
- BIncreased spending during wars, with further increases after the war to prepare for future engagements.
- CSteady increases over time.
- DUnpredictable fluctuations.
Answer: Increased spending during wars, with demobilization bringing spending down but not back to prewar levels - 57.
What drives US foreign policy according to the Marxist perspective?
- AEconomic protectionism
- BSuperstructure
- CClass consciousness
- DThe search for new markets
Answer: The search for new markets - 58.
Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none'. Identify the speaker.
- AAbraham Lincoln
- BJames Madison
- CWoodrow Wilson
- DThomas Jefferson
Answer: Thomas Jefferson - 59.
The largest increase in peacetime defense spending in American history occurred under which president?
- ADwight Eisenhower
- BBill Clinton
- CJimmy Carter
- DRonald Reagan
Answer: Ronald Reagan - 60.
Why did Americans believe that they could found a different kind of empire after 1776?
- AThis empire would be multi-cultural
- BThis would be an 'empire of liberty'
- CThis type of empire would be based on expansion
- DThis would be empire free of slavery
Answer: This would be an 'empire of liberty' - 61.
What did the Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions do?
- AProhibited short-range nuclear weapons
- BProhibited the acquisition of new military bases
- CRequired the United States and Russia to demobilize their armies
- DRequired the United States and Russia to dismantle a significant number of their nuclear weapons
Answer: Required the United States and Russia to dismantle a significant number of their nuclear weapons - 62.
What was meant by the term 'New World Order'?
- AA new era of globalization
- BA new democratic internationalism led by the United States
- CA new global economic framework
- DA new balance of power between the US and China
Answer: A new democratic internationalism led by the United States - 63.
The cooperative international organization of 185 countries designed to stabilize the exchange of currencies and the world economy is
- AUNICEF.
- Bthe International Monetary Fund.
- Cthe United Nations.
- Dthe World Bank.
Answer: the International Monetary Fund. - 64.
What has been an effective way of disbursing US foreign aid to encourage change in target states?
- AConditional programs, such as the Millennium Challenge, that require change before receipt of aid
- Bthe use of intergovernmental organizations to monitor aid disbursement
- CNone of the above, international aid never works
- Dwithdrawal of aid for bad policies
Answer: Conditional programs, such as the Millennium Challenge, that require change before receipt of aid - 65.
According to realists, what is the fundamental difference between the international system and the domestic system?
- AAnarchy
- BArmed conflict
- CInstitutions
- DNo common language
Answer: Anarchy - 66.
The government body formed to coordinate American foreign and military policy is known as
- Athe Pentagon.
- Bthe National Security Council.
- Cthe Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Dthe Defense Policy Institute.
Answer: the National Security Council. - 67.
Who said "Globalization is not something we can hold off or turn off. It is the economic equivalent of a force of nature-like wind or water"?
- ARonald Reagan
- BGeorge Soros
- CBill Clinton
- DGeorge W. Bush
Answer: Bill Clinton - 68.
Which of the following is NOT a good predictor of which states will get nuclear weapons?
- AReceipt of sensitive nuclear assistance
- BWealth/GDP
- CRegime type
- DRivalry with a nuclear state
Answer: Regime type - 69.
What was the key difference between US expansion pre- and post- 1865?
- AUS expansion ended after 1865
- BUS expansion was based on territory rather than markets post-1865
- CUS expansion was based on markets rather than territory post-1865
- DUS expansion was limited to Latin America post-1865
Answer: US expansion was based on markets rather than territory post-1865 - 70.
The departments of the executive branch that assist the president in designing and carrying out U.S. foreign policy are known as
- Athe National Security Agency.
- Bthe State Department.
- Cthe National Security Council.
- Dthe United Nations.
Answer: the State Department. - 71.
What was meant by the term 'Rogue States'?
- AStates outside of the 'family of nations'
- BCommunist States
- CThe former Soviet states
- DStates aligned with the USSR during the Cold War
Answer: States outside of the 'family of nations' - 72.
Which of the following considers it immoral to use force abroad to do good things (such human rights protection, democracy, etc)?
- ALiberalism
- BRealism
- CNone of the above
- DIdealism
Answer: Realism - 73.
Why is there so much uncertainty over which states have nuclear weapons?
- ALeaders have incentives to lie
- BIf leaders revealed their programs, they would be more likely to be attacked
- CALL of the above
- DLeaders will not always grant foreign monitors access to their nuclear programs
Answer: ALL of the above - 74.
What was established at Bretton Woods in 1994 to stabilize the global economy?
- AThe General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
- BThe US Dollar as the world's reserve currency
- CAll of the above
- DThe International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Answer: All of the above - 75.
What are the key elements of the Liberal approach to US foreign policy?
- APromotion of Democracy, free-trade and international institutions
- BThe balance of power, self-sufficiency and prudence
- CAlliances, diplomacy and protectionism
- DNone of the above
Answer: Promotion of Democracy, free-trade and international institutions - 76.
Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt initially favour an 'isolationist' stance on the part of the US during the 1930s?
- AHe believed that German domination of Europe would be in US interests
- BHe believed that internal reform rather than international negotiation was the key to economic regeneration of the US
- CHe always favoured isolationism
- DAll of the above
Answer: He believed that internal reform rather than international negotiation was the key to economic regeneration of the US - 77.
Which of the following points supports the argument for American unilateralism?
- AAll of the above
- BBenevolent hegemony
- CAmerican power
- DIneffectiveness of multilateralism
Answer: All of the above - 78.
According to Rosenau, which factor is important to consider in explaining the foreign policy behavior of the United States?
- AAll of the above
- BThe external environment of the international system
- CDomestic environment, government and bureaucracy
- DThe President's individual personality.
Answer: All of the above - 79.
According to International Institutionalists, what problems have international institutions been designed to address?
- AAll of the above
- BCollective action and coordination problems
- CAnarchy
- DWar
Answer: All of the above - 80.
Why might American exceptionalism lead to opposition to world government?
- ANone of the above
- BIt views world government as impractical
- CIt views the UN as a sufficient form of global governance
- DIts general anti-statism opposes centralized government
Answer: Its general anti-statism opposes centralized government - 81.
Global and regional international trade agreements work by using which of the following mechanisms?
- AReputational concerns of the actors
- BSide payments for adjusting to the organization (such as the Common Agricultural Policy in the EU)
- CALL of the above
- DReciprocity across multiple issues
Answer: ALL of the above - 82.
How did NSC-68 change U.S. strategy?
- AIt militarized containment.
- BIt called for the development of the hydrogen bomb.
- CIt globalized containment.
- DAll of the above
Answer: All of the above - 83.
Why did Lincoln oppose the southward expansion of the US?
- AIt would have increased immigration to the US
- BIt would have drained the US economically
- CIt would have involved compromising opposition to slavery
- DNone of the above
Answer: It would have involved compromising opposition to slavery - 84.
Which of the following are possible constraints on US foreign policy decision making?
- AInternational law
- BAll of the above
- CIntergovernmental organizations
- DForeign policies of other states
Answer: All of the above - 85.
Which is NOT a reason for why intergovernmental organizations are ineffective at promoting human rights?
- ANone of the above
- BThey cannot get enough information about which leaders will abuse their citizens
- CThese organizations merely identify those states who already support human rights
- DThese organizations have little ability to constrain abusive leaders
Answer: They cannot get enough information about which leaders will abuse their citizens - 86.
Why do Liberal Internationalists argue that international institutions are important to US grand strategy?
- AThey allow the US to withdraw from the international arena
- BNone of the above
- CThe US is incapable of acting alone
- DThey serve American interests
Answer: They serve American interests - 87.
Which of the following considers states to be the primary actors in international relations?
- ARealism
- BNone of the above
- CLiberalism
- DIdealism
Answer: Realism - 88.
What accounted for the US avoidance of catastrophe at the hands of the British in 1814?
- ABritish preoccupation with Europe
- BAll of the above
- CDiplomacy
- DNaval victories
Answer: All of the above - 89.
In American government, the power to declare war rests with
- Athe secretary of defense.
- Bthe president of the United States.
- CCongress.
- Dthe chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Answer: Congress. - 90.
Why do some scholars claim that Reagan 'won the Cold War'?
- AReagan reduced military spending and this allowed the Soviet Union space to reform
- BReagan encouraged engagement with the Soviet Union
- CReagan's first term military spending pressured the Soviet Union to keep up its international commitments
- DReagan encouraged a softer approach towards communism
Answer: Reagan's first term military spending pressured the Soviet Union to keep up its international commitments - 91.
According to Realists, what accounts for the onset of the Cold War?
- AThe expansionist nature of the Soviet Union
- BBoth b and c
- CA power vacuum
- DIdeological differences
Answer: Both b and c - 92.
How do Ideational approaches to US foreign policy during the Cold War differ from Realist accounts of the same period?
- AThey place greater emphasis on economic factors
- BThey place greater emphasis on material interests and power
- CThey place greater emphasis on geopolitics
- DThey place greater emphasis on ideology and beliefs
Answer: They place greater emphasis on ideology and beliefs - 93.
What was 'democratic enlargement'?
- AA proposal for the extension of democratic rule globally
- BBoth b and c
- CA proposal for the extension of free markets
- DA proposal for reform of the US system of government
Answer: Both b and c - 94.
Why did George H.W. Bush allow Saddam Hussein to remain in power after the Gulf War of 1991?
- ALimited UN mandate and fear of a protracted conflict
- BDifficult terrain and fear of civilian casualties
- CConcern over oil supplies
- DLack of US firepower
Answer: Limited UN mandate and fear of a protracted conflict - 95.
What was the Clinton Administration's policy on the Russian economy?
- AThe US inhibited the marketization of the Russian economy
- BThe US promoted the marketization of the Russian economy
- CThe US supported public ownership of natural resources
- DNone, the US was only concerned with security issues
Answer: The US promoted the marketization of the Russian economy - 96.
What were the implications of the Cold War for American exceptionalism?
- AThe extension of American power globally challenged core assumptions of exceptionalism
- BExceptionalism was enhanced by America's status as the 'leader of the free world'
- CIt ended the influence of American exceptionalism entirely
- DBoth b and c
Answer: Both b and c - 97.
How did World War I shift economic power from Europe to the United States?
- AThe war reduced European population levels below that of the United States
- BThe United States became a creditor country and financial centre, with European war spending boosting the US economy
- CEuropean countries paid the United States for assistance
- DThe United States seized German resources after the war
Answer: The United States became a creditor country and financial centre, with European war spending boosting the US economy - 98.
What did Charles Krauthammer mean by a 'unipolar moment' when describing the post-Cold War system?
- AThe never-ending domination of the United States
- BAn opportunity to use to collapse of the Soviet Union to extend US power
- CAn international system that didn't face any threats
- DThe chance for the United States to share power with other countries in the world
Answer: An opportunity to use to collapse of the Soviet Union to extend US power - 99.
Why is NSC 68 seen as a turning point in US Cold War Foreign policy?
- AIt dispensed with the idea of containment
- BIt indicated a shift towards military containment
- CIt indicated the primacy of economic containment
- DIt indicated a desire to engage with the Soviet Union
Answer: It indicated a shift towards military containment - 100.
The idea that war is "the continuation of politics by other means" helps to capture
- Athe way Democrats and Republicans differ over the war in Iraq.
- Bthe way political parties fight with each other.
- Cdiplomacy is the quietest instrument of influence in global politics.
- Dthe idea that governments use their military to help pursue policy goals.
Answer: the idea that governments use their military to help pursue policy goals.
How to use these trivia questions
- Warm-up. Open a lesson or meeting with 3–5 questions — enough to wake the room, short enough to keep the agenda.
- Review game. Pick 10 questions on the topic you just taught and play them in teams; discuss every wrong answer.
- Quiz night. Mix two or three topics, read each question twice, and give 20 seconds before revealing the answer.
Run them live
Want every person to answer on their own phone, with a timer and a live leaderboard? Use these questions in an EngageSlide Quiz with a live leaderboard — free to start.
Tick questions on any page — your set is kept while you browse (or take the first 10 here) — and they become ready-to-play slides. What is EngageSlide?