CHAPTER 1: The Politics of U.S.

Foreign Policy

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A __________ is a legal concept describing governmental institutions through which policymakers act
in the name of the people in a sovereign territory.
a. nation c. nation-state
b. state d. country
ANS: B REF: 4 NOT: Factual
2. __________ refers to the scope of involvement abroad and the collection of goals, strategies, and
instruments that are selected by governmental policymakers.
a. National interest c. Politics
b. Foreign policy d. State
ANS: B REF: 6 NOT: Conceptual
3. Foreign policy, and what defines the “national interest,” tends to reflect
a. the will of the president.
b. an orderly process with clear lines of responsibility.
c. the will of the people.
d. the goals and priorities of those individuals and groups who are the most successful in
influencing the political process within government and throughout society.
ANS: D REF: 6 NOT: Conceptual
4. The __________ approach to the study of foreign policy tends to focus on contemporary affairs and is
written for a broad and general audience.
a. policy c. historical
b. social science d. politics
ANS: A REF: 7 NOT: Conceptual
5. Which of the following would be an example of the social science approach to foreign policy?
a. A paper describing the specific of the times relying heavily on primary documentation
b. A paper trying to understand basic patterns of foreign policy through the use of concepts
and development of theory
c. A paper arguing the United States should withdraw from NATO
d. A paper describing United States foreign policy during the Cold War
ANS: B REF: 7 NOT: Applied
6. During what time period was there a noticeable decline in the president’s ability to dominate the
foreign policy agenda?
a. Following World War II c. Following the end of the Cold War
b. Following the Vietnam war d. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis
ANS: B REF: 10 NOT: Factual
7. During what time period did power over foreign policy decisions shift most decisively from Congress
to the executive branch?
a. Following World War II c. Following the end of the Cold War
b. Following the Vietnam war d. Following the Cuban Missile Crisis
ANS: A REF: 10 NOT: Factual
8. The perception that the president is the primary actor in foreign policy is mostly a result of
a. World War II and the dawn of the Cold War.
b. the Vietnam War.
c. the 1991 Gulf War.
 d. the Civil War.
ANS: A REF: 10 NOT: Factual
9. What two events are noted in the book for having resulted in an overhaul and major expansion of the
national security apparatus?
a. World War II and the Cold War
b. World War I and Watergate
c. Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm
d. The Cuban Missile Crisis and 9/11
ANS: A REF: 11 NOT: Factual
10. National security and democracy are often in conflict because of national security’s need for
a. civil liberties. c. secrecy.
b. active citizenry. d. openness.
ANS: C REF: 11 NOT: Applied

ESSAY
1. Define foreign policy process and list four key actors in this process.
ANS:
Answers may vary.
2. List and describe the three different approaches to the study of U.S. foreign policy.
ANS:
Answers may vary.
3. List the three different perspectives, or levels of analysis, used in the study of U.S. foreign policy. Why
is it important to have different perspectives?
ANS:
Answers may vary.
4. Describe and analyze the tensions between democracy and security. What patterns have prevailed in
U.S. foreign policy since World War II?
ANS:
Answers may vary.
5. There is a popular perception that the president is the dominant and sole actor in foreign policy. Is this
perception correct? What patterns have prevailed since World War II regarding the president’s role in
foreign policy?