American Politics Today - Essentials (3rd Ed)

STUDY GUIDE|^421

SUMMARY

Beyond the unequal treatment of racial minorities, women,
and gays and lesbians, inequalities on political, social, and
economic conditions also persist. More whites are able than
minorities to politically participate at a higher rate, enjoy a
better standard of living, and avoid prejudice in the criminal
justice system.

PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS

5. Most of the diff erences in voter turnout among whites
   relative to racial minorities can be accounted for by
   __.
   a) contemporary Jim Crow laws
   b) voter purge lists
   c) voter ID laws
   d) poll taxes
   e) education and income


6. The gaps between whites and blacks on health
   measures are __ and in many cases,
   .
   a) large; decreasing
   b) large; increasing

c) small; decreasing

d) small; increasing

e) small; staying the same

CRITICAL THINKING AND DISCUSSION

Have you ever faced discrimination based on your race, gen-

der, or sexual orientation? If so, what did you learn in this

chapter about whether your civil rights were violated?

THE RACIAL DIVIDE TODAY

E Analyze inequality among racial, ethnic, and social groups today. Pages 396–99

S PRACTICE ONLINE

“Critical Thinking ” exercise: Politics Is Everywhere—

Census Scope

SUMMARY

Depending on the political context, each branch of govern-
ment has played a role in the expansion of civil rights. More-
over, federalism has played a role in this process: while state
governments often lagged behind the federal government in
African Americans’ civil rights, they have been on the fore-
front on protecting the rights of gays and lesbians.

KEY TERMS

de jure (p. 404)

de facto (p. 404)

rational basis test (p. 407)

intermediate scrutiny test (p. 407)

strict scrutiny test (p. 408)

PRACTICE QUIZ QUESTIONS

7. The most successful social movement has been the
   __.
   a) women’s rights movement
   b) gay and lesbian civil rights movement
   c) African Americans’ civil rights movement
   d) United Farm Workers’ movement
   e) Native American rights movement


8. Early in the civil rights movement, which branch pro-
   vided most of the successes?
   a) state governments
   b) Congress
   c) presidency
   d) bureaucracy
   e) Supreme Court

THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS AND CIVIL RIGHTS

E Explain the approaches used to bring about change in civil rights policies. Pages 399–415