US National Security MCQs with Answer
National security refers to the protection of a country’s:
A) Natural resources
B) Political leaders
C) Citizens and interests
D) Cultural heritage
Answer: C) Citizens and interests
The main goal of national security is to:
A) Achieve economic prosperity
B) Ensure political stability
C) Maintain military superiority
D) Protect the nation from threats
Answer: D) Protect the nation from threats
The US National Security Strategy outlines the country’s approach to:
A) Diplomatic relations
B) Economic development
C) Military intervention
D) National defense
Answer: D) National defense
Which agency is primarily responsible for coordinating and overseeing national security matters in the United States?
A) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
B) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
C) Department of Defense (DoD)
D) National Security Council (NSC)
Answer: D) National Security Council (NSC)
Cybersecurity is a critical component of modern national security because it involves protecting:
A) Natural resources
B) National monuments
C) Information and data
D) Political leaders
Answer: C) Information and data
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in response to the terrorist attacks on:
A) Pearl Harbor
B) The World Trade Center
C) The Pentagon
D) The White House
Answer: B) The World Trade Center
National security strategy often involves a combination of military power, diplomacy, economic policies, and:
A) Social media campaigns
B) Environmental regulations
C) Immigration policies
D) Intelligence gathering
Answer: D) Intelligence gathering
The concept of deterrence is based on the idea that a strong defense and the threat of retaliation can discourage:
A) Economic recession
B) Environmental disasters
C) Aggressive actions by adversaries
D) Humanitarian interventions
Answer: C) Aggressive actions by adversaries
The term “preemption” in the context of national security refers to:
A) Preventing conflicts before they escalate
B) Delaying military responses
C) Promoting international cooperation
D) Disarming nuclear weapons
Answer: A) Preventing conflicts before they escalate
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an example of a:
A) Trade organization
B) Military alliance
C) Environmental agency
D) Human rights group
Answer: B) Military alliance
The US National Security Strategy is updated periodically to adapt to changing:
A) Political parties
B) Economic conditions
C) Global threats
D) Population demographics
Answer: C) Global threats
The use of military force by one nation to protect its national security interests is known as:
A) Diplomacy
B) Humanitarian intervention
C) Preemption
D) Self-defense
Answer: D) Self-defense
The “War on Terror” launched by the United States after the September 11 attacks primarily focused on combating:
A) Cyber threats
B) Biological warfare
C) Terrorism
D) Economic inequality
Answer: C) Terrorism
The concept of “soft power” in national security refers to a country’s ability to influence others through:
A) Military strength
B) Economic incentives
C) Cyber attacks
D) Covert operations
Answer: B) Economic incentives
The intelligence community plays a crucial role in national security by collecting and analyzing information to:
A) Promote political ideologies
B) Conduct economic espionage
C) Prevent terrorist attacks
D) Establish trade agreements
Answer: C) Prevent terrorist attacks
The concept of “rogue states” refers to nations that are considered threats to international peace and security due to their:
A) Economic power
B) Diplomatic alliances
C) Aggressive behavior
D) Strong human rights records
Answer: C) Aggressive behavior
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) is a major concern in national security because it can lead to:
A) Economic growth
B) Cultural exchange
C) Arms races
D) Political stability
Answer: C) Arms races
The concept of “homeland security” refers to the protection of a country’s:
A) Overseas territories
B) Natural resources
C) Citizens and infrastructure
D) Diplomatic relations
Answer: C) Citizens and infrastructure
The idea that national security is interlinked with the security of other countries and the stability of the global system is known as:
A) Isolationism
B) Internationalism
C) Nationalism
D) Protectionism
Answer: B) Internationalism
The National Security Act of 1947 established which key agency responsible for coordinating and conducting foreign intelligence activities?
A) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
B) Department of Defense (DoD)
C) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
D) National Security Agency (NSA)
Answer: C) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for the country’s military forces and maintaining the nation’s:
A) Economic stability
B) Diplomatic relations
C) Environmental policies
D) National security
Answer: D) National security
The use of economic sanctions and trade restrictions as tools of national security is an example of:
A) Soft power
B) Cybersecurity
C) Deterrence
D) Hard power
Answer: A) Soft power
The National Security Agency (NSA) is primarily responsible for:
A) International diplomacy
B) Economic development
C) Signals intelligence and cybersecurity
D) Law enforcement
Answer: C) Signals intelligence and cybersecurity
The principle of “collective security” involves nations working together to deter aggression and promote:
A) Arms proliferation
B) Economic competition
C) Military dominance
D) International stability
Answer: D) International stability
The concept of “limited war” refers to military conflicts that are restricted in scope and:
A) Duration
B) Intensity
C) Geographical area
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) aimed to improve the country’s ability to respond to and recover from:
A) Economic recessions
B) Natural disasters
C) Cyber attacks
D) Humanitarian crises
Answer: B) Natural disasters
The concept of “mutually assured destruction” (MAD) refers to the idea that possessing nuclear weapons can deter aggression because:
A) They guarantee victory
B) They can be used as a bargaining chip
C) Any attack would result in the destruction of both sides
D) They ensure rapid military intervention
Answer: C) Any attack would result in the destruction of both sides
The “red lines” in national security often refer to:
A) Strategic military positions
B) Thresholds beyond which actions may provoke a response
C) Immigration policies
D) Humanitarian interventions
Answer: B) Thresholds beyond which actions may provoke a response
The creation of the Department of Energy (DOE) was driven by concerns related to:
A) National parks
B) Nuclear power
C) International trade
D) Immigration policies
Answer: B) Nuclear power
The concept of “asymmetric warfare” involves one side using unconventional tactics against a more:
A) Economically powerful adversary
B) Militarily powerful adversary
C) Politically aligned adversary
D) Technologically advanced adversary
Answer: B) Militarily powerful adversary
The National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) is responsible for integrating and analyzing information to prevent and counter:
A) Cyber attacks
B) Drug trafficking
C) Terrorism
D) Environmental disasters
Answer: C) Terrorism
The concept of “arms control” involves agreements between nations to:
A) Limit the use of conventional weapons
B) Eliminate nuclear weapons
C) Restrict military alliances
D) Promote military buildup
Answer: B) Eliminate nuclear weapons
The role of the Department of State in national security includes:
A) Maintaining law and order
B) Coordinating military operations
C) Conducting foreign relations
D) Monitoring cybersecurity
Answer: C) Conducting foreign relations
The “pivot to Asia” is a strategic shift in US national security policy that focuses on:
A) Strengthening ties with Europe
B) Combating terrorism
C) Enhancing engagement in the Asia-Pacific region
D) Reducing military spending
Answer: C) Enhancing engagement in the Asia-Pacific region
The concept of “homeland defense” refers to protecting the United States from:
A) Environmental disasters
B) Trade imbalances
C) Military coups
D) External threats
Answer: D) External threats
The “Goldwater-Nichols Act” of 1986 aimed to improve the coordination and effectiveness of the:
A) Department of Energy
B) Department of Justice
C) Department of Defense
D) Department of Homeland Security
Answer: C) Department of Defense
The US “no first use” policy in nuclear weapons suggests that the country will not use nuclear weapons unless:
A) Other countries use them first
B) There is a United Nations resolution
C) There is a direct threat to national security
D) The president orders their use
Answer: C) There is a direct threat to national security
The Department of Defense is the largest employer of civilians and the largest consumer of energy in the United States due to its:
A) Environmental initiatives
B) Military installations
C) Diplomatic efforts
D) Humanitarian aid programs
Answer: B) Military installations
The intelligence community’s “Five Eyes” alliance involves the sharing of signals intelligence among:
A) The United States, Russia, China, France, and Germany
B) The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
C) The United States, Japan, South Korea, India, and Singapore
D) The United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt
Answer: B) The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom
The “Whistleblower Protection Act” is designed to protect individuals who expose:
A) Diplomatic secrets
B) Economic policies
C) Classified information
D) Wrongdoings within government agencies
Answer: D) Wrongdoings within government agencies
The concept of “proxy warfare” involves supporting or opposing conflicts by providing assistance to:
A) The government of a nation
B) Military contractors
C) Non-state actors or other nations
D) United Nations peacekeeping forces
Answer: C) Non-state actors or other nations
The term “counterinsurgency” refers to military and political efforts to defeat:
A) Conventional armies
B) Terrorist groups
C) Rogue states
D) Insurgents and rebels
Answer: D) Insurgents and rebels
The “Proliferation Security Initiative” is a global effort to combat the spread of:
A) Nuclear weapons
B) Cyber attacks
C) Environmental pollution
D) Counterfeit currency
Answer: A) Nuclear weapons
The concept of “preemptive strike” involves taking military action to prevent an adversary from:
A) Using cyber attacks
B) Developing nuclear weapons
C) Establishing diplomatic relations
D) Engaging in espionage
Answer: B) Developing nuclear weapons
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is responsible for advising the president on military matters and coordinating the activities of:
A) Department of Energy
B) Department of State
C) Department of Defense
D) Department of Homeland Security
Answer: C) Department of Defense
The “Stuxnet” computer virus is an example of a cyber weapon that targeted:
A) Financial institutions
B) Government websites
C) Nuclear facilities
D) Energy companies
Answer: C) Nuclear facilities
The “Bush Doctrine” emphasized the United States’ right to take preemptive military action against countries that posed a:
A) Humanitarian threat
B) Nuclear threat
C) Economic threat
D) Environmental threat
Answer: B) Nuclear threat
The “Global War on Terrorism” policy was initiated in response to the:
A) Iran Hostage Crisis
B) Cold War
C) September 11 attacks
D) Cuban Missile Crisis
Answer: C) September 11 attacks
The concept of “covert operations” involves secret activities conducted by intelligence agencies to achieve:
A) Economic prosperity
B) Political transparency
C) National security goals
D) Technological advancements
Answer: C) National security goals
The concept of “unified command” refers to a military structure that integrates the efforts of different:
A) Government agencies
B) Political parties
C) International organizations
D) Military services
Answer: D) Military services