PLS EXAM 3, Chapter 8

Political parties serve to...

1. link the public with its elected leaders. 2. enable people with different backgrounds and opinions to act together. 3. offer the public a choice between policies and leaders. 4. provide potential leaders an opportunity to attain public office.

During the twentieth century, American parties lost their complete control over...

1. nominations. 2. financing. 3. platforms. 4. the staffing of government jobs.

Which of the following are key players in the modern campaign?

1. pollsters 2. media producers 3. fundraising specialists 4. campaign consultants

American party organizations...

Are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates

Prospective voting is characterized by...

Choices based on what candidates promise to do if elected

________ warned Americans of the "baneful effects" of factions (political parties) in his 1797 farewell address.

George Washington

Which of the following statements about the patronage system is true?

It was a means of rewarding party workers for their loyalty

National party organizations can dictate the day-to-day decisions of...

Neither local nor state party organizations

If a minor party gains a large following, it is almost certain that...

One or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support

The winner-take-all system is also known as the ________ system.

Plurality

________ representation systems are those in which seats in the legislature are allocated according to each political party's share of the popular vote.

Proportional

The issue of slavery gave birth to the ________ party as a major political party.

Republican

________ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party.

Retrospective voting

The first American political parties emerged from the conflict between...

Small farmers and states' rights advocates, and those favoring commercial and wealthy interests

Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties?

The direct primary

The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is...

The existence of single-member election districts

Which of the following encourages the two major parties to build broad coalitions?

The two-party system and the need to gain a plurality

Democrats and Republicans have endured as the two major U.S. parties primarily due to...

Their ability to adapt to changing circumstances

Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to...

Win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections