POLS 1100 Exam 2 (chapter 8)

(p. 243) Organizationally, the U.S. major parties are A. decentralized and fragmented. B. centralized and weak. C. decentralized and strong. D. centralized and strong. E. no longer in operation.

A. decentralized and fragmented.

(p. 252) The winner-take-all system is also known as the ________ system. A. plurality B. majority C. minority D. democratic E. proportional

A. plurality

(p. 253-254) Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to A. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections. B. receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls. C. win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support. D. share in patronage appointments, which serve as an incentive to lure campaign workers. E. advertise on television.

A. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections.

(p. 257) What party has made big gains in recent decades among white fundamentalist Christians, based on its positions on topics like abortion and school prayer? A. Democratic B. Republican C. Green D. Socialist E. Reform

B. Republican

(p. 274) ________ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party. A. Prospective voting B. Retrospective voting C. Split-ticket voting D. Straight-ticket voting E. None of these answers is correct.

B. Retrospective voting

(p. 260) A(n) ________ party is a minor party that bases its appeal on the claim that the major parties are having a corrupting influence on government and policy. A. third B. reform C. single-issue D. ideological E. factional

B. reform

(p. 262) Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties? A. the national convention B. the direct primary C. Jacksonian democracy D. the emergence of PACs E. voter registration

B. the direct primary

(p. 269) On average, how much money must a U.S. senator raise every week of his or her six-year term in order to acquire enough money to launch a competitive bid for reelection? A. $200 B. $2,000 C. $20,000 D. $200,000 E. $2,000,000

C. $20,000

(p. 245) The issue of slavery gave birth to the ________ party as a major political party. A. Federalist B. Democratic C. Republican D. Whig E. Populist

C. Republican

(p. 245) Andrew Jackson's contribution to the development of political parties was the A. forging of a coalition of Democrats and Whigs. B. introduction of primary elections. C. formation of a new type of grassroots party organization. D. formation of the Federalist Party. E. formation of the Republican Party.

C. formation of a new type of grassroots party organization.

(p. 251) Which of the following is an indication of strong party loyalty? A. split-ticket voting B. an increase in independent voters C. straight-ticket voting D. the influence of short-term issues and candidates E. a focus on candidate charisma and personal style

C. straight-ticket voting

(p. 252) The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is A. that there are naturally only two sides to political disputes. B. regional conflict. C. the existence of single-member election districts. D. the existence of state laws prohibiting the placement of a third major party on the ballot. E. proportional representation.

C. the existence of single-member election districts.

(p. 265) About 95 percent of all political activists in the United States work at A. the national level. B. the state level. C. the local level. D. the national and state levels. E. Republican and Democratic party headquarters.

C. the local level.

(p. 256) Which of the following groups is most closely aligned with the Democratic Party, voting more than 80 percent Democratic in presidential elections? A. Latino Americans B. white Protestants C. Christian fundamentalists D. African Americans E. Roman Catholics

D. African Americans

(p. 269) American party organizations A. are about to die out. B. are more powerful today than at any time in history. C. have more power than their Western European counterparts. D. are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates. E. are unimportant in the political system today.

D. are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates.

(p. 274) Prospective voting is characterized by A. a sudden shift in the vote from one party to another. B. choices based on party loyalty. C. choices based on a candidate's past performance. D. choices based on what candidates promise to do if elected. E. the symbolism of a candidate's personality.

D. choices based on what candidates promise to do if elected.

(p. 259) If a minor party gains a large following, it is almost certain that A. the major parties will join together to attack the minor party. B. Congress will enact legislation to make it difficult for the minor party to get on the ballot. C. party in-fighting will tear it apart. D. one or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support. E. the media will attack the minor party.

D. one or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support.

(p. 246) Democrats and Republicans have endured as the two major U.S. parties primarily due to A. the stability of their ideologies. B. the lack of good third-party candidates. C. a high degree of party discipline. D. their ability to adapt to changing circumstances. E. None of these answers is correct.

D. their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

(p. 259) Which of the following are key players in the modern campaign? A. pollsters B. media producers C. fundraising specialists D. campaign consultants E. All these answers are correct.

E. All these answers are correct.

(p. 262, 264) During the twentieth century, American parties lost their complete control over A. nominations. B. financing. C. platforms. D. the staffing of government jobs. E. All these answers are correct.

E. All these answers are correct.