Sides Chapter 6

coordinated expenditures

Money that political parties spend to help cover a candidate's campaign costs in a federal election. Such expenditures are limited by law.

Which of the following best describes the proportion of partisans who vote for their party's candidates?

It is fairly high and has grown in recent years.

party identification

A citizen's allegiance to one of the political parties, including both party preference and level of commitment

interest group

A collection of people with the shared goal of infl uencing public policy that does not run its own candidates for office

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of a political party?

A shared interest in electing public officials under a common label.

At what point in life do most voters form their party identification?

Between 18 and 25, when they first begin to vote.

Which sector is represented by the most interest groups in Washington?

Business.

Which type of primary elections do party organizations prefer?

Closed primaries.

Which of the following best describes those who identify as politically independent?

Despite claiming to be independent, most lean reliably toward one party or the other.

What is the general reason for third parties' lack of success in American politics?

Electoral rules favor a two-party system.

political parties

Group of people with the shared interest of electing public officials under a common label

In which of the following scenarios is an interest group leader most likely to be able to deliver support for a candidate from his or her constituents?

In a less visible race (e.g. local or neighborhood politics).

When recruiting a candidate to run for office, what type of person is a party organization most likely to target?

One who has won elective office before.

Other than "party in the electorate" and "party in government," what is the third component of a political party, according to political scientist V.O. Key?

Party as organization.

How do political scientists determine a voter's affiliation with a party, if any?

Self-identification with a party.

What was the "50 state strategy" pushed by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in 2006?

Spreading resources around to races all over the country, even those Democrats who were unlikely to win.

Which of these is NOT a reason that the number of interest groups in the United States has increased?

The American public has become more politically active and attentive as a whole.

party-in-the-electorate

The group of citizens who identify with a political party or regularly support candidates from one party

party-as-organization

The institutions, professionals, and activists that administer party affairs, including the official bodies that raise funds and create the rules for the party

party-in-government

The members of a party who hold public office

Which of the following best describes independent expenditure campaigns by interest groups?

They largely support negative advertising.

Which of the following is an advantage enjoyed by political parties, but not by other types of organizations under campaign finance law?

They may coordinate their expenditures with candidates.