AP Gov. Unit 5

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario? Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website. Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle. Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.

Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making.

In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following? Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making Bureaucratic agency implementing policy

Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making

An emerging third party is struggling to get congressional candidates elected to office. Which of the following is a feature of the American political system that would explain why the party is struggling to achieve its goal? The free-rider problem Candidate-centered campaigns Voter identification laws Single-member districts

Single-member districts

Which of the following represents a consequence of candidate-centered electoral campaigns? a. A decrease in the role of political parties in campaign management b. A decrease in the number of third-party candidates on the ballot c. A decrease in the amount of money spent on political campaigns d. A decrease in voter outreach and mobilization efforts

a. A decrease in the role of political parties in campaign management

In which of the following ways do political parties primarily rely on to finance their election activities? a. Parties rely primarily on tax revenue. b. By winning elections, parties are able to fund government programs they care about. c. Parties sell posters, stickers, buttons, and other products. d. Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

d. Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

Which of the following scenarios is most related to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment? a. A primary election is held to determine the candidate who will run as the Republican for the United States Senate. b. An interest group purchases a television ad prior to an election. c. An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election. d. A woman votes in a local election.

c. An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election.

The concept of "critical elections" is most closely associated with: a. the electoral college process b. elections during wartime c. the nomination process d. economic recession e. party realignment

e. party realignment

Which of the following activities by interest groups best illustrates attempts to educate members of Congress on public policy? a. A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices b. A law-reform group sending alerts to its members encouraging them to contact their representatives c. A single-issue group holding a rally in Washington to show support for their cause d. A PAC giving contributions to the reelection campaigns of members of Congress

a. A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices

Which of the following best explains how parties link citizens to the electoral process? a. Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters. b. Parties recruit candidates to run for election. c. Parties research how best to frame issues in campaigns. d. Parties determine the leadership of congressional committees.

a. Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters.

Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by: a. environmental activists b. evangelical Christians c. civil libertarians d. labor unions e. active military officers

b. evangelical Christians

A number of states, including Georgia and Ohio, have passed laws that revoke voter registration if a person did not vote in recent election cycles. Which of the following is a likely consequence of these laws? a. Voters would have a lower sense of efficacy, which would lead to lower turnout. b. Citizens would have to pay a fine if they tried to vote, which will significantly lower turnout. c. Younger voters will be less likely to register to vote since there is a chance their votes won't be counted. d. Occasional voters will not be able to vote on election day, which could influence election results.

d. Occasional voters will not be able to vote on election day, which could influence election results.

Which of the following arguments best supports a claim that the electoral college violates democratic principles? a. The winner-take-all system encourages candidates to campaign in every state, which limits the attention each state will receive from the candidates. b. Electors are chosen by the voters in each state, which gives parties undue influence over candidates' success. c. Smaller states are disproportionately advantaged by the two additional electoral votes granted to each state for its senators. d. The electoral college lacks transparency because electors frequently switch their vote during the national convention.

c. Smaller states are disproportionately advantaged by the two additional electoral votes granted to each state for its senators.

The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? a. OpLobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. b. Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. c. Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. d. Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.tion 1

d. Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.tion 1

Critical elections in the United States typically have occurred: a. as a result of a temporary shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties b. whenever a third party has secured more than fifteen percent of the presidential vote c. each time a Republican has been elected President d. when voter turnout has declined significantly from the previous election e. when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

d. when voter turnout has declined significantly from the previous election

A person votes for Democratic candidates based on the belief that the policies of the Democratic Party will be personally beneficial. This type of voting matches which of the following voting behavior models? a. Prospective voting b. Retrospective voting c. Split-ticket voting d. Sociological voting

a. Prospective voting

Senator Hoffman is campaigning for reelection in her state. Her campaign message emphasizes how the policies she has supported have benefited her constituents. She has spotlighted job creation and an overall improvement in the standard of living in the state in the past six years. Senator Hoffman is hoping to appeal to which of the following voting behavior models? a. Retrospective voting b. Prospective voting c. Party-line voting d. Rational-choice voting

a. Retrospective voting

Which of the following scenarios explains how demographic factors affect voter participation in elections? a. Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates. b. Individuals who belong to marginalized groups are likely to participate in elections because their issues are often highlighted by political party leaders. c. Political action committees (PACs) raise money from their donors, which they use to run television advertisements during campaigns. d. Gerrymandered districts are likely to produce competitive districts, which leads to lower turnout rates in elections.

a. Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates.

Which of the following factors contributes most to the data in the line graph? a. Challengers have easier access to television, magazines, and newspapers. b. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers because of name recognition. c. Incumbents are often at a disadvantage because they are too busy working on legislation to campaign. d. Challengers are often given larger donations from interest groups and can outspend incumbents.

b. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers because of name recognition.

Which of the following best explains how political parties are likely to respond to the data in the chart? a. Political parties are likely to continue to stand by their traditional positions and not bother to appeal to groups that have not previously been included in their base. b. Political parties will adapt their positions and find ways to appeal to voters from growing demographic groups. c. Political parties will adapt by switching from candidate-centered campaigns to campaigns that strategically mobilize voters across the country with a consistent message. d. Political parties will advocate for proportional representational systems so that groups with larger populations are able to win seats and be represented more fairly in government.

b. Political parties will adapt their positions and find ways to appeal to voters from growing demographic groups.

Which of the following best explains why eligibility criteria vary by state as shown on the information graphic? a. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is not incorporated to the states. b. States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution. c. The president is selected through the electoral college process, and therefore citizens do not actually have a real vote in presidential elections. d. The Voting Rights Act guarantees that each state may determine its own procedures for elections.

b. States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution.

Which of the following is most likely an effect of the data reported in the chart? a. Younger voters were more likely to vote in the 2016 presidential election. b. The California state government is more likely to address issues that affect older voters. c. Political parties will work to recruit more younger candidates to run for office. d. The media will likely be skeptical of the general election results.

b. The California state government is more likely to address issues that affect older voters.

Which of the following exemplifies the free-rider problem for interest groups? a. A supporter of the Second Amendment who is a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) b. A bird enthusiast who contributes to the Sierra Club to receive a free bird-watching guide c. A teacher who does not join the local teachers union but receives a salary negotiated by the union d. A 50-year-old woman who joins the AARP to get a discount card

c. A teacher who does not join the local teachers union but receives a salary negotiated by the union

Which of the following scenarios depicts the concept of an iron triangle? a. A well-funded PAC and professional campaign consultants meet with congressional Democrats to discuss strategy and campaign spending for the upcoming election. b. A group of citizens mobilize to conduct a letter-writing campaign, voter registration drive, and public rally in an attempt to influence the policy decisions of lawmakers. c. Lobbyists from the energy industry provide information to the Department of Energy before the department head testifies before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives. d. A former member of Congress decides not to run for reelection and instead accepts a job as a corporate lobbyist.

c. Lobbyists from the energy industry provide information to the Department of Energy before the department head testifies before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives.

Which of the following is true based on the information graphic? a. All citizens over 18 years old are eligible to vote regardless of where they live, but only about 56% actually do vote. b. Voters from 18 and 54 are far more likely to vote than voters over 54, but this can depend on which state they live in. c. Over 75% of the population is eligible to vote, but only about half the electorate actually voted in the 2016 presidential election. d. Voters ages 18-35 are less likely to vote because some states restrict voting only to citizens over the age of 21.

c. Over 75% of the population is eligible to vote, but only about half the electorate actually voted in the 2016 presidential election.

Which of the following best explains how most candidates are recruited to run for office? a. Candidates for office usually first work as lawyers for political parties before running for office. b. Most candidates who run for office are recruited by political leaders to do so because they are famous. c. Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office. d. Most candidates running for office are selected after earning merit working for the government.

c. Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office.

Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? a. The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. b. The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. c. The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. d. The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.

c. The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.