APUSGOV Unit 5

Given the information in the graph, in which of the following states would an individual's vote likely have more influence? A Wyoming B West Virginia C Alabama D California

A

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

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States? A B C D

A

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

Which of the following statements about the trend is correct according to the line chart? A The ideological difference between Southern and Northern Democrats in the House of Representatives has decreased since 1973. B Republicans in the House of Representatives have gradually become more liberal since 1981. C Southern Democrats in the House of Representatives have historically always been more conservative than Northern Democrats. D There are less regional differences in the House of Representatives among Republicans than Democrats.

A

A political science professor is researching the effects that the Fifteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments have had on the American political system. Which of the following is the most likely reason the professor is researching these amendments? A To study the expansion of the right to equal protection under the law B To study the expansion of voting rights C To study the expansion of due process rights D To study the expansion of federal authority over states

B

Supporters of voting restrictions are most likely to make which of the following arguments? A Voting restrictions are needed to reduce the length of time it takes to vote. B Voting restrictions are needed to prevent voter fraud. C Voting restrictions help reduce the cost of elections. D Voting restrictions increase the accuracy of tracking polls.

B

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

Which of the following factors that influence voters' decision making during an election is the cartoonist poking fun at? A The party identification and ideological orientation of the candidate B The candidate's personal characteristics C The education and age of the candidate D The candidate's knowledge of contemporary political issues

B

Which of the following is an accurate comparison between the relative functions and electoral success of the two major political parties (Democratic and Republican) and third parties? A B C D

B

Which of the following scenarios is most closely related to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ? A A member of Congress establishes a political action committee to gain influence within the chamber. B A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election. C A state senator receives a large cash donation from a corporate executive in exchange for specific political favors. D A lobbyist writes the language of a bill that is later introduced into both chambers of Congress.

B

Based on the table, which of the following political action committees (PACs) is most partisan in its allocation of contributions to candidates? A AT&T Inc. B National Beer Wholesalers Association C International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers D Lockheed Martin

C

Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most directly related to the large amount of money spent by outside groups in the 2012 election? A New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) B Schenck v. United States (1919) C Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) D Shaw v. Reno (1993)

C

Which of the following is a likely effect of the trend depicted in the bar graph on voting and elections? A There will be fewer restrictions placed on voting. B Voter turnout is likely to increase among non-Whites. C Voter turnout will likely become more diverse. D There will be more retrospective voting among young voters.

C

Which of the following criticisms of political campaigns is the author of the political cartoon most likely to agree with? A Political campaigns have not adequately adapted to the increase in social media usage in modern society. B Rising campaign costs and intensive fund-raising efforts make running for office too expensive for the average citizen. C The duration of election cycles is too long. D Candidates rely too heavily on professional consultants.

D

Which of the following statements regarding political parties is true based on the graphic? A The Democratic Party has consistently favored states' rights. B The Republican Party initially emerged as an antislavery political party. C Regional interests have not played a major role in any of the party systems. D The Democratic and Republican Parties were the two major parties during the First Party System.

B

Which of the following describes the activities represented by data in the table? A Interest groups form political action committees (PACs) to nominate candidates during elections. B Government agencies receive a large portion of their funding from private interest groups, which affects their decisions. C Groups in American society form political action committees (PACs) so they can influence policy. D There are no limits on the amount of money an individual may contribute to a political action committee (PAC).

C

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

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? A The free-rider problem B Candidate-centered campaigns C Voter identification laws D Single-member districts

D

Which of the following describes the Twenty-Fourth Amendment? A It desegregated places of public accommodation. B It required elections for the United States Senate. C It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender. D It eliminated poll taxes.

D

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 Straight ticket voting D Rational choice voting

A

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

A citizen who uses the rational choice model of voting behavior selects candidates for office based on A what is thought to be in the citizen's own self-interest B the label of the party running for office C predictions of how a candidate will perform in the future D the recent performance of the candidates running for office

A

Which of the following best represents how each linkage institution influences policy making? A B C D

B

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

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. Answer D

B

Which of the following is an effect of the Seventeenth Amendment? A State legislatures gained more power over national and local elections. B People could participate in the political process by directly electing the senators. C Suffrage for women greatly expanded in national elections. D African American males could vote in national and state elections.

B

Which of the following statements is true based on the data in the line graph? A In 1988 and 1992, voters 18-29 years old favored the Democratic candidate more than voters 65 and older did. B In the 2000 election, the gap between voters 65 and older and 18-29 years old was 2%, with voters older than 65 preferring the Democratic candidate. C In 1972 and 1984, voters 65 and older favored the Democratic candidate more than voters 18-29 years old did. D In the 2012 election, the gap between voters 65 and older and 18-29 years old was 8%, with 18-29-year-old voters preferring the Democratic candidate.

B

While the central goal of political parties is to win elections, parties can also support democracy. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates this relationship? A A political party changes its stance on environmental policy after its candidates receive large contributions from an energy company. B Political parties use the social media site Instagram to reach out to younger voters to inform them about upcoming elections and encourage them to register to vote. C The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure uses research given to it from the American Society of Civil Engineers when amending an infrastructure bill. D A former member of Congress takes a job as a political consultant to advise current members on their campaigns and raise money for elections.

B

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

A voter's decision to support the incumbent president in an upcoming election is based on recent economic growth and record low unemployment. Which of the following models of voting behavior best characterizes this voter's decision? A Prospective voting B Straight ticket voting C Retrospective voting D Rational choice voting

C

Which of the following is the best explanation for the trend in voting behavior after the 2000 election? A Many states lowered their voting age after 2000, which led to an increase in Democratic Party voters. B Most younger voters who were Democrats in the 1980s became more conservative as they grew older and ended up supporting Republicans after 2000. C The events that shaped the generation turning 18 after the year 2000 tended to create more liberal-minded voters who supported Democrats. D Most younger voters after 2000 adopted political positions that were opposed to their parents' point of view.

C

Which of the following statements is true regarding political advertisements in 2012 based on the information graphic? A Taxpayers paid over 2 billion dollars for political advertisements. B Political action committees aired 3 million political ads. C Fewer than 2 million advertisements were aired in 2012. D Few advertisements appealed to positive emotions.

D

Based on the map above, a prediction that could be made about the 2016 election in Texas (TX) is that A voter turnout increased in the 2016 election B the number of eligible voters decreased in the 2016 election C Democrats won the popular vote for president in 2016 D the electoral college vote was split between Democrats and Republicans

B

The data in the graph best illustrate which of the following common criticisms of the electoral college? A Small states have fewer electoral votes than large states and therefore have no impact on presidential elections. B Individuals in small-population states have a greater impact on the electoral college than individuals in large-population states. C Candidates from states with a large number of electoral votes have a major advantage in the electoral college. D Smaller states have more electoral votes than larger states, which distorts the popular vote.

B

The graphic illustrates which of the following statements about political parties? A Federalism leads to a multiparty system in which at least three parties generally compete for control of local, state, and national governments. B The founders refused to join political parties because they agreed that parties were contrary to the public interests, so parties did not form until well after the ratification of the Constitution. C There is an ongoing debate between political parties over the power and scope of the federal government, even as economic and demographic changes have altered party coalitions. D The Constitution settled the debate over the power of the federal government, but political parties formed nonetheless to help Congress organize itself over regional interests.

C

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

Which of the following best explains the ideological shifts of the Southern Democrats, as shown in the line chart? A Republicans have become more liberal over time, forcing Southern Democrats to also become more liberal. B Voters have been less willing to identify as Republican or Democrat, leading to a greater number of partisan candidates. C Conservative Republicans have been more successful at winning seats in the South, replacing many of the conservative Democrats. D Ideology has become less important to voters during elections, permitting Southern Democrats to endorse more conservative positions over time.

C

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

Which of the following statements about the bar graph on voter turnout in the 2014 California general election is correct? A Each age group voted at a higher rate than all of the younger age groups below it. B The majority of voters ages 25-34 voted in the election. C The age group that voted at a rate closest to the average is 45-54. D Voters ages 35-44 voted at a rate higher than average.

C

"If we resort to violence then one of two things will happen: either the violence will be escalated and there will be many injuries and perhaps deaths on both sides, or there will be total demoralization of the workers.... Which of the following best describes César Chávez' view on the use of violence versus nonviolence? A The use of violence should be the primary tactic as it will address the feelings of frustration and anger throughout the movement. B The use of violence will motivate the American people as people everywhere still yearn for justice. C The use of nonviolent actions, such as demonstrations and marches, does not bring honor to the cause and will negatively impact the movement. D The use of nonviolent actions allows more people to be involved in the movement and effect change.

D

Critics of the winner-take-all aspect of the electoral college are most likely to make which of the following arguments? A The winner-take-all system of the electoral college undermines the rights of states. B A state's presidential election results rarely mirror a state's congressional election results. C The winner-take-all system of the electoral college drives presidential candidates to focus on winning states that are considered to be part of their core supporters. D The winner-take-all system of the electoral college encourages presidential candidates to focus their time and effort disproportionately on battleground states with larger populations.

D

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

"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government . . . Which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution addresses the grievance that a woman is not permitted "to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise"? A Fourteenth Amendment B Fifteenth Amendment C Seventeenth Amendment D Nineteenth Amendment

D