Government: Chapters 6-11
About ________ percent of political advertising is aimed at Americans between 18 and 34 years of age. a. 14 b. 25 c. 40 d. 50
a. 14
Which of the following was NOT an election in which the person who was elected president failed to receive more popular votes than his opponent? a. 1912 b. 2000 c. 1876 d. 1888
a. 1912
If a television station sold commercial time to a Republican candidate for governor but refused to sell time to the Democratic candidate for governor, this station would be in violation of the ________. a. Equal Time Rule b. Communications Decency Act c. Fairness Doctrine d. Telecommunications Act of 1996
a. Equal Time Rule
Facebook has more than ________ users worldwide. a. 3 billion b. 1 billion c. 100 million d. 500 million
b. 1 billion
Solid support for the Republican Party currently comes from the ________. a. South, Northeast, and Midwest b. Northeast, Midwest, and West c. Northeast and South d. South and Mountain West
d. South and Mountain West
Daily Internet users who participate in society and politics through online activities are called ________. a. digital citizens b. Internet junkies c. 2.0 participators d. online activists
a. digital citizens
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a. does not regulate newspapers. b. licenses radio but not television stations. c. was established in 1949 by President Harry Truman. d. bans explicit sexual and excretory references on airwaves during certain hours of the day.
a. does not regulate newspapers
Support for same-sex marriage has a. dramatically increased since 1996. b. dramatically decreased since 1996. c. dramatically decreased between 1996 and 2008, but increased significantly between 2008 and 2015. d. remained at a constant level since 1996.
a. dramatically increased since 1996.
The establishment of the Republican Party is a good example of ________. a. external mobilization b. elite bargaining c. internal mobilization d. proportional representation
a. external mobilization
Which of the following is a reform that has attempted to make voting easier? a. Election Day registration b. literacy tests c. the elimination of absentee ballots d. voter identification laws
a. Election Day registration
Which statement about the Telecommunications Act of 1996 is true? a. Following passage of the act, several mergers between telephone and cable companies produced a greater concentration of media ownership. b. The act required broadcasters who aired programs on controversial issues to provide time for opposing views. c. The act tightened federal restrictions on media ownership. d. The act did not attempt to regulate the content of material transmitted over the Internet.
a. Following passage of the act, several mergers between telephone and cable companies produced a greater concentration of media ownership.
Which of the following is true of trust in government? a. Very low trust in government is a reality in contemporary politics. b. Very high trust in government is a reality in contemporary politics. c. Republicans have more trust in government than Democrats. d. People have more trust in government today than in the 1960s.
a. Very low trust in government is a reality in contemporary politics.
Under the National Popular Vote plan, a. a state's electoral college votes would go to the candidate who won the national popular vote, not the candidate with a plurality of votes in that specific state. b. members of the Senate would be elected by the country on the whole instead of by individual states. c. the electoral college would be abolished and the candidate with the most votes in the country overall would become president. d. the individual state-level caucus and primary elections during the nomination stage would be replaced with a national primary to be held on the first Tuesday of March during a presidential election year.
a. a state's electoral college votes would go to the candidate who won the national popular vote, not the candidate with a plurality of votes in that specific state.
The Jim Crow era refers to the period a. after the Civil War and before the 1960s. b. between the Supreme Court's decision in the Dred Scott case and the start of the Civil War. c. between the ratification of the Constitution and the start of the Civil War. d. immediately following the Civil War in which the federal government set the conditions that would allow the rebellious Southern states back into the Union.
a. after the Civil War and before the 1960s.
The "metered model" used by many newspaper websites a. allows a certain number of free visits before requiring users to pay. b. allows access only to users who have yearly subscriptions. c. requires that users click on at least one advertisement for each article they read. d. charges users to pay for each and every article they read.
a. allows a certain number of free visits before requiring users to pay.
When Richard Nixon employed his "Southern strategy," he a. appealed to disaffected white voters in the South. b. appealed to black southerners who had recently mobilized for civil rights. c. used the FBI to help collect secrets and blackmail southern Democratic leaders. d. ignored the southern states in favor of voters in the Midwest and Northeast.
a. appealed to disaffected white voters in the South.
The most important selection bias in news is the ________. a. audience appeal of a story b. ideology of the journalists c. approval of government regulators d. economic interests of the media's owners
a. audience appeal of a story
A(n) ________ occurs when a voter must be registered with a party prior to voting in that party's election. a. closed primary b. open primary c. majority system d. referendum
a. closed primary
"Affective intelligence" refers to the a. fact that individuals will often quickly form opinions in response to current events by using their emotions as a guide. b. belief that one's feelings are right, even if well-accepted facts contradict these feelings. c. skill that some political leaders and media communicators have to make their audiences feel empathy for others. d. fact that people often determine their policy preferences and voting decisions through rational calculations of costs and benefits.
a. fact that individuals will often quickly form opinions in response to current events by using their emotions as a guide.
Edward Snowden is most known for a. leaking the material that revealed widespread global surveillance programs by the U.S. government and major telecommunication companies. b. creating and maintaining the WikiLeaks site. c. leaking the Pentagon Papers to the press. d. leaking information about the Iraq War to the press while serving as Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff.
a. leaking the material that revealed widespread global surveillance programs by the U.S. government and major telecommunication companies.
Which of the following is NOT one of the potential disadvantages of shifting away from traditional media and toward digital media? a. less "horse race" coverage during elections b. uneven quality in news content c. a decline in knowledge and tolerance d. a decline in investigative journalism
a. less "horse race" coverage during elections
A majority of newspaper reporters identify themselves as ________. a. liberal b. anarchist c. nonpolitical d. conservative
a. liberal
The ________ states that individuals keep a running tally of information and use that tally to form their opinions. a. online processing model b. motivated reasoning c. memory model d. "receive," "accept," "sample" model
a. online processing model
The Lincoln-Douglas debates took place a. outside, in the cornfields and town squares of Illinois. b. through a series of competing newspaper editorials. c. in Madison Square Garden during the Republican Convention of 1860. d. on radio, making it the first political broadcast in the United States.
a. outside, in the cornfields and town squares of Illinois.
Which of the following requires a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license in order to legally broadcast in the United States? a. over-the-air television stations b. Internet websites c. cable television stations d. satellite radio channels
a. over-the-air television stations
Generally speaking, a recall effort begins with a ________. a. petition campaign b. decree by the governor c. law passed by the state legislature d. lawsuit
a. petition campaign
An election where the winner is the person who receives the most votes, regardless of the percentage of votes received, is called a ________ system. a. plurality b. majority c. proportionality d. primary
a. plurality
Liberalism and conservatism are examples of a. political ideologies. b. public opinions. c. political preferences. d. political attitudes.
a. political ideologies
For the presidential primaries, most but not all state parties use what type of election? a. proportional representation b. plurality c. winner-take-all d. majority rules
a. proportional representation
The three steps of John Zaller's model of opinion formation are a. receive, accept, and sample. b. listen, respond, and sample. c. listen, consider, and adapt. d. receive, repeat, and react.
a. receive, accept, and sample.
Gerrymandering may a. reduce voter turnout by creating fewer competitive elections. b. increase voter turnout by creating fewer competitive elections. c. reduce voter turnout by increasing the amount of money that is spent on advertising. d. increase voter turnout increasing the amount of money that is spent on advertising.
a. reduce voter turnout by creating fewer competitive elections.
"Filter bubbles" appear when a. search engines automatically screen out information that might challenge or broaden a person's worldview. b. journalists choose to cover only those stories that are acceptable to advertisers. c. people intentionally expose themselves to perspectives that challenge what they already believe to be true about the political world. d. news aggregation sites include content from a wide variety of sources and give no preference to American media organizations.
a. search engines automatically screen out information that might challenge or broaden a person's worldview.
A political party is an organization a. that tries to influence the government by getting its members elected to office. b. that collects fees from its members in order to pay the salaries of government officials. c. that falls under section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code. d. established by the Constitution to nominate candidates.
a. that tries to influence the government by getting its members elected to office.
Which of the following is NOT a reason that many Americans appear to prefer online news? a. the accuracy and objectivity compared to traditional media outlets b. the depth of the information available online c. the convenience of getting news online d. the up-to-the-moment currency of the information available online
a. the accuracy and objectivity compared to traditional media outlets
What has helped accelerate the trend toward less variety in national news in the past decade? a. the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates b. the rise of the Internet as a major source of news reporting c. the growing level of government censorship and restrictions on the media d. the increasing popularity of AM radio talk shows
a. the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates
Who is an incumbent? a. the current officeholder, running for re-election b. the candidate who raises the most money during the campaign c. a candidate who is running against a current officeholder in an election d. whoever is leading in the polls on the day of the election
a. the current officeholder, running for re-election
Currently, ________ states have agreed to the compact specified by the National Popular Vote plan. a. 17 b. 22 c. 10 d. 2
c. 10
The practice of push polling involves a. the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion. b. polling services attempting to sell their polling data to major news media organizations at higher prices during election seasons. c. the effect of polls having to push politicians into adopting policy proposals they would not otherwise adopt. d. the system of repeatedly calling people in the sampling frame until they respond to the survey.
a. the procedure of asking loaded questions in order to subtly shape the respondent's opinion.
A runoff election is likely to occur when a. there are more than two candidates running in the election. b. turnout in the election is very high. c. turnout in the election is very low. d. there are only two candidates running in the election.
a. there are more than two candidates running in the election.
The typical margin of error in a sample survey of 1,500 respondents is ________ percent. a. 0.5 b. 2.5 c. 1.0 d. 0.1
b. 2.5
In 1998, only ________ percent of Americans had Internet access. Today, more than ________ percent of Americans use the Internet. a. 10; 95 b. 25; 80 c. 1; 95 d. 10; 80
b. 25; 80
The number of radio stations in the United States has grown from ________ in 1990 to more than ________ today. a. 300; 1,000 b. 400; 2,000 c. 200; 300 d. 100; 250
b. 400; 2,000
When Hillary Clinton won the plurality of votes in California during the 2016 election, and California had 53 representatives in the House of Representatives, how many electoral votes from California did she win? a. 77 b. 55 c. 53 d. 62
b. 55
Large media conglomerates own approximately ________ percent of daily newspapers. a. 40 b. 75 c. 55 d. 25
b. 75
Which of the following statements about newspapers is accurate? a. Newspapers tend to provide less complete coverage of political events than other media. b. As a result of serious financial losses, newspapers have had to make dramatic cutbacks in recent years. c. Political, social, and economic elites rely very little on newspapers. d. Newspapers are the primary source of news for most Americans.
b. As a result of serious financial losses, newspapers have had to make dramatic cutbacks in recent years.
The Communications Decency Act was struck down by the Supreme Court because it violated the a. Federal Communications Commission's right of rebuttal. b. First Amendment's right to freedom of speech. c. Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause. d. Federal Communications Commission's Equal Time Rule.
b. First Amendment's right to freedom of speech.
________ is the only state that does not require voter registration. a. Indiana b. North Dakota c. Wisconsin d. California
b. North Dakota
Which of the following statements about the marketplace of ideas is true? a. Exposure to the marketplace of ideas rarely leads people to change their minds about political issues. b. Private groups and the news media play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace of ideas. c. Government officials are legally prohibited from promoting ideas in the marketplace of ideas. d. The British created the marketplace of ideas in the seventeenth century.
b. Private groups and the news media play important roles in shaping opinions in the marketplace of ideas.
In ________, the Supreme Court determined that purposefully drawing districts where the majority of voters were members of a single minority group, in order to ensure minority representation, was unlawful. a. Bush v. Gore (2000) b. Shaw v. Reno (1993) c. Reynolds v. Sims (1964) d. United States v. Nixon (1974)
b. Shaw v. Reno (1993)
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the criteria for determining one's eligibility to vote were established by ________. a. the Twentieth Amendment b. the Supreme Court c. state governments d. the federal government
c. state governments
What is one of the main differences between those who have gone to college and those who have not? a. Those with a college education are less likely to believe that women and men should have equal roles. b. There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education. c. There is a lower level of political participation among those with a college education. d. Those with a college education are more likely to believe that abortion should never be allowed.
b. There is a higher level of political participation among those with a college education.
What did the Supreme Court mean by "one person, one vote"? a. Voters may only vote once in an election. b. Within a state, electoral districts must have roughly equal populations. c. Voting was an individual right, not a group right. d. No one could be denied suffrage on the basis of race or gender.
b. Within a state, electoral districts must have roughly equal populations.
The Vietnam War initiated the growth of ________ journalism. a. corporate-driven b. adversarial c. yellow d. government-regulated
b. adversarial
The 527 committees are an important part of the American political system because they a. are charged with enforcing the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. b. are able to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they do not coordinate their activities with a political party. c. operate the caucuses of each of the two main political parties. d. work closely with political parties to coordinate election campaign strategies and fund-raising efforts.
b. are able to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they do not coordinate their activities with a political party.
The term public opinion is used to describe a. the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions. b. beliefs and attitudes toward different issues, events, and people. c. the analysis of events broadcast by reporters during the evening news. d. the president's collected speeches and writings during his term in office.
b. beliefs and attitudes toward different issues, events, and people.
The ________ is the last example of indirect voting in national elections. a. closed primary b. electoral college c. referendum d. open primary
b. electoral college
The greatest challenge for journalism organizations today is a. protecting themselves from libel and slander lawsuits. b. generating enough revenue to finance traditional investigative journalism. c. fact-checking the stories written by their journalists and columnists. d. obtaining access to high-level political leaders.
b. generating enough revenue to finance traditional investigative journalism.
Advertising revenue at print newspapers is ________ what it was in 2005. a. one-tenth b. half c. more than double d. roughly equal to
b. half
Advertising revenue at print newspapers is ________ what it was in 2005. a. roughly equal to b. half c. one-tenth d. more than double
b. half
A website devoted entirely to reporting on climate change and other environmental issues would be an example of ________ journalism. a. protest b. niche c. nonprofit d. adversarial
b. niche
The themes, issues, and messages that candidates present during a campaign are generally based on a. the size of the constituency they are seeking to represent. b. polls and focus groups. c. the election rules passed by Congress each year. d. legally binding orders that are issued from the national party organizations.
b. polls and focus groups.
If a radio station aired a personal attack against a candidate but refused to allow the same candidate the opportunity to respond to that attack on its station, the station would be in violation of the ________. a. Telecommunications Act of 1996 b. right of rebuttal c. Fairness Doctrine d. Communications Decency Act
b. right of rebuttal
In Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC (1969), the Supreme Court upheld the ________. a. Fairness Doctrine b. right of rebuttal c. Framing Doctrine d. Equal Time Rule
b. right of rebuttal
Under the Constitution, ________ the power to regulate elections. a. Congress has b. state legislatures have c. the Federal Election Commission has d. the president has
b. state legislatures have
The Consumer Confidence Index is based on a. the growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP). b. surveys asking voters how optimistic they are about the future of the economy. c. the unemployment rate in each state. d. the size of the national debt.
b. surveys asking voters how optimistic they are about the future of the economy.
Most European nations utilize a ________. a. blanket primary b. system of proportional representation c. majority system d. closed primary
b. system of proportional representation
Despite its widespread availability, ________ typically provide(s) the least depth of news coverage. a. the Internet b. television c. newspapers d. radio
b. television
A major factor in John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential victory over Richard Nixon was a. Nixon's failure to develop infomercials. b. that Kennedy had a much stronger performance than Nixon during televised debates. c. Kennedy's aggressive use of push polls, especially in the Northeast. d. the fact that, unlike Nixon, Kennedy had hired a professional political consultant.
b. that Kennedy had a much stronger performance than Nixon during televised debates.
What has helped accelerate the trend toward less variety in national news in the past decade? a. the rise of the Internet as a major source of news reporting b. the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates c. the growing level of government censorship and restrictions on the media d. the increasing popularity of AM radio talk shows
b. the corporate consolidation of news media into a small number of conglomerates
America's ________ developed during the early nineteenth century. a. 527 committees b. two-party system c. multiparty system d. single-party mandate
b. two-party system
What is the ultimate goal of a political party? a. nominating candidates b. winning elections c. raising the most money d. creating the party platform
b. winning elections
Most local newspapers get their national news from ________. a. local reporters b. wire services c. the Internet d. government reports, press briefings, and announcements
b. wire services
A majority system, which is used on a limited basis in the United States, requires that a candidate must win ________ to win an election. a. at least 33 percent of all votes cast b. at least 60 percent of all votes cast, plus a percentage of absentee ballots c. 50 percent plus one of all votes cast d. at least 40 percent of all votes cast
c. 50 percent plus one of all votes cast
Which of the following statements about newspapers is accurate? a. Newspapers tend to provide less complete coverage of political events than other media. b. Political, social, and economic elites rely very little on newspapers. c. As a result of serious financial losses, newspapers have had to make dramatic cutbacks in recent years. d. Newspapers are the primary source of news for most Americans.
c. As a result of serious financial losses, newspapers have had to make dramatic cutbacks in recent years.
The media's reporting of the Watergate affair led to a. President Richard Nixon's defeat in the 1972 election. b. a fundamental change in the nation's libel laws. c. President Richard Nixon's resignation. d. President Richard Nixon's reelection.
c. President Richard Nixon's resignation.
Which of the following statements best describes the media's role in the Watergate affair? a. Journalists investigated the Watergate affair, but uncovered no wrongdoing on the part of President Nixon. b. The journalistic reporting of the Watergate affair was filled with errors and led to government attempts to regulate the print media's coverage. c. Relentless investigations by journalists revealed various abuses of power by President Nixon and led to his resignation. d. Journalists did not investigate the Watergate affair until after President Nixon resigned.
c. Relentless investigations by journalists revealed various abuses of power by President Nixon and led to his resignation.
Which of the following is a difference between Democratic and Republican primaries? a. The Republican Party requires a two-thirds majority vote in a state to secure delegates, while the Democratic Party does not. b. The Republican Party requires that state presidential primaries allocate delegates on the basis of proportional representation, while the Democratic Party does not. c. The Democratic Party requires that state presidential primaries allocate delegates on the basis of proportional representation, while the Republican Party does not. d. The Democratic Party requires that state presidential primaries allocate delegates on the basis of a winner-take-all system, while the Republican Party does not.
c. The Democratic Party requires that state presidential primaries allocate delegates on the basis of proportional representation, while the Republican Party does not.
Which of the following statements is true? a. The top news source for Americans is the newspaper. b. More Americans subscribe to newspapers today than 20 years ago. c. The number of radio stations has grown considerably over the last 25 years. d. The top news source for Americans is the radio.
c. The number of radio stations has grown considerably over the last 25 years.
Journalists at the ________ exposed the Watergate scandal. a. Indianapolis Star b. Boston Globe c. Washington Post d. Los Angeles Times
c. Washington Post
The Pentagon Papers were released as a result of a. investigations led by Washington Post reporters in 1972. b. a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union. c. a leak by a minor Defense Department staffer. d. President Nixon's repudiation of the Johnson administration's strategy in Vietnam.
c. a leak by a minor Defense Department staffer.
If a person supports a candidate because he or she is the front-runner in a poll, it is an example of the ________. a. illusion of saliency b. bellwether effect c. bandwagon effect d. "bounce" effect
c. bandwagon effect
What is social capital? a. campaign contributions made by community organizations b. the funds that interest groups raise during election campaigns c. community networks that motivate political participation d. an individual's belief in his or her ability to competently engage in personal interactions with other people
c. community networks that motivate political participation
In the United States today, the government a. owns, but does not control, the major sources of media. b. controls most media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings. c. does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media. d. heavily regulates print media but imposes no regulations on radio and television broadcasts.
c. does not own but regulates the content and ownership of broadcast media.
The campaign funds raised and spent by 501(c)(4) organizations are called "dark money" because a. they can only be used during nonelection years. b. they are only used to support candidates from relatively unknown third parties. c. donors and amounts contributed do not have to be made public. d. they are technically illegal under an unenforced provision of federal campaign finance law.
c. donors and amounts contributed do not have to be made public.
What is the most important factor in predicting whether an individual votes? a. sexual orientation b. religious affiliation c. education level d. race
c. education level
Descriptive representation occurs when a. individuals are represented in government by officials who share their core values or policy preferences. b. individuals are allowed to vote directly on the law. c. individuals are represented in government by officials of their same race, ethnicity, or gender. d. elected officials take the time to explain the details of each of their policy votes to their constituents.
c. individuals are represented in government by officials of their same race, ethnicity, or gender.
Google News and Real Clear Politics are good examples of ________. a. the penny press b. nonprofit journalism c. news aggregators d. niche journalism
c. news aggregators
The cheap, tabloid-style newspapers produced in the nineteenth century were collectively referred to as the ________. a. dime dailies b. nickel newsies c. penny press d. broadsheets
c. penny press
A referendum is the a. process by which a party selects its candidates for the general election. b. power to remove an elected official from office during the middle of his or her term. c. practice of referring a proposed law passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. d. congressional election held between presidential elections.
c. practice of referring a proposed law passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection.
In international affairs, conservatism has come to mean a. opposition to the United States' membership in the United Nations. b. opposition to military intervention and the ramping down of American military power. c. support for military intervention and the maintenance of American military power. d. opposition to the continued existence of the European Union.
c. support for military intervention and the maintenance of American military power.
Evangelical Protestants are more likely to be associated with ________. a. no party; they are typically nonpartisan b. the Socialist Party c. the Republican Party d. the Democratic Party
c. the Republican Party
Dealignment refers to a. conflicts within the government that create divided factions, each of which tries to mobilize popular support. b. the point in history where a new party becomes the dominant political force by supplanting the ruling party. c. the decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the number of voters identifying themselves as independents, and the rise of split-ticket voting. d. attempts by politicians outside of government to mobilize popular support in order to win governmental power.
c. the decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the number of voters identifying themselves as independents, and the rise of split-ticket voting.
In the Pentagon Papers case, the Supreme Court ruled that a. President Nixon did not commit an impeachable offense. b. the government could block the release of any documents that were illegally leaked to the press. c. the government could not block the release of the papers. d. President Nixon would be impeached.
c. the government could not block the release of the papers.
When does public-opinion polling take place during a campaign? a. only toward the end of the campaign b. never c. throughout the entire campaign d. at the very beginning
c. throughout the entire campaign
During the 1880s, as many as ________ people worked on political campaigns. a. 1 million b. 50,000 c. 100,000 d. 2.5 million
d. 2.5 million
Approximately ________ percent of eligible voters turn out for midterm congressional elections. a. 10 b. 75 c. 60 d. 35
d. 35
According to political scientists, the passage of voter registration requirements in the early nineteenth century reduced voter turnout by as much as ________ percent. a. 15 b. 33 c. 25 d. 50
d. 50
Asian Americans are approximately ________ percent of the U.S. population. a. 14 b. 1 c. 10 d. 6
d. 6
It is estimated that more than ________ percent of Americans have a television. a. 50 b. 66 c. 75 d. 95
d. 95
The ________ provides candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages. a. Fairness Doctrine b. agenda-setting provision c. Diversity in Media Doctrine d. Equal Time Rule
d. Equal Time Rule
Why does the marketplace of ideas often have a moderating effect on people's opinions? a. Moderate ideas are always closest to the truth and are therefore most successful in the marketplace of ideas. b. Moderate ideas usually have the best financial backing and the greatest publicity. c. Those who shop in the marketplace of ideas typically start with moderate viewpoints. d. Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints.
d. Given constant exposure to other people's ideas, it is almost impossible for one not to modify one's own viewpoints.
In the 2012 presidential election, Gallup surveys significantly overestimated a. African American support for Barack Obama. b. Caucasian support for Mitt Romney. c. Native American support for Mitt Romney. d. Latino support for Mitt Romney.
d. Latino support for Mitt Romney.
Which of the following states has had the highest voter turnout in recent presidential elections? a. New York b. California c. Mississippi d. Minnesota
d. Minnesota
The power of the media to draw public attention to particular issues and problems is called ________. a. the bandwagon effect b. canvassing c. framing d. agenda setting
d. agenda setting
In order to win the presidency, a candidate must win a. at least 26 state-level presidential elections. b. at least 300 electoral votes. c. a majority of the popular vote. d. at least 270 electoral votes.
d. at least 270 electoral votes.
What is social capital? a. an individual's belief in his or her ability to competently engage in personal interactions with other people b. campaign contributions made by community organizations c. the funds that interest groups raise during election campaigns d. community networks that motivate political participation
d. community networks that motivate political participation
During the last decade, the number of newspaper journalists working in the United States has ________. a. grown by more than 40 percent. b. decreased by 100 percent. c. remained constant. d. decreased by 40 percent.
d. decreased by 40 percent.
While traditional party conventions were ________, contemporary party conventions are ________. a. simple ratifications of nominations that had already been determined; deliberative assemblies to determine nominations b. financed solely by the federal government; financed by interest groups, private donors, and corporations c. financed by interest groups, private donors, and corporations; financed solely by the federal government d. deliberative assemblies to determine nominations; simple ratifications of nominations that have already been determined
d. deliberative assemblies to determine nominations; simple ratifications of nominations that have already been determined
The fact that journalists referred to the Obama administration's health care initiative as "reform" instead of as "health care rationing" is an example of ________. a. adversarial journalism b. sound bites c. agenda setting d. framing
d. framing
In the American media, there has been a recent trend toward a. diversification of national news, as conglomerates have come to own a smaller percentage of media outlets. b. homogenization of national news because the Telecommunications Act of 1996 required print media outlets to follow the Fairness Doctrine. c. diversification of national news because the Telecommunications Act of 1996 required print media outlets to follow the Fairness Doctrine. d. homogenization of national news, as conglomerates have come to own a larger percentage of media outlets.
d. homogenization of national news, as conglomerates have come to own a larger percentage of media outlets.
The fact that many middle-class and lower-middle-class citizens who did not stand to benefit from President George W. Bush's tax cuts seemed to favor them is an example of the a. importance of self-interest. b. "spiral of silence." c. importance of political efficacy. d. importance of political knowledge.
d. importance of political knowledge.
A 501(c)(4) a. is required to disclose where it gets its funds. b. may not spend more than 10 percent of its revenue for political purposes. c. is required to disclose exactly how its money is spent. d. may not spend more than half its revenue for political purposes.
d. may not spend more than half its revenue for political purposes.
During the nineteenth century, newspapers were controlled by ________. a. churches and other religious groups b. the federal government c. Wall Street d. political parties
d. political parties
The goal of the EMILY's List organization is to a. advocate a pro-life position to the public. b. increase the number of African American representatives in Congress. c. promote the expansion of pro-life legislation. d. raise money for Democratic women candidates interested in running for office.
d. raise money for Democratic women candidates interested in running for office.
Money contributed directly to a political party to be used for voter registration or party building is called ________. a. a bribe b. hard money c. graft d. soft money
d. soft money
Which media source is regulated by the federal government? a. newspapers b. the Internet c. magazines d. television
d. television
Which of the following news sources reaches the most Americans? a. newspapers b. the Internet c. radio d. television
d. television
Priming refers to a. the fact that many important news stories go uncovered by the mainstream media. b. the bias that news organizations show toward covering dramatic and entertaining stories. c. the tendency that people have to seek out news sources that confirm their prior beliefs about politics. d. the process of preparing the public to bring specific criteria to mind when evaluating a politician or issue.
d. the process of preparing the public to bring specific criteria to mind when evaluating a politician or issue.
The development of media giants with access to a variety of media holdings raises the question of whether a. the level of censorship and manipulation of news media by the federal government will increase. b. government has the authority to regulate corporations that are so large. c. local newspapers are still a viable source of news. d. there is enough competition among the media to produce a diverse set of views and opinions.
d. there is enough competition among the media to produce a diverse set of views and opinions.
The development of media giants with access to a variety of media holdings raises the question of whether a. the level of censorship and manipulation of news media by the federal government will increase. b. local newspapers are still a viable source of news. c. government has the authority to regulate corporations that are so large. d. there is enough competition among the media to produce a diverse set of views and opinions.
d. there is enough competition among the media to produce a diverse set of views and opinions.
When the Consumer Confidence Index is greater than 100 prior to an election, Americans tend to a. abstain from voting. b. vote against the incumbent party's presidential candidate. c. vote for third-party presidential candidates. d. vote for the incumbent party's presidential candidate.
d. vote for the incumbent party's presidential candidate.
Historically, realignments occur a. after midterm congressional elections but not after presidential elections. b. when Congress approves of them. c. only when the Constitution is amended. d. when new issues combine with economic or political crises to mobilize new voters and persuade large numbers of voters to reexamine their traditional partisan loyalties.
d. when new issues combine with economic or political crises to mobilize new voters and persuade large numbers of voters to reexamine their traditional partisan loyalties.
When do incumbents have difficulty securing supporters and contributors? a. some of the time b. never c. a majority of the time d. when they have experienced negative publicity
d. when they have experienced negative publicity