HIST1020: U.S. Government Unit 3

Which of these arguments supports the idea that public opinion should matter to elected officials?

"The aggregate information voters have, such as party membership and political ideology, allows them to make rational decisions."

Which of these arguments would most likely be made by critics of horse race coverage?

"This type of coverage doesn't educate voters about what candidates will actually do in office."

If a political campaign wanted to rally a group of voters who typically don't vote, which group would they most likely target?

18-25 year olds

Based on known data, which of these persons is most likely to vote?

A 68-year-old with a graduate degree.

Based on known data, which of these persons is least likely to vote?

A high school student who just turned 18.

Literacy tests, understanding tests, and poll taxes all had the effect of greatly limiting voting access for:

African Americans

Which of these describes an open primary?

An election in which any registered voter can vote to determine a party's candidate for office.

In all states, what qualifications must you have to be eligible to vote?

Be a U.S. citizen and 18 years of age.

Consider the graphs in Figure 1, Polarization of the U.S. Congress, in the tutorial. What effect has the data shown in the graphs had on bipartisanship?

Bipartisanship has decreased since the 1970s.

The 1976 Supreme Court case Buckley v. Valeo invalidated some of the campaign finance regulations set by the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). Which of these actions is now allowed as a result of Buckley v. Valeo?

Candidates may spend unlimited amounts of personal money on their campaign.

Consider the graph in Figure 3, Enacted and Introduced Laws by Congress, in the tutorial. Which of the following statements does the data in the graph support?

Congress is finding it increasingly difficult to agree on legislation.

Consider the bar graph of "Media Campaign Coverage by Topic" from the tutorial. Which of the following statements can be supported by the graph?

During an election, the media is more likely to cover the results of campaign polls than candidates' domestic policy positions.

Which of these is the first, and arguably most powerful, agent of political socialization that most individuals encounter?

Family

Which of these is true of a caucus?

Fewer voters tend to participate in a caucus than in a primary election.

When do the electors of the Electoral College cast their votes?

In mid-December

During the general election, where is a presidential candidate most likely to campaign?

In swing states

In a presidential election year, when does general election campaigning take place?

In the fall, after the national conventions have been held.

Consider the graph in Figure 4, Enacted Laws as a Share of Introduced Legislation by Congress, in the tutorial. What is the best explanation for the data shown in this graph?

Increasing political polarization has diminished the legislative productivity of Congress.

Select the true statement about the role of interest groups in the American political system.

Interest groups pressure policymakers to address issues by mobilizing the public.

Select the true statement about the role of interest groups in the American political system.

Interest groups research and inform policymakers about issues.

Which of these is an advantage of citizen journalism, when compared to mainstream news?

It gives the citizenry a more active role in agenda setting.

How does social media benefit political candidates today?

It gives them a platform to better control their message.

Fern is running for the House of Representatives. She's competing against her state's incumbent Congresswoman in the general election. Fern knows that it's very difficult to defeat incumbents, and she thinks her best strategy is to attack her opponent's voting record with a series of emotionally-charged, negative TV ads. What impact will running these ads likely have on the election?

It is difficult to know what the impact will be.

The Voting Rights Act was intended to expand access to the polls. Which of these only became illegal after the Voting Rights Act?

Literacy tests

Which of these groups performs most of the work of organizing and winning elections?

Local and state party organizations

You father joins the American Automobile Association (AAA), popularly known as Triple A, a nonprofit interest group for motorists. Although he pays annual dues to the organization, he explains to you that he appreciates knowing that if he ever has car trouble or an accident anywhere in the country, he can call AAA for roadside assistance. Which type of incentive appears to be motivating your father to participate in this interest group?

Material incentive

Consider the bar graph of "Bias in Cable News Coverage of Presidential Candidates, 2012" in the tutorial. Which of the following statements can be supported by the graph?

Overall, the coverage of candidates by major news networks is slightly more negative than positive.

Two national polling companies are interested in measuring the support of the Democratic frontrunners for the governor of California. Polling company A uses random-digit-dialing (RDD) to contact 1,000 Californians. A live interviewer asks respondents "Which candidate do you support?" The results of the poll are as follows: Tom Jones: 34% Abigail Lee: 51% Neither: 15% Margin of Error +/2% On the same day, polling company B uses random-digit-dialing to conduct a robo-poll of 1,500 Californians. A prerecorded electronic voice asks respondents "Which candidate do you prefer?" The results of the poll are as follows: Tom Jones: 32% Abigail Lee: 30% Neither: 38% Margin of Error +/-2.5% Which of the following most likely accounts for the difference in the poll results?

Poll A may be skewed by social desirability bias, as respondents may have been unwilling to report that they did not support either candidate.

Marcus, a city bus driver, pays dues to a labor union that lobbies on his behalf for better wages. What type of interest group is this?

Private interest

Which of these election systems would best enable third parties to gain a foothold in U.S. politics?

Proportional

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a consumer affairs interest group that rates how well businesses respond to customer concerns, using an A+ through F letter-grade scale. What type of interest group is this?

Public interest

Which of the following statements is true of libel?

Public officials have a higher standard to meet to win a libel lawsuit than private individuals.

Your friend joins the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an interest group that works to prevent and end homelessness in the U.S. Lately, he has been urging his friends and family to contact their representatives in Congress to demand more federal assistance. He explains to you that he is motivated by the strong belief that society has a duty to help those in need. Which type of incentive appears to be motivating your friend to participate in this interest group?

Purposive incentive

Which of these is a reason why misinformation is more prevalent on social media?

Social media is even less regulated than traditional media.

Your friend joins the local chapter of the League of Women Voters, an interest group that promotes voter participation, and the protection and expansion of voting rights. She explains that the primary reason she joined is because she enjoys the company of the other members. Which type of incentive appears to be motivating your friend to participate in this interest group?

Solidary incentive

Select the true statement about same-day voter registration.

Some states allow same-day voter registration, while others don't.

What was an effect of the Help America Vote Act (2002)?

States improved the maintenance of their voter rolls.

Consider the bar graph of "Media Campaign Coverage by Topic" from the tutorial. What is a consequence of the data provided in the graph?

The American people today are generally not well-informed by the media's shallow campaign reporting.

In the 1820s, the Democratic-Republican Party was split into two new parties. These new parties competed for the votes of newly-enfranchised white men who did not own property. Which party benefited most from this new group of voters?

The Democrats

The Democratic and Republican parties experienced a significant realignment in the election of 1932. What factor primarily drove this realignment?

The Great Depression

Which of these statements is true of political socialization?

The beliefs and attitudes we form early in life tend to stay the same as we grow older.

How do neopluralists understand the role of interest groups in the American political system?

The influence of different interest groups shifts according to the political environment.

A market research company conducts a poll to measure customer satisfaction with a cosmetic product. Using the Internet, the company contacts a group of 2,000 Americans representing the various demographics that use the product, and who are known to have actually purchased it. The survey asks respondents to agree or disagree with the statement: "My skin texture has improved since starting the product." The cosmetics company publishes the results of the poll, along with the headline: "Majority of Customers Report Better Skin!" Agree: 60% Disagree: 36% No Response: 4% Margin of Error +/-15% Why might this poll be considered unreliable? Select the best answer.

The poll has a large margin of error, which indicates that the poll results may be far from what the population actually thinks.

A local news organization placed journalists outside of the Elmwood neighborhood polling station on Election Day, to conduct a survey of local citizens exiting the polls. The survey asked 500 respondents to answer the following question: "How important do you feel it is to vote in this election?" The next day, the news organization published the results of its survey, along with the headline: "Most Elmwood Residents Say Voting Is Important": Very important: 52% of respondents Important: 36% of respondents Somewhat Important: 10% of respondents Not important: 2% of respondents Margin of Error +/-3% Why might this poll be considered unreliable? Select the best answer.

The poll's sample was not randomly selected or representative of the whole population of Elmwood.

Which of these is true statement about third parties in U.S. politics?

Their candidates may have a "spoiler" effect on elections.

Which of these features distinguishes a political party from an interest group?

Their members seek to become elected leaders.

According to the tutorial, which of the following best describes how the Supreme Court uses public opinion?

There is some evidence to suggest that Supreme Court decisions reflect public opinion.

Which of the following is true of regular political action committees (PACs)?

They can raise money to spend directly on a candidate's campaign.

The 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allowed for the creation of super PACs that can influence elections. Which of the following is true of super PACs?

They can spend unlimited amounts of money during elections, but they cannot coordinate directly with a campaign.

Which of these is a true statement about third parties in U.S. politics?

They play an important role in policy, even if they rarely win at the polls.

Which of these is an important function performed by political parties?

They simplify democracy for voters by providing a shortcut for making decisions.

According to the tutorial, why do interest groups often donate to political candidates from both major parties?

To maintain access to policymakers.

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) represents the interests of the U.S. poultry and meat industries to government. What type of interest group is this?

Trade association

Peter, a CEO of a small business, is running for president. It's early in the primary season, and he's competing for a major political party's nomination among a large slate of well-known candidates. He knows that to succeed, he needs to build name recognition quickly. However, Peter is still in the early stages of fundraising, and he does not have a large war chest yet. Based upon what we know about the candidate, what would be the most effective, low-cost strategy for Peter to build name recognition at this point?

Try to get as much news coverage and as many interviews as he can.

The governor of Iowa is running for president in the Democratic primary. Although popular in his own state, he does not have a lot of name recognition on the national stage. He wants to build name recognition and project an image of himself as a friendly, relatable person. What strategy would most likely help him to achieve his goal?

Try to make a guest appearance on a popular late night talk show.

As of 2022, approximately how many states require some form of identification on Election Day?

Two-thirds

What was a consequence of the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013)?

Voting laws that restrict ballot access increased.

A potential political candidate may decide not to run for office if their opponent has:

a large war chest.

Prior restraint allows the government to prevent the publication of material that would be considered:

a national security risk.

Political parties develop party platforms, which are best described as:

an established consensus of policy positions, which reflect the values of supporters.

According to the tutorial, interest group lobbyists are most likely to contact policymakers who:

are known to be supportive of the interest.

This first step on the path to political engagement is __________.

becoming informed

Volunteering to pick up trash along the roads in your community is best described as a form of __________.

civic engagement

Consider the following hypothetical scenario: Rather than reporting on the details of the president's new economic plan, a newspaper instead publishes a series of headlines about the president's recent diplomatic gaffe, because they think it will attract much more public interest and attention. This is an example of __________.

commercial bias

Franklin Roosevelt's radio "fireside chats" had the effect of:

convincing voters of the value of his policy plans.

As an agenda setter, the media:

decide which topics deserve public discussion.

The FCC's equal-time rule states that:

during elections, candidates must be given equal opportunity to appear on non-cable television and radio stations.

While the media perform an important role of informing the citizenry, most media outlets must balance this role against the need to _________.

generate profits

The watchdog role of the media involves:

holding the government accountable.

According to the tutorial, lawmakers primarily rely on interest groups for:

information and voting cues.

A public opinion poll with a low margin of error is generally considered to be __________.

more precise

The first type of investigative journalism, which emerged during the Progressive Era, was called __________.

muckraking

Unlike general elections, primary elections:

often see candidates expressing more extreme views.

In terms of numbers, the largest component of political parties is the:

party-in-the-electorate.

Calling your state representative to express your opinion on an issue is a form of __________.

political action

The lowest level of party organization is the:

precinct.

Consider the following hypothetical scenario: During the current president's term in office, the federal deficit (the difference between federal spending and revenue) dropped to it lowest point in decades. However, the media report frequently on what critics call wasteful federal spending. As a result, voters have a negative view of the current president's economic policies as he begins his re-election campaign. This is an example of __________.

priming

A voter whose identity is in doubt on Election Day may be given a(n) __________.

provisional ballot

The group of individuals who are randomly selected to represent a population in a public opinion poll is called the __________.

sample

The Republican Party emerged in the 1850s in direct response to the issue of:

slavery.

The power of television to influence politics was first demonstrated during:

the 1960 presidential debate.

Dissatisfaction with a sitting president can affect the results of midterm elections. This is known as __________.

the reverse-coattail effect

A person is more likely to be an independent voter if:

their parents do not display political party loyalty.

Consider the following hypothetical scenario: Congress is currently debating a new bill that would transform how health insurance companies categorize treatment for drug addiction. As part of their reporting on the bill, a national newspaper publishes an article that explains how drug addiction has been treated by health professionals since the 1970s. This is an example of __________.

thematic framing

To run for national political office, potential candidates must have:

time and money, or the ability to raise money.

A(n) __________ is a public opinion poll that measures how the public's view on a topic changes over time.

tracking poll

The Motor Voter Act (1993) allowed Americans to register to vote:

when applying for a driver's license.