Politcal Science Exam 2 part 2

What is the difference between "traditional" authoritarianism and totalitarianism?

"Traditional" authoritarianism seeks political passivity and obedience rather than enthusiastic participation and mobilization

One benefit of a system with frequent alternation in power is __________.

Effective control over corruption

Which statement can explain why a public opinion poll taken in 2006 found that large numbers of Americans still believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and significant links to Al Qaeda?

People often hold onto impressions even after the facts have been shown to them.

What do studies on political culture and public opinion have in common?

Responses are often tracked over time to find patterns.

What German thinker argued that any organization, no matter how democratic its intent, ends up run by a small elite?

Robert Michels

Which of the following individuals would most likely be a member of Nixon's "silent majority" in the late 1960s?

a Republican attending church in Oklahoma

In terms of their political subculture, African-Americans tend to be __________ and __________ than white Americans.

less affluent; more liberal

Case studies have revealed that the United States is much __________ than other industrial countries.

more religious

Political culture changes __________.

more than was once assumed

The annual income of the average convention delegate is __________ the annual income of the average voter.

much higher than

A country's political culture tends to be __________.

multifaceted

In the United States, the press is often referred to as the "fourth branch of government" because __________.

of its key role in keep government accountable to citizen demands

Some political thinkers are concerned about U.S. stability if __________ continues to grow.

polarization

Studies of __________ look for basic, general values regarding politics and government.

political culture

According to Dahl, threatening to jail someone for criticizing the government would be an example of __________.

power

A well-constructed public opinion poll __________.

separates conservative from liberal opinions

The years of Watergate, the Vietnam War, and inflation correlated with a __________ in citizens' trust in the U.S. government.

sharp decline

Modern elite theorists are __________.

social critics

Surveys indicate that faith in democracy is __________ in the United States than in other modern democracies, such as France and Germany.

stronger

Which of the following conditions, if true, might have prevented Germany from succumbing to totalitarian rule?

the Allies concluded a less punitive peace deal after WWI

The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision by the Supreme Court led to __________.

the end of racial segregation in schools

The fact that most Americans turned against the Iraq War after learning that Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction (WMD) illustrates __________.

the limitations on government's ability to create the public opinion it desires

What evidence would pluralists most likely cite to support their claims that elites are ultimately accountable?

the millions of dollars that tobacco firms have paid out in lawsuits and settlements

The act of __________ is merely the starting point for political participation.

voting

Which statement explains the claim that "democracy does not always equal freedom"?

Even democratic elections can produce regimes that limit rights and freedoms.

Which of these are features of an all-encompassing ideology?

an official theory of history and economics, a portrayal of the world in black and white terms, and acceptable of an imperfect society

After interviewing a citizen about his support for the new health care bill, a newspaper concludes that there is widespread support for the new legislation in town. This is an example of __________.

anecdotal evidence

Elite theorists and pluralists differ on whether or not __________.

any single monopoly on the influence over government policies

In Iraq, governance is complicated and sometimes violent because people from different __________ tend to vote for different parties.

religious groups

Elites are wealthier, better educated, and more influential than the average citizen. Politically, elites are more likely to __________ than the rest of the population.

run for office

The economic performance of the totalitarian regime in the Soviet Union was undermined by __________.

the development of non-Communist political parties

For centuries Spain was split by __________, creating "Two Spains."

region and religiosity

A subculture can be expected to have __________ than the mainstream culture around it.

different voting habits

Convention delegates tend to be more __________ than average voters.

educated

A media that is critical of its nation's government is typically indicative of a __________.

high degree of democracy

Elections rarely show __________.

how voters feel about specific issues

Incomplete or late attempts to integrate subcultures into the mainstream may cause those subcultures to seek __________.

independence

What is the main difference between autocratic regimes of the past and twentieth-century totalitarian regimes?

Autocratic regimes demobilized their populations, whereas totalitarian regimes demanded mass mobilization and widespread participation by citizens.

What is the relationship between alternation in power and democratic elections?

Both must have an element of uncertainty and fluidity.

Which of these can be considered an example of direct democracy?

Citizens voting on a ballot referendum

Which leader showed an early form of authoritarianism by claiming "The state—that's me."

Kind Louis XIV

Totalitarianism began with __________

Lenin's seizure of power in Russia

Which statement explains why the life cycle theory does not always hold true?

Major events during young adulthood can affect people's political views for a long time.

Which of the following lends support to the political generations theory of public opinion?

Many people who lived through the Great Depression are life-long supporters of welfare programs.

Which country is a present-day example of a totalitarian regime?

North Korea

Recent Supreme Court decisions loosened restrictions on campaign spending, allowing billionaires to exert unprecedented influence over U.S. elections. Which statement represents the way an elite theorist would most likely evaluate this development?

The Supreme Court has undermined democracy by tilting elections in favor of moneyed interests

Which statement describes "authoritarian capitalism"?

The regime allows markets to function in a mostly free way but retains a monopoly over political power

Despite their lack of natural resources, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong have experienced high economic growth thanks to their __________.

work ethic and willingness to trust one another

What does Barrington Moore's observation "No bourgeoisie, no democracy" imply about the requirements for stable democracy?

A stable democracy can only take hold in a society with a large educated middle class

__________ has grown in the political cultures of most advanced democracies.

Cynicism

Which statement represents a pluralist explanation for increases in defense spending?

Defense spending increases when the public demands greater attention be paid to national security threats.

What is one direct consequence of people demanding their "rights" in the absence of a corresponding sense of responsibility?

Demands placed on government become impossible to meet.

Which of these occurred in many formerly colonized nations after World War II?

Democracy was quickly replaced by authoritarianism

In recent decades, women were several percentage points more likely than men to vote for a __________ presidential candidate.

Democratic

Which of these is a characteristic of authoritarian regimes but not totalitarian regimes?

Hierarchical organization of command

In the United States, some affluent suburbs are quite liberal, while poorer country dwellers are conservative. What does this suggest about Karl Marx's theories on class consciousness?

His prediction regarding the salience of social class does not apply to the United States.

What is the most significant way in which television coverage turned public opinion in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1965?

Images of police brutality toward African Americans sparked widespread outrage.

What is one reason that distrusting the government can be a good thing?

Skeptical citizens are more likely than trusting citizens to notice and oppose government corruption.

How does political competence compare with political efficacy?

Political competence is concerned with knowing how to have a political impact, whereas political efficacy is concerned with feeling one has at least some power to have such a political impact.

The wealthiest 1 percent of Americans received the biggest of the Bush administration's 2001 tax cuts. This fact provides the best support for which of these claims?

Political power tends to benefit those with money and connections

Which of these statements about the role of race and ethnicity in politics is the most accurate?

Politics based on ethnicity have the potential to be fluid and change over time.

Which of the following is a plausible explanation for the polls' prediction that Dewey would defeat Truman in 1948?

Pollsters had assumed that respondents who said they were undecided would wind up voting in the same ratio as those who had already decided.

Why might a government go ahead with a policy or action that the majority of citizens oppose?

Public opinion does not always reflect what is best for the nation.

Which of the following is a minority subculture?

Quebecois in Canada

Why is declining membership in traditional organizations such as the Boy Scouts insufficient evidence that Americans are becoming less interested in organizing?

Rates of volunteerism and membership in other organizations are still high.

The main way that democratic governments are held accountable is through __________.

Regular electoral challenge

Which of the following viewpoints is most consistent with elite political culture?.

Running for office is viable and realistic.

Which of these following countries could be labeled a "fake democracy"?

Russia

Which statement provides evidence for the usefulness of social media in a democratic system?

Text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, and television media helped catalyze the "Arab Spring."

What is one likely explanation for the fact that the 2001 tax cuts favored the wealthiest Americans?

Thanks to their education and resources, wealthy people have both political competence and political efficacy.

Which condition suggests that a state's elections are rigged?

The regime controls most or all of the press in the country

Which country has recently become more authoritarian?

Venezuela

How is the United States able to loudly proclaim its democratic values in the face of its history of low voter turnout?

Voter turnout is not an inherently crucial aspect of democratic culture.

Mahatma Gandhi's movement in India illustrated that __________.

a government responds to public opinion when its image is threatened

Based on opinion polls in other areas, one could conclude that an American with a college education is likely to support __________.

a reduction of welfare benefits

In any country in the world, which of the following people would you expect to participate the most in politics?

a wealthy business leader

One plausible explanation for Quebec's desire for separation from Canada is that __________.

bilingualism and multiculturalism can lead to national fragmentation

Churches, clubs, businesses, and soccer leagues are all elements of __________.

civil society

Survey results show that __________ Americans tend to be more tolerant and more in favor of civil rights than the public as a whole.

college-educated

What does public opinion polling provide that election results cannot?

insight into citizens' views on specific issues

During the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, __________ was portrayed as vital to national security.

integration

Which of these is the most significant cause for democratic failure?

lack of a middle class

Which factor contributed most to the collapse of regimes such as those in the Soviet Union?

lack of sustained public support

The 1959 and 1960 surveys of 1,000 people in five countries conducted by Almond and Verba uncovered three political cultures. What were they?

participant, subject, and parochial

Lower levels of education, along with corresponding lower incomes, reduce the likelihood that people will __________.

participate in politics

According to Almond, the elite might play to the attentive public because the attentive public tends to __________.

pass on views that mobilize the general public

Because they can be voted out of office if the people are galvanized, politicians usually work to keep the public __________.

passive and quiet

What do authoritarian leaders seek from their citizens?

passivity and obediance

Which feature of democracy may still exist in an authoritarian regime?

periodic elections

Venezuela is which type of authoritarian regime?

personalistic

The 2008 U.S. financial bailouts were met with public opposition despite the fact that they staved off a depression and were being repaid. This illustrates that __________.

the public is often swayed by emotional rather than rational considerations

Right-wing totalitarianism tends to be focused on blocking __________

the success of a leftist revolution

Even if they were real, the Norwegian Americans of the fictional Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, would not constitute a political subculture because __________.

they are mainstream

States with which type of government regularly use organized terror and violence against citizens to maintain control and achieve goals?

totalitarianism

A person's dedication to her organic vegetable garden would not be considered part of public opinion but her __________ would be.

views on food industry

In order to create a mainstream culture in which most Americans feel at home, the United States has relied largely on __________ and its education system.

voluntary integration

Which statement explains why public opinion is an important consideration for both democratic and authoritarian governments?

Strong public dissent can lead to an electoral defeat or the collapse of the regime.

Which of the following reforms would move a regime from a totalitarian system to an authoritarian system?

power shifted from one leader to a small group

Public opinion studies rarely go beyond __________.

quantified data, such as poll results

Political culture is a combination of deeply held values and __________.

reactions to current events