Test Two Online Quizzes

15. Since the creation of our current "two-party" system, when was the last time a "third-party" candidate won the presidency of the United States? a. 1912 b. 1948 c. 1992 d. A third party has never won the presidency under the current system.

a. 1912

26. _____________ is/are the amount of money, approved by Congress in statutes, that each unit or agency can spend. a. Appropriations b. Allotment c. Legislative authorization d. none of the above

a. Appropriations

36. In ____________, the Supreme Court ruled that there could be no limits placed on candidates' expenditure of their own funds, since such spending is considered free speech. a. Buckley v. Valeo b. Nixon v. U.S. c. Rockefeller v. U.S. d. Kerry v. U.S.

a. Buckley v. Valeo

25. In terms of the public-policy process, what is the significance of the concept of the iron triangle? a. Policy is disproportionately made at the subsystem level. b. Policy is aimed at the public interest rather than the particular parties affected by the policy. c. Policies made through iron triangle processes can lead to a shoestring budget. d. Policies incorporate the ideas of far too many people, so they end up being ineffective.

a. Policy is disproportionately made at the subsystem level.

20. ____________ voting occurs when voting is based on the imagined future performance of a candidate. a. Prospective b. Retrospective c. Evaluative d. Partisan

a. Prospective

4. If no presidential candidate wins a majority of votes in the electoral college, what happens? a. The names of the top three candidates would be submitted to the House, where each state would be able to cast one vote. b. A runoff election is held in closely divided states. c. The names of the top three candidates would be submitted to the Senate, where each state would be able to cast one vote. d. It is impossible that no candidate would receive a majority of votes in the electoral college.

a. The names of the top three candidates would be submitted to the House, where each state would be able to cast one vote.

27. What was the effect of the Motor Voter Registration Act in the first presidential election after it was passed? a. Voter registration rose, but voter turnout did not. b. Both voter registration and voter turnout rose. c. Neither voter registration nor voter turnout rose. d. Voter registration did not rise, but voter turnout levels did.

a. Voter registration rose, but voter turnout did not.

5. A proportional-representation electoral system is a. a multimember district system that gives each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote. b. a single-member district system that gives each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote. c. a multimember district system in which the candidate with the most votes wins the election. d. a single-member district system in which the candidate with the most votes wins the election.

a. a multimember district system that gives each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote.

5. A proposal to grant some kind of relief, special privilege, or exemption to the person named in a bill is the definition of a. a private bill. b. casework. c. oversight. d. pork barrel.

a. a private bill.

23. According to the authors of the textbook, forming PACs and contributing to the campaign coffers of candidates is basically a strategy of buying a. access. b. votes. c. members of Congress. d. information.

a. access.

24. In 2004, the gambling industry in Missouri wanted to change the Missouri Constitution to expand gambling. It organized a campaign through voter signatures and put its proposal directly on the ballot for a vote of the people. This is called a. an initiative. b. an ex post facto law. c. a primary. d. an amicus curiae brief.

a. an initiative.

10. The Republican Party was formed a. as a coalition of antislavery forces. b. as a coalition of proslavery forces. c. in response to Thomas Jefferson's call for states rights. d. after suffering persecution under the Alien and Sedition Acts.

a. as a coalition of antislavery forces.

Misinformation about political issues is higher among people who get their news from a. blogs b. newspapers c. television d. radio talk shows

a. blogs

19. Some people favor the use of caucuses to select party nominees because a. caucus participants tend to be more knowledgeable. b. caucuses increase the influence of the media. c. caucuses have higher rates of participation. d. caucuses are quicker and easier, an important advantage for those with busy schedules.

a. caucus participants tend to be more knowledgeable.

9. In general, the purpose of the congressional whip system is a. communications. b. staffing. c. to discipline Congress members who break party unity.

a. communications.

12. In general, voter turnout over the last 50 years has a. declined, then risen recently. b. risen, then declined recently. c. stayed the same as a proportion of eligible voters, but more people are voting, now that many obstacles to voting have been removed. d. declined in presidential elections, but risen in midterm elections.

a. declined, then risen recently.

18. Over the years, the power of labor leaders and machine politicians has a. declined. b. increased. c. stayed about the same. d. disappeared.

a. declined.

39. The purpose of celebrity witnesses testifying before congressional committees is to a. draw media attention to political debates. b. improve the celebrities' public images. c. change the mind of senators and representatives. d. raise charitable funds.

a. draw media attention to political debates.

2. Which of the following is most important in predicting conventional political participation in American politics? a. education b. race c. gender d. region

a. education

Broadcasters must provide candidates running for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public. This is the a. equal time rule b. right to rebuttal rule c. fairness doctrine d. equal access rule

a. equal time rule

17. Which of the following is an example of voter canvassing? a. going door-to-door to solicit votes b. fundraising activities c. campaign rallies d. televised debates

a. going door-to-door to solicit votes

33. The textbook authors believe that the Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission will a. increase the role of money in elections. b. decrease the role of money in elections. c. have little or no effect on elections. d. enfranchise more poor voters.

a. increase the role of money in elections.

The FCC's fairness doctrine a. is no longer being enforced b. is strictly enforced c. is enforced only during presidential campaigns d. applies only to cable television

a. is no longer being enforced

Why did Howard Stern move to satellite radio? a. it isn't regulated by the FC b. He could reach the whole country c. he wanted to broadcast in europe c. he would get a higher audience share

a. it isn't regulated by the FC

29. According to the textbook, reforms enacted in the 1970s to make Congress more accessible have made Congress a. less effective and more susceptible to special interests. b. available to the broad American public. c. more willing to compromise on important issues. d. all of the above

a. less effective and more susceptible to special interests.

Politicians generally consider ____________ friendlier venues than the ____________. a. local broadcasts; national news b. national news; local broadcasts c. television broadcasts; internet d. television broadcasts; radio

a. local broadcasts; national news

32. In this type of organization, group members engage in projects and serve on committees within the interest group. a. membership association b. professional association c. Astroturf lobby d. staff organization

a. membership association

21. African Americans a. overwhelmingly vote Democratic. b. tend to vote Republican. c. vote more frequently than whites. d. have voted for Democrats in the past but are trending more Republican in recent years.

a. overwhelmingly vote Democratic.

20. A psychological tie to a political party is the definition of a. party identification. b. political socialization. c. a caucus. d. a party activist.

a. party identification.

10. According to the authors, in general, to obtain adequate political representation, forces from the bottom rungs of the socioeconomic ladder must be organized on the massive scale associated with a. political parties. b. interest groups. c. charismatic leaders. d. public interest groups.

a. political parties.

30. An ad that focuses on the candidate's qualifications, family, and issue position without referencing the opponent is generally referred to as a a. positive ad. b. negative ad. c. spot ad. d. contrast ad.

a. positive ad.

4. Common Cause is an example of a(n) ____________ interest group, the National Taxpayers Union is an example of a(n) ____________ interest group, and the Brookings Institution is an example of a(n) ____________ interest group. a. public interest; ideological; public sector b. ideological; public interest; public sector c. public sector; public interest; ideological d. ideological; public sector; public interest

a. public interest; ideological; public sector

36. The process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts is called a. redistricting. b. apportionment. c. patronage. d. pork.

a. redistricting.

14. Within each committee, hierarchy has usually been based on a. seniority. b. age of the congressperson. c. party. d. demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, race, occupational background).

a. seniority.

10. Members of the House of Representatives are selected by a. single-member districts. b. proportional representation. c. the Senate. d. the state legislatures.

a. single-member districts.

28. In general, Democrats support a. social programs and regulation of businesses. b. lower taxes and cuts in social programs. c. higher taxes and cuts in social programs. d. cuts in military spending and deregulation of businesses.

a. social programs and regulation of businesses.

2. Which type of representation takes place when representatives have the same racial, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents? a. sociological b. delegate c. trustee d. agency

a. sociological

13. In the 1990s, the Republican leadership in Congress shifted power from _____________ to _____________. a. standing committees; party leaders b. party leaders; standing committees c. conference committees; party leaders d. conference committees; standing committees e. standing committees; conference committees

a. standing committees; party leaders

14. Between the 1830s and World War II, national convention delegates were generally selected by a. state party leaders. b. state legislatures. c. primary elections. d. direct primaries.

a. state party leaders.

11. After thirty-six years of dominating U.S. political life, the Republican Party lost power after ____________ began. a. the Great Depression b. World War II c. the Civil War d. the 9/11 attacks

a. the Great Depression

30. Until recent years at least, ____________ have been the principal agents responsible for giving citizens the motivation and incentive to vote. a. the major parties b. the media c. third parties d. interest groups

a. the major parties

Even though newspapers are not the primary news source for most Americans, why could they still be considered important? a. they are still influential among the political elite b. they are still influential among middle-class Americans c. they have a long history and should be respected for the role that they used to play, even if they don't matter today. d. they aren't considered important today.

a. they are still influential among the political elite

17. A presidential veto can be overridden by a a. two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress. b. majority vote in both houses of Congress. c. three-fourths vote in the Senate. d. majority vote in the House of Representatives.

a. two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.

29. The phenomenon called the "gender gap" refers to the fact that a. women are more likely to vote for Democrats than men are. b. more men turn out to vote than women. c. in families, it is usually men who determine how the family votes. d. more men than women have their ballots invalidated.

a. women are more likely to vote for Democrats than men are.

Which group is the least likely to vote? a. young adults b. middle-aged adults c. retirees d. wealthy people

a. young adults

Which age group cites the Internet as their main source of news? a. younger Americans b. middle-age Americans c. senior citizens d. middle-class Americans

a. younger Americans

27. Since the passage of the 2002 Campaign Finance law, individuals may donate a maximum of ____________ to any single candidate; a political action committee may donate ____________ to each candidate. a. $1,000; $25,000 b. $2,300; $5,000 c. $10,000; $50,000 d. $100,000; $500,000

b. $2,300; $5,000

30. Approximately what percentage of senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress are women? a. 8 percent b. 16 percent c. 26 percent d. 40 percent

b. 16 percent

9. American women got the right to vote in a. 1870. b. 1920. c. 1940. d. 1965.

b. 1920.

2. Which interest group's support of the health care reform was influential for many members of Congress? a. NRA b. AARP c. MBNA d. NAM

b. AARP

9. Who was the founder of the Democratic Party? a. George Washington b. Andrew Jackson c. Alexander Hamilton d. Abraham Lincoln

b. Andrew Jackson

26. I run a Washington-based consulting firm. An interest group hires my firm to persuade Congress not to pass a particular bill. I use mailing lists to send members of Congress thousands of letters showing "an outpouring of opposition to the bill." In many cases, the individuals whose names were on the letters had no strong feelings or even no opinion about the bill. This process is called a. deceptive advertising. b. Astroturf lobbying. c. direct-mail advertising. d. negative lobbying.

b. Astroturf lobbying.

28. For many years, analysts have referred to the ___________ vote as the "sleeping giant," because this is such a large group with relatively low levels of participation. a. African American b. Latino c. Asian d. labor

b. Latino

25. ____________ is/are the effort by Congress through hearings, investigations, and other techniques to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies. a. Appropriations b. Oversight c. Legislative veto d. Pocket veto

b. Oversight

27. In general, which party tends to favor lower taxes and few social programs? a. Democratic b. Republican c. Independent d. Reform

b. Republican

31. Which party has controlled the White House for most of the last thirty years? a. Democratic b. Republican c. Reform d. No one party has been dominant during the past thirty years.

b. Republican

21. ____________ voting occurs when voting is based on the past performance of a candidate. a. Prospective b. Retrospective c. Evaluative d. Partisan

b. Retrospective

18. The ____________ Committee in the House of Representatives allots the time for House debate and decides to what extent amendments to the bill can be proposed from the floor. a. Ways and Means b. Rules c. Administrative Procedures d. Appropriations

b. Rules

6. According to the authors of the textbook, in recent years, the House has exhibited considerably more intense partisanship and ideological division than the Senate. Why? a. Because of their narrow constituencies, senators are less inclined to seek compromise than are House members. b. Since House members represent more homogeneous districts in which their party is dominant, they are less willing to seek compromise. c. Since the 1950s, the Republicans have controlled the House, but this has not been the case in the Senate. d. Leadership is more important in the Senate than in the House; thus senators follow party lines more strictly than House members.

b. Since House members represent more homogeneous districts in which their party is dominant, they are less willing to seek compromise.

31. Which of the following is most likely to vote? a. a high school student from a middle-class background b. a 70-year-old middle-class retired person c. a 30-year-old automobile mechanic d. an ex-felon trying to turn his life around

b. a 70-year-old middle-class retired person

16. As Americans are becoming more educated, we are seeing a. political participation remaining about the same. b. a decline in political participation. c. a moderate increase in political participation. d. a sharp increase in political participation.

b. a decline in political participation.

6. What is a free rider? a. an interest group that files an amicus curiae brief b. a person who enjoys the benefits of an action or a service without any effort on her or his part c. an economic term that means a person receives the services distributed by a monopoly

b. a person who enjoys the benefits of an action or a service without any effort on her or his part

Interest groups try to secure media coverage of their issues to ultimately get the attention of politicians and passage of favorable policy proposals. Interest groups do this because of the ______________ power of the media. a. equal time b. agenda-setting c. filtering d. amplification

b. agenda-setting

3. Joe walks into his voting station, and the election judge asks him which party's ballot he would like to vote on today. Joe is in a. a closed primary state. b. an open primary state. c. a caucus state. d. a dictatorship.

b. an open primary state.

33. After the 2010 census, it was determined that Texas will gain one seat in the House of Representatives, that Oklahoma will lose one, and Ohio will lose two. This scenario is an example of a. redistricting. b. apportionment. c. gerrymandering. d. logrolling.

b. apportionment.

20. In terms of mobilizing their constituents, political parties a. no longer attempt to mobilize voters directly. b. are beginning to reemphasize direct voter mobilization. c. have not changed their level of effort. d. have never mobilized voters in the past, but engaged in massive voter registration drives in the 2008 and 2010 elections.

b. are beginning to reemphasize direct voter mobilization.

According to the authors of the textbook, most publishers today a. are most concerned with editorial content. b. are business people and are more concerned with business operations than with editorial content. c. dictate a particular political bias that the media should promulgate. d. have a liberal political ideology.

b. are business people and are more concerned with business operations than with editorial content.

38. Congress is a a. unicameral legislature. b. bicameral legislature. c. multicameral legislature. d. authoritarian legislature.

b. bicameral legislature.

1. Congress is a ____________ legislature with ____________ members. a. unicameral; 342 b. bicameral; 535 c. bicameral; 100 d. unicameral; 630

b. bicameral; 535

23. According to the authors of the textbook, all of the following EXCEPT which are influences from inside government that help determine how congresspeople vote? a. party leadership b. constituents c. the president d. congressional colleagues

b. constituents

According to the textbook, the media's adversarial posture toward government may a. increase levels of political participation b. decrease levels of political participation c. not have any impact on levels of political participation. d. increase participation at the national level but decrease participation at the state level.

b. decrease levels of political participation

31. As a(n) ____________ the member of Congress acts on the express preferences of her constituents; as a(n) _____________ the member is more loosely tied to constituents and makes the decisions she thinks best. a. representative; individual b. delegate; trustee c. individual; representative d. trustee; delegate

b. delegate; trustee

13. New Politics groups use ____________ to efficiently identify and mobilize their adherents. a. petitions on street corners b. electronic communication c. huge TV advertising d. a telephone tree

b. electronic communication

8. According to James Madison, a good constitution a. prohibits the formation of interest groups, or factions. b. encourages multitudes of interests so that no single interest can ever tyrannize the others. c. should be silent on the issue of the formation of interest groups; such groups should not be regulated in a free society. d. should protect the rights of interest groups in a bill of rights.

b. encourages multitudes of interests so that no single interest can ever tyrannize the others.

27. Lobbyists are often likely to be a. former union members. b. former government employees. c. former journalists. d. future members of Congress.

b. former government employees.

The power of the media to decide how the American people interpret political events and results is called a. agenda setting b. framing c. priming d. selection bias

b. framing

22. According to the authors of the textbook, by far the most common electoral strategy employed by interest groups is a. staging protests aided by the media. b. giving money to political parties or to particular candidates. c. direct-mail advertising. d. lobbying Congress.

b. giving money to political parties or to particular candidates.

16. In 2003, Californians voted out Governor Gray Davis. This election was unusual because a. his opponent was an actor. b. he lost in a rare recall effort. c. California never votes Republican. d. California's economy was in good shape.

b. he lost in a rare recall effort.

15. Over the past twenty-five years, the number of interest groups in the United States has a. increased somewhat. b. increased enormously. c. decreased somewhat. d. decreased enormously.

b. increased enormously.

35. The right of candidates to spend their own money on running for office a. is limited by a cap of $50 million. b. is protected by the First Amendment right of free speech. c. was forbidden by the Campaign Reform Act of 2002. d. is allowed only if the candidate could meet every personal dollar with a dollar of outside donations.

b. is protected by the First Amendment right of free speech.

31. Often contrasted with iron triangles, ___________ are the connections among elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a particular policy issue. a. stakeholders b. issue networks c. think tanks d. lobbies

b. issue networks

16. Communication with lawmakers and members of the government by an individual or a group to influence the passage of legislation is the definition of a. strong-arm tactics. b. lobbying. c. amicus curiae. d. subsystem politics.

b. lobbying.

Community-based nonprofit newspapers are being supported by ____________ in an attempt to fill the void in local news created by the loss of local newspapers. a. bloggers b. local foundations c. national newspapers d. facebook

b. local foundations

7. Interest groups offer numerous incentives for members to join. Insurance and discount cards would be examples of a. informational benefits. b. material benefits. c. solidary benefits. d. purposive benefits.

b. material benefits.

The proliferation of media sources and outlets results in coverage that is a. more neutral b. more partisan c. more heterogeneous d. less accurate

b. more partisan

15. The ____________ is the document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues. a. party constitution b. party platform c. party bylaws d. party caucus

b. party platform

9. The theory that competition among organized interests will produce a balance with all the interests regulating one another is a. elite theory. b. pluralism. c. socialism. d. Machiavellian theory.

b. pluralism.

5. If the winner of an election is whoever receives the most votes, regardless of the percentage of votes received, the candidate has been running under a ____________ system. a. majority b. plurality c. proportional representation d. cumulative voting

b. plurality

31. Which are organizations established by corporations, labor unions, or interest groups to channel the contributions of their members into political campaigns? a. special interest groups b. political action committees c. congressional campaign committees d. so-called soft-money cartels

b. political action committees

8. According to the authors of the textbook, incumbency tends to a. produce change in Congress. b. preserve the status quo in Congress. c. result in the election of new committee chairpersons. d. reduce the importance of seniority in Congress.

b. preserve the status quo in Congress.

18. Which of the following is a task of the Democratic and Republican national committees? a. nominating the president and vice president b. raising campaign funds c. writing party platforms d. helping the president select cabinet members

b. raising campaign funds

19. Which of the following typifies "American" campaign techniques? a. party machines b. reliance on technology such as polls and spot ads c. grassroots campaigning d. a well-organized political party organizing large numbers of campaign volunteers

b. reliance on technology such as polls and spot ads

The FCC requires broadcasters to provide individuals with the opportunity to respond to personal attacks, which is known as the a. equal time rule b. right of rebuttal c. fairness doctrine d. equal access rule

b. right of rebuttal

16. One important cause of the two-party system in the United States is a. the Constitution's requirement for bipartisanship in Congress. b. single-member electoral districts. c. multimember electoral districts. d. proportional representation.

b. single-member electoral districts.

Which of the following sources of news typically covers topics with the least depth of coverage? a. radio talk shows b. television c. the internet d. newspapers

b. television

7. Except in rare occasions, boundaries for congressional and state legislative districts in the United States are redrawn by the states every _______ years. a. two b. ten c. twenty d. twenty-five

b. ten

22. Typically, party unity is higher in ____________ than in ____________. a. the Senate; the House b. the House; the Senate c. conference committees; standing committees d. standing committees; conference committees

b. the House; the Senate

American radio and television are regulated by a. state governments b. the federal communications commission c. local governments d. the securities and exchange commission

b. the federal communications commission

29. The Speaker of the House is selected by a. the president. b. the party that holds the majority of seats in the House. c. the party that holds the minority of seats in the House.

b. the party that holds the majority of seats in the House.

14. When income and education are taken into account, Latinos and African Americans vote at a. the same rate as white ethnics. b. the same rate or slightly higher than white ethnics. c. a lower rate than white ethnics. d. substantially higher rates than white ethnics.

b. the same rate or slightly higher than white ethnics.

12. One problem with the pluralist explanation of democracy is a. the equal distribution of group resources. b. the upper-class bias of most interest-group members. c. that every possible interest ends up being organized. d. that nobody ends up joining any interest group, an example of the free rider problem.

b. the upper-class bias of most interest-group members.

28. 527s and 501c(4)s are groups that play a significant role in American politics because a. they provide valuable information to members of Congress. b. they spent more than $1 billion in the 2008 campaign. c. they are the only groups outside the parties that are allowed to spend money on campaigns. d. unlike PACs, they can coordinate their spending with the candidates.

b. they spent more than $1 billion in the 2008 campaign.

6. Historically, the United States has always been a ____________-party system. a. one b. two c. three d. four

b. two

5. Americans are taught to equate citizenship with a. paying taxes. b. voting. c. serving on a jury. d. joining the military.

b. voting.

29. What has been a common way for interest groups, corporations, and political parties to aid a candidate while avoiding campaign finance laws? a. fund money through the unregulated PACs b. work with 527 committees and 501c(4)s to run campaign ads and promote issues c. use spot advertisements d. contribute large sums of money to the candidates

b. work with 527 committees and 501c(4)s to run campaign ads and promote issues

18. If you want to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, you should have at least a. $50,000. b. $100,000. c. $500,000. d. $5 million.

c. $500,000.

According to your textbook, about what percentage of Americans are registered users on the social media site Facebook? a. 15% b. 35% c. 50% d. 85%

c. 50%

About how many Americans are considered "digital citizens," defined by having high-speed Internet access at home? a. 20% b. 50% c. 60% d. 90%

c. 60%

More than ____________ of the daily newspapers in the United States are owned by large conglomerates such as the Hearst or Gannett corporations. a. 25% b. 50% c. 75% d. 90%

c. 75%

1. Which powerful interest group represents the interests of older Americans? a. NOW b. NRA c. AARP d. AFL-CIO

c. AARP

1. Which of the following differentiates an interest group from a political party? a. A party attempts to influence policy, whereas an interest group attempts to gain control of government by running candidates for office. b. An interest group is more comprehensive than a party. c. An interest group seeks to influence government on a narrow range of issues, whereas a party attempts to win elections. d. An interest group attempts to appeal broadly to many groups of voters.

c. An interest group seeks to influence government on a narrow range of issues, whereas a party attempts to win elections.

37. What point do the authors make about MBNA and the National Association of Manufacturers? a. Both gave huge sums of money to the Democratic Party in return for political favors in the 1990s. b. Both hired as their lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who bribed dozens of congressmen to get their support for legislation affecting their industry. c. Both received political favors after contributing large amounts of money to President George H. W. Bush and other GOP candidates. d. Money in politics is a "wash" since some groups support Republicans and others support Democrats.

c. Both received political favors after contributing large amounts of money to President George H. W. Bush and other GOP candidates.

37. Which controversial earmark led to a public outcry to reign in wasteful spending? a. Sparta Tea Pot Museum in North Carolina b. Turtle Crossing Tunnel in Florida c. Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska d. Big Dig at Boston's Logan International Airport

c. Bridge to Nowhere in Alaska

7. The first "party system" in the United Stated consisted of a. Federalists and Whigs. b. Democrats and Whigs. c. Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans. d. Republicans and Whigs.

c. Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans.

2. Which famous American, in his farewell address, encouraged his fellow citizens to avoid partisan politics? a. Alexander Hamilton b. Thomas Jefferson c. George Washington d. George Mason

c. George Washington

35. Which part of government is the only one that has always been directly elected by the people? a. president b. Senate c. House of Representatives d. Supreme Court

c. House of Representatives

33. What was the impact of the 2002 Campaign Finance Reform law? a. It significantly reduced the importance of money in campaigns. b. It increased the role of money in campaigns. c. It reduced the role of parties in financing campaigns. d. It limited the role of independent spending by tax-exempt organizations.

c. It reduced the role of parties in financing campaigns.

28. ____________ wrote that "liberty is to faction as air is to fire" and that interests should be permitted to regulate themselves by competing with one another. a. Thomas Jefferson b. Alexander Hamilton c. James Madison d. Alexis de Tocqueville

c. James Madison

9. Which of the following is the best example of direct democracy in practice in the United States today? a. Gerrymandering b. Open primary c. Referendum d. Caucus

c. Referendum

12. Which person came up with the "southern strategy" to get white southerners to start voting Republican? a. Ronald Reagan b. George W. Bush c. Richard Nixon d. Abraham Lincoln

c. Richard Nixon

23. Which of the following statements about the voting rights of felons is accurate? a. The Supreme Court has ruled that felons cannot be deprived of the constitutional right to vote once they have completed sentences. b. The Supreme Court has ruled that convicted felons are no longer U.S. citizens and are therefore ineligible to vote. c. Some states allow felons who have served their sentences to vote, while others do not. d. The recent trend is for increasingly strict restrictions on voting rights for felons.

c. Some states allow felons who have served their sentences to vote, while others do not.

22. From the Civil War to the 1960s, the ____________ was a Democratic stronghold. a. Midwest b. West c. South d. Northeast

c. South

13. The electoral college was modified by the ____________ Amendment. a. Eighth b. Tenth c. Twelfth d. Fourteenth

c. Twelfth

8. African American voting rates increased substantially a. after the resignation of President Nixon. b. as a result of Brown vs. Board of Education. c. after the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed. d. after the Motor Voter Act was passed.

c. after the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed.

18. Which of the following are the requisite parts of a so-called iron triangle? a. state, local, and federal governments b. the president, the secretary of defense, and the secretary of state c. an executive agency, a congressional committee or subcommittee, and an interest group d. an interest group, the president, and Congress

c. an executive agency, a congressional committee or subcommittee, and an interest group

Studies have shown that followers of comedic talk shows like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show a. are not very well informed about politics b. don't pay any attention to politics c. are well informed about politics d. only watch the shows for fun, since they don't tend to learn much about politics from the shows

c. are well informed about politics

3. General Motors is an example of a ____________ interest group, the AFL-CIO is an example of a ____________ interest group, and the American Bar Association is an example of a ____________ interest group. a. professional association; business; labor b. business; professional association; labor c. business; labor; professional association d. labor; professional association; business

c. business; labor; professional association

34. In most states, how do independent and third-party candidates qualify for the general election ballot? a. by paying a small filing fee with a state's secretary of state b. by winning a primary election in which all independent and third-party candidates are on the ballot c. by obtaining thousands of petition signatures d. by qualifying automatically

c. by obtaining thousands of petition signatures

20. In the House of Representatives, a bill's supporters generally prefer a(n) ____________ rule, which puts severe limits on floor debate and amendments. a. open b. restrictive c. closed d. binding

c. closed

5. Benefits that are broadly available and cannot be reasonably denied to others are the definition of a. constituent goods. b. regulative goods. c. collective goods. d. universalistic goods.

c. collective goods.

15. A group of senators or representatives who join together because they share certain opinions, interests, or social characteristics is the definition of a. congressional lobbies. b. sociological groups. c. congressional caucuses. d. voting blocks.

c. congressional caucuses.

23. Partisan ties in the United States have ____________ in recent years. a. originated b. increased c. declined d. been steady

c. declined

34. Which person is most likely to join an interest group? a. Wal-Mart employee b. college student c. doctor d. single mother

c. doctor

11. According to the authors, the explosion of interest-group activity in the United States has been the result of the a. linked growth in the power of U.S. political parties. b. increasing importance of the election as a linkage institution. c. expansion of the role of government. d. decline of public interest groups.

c. expansion of the role of government.

19. In the Senate, ____________ can be used to "talk a bill to death" unless three-fifths of the Senate vote for ____________. a. unanimous consent; a discharge petition b. the voice vote rule; a gag order petition c. filibuster; cloture d. none of the above

c. filibuster; cloture

19. The term amicus curiae means a. send up the records of a case. b. national supremacy. c. friend of the court. d. mechanical jurisprudence.

c. friend of the court.

8. State legislators routinely seek to influence electoral outcomes by manipulating the organization of electoral districts. This strategy is called a. reapportionment. b. the one person, one vote doctrine. c. gerrymandering. d. a recall.

c. gerrymandering.

25. The Presidential Election Campaign Fund is made up of contributions from a. corporations. b. PACs. c. individual taxpayers. d. political parties.

c. individual taxpayers.

30. Who has taken advantage of open committee meetings in Congress to put forth their agenda? a. the American public b. the minority party c. interest groups d. disenfranchised minorities

c. interest groups

20. Interest groups were heavily involved in the recent Michigan affirmative action cases. Some groups sponsored the lawsuit; other filed amicus curiae briefs for both sides. All of these groups would be using which interest-group tactic? a. tort reform b. judicial review c. litigation d. going public

c. litigation

17. According to the textbook, what tactic did Microsoft and Wal-Mart use to get favorable treatment from the government? a. litigation b. grassroots mobilization c. lobbying d. ballot initiatives

c. lobbying

The media have become a. less partisan b. less ideological c. more diverse d. more elite

c. more diverse

13. Voter turnout is highest for ____________ a. state elections. b. local elections. c. national elections. d. school board elections.

c. national elections.

____________ journalism caters to specialized interests of news consumers. a. citizen b. nonprofit c. niche d. traditional

c. niche

25. The process by which a party selects a single candidate to run for an elective office is defined as a a. caucus. b. primary. c. nomination.

c. nomination.

19. 527 committees are a. college savings plans that are not taxed. b. organizations within the Internal Revenue Service. c. nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence elections. d. corporate organizations that donate money to influence campaigns.

c. nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence elections.

11. The number of a state's electoral votes is determined by the a. number of members it has in the U.S. House of Representatives. b. percentage of its registered voters who voted in the last presidential election. c. number of members it has in both houses of Congress. d. state's proportionate share of the total U.S. population.

c. number of members it has in both houses of Congress.

4. Which type of legislation specifies a project or other authorizations to be funded, as well as the location of the project within a particular district? a. concurrent resolution b. private bill c. pork barrel d. casework resolution

c. pork barrel

2. Which of the following widely used systems has the effect of diminishing the power of American party leaders? a. proportional representation b. machine system c. primary system d. patronage system

c. primary system

12. The electoral college was designed to a. decrease the role of states in selecting the president. b. promote political party affiliation. c. produce a nonpartisan president. d. ensure that the winner of the popular vote would become president.

c. produce a nonpartisan president.

3. Participation that involves assembling crowds to confront a government or other official organization is considered a. public relations. b. a grassroots mobilization. c. protests. d. lobbying.

c. protests.

25. Which of the following would be the least likely to improve voter turnout in the United States? a. easing the absentee ballot process b. making election day a holiday c. requiring all voters to show photo identification d. creating a greater political awareness through education

c. requiring all voters to show photo identification

12. Historically, the most important arenas of congressional policy making have been a. the floors of the House and Senate. b. the halls of Congress where lobbyists roam. c. standing committees. d. conference committees.

c. standing committees.

22. According to the authors, which economic tool is the best predictor of presidential outcomes? a. the Consumer Price Index (CPI) b. the purchasing power index c. the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) d. the inflation rate

c. the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)

6. The result of voters casting their ballot for president or governor and "automatically" voting for the remainder of the party's ticket is called a. party voting. b. a butterfly ballot. c. the coattail effect. d. celebrity status.

c. the coattail effect.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the government and the media in the United States today? a. the government controls most of the media content through regulations and tightly controlled press briefings. b. the government owns but does not control the major sources of media. c. the government does not own but regulates the content and the ownership of broadcast media. d. broadcast media are not regulated in the United States.

c. the government does not own but regulates the content and the ownership of broadcast media.

The decline of party organizations since the 1970s has increased the dependence that politicians have on a. the party machines b. the primaries c. the media d. interest groups

c. the media

____________ are the ultimate beneficiaries of a free and active media. a. the politicians b. the reporters c. the people d. the newspapers

c. the people

26. Which is not an obstacle to voting in the United States? a. registration requirements b. voting bans for convicted felons c. voting by mail d. having elections on a regular workday

c. voting by mail

4. Compared with political parties in Europe, parties in the United States have always seemed . strong. b. centralized. c. weak. d. coherent.

c. weak.

32. Which religious group has become a significant part of the Republican party base starting in the 1980s? a. Jews b. Hindus c. white evangelical Protestants d. Muslims

c. white evangelical Protestants

24. Which group is most likely to vote for Republican candidates? a. African Americans b. women c. whites d. Hispanics

c. whites

16. In a typical congressional session, ____________ percent of bills introduced die in committee. a. 25 b. 50 c. 75 d. 95

d. 95

28. The president's ability to bypass the Senate and create foreign policy directly through the use of executive agreements was limited by Congress in 1972 with the passage of the a. War Powers Act. b. Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act. c. Hatch Act. d. Case Act.

d. Case Act.

7. In general, from a sociological representation perspective, how representative is the U.S. Congress? a. Congress mirrors the social origins of the U.S. population. b. Congress is representative only with respect to gender and race. c. Congress is representative only with respect to occupational backgrounds. d. Congress is not representative at all.

d. Congress is not representative at all.

3. What was George Washington's relationship with political parties in early America? a. He was the founder of the Federalist Party. b. He was the founder of the Bull Moose Party. c. He was the founder of the Whig Party. d. He thought political parties were a terrible idea.

d. He thought political parties were a terrible idea.

6. ____________ is the strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature. a. Public relations b. Grassroots mobilization c. Protests d. Lobbying

d. Lobbying

Conservative radio talk show hosts such as ____________ have helped to mobilize support for conservative political causes. a. Norman Goldman b. Larry King c. Stephen Colbert d. Rush Limbaugh

d. Rush Limbaugh

10. The leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is the a. president pro tempore. b. majority leader. c. majority whip. d. Speaker of the House.

d. Speaker of the House.

14. Which of the following is true about the so-called New Politics movement? a. The movement is made up of the poor and lower socioeconomic strata of U.S. society. b. The membership seeks particular benefits for specific groups such as prayer in school for religious members or a balanced budget for fiscal conservatives. c. The movement is overwhelmingly supportive of the status quo and the political system. d. The movement is made up of upper-middle-class professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences.

d. The movement is made up of upper-middle-class professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences.

13. Which of the following reasons best explains the short lives of third parties? a. Their goals and objectives are too extreme for most Americans. b. They lack requisite resources (membership, money, organization, etc.) to survive. c. They are organized to redistribute income; once new policies are in place, the parties disband. d. Their causes are usually eliminated by the ability of the major parties to absorb their programs and to draw their supporters into the mainstream.

d. Their causes are usually eliminated by the ability of the major parties to absorb their programs and to draw their supporters into the mainstream.

15. Which of the following statements is accurate? a. Hispanics vote more than African Americans; African Americans vote more than whites. b. Hispanics vote more than whites; whites vote more than African Americans. c. African Americans vote more than Hispanics; Hispanics vote more than African Americans. d. Whites vote more than African Americans; Africans Americans vote more than Hispanics.

d. Whites vote more than African Americans; Africans Americans vote more than Hispanics.

3. Which type of representation occurs when constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives? a. sociological b. delegate c. trustee d. agency

d. agency

10. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment a. allows felons to vote if they have completed their sentence. b. allows felons to vote if they are on probation. c. allows women to vote. d. allows eighteen-year-olds to vote.

d. allows eighteen-year-olds to vote.

21. In grassroots lobbying, interest groups a. deal directly with just junior members of Congress. b. file suits in state and local courts. c. deal directly with low-level bureaucrats. d. attempt to involve the general citizen and voter.

d. attempt to involve the general citizen and voter.

14. A party meeting to help nominate a candidate and formulate a platform is known as a a. convocation. b. conclave. c. concubine. d. convention.

d. convention.

If an idea lacks or loses media appeal, its chance of resulting in new programs or policies is a. increased b. not affected c. increased at first but then decreased d. decreased

d. decreased

22. Registering to vote in the United States is a. easier than in European countries. b. required when you get a driver's license. c. required if you apply for a student loan. d. harder than in European countries.

d. harder than in European countries.

Which of the following is not a reason that new media has become more popular in recent years? a. it tends to be updated more quickly. b. it has a wider diversity of sources. c. it is usually more convenient than print or broadcast media. d. it tends to have more accurate reporting.

d. it tends to have more accurate reporting.

24. "You support me on bill X, and I'll support you on another bill of your choice." This statement illustrates the concept of a. casework. b. reciprocity. c. pork barreling. d. logrolling.

d. logrolling.

11. Real power in the Senate is in the hands of the a. speaker pro tempore. b. majority leader. c. minority leader. d. majority and minority leaders.

d. majority and minority leaders.

27. Which of the following is NOT grounds for the impeachment and conviction of a president? a. treason b. bribery c. other high crimes or misdemeanors d. malfeasance

d. malfeasance

8. The original party system in the United States pitted the Federalists, supported by __________, against the Jeffersonian Republicans, supported by _____________. a. agrarian interests; merchants b. merchants; loyalists c. loyalists; agrarian interests d. merchants; agrarian interests

d. merchants; agrarian interests

24. How big a role does money play in American politics compared to other countries? a. very little b. about the same c. slightly more d. much more

d. much more

21. A vote on which 50 percent or more of the members of one party take one position while at least 50 percent of the members of the other party take the opposing position is called a ____________ vote. a. super-majority b. partisan c. block d. party

d. party

17. The _____________ is a party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues. a. party constitution b. party bylaws c. party caucus d. party platform

d. party platform

17. An incumbent knows that he accepted some questionable campaign contributions in a previous election and he is afraid that his current challenger is going to try to use them to embarrass him. What strategic move should the incumbent consider? a. move to the extremes b. move to the center c. launch a GOVT effort d. produce an inoculation ad

d. produce an inoculation ad

26. What method of policy making has become popular as a means of direct democracy? a. voter selection of judges b. motor voter registration c. voter selection of nominees d. referendum

d. referendum

1. In the U.S. federal system, the responsibility for organizing elections a. rests largely with Congress. b. is constitutionally defined. c. is defined in federal statutes. d. rests largely with state and local governments.

d. rests largely with state and local governments.

29. Unlike Madison, the authors of the textbook argue that "in the realm of group politics, liberty a. is what makes our political system the most fair." b. is to faction as air is to fire." c. is not as important as civil rights." d. seems inconsistent with equality.

d. seems inconsistent with equality.

11. Voter turnout in the United States is ____________ than in most other Western democracies. a. significantly higher b. slightly higher c. slightly less d. significantly less

d. significantly less

32. The Congressional Research Service and Congressional Budget Office are examples of ______________, which are designed to provide the legislative branch with resources and expertise independent of the executive branch. a. standing committees b. constituency services c. caucuses d. staff agencies

d. staff agencies

30. In this type of interest group, the organization employs professionals who conduct most of the group's activities, while members are called on largely to pay dues and make other contributions. a. membership association b. professional association c. Astroturf lobby d. staff organization

d. staff organization

21. Voting qualifications are determined by the a. local governments. b. federal government. c. Constitution. d. states, subject to certain federal rules and limits.

d. states, subject to certain federal rules and limits.

4. The 2008 Obama campaign used ___________ to mobilize existing voters and expand the electorate. a. telephone calls b. direct mail c. political parties d. the Internet

d. the Internet

40. The momentum against government spending was personified by a. the Steel Caucus. b. the Black Caucus. c. the Mushroom Caucus. d. the Tea Party Caucus.

d. the Tea Party Caucus.

In the United States, there are only three truly national newspapers. Which of the following is not one of the newspapers? a. the Wall Street Journal b. The Christian Science Monitor c. USA Today d. the Washington Post

d. the Washington Post

24. The authors of the textbook argue that one of the major factors responsible for the relatively low rates of voter turnout that characterize U.S. national elections is a. the low level of political efficacy. b. dissatisfaction with the political system. c. apathy. d. the decline of political parties.

d. the decline of political parties.

What happened to the adversarial relationship between the press and the government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks? a. the press savagely attacked President Bush for failing to stop the attacks b. the press continued its usual adversarial policy, criticizing President Bush's response c. the media openly supported the Bush administration and such unquestioning support continues today. d. the media openly supported the Bush administration in the immediate aftermath of the attacks but later criticized President Bush's approach to Iraq.

d. the media openly supported the Bush administration in the immediate aftermath of the attacks but later criticized President Bush's approach to Iraq.

The media frenzy over the extramarital affairs of Bill Clinton, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich is evidence that a. the media is not at all liberal b. the conservative media has more influence on public opinion than any other group c. the power of the media is declining d. the media's bias is more oriented to audience appeal than to ideology

d. the media's bias is more oriented to audience appeal than to ideology

Which of the following events do the authors not use to illustrate the power of the media in U.S. politics? a. the civil rights movement b. ending American involvement in the Vietnam War c. Watergate d. the savings and loan scandal

d. the savings and loan scandal

23. According to the authors, which of the following is not one of the three types of factors that influence voters' decisions at the polls? a. partisanship b. issues c. candidate characteristics d. the type of electoral system used to select candidates

d. the type of electoral system used to select candidates

26. According to the textbook authors, which group has a decided advantage in American politics? a. unions b. small businesses c. farmers d. the wealthy

d. the wealthy

Why do many news sources today tend to be more partisan than they used to be? a. its a new facet of the idea traditional journalism b. all reporters have a conservative bias. c. all reporters have a liberal bias d. there are so many news sources that not many can aim for a broad-based national audience.

d. there are so many news sources that not many can aim for a broad-based national audience.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was an attempt to do all of the following except a. loosen federal restrictions of media ownership b. allow broadcasters, telephone companies, and cable companies to compete with one another. c. ban indecent sexual material accessible to minors on the internet. d. tighten federal restrictions of media ownership.

d. tighten federal restrictions of media ownership.

7. Registration requirements were instituted in the early twentieth century a. to increase the number of voters. b. by Democrats who wanted to disenfranchise Republicans. c. to replace poll taxes and literacy tests as requirements for voting. d. to make voting more difficult.

d. to make voting more difficult.

32. According to the authors, who benefits from the American system of private funding of campaigns? a. Republicans b. Democrats c. labor unions d. wealthy interest groups

d. wealthy interest groups

The media has a bias in favor of a. liberals b. conservatives c. moderates d. whatever will get the largest audience

d. whatever will get the largest audience

34. Which group is overrepresented in Congress? a. women b. blacks c. middle class d. whites

d. whites