American Government Chapter 10
securing the House of Representatives for the Republicans
The "Contract from America" succeeded in doing which of the following?
the anti-Federalists
The Democratic-Republican Party was most closely aligned with which of the following?
merit
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 stipulated that public employees be hired according to what criteria?
a national-level party organization
The RNC is which of the following?
a critical election
A single event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what?
They caucus with one of the two major parties because the rules of Congress are structured to accommodate a two-party system.
According to Klein, when voters elect independent or third-party candidates to Congress, what happens?
Republican presidential candidates moved further to the right between 2008 and 2012.
According to the article, what ideological shift occurred when the Tea Party rose to prominence?
A Gallup poll showed that 58 percent of Americans desire a viable third-party option.
According to the article, why was 2016 a good time for a third-party movement in support of a presidential candidate?
The Tea Party movement has pushed the Republican Party further to the right on the ideological spectrum, toward positions openly hostile to the federal government.
Though the authors don't provide direct evidence of the Tea Party's effect, what does their analysis suggest the movement has done effectively?
the party in government
The power of which of the following appears to be increasing?
limited access to minor parties
Which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of the two-party system?
a guaranteed legislative majority
Which of the following would be considered an advantage of the two-party system?
The Constitution does not discuss political parties.
Which part of the Constitution discusses political parties?
No official parties existed at the time of the Founding.
Which parties existed at the time of the Founding?
as a serious threat that requires immediate action and global coordination
Based on the excerpts from the Democratic platform provided above, how does the party characterize climate change?
as an issue championed by extremists
Based on the excerpts from the Republican platform provided above, how does the party characterize climate change?
Republicans focus on parental rights in education, while Democrats focus on eliminating inequities.
Considering the issue of education, which of the following statements BEST characterizes the positions taken by the two parties?
Republicans support constitutional carry.
Considering the issue of guns, which of the following statements BEST characterizes the position taken by either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?
Democrats want to increase taxes on corporations, while Republicans want to enforce a balanced budget.
How do the parties differ on the issue of government spending?
They have become more polarized
How have congressional Republicans and Democrats changed since the 1980s?
women's suffrage
During the era of Republican Party dominance, the political agenda focused on which of the following issues (among others)?
by threatening to withhold funding
How might the national committee chair try to get state and local committees to adopt policy positions?
by coordinating executive and legislative actions
How might the party in government try to enact the party agenda?
no party
In the 21st century, Americans have increasingly come to identify with which of the following?
independents
In April 2020, a plurality of Americans identified themselves as which of the following?
a unique agenda and new ideas to introduce to the political conversation
In his book Three's a Crowd, what does political scientist Ronald Rapoport suggest third parties need to survive?
the spirit of party as an aspect of human nature
In his farewell address, George Washington outlined his views on which of the following?
contributors of resources
Party activists may be described as which of the following?
public works projects
President Franklin Roosevelt responded to the economic situation of the 1930s with which of the following measures (among others)?
Northern and Southern states
The election of 1860 divided the country between which of the following?
single-member districts
The electoral system in the United States is characterized by which of the following?
the Progressive Era
The era of Republican Party dominance is also known as what?
expansion of women's suffrage
The goals of the Progressive Party centered on which of the following priorities (among others)?
the modern Democratic Party
The political party formed by Andrew Jackson is the ancestor of which of the following?
Candidates should carry out campaign promises.
The responsible party government model suggests which of the following?
raising money, mobilizing voters, and conducting research
Which of the following tasks (among others) are party workers primarily responsible for?
They defied party leadership.
What action did the Blue Dog Democrats take with regard to healthcare reform?
Democratic Party dominance in Southern states following the Civil War
What does the "Solid South" refer to? Is correct
They spotlight issues ignored by the major parties.
What function do minor parties serve in the political system?
a document that establishes official party values and policy positions
What is a party platform?
Congress may fail to pass legislation because its members cannot compromise.
What is one result of party polarization?
by ending raids that leave children and other vulnerable people without caregivers
What is one way in which Democrats plan to tackle the issue of immigration?
by building a wall along the southern border of the United States
What is one way in which Republicans plan to tackle the issue of immigration?
Democrats believe that abortion is part of healthcare, while Republicans believe that abortion is not part of healthcare.
What is one way that the two parties differ on the issue of healthcare?
Third parties can bring ideas to the table that the two main parties normally would not have considered.
What is the problem third parties can solve, according to this video?
It articulates party positions in the hopes of both pleasing party members and attracting voters.
What is the purpose of a party platform?
expansion of slavery
What issue caused a serious rift in the Whig Party?
waste
What problem do both Republicans and Democrats say they will address when managing government spending?
the problem of ideas failing to become legislation
What problem might they (third parties) actually make worse?
Wouldn't a third party fix Congress?
What question does Ezra Klein get more than any other?
uniting progressive movements by tying environmental issues to economic and social justice issues
What was Stein's strategy for expanding support for the Green Party?
when differences in the electorate are the greatest
When are differences between the two major party platforms likely to be the greatest?
at national conventions
Where are party platforms written and published?
the Stock Market Crash of 1929
Which event ended the era of Republican Party dominance?
the Vietnam War and civil rights
Which issues led to conflict within the Democratic Party during the 1968 election cycle?
polarization
Which of the following BEST characterizes the relationship between the two major parties today?
the Watergate scandal
Which of the following events (among others) gave rise to the political uncertainty of the 1970s and 1980s?
Duverger's Law
Which of the following explains the reasons for the two-party system in the United States?
They increase party influence over government.
Which of the following is true of party workers, candidates, and members?
Southern Democrats voting to oppose healthcare reform
Which of the following represents a notable instance of party members working across party lines?
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
Who are considered the fathers of American political parties?
Abraham Lincoln
Who became the first Republican president?
all representatives in the House
Who participated in the vote to elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House in 2007?
Many liberals voted for Nader in the 2000 election, thus tipping the scales in favor of Republican presidential candidate George Bush.
Why do some people feel that the Green Party "spoiled" the 2000 presidential election?
Electoral politics were dominated by the Democratic-Republicans.
Why was the time of the Monroe administration known as the Era of Good Feelings?
She received less than 1 percent of the vote in 2012, making a victory for her in 2016 a long shot.
Why wasn't Jill Stein, the presidential candidate for the Green Party, expected to have much success in 2016?