ap gov midterm
soft money
political contributions ear-marked for party building at the grass roots level or for generic party advertising
political action committees (PACs)
political funding vehicles created by the 1974 campaign finance reforms
exit polls
public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
iron triangles
sub-governments are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congressional committees and subcommittees handling that policy
mass media
television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the internet and other means of popular communication
amicus curiae briefs
written arguments submitted to the courts in favor of one side of a case
A party era begins, or is made more certain, with A) the defeat of an incumbent president. B) a critical election. C) the founding of a new major party. D) party competition. E) a congressional election. (p. 254)
B
American national parties are best described as A) controlled from the bottom (local level) up. B) loose aggregations of state parties. C) bicameral in nature. D) centralized organizations based in Congress. E) powerful, centralized organizations based in Washington, D.C. (p. 251)
B
anthony down
people who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to vote
sound bites
short video clips of approximately 10 seconds
Andrew Jackson was the first president identified as a(n) A) Independent. B) Democrat. C) Republican. D) Democratic-Republican. E) Whig.
B
A party era refers to A) a period of history in which there is one dominant majority party that wins most elections. B) the period between two elections, during which the two parties are assessed as to how powerful they are relative to each other. C) a period of years during which a party is born and begins to run candidates for office. D) the life span of a party from its beginning to end (e.g., the Whigs). E) a period of time during which there is one dominant majority party that wins all elections. (p. 254)
A
A study of major party platforms by Gerald Pomper found that the parties broke their promises A) ten percent of the time. B) half the time. C) two-thirds of the time. D) over ninety percent of the time. E) a third of the time. (p. 252)
A
Gannett, Knight-Ridder, and Newhouse together represent over __________ percent of the nation's daily circulation of print media. A) 10 B) 80 C) 60 D) 3 E) 50
B) 80
From 1968 to 1992, A) the Republicans dominated the presidency while the Democrats dominated Congress. B) a realignment occurred that destroyed the New Deal coalition. C) the Republicans became the majority party. D) the Republicans dominated the federal government while the Democrats dominated state governments. E) the Democrats experienced a slow, ʺcreeping ascendanceʺ that culminated in their gaining control of the entire government with the election of Bill Clinton. (p. 257-258)
A
From the late-nineteenth century through the New Deal years, many of Americaʹs largest cities were dominated by A) corrupt but popular party machines. B) the Socialist party. C) the Communist party. D) mayors who refused to allow elections. E) super delegates who controlled everything. (p. 247-248)
A
In open primaries, A) voters may choose on election day which party primary they want to participate in. B) voters may vote for candidates from either party. C) only voters who have registered in advance with the party can vote. D) voters may vote for multiple candidates. E) none of the above (p. 249)
A
In the second party system in United States history, the election contests were between which two major parties? A) Democrats and Whigs B) Democrats and Republicans C) Federalists and Whigs D) Republicans and Whigs E) Federalists and Anti-Federalists (p. 254-255)
A
Keeping the party operating between conventions is the job of the A) national committee. B) regional offices. C) elected officials. D) congressional leadership. E) majority or minority whip. (p. 251)
A
Power in the major United States political parties is A) fragmented among local, state, and national party organizations. B) concentrated in the state parties, with national and local organizations playing only minor roles. C) hierarchically distributed from the national to local levels. D) centralized in national party organizations. E) concentrated in party machines at the local level. (p. 247)
A
Since 1968, American politics has been characterized by A) divided government. B) the New Deal coalition. C) Republican control of both the Congress and presidency. D) Democratic control of the presidency and Republican control of Congress. E) Democratic control of both the Congress and presidency. (p. 257)
A
The Democratic-Republicans were also known as the A) Jeffersonians. B) Madisonians. C) Whigs. D) Federalists. E) Hamiltonians. (p. 254)
A
The dominant political party in Americaʹs first party system was the A) Democratic-Republicans. B) Whigs. C) Republicans. D) Democrats. E) Federalists. (p. 254)
A
The first true anti-slavery party was the A) Free Soil party. B) Anti-slavery party. C) Populist party. D) Progressive party. E) Republican party. (p. 255)
A
The theory that seeks to explain political processes and outcomes as consequences of purposive behavior is called the A) rational-choice theory. B) behaviorism. C) means-ends theory. D) cognitive theory. E) goals theory. (p. 244)
A
The weakening of party control over American politics A) is in part due to the increasing influence of the media. B) is leading to a multiparty system in this country. C) threatens democracy. D) threatens the very existence of political parties. E) leads to fewer differences between party platforms. (p. 264-265)
A
Ticket-splitting is best understood as A) voting with one party for one office and another for other offices. B) voting for Democratic candidates for president and Republican candidates for Congress. C) a tactic used to commit voter fraud, which enables a voter to cast multiple ballots. D) staying with the same party in an election, voting down the partyʹs line for every race. E) voting for Republican candidates for president and Democratic candidates for Congress. (p. 247)
A
What sort of realignment has occurred in the current party era? A) a Southern realignment B) a rural/urban realignment C) a cultural realignment D) an entire realignment E) an age-based realignment (p. 257-259)
A
Which of the following is TRUE about most third-party campaigns in American history? A) They almost never win office. B) They occasionally succeed. C) They usually become major political parties over time. D) They have been most successful at promoting party dealignment. E) They frequently are successful. (p. 260)
A
Which of the following is TRUE of political parties in the United States? A) To be a member of a party, all you have to do is claim to be one. B) Parties require dues. C) They are more powerful than their European counterparts. D) Parties issue membership cards to all members. E) Party members agree on all major issues or they will be expelled from the party. (p. 245)
A
Between the 1930s and the 1960s, people attracted to the Democratic party included A) Protestants and Jews. B) urban working classes and intellectuals. C) northerners and the rich. D) farmers and rural dwellers. E) the college-educated and business owners. (p. 256)
B
Closed primaries A) depress voter turnout. B) encourage party loyalty. C) discourage party loyalty. D) cost less than open primaries. E) have fewer undercounts. (p. 249)
B
Approximately __________ percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2007 presidential primaries. A) 65 B) 25 C) 35 D) 55 E) 45
B) 25
African Americans comprise what percentage of the American population, approximately? A) 13 B) 7 C) 27 D) 5 E) 17
A) 13
Which of the following statements regarding print media is FALSE? A) American newspaper circulation rates have been steadily increasing since the beginning of the twenty-first century. B) In 2008, one newspaper was sold for every 5 adults. C) Those who read the news tend to be more engaged than those who watch the news. D) A major metropolitan newspaper averages 100,000 words, compared to a typical nightly news broadcast, which amounts to about 3,600 words. E) American newspapers collect little advertising revenue from online editions.
A) American newspaper circulation rates have been steadily increasing since the beginning of the twenty-first century.
The administration of campaign finance laws that the enforcement of compliance with their requirements is handled by the... A) Federal Election Commission. B) Department of Justice. C) Fair Political Practices Commission. D) Government Accounting Office. E) Campaign Finance Bureau of the Department of the Treasury.
A) Federal Election Commission.
Which of the following is TRUE of the presidential election of 1800? A) It was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world. B) It was carefully and objectively covered in the newspapers of the day, with logical reasoning and respect for both candidates in articles and editorials. C) The candidates traveled throughout the smaller number of United States at the time to campaign for votes. D) It was a gentlemanly contest in which partisans on both sides showed respect for the opposition. E) All of the above are true.
A) It was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world.
Which of the following is consequence of the increasing corporate business management of the media? A) Major television networks have increased the number of foreign bureaus across the globe. B) Major television networks have decreased the number of foreign bureaus across the globe. C) Americans have become more knowledgeable about foreign and global affairs. D) The amount of time and space devoted to foreign news coverage has increased. E) Both A and C are true.
A) Major television networks have increased the number of foreign bureaus across the globe.
Which of the following is a chain, that is, a group of newspapers published by media... A) Newhouse B) NBC C) Associated Press D) MTV E) ABC
A) Newhouse
Which of the following matters can NOT be explained by Mancur Olson's law of large groups? A) The successes of the Consumers Union B) The problems of public interest lobbies C) Why small groups are easier to organize D) Why potential members have incentives to free-ride E) Why large groups are less effective than small groups
A) The successes of the Consumers Union
Which of the following statements about interest groups is FALSE? A) There are an enormous number of highly specialized and seemingly trivial groups. B) Groups are more diverse today than in past decades. C) The majority of groups now have their headquarters in Washington, D.C. D) Almost every group has a staff and publications. E) The growth rate of interest groups has slowed in recent years.
A) There are an enormous number of highly specialized and seemingly trivial groups.
Among the states that allow voter registration at the polls on Election Day, voter turnout rates are... A) higher than in other states. B) declining over time and at a higher rate than in other states. C) no different than in other states. D) lower than the national average. E) impossible to compute.
A) higher than in other states.
A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on a petition calling for such a vote is called a(n)... A) initiative petition. B) policy choice election. C) constitutional convention. D) referendum. E) primary election.
A) initiative petition.
In most advanced industrialized countries, election campaigns... A) last no more than two months by law or custom. B) are not limited by law. C) are limited by law to three months. D) last more than two weeks by law or custom. E) are endless affairs, sometimes lasting a year or more.
A) last no more than two months by law or custom.
Soft money is... A) money donated to parties rather than to candidates; this type of contribution was declared illegal by the McCain-Feingold Act. B) small donations that, while important to a campaign, are not as important as larger contributions. C) money loaned to a campaign but expected to be paid back. D) money donated by a person to his or her own campaign. E) each contributions that are not traceable and in the same situations illegal.
A) money donated to parties rather than to candidates; this type of contribution was declared illegal by the McCain-Feingold Act.
The impact of the Motor Voter Act of 1993 was evidenced in... A) no changes in either registration or turnout between 1992 and 2008. B) lower registration and higher turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. C) lower registration and lower turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. D) higher registration and higher turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. E) higher registration and lower turnout in 2008 compared to 1992.
A) no changes in either registration or turnout between 1992 and 2008.
Today, state presidential caucuses are... A) open to all voters who are registered with the party. B) held in most states in order to select national convention delegates. C) open only to party activists who have spent a designated amount of time on behalf of the party or its candidates. D) special meetings of state party leaders who elect their state's delegates to the national convention. E) small meetings of the party's county leaders held to select national convention delegates with no other input.
A) open to all voters who are registered with the party.
Right-to-work laws __________ the union shop. A) outlaw B) legalize C) take a neutral stance toward D) require E) regulate
A) outlaw
The U.S. troop surge in Afghanistan resulted from a... A) presidential action. B) budgetary choice. C) congressional statute. D) court decision. E) regulation.
A) presidential action.
The key to the accuracy of public opinion polls is... A) random sampling. B) polygraphs. C) the larger the size of the sample, the better. D) political ideology. E) political socialization.
A) random sampling.
The Motor Voter Act of 1993... A) requires states to register individuals to vote when they apply for, or renew, their driver's license. B) requires states to mail voter registration forms to all individuals holding driver's licenses. C) requires the federal government to register individuals to vote when they apply for or renew their driver's license. D) requires states to provide transportation for citizens who are unable to get to the polls on their own efforts. E) established drive-in polling places to make voting more convenient and increase voter turnout.
A) requires stats to register individuals to vote when they apply for, or renew, their driver's license.
An amicus curiae brief is... A) the written statement of a courts decision in a case explaining the reasons for the decision. B) an oral or written appeal of a court decision made by an interest group not party to a particular case. C) an oral or written appeal of a court decision made by an interest group that is party to the particular case. D) a written argument submitted to the courts in support of one side of a case. E) one that enables a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit to pursue a remedy for past wrongs.
A) the written statement of a courts decision in a case explaining the reasons for the decision.
Compared to 1952, recent polls on party identification have shown that A) more people today identify themselves as Democrats. B) there are more independents than there are Democrats or Republicans. C) the percentage of Democrats has increased only slightly, while the percentage of Republicans has declined. D) both the percentages of both Democrats and Republicans in the country have increased. E) none of the above (p. 246)
B
Every political party depends upon what the text calls a ________ , meaning a set of individuals or groups supporting it. A) system of patronage B) coalition C) set of super delegates D) power base E) linkage institution (p. 251)
B
In 2000, Green party candidate Ralph Nader forced more attention on ________ issues and drew away a small percentage of votes from Al Gore. A) budgetary B) environmental C) health D) national security E) welfare (p. 260-261)
B
In a winner-take-all system, A) coalition governments are common. B) unless a party wins, there is no reward for the votes it gets. C) if no single party gets a majority vote, a runoff election is held between the top two parties. D) legislative seats are allocated according to each partyʹs percentage of the nationwide vote. E) the party winning the majority of the votes wins all the seats up for election in the legislature. (p. 262)
B
In terms of organizational structure, American political parties are A) organized more by regions of the country than at the state or national level. B) decentralized and fragmented. C) tightly controlled organisms that exert tremendous control over candidates. D) operated on the principle of democratic centralism: Local and state organizations control the national organizations. E) centralized and hierarchical. (p. 247)
B
In the description of political parties as ʺthree-headed political giants,ʺ which of the following is NOT considered one of those three heads? A) the party-in-government B) the party-out-of-power C) the party-in-the-electorate D) the party as an organization E) none of the above (p. 242)
B
Party machines in large cities relied primarily on ________ to reward friends and punish enemies. A) local judges B) patronage C) city police departments D) the civil service merit system E) third parties (p. 248)
B
Political parties perform all of the following tasks EXCEPT A) pick policymakers and run campaigns. B) enforce rigid adherence to their policy positions. C) advocate public policies. D) coordinate policymaking. E) give cues to voters. (p. 243-244)
B
The New Deal coalition was responsible for electing and reelecting A) Socialist party candidates. B) Democrats. C) Republicans. D) Whigs. E) Democratic-Republicans. (p. 256)
B
The Republican party began as the A) party of big business interests. B) principal anti-slavery party. C) principal pro-slavery party. D) party of statesʹ rights and silver money. E) party of the New Deal. (p. 255)
B
The day-to-day activities of the national party are the responsibility of the A) congressional party leaders. B) national chairperson. C) president. D) national committee. E) national convention. (p. 251)
B
The election of 1896 is considered a watershed because it A) entrenched western farmers and silverites in the Republican party. B) shifted the party coalitions and entrenched the Republicans in power for another generation. C) gave Republicans control of the South. D) marked the rise of the Populist party, which dominated American politics until the Depression. E) brought the industrial working classes and Wall Street interests together into the Democratic fold. (p. 256)
B
The largest segment of an American political party is described as A) the party-out-of-power. B) the party-in-the-electorate. C) the party-in-government. D) the party volunteers. E) the party organization. (p. 242)
B
The last Federalist president was A) Alexander Hamilton. B) John Adams. C) Andrew Jackson. D) Abraham Lincoln. E) Thomas Jefferson. (p. 254)
B
The ʺparty-in-governmentʺ refers to A) registered party voters who hold civil service jobs in the government and are influencing policy. B) winning candidates who become the main spokespersons for the party that nominated them. C) coalitions of interests and ideologies that support a partyʹs candidates. D) party workers who hold patronage jobs in the government and can influence policy. E) party members who perpetuate the party, make its rules, and keep it running. (p. 243)
B
Voters and coalitions of voters are attracted to different parties largely by A) selective perception. B) their performance and policies. C) the charisma of their candidates. D) tradition. E) their socio-economic status. (p. 251)
B
Which of the following statements about party realignment is FALSE? A) Party realignments are typically associated with a major crisis or trauma. B) Party realignments were associated with the Civil War and with the Great Depression. C) Party realignments transform the party system. D) Party realignment involves a reconfiguration of the demographic groups supporting the parties. E) Party realignments occur often in American political life. (p. 254)
B
Which of the following statements about third parties in the United States is FALSE? A) Third parties often bring new issues to the political agenda. B) Third parties are a rare phenomena in American history. C) Third parties have brought new groups into the electorate. D) Third-party candidates almost never win office in the United States. E) Third parties have had important effects on American politics. (p. 260-261)
B
________ has some of the strongest parties in America. A) Hawaii B) Pennsylvania C) New York D) Texas E) California (p. 249)
B
Which of the following is one way that American media are different from media in other democracies? A) International media are entirely government owned. B) American media are totally dependent on advertising revenues to keep business going. C) American media have always employed greater technology than other countries. D) American media are more sophisticated than their European counterparts. E) There is no significant difference between American media and media in other democracies.
B) American media are totally dependent on advertising revenues to keep business going.
Which of these groups did NOT support William Jennings Bryan in 1896? A) Westerners in the silver-producing states B) Eastern manufacturers C) White southerners D) Rural doctors E) All of the groups above supported William Jennings Bryan in 1896.
B) Eastern manufacturers
Which of the following is an example of a PAC? A) MoveOn.org B) FishPAC C) Swift Boat Veterans for Truth D) The National Republican Party E) All of these are examples of PACs.
B) FishPAC
Which of the following is TRUE of changing patterns in voting behavior among Catholics and Protestants. A) Women were more likely than men to support Democratic candidates in 1960 and 2008. B) In 1960, Catholics were much more likely to support the Democratic Party than were Protestants; in 2008, there was only a slight difference between Catholic and Protestant support for the Democrats. C) Protestants were more likely to support Obama in 2008 than were Catholics. D) Men were more likely than women to support Democratic candidates in 1960 and 2008. E) Fewer African Americans supported Obama in 2008 than supported Kennedy in 1960.
B) In 1960, Catholics were much more likely to support the Democratic Party than were Protestants; in 2008, there was only a slight difference between Catholic and Protestant support for the Democrats.
Which of the following groups claims the smallest share of its potential members? A) U.S. Savings and Loan League B) National Consumers League C) Air Transport Association D) Tobacco Institute E) American Medical Association
B) National Consumers League
Critics of primaries and caucuses contend that the new presidential "kingmakers" are now... A) party bosses. B) the media. C) the few who vote in the caucuses and primaries. D) interest groups. E) state party organizations.
B) the media.
Which of the following is a consequence of the rise of narrow-casting? A) Young adults are more likely than other age groups to use newspapers and broadcast media is news and information sources. B) Young adults are less likely than other age groups to use newspapers and broadcast media as news and information sources. C) Narrow-casting has encouraged less repetition of stories on broadcast news programs. D) Most Americans follow politics more frequently and with greater intensity than they follow popular culture. E) Narrow-casting has demonstrated the cable news programs are apt to cover political events in great detail, conveying more substantive information to viewers.
B) Young adults are less likely than other age groups to use newspapers and broadcast media as news and information sources.
A referendum is... A) a form of primary election. B) a state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a constitutional amendment. C) another name for an open primary. D) a constitutional provision for policy questions to be decided by a nationwide vote. E) A referendum is none of these.
B) a state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a constitutional amendment.
The final major event of each party's national convention, during the last hour or so on the fourth and final night, is the... A) adoption of the party platform. B) acceptance speech by the presidential candidate. C) keynote speech by losing the candidate. D) inaugural ball and champagne party to honor the new nominee. E) roll-call vote for the presidential nomination.
B) acceptance speech by the presidential candidate.
The member of a presidential campaign who deals with federal regulation of campaign financing and compliance with all campaign laws is the... A) press secretary. B) campaign counsel. C) pollster. D) campaign manager. E) campaign consultant.
B) campaign counsel.
The way in which candidates attempt to manipulate money, the media, and the momentum to achieve the nomination is through... A) primaries. B) campaign strategy. C) charisma. D) propaganda. E) party support.
B) campaign strategy.
Network television news coverage of national party conventions has... A) experienced drastically larger audiences than news coverage of national party conventions in earlier decades. B) dramatically decreased in response to the declining significance of national conventions in selecting presidential and vice presidential candidates. C) generally been limited to one major broadcast station, such as CBS or NBC. D) dramatically increased in response to the growing significance of national conventions in selecting presidential and vice presidential candidates. E) outpaced audience viewing of popular events, such as the Super Bowl.
B) dramatically decreased in response to the declining significance of national conventions in selecting presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Subgovernments are composed of key interest group leaders interested in policy X, the government agency in charge of administering policy X, and the __________ handling policy X. A) public relations officers B) federal courts C) local governments D) congressional committees and subcommittees E) political candidates
B) federal courts
Direct group involvement i the electoral process is called... A) providing selective benefits. B) free-riding. C) disclosure. D) litigating. E) electioneering.
B) free-riding.
A hyper-pluralist interpretation of group politics would maintain that... A) groups weak in one resource can substitute other resources to influence policy decisions. B) groups have become so powerful that government ends up aiding every possible interest. C) groups provide a key linkage between people and government. D) the fact that there are numerous groups proves nothing, because groups are unequal in power. E) All of these are true.
B) groups have become so powerful that government ends up aiding every possible interest.
One of the provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act of 2002 was to... A) increase the limit on individual contributions to $10,000. B) increase the limit on individual contributions from $1,000 to $2,000. C) increase the amount of the federal money presidential candidates can spend. D) increase the limit on "soft money" contributions. E) increase the limit on individual contributions to $5,000.
B) increase the limit on individual contributions from $1,000 to $2,000.
The New Hampshire primary is important because... A) New Hampshire is a particularly typical state. B) it is the first primary. C) it involves the first caucuses. D) New Hampshire has a very large number of delegates. E) it is the primary held closest to the time of the convention.
B) it is the first primary.
"A communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his decision" is called... A) collecting benefits. B) lobbying. C) free-riding. D) litigating. E) electioneering.
B) lobbying.
The three kinds of elections in the United States are... A) primary elections, ancillary elections, and corollary elections. B) primary elections, general elections, and elections on specific policy questions. C) primary elections, competitive elections, and noncompetitive elections. D) primary elections, general elections, and competitive elections. E) primary elections, secondary elections, and tertiary elections.
B) primary elections, general elections, and elections on specific policy questions.
As the right to vote has been extended, A) voter turnout has actually remained about the same. B) proportionately fewer of those eligible have chosen to vote. C) the number of candidates running for office has increased. D) the scope of American government has shrunk. E) voter turnout has increased proportionately.
B) proportionately fewer of those eligible have chosen to vote.
A major reason cited for America's level of voter turnout compared to other industrialized countries is... A) Americans' high sense of political efficacy. B) registration is more cumbersome in the United States. C) bad weather in certain parts of the United States on Election Day. D) greater interest in democracy in the United States. E) registration is more cumbersome in other nations.
B) registration is more cumbersome in the United States.
When President Herbert Hoover and the Republicans were crushed in the election of 1932, voters were responding to the severity of the Great Depression under Hoover's presidency by... A) indirect primary voting. B) retrospective voting. C) initiative. D) direct primary voting. E) irrational choice voting.
B) retrospective voting.
The Taft-Hartley Act permits __________, which outlaw union membership as condition of employment. A) public interest lobbies B) right-to-work laws C) economic interest groups D) nonlabor PACs E) union shops
B) right-to-work laws
In Buckley vs. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court... A) limited the activities of political action committees. B) struck down the part of the Federal Election Campaign Act that restricted the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaign. C) ruled that the wildly unequal campaign expenditures of candidates for government office were a violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and ordered Congress and the states to develop mechanisms to assure equal funding of all major candidates. D) declared the Federal Election Campaign Act unconstitutional. E) stated that the Federal Election Commission had no power to enforce compliance with their requirements.
B) struck down the part of the Federal Election Campaign Act that restricted the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaign.
In states with caucuses,... A) the state legislature selects the state's delegates to the national conventions. B) supporters of candidates attend a series of open meetings to express presidential preferences. C) delegates are chosen through the general election of a candidate. D) party leaders select delegates according to their own candidate preferences. E) candidates appoint supporters to serve as delegates.
B) supporters of candidates attend a series of open meetings to express presidential preferences.
The multiplicity of interest groups in the United States... A) creates fewer opportunities for individuals to participate in politics. B) tends to encourage the reduction in the scope of American government. C) hinders the representation of all interests in the political process. D) creates more opportunities for individuals to participate in politics. E) Both B and C are true.
B) tends to encourage the reduction in the scope of American government.
Anthony Downs' theory of rational voting behavior predicts that people will vote if they... A) feel obligated to do so. B) think one party will give them more policy benefits than the other. C) think their vote will make the difference for a particular candidate. D) can afford the time and energy to do so. E) identify with a particular candidate, even though they doubt that one vote can make a difference.
B) think one party will give them more policy benefits than the other.
Public officials often leak __________ to reporters to see what the political reaction will be. A) talking heads B) trial balloons C) beats D) "oiled news" E) sound bites
B) trial balloons
Historically, the presidential primary season begins in... A) winter in Iowa. B) winter in New Hampshire. C) winter in Missouri D) summer in New Hampshire. E) summer in Iowa.
B) winter in New Hampshire.
Almost all definitions of political parties have which of the following in common? A) Parties have formal organizations. B) Parties have a mass following. C) Parties try to win elections. D) Parties are run by elites. E) Parties have limited policy agendas. (p. 242)
C
A party machine is a kind of local party organization that A) threatens the efficiency of state and national party organizations. B) specializes in computerized mass mailings both to raise funds and influence voters on behalf of their candidates. C) uses specific and material inducements to win party loyalty and power. D) remains strong in most large American cities. E) has recently come to depend heavily on ethnic group support. (p. 247-248)
C
A partyʹs endorsement to officially run for office as the candidate of that party is called A) a ballot. B) a ticket. C) a nomination. D) a confirmation. E) an appointment. (p. 243)
C
Advocates of the ________ believe that parties should present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation and carry them out. A) differentiation approach B) McGovern-Fraser Commission C) responsible party model D) rational-choice theory E) party realignment (p. 262-263)
C
Each party holds a national convention every A) six years. B) year. C) four years. D) five years. E) two years. (p. 251)
C
If the United States had a multiparty system, A) third parties would come to dominate politics. B) the necessity for coalitions would be eliminated. C) each party would have more distinct policy positions. D) people would have to pay dues to belong to a party. E) each party would move to the ideological center. (p. 260-261)
C
In 2004, Americans were most likely to consider themselves ________, and least likely to consider themselves ________. A) Independents; Democrats B) Republicans; Democrats C) Independents; Republicans D) Democrats; Independents E) Democrats; Republicans (p. 247)
C
In blanket primaries, A) voters may choose on election day which party primary they want to participate in. B) only voters who have registered in advance with the party can vote. C) voters may vote for candidates from either party. D) voters may vote for multiple candidates. E) none of the above (p. 249)
C
In closed primaries, A) voters may vote for candidates from either party. B) voters may choose on election day which party primary they want to participate in. C) only voters who have registered in advance with the party can vote. D) voters may vote for multiple candidates. E) none of the above (p. 249)
C
Loyalty to a political party has ________ over the past thirty years. A) increased slightly B) increased significantly C) decreased D) remained about the same E) virtually disappeared (p. 259)
C
Most Americans are A) liberal. B) moderate-liberals. C) moderate. D) conservative. E) non-ideological. (p. 244)
C
Political candidates make many promises when running for office. In electing one, the public can expect A) specific implementation of the promise to differ from the general promise made during the campaign. B) few to be carried out because political promises are made to be broken. C) that for every broken promise, many more will be kept. D) a significant gap between party platform and political performance. E) both A and D. (p. 251-252)
C
The American political parties fall far short of the responsible party model for all of the following reasons EXCEPT A) they are too decentralized. B) there is no mechanism for the parties to discipline officeholders. C) their presidential candidates ignore the party platform. D) their candidates are usually self-selected. E) none of the above (p. 263)
C
The American two-party system promotes A) the organization of political parties around special interests. B) the weakness of centrist positions on policy issues. C) moderation in conflict and ambiguous policy positions. D) greater conflict, but clear policy choices. E) competitive elections. (p. 261)
C
The chairperson of the party that controls the White House is normally selected by A) members of the party in Congress. B) a committee of state chairpersons. C) the president. D) closed primary. E) none of the above (p. 251)
C
The people who keep the party running between elections and make its rules are members of which ʺheadʺ of the party? A) party-in-the-electorate B) permanent party C) party as an organization D) party-in-government E) party-in-the-states (p. 243)
C
The upsurge of partisan independence among Americans since 1952 A) has come mostly at the expense of the Republicans. B) has not harmed either party. C) has come mostly at the expense of the Democrats. D) has occurred mostly among minor party identifiers. E) has harmed both parties equally. (p. 247)
C
The Democratic National Convention in __________ led to serious reforms, now referred to as the McGovern-Fraser Commission reforms, in the methods it used to choose its convention delegates. A) 1936 B) 1992 C) 1968 D) 1952 E) 1984
C) 1968
In most caucus states, about __________ percent of the registered voters typically show up for party presidential caucuses. A) 20 B) 45 C) 5 D) 50 E) 35
C) 5
Which of the following statements about voter registration is FALSE? A) In North Dakota, you don't have to register to vote. B) States with same-day registration tended to have higher voter turnout rates in the 2008 election. C) Congress requires voter registration nationwide. D) In a few states, you can register to vote in Election Day. E) The Motor Voter Act allows eligible voters to register by checking a box on their driver's license application.
C) Congress requires voter registration nationwide.
The network comprised by the Retail Tobacco Distributors of America, the Department of Agriculture, and the House Tobacco Subcommittee is an example of a(n)... A) iron triangle. B) subgovernment. C) Either A or B is correct. D) interest group. E) multinational corporation.
C) Either A or B is correct.
Which of the following is permissible under current campaign finance regulations? A) A soft-money contribution to a political party in the amount of $10,000 in the presidential election of 2000. B) A donation to candidate Barack Obama in 2010 in the amount of $10,000 from a single individual. C) Mitt Romney's spending of $44 million out of his own pocket in pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. D) An individual contribution to a congressional candidate int he amount of $5,000 in the 2008 elections. E) None of these is permissible.
C) Mitt Romney's spending of $44 million out of his own pocket in pursuit of the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
The state that has disproportionate power because it holds the first presidential primary each election year is... A) Iowa. B) California. C) New Hampshire. D) New York. E) Rhode Island.
C) New Hampshire.
Which of the following statements about the 1800 presidential election is TRUE? A) For the first time, the focus of the 1800 election was on the citizen voters. B) The candidates in the 1800 election vigorously campaigned in each of the states. C) The 1800 election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives. D) The 1800 election was the first one in which the candidates were chosen by party conventions. E) All of the above are true.
C) The 1800 election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives.
Which of the following statements about TV news coverage is TRUE? A) In 2000, most voters relied on network TV coverage to hear the presidential candidates deliver their messages. B) The three major networks combined devoted an average of 24.6 minutes per night to the 2000 presidential contests, double the amount of time devoted to the 1992 campaign. C) The three major networks combined devoted an average of 12.6 minutes per night to the 2000 presidential contest, just one-half of the time devoted to the 1992 campaign. D) Ratings pressure for the three major TV networks has led to an increase in the amount of time devoted to political coverage. E) Both B and C are true.
C) The three major networks combined devoted an average of 12.6 minutes per night to the 2000 presidential contest, just one-half of the time devoted to the 1992 campaign.
An example of a newsweekly is... A) the Daily News. B) the Washington Post. C) Time. D) the New York Times. E) USA Today.
C) Time.
Who traveled through 26 states and logged 18,000 miles in his campaign for president? A) John Adams B) Grover Cleveland C) William Jennings Bryan D) William McKinley E) Thomas Jefferson
C) William Jennings Bryan
Steven Sovern's LASTPAC and Common Cause... A) agree that the $5,000 limit on PAC contributions makes such contributions meaningless in multimillion-dollar presidential campaigns and should be rescinded. B) agree that the income tax check-off to support public financing of presidential campaigns should be eliminated. C) agree that all candidates and officeholders should not accept money from political actions groups. D) disagree on the issue of whether electioneering is an appropriate policy arena for interest groups. E) disagree on the issue of whether PACs engage in influence peddling.
C) agree that all candidates and officeholders should not accept money from political actions groups.
Iyengar and Kinder's research found that TV news... A) is more effective in changing American public opinion than is print news. B) effectively manipulates what Americans think about public issues. C) alters the priorities Americans attach to problems. D) has minimal effects on the public opinion of viewers. E) regularly changes viewers' policy and voting preferences, particularly during campaigns.
C) alters the priorities Americans attach to problems.
Right-to-work laws are most strongly supported by... A) union officials. B) unemployed citizens. C) business groups. D) illegal immigrants. E) the feminist and civil rights movements.
C) business groups.
The member of a presidential campaign who helps reporters make their deadlines with stories that the campaign would like to see reported is the... A) policy advisor. B) candidate. C) press secretary. D) campaign counsel. E) media consultant.
C) campaign counsel.
The notion that candidates need to raise and spend enough money to compete but that it is not always necessary to outspend an opponent is called the... A) hydraulic theory of money and politics. B) soft-money approach. C) doctrine of sufficiency. D) selective perception. E) majority-minority doctrine.
C) doctrine of sufficiency.
For the past several decades, research has consistently found that a majority of the public believes press criticism of political leaders... A) reflects a conservative bias. B) does more harm than good. C) does more good than harm. D) is corrosive to the American political process. E) reflects a liberal bias.
C) does more good than harm.
Today, a majority of the delegates to the national convention are selected through... A) state legislatures. B) local party conventions. C) presidential primaries. D) state party conventions. E) party caucuses.
C) state party conventions.
A network of groups within the American political system that exercises power over specific policy areas is called a(n)... A) hyperpluralist. B) interest group. C) subgovernment. D) rational actor. E) elitist.
C) subgovernment.
The presidential primaries are... A) a master game plan through which candidates set out to guide their electoral campaign. B) meetings of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the national party convention. C) elections in which voters in a state vote for a candidate or delegates pledged to the candidate. D) the supreme power within each of the parties, responsible for nominating the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates. E) the official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party.
C) elections i which voters in a state vote for a candidate or delegates pledged to the candidate.
Pluralism is a(n) __________ theory of politics. A) rational B) individual C) elite D) group E) liberal
C) elite
The nearly two centuries of American electoral history has been characterized by... A) increasing voter turnouts. B) consistently close elections. C) expansion of the right to vote. D) a proliferation of presidential candidates. E) All of the above are true.
C) expansion of the right to vote.
The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes, at times putting reporters in adversarial relationships with political leaders, is referred to as... A) guard dog journalism. B) law-and-order journalism. C) investigative journalism. D) criminalistic journalism. E) gate keeping.
C) investigative journalism.
The media act as a(n) __________ between the people and policymakers. A) sole form of communication B) negative element of democracy C) key linkage institution D) necessary evil E) unappreciated mediator
C) key linkage institution
Research suggests that American journalists are more likely to consider themselves __________ than the general public. A) libertarians B) conservatives C) liberals D) biased E) religious
C) liberals
If you believe that "public officials don't care much about what people like me think," then you are expressing feelings of... A) high political efficacy. B) retrospective voting. C) low political efficacy. D) policy voting. E) rationality.
C) low political efficacy.
Contributions of up to $250 matched from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund to qualifying presidential nominees are called... A) soft money. B) illicit expenditures. C) matching funds. D) hard money. E) tax cuts.
C) matching funds
In News from Nowhere, Edward Epstein found that... A) TV networks defined news in terms of what is most important for informed engagement in the American political process. B) TV news coverage devotes more time to foreign policy news than does newspaper news. C) news shows are tailored to a low level of audience sophistication. D) TV news coverage was more sophisticated than newspaper coverage on the same topics. E) Epstein found all of these to be true.
C) news shows are tailored to a low level of audience sophistication.
A(n) __________ is a party's official selection of a candidate to run for office. A) appointment B) imprimatur C) nomination D) endorsement E) conversion
C) nomination
According to the test, lobbying works best... A) with people who are undecided about a policy. B) when the lobbyist starts crying and pleading. C) on people already committed to the lobbyist's policy position. D) when the lobbyist uses pressure tactics. E) when large amounts of money are involved.
C) on people already committed to the lobbyist's policy position.
Just over __________ of the populations votes. A) two-thirds B) one-quarter C) one-half D) one-third E) three-quarters
C) one-half
The "minimal effects hypothesis" suggests that the media have... A) a major effect on public opinion, except among the most highly educated citizens. B) a minimal effect on Americans' who do not watch TV. C) only a marginal effect on public opinion. D) a minimal effect on policymakers' public pronouncements and issue positions. E) a minimal effect on Americans' consumption of print newspapers.
C) only a marginal effect on public opinion.
A political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years is called a(n)... A) ideology B) candidate scorecard. C) party platform. D) partisan position. E) worldview.
C) party platform.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the greatest total amount spent on lobbying from 1998 to 2007 was by the __________ industry. A) real estate B) education C) pharmaceuticals D) automobile E) music
C) pharmaceuticals
The first daily newspaper in America was... A) the Associated Press, established in 1841. B) Common Sense, printed in 1776. C) printed in Philadelphia in 1783. D) the Colonial Gazette, printed in 1607. E) The New York Times, established in 1800.
C) printed in Philadelphia in 1783.
Each of the following is an important function of the national party convention EXCEPT... A) choosing a vice presidential candidate. B) nominating a candidate for president. C) selection members of the Electoral College. D) getting the presidential campaign rolling. E) developing a party's policy positions.
C) selection members of the Electoral College.
The primary way that groups overcome Olson's law is through... A) reducing membership fees. B) decentralizing. C) selective benefits. D) centralizing. E) mandatory membership.
C) selective benefits.
Journalists and politicians have a(n) __________ relationship, with politicians relying on journalists to get their message out an journalists relying on politicians to keep them in the know. A) collegial B) competitive C) symbiotic D) antagonistic E) adversarial
C) symbiotic
A pluralistic interpretation of interest group politics would maintain that... A) when groups compete the public interest is not served. B) all legitimate groups can affect public policy by means of one political resource or another. C) the overemphasis on groups in America has submerged the value of the individual and led to government policies that suppress individual interests. D) the degree of organization of a group has no effect on its ability to influence policy. E) all groups are subject to corrupt practices and tactics involving violence.
C) the overemphasis on groups in America has submerged the value of the individual and let to government policies that suppress individual interests.
An advantage for small groups is that... A) it is easier to reconcile divergent interests in small groups. B) free riders can be forced out of the organization, creating more unity. C) there is more at stake for each member, making it easier to organize and activate all members. D) they are able to "hide" in the political process so that opposing groups are not able to organize against them. E) collective goods do not have to share with the big interests.
C) there is more at stake for each member, making it easier to organize and activate all members.
Thomas Patterson's argument that "today's presidential campaign is essentially a mass media campaign" suggests that... A) money is less important to campaigns than it was in the past. B) campaigns are larger and reach a wider audience than campaigns in the past. C) voters have very little reality of the campaign apart from what they see and hear in the media campaign. D) the media control electoral outcomes. E) the media exercise sway over a vast number of citizens' votes.
C) voters have very little reality of the campaign apart from what they see and hear in the media campaign.
A critical election involves and accelerates a process called A) partisan transformation. B) electoral examination. C) proportional representation. D) party realignment. E) democratic rejuvenation. (p. 254)
D
A political party is A) less interested in winning elections than in particular public policy. B) a group of people who agree on everything and organize annually to win elections. C) a narrow interest group seeking advantage through elections. D) a team of men and women with similar beliefs seeking legitimate control of the government by through elections. E) an organization devoted to implementing policy in the public interest. (p. 242)
D
A political party is best defined as A) a group of men and women organized for the sole purpose of influencing public policy. B) an organized team of men and women with a political agenda. C) any group of men and women with a formal membership and a political or socialpurpose stated in their by-laws. D) a team of men and women seeking control of the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election. E) a coalition of interests trying to influence government policies for their benefit. (p. 242)
D
According to the ʺthree-headed political giantʺ model of political parties, the largest component of an American party is the A) party as an organization. B) party-in-the-states. C) party Congress. D) party-in-the-electorate. E) party-in-government. (p. 242)
D
American political parties tend to take middle-of-the-road stands on major issues A) only because the partyʹs candidates are so afraid of alienating those on different sides of issues. B) while the public tends to have stronger opinions C) in spite of evidence that more extreme positions generate more excitement and likelihood for electoral victory. D) because most of the American electorate are centrist. E) because most of the American electorate do not have political opinions. (p. 244)
D
Americaʹs first and shortest-lived major political party was the A) Anti-Federalist party. B) Whig party. C) Democratic-Republican party. D) Federalist party. E) Independence party. (p. 254)
D
At the beginning of party development in the United States, A) parties tried to defeat each other in elections. B) there were many small parties, each representing a narrow interest. C) we had a one-party system where one powerful party dominated the government and blocked the creation of new parties. D) parties sought to destroy each other. E) parties were merely the personal following of certain charismatic individuals. (p. 254)
D
Blanket primaries A) cost less than open primaries. B) discourage party loyalty. C) depress voter turnout. D) encourage party loyalty. E) have fewer undercounts. (p. 249)
D
Critically affecting the electoral college vote, bringing new issues to the public agenda, and venting popular discontent are important roles played by A) intra-party factions. B) splinter groups in a multiparty system. C) the two-party system in thwarting extreme or unconventional views. D) third parties in a two-party system. E) parties based on a single issue in a multiple-issue society. (p. 260-261)
D
In 1968 the Democratic party was torn apart, leaving the door to the presidency open for Republican Richard Nixon primarily due to A) the failure of President Johnsonʹs War on Poverty. B) the sudden evaporation of the New Deal coalition. C) the abandonment of the Democratic party by African Americans. D) President Johnsonʹs Vietnam War policies. E) the severity of the mid-60ʹs recession. (p. 257)
D
In proportional representation systems, A) whoever gets the most votes wins the election. B) each demographic group is allocated a certain number of positions in the government, in proportion to that groupʹs percentage of the population. C) coalition governments usually last for many years. D) legislative seats are allocated according to each partyʹs percentage of the nationwide vote. E) every party gets represented in the legislature. (p. 262)
D
In recent elections, the trends in party identification in the United States have been A) an increase in the percentage of Democrats and a decline in the percentage of Independents. B) an increase in the percentages of Democrats and Republicans and a decline in the percentage of Independents. C) an increase in the percentage of Democrats and a decline in the percentage of Republicans. D) a decrease in the percentage of Democrats and an increase in the percentage of Independents. E) a fairly constant percentage of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. (p. 247)
D
In what way do weak political parties affect the scope of government? A) They make it difficult for politicians to help their constituents. B) They allow presidents to expand the scope of foreign policy, while they decrease the domestic scope of government. C) Being weak, they are unable to counteract the power of government so the scope of government grows. D) Since it is harder for them to enact legislation, it is hard for them to either expand or decrease the scope of government. E) They have had no real effect on the size and power of government. (p. 264)
D
Linkage institutions A) help link the three branches of government together to achieve coherent policies. B) are used to implement public policies. C) link political parties to the government. D) translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers. E) link the president to members of his/her party in Congress, so they can coordinate their policies in government. (p. 243)
D
Party dealignment is symbolized by A) the 1992 election of a president and Congress of the same party. B) the recent pattern of one-party control. C) a renewed commitment to Americaʹs two major political parties. D) the recent pattern of divided government. E) the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994. (p. 259)
D
Party eras in American politics are periods of time in which A) partisan identification is at high levels and political party nominees win most elections rather than independent candidates who are unaffiliated with a party. B) party organizations grow very strong, are able to control the policy positions of their candidates, and win votes by providing jobs and government services to loyal party supporters. C) political dominance frequently shifts from one party to the other. D) one party dominates. E) one party wins every presidential election. (p. 254)
D
People gradually moving away from both parties is referred to as A) partisan drift. B) coalition politics. C) realignment. D) dealignment. E) alignment. (p. 259)
D
Rational-choice theory asserts that A) the parties should not be expected to differentiate themselves in any way. B) more extremist party positions give the public a sense that things can really be changed, and usually win elections. C) the wise party selects policies in which it truly believes, and gives the voters a chance to vote them up or down on principle. D) the wise party selects policies that are widely favored. E) none of the above (p. 244)
D
Realignments are typically associated with A) a major reorganization of the executive branch. B) the creation of new states. C) one party winning the presidency while the other controls Congress. D) a major crisis or trauma in the nation. E) changes in election laws. (p. 254)
D
Ross Perotʹs candidacies for president in 1992 and 1996 were an example of what type of third-party campaign? A) a split-level party B) a party espousing an extreme ideological position C) a splinter party D) a party serving as an extension of one individualʹs candidacy E) none of the above (p. 260)
D
The Depression of the 1930s gave rise to what is called A) econo-politics. B) party competition. C) the Era of Divided Government. D) the New Deal coalition. E) the Republican resurgence. (p. 256)
D
The New Deal coalition made the ________ party the minority party for decades. A) Socialist B) Federalist C) Whig D) Republican E) Democratic (p. 256)
D
The Republican party rose to prominence in the late 1850s as the A) Free Silver party. B) Party Of The Wealthy Elite. C) Gold Standard party. D) Anti-slavery party. E) Party of Rural Farmers. (p. 255)
D
The Republicans emerged as a powerful political party in the A) 1890s. B) 1790s. C) 1930s. D) 1850s. E) 1820s. (p. 255)
D
The Republicans had a long period as the countryʹs dominant majority party, which ended A) in 1992. B) in 1980. C) with the Civil War. D) in 1932. E) in 1896. (p. 256)
D
The election of 1828 that brought Andrew Jackson to the presidency was significant because it A) began the ascendancy of the New Deal coalition around the Democratic party. B) marked the rise of the Whigs. C) was the first time the Republican party controlled Congress. D) forged a new political coalition. E) marked the beginning of the dominance of northern industrialists. (p. 255)
D
The first party system in the United States consisted of the A) Democrats and Whigs. B) Federalists and Whigs. C) Democrats and Republicans. D) Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. E) Democratic-Republicans and Whigs. (p. 254)
D
The policy positions stated in party platforms are A) of some importance because they are unambiguous statements of where a party stands. B) intended to get a candidate elected, not to be implemented. C) of little importance because only 10 to 25 percent of the positions are acted upon by government. D) very important because nearly three-fourths of them result in policy action when the party is in power. E) never important because less than one-third of them result in policy action when the party is in power. (p. 252)
D
The political ʺparty-in-the-electorateʺ is defined as people who A) vote for the candidates from one party. B) register as members of a party. C) work for a partyʹs candidates. D) identify with a party. E) walk door-to-door to meet the voters and personally campaign for their partyʹs candidates. (p. 242)
D
The supreme power within each of the parties is A) the state party organizations. B) the president. C) the Supreme Party Court. D) the national convention. E) the national committee. (p. 251)
D
The ʺresponsible partyʺ model holds that parties should A) not use wedge issues that cause the other partyʹs supporters to fight with each other during the campaign. B) avoid making promises. C) keep to middle-of-the-road positions. D) present clear alternatives to voters. E) avoid ideological stands. (p. 262-263)
D
Ticket-splitting refers to A) switching membership in political parties. B) the procedure used to conduct computerized, automated vote counting. C) voting with one party in one presidential election, and another party in the next presidential election. D) voting for one party for one office, and another party for other offices. E) voting for a party other than the one you identify with. (p. 247)
D
Which of the following groups was NOT part of the New Deal coalition? A) African Americans B) Southerners C) members of labor unions D) wealthy New Englanders E) Catholics and Jews (p. 256)
D
Who was the president who brought together the original New Deal coalition in support of his candidacy? A) Woodrow Wilson B) Lyndon Johnson C) John F. Kennedy D) Franklin D. Roosevelt E) Herbert Hoover (p. 256)
D
__________ enables a group of similarly situated plaintiffs to combine similar grievances into a single suit. A) An amicus curiae brief B) A collective civil suit C) Olson's law of large groups D) A class action lawsuit E) A public interest suit
D) A class action lawsuit
According to the Fortune Power 25, which of the following factors affects the success of interest groups? A) Size B) Financial resources C) Intensity D) All of the above affect the size of interest groups. E) None of the above affects the size of interest groups.
D) All of the above affect the size of interest groups.
The national party convention is... A) the supreme power within each of the two parties. B) the author of the party's national platform. C) responsible for nominating the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates. D) All of the above are true. E) None of the above is true.
D) All of the above are true.
Which of the following is NOT a factor that increases a person's likelihood of voting? A) Having a sense of civic duty B) Believing that the benefits of voting outweigh the costs. C) Discerning the ways in which policy differences affect one's interests. D) Believing that some policies of one party are balanced by other policies of the other party. E) Possessing political efficacy.
D) Believing that some policies of one party are balanced by other policies of the other party.
The law regulating whether an organization or firm should register its employees as lobbyists is the... A) U.S. Senate Secretary's Registry of Lobbyists. B) Communications Act of 2000. C) Washington Representatives. D) Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995. E) McCain-Feingold Act of 2002.
D) Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
How has news coverage changed since Kennedy's presidency in 1960? A) The amount of news coverage of presidential candidates has increased dramatically. B) The news media have reduced their coverage of presidential candidates. C) Emphasis of campaign reporting has changed dramatically from "why" to a simpler, descriptive "what" format. D) News coverage of presidential candidates has become increasingly less favorable. E) Coverage of issues in presidential campaigns has increased dramatically.
D) News coverage of presidential candidates has become increasingly less favorable.
Which of the following is TRUE about the presidential nomination process? A) In most states, caucuses of interested party voters are held to begin the delegate selection process; only a small percentage of party voters attend, but it is open. B) In most states, it is the party leadership that chooses the delegates, and ordinary party voters have no say. C) Although caucuses or presidential primaries are held in all states, these are mere beauty contests; convention delegates are chosen earlier by party officials who are uninterested in the opinions of party voters. D) State laws determine how delegates are allocated, but parties provide some guidelines. E) Presidential candidates are chosen by their party' senators and representatives in Congress.
D) State laws determine how delegates are allocated, but parties provide some guidelines.
Which of the following is NOT true of the 2008 presidential election? A) Among the states that Democrats won in 2008 were Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. B) The Democrats won nine states that they had lost in 2004. C) Obama won 365 electoral votes, compared to 173 for McCain. D) The Republicans won nine states that they had lost in 2004. E) Obama carried 53 percent of the popular vote, compared to 46 percent for McCain.
D) The Republicans won nine states that they had lost in 2004.
Which of the following does NOT characterize presidential elections around 1800? A) Campaigns were directed at state legislators, not the voters. B) Most of the campaigning was done by state and local party organizations. C) Newspaper coverage of the campaign was extremely partisan and dishonest. D) The candidates barnstormed the country campaigning and giving speeches. E) The vice presidential nominee tried to usurp the presidential candidate's nomination.
D) The candidates barnstormed the country campaigning and giving speeches.
Which of the following as the impetus behind Congress' limiting individual contributions to presidential and congressional candidates to $1,000? A) Watergate B) The discovery that individuals with military contracts donated over $500,000 to Johnson's 1968 campaign. C) The Supreme Court decision, McConnell vs. Federal Election Commission, that ruled against the McCain-Feingold Act. D) The discovery that some individuals had contributed $1 million to the 1972 Nixon campaign. E) The discovery that military contractors' employees contributed over $500,000 apiece to George W. Bush's campaign.
D) The discovery that some individuals had contributed $1 million to the 1972 Nixon campaign.
Which of the following is NOT a major criticism of the primary and caucus system? A) Disproportionate attention goes to the early caucuses and primaries. B) Participation is low and unrepresentative. C) Prominent politicians find it difficult to take time out of their duties to run. D) The system does not give enough power and access to the media. E) Money plays too big a role.
D) The system does not give enough power and access to the media.
In the Electoral College vote in the election of 1800, there was a tie between... A) Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. B) George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. C) John Adams and Aaron Burr. D) Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. E) John Adams and James Madison.
D) Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr.
The issue of free silver (to increase the amount of currency in circulation) was championed in the election of 1896 by __________, who made a famous speech at the Democratic National Convention. A) William McKinley B) Theodore Roosevelt C) Grover Cleveland D) William Jennings Bryan E) Woodrow Wilson
D) William Jennings Bryan
The winner of the presidential election of 1896 was... A) William Jennings Bryan. B) Grover Cleveland. C) Theodore Roosevelt. D) William McKinley. E) Ulysses Grant.
D) William McKinley.
The specific goal of the presidential nomination game is to win a majority of votes... A) compared to the other party's candidate in the general election. B) cast in presidential caucuses. C) cast in presidential primaries. D) among party delegates in order to win the party nomination. E) in the Electoral College.
D) among party delegates in order to win the party nomination.
Newspaper chains are... A) local papers owned by fearless local editors. B) organizations loosely linked by the wire services. C) unaffected by the quest for profit. D) controlled by conglomerates that often control broadcast media as well. E) disappearing as a result of the rise of television.
D) controlled by conglomerates that often control broadcast media as well.
The funds allocated to public financing of presidential campaigns based on income tax check-offs have... A) been ruled unconstitutional. B) stayed at about the same level. C) been eliminated by Congress. D) decreased substantially. E) increased substantially.
D) decreased substantially.
Providing select information and a request for money to lists of people who have supported candidates of similar views in the past is a frequently used political technique known as... A) conversion. B) frontloading. C) caucusing. D) direct mail. E) soft money.
D) direct mail.
The overriding bias in the news is toward stories that... A) are triangular. B) target specific audiences. C) include talking heads. D) draw large audiences. E) are liberal.
D) draw large audiences.
The criticism that government refuses to make tough choices between X or Y, instead pretending there is no need to choose and trying to favor both, is most often made by __________ theorists. A) hyperpluralist B) hyperelitist C) pluralist D) elitist E) rational choice
D) elitist
The tendency of states to hold primaries earlier in the calendar to capitalize on media attention is called... A) framing. B) politicking. C) stacking the deck. D) frontloading. E) agenda setting.
D) frontloading.
Interest groups differ from political parties because... A) parties seek many access points in government. B) parties use technology less effectively. C) the groups' main arena is the electoral system. D) groups tend to be policy specialists while parties tend to be policy generalists. E) parties use technology more effectively.
D) groups tend to be policy specialists while parties tend to be policy generalists.
Today's campaigns promote __________ in American politics. A) tremendous opportunities for fraud. B) impoverished candidates C) a collective consciousness D) individualism E) equality
D) individualism
When __________ is high, as it is in the United States, even losers of elections accept the results peacefully. A) voter participation B) the degree of clarity of the idea in a party platform C) voter registration D) legitimacy E) policy voting
D) legitimacy
Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other forms of communication are collectively referred to as the... A) world of high-tech politics. B) media conglomeration. C) forth branch of government. D) mass media. E) World Wide Web.
D) mass media.
Critics of a national primary argue that... A) the media would have little impact. B) the campaign would be lengthened. C) obscure candidates would receive too much of an advantage. D) no candidate would receive a majority, thus a run-off election would be needed. E) All of the above are argued by critics of a national primary.
D) no candidate would receive a majority, thus a run-off election would be needed.
Following the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968 , the party chose to... A) allow party officers and democratic office holders, many of whom had not been seated at recent conventions, to serve as "superdelegates." B) limit attendance at future conventions to the elected officers of the party's organizations nationwide. C) limit attendance at future conventions to the party's nationwide elected government officeholders. D) open up its process of choosing delegates to the national convention in order to respond to demands for greater inclusion from women, minorities, youth, and other groups. E) tighten up its convention delegate selection to keep it from being overrun by women, minorities, youth, and single-issue groups.
D) open up its process of choosing delegates to the national convention in order to respond to demands form greater inclusion from women, minorities, youth, and other groups.
The issues that attract serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics are collectively referred to as the __________ agenda. A) media B) entrepreneurial C) profit D) policy E) news
D) policy
In Bias, former CBS News reporter Bernard Goldberg notes that... A) because most journalists are more conservative than the general public, news coverage tends to reflect a conservative bias. B) media emphasis on social issues such as feminism, gay rights, and welfare policy is a result of the cosmopolitan environment in which network reporters live. C) media bias is explicitly connected to the political views of media owners. D) real media bias comes not so much from which party the media attack, but as a result of how journalists see the world. E) because most journalists are more liberal than the general public, news coverage tends to reflect a liberal bias.
D) real media bias comes not so much from which party the media attack, but as a result of how journalists see the world.
The Federal Election Campaign Act... A) ended public financing for presidential campaigns. B) removed spending limits from presidential campaigns. C) required broadcasters to provide free airtime to each major candidate for federal office. D) required all candidates for federal office to disclose all contributions made to their campaigns. E) provided public financing for Senate and House races.
D) required all candidates for federal office to disclose all contributions made to their campaigns.
The appearance and increase in __________ was an unintended resulted of an amendment in 1979 to the original Campaign Reform Act, which allows parties to raise and spend money on voter registration and other campaign materials without limits o spending or the size of contributions that they can accept. A) expenditure waivers B) institutional assistance C) party expenditure exemption D) soft money E) party discretionary funding
D) soft money
National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention are referred to as... A) frontloaders. B) party bosses. C) caucuses. D) superdelegates. E) McGovern-Fraser delegates.
D) superdelegates.
The cozy relationship between politicians and the press in the twentieth century lasted until... A) the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency. B) the Iranian Hostage Crisis. C) World War II. D) the Vietnam War and Watergate. E) the commercialization of television.
D) the Vietnam War and Watergate.
The historic Tax Reform Act of 1986 is a good example of... A) how difficult it is for large groups to provide an optimal level of a collective good. B) the fact that big interests usually win in American politics. C) the power of single issue groups. D) the fact that big interests don't always win in American politics. E) how easy it can be for groups to overcome the free-rider problem through selective benefits.
D) the fact that big interests don't always win in American politics.
Frontloading refers to... A) a strategy employed by candidate press secretaries that seeks to bombard the media with positive news. B) bargaining among superdelegates over which candidate they will support at the national convention. C) candidates' refusal to campaign in early primary states. D) the recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar year in order to capitalize on media attention. E) a fundraising technique that candidates employ to amass large amounts of money before a campaign actually begins.
D) the recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar year in order to capitalize on media attention.
Differences in press coverage between presidents Reagan and Obama show that... A) presidential addresses receive higher Nielson ratings today than they did several decades ago. B) there is a growing audience for national news and presidential messages. C) more Americans read presidential addresses in newspapers while fewer view coverage on TV. D) there is a diminishing audience for national news and presidential messages. E) more than 50 percent of Americans can be expected to tune in to watch presidential addresses to Congress.
D) there is a diminishing audience for national news and presidential messages.
The addition of superdelegates to the Democratic national conventions was spearheaded by... A) President Jimmy Carter. B) those who felt the Warren Commission had led to unrepresentative delegate selection. C) the McGovern-Fraser Commission. D) those who felt the McGovern-Fraser Commission had opened up the delegate selection process too much. E) the Warren Commission.
D) those who felt the McGovern-Fraser Commission had opened up the delegate selection process too much.
When top aides to President Clinton leaked has admission of an "inappropriate relationship" to Richard Berke of the New York Times, prior to Clinton's public admission before the grand jury, this is an example of a... A) sound bite. B) beat. C) guilty plea. D) trial balloon. E) talking head.
D) trial balloon.
In "going public," interest groups... A) extend membership to a broader range of people. B) open their decision-making meetings to the general public. C) issue stock. D) use advertising and public relations to enhance their image. E) bring class action suits against their opponents.
D) use advertising and public relations to enhance their image.
Largely to prevent corruption associated with stuffing ballot boxes, states adopted __________ around the turn of the twentieth century. A) voting machines B) primary elections C) the secret ballot D) voter registration E) the Electoral College
D) voter registration
A proportional representation system for electing members to a nationʹs legislature is more likely to lead to a A) situation like that of the United States, with only two major parties as rivals. B) centralization and unification of political forces within the nation. C) single party holding all the seats. D) moderating of political conflict. E) greater number of political parties holding seats. (p. 262)
E
About which state has it been said that the political parties are so weak as to be almost nonexistent? A) Pennsylvania B) New York C) Texas D) Alaska E) California (p. 249)
E
An example of a splinter party would be A) the Prohibitionist party. B) the Poor Manʹs party of 1952. C) the Libertarian party. D) Ross Perotʹs United We Stand. E) George Wallaceʹs American Independents. (p. 260)
E
As ________, political parties serve the role of translating inputs from the public into outputs from policymakers. A) coalitions B) superdelegates C) political converters D) machines E) linkage institutions (p. 243)
E
During the second party system in United States history, Martin Van Buren argued that A) political parties were harming the country because they promoted factionalism, petty bickering, and disunity. B) the Whigs should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people. C) the Democrats should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people. D) the Republicans should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people. E) a governing party needed a loyal opposition party to represent parts of society that it could not. (p. 255)
E
In elections since 1968, A) the Democrats have dominated both the presidency and the Congress. B) the Republicans have dominated both the presidency and the Congress. C) party control of both Congress and the presidency has shifted from one party to the other at least every other election. D) the Democrats have dominated the presidency, while the Republicans have dominated Congress. E) the Republicans have dominated the presidency, while the Democrats have dominated the Congress. (p. 257)
E
In many other democracies, the system of awarding seats in the national legislature, unlike in the United States, is one of A) single-member districts. B) intellectual merit alone. C) winner-take-all. D) virtual representation. E) proportional representation. (p. 262)
E
In the United States, to become a member of a political party you need to A) pay annual dues. B) officially join that party by attending a party meeting. C) hold a membership card. D) register with that party at your precinct office. E) claim to be a member. (p. 245)
E
Over the past thirty years, there has been a marked rise in A) support for both the major and minor parties. B) support for the Democratic party. C) support for both the Democratic and Republican parties. D) support for minor parties. E) party neutrality. (p. 259)
E
Party dealignment means the A) the inability of the parties to deal with the nationʹs problems. B) lack of party cohesion in Congress. C) realignment of party coalitions. D) increasing inability of minority parties to win elections. E) decreasing influence of both parties on voters and government. (p. 259)
E
Party realignments in the United States A) occur when a party makes dramatic changes in its positions on issues. B) involve the death of one party and the birth of a brand new one. C) are slight adjustments of political allegiance among voters in at least one region of the country. D) happen after most presidential elections, and occasionally in-between. E) are rare events in the United States, usually associated with a major national crisis or trauma, in which one partyʹs majority domination is replaced with anotherʹs. (p. 254)
E
Patronage A) is commonly used by political parties today. B) is an incentive given by national party offices. C) is the deference that elected officials give to their campaign contributors in making policy decisions. D) is based on merit and competence. E) was an inducement of jobs and financial rewards given for political reasons by party machines. (p. 248)
E
Since 1960, state party organizations A) have begun selecting candidates for state offices. B) have been established for the first time as the national organizations have weakened. C) have virtually disappeared as the national units have taken on their functions. D) have begun selecting candidates for Congress. E) have become much more powerful and organized. (p. 250-251)
E
The Republicans lost the election of 1932 primarily due to A) the nomination of a popular war hero by the Democrats. B) Hitlerʹs election as chancellor of Germany and the Republicansʹ failure to prevent it. C) rising political and economic instability in Europe. D) the failure of the Republicans to hold onto the support of urban industrialists. E) President Herbert Hooverʹs handling of the Depression. (p. 256)
E
The Whig party A) was named after the wigs that the early aristocrats such as George Washington wore. B) dominated the second American party era between 1828 and 1856. C) forged a coalition of westerners, southerners, and new immigrants. D) believed in broadening political opportunity, eliminating vestiges of elitism, and mobilizing the masses. E) was only able to win the presidency when it nominated aging, but popular, military heroes. (p. 255)
E
The first American political party evolved A) from the supporters of George Washingtonʹs first campaign for president. B) out of Thomas Jeffersonʹs efforts to get the Declaration of Independence adopted. C) out of public disgust over the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, leading to calls to solve conflicts through peaceful party competition. D) during the Constitutional Convention. E) out of Alexander Hamiltonʹs efforts to get Congress to establish a national bank. (p. 254)
E
The first party system (1796-1824) was characterized by A) professional politicians running for office. B) the dominance of the presidency by the Federalist party. C) the dominance of the Republican party. D) the dominance of the northern capitalist states. E) the dominance of the Democratic-Republican party. (p. 254)
E
The key spokespersons for political parties come from which of its major components? A) the party-in-the-electorate B) the party as an organization C) the party-out-of-power D) the leaders-of-the-party-organization E) the party-in-government (p. 243)
E
The party national committees A) select the partyʹs presidential candidate. B) are composed of each partyʹs members of Congress. C) meet once every four years. D) write and approve the partyʹs platform. E) keep the party operating between conventions. (p. 251)
E
Which is a linkage institution? A) Supreme Court B) Executive Office of the President C) Congress D) all of the above E) none of the above (p. 243)
E
In which election was voter turnout at its highest point? A) 2000 B) 2004 C) 1800 D) 1992 E) 1896
E) 1896
Proponents of a national primary argue that it would... A) shorten the length of the campaign. B) increase public understanding of the issues at stake in the nomination contest. C) equalize the relative weight of votes across the states. D) simplify the nomination process. E) All of the above are argued by proponents of a national primary.
E) All of the above are argued by proponents of a national primary.
In the 2000 presidential election,... A) Bush won the presidency without winning the popular vote, the first time a candidate did so since 1888. B) Bush did especially well in less populous states possessing fewer than seven electoral votes. C) Gore received more votes than did Bush. D) Gore did especially well in states with greater than 18 electoral votes. E) All of the above are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Subgovernments... A) are composed of key interest groups leaders, government agencies in charge of administrative policy, and congressional committees all interested in particular policy areas. B) are networks of groups within the American political system that exercise power over specific policy areas. C) work to protect their own self-interest. D) are also known as iron triangles. E) All of the above are true.
E) All of the above are true.
In its study of 240 hours of cable news programming in 2003, the Columbia University Project for Excellence in Journalism found that... A) stories were reported frequently, usually without any important new information. B) the role of the reporter was primarily to talk extemporaneously. C) coverage of the news was spotty, ignoring many important topics. D) only 11 percent of the time was taken up with written and edited stories. E) All of the above were found in the study.
E) All of the above were found in the study.
Which of the following is true of press criticism of political leaders? A) The watchdog orientation of the press is neither conservative nor liberal, but reformist. B) Reporters believe that exposing officeholders is an essential role of the free press. C) The media focus on injustice in society invariably encourages enlarging the scope of government. D) A clear public majority thinks that press criticism of political leaders is worth it because it keeps leaders from doing things that should not be done. E) All of these are true.
E) All of these are true.
Which of the following statements about voting in elections in the United States i FALSE? A) The choice offered Americans at elections is not as great as in other democracies. B) Unlike the United States, the governments of most democracies take the responsibility of seeing to it that all of their eligible citizens are on the voting lists. C) American government asks citizens to vote far more often than most democracies. D) Americans are less likely to vote than are citizens of there democracies. E) Americans are expected to vote for a much narrower range of political offices than most democracies.
E) Americans are expected to vote for a much narrower range of political offices than most democracies.
Elections serve the purpose of... A) socializing the institutionalizing political activity. B) helping to guide the policy direction of the government. C) providing regular access to political power. D) providing a legitimate means to replace leaders. E) Elections serve the purpose of all of the above.
E) Elections serve the purpose of all of the above.
__________ theorists argue that the power of the few is fortified by an extensive system of interlocking directorates and that wealthy corporations prevail when it comes to major decisions by government. A) Pyramid B) Pluralist C) Elitist D) Hyperelitist E) Hyperpluralist
E) Hyperpluralist
California's famous Proposition 13, in which voters frustrated by a lack of action by their legislature forced an issue on the ballot and voted to limit the rise in property taxes, was an example of... A) an indirect primary. B) a voter override. C) a direct primary. D) a referendum. E) an initiative.
E) and initiative.
Economic groups... A) lobby on behalf of all consumers. B) are those groups that provide information to Congress. C) consist only of corporations, rather than individuals, as members. D) are those that require individuals to pay dues to be members. E) are those groups interested in wages, prices, and profits.
E) are those groups interested in wages, prices, and profits.
Elite theorists emphasize the power of... A) congressional staff members. B) presidents. C) subgovernments. D) public interest lobbies. E) business corporations.
E) business corporations.
For a candidate, the most important and desirable result of the early nomination contests is... A) doing well in a state highly representative of the entire U.S. population. B) winning the highest number of votes. C) winning the highest number of national conventions delegates. D) winning all of its electoral votes. E) doing better than expected, thus winning an image as the party's front runner and holder of momentum.
E) doing better than expected, thus winning an image as the party's front runner and holder of momentum.
The work of the McGovern-Fraser Commission appointed during the turbulent Chicago Convention of 1968 was a reflection of concern over... A) the Republicans' image as a party of efficiency. B) Richard Nixon's growing popularity and the fear that he could defeat the Democratic nominee in the fall. C) the declining strength of Democratic power in Congress and state governorship's. D) the catastrophic defeat of Goldwater in 1964. E) elite control of the party.
E) elite control of the party.
The __________ stipulates that if a station sells advertising time to one candidate, it must be willing to sell equal time to other candidates for the same office. A) Second Amendment B) fair-treatment rule C) First Amendment D) public interest rule E) equal-time rule
E) equal-time rule
Running for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980, George Bush announced in the early going that he had the "big mo," a reference to the fact that... A) he had been endorsed by Moe Shepp, traditionally one of the Republican party's biggest campaign contributors. B) financial contributors were heavily on his side. C) he had won more delegates in Missouri. D) had had won more votes in New Hampshire. E) he had the momentum having won in Iowa.
E) he had the momentum having won in Iowa.
The rise of television broadcasting has reinforced __________ in the American political process. A) liberalism B) communitarianism C) conservativism D) libertarianism E) individualism
E) individualism
When it comes to rating the things that the media do, journalists believe that it is important for the media to __________ and least important for it to __________. A) provide entertainment; point to possible solutions for problems B) point to possible solutions; get information quickly to the public C) discuss national policy; motivate people to get involved D) get information quickly to the public; investigate claims made by government E) investigate claims made by government; provide entertainment
E) investigate claims made by government; provide entertainment
Paradoxically, as technology has enabled the media to pass along information with greater speed, news coverage has become... A) more objective. B) more thorough. C) less biased. D) more biased. E) less thorough.
E) less thorough.
Voters in presidential primaries and caucuses tend to be... A) far less educated and much poorer on average than the U.S. population as a whole. B) minorities and notably younger than the general population. C) somewhat less educated and somewhat poorer on average than the U.S. population as a whole. D) very similar to the rest of the U.S. population in terms of education and income. E) older and more affluent than the U.S. population as a whole.
E) older and more affluent than the U.S. population as a whole.
The free-rider problem refers to the difficulty that... A) single-issue groups have when another problem is added to their agenda. B) actual groups have in collecting dues from members. C) small groups face in raising enough money to influence policy. D) large groups have in activating all their potential members. E) potential groups have in trying to receive their share in collective goods.
E) potential groups have in trying to receive their share in collective goods.
The notion that, in politics, the desires of the people should be replicated in government through the choices of elected officials is called... A) majority rules. B) political participation. C) minority rights. D) pluralism. E) representation.
E) representation.
Reapportionment occurs after every census to reallocate seats in... A) the Senate. B) the president's cabinet. C) both the House of Representatives and the Senate. D) the Supreme Court. E) the House of Representatives.
E) the House of Representatives.
When, after his 2008 win, President Obama stated, "I don't think there's any question that we have a mandate to move the country in a new direction and not continue the same old practices that have gotten us into the fix that we are in," he was expressing... A) a call to arms. B) policy voting. C) bipartisanship. D) partisanship. E) the mandate theory of elections.
E) the mandate theory of elections.
Americaʹs weak political party structure makes it almost impossible for politicians to focus their efforts on getting more from the government for their own constituents. (p. 264)
F
Coalition governments are relatively rare in European democracies. (p. 262)
F
Day-to-day activities of the national party are the responsibility of the partyʹs national committee. (p. 251)
F
Each party holds a national convention every two years to bring delegates together, hear speeches, pass the party platform, attempt to project a certain image, and, during presidential election years, to nominate candidates for president and vice president. (p. 251)
F
Individual members of Congress receive great pressure to follow party policy, which leads to coherent party programs being passed by Congress. (p. 262-263)
F
Starting about 1968, a gradual realignment occurred in the South, noted primarily for moderate Republicans switching over to the Democratic Party. (p. 257-259)
F
Third parties in the United States have historically had no impact on American politics. (p. 260-261)
F
According to rational-choice theory, voters want to maximize the chance that policies they favor will be adopted by government, and parties want to win office; thus, in order to win office, the wise party selects policies that are widely favored. (p. 244)
T
Critical elections occur only rarely, but dramatically shake up the American political system and involve a major realignment of the coalitions making up the major political parties. (p. 254)
T
One of the biggest rivals of American political parties is the media. (p. 264-265)
T
Organizationally, state parties are on the upswing throughout the country. (p. 250)
T
Party realignment is a rare event in American politics. (p. 254)
T
Since 1968, neither party has been completely and consistently dominant, and the United States has been in an era of divided government. (p. 259)
T
The control that parties have over who is selected as their nominee is less now than it was in the 1960s. (p. 250-251)
T
The winner-take-all system in the United States discourages small parties. (p. 262)
T
Third parties almost never win office in the United States, but they sometimes have an effect on the electoral college vote and have served as ʺsafety valvesʺ for expressing popular discontent. (p. 260-261
T
federal election campaign act
a law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances. Created the federal election commission
union shop
a provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, 30 days, and to remain members as condition of employment
ʺCritical electionsʺ always result in the A) widespread public questioning of the American election process accompanied by calls for its reform. B) displacement of the minority party by the majority party. C) formation of new political parties. D) successful bid by a third political party. E) formation of new coalitions for each political party. (p. 254)
W
direct mail
a method of raising money for a political cause or candidate in which information and requests for money are sent to people whose names appear on the list of those who have supported similar views or candidates in the past
party machines
a party organization that depends on rewarding its members in some material fashion
party platform
a political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next 4 years
high tech politics
a politics in which the behavior of citizens and policy makers, as well as the political agenda itself, is increasingly shaped by technology
national primary
a proposed nationwide primary that would replace the current system of caucuses and presidential primaries
regional primary
a proposed series of primaries held in each geographic region that would replace the current system of caucuses and presidential primaries
political party
a "team of men and women seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election
motor voter act
a 1993 act that required states to allow eligible voters to register by checking a box on their driver's license application or renewal form
new deal coalition
a coalition forged by the democrats who dominated american politics in the 1960s. Its basic elements were the urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, southerners, African Americans, and intellects
political ideology
a coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose
public interest lobbies
a collective good, the achievement of which will not selectively and materially benefit the memebership or activists of the organization
McGovern-Fraser commission
a commission formed at the 1968 Democratic convention in response to demands for reform by minority groups and other who sought better representation
lobbying
a communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision
census
a count of the population every 10 years
protest
a form of political participation designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics
civil disobedience
a form of political participation where you break the law and suffer the consequences to prove a point
coalition
a group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends on
patronage
a job, promotion, or contract is one that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence
sample
a relatively small proportion of people who are chosen for a survey so as to be representative of the whole
talking head
a shot of a person's face talking directly to the camera
federal election commission
a six member bipartisan agency created by the federal election campaign of 1974. Administers and enforces campaign finance laws
right-to-work laws
a state law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs
caucus
a system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen mostly rural states in which voters must show up at a set time and attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference
random-digit dialing
a technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted when conducting a survey
gender gap
a term that refers to the regular pattern by which women are more likely to vote democrat
elitism
a theory of government and politics contending that an upper class elite will hold most of the power and thus in effect, run the government
hyperpluralism
a theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government, seeking to please them all, is thereby weakened
pluralism
a theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups, each pressing for ts preferred policies, compete and counter balance one another in the political marketplace
retrospective voting
a theory of voting according to which voters essentially make their decision based on their answers to the question "what have you done for me lately?"
responsible party model
a view about how parties should work, held by some political scientists
political participation
all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they persue
potential group
all the people who might be interest group members because they share some common interest
critical election
an electoral earthquake where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace new ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority
media event
an event that is staged primarily for the purpose of being covered
interest groups
an organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals
political culture
an overall set of values widely shared within a society
national committee
composed of representatives from the states and territories
matching funds
contributions of up to $250 are matched from the presidential election campaign fund to candidates for the presidential nomination who qualify
sampling error
describes the level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll as a percentage plus or minus
electioneering
direct group involvement in the electoral process
presidential primaries
elections in which a state's voters go to the polls to express their preference for a party's nominee for president
third party
electoral contenders other than the two major parties
class action lawsuit
enable a group of people in similar situations to combine their common grievances into a single suit
blue dog democrats
fiscally conservative democrats who are mostly from the south and/or rural parts of the US
free-rider problem
for a group, the problem of people not joining because they can benefit from the groups activities without joining
selective benefits
goods that a group can restrict to those who actually join
chains
groups of newspapers published by media conglomerates and account for 4/5 of the newspaper circulation
501c groups
groups that are exempted from reporting their contributions and can receive unlimited contributions
single-issue groups
groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics
party eras
historical periods in which voters cling to the party in power, which tends to win a majority of the elections
527 groups
independent groups that are not subject to contributions and can receive unlimited contributions
trial balloons
intentional news leaked for the purpose of assessing the political reaction
institutionalize political activity
makes it possible for most political participation to be channeled through electoral process
narrowcasting
media programming on cable TV or the internet that is focused on a particular interest and aimed at a particular audicnce
press conference
meetings with reporters
policy entrepreneurs
people who invest their political "capital" in an issue
presidential election campaign fund
money from the $3 federal income tax check off goes into this fund, which is then distributed to qualified candidates to subsize their presidential campaigns
superdelegates
national party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the national party convention
print media
newspapers and magazines
electoral college
not the people at large, who actually cast the determining votes for president and VP of the united states
policy voting
occurs when people base their choices in an election on their own issues preferences
electronic media
radio, television, and internet
voter registration
requires individuals to register prior to voting
national chairperson
responsible for the day to day activities of the party and is usually hand picked by the presidential nominee
legitimacy
says that elections are almost universally accepted as a fair and free method of selecting political leaders
rational choice theory
seeks to explain political process and outcomes s consequences of purposive behavior
collective good
something of value that cannot be withheld from a potential group member
beats
specific locations where news often emanates
party competition
the battle between democrats and republicans for the control of public offices
civic duty
the belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should vote
political efficacy
the belief that ordinary people can influence the government
party identification
the citizen's self proclaimed preference for one party or the other
party realignment
the displacement of the majority by the minority party
public opinion
the disruption of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues
minority majority
the emergence of a non-caucasian majority
party dealignment
the gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
policy agenda
the issues that attract the attention of public officials
random sampling
the key technique which operates on the principle that everyone has an equal chance of getting chosen for a sample
campaign strategy
the master game plan candidates lay out to guide their electoral campaign
national convention
the meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
melting pot
the mixing of cultures, ideas, and people that changed the american nation
nomination
the official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party
actual group
the people in the potential group who actually join
selective perception
the phenomenon that people's beliefs often guide what they pay the most attention to and how they interpret events
political socialization
the process by which an individual acquires their political orientations
reapportionment
the process of reallocating seats in the House of representatives every 10 years
frontloading
the recent tendency of states to hold primaries early in the calendar in order to capitalize on media attention
suffrage
the right to vote
demography
the science of population changes
national party convention
the supreme power within each of the parties. Meets every 4 years to nominate candidates
investigative journalism
the use of detective-like reporting methods to check up on the statements of public offices
party image
the voter's preception of what the parties stand for
mandate theory of elections
the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and policies
referendum
whereby voters are given a chance to approve or disapprove some act, bond, issue, etc. proposed by the legislature
linkage institutions
translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policy makers
initiative petition
typically requires citizens proposing a law to gain signatures equal to 10% of voters in the past election
ticket splitting
voting for one party for one office and the other party for another office
According to Michael Delli Carpini and Scott Keeter, political knowledge is important because it... A) All of the above are true. B) fosters civic virtues. C) promotes active participation in politics. D) helps citizens identify policies that would benefit them. E) None of the above is true.
A) All of the above are true.
Who said America "is not merely a nation but a nation of nations"? A) John F. Kennedy B) Ronald Reagan C) George W. Bush D) Franklin D. Roosevelt E) Bill Clinton
A) John F. Kennedy
Patrick Henry's exclamation, "Give me liberty or give me death," was an expression of which element of the American creed? A) Liberty B) Populism C) Laissez-faire D) Individualism E) Egalitarianism
A) Liberty
Which of the following is TRUE in regard to the voting habits of African Americans and Hispanic Americans? A) Members of these groups are more likely to vote than whites of the same income level. B) They have always voted about as much as whites despite legal barriers. C) Among people without high school diplomas, whites are more likely than blacks to vote. D) The gap between their voter turnout and that of whites has widened considerably over the past thirty yeas. E) Members of these groups are less likely to vote the higher their income.
A) Members of these groups are more likely to vote than whites of the same income level..
Which of the following is TRUE of income and political participation? A) People with higher incomes are more likely to donate money to campaigns, to contact politicians, to attend public meetings, and to sign petitions than individuals at lower income levels. B) Donating money is the most frequent form of political participation regardless of income. C) People at higher income levels are more likely to sign petitions and attend meetings than to contact politicians or donate money to campaigns. D) All of these are true. E) None of these are true.
A) People with higher incomes are more likely to donate money to campaigns, to contact politicians, to attend public meetings, and to sign petitions than individuals at lower income levels.
__________ is the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues. A) Public opinion B) Random sampling C) Direct mail D) Political ideology E) Political socialization
A) Public opinion
What unites Americans more than anything else according to your textbook? A) Their political culture B) Liberal attitudes toward immigration C) A belief in group politics D) The president E) Participation in elections
A) Their political culture
The most valuable method for understanding demographic changes in America is the... A) U.S. Census. B) public opinion poll. C) Internal Revenue Service statistical tax abstracts. D) Statistical Abstract of the United States. E) turnout in presidential elections.
A) U.S. Census.
Conservatives would tend to support each of the following EXCEPT... A) affirmative action. B) the right to lift. C) increased military spending. D) free-market solutions. E) low taxes.
A) affirmative action.
Random sampling in public opinion polling operate on the principle that... A) everyone should have an equal probability of being selected. B) the answers to include an aggregate poll results must be selected by chance in order to maximize accuracy. C) the larger the number of people who are polled, the greater the accuracy of the poll. D) the questions to be asked of a given respondent must be selected randomly so that all respondents are asked the same question the same number of times. E) Both B and C are true.
A) everyone should have an equal probability of being selected.
The basic principles of traditional democratic theory include all of the following EXCEPT... A) government control of information. B) inclusion. C) citizen control of the agenda. D) equality in voting. E) effective participation.
A) government control of information.
Public Policy A) includes all decisions and non-decisions made by government. B) is not relevant unless it is coupled with political culture. C) is specifically defined as government action. D) only relates to democracies. E) only emerges through formal legislative procedures.
A) includes all decisions and non-decisions made by government.
Concerns about reliance of pollsters on telephone surveys have recently been caused by... A) increased use of cell phones. B) a decrease in no-call lists. C) increased use of random-digit dialing. D) decreased chances of finding people at home. E) increased non-listing of phone numbers.
A) increased use of cell phones.
Compared to other industrialized democracies, the United States has a __________ voter turnout. A) much lower B) rising C) much higher D) slightly higher E) slightly lower
A) much lower
In the election of 1800,... A) the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became the vice president. B) the focus of the campaign was on the voters. C) a large entourage of reporters accompanied the candidates during their national campaign. D) candidates were nominated at the national convention. E) media coverage was extensive.
A) the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became the vice president.
Which of the following groups was eligible to vote in 1800? A) African Americans B) Property-owning males over the age of 21 C) White male and female property owners D) Women E) Anyone over the age of 18
B) Property-owning males over the age of 21
Harold Lasswell's definition of politics is... A) "what gets done, then, and now." B) "who gets what, when, and how." C) voting in a duly constituted election. D) joining a political party. E) the authoritative allocation of the gross national product, or GNP.
B) "who gets what, when, and how."
Which of the following statements about political socialization is FALSE? A) As people become more socialized with age, their political orientations grow stronger. B) As people become more socialized with age, their political orientations grow weaker. C) Americans obtain most of their political socialization from their families and their teachers. D) Governments aim their socialization efforts primarily at the young. E) All of the above are false.
B) As people become more socialized with age, their political orientation grow weaker.
According to Marc Hetherington as discussed in your textbook, what is the largest impact of declining political trust? A) Decreased respect of American politicians in the foreign press. B) Decreased support for programs that address poverty and racial inequality. C) Higher taxes. D) The inability of the president to address pressing foreign policy concerns. E) Increased political ignorance.
B) Decreased support for programs that address poverty and racial inequality.
Which of the following statements about the differences between liberals and conservatives is FALSE? A) Liberals generally believe that we can solve the problems that cause crime; conservatives believe that we should stop "coddling" criminals. B) Liberals are more likely to favor military intervention around the globe; conservatives are less willing to commit troops to action. C) Liberals tend to support affirmative action; conservatives tend to oppose it. D) Liberals generally think we should spend less on military spending; conservatives are more likely to support maintaining higher levels of military strength. E) Liberals seek to tax the rich more; conservatives seek to maintain the free market and tax the rich less.
B) Liberals are more likely to favor military intervention around the globe; conservatives are less willing to commit troops to action.
Which of the following statements about voter turnout in the United States is FALSE? A) African Americans are less likely than whites to vote. B) Older people are less likely than younger people to vote. C) Women are more likely to vote than men. D) People with higher than average education levels have a higher voter participation rate. E) Americans' voter participation rate is far lower than voter turnout in other democracies.
B) Older people are less likely than younger people to vote.
__________ occurs when people base their electoral choices on the basis of their own policy preferences and the candidates' stand on policy issues. A) Civic duty B) Policy voting C) Retrospective voting D) Agenda setting E) Suffrage
B) Policy voting
Which of the following statements about public opinion polling is FALSE? A) A sample of 1,500 people is enough to relatively accurately reflect the universe of American people. B) Sample sizes are getting smaller, not larger. C) The amount of public opinion polling has increased in recent years. D) Public opinion polling started in 1932 with George Gallup. E) Public opinion polling is a uniquely American phenomenon.
B) Sample sizes are getting smaller, not larger.
The __________ Act required that as of 1987, employers document the citizenship or legal immigrant status of their employees or face substantial criminal penalties for failing to do so. A) National Origins B) Simpson-Mazzoli C) Hatch D) National Labor Relations E) Immigrant Employment
B) Simpson-Mazzoli
Which of the following is NOT supported by empirical data on attitudes toward gay and lesbians? A) Liberals have consistently been more supportive of gays and lesbians since the 1980's. B) Support for gays and lesbians is reflective of a political culture war in which liberals and conservatives are completely opposed to one another. C) Young people within each ideological group express more favorable views of gays and lesbians. D) In the 1980's moderates expressed more negative than positive feelings toward gays and lesbians. E) Public support for gays and lesbians has increased since the 1980's.
B) Support for gays and lesbians is reflective of a political culture war in which liberals and conservatives are completely opposed to one another.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) Compared to most other economically developed nations, the United States devotes a smaller percentage of its resources to government. B) The United States, more than Western European democracies, displays a preference for more generous social welfare benefits. C) The United States, more than Western European democracies, displays a preference for limited government. D) The United States, more than Western European democracies, displays a preference for free markets. E) All of the above are false.
B) The United States, more than Western European democracies, displays a preference for more generous social welfare benefits.
Which of the following statements about processes of political socialization is TRUE? A) Today's young Americans are more likely than older Americans to read newspapers. B) The older children get, the more television displaces parents as the chief source of information. C) Today's young Americans are more likely than older Americans to pay attention to the news. D) Average school age children spend more time each week at school than they spend watching TV. E) Today's young Americans are more likely than older Americans to participate in politics.
B) The older children get, the more television displaces parents as the chief source of information.
Who became president with the election of 1800? A) James Madison B) Thomas Jefferson C) Aaron Burr D) George Washington E) John Adams
B) Thomas Jefferson
The procedure for conducting __________ includes randomly selected voting places around the country and asking every tenth person how they voted. A) absentee balloting B) an exit poll C) the U.S. Census D) reapportionment E) a referendum
B) an exit poll
At the center of all theories of elite domination of politics is... A) the Congress. B) big business. C) the president. D) the Trilateral Commission. E) the nouveau riche.
B) big business.
Highly educated individuals are more likely to vote because they... A) have more influence in the political process. B) can better discern policy differences between candidates. C) are usually white males. D) are smarter. E) have a lower sense of political efficacy.
B) can better discern policy differences between candidates.
According to the classic study, The American Voter, done in the 1950's, most Americans fell into the category of... A) anti-ideologues. B) group benefits voters. C) ideologues. D) nature-of-the-times voters. E) no-issue-content voters.
B) group benefits voters.
PAC stands for... A) politically active constituency. B) political action committee. C) party affairs council. D) partisan assistance commission. E) policy advisory committee.
B) political action committee.
The process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations, including his or her knowledge, feelings, and evaluations regarding his or her political world, is known as... A) political ideology. B) political socialization. C) political indoctrination. D) demography. E) political orientation.
B) political socialization.
In their research on politicians' use of public opinion polling, Jacobs and Shapiro fount that... A) politicians do not really track public opinion. B) politicians track public opinion to help them craft public presentations and win public support for their parties. C) politicians track public opinion to identify centrist positions that will have their broadest popular appeal when it comes to public policy. D) politicians track public opinion to make public policy. E) politicians spend so much time tracking public opinion that they have little time to spend on actually leading the country.
B) politicians track public opinion to help them craft public presentations and win public support for their parties.
Public opinion is defined in the text as... A) opinions solicited from a random sample of the public. B) the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy. C) widely held beliefs about the public's role in politics and policy. D) opinions that are expressible in public, as opposed to the more truthful private opinions that most individuals are reluctant to state publicly. E) beliefs about government held by a majority of people.
B) the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy.
Suffrage means... A) voting for the winner. B) the legal right to vote. C) the struggle for equal rights for women. D) turning out to vote. E) voting for the loser.
B) the legal right to vote.
The media usually focus on the __________ of politics. A) "what" B) "why" C) "who" D) "how" E) "when"
C) "who"
In order to qualify to be put on the ballot, initiative petitions usually require signatures equal to about... A) 10 percent of the entire population. B) a minimum of 500 signatures. C) 10 percent of the number of voters from the previous election. D) 10 percent of eligible voters. E) 10 percent of registered voters.
C) 10 percent of the number o fvoters from the previous election.
Free speech and a free press are essential to which principle of traditional democratic theory? A) Inclusion B) Effective participation C) Enlightened understanding D) Equality in voting E) Citizen control of the agenda
C) Enlightened understanding
Which of these groups tends to be the most conservative? A) Women B) Hispanics C) Groups with political clout D) African Americans E) Younger voters
C) Groups with political clout
__________ is the process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. A) The bureaucracy B) Government C) The policy-making system D) Democracy E) A constellation
C) The policy-making sytem
Which of the following is TRUE about most liberals in American politics? A) They are supportive of prayer in public schools. B) They favor keeping taxes and government spending low. C) They believe we should guard carefully the rights of defendants in criminal cases. D) They oppose gun control legislation. E) They oppose abortion.
C) They believe we should guard carefully the rights of defendants in criminal cases.
A political ideology is... A) the distribution of the population's beliefs about politics and policy issues. B) a relatively small proportion of people who are chosen as representative of the whole. C) a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy. D) the set of courses that a political science student must complete to attain a degree. E) the process through which an individual acquires his or her political skills.
C) a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy.
Voters who support a political candidate merely because they see others doing so is called the __________ effect. A) horse race B) nuts-and-bolts C) bandwagon D) random sampling E) pollster
C) bandwagon
The institutions and processes through which public policies are made for a society are collectively called... A) power. B) politics. C) government. D) federalism. E) the separation of powers.
C) government.
Sampling error describes... A) how often a sample statistic is correct. B) what percentage of the sample provided answers to the questions. C) how close a sample estimate is to the real population value. D) how many samples are incorrect. E) how many samples a survey estimate is based on.
C) how close a sample estimate is to the real population value.
The technique used by pollsters to place telephone calls randomly to both listed and unlisted numbers is called... A) sampling. B) censusing. C) random-digit-dialing. D) push polling. E) cold calling.
C) random-digit-dialing.
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen as representative of the whole is called a... A) quota. B) cohort. C) sample. D) population. E) census.
C) sample.
The who of politics includes voters, candidates, groups and parties; the what refers to the... A) procedures through which voters, candidates, groups, and parties get what they want. B) institutions that respond to voters, candidates, groups, and parties. C) substance of politics and government--benefits and burdens. D) winners and losers. E) media organizations that cover voters, candidates, groups, and parties.
C) substance of politics and government--benefits and burdens.
The "paradox of mass politics" refers to the fact that... A) Americans distrust public opinion polls but expect their elected leaders to be responsive to them. B) young Americans score poorly on measures of knowledge of world geography. C) the American political system works fairly well despite American's lack of political knowledge. D) more Americans can name the three stooges than can name the three branches of government. E) politicians distrust public opinion polls but nonetheless rely on them to develop campaign and policy strategies.
C) the American political system works fairly well despite American's lack of political knowledge.
The regular pattern by which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates than men is known as... A) the feminine mystique. B) affirmative action. C) the gender gap. D) liberal bias. E) reverse discrimination.
C) the gender gap.
Escalating campaign costs pose a challenge to contemporary American democracy because... A) candidates' reliance on PAC's and PAC contributions makes them more likely to get involved in single-issue politics. B) candidates may be more likely to pay attention to PAC's because they depend on PAC contributions for re-election. C) the influence of PAC money on the electoral process widens the gap between democratic theory and the reality of democracy in America. D) candidates have become dependent on PAC's, which represent specific economic interests rather than the American people as a whole. E) All of the above are true.
C) the influence of PAC money on the electoral process widens the gap between democratic theory and the reality of democracy in America.
The 1936 Literary Digest poll underestimated the vote for President Franklin Roosevelt by 19 percent because... A) not enough women were interviewed. B) people did not tell the truth. C) the sample was drawn from telephone books and motor vehicle records. D) the sample was too small. E) the literary intelligentsia as a group never did like Roosevelt.
C) the sample was drawn from telephone books and motor vehicle records.
In public opinion polling, a sample as small as about __________ people can faithfully represent the "universe" of Americans. A) 10,000 B) 500 C) 5,000 D) 1,500 E) 50,000
D) 1,500
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately what percentage of the nation's population is constituted by immigrants? A) 8 B) 20 C) 5 D) 12 E) 25
D) 12
Hispanics account for approximately __________ percent of the U.S. population, African Americans __________ percent, and Asian Americans __________ percent. A) 13, 15, 5 B) 20, 30, 10 C) 2, 3, 1 D) 15, 13, 5 E) 5, 15, 13
D) 15, 13, 5
Approximately what percentage of non-Hispanic whites lives below the poverty line? A) 2 B) 20 C) 30 D) 9 E) 15
D) 9
In the United States, egalitarianism includes... A) equality of condition. B) the absence of monarch and aristocracy. C) equality of opportunity. D) Both B and C are true. E) None of the above is true.
D) Both B and C are true.
What kind of public policy involves the legislative enactment of taxes and expenditures? A) Court decision B) Regulation C) Congressional statute D) Budgetary choice E) Presidential action
D) Budgetary choice
Which of the following statements about immigration in the United States is TRUE? A) The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 30 percent of the nation's population is comprised of immigrants. B) In recent years, illegal immigrants have outnumbered legal immigrants. C) Few immigrants, only about 5 percent, in the United States have become American citizens. D) Federal law permits up to 1 million new immigrants to be legally admitted to the United States every year. E) Federal law permits up to 5 million immigrants to be legally admitted to the United States every year.
D) Federal law permits up to 1 million new immigrants to be legally admitted to the United States every year.
The most recent wave of immigration since World War II has consisted primarily of... A) southern and eastern Europeans. B) refugees from communist countries. C) northwestern Europeans. D) Hispanics and Asians. E) Africans.
D) Hispanics and Asians.
Which of the following demographic groups is the most liberal group in America? A) Catholics B) Women C) Muslims D) Jews E) Protestants
D) Jews
Which president said, "As government expands, liberty contracts"? A) Jimmy Carter B) Richard Nixon C) Barack Obama D) Ronald Reagan E) Bill Clinton
D) Ronald Reagan
Which of the following statements is FALSE? A) Initiative petitions are frequently the result of the actions of dedicated individuals, or policy entrepreneurs. B) Most states require initiative petitions to gain signatures equal to about 10 percent of the voting population to put an issue on the state ballot. C) Citizens can use the initiative process to force decisions on issues that state legislatures have failed to act on or address. D) The initiative petition has been an insignificant form of election. E) Twenty-four states currently allow voters to propose the decide legislation through an initiative petition.
D) The initiative petition has been an insignificant form of election.
Which of the following is TRUE of voter turnout in the United States? A) Turnout rates for the young have generally been going up, while turnout among people over 65 years of age has generally been going down since 1972. B) The youth vote in 2008 erased the age gap in voter turnout between young Americans and older Americans. C) Young adults age 18-29 report higher levels of interest in keeping up with politics when compared to older adults. D) The youth surge in the 2008 election was due in large part to increased turnout among minorities; for the first time ever, young African Americans had a higher turnout rate than did young whites. E) All of the above are true.
D) The youth surge in the 2008 election was due in large part to increased turnout among minorities; for the first time ever, young African Americans had a higher turnout rate than did young whites.
If you believe that citizens should vote in order to support democratic government, then you believe in... A) rationality. B) policy voting. C) political efficacy. D) civic duty. E) suffrage.
D) civic duty.
Another name for a law passed by Congress is a... A) presidential action. B) budgetary choice. C) bill. D) congressional statute. E) regulation.
D) congressional statute.
In the original constitutional system,... A) the Senate elected the president, and the House of Representatives elected the vice president. B) the president, once elected by the Electoral College, chose the vice president. C) the state legislatures elected by the president and vice president, with the candidate getting the second-most votes becoming vice president. D) each presidential elector cast two ballots, with the top vote-getter named president and the runner-up named vice president. E) each presidential elector cast one ballot for one of the president/vice president teams running.
D) each presidential elector cast two ballots, with the top vote-getter named president and the runner-up named vice president.
One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is... A) pluralism. B) liberalism. C) capitalism. D) individualism. E) judicial review.
D) individualism.
The __________ refers to the emergence of a non-Caucasian majority, as compared with a white, generally Anglo-Saxon, majority. A) majority minority B) immigrant population. C) melting pot D) minority majority E) population explosion
D) minority majority
An example of a public good is... A) a college education. B) food stamps. C) medical care. D) national defense. E) a toll road.
D) national defense.
According to the categories used in the classic study The American Voter, those who voted for a party out of routine or judged candidates strictly by their personalities were classified as... A) ideologues. B) personalistic voters. C) group benefits voters. D) no-issue-content voters. E) nature-of-the-times voters.
D) no-issue-content voters.
If the exact same methods are used to update the analysis of The American Voter study, one finds... A) a dramatic increase in the number of authoritarian personalities since 1956. B) ideologues became a plurality in 1988. C) there are more no-issue-content voters than group benefit voters in 1988. D) only some increase in the percentage of ideologues in 2000 compared to 1956. E) half as many nature-of-the-times voters in 1988 than in 1956.
D) only some increase in the percentage of ideologues in 2000 compared to 1956.
According to James Q. Wilson, an "intense commitment to a candidate, a culture, or an ideology that sets people in one group definitively apart from people in another, rival group" is a definition of... A) liberalism. B) laissez-faire economics. C) socialization. D) polarization. E) reification.
D) polarization.
The relationship between groups and the government by hyper-pluralists theory is... A) strong government and strong groups. B) too few groups result in the creation of many governments. C) weak groups and strong government. D) strong groups and weak government. E) weak groups, strong elites, and weak government.
D) strong groups and weak government.
Demography refers to... A) the U.S. census planning process. B) the science of public opinion. C) the science of democracy. D) the science of population changes. E) constitutional rules governing reapportionment of Congress.
D) the science of population changes.
Hispanics comprise approximately what percentage of the American population? A) 43 B) 23 C) 33 D) 3 E) 15
E) 15
In 1960, there were __________ workers per retiree; today there are __________ workers per retiree. A) 2; 3 B) 1; 5.7 C) 3; 2 D) 3; 5.7 E) 5.7; 3
E) 5.7; 3
The diversity of the American people is reflected in a great diversity of interests, which may pose a challenge to democracy to the extent that... A) in contributes to policy gridlock. B) interests conflict and, thus, each interests uses its influence to thwart others. C) it makes it more difficult for government to deliver policies that are responsive to all citizens' needs and interests. D) it leads to lower levels of political participation. E) All of the above are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? A) The authors of the U.S. Constitution were wary of democracy and doubted the ability of ordinary Americans to make informed judgments about what government should do. B) Most people in most democracies around the world believe that although democracy has its faults, it is the best form of government. C) Democracy is a system of selecting policymakers and organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences. D) Government "by the people" is literally impossible in the United States. E) All of the above are true.
E) All of the above are true.
Which of the following statements helps explain the link between youth voter turnout and changes in media communication and technology? A) Young people today have never known a time when most citizens paid attention to major political events. B) The current generation is the first to grow up in a media environment with few shared experiences. C) The proliferation of television channels makes it easier for young Americans to avoid exposure to politics. D) Most young Americans have not developed habits of following the news. E) All of the above are true.
E) All of the the above are true.
Which of the following statements about voter turnout in 2008 is TRUE? A) Women had a higher turnout than men. B) White voters had the highest turnout. C) Young voters aged 18-20 had the lowest turnout. D) College-educated voters had the highest turnout. E) All of these are true.
E) All of these are true.
Which of the following is NOT a contemporary theory of democracy? A) Hyper-pluralism B) Pluralism C) Class theory D) Elite theory E) Democratic centralism
E) Democratic centralism
Scientific public opinion polling first began in 1932 by... A) Henry Luce. B) Louis Harris. C) the Democratic Party. D) the Associated Press. E) George Gallup.
E) George Gallup.
Which of the following is TRUE about the Electoral College? A) All 50 states employ a winner-take-all system in which all of their electors are awarded to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes statewide. B) It is used in nearly half of the democratic nations around the world. C)n An elector has never voted differently from the popular vote winner of his state. D) It is scheduled to be phased out in 2011, though some still argue its usefulness and want to rescind the phase-out. E) It over-represents small states.
E) It over-represents small states.
Which of the following is TRUE of voters, according to Anthony Downs' theory of rational voting behavior? A) It is always irrational for people not to vote due to the small chance that their vote might actually matter. B) People with higher levels of education are less likely to vote. C) It is always rational for people to vote. D) People who see policy differences between the parties are less likely to vote. E) People who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to vote.
E) People who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to vote.
Robert Dahl's note that in the U.S. "all active and legitimate groups in the population can make themselves heard at some crucial stage in the process" is an expression of which theory of democracy? A) Elite theory B) Bureaucratic theory C) Class theory D) Hyper-pluralist theory E) Pluralist theory
E) Pluralist theory
Which of the following is NOT a policy-making institution according to your textbook? A) The courts B) The presidency C) The media D) Congress E) The bureaucracy
E) The bureaucracy
Which of the following statements about Americans' political ideology is FALSE? A) More Americans choose the ideological label of conservative over liberal. B) Groups with political clout tend to be more conservative than those who lack access to political power. C) Among people under the age of 30, there are just as many liberals as conservatives. D) More Americans identify as moderates than identify as liberals. E) The younger the individual, the more likely that person is to be conservative.
E) The younger the individual, the more likely that person is to conservative.
An initiative is put on the ballot as a result of... A) the governor's order. B) public opinion polls showing strong support for a certain measure not acted upon by the legislature. C) a special, legally constituted convention voting to place it there. D) a Supreme Court ruling. E) a petition signed by a certain percentage of the voters in the previous election.
E) a petition signed by a certain percentage of the voters in the previous election.
The belief that in order to support democratic government a citizen should always vote is a belief in the notion of... A) political efficacy. B) the mandate theory of elections. C) political legitimacy. D) suffrage. E) civic duty.
E) civic duty.
Since the 1960s, Americans' trust in government has... A) stayed the same. B) increased. C) disappeared. D) been erratic. E) decreased.
E) decreased.
The __________ describes those issues that attract serious attention from public officials and policymakers. A) gatekeeper B) bureaucracy C) policy-making process D) back-burner E) policy agenda
E) policy agenda
According to Morris Fiorina, A) differences between conservatives and liberals among the citizenry have never been greater. B) America is in the midst of a major cultural war, defined primarily by the debate over same-sex marriage and gay rights. C) the views of most Americans are extreme, polarized, unconditional, and dogmatic. D) Americans really are ideological, contrary to what The American Voter argued several decades ago. E) the United States is not in the midst of a major political culture war but, rather, is surrounded by a culture war between a small group of liberal and conservative elites.
E) the United States is not in the midst of a major political culture war but, rather, is surrounded by a culture war between a small group of liberal and conservative elites.