exam 3

The sharpest differences of opinion between major groups in the U.S. politics occur between which of the following groups?

African Americans and Whites

How have attitudes toward the importance of mobilization changed?

Attitudes have declined from 1960/80s, however, personal appeals can largely effect this.

How have Supreme Court decisions affected campaign spending?

Citizens United v Federal Election Commission ruled invalidating restrictions on independent campaign spending by any organization- they prohibited corporations and unions from using their funds to use for election-related spending. Also, Buckley v Valeo ruled that spending money in order to influence elections is part of the protection of free speech and that a candidate may use unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns. Helps inform voters and increase election interest; difference between comparative and personal ads; candidates try to respond quickly.

Opponents have voiced numerous objections for expanding the franchise, but what has not happened as a result of reducing barriers to voting?

Incumbents continue to win reelection at very high rates.

What factors have the strongest influence on voting?

age and education

The activities of the parties today are aimed at helping candidates compete more effectively at promoting the party brand means that parties

are in service to its ambitious politicians but not in control of them.

Surveys find abundant evidence that opinions differ among income classes and the differences are greater than those found in most other modern industrial nations.

false

When the leaders of the new government took the steps that led to the creation of the first political parties, they expected and wanted party competition to become a permanent feature of American politics.

false

Broadly speaking, campaign finance operates through two parallel systems:

money given directly to candidates, which is regulated, and money spent outside of the candidate's campaign, which generally is unregulated.

When public opinion is not stable, its movements can usually be explained by which of the following?

responses to changed conditions

The argument for limiting suffrage boiled down to this: Only the independent and virtuous were fit to govern, and the best evidence of independence and virtue was being a property-holding, White, Protestant male.

true

Turnout for the 2012 presidential election was about

60%

Explain de Tocqueville's argument that once electoral rules are extended, universal suffrage is the ultimate outcome.

Expansion of rules leads to greater democracy, which leads to universal suffrage.

Which of the following was true about the 2012 party platforms, which were statements of the policy positions of each party?

Few voters learn of the differences between the parties from them; rather, voters learned about the parties' positions through political news and campaign advertising.

Explain why parties emerged because of the institutional structures and processes established by the Constitution.

Parties emerged because of the institutional structures and processes established by the Constitution. The original intent was not for American government to be Parisian, however, through the debate of ratification of federal Constitution of 1787. They created their names based on their strong beliefs. Federalists were in favor of the Constitution and heavily supported federal administration while Democratic Republicans wanted to place their favor in everyday people.

Explain the influence of ideology and partisanship on public opinon.

The two dominant ideologies do not provide a complete framework and partisanship serves as a filter. Partisanship can influence decision making distinctly from that of ideology.

Which of the following is true about opinion leaders?

They pay close attention to political issues and from them the uninformed take cues.

Political alliances

are coalitions that need sustained political efforts to hold together because individuals cooperate only as it serves their purposes.

Ignorance about an issue does not necessarily prevent people from expressing opinions. Indeed, pollsters

can get as many as one-third of the people they interview to offer opinions on entirely imaginary issues.

Public opinion is routinely manipulated by self-serving elites.

false

Under the civil service system, appointment and advancement depended on political pull rather than merit.

false

What type of election allows the party's voters to nominate candidates?

primary