GOVT 2305.001 - Quizzes 6-8 Exam 3 Review

What is the term used to describe politicians' awarding jobs, offices, government contracts, and other benefits to their supporters? Graft Patronage Soft money Kickback

Patronage

In general, what can be said about the relationship between disasters and elections? Answers: If the disaster is bad enough, no elected official is likely to remain in office. Representatives are more likely to succeed in getting re-elected if they perform reasonably well in responding to a disaster. Disasters help officials get re-elected, regardless of how well they perform. Disasters have no effect on the likelihood of getting re-elected.

Representatives are more likely to succeed in getting re-elected if they perform reasonably well in responding to a disaster.

The system of proportional representation guarantees that no party will receive a majority. tends to produce more legislative parties, but it has never been tried in the United States on any significant scale. has declined in popularity around the world because having too many legislative parties creates too much uncertainty in government. encourages voters to behave strategically by turning to one of the less objectionable major party candidates who has a chance to win.

tends to produce more legislative parties, but it has never been tried in the United States on any significant scale.

Before Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, federal law prohibited which of the following? Corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an "electioneering communication". Foreign governments from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an "electioneering communication". Individual citizens from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an "electioneering communication". Interest groups from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an "electioneering communication".

Corporations and unions from using their general treasury funds to make independent expenditures for speech defined as an "electioneering communication".

According to Dalton, which of the following is true regarding political participation by Americans? Answers: Americans are more likely to vote now, but are also more willing to engage via other forms of political participation. More Americans are voting now than ever before. Fewer Americans vote than before, and they also have lost interest in reaching out to their representatives. Fewer Americans tend to vote than before, but have found other ways to engage politically.

Fewer Americans tend to vote than before, but have found other ways to engage politically.

Why did the Framers have such a pervasive fear of political parties? Because men could not be trusted, any permanent alliances would naturally lead to tyranny. The rigidity of the party system in the colonies generated a great deal of free riding and nearly undermined the American Revolution. Historical experiences about the dangers that resulted from factional strife along with eighteenth century social beliefs caused the fear. The strength of the British crown was rooted in the party system.

Historical experiences about the dangers that resulted from factional strife along with eighteenth century social beliefs caused the fear.

What kind of incentives motivate individuals to contribute to groups espousing causes they care about without worrying whether their contribution will make an appreciable difference? Answers: Selective Doctrinal Moral Personal

Moral

What are the consequences of Duverger's Law for political candidates? Joining one of the major parties guarantees that a candidate will have sufficient financial resources to run a competitive campaign. They must join one of the existing parties. Office seekers usually join one of the two competitive parties rather than pursuing office as independents or third-party nominees. It forces candidates to strategically align their positions on the issues with the party so they can take full advantage of the party label.

Office seekers usually join one of the two competitive parties rather than pursuing office as independents or third-party nominees.

What have scholars discovered about voting based on a number of different field experiments? Answers: Telephone calls stressing the importance of voting increased turnout the most. Americans have become so apathetic that there is very little that can be done to increase voter turnout above 50 percent. Personal visits combined with a message about the closeness of the election increased turnout the most. Television advertising about the closeness of the election had the greatest effect on turnout.

Personal visits combined with a message about the closeness of the election increased turnout the most.

Interest group leaders and their constituents are involved in what relationship with all the familiar problems and challenges such relationships pose? Answers: Social benefits Fiduciary Principal-agent Candidate-driven

Principal-agent

What were two of the more important reforms of the Progressive Era? The poll tax and the spoils system The "coal brigade" and the provision of civil war pensions Patronage and the provision of national pensions The Australian ballot and primary elections

The Australian ballot and primary elections

Why is it logical for citizens to not vote? Answers: The system of separated institutions sharing powers provides more influence to the unelected branches of the government, such as the judiciary and the bureaucracy. The benefits are individual, but since governments do not provide many tangible benefits, the costs of voting outweigh the benefits. The benefits are collective and they enjoy the payoff even if they have not helped to produce them by voting. Votes do not really matter because politicians can manipulate the public into believing whatever they want.

The benefits are collective and they enjoy the payoff even if they have not helped to produce them by voting.

Which of the following statements about spending in House elections is true? The more challengers spend, the more likely they are to win, but few spend enough to be competitive. The only route to success for challengers is raising and spending more money than incumbents. The more money incumbents spend, the greater their chances of winning reelection. House incumbents have such an advantage that no matter how much money challengers raise it is not enough.

The more challengers spend, the more likely they are to win, but few spend enough to be competitive.

Which of the following statements about PACs is not true? Answers: They must raise money from at least fifty people. They are only permitted to donate money in congressional elections. The maximum contribution is $5,000. They must donate money to at least five candidates.

They are only permitted to donate money in congressional elections.

What was one of the consequences of the 2014 midterm election? It reinforced Democratic majorities so that President Obama was able to pivot from his signature legislative achievements and pursue new ones on climate change. It provided the Republicans with an opportunity to quickly repeal and replace President Obama's signature legislative achievements. Republicans built large enough majorities in both the House and Senate so they would be able to easily override any vetoes President Obama might issue. While Republicans would not have enough votes to reverse President Obama's signature legislative achievements, voters loudly and clearly repudiated the President.

While Republicans would not have enough votes to reverse President Obama's signature legislative achievements, voters loudly and clearly repudiated the President.

In An Economic Theory of Democracy, Anthony Downs defined a political party as any organization that seeks to influence the outcomes of elections. a body of men united for promoting by their joint endeavors and the national interest, based on some particular principle on which they are all agreed. a machine with interchangeable parts. a team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

a team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.

Most successful large organizations circumvent the collective action problem by offering "selective incentives," which are Answers: benefits available to everyone regardless of membership in the group. benefits that can be denied to individuals who do not join and contribute. the foundation of the rationale behind free riding. in essence, the threat of some consequence to the group whenever an individual defects.

benefits that can be denied to individuals who do not join and contribute.

Since politicians know that lobbyists are advocates, they can only trust a lobbyist's information when Answers: both sides expect to have a continuing relationship. the lobbyist donates a substantial campaign contribution. party leaders vouch for the lobbyist. information is independently confirmed by an expert.

both sides expect to have a continuing relationship.

Madison and de Tocqueville both believed that voluntary groups Answers: despite the risks, were essential to an egalitarian social and political system. threatened democracy and should be prohibited. were a nuisance; placing the right to assemble in the Constitution had been a mistake because it led to the establishment of so many interest groups. were unlikely to form in a republic.

despite the risks, were essential to an egalitarian social and political system.

The experiences of Uber demonstrate that the most effective way to break existing iron triangles is donating money to candidates who are not beholden to existing interests. the fragmented universe of interest groups makes it harder for new interests to break in and find a piece of turf on which they can be successful. even with changes in technology that promise to overcome the problems of free riding, efforts still fall flat. digital social networks can reweigh the calculus of political activism by making it almost costless and that can deliver policy victories.

digital social networks can reweigh the calculus of political activism by making it almost costless and that can deliver policy victories.

Typically more than half of voters tell pollsters that the two major parties do such a great job that a major third party is not needed. have co-opted the best ideas from the Constitution Party. satisfy their policy options so no additional parties are needed other than the Green Party. do such a poor job that a third major party is needed.

do such a poor job that a third major party is needed.

Universal suffrage for women was achieved Answers: after the Civil War with the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment. in 1920 with the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment. at the end of World War II with the adoption of the Universal Women's Suffrage Act. through state-level action alone; the national government has never formally changed the Constitution but has simply reinterpreted it to include women.

in 1920 with the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment.

Spending in presidential campaigns has decreased substantially since all candidates accept public financing. is focused on television advertising especially in the battleground states. is increasingly devoted to efforts that will mobilize voters more effectively. is distributed nationally because that is the only way to win the national popular vote.

is focused on television advertising especially in the battleground states.

Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution. prohibited by the Constitution, although the First Amendment overrides the prohibition. prohibited by the Constitution, although the Supreme Court struck down the prohibition shortly after the first Congress met.

not mentioned in the Constitution.

Reports to the media, news conferences, and demonstrations are all examples of Answers: insider tactics used by interest groups. outsider tactics used by interest groups. ineffective efforts at changing policy. insider tactics used by PACs.

outsider tactics used by interest groups.

Mitt Romney won the Republican Party presidential nomination by maintaining a consistent record as a moderate governor who could win a general election. portraying himself as a "severe conservative" and adopting issue positions consistent with this portrayal combined with superior financial resources. presenting himself as a socially conservative candidate, which enabled him to overcome his lack of financial resources. using the delegate allocation rules to his advantage so he was able to dispatch all of his challengers rather easily.

portraying himself as a "severe conservative" and adopting issue positions consistent with this portrayal combined with superior financial resources.

The Sons of Liberty and the English Bill of Rights Society were early examples of public good lobbies public purpose lobbies public participation lobbies public interest lobbies

public interest lobbies

The effect of the Supreme Court decision in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) was that Answers: Congress did not have the authority to establish campaign finance laws because elections were regulated by the states. reporting requirements and contribution limits were constitutional, but limits on spending violated the free speech protections of the First Amendment. limits on aggregate contributions from individuals was unconstitutional. corporations were entitled to the same free speech protections in the First Amendment as individuals.

reporting requirements and contribution limits were constitutional, but limits on spending violated the free speech protections of the First Amendment.

Elections allow ordinary citizens to, in aggregate, Answers: reward or punish elected officials for their performance in office. avoid working for the duration of election day. express how they feel about government although elected officials do not take the voters' views into account when they make policy choices. essentially support the status quo.

reward or punish elected officials for their performance in office.

The 2014 election Answers: maintained the status quo of a Republican majority in the House of Representatives and a Democratic majority in the Senate. maintained a Republican majority in the House of Representatives, but resulted in a 50-50 tie in the Senate. allowed Democrats to recapture control of the House of Representatives so there was unified government. saw Republicans expand their majority in the House of Representatives while recapturing a majority in the Senate.

saw Republicans expand their majority in the House of Representatives while recapturing a majority in the Senate.

The experiences of Michael Dukakis in 1988 or Mitt Romney in 2012 illustrate that Answers: candidates can be successful even without having a particularly memorable message. it is important to develop a message and communicate it before your opponent does. a campaign cannot succeed if they do not spend a significant amount of money promoting their message. the actions of candidates can convey a message subverting the one intended.

the actions of candidates can convey a message subverting the one intended.

According to Dalton,which of the following would NOT be included as causing the political transformation of the American electorate? Answers: The civil rights movement the increase in the ability for political parties to draw voters to the polls The social status of women The urbanization and "suburbanization" of society.

the increase in the ability for political parties to draw voters to the polls

In general, the more government does Answers: the more incentives it creates for organized political action. the less citizens agitate for new policies. the more it undermines the incentives for organized political action. the less need there is for organized political action.

the more incentives it creates for organized political action.

One of the biggest challenges to the Republican party's ability maintain its current coalition in the electorate is: the increase in Latin American immigration the decline in tax revenue from big business the shift away from conservatism towards populism the increase in the youth vote

the shift away from conservatism towards populism

Which of the following is the most likely reason why there will not be a significant party realignment in the near future? the immigration debate will be resolved within the next few years Donald Trump is limited to two terms the Republican party is likely to coalesce politically there is no single that mobilizes Americans

there is no single that mobilizes Americans

Duverger's law explains why office seekers will frequently pursue office as independents or third-party nominees. why in any election in which a single winner is chosen by plurality voting, there is a strong tendency for serious competitors to be reduced to two. why the Electoral College is so frequently unable to choose the President. why plurality elections always lead to party systems with more than two major competitors.

why in any election in which a single winner is chosen by plurality voting, there is a strong tendency for serious competitors to be reduced to two.