TX - Chapter 5: Political Parties, EXAM 3 MINTAP QUIZES

The mass media help ensure government accountability and responsiveness by performing three important tasks: informing, investigating, and modifying the news. a. True b. False

b. False

"Fireside chats" were most associated with which president? a. Abraham Lincoln b. Franklin Roosevelt c. Ronald Reagan d. John Kennedy

b. Franklin Roosevelt

The Populist Party that seriously challenged the Democratic Party in Texas in 1897 was comprised of _

farmers joined by sharecroppers, laborers, and African Americans.

Republicans have represented Texas in both of its seats in the U.S. Senate since

1993

Democrats dominated statewide offices in Texas until Republicans won four of them in

1994

When was the last United States census taken?

2010

What type of briefs may interest groups submit as a "friend of the court"?

Amicus curiae

How many Hispanic voters are eligible to vote in Texas?

Approximately 3.8 million

Which is an issue that might be unattractive to Hispanic voters in Texas?

Blocking a path to citizenship for people who are not documented.

Which Supreme Court decision that upheld limits on donations to congressional campaigns resulted in the expansion of political action committee (PACs)?

Buckley v. Valeo

While the majority of counties in Texas are dominated by conservative politicians, which two counties have seen a rise in the number of liberal politicians?

Dallas County and Harris County

Electoral rules put in place under the two-party system often benefit these organizations.

Democratic and Republican Parties

What is the name for the small, divisive groups James Madison feared would divide the young nation?

Factions

Why are Texas parties attempting to attract Hispanic voters?

Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic group in Texas.

The organization MoveOn.org explains its purpose as "Over the past 20 years, [our members] have...worked together to play a leading role in ending the war in Iraq, passing landmark legislation such as healthcare reform, and advancing the cause of economic fairness." What type of interest group is MoveOn.org?

Ideological interest group

An interest group forms in order to tackle the environmental issue of fracking. The leaders decide to use social media sites and e-mail to ensure their members register and to provide updates on developments and legislation. What interest group activity does this represent?

Informing

What lobbying strategy keeps policy requests narrowly tailored to the group's needs and tries to influence legislators directly?

Inside strategy

What type of interest group is created in response to an opening or opportunity for social, political, or economic changes?

Proactive

What type of interest group forms in response to a perceived threat?

Reactive

The first major step in the rejuvenation of the Republican Party in Texas came in 1961, when

John Tower was elected to the U.S. Senate.

According to your text, which group of people could cause the phenomenon of "tipping" in Texas?

Latinos

Since the 1980s, the makeup company Mary Kay Inc. has been committed to ending domestic violence against women. In 2005, six sales directors drove to Washington D.C. to persuade Congress to renew the Violence Against Women Act. What democratic and legitimate form of petitioning did the Mary Kay employees perform?

Lobbying

Which interest group is unaffiliated with government and works hard to preserve its neutrality so it can operate in as many parts of the world as possible?

Nongovernmental organizations

What does the First Amendment state Americans have the right to do?

Peaceably assemble

in politics means that ideas should be judged on the basis of their practical results rather than on the purity of their principles.

Pragmatism

Currently, this political party dominates electoral politics in the state of Texas.

Republican Party

All of the following statements are true EXCEPT

Republicans have always dominated this state.

Under the Republic of Texas, political divisions were usually oriented around support of, or opposition to __

Sam Houston, a leading founder of the Republic.

Of the following geographical areas, which is weaker than the others for Texas Republicans in terms of support and voting strength?

Southwest and South Central Texas

1. Why do third party candidates have a tough time being competitive in state elections?

Texas requires third party candidates to announce candidacy in January of the election year and to have a petition signed by 1% of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial election before the candidate can run.

What information was not provided that would be helpful in coming to a conclusion on the question?

The Texas Democratic party's platform

2. What are some issues that might lead Hispanic voters to support the Republican Party in Texas?

The Texas Republican Party is overwhelmingly fiscally and socially conservative. Hispanics might agree with the party's views on family values, entrepreneurship and business

Which of these statements is true about political parties in Texas?

The backlash to Republican policies during the Civil War and Republican Governor, E.J. Davis, entrenched the Democrats as the dominant party.

What does your text suggest is the MOST important reason that the Republican Party failed to compete in Texas historically?

The image the Republican Party created during the Reconstruction was that of an abusive and corrupt government.

Stymied by electoral rules governing the two-party system, these organizations rarely win elections.

Third parties

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) considers itself the voice for radio and TV broadcasters across the United States. Specifically, it "advances the interests of our members in federal government, industry and public affairs; improves the quality and profitability of broadcasting; encourages content and technology innovation; and spotlights the important and unique ways stations serve their communities." What type of interest group is the NAB?

Trade Association

What economic interest group aims to protect workers through safer working conditions and better wages?

Unions

Throughout Texas history, [1] have dominated state and local politics, regardless of party affiliation. This led to Texas being a [2] state, though control has shifted over time. Some of these voters emphasize economic issues, whereas others prioritize the importance of [3] in Texas politics.

[1] = Conservatives [2] = one-party [3] = moral values

Throughout most of Texas history, the [1] Party dominated Texas politics, and [2] dominated the Democratic Party. As the Republican Party grew stronger in the state, differences emerged within the Republican Party between those who emphasized moral values and those who prioritized [3] issues.

[1]: Democratic Party [2]: conservatives [3]: economic issues

Throughout most of its history, Texas has been a [1] state, first controlled by the Democratic Party and now controlled by the Republican Party. When the Democratic Party dominated Texas politics, Republicans often participated in the Democratic primary, voted for conservative Democrats at the state level and for [2] for president. As Republicans gained power in the state, the Texas Democratic Party become more [3] and less influential politically. In addition, differences have emerged within the Republican Party as to what type of issues should be prioritized.

[1]: one-party state [2]: Republicans for president [3]: liberal

Which factor poses the biggest threat to the television evening news? a. An aging audience b. A lack of qualified journalists c. The prominence of "technical difficulties" d. A lack of hard news Hide Feedback

a. An aging audience

Which president started his own newspaper to get his message out regarding issues of the day? a. James K. Polk b. Theodore Roosevelt c. George Washington d. Thomas Jefferson

a. James K. Polk

Which assessment of the 1960 debate between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy is considered correct? a. Most television watchers thought Kennedy won, and most radio listeners thought Nixon won. b. Most people watching on television or listening on the radio thought Nixon won. c. Most people watching on television or listening on the radio thought Kennedy won. d. Most television watchers thought Nixon won, and most radio listeners thought Kennedy won.

a. Most television watchers thought Kennedy won, and most radio listeners thought Nixon won.

Which Supreme Court case limited the government's ability to suppress a news story? a. Near v. Minnesota b. McCulloch v. Maryland c. Gibbons v. Ogden d. Loving v. Virginia

a. Near v. Minnesota

The popularity of Americans who listen to the radio has remained unchanged in the past decade as a medium of communication. a. True b. False

a. True

Selective exposure is the process whereby people secure information from sources that agree with them, reinforcing their beliefs. a. True b. False

b. False

Eligibility for participation in the precinct convention is open to

all who vote in the first primary election.

A person who claims to be a liberal is MOST likely in favor of __

all-encompassing social welfare programs and social equality.

Which three major networks aired evening news broadcasts in the early 1960s? a. PBS, Fox, ABC b. ABC, NBC, CBS c. Fox, CBS, NBC d. Fox, ABC, NBC

b. ABC, NBC, CBS

Who uncovered the Watergate scandal? a. Abbie Hoffman b. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein c. Chet Huntley and David Brinkley d. Walter Cronkite

b. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

According to journalist David Broder, what is the main factor that contributes to bias in the media? a. The influence of large corporations b. The speed with which journalists must act c. Pressure from the government d. The inability of journalists to recognize their own bias

b. The speed with which journalists must act

When the George W. Bush administration waged war in Afghanistan, the media emphasized the issue of fighting terrorism and presented war in a favorable light. This is an example of a. hard news. b. framing. c. priming. d. agenda setting.

b. framing.

Which model for interpreting public opinion asserts that the news media does not have a lot of influence on the public's thinking about politics? a. Propaganda b. Not-so-minimal effects c. Minimal effects d. Agenda setting

c. Minimal effects

In the mid-1990s, virtually every form of media—TV news, magazines, newspapers, radio—covered O.J. Simpson's murder trial, a criminal court case involving the former football player and the suspicious deaths of his ex-wife and her friend. The O.J. trial captivated the nation for years. What is this effect called when the news covers an item so frequently that the audience begins to see the issue as immensely important? a. Muckraking b. Soft news c. Agenda setting d. Framing

c. Agenda setting

Boing Boing, Techcrunch, Talking Points Memo, and Engadget: what do we call these forms of media that provide forums for commentary, video postings, and general conversation, and allow average citizens to express their opinions to a wider audience? a. Radio b. Newspapers c. Blogs d. Television

c. Blogs

Which federal agency oversees the regulation of electronic media? a. Department of the Interior b. Consumer Financial Protections Bureau c. Federal Communications Commission d. Federal Bureau of Investigations

c. Federal Communications Commission

Which amendment governs freedom of press? a. Fourth b. Tenth c. First d. Eighth

c. First

Since the 1990s, what has happened to newspaper readership? a. It has remained stable for both younger and older age groups. b. It has declined for younger age groups, but it has remained stable for older age groups. c. It has declined for both younger and older age groups. d. It has risen for older age groups, but it has declined for younger age groups.

c. It has declined for both younger and older age groups.

Which of the following groups is LEAST likely to support the Republican Party?

families with low incomes.

In which Supreme Court case did the court require proof of actual malice in order to convict of libel? a. Loving v. Virginia b. Gibbons v. Ogden c. New York Times v. Sullivan d. Near v. Minnesota

c. New York Times v. Sullivan

Which was a result of the Pentagon Papers Supreme Court decision? a. The government can prevent news stories by claiming publication would be detrimental to national security. b. The media must submit controversial news stories to the courts prior to publication. c. The government had not met and would have needed to meet an extraordinary burden of proof for prior restraint. d. No federal agencies can regulate electronic media, but they can regulate print media.

c. The government had not met and would have needed to meet an extraordinary burden of proof for prior restraint.

Facebook is an example of a(n) a. hard news aggregator. b. infotainment program. c. social networking site. d. blog.

c. social networking site.

Established in 1974, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust "engages the public in educational and aesthetic experiences to foster an appreciation of architecture, design, and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright." Because it is a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is forbidden from

campaigning for a candidate or party

This type of convention is held to select delegates to the state convention.

county convention

The press concealed the health of which president, thereby preserving his public image? a. George Washington b. Thomas Jefferson c. Theodore Roosevelt d. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

d. Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Which newspaper, headed by Benjamin Franklin and often considered the foundation for modern American news coverage, included sensationalist stories? a. New York Sun b. Public Occurrences c. New York Weekly Journal d. Philadelphia Gazette

d. Philadelphia Gazette

Jake, a freshman in college, gets most of his news online from sources such as the Huffington Post and Daily Kos while his grandfather Joe reads a print version of the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover. Some would argue that because he's reading a traditional printed newspaper, Joe is exposed to more a. soft news. b. yellow journalism. c. classified listings. d. hard news.

d. hard news.

The series of articles written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support the ratification of the Constitution are known as a. the Sentiments of Democracy. b. Public Occurrences. c. the Articles of Confederation. d. the Federalist Papers.

d. the Federalist Papers.

American party organizations are organized in a ___ manner

decentralized

In Federalist Paper No. 10, James Madison argued that political parties (or factions) were

divisive but inevitable.

A group formed to advance the financial status of its members is called a(n)

economic interest group

Which of the following is a faction of the Republican Party that gained traction in the 1980s?

evangelical or fundamentalist Christians

Reconstruction and the Radical Republicanism practiced by the controversial governor E. J. Davis turned the vast majority of Texans against the Republican Party. In fact, it took until 1961 for the first Republican after Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Texas. In 1978, Texans elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office. In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

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Reconstruction and the Radical Republicanism practiced by the controversial governor E. J. Davis turned the vast majority of Texans against the Republican Party. In fact, it was almost 100 years later, in 1961, that the first Republican since Reconstruction was elected to the U.S. Senate: John Tower. In 1978, Texans elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office. In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

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Mainly Democratic before the Civil War, Texas became more so after Reconstruction and the controversial administration of Radical Republican governor E. J. Davis. As a result, the Democratic Party completely dominated Texas politics for almost 100 years. In fact, it was not until 1961 that Democrats lost a race for U.S. Senate in the state of Texas. In 1978, Democrats in Texas lost the governor's race for the first time since 1869. Voters elected Republican Bill Clements governor, the first Republican governor elected since Reconstruction. After serving one term, Clements lost a battle for reelection, but he ran again two years later and recaptured the office. In 2013, Democrats did not hold a single statewide office in Texas. Republicans also controlled both U.S. Senate seats, a majority of the U.S. House delegation from Texas, and majorities in both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

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Historically, Texas was a one-party-dominant state, with the Democratic Party in control following Reconstruction through the 1950s. Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the state moved toward a competitive two-party structure. In the 1990s and into the 21st century, the state shifted again toward one-party dominance, this time with Republicans in control.

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The party in the electorate refers to the

identification of citizens with the parties.

A group of citizens with common interests who try to influence public policy to benefit its members is called a

interest group

Political parties and their candidates often prefer to deemphasize _________ issues and focus instead on _____ issues.

position; valence

From the time of Reconstruction until the 1970s, Texas was largely a [1] state. The elections that mattered were often the Democratic primaries, because the general election had little competition in it. Over time, political power in the state has reversed course, so now the Republican Party dominates elections.

one-party state

Belinda is a Texas state senator who works diligently to get her policy priorities on the Senate's agenda. Belinda is an example of which function of a political party?

party in government

Republicans are now dominant in lower-level offices across much of Texas, and hold a majority of the seats in the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. As a result, it can be said that Texas has experienced a(n)

party realignment.

This entity consisting of officials provides organization and continuity for political parties.

permanent party organization

The formal issue positions of a political party are contained within this document that is adopted at a party's state convention.

platform

These organizations recruit candidates for office and play a large role in running the governments of both Texas and the United States.

political parties

A component of the temporary party organization, these meetings take place during the spring of an election year and involve selecting delegates to the county convention.

precinct conventions

In this type of election held by a political party, voters select their party's nominee to compete in the general election.

primary election

The federal income tax is an example of a ____ tax—a tax that increases as incomes increase and is typically supported by liberals.

progressive

From the time of Reconstruction until the 1970s, the Democratic Party in Texas had very little competition. Many claim that the evolution to Texas's present-day status as a predominantly Republican state is the hallmark of a political [1], in which voters slowly switch allegiance from one political party to the other, and the latter party then dominates the political process.

realignment

Which of the following activities is performed by party organizations?

recruiting candidates for office

From the time of Reconstruction until the 1970s, Texas was largely a Democratic state, with little competition in the general election. Many claim that the evolution to its present-day status as a Republican-dominated state will most likely continue, because voters slowly switched allegiance from the Democratic Party and are likely to remain ensconced in the Republican fold, voting straight tickets. Others hypothesize that as the state's demographics change, political power in Texas may [1]

revert back to the democratic party

The two-party system in Texas and other U.S. states partly results from our electoral system, which relies on

single-member districts.

The two major political parties hold this type of meeting in even-numbered years to select the party state executive committee and conduct other party business.

state convention

Marlena has supported candidates of different parties in different election years, and she is not bound by party identification. Marlena is likely a(n) ____voter.

swing

This is made up of periodic electoral events.

temporary party organization

Two events in the early twentieth century solidified the position of the Democrats in Texas politics—the institution of party primary "reforms" and

the Great Depression.

This party was popular in Texas in the 1890s.

the Populist Party

Conservatives often support government involvement and funding to promote business with the belief that this assistance will encourage economic development and prosperity for the whole society. This ideology is known as

trickle-down theory.

Issues on which virtually all of the public agrees, such as peace and prosperity, are known as ___

valence issues.

A presidential preference primary allows voters in the party primary to

vote directly on the party's presidential nominee.