AP GOV Unit 3 pt 2!!!!! :3

Which of the following activities by interest groups best illustrates attempts to educate members of Congress on public policy? A A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices B A law-reform group sending alerts to its members encouraging them to contact their representatives C A single-issue group holding a rally in Washington to show support for their cause D A PAC giving contributions to the reelection campaigns of members of Congress

A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices

Which of the following arguments best supports a claim that the Electoral College does not fully support democratic principles? A The winner-take-all system encourages candidates to campaign in every state, which limits the attention each state will receive from the candidates. B Electors are chosen by the voters in each state, which gives parties undue influence over candidates' success. C At times, a candidate who receives the most popular votes may not win the presidential election. D The Electoral College lacks transparency because electors frequently switch their vote during the national convention.

At times, a candidate who receives the most popular votes may not win the presidential election.

Which of the following is a type of primary election that requires registration as a party affiliate to vote? A Blanket B Closed C General D Open E Plebiscite

Closed

Which of the following would result from the direct election of presidential candidates? A A national primary would be established. B Party nominating conventions would be abolished. C Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election. D The electoral college would become more influential in the electoral process. E Third-party candidates would have less chance of winning the election.

Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election.

When none of the presidential candidates receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the winner is chosen by the A Federal Elections Commision B Supreme Court C House of Representatives only D Senate only E majority of the House and Senate combined

House of Representatives only

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) did which of the following? A It created interest groups known as 527s. B It made it illegal for unions to donate to presidential campaigns. C It banned soft money donations to national parties. D It banned candidates from running negative advertisements. E It banned third-parties from federal funding.

It banned soft money donations to national parties.

Which of the following scenarios depicts the concept of an iron triangle? A A well-funded PAC and professional campaign consultants meet with congressional Democrats to discuss strategy and campaign spending for the upcoming election. B A group of citizens mobilize to conduct a letter-writing campaign, voter registration drive, and public rally in an attempt to influence the policy decisions of lawmakers. C Lobbyists from the energy industry provide information to the Department of Energy before the department head testifies before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives. D A former member of Congress decides not to run for reelection and instead accepts a job as a corporate lobbyist.

Lobbyists from the energy industry provide information to the Department of Energy before the department head testifies before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives

Which of the following best explains how most candidates are recruited to run for office? A Candidates for office usually first work as lawyers for political parties before running for office. B Most candidates who run for office are recruited by political leaders to do so because they are famous. C Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office. D Most candidates running for office are selected after earning merit working for the government.

Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office.

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. B They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. D They are now unconstitutional. E They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.

They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.

A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is called A an open primary B a blanket primary C a closed primary D a runoff primary E a presidential preference primary

a closed primary

The primary reason for the current existence of only two major political parties in the United States is that A the Constitution puts severe restrictions on other parties B third parties are usually far to the right or left, and Americans are moderates C a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive D voters naturally think of themselves as either liberals or conservatives E presidential electors can vote for only two candidates

a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

Which of the following best accounts for the lack of success generally encountered by minor political parties in electing members to the House or Senate? A Political action committee (PAC) contributions are restricted by law to the two major parties. B General elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle. C House and Senate rules exclude members of minor parties from organizing coalitions with the major parties. D The public has great faith in the two major political parties. E Some states outlaw minor political parties.

General elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle.

Which of the following is true of the electoral college system? A It encourages the emergence of third parties. B It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states. C It ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the President. D It requires that a candidate win a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the college. E It tends to make a presidential elections appear closer than they really are.

It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states.

An electoral system based on single-member districts is usually characterized by A strong, centralized political parties and a weak executive B higher rates of voter turnout than are common in other systems C legislative representation of each party in proportion to the number of votes it receives D domination of the legislature by two political parties E ideological rather than mass-based parties

domination of the legislature by two political parties

Typically, presidential candidates implement their campaign strategies by A applying their resources evenly among the states, because they must win popular votes in a majority of the states to be elected B focusing on larger, competitive states, because they might tip the balance of the electoral college C focusing on small states, because these states have proportionally more electoral votes than more populous states have D ignoring the electoral college, because the popular vote determines the outcome of the election E ignoring the electoral college, because more states are moving away from the winner-take-all system

focusing on larger, competitive states, because they might tip the balance of the electoral college

In the last thirty years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been, A incumbency B personal wealth C previous political offices held in the district D membership in the political party of the President E positions on key social issues

incumbency

Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system? A The winner of the presidency often lacks a majority of the popular vote. B Candidates focus on one-party states in which they can win most of the electoral votes. C The House of Representatives frequently chooses the President from the top three candidates. D Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations. E Campaign spending increases because candidates emphasize television advertising.

Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations

When party members meet to nominate a candidate for office, they participate in which of the following? A General election B Caucus C Blanket primary D Open primary E Closed primary

Caucus

Which of the following scenarios is most closely related to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ? A A member of Congress establishes a political action committee to gain influence within the chamber. B A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election. C A state senator receives a large cash donation from a corporate executive in exchange for specific political favors. D A lobbyist writes the language of a bill that is later introduced into both chambers of Congress.

A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election

A state has 11 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48 percent of that state's popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40 percent of the vote, and an independent candidate receives 12 percent of the vote. If the state is similar to most other states, how will the electoral votes most likely be allocated? A The Democratic candidate will receive 5 electoral votes, the Republican will receive 4, and the independent will receive 2. B The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral votes and the Republican will receive 5. C The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes. D The votes will not be allocated until there has been a runoff election between the Democratic and Republican candidates. E The House of Representatives will determine the allocation of the electoral votes.

The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes.

Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)?*This item is subject to changes in the campaign finance laws A The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade. B Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents. C The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law. D PAC's are illegal in most states. E PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.

The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

Critics of the winner-take-all aspect of the electoral college are most likely to make which of the following arguments? A The winner-take-all system of the electoral college undermines the rights of states. B A state's presidential election results rarely mirror a state's congressional election results. C The winner-take-all system of the electoral college drives presidential candidates to focus on winning states that are considered to be part of their core supporters. D The winner-take-all system of the electoral college encourages presidential candidates to focus their time and effort disproportionately on battleground states with larger populations.

The winner-take-all system of the electoral college encourages presidential candidates to focus their time and effort disproportionately on battleground states with larger populations.

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? A President, Congress, Supreme Court B President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader C Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader D Executive department, House majority leader, President E Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

A chief executive officer (CEO) of a corporation believes that the Republican candidate for president will enact policies that are more beneficial to her business. The CEO donated the maximum amount allowed by law directly to the candidate's campaign fund. To increase the candidate's chances for election, the CEO also directed her corporation to donate funds to an independent political action committee to create ads criticizing the opposing candidate. According to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which provision of the Constitution protects her actions? A Reserved powers in the Tenth Amendment B Due process clause in the Fifth Amendment C Freedom of association in the First Amendment D Freedom of speech in the First Amendment

Freedom of speech in the First Amendment

In response to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), the United States Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), ruled that A limits cannot be placed upon candidates' contributions to their own campaigns B independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions are protected by the First Amendment C limits on issue advertisements 90 days before an election are unconstitutional D limits on campaign contributions by minors are constitutional under the First Amendment E requiring endorsement statements in campaign advertisements is unconstitutional

independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions are protected by the First Amendment