Poli-Sci (Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining Voter's Choice)

How many major political parties are there in the United States today?

2

What percentage of party activists work within local political party organizations?

95 percent

Which of the following statements about negative ads and negative campaigning are true? (Choose every correct answer.)

Abraham Lincoln was the target of insulting comments about his appearance during election campaigns. Negative campaigning in presidential elections was used as long ago as when Thomas Jefferson ran for office.

What relationship does the national Democratic or Republican Party have with the state and local parties?

All three levels are independent but work together.

Which of the following statements describe how U.S. campaigns are both party centered and candidate centered? (Choose every correct answer.)

Candidates organize their own campaigns. The same parties are represented nationwide.

Which two political parties were competitive during the first party system?

Federalists Democratic-Republicans

The fact that more white women than white men vote for the Democratic Party is an example of a(n) (blank) gap

Gender

What purpose does party competition serve in American politics?

It allows groups of voters to act in unison. It narrows down options for voters.

______ refers to the selection of the individual who will run as the party's candidate in the general election.

Nomination

Which of the following states have closed/partially closed primaries?

North Carolina Florida Nevada

What usually happens after a third party is relatively successful in attracting votes during a U.S. national election?

One or both major parties will try to co-opt the issue or issues that made the third party successful.

The strongest reform party in U.S. history was the ______.

Progressive Party

Which are the major political parties in the United States?

Republican Party Democratic Party

Which of the following voting blocs migrated to the Republican Party during the 1980s and 1990s?

Southern whites

Which is a reason that some scholars think we have moved into a new party alignment?

The Republican Party has become stronger in the South and the Democratic Party had become stronger in the Northeast.

Which of the following are true of grassroots parties?

The are open to all citizens. They operate at the local level.

When a realignment in the electorate occurs, which of the following happens?

The parties reorganize themselves.

Which of the following statements about televised debates in presidential campaigns are true?

They are usually part of presidential campaigns.

In politics, what do linkage institutions do?

They connect citizens with government.

Which of the following is true about candidate-centered campaigns?

They encourage national officeholders to be responsive to local interests.

What has happened to the New England states since the 1980s?

They have shifted toward the Democrats.

Which of the following are distinct disadvantages of the rise of candidate-centered campaigns? (Choose every correct answer.)

They make it easier for officeholders to deny responsibility for government actions. They provide opportunities for powerful interest groups to donate money to candidates.

How did many of the founders of the United States view political parties?

They viewed political parties with suspicion.

State party organizations are usually small and are directed by ______.

a full-time chairperson

Current election laws in the United States favor ______.

a two-party system

What three basic elements are usually involved in a party realignment?

an enduring change in the parties' policies and coalitions a shift in voters' partisan support in elections unusually powerful and divisive issues

All party organizations have a responsibility to ______.

build support among voters

Although party organizations still manage many tasks related to elections, the lead role in elections now lies with the ______.

candidate

Political parties and their ability to control politics in the United States.have been weakened by Blank______-centered campaigns.

candidate

Political scientist Darrell West uses the term air wars to describe ______.

candidates' use of televised ads

The groups and interests that support a political party are collectively referred to as a party ______.

coalition

State parties are involved with which of the following activities?

election of U.S. senators election of governors voter registration

In the era of Jacksonian democracy, the efforts of local party organizations, along with the extension of voting rights to citizens without property, contributed to an almost ______ increase in election turnout.

fourfold

Which of the following are functions of political consultants?

gathering voter opinions advising on how to run a successful campaign producing promotional materials

Whereas Jefferson's party had operated largely at the leadership level, Jackson sought a(n):

grassroots party

Which type of third party is organized around a framework concerning the nature and role of government in society?

ideologically oriented parties

Political parties began to emerge in the United States ______.

in spite of many of the founding fathers' mistrust of them

What percentage of voters today cast a split ticket?

less than 20 percent

A ______ political system is made up of at least three political parties.

multiparty

When a political party makes a(n) ______ for an elected office, it selects a person to run as the party's candidate in the general election for that office.

nomination

Local party organizations generally play an active role ______.

only during campaign periods

A(n) ______ primary is one in which any registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, may vote.

open

The highlighting of candidates' attributes and policy positions to appeal to voters is called ______.

packaging

Until the early 20th century, the major party's nominees for president were selected via which method?

picked by the party organization

Which of the following are advantages in raising money for campaigns that incumbents often have over their challengers?

policy influence sought by donors lists of contributors to past campaigns

Organizations that nominate and seek to elect candidates to government office are known as ______.

political parties

An election in which voters choose the party's nominees is called a ______ election.

primary

Voting for a candidate's promises rather than his or her past actions is an example of what is called ______ voting.

prospective

A permanent shift in party allegiances or electoral support is known as a party ______.

realignment

Which type of third party arises from a belief that partisan politics is a corrupting influence that needs to be changed?

reform parties

The national, state, and local organizations of the Republican and Democratic parties are ______.

relatively independent; that is, each level does not have much control over the others

Voting for a candidate's past performance rather than future promises is an example of what is called ______ voting.

retrospective

Third parties formed to promote a stance on a particular issue are known as ______.

single-issue parties

When casting a ______, citizens vote for candidates from different parties.

split ticket

In order to raise enough funds for their campaigns, political candidates raise money from all of the following groups except ______.

state governments

Many voters cast a ______, where they only vote for candidates of one party.

straight ticket

The in-party's chances of staying in power has historically depended primarily on ______.

the condition of the economy

America's plurality, or winner-take-all, system of electing candidates works to the disadvantage of ______.

third parties

What is another name for the plurality system?

winner-take-all system