Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voter's Choice

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?

Democratic-Republicans Federalists

Current election laws in the United States favor ______.

a two-party system

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

candidates' use of televised ads

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

gender

What percentage of voters today cast a split ticket?

less than 20 percent

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

realignment

Primaries in which candidates of both parties are on the same ballot and the first and second finishers compete in the general election are called ______ primaries.

top-two

African Americans are an important part of the Democratic Party's coalition; nearly Blank______ percent of them regularly vote for Democrats.

90

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.

In politics, what do linkage institutions do?

They connect citizens with government.

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

They have shifted toward the Democrats.

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

a full-time chairperson

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

Even if a third-party candidate fails to win an election, the candidate will sometimes accomplish which of the following?

draw attention to an issue previously ignored by the two major candidates encourage one or both major parties to address issues introduced by the third party

Which of the following are functions of political consultants?

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

Political parties began to emerge in the United States ______.

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

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

multiparty

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

packaging

A reason political parties have emerged whenever democracy has been established is that ______.

political parties provide individuals a way to join together in order to exercise their collective influence

Which of the following accurately ranks the amount of media coverage of candidates from highest to lowest?

presidential candidates, Senate candidates, House candidates

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

prospective

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

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

What is another name for the plurality system?

winner-take-all system

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

Which of the following are part of the money chase of politics?

pursuing wealthy patrons raising funds

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

retrospective

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

primary

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

95 percent

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

Florida North Carolina Nevada

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.

True or false: Local party organizations are stronger today than they were in the days of the political machines.

False

Which of the following statements is true regarding a single-member district electoral system?

The candidate with more votes than any opponent wins the election in the district.

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

Progressive Party

True or false: Local, state, and national party organizations are hierarchical in structure.

False

Which of the following are true about political contributions called hard money?

Hard money can be spent as the recipient chooses. Hard money is money given directly to a candidate. Hard money is subject to legal limits. Hard money is money political parties give to candidates.

A state that prevents members of one political party from voting for another party's nominees has which type of primary?

closed

The rise of candidate-centered campaigns has had which of the following positive effects?

encouraged national officeholders to respond to local issues made it easier for political newcomers to win high office

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

grassroots party

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

single-issue parties