Political Participation

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States A: Political Parties: Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections; Interest Groups: Interest groups seek to influence public policy B: Political Parties: Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them; Interest Groups: Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation C: Political Parties: Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office; Interest groups: Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns D: Political Parties: Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of courts; Interest Groups: Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.

A

Which of the following represents a consequence of candidate-centered electoral campaigns?

A decrease in the role of political parties in campaign management

This case challenged the "hard money" limits on campaign donations.

Buckely v. Valeo

Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A: The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B: The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interest will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C: The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers that the consumer protection group. D: The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying

C

Helps shape the message for the campaign and the response to attacks from the opposition.

Communications Director

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

This government agency regulates the airwaves.

FCC

Required broadcasters to give time to opposing views if they broadcast a program giving one side of a controversial issue (was abolished in 1987).

Fairness doctrine

Which of the following is not true of "Pluralism and Group Theory"?

Groups may win small battles but fail in creating real policy?

Political parties serve which of the following functions in the United States? 1. Informing the public about political issues 2. Mobilizing voters and getting them to the polls 3. Organizing diverse interests within society 4. Establishing the rules governing financial contributions to political candidates

I, II, and III only

The media's effect on public opinion can best be described as

Influencing which issues the public sees as important

Which of the following is not a critique of "Hyper-Pluralist Theory"?

More voices lead to more access and thus more policy decisions

Responsible for day-to-day activities of the party.

National Chairperson

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and the party's platform.

National Convention

Historical periods in which a majority of votes cling to the party in power.

Party Eras

The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election.

Party Realignment

Which of the following best explains how most candidates are recruited to run for office?

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

This theory assumes that individuals act in their own best interest, weighing the costs & benefits.

Rational-Choice Theory

Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the two major political parties in the United States?

Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state, and local levels.

In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following?

Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making

Which of the following statements regarding political parties is true based on the graphic?

The Republican Party initially emerged as an antislavery political party.

Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true?

The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs?

They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.

Which is the MOST negative effect resulting from citizens relying on the Internet as their only source of news?

They risk receiving unbalanced and inaccurate political coverage.

Since the 1960s, support for the Democratic Party has declined the most among which of the following groups?

White southerners

A story that is given to the press on the condition that the source not be identified by name.

background story

Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House.

beats

Voters get a list of all candidates and can vote for one name for each office, regardless of party label.

blanket primary

Voters must be registered with their party in advance and can only vote for that part.

closed primary

An electoral "earthquake" where new issues and new coalitions emerge.

critical election

The agenda-setting function of the media refers to the power to

decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention

Societies are divided along class lines and an upper-class elite rules, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization.

elite theory

If a broadcaster endorses a candidate, the opposing candidate has a right to reply.

equal time rule

If a station sells time to one candidate for office, it must be willing to sell equal time to opposing candidates.

equal time rule

Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by

evangelical Christians

Groups are so strong that government is weakened. This is an extreme, exaggerated form of pluralism.

hyper-pluralist theory

Information not usually made public becomes public because someone with inside knowledge tells a reporter.

insider story

An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.

interest group

The use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams & schemes putting reporters & politicians opposite each other.

investigative journalism

Which of the following is not true of "Broadcast Media"?

it is becoming less important

Which of the following is not true of "soft money"

it is money given directly to a candidate

Which of the following is not true of the Federal Elections Campaign Acts of 1971 and 1974?

it places no limits on "hard money"

Interest groups and political parties both promote United States democracy by

linking citizens to the political process

Using words to persuade people of something without actually making a clear argument for it.

loaded language

Which of the following is not a critique of the "Pluralist Theory"?

lobbying is fair for all

An area easily reached by a television signal.

market

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other means of popular communication.

mass media

Rupert Murdoch owns 124 radio stations, New York Post, Weekly Standard, FOX News, and the WSJ. His company is an example of a

media conglomerate

Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous. Media events can be staged by almost anybody.

media event

A journalist who searches through the activities of public officials and organizations and business firms to expose conduct contrary to the public interest.

muckraker

Media programming on cable TV or the Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience.

narrow casting

All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT

nominating candidates

Voters decide on election day which party to participate in, and then only that party.

open primary

A type of political party organization that relies heavily on material inducements to win votes and to govern

party machine

A job, promotion or contract given for political reasons rather than merit. Used by party machines.

patronage

The free rider problem occurs when

people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution

Politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.

pluralist theory

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

policy agenda

People who invest their political "capital" in an issue.

policy entrepreneurs

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

political party

Meetings of public officials with reporters.

press conference

All of the following are "tasks" of political parties except.

push for tax legislation

If a person is attacked on a broadcast(other than in a regular news program) that person has the right to reply over the same station

right of reply rule

Public events regularly covered by reporters and involving simple acts

routine story

When a citizen sees and hears only what he or she wants.

selective attention

A video clip of a presidential contender speaking.

sound bite

Which of the following is not true of Print Media?

the majority of Americans get their news via print media

Which of the following is not true of the FCC?

the members are nominated by Congress

The concept of realignment refers to changes in

the social bases of the parties' voting support

Which of the following is not a way interest groups are distinct from parties?

they both rely on lobbyist to act as their "linkage" to the political process

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices.

ticket-splitting

Which of the following is not a role of a political party

to advance narrow limited interests

A candidate or source may support a policy or appointment and want to test public reaction to it.

trial balloon

Critical elections in the United States typically have occurred

when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties