AP gov unit 2
Which of the following constitutional provisions has been used to strike down discrimination in public accommodations?
Article I Section 8's commerce clause
Which of the following documents represents the first adopted Constitution for the United States?
Articles of Confederation
Which of the following represents an effect of the passage of the Freedom of Information Act?
More meetings were opened to the public
Which of the following statements about the American people is FALSE?
Most Americans view cultural diversity as one of the least appealing aspects of their society
Which of the following is NOT true about exit polls?
Most people are contacted by the random digit dialing method.
Which of the following is typical of most adult Americans when it comes to political participation?
Most will vote in an election, but only a minority of people do more than that politically.
Which of the following laws was challenged by states because they felt that the federal government imposed an unfair unfunded mandate?
Motor Voter Registration Act of 1993
The Right to die is an implicit right found in which part of the Constitution
Ninth Amendment
The Constitution's writers carefully drafted a document that would create
The ability to adapt to changing times
Which is FALSE regarding the electoral college?
Whoever wins the most votes in the electoral college wins, even if that isnʹt a majority
The issue of free silver (to increase the amount of currency in circulation) was championed in the election of 1896 by ________, whose most famous oration was his ʺCross of Goldʺ speech at the Democratic national convention.
William Jennings Bryan
The issue of free silver (to increase the amount of currency in circulation) was championed in the election of 1896 by ________, who made a famous speech at the Democratic National Convention. a. Grover Cleveland b. Woodrow Wilson c. William McKinley d. Theodore Roosevelt e. William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan.
Poll results can vary widely if
a question is altered, even slightly.
An election whereby voters are given the chance to approve or disapprove some legislative act or constitutional amendment is called
a referendum.
A referendum is a. a state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a constitutional amendment. b. a constitutional provision for policy questions to be decided by a nationwide vote. c. another name for an open primary. d. a form of primary election. e. A referendum is none of these.
a state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a constitutional amendment
In general, liberal ideology supports
a strong central government that sets policies to promote equality
All of the following are characteristics of marble cake federalism except
The national government exercises its power independently from state governments
People with higher than average education
are more likely to vote than people of lower educational levels.
People with higher than average education a. are somewhat less likely to vote than people of lower educational levels. b. are no more and no less likely to vote than people of lower educational levels. c. are much less likely to vote than people of lower educational levels because they know it won't do any good. d. are more likely to vote than high school dropouts but less likely to vote than those with high school diplomas. e. are more likely to vote than people of lower educational levels.
are more likely to vote than people of lower educational levels..
Running for the Republican presidential nomination in 1980, George Bush, announced in the early going that he had the ʺbig MOʺa reference to the fact that
he had the momentum having won in Iowa
richard nixon believed he lost the 1960 presidential election because
he was sweating and had an ugly beard stuble during a debate with kennedy
Those largely indifferent to the results of an election, but who decide to vote anyway to show support for democratic government are called ________ voters.
guilt-driven
The American Voter study on ideological sophistication among voters in the 1950s showed that only a small percentage of Americans
had a coherent political ideology.
The McGovern-Fraser Commission
had a mandate to make the Democratic party conventions more democratic.
The average amount of air time that a presidential candidate has been given to talk uninterrupted on the TV news
has declined dramatically since the 1960s.
Superdelegates
have helped restore an element of peer review to the process of choosing a presidential candidate.
Which of the following characteristics would make one more likely to vote in an election?
having a college degree
The impact of the Motor Voter Act of 1993 was evidenced in
higher registration and lower turnout in 1996 and 2000.
A ________ is staged by a campaign primarily for the purpose of being covered on television and in the press.
media event
Narrowcasting refers to
media programming aimed at a particular (narrow) audience.
There is evidence that when incomes and educational levels are equal
members of minority groups tend to participate more than members of the majority.
Critics of a national primary argue that
no candidate would receive a majority, thus a run-off election would be needed
Compared to men, women are more likely to
oppose higher levels of military spending and support spending on social services
Recent public opinion polls have shown that most Americans
oppose the idea of big government in principle, but favor it in practice.
Political efficacy refers to the belief that
ordinary people can influence the government.
Voter registration procedures were adopted around the turn of the century as a means to
prevent corruption associated with stuffing ballot boxes.
The three kinds of elections in the U.S. are a. primary elections, competitive elections, and noncompetitive elections. b. primary elections, general elections, and elections on specific policy questions. c. primary elections, general elections, and competitive elections. d. primary elections, secondary elections, and tertiary elections. e. primary elections, ancillary elections, and corollary elections.
primary elections, general elections, and elections on specific policy questions.
The Republican Party began as the a. party of the New Deal. b. party of states' rights and silver money. c. principal proslavery party. d. party of big business interests. e. principal antislavery party.
principal antislavery party
The opening up of the process to choose delegates to the Democratic National Convention in the immediate aftermath of 1968 was spearheaded by
the McGovern-Fraser Commission.
The Depression of the 1930s gave rise to what is called a. the Era of Divided Government. b. party competition. c. the New Deal coalition. d. econopolitics. e. the Republican resurgence.
the New Deal coalition
From 1968 to 1992, a. the Republicans dominated the federal government while the Democrats dominated state governments. b. the Republicans dominated the presidency while the Democrats dominated Congress. c. the Democrats experienced a slow, "creeping ascendance" that culminated in their gaining control of the entire government with the election of Bill Clinton. d. a realignment occurred that destroyed the New Deal coalition. e. the Republicans became the majority party.
the Republicans dominated the presidency while the Democrats dominated Congress
All of the following represents examples of limited government EXCEPT
the Reserved Power Clause of the Tenth Amendment
Between 1990 and 2000,
the Sunbelt continued to experience rapid population growth
The greater the policy differences between the candidates
the more likely voters will be able to steer government policies by their choices
The 1936 Literary Digest poll underestimated the vote for President Franklin Roosevelt by 19 percent because
the sample was drawn from telephone books and motor-vehicle records.
When asked about the most important challenge of running party organizations, the national party chairmen of both parties replied a. "time." b. "money." c. "organization." d. "competent staff." e. "finding good candidates."
"money."
Americaʹs party nomination system could best be described as
) open and entrepreneurial.
Campaigns strengthen voter commitment to the usual party or the candidate they previously supported by emphasizing ________ as part of their campaign strategy.
) reinforcement
There are ______ state party systems in the United States. a. 435 b. 50 c. 100 d. 75 e. 25
50
a new approach to reporting, introduced during the 2003 iraq war, was to
1) use more satellite coverage 2) allow reporters to move around alone 3) embed reporters with troops
In public opinion polling, a sample as small as about ________ people can faithfully represent the ʺuniverseʺ of Americans.
1,500
n the presidential election of 2004, ________ of Americans voted.
55 percent
responsibilities of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
1. to prevent near monopolies of control over a broadcast market 2. to conduct periodic examinations of the goals and performances of stations 3. to ensure that licensed stations serve the public interest 4. to uphold fair treatment rules concerning access to airways for political candidates and officeholders
In order to qualify to be put on the ballot, initiative petitions usually require signatures equal to about a. 10 percent of the entire population. b. 10 percent of registered voters. c. 10 percent of the number of voters from the previous election. d. 10 percent of eligible voters. e. a minimum of 500 signatures.
10 percent of the number of voters from the previous election
Hispanics comprise approximately what percent of the American population?
13 percent
The first census in the United States was conducted in
1790.
The first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world occurred as a result of the presidential election of
1800.
The Republicans emerged as a powerful political party in the a. 1790s. b. 1890s. c. 1850s. d. 1820s. e. 1930s.
1850s
The debate between the gold standard and free silver occurred during which time period? a. 1932-1964 b. 1828-1856 c. 1860-1928 d. 1796-1824 e. 1968-present
1860-1928
In which election was voter turnout at its highest point? a. 2000 b. 1896 c. 1800 d. 2004 e. 1992
1896
The high point of voter turnout in the United States was in a. 1960. b. 1932. c. 1896. d. 1972. e. 1968.
1896
The high point of voter turnout in the United States was in
1896.
The Democratic National Convention in ________ led to serious reforms in the methods it used to choose its convention delegates.
1968
Approximately ________ of eligible voters cast ballots in presidential primaries.
20 percent
Approximately what percent of African Americans live below the poverty line?
25
In 1980, about what percentage of the American public thought they could trust government most of the time or always?
25 percent
Approximately what percent of Asian Americans hold a college degree?
49
A random sample of 1500-2000 respondents will produce results far off the mark about ________ of the time.
5 percent
In most caucus states, about ________ of the registered voters typically show up for party presidential caucuses.
5 percent
Approximately how many states allow voters to register at the polls on election day?
6
on the average, how much of a presidential candidates campaign budget is spent on tv ads
60 percent
Which of the following represents the best example of a case dealing with original jurisdiction a. review of New York and Jew Jersey arguing over property rights related to Ellis Island b. an appeal by a convict on death row c, a review of the constitutionality of a school district allowing prayer at a graduation ceremony d. a review of president Nixion's decision not to turn over the Watergate tapes to congress e. a review of a federal law mandating affirmative action in industries that have contracts with the government
A
Which of the following is TRUE? A. A majority of young Americans age 18-29 report that they learn about presidential campaigns from the internet. B. More young Americans, age 18-29, get information about presidential campaigns from a comedy TV show than from cable news networks. C. Young Americans, age 18-29, are more likely than older Americans to get information about presidential campaigns from the Internet and from comedy TV shows.
A & C
Television news coverage of a candidate generally focuses on all of the following except
A candidate's explanation of a complex policy statement
Which of the following is a major result of media-centered politics?
A decrease in voter turnout
Which of the following represents the theoretical definition of federalism?
A division of power between the federal government and state governments
Which of the following actions increases the power of the president?
A greater reliance on the federal government to solve problems
Which of the following describes Americans' self-reported ideological and partisan positions? a. A majority of Americans place themselves in the middle, between extreme liberal or conservative views. b. Most Americans are extremely conservative. c. Most Americans are extremely liberal. d. A majority of Americans consider themselves to be conservative-liberals. e. None of these is true.
A majority of Americans place themselves in the middle, between extreme liberal or conservative views
Which of the following statements about the coalitions of the two major present-day political parties is FALSE? a. A majority of young Americans with high income identify as Republicans. b. Men are almost split in party identification. c. A majority of women identify as Republicans. d. A majority of Hispanic voters identify as Democrats. e. A majority of older Americans with low income identify as Democrats.
A majority of women identify as Republicans.
Which of the following philosophies is reflected by the majority of the American electorate?
A middle-of-the-road philosophy
Which of the following best defines a set of institutions linking government, politics, and public policy?
A political system
Which of the following provides voters the chance to directly approve or disapprove a legislative proposition?
A referendum
The validity of a poll is best determined by
A sampling error of those pulled under 5 percent
What sort of realignment has occurred in the current party era over the past generation? a. A cultural realignment b. A rural/urban realignment c. An age-based realignment d. A southern realignment e. An entire realignment
A southern realignment.
Which of the following campaign finance reforms has been adopted?
Abolishing soft money contributions
In addition to the stated constitutional powers of the president, which of the following roles does he take on?
Acting as head of his political party
If presidential candidates accept federal support in the form of matching campaign financing, then they
Agree to limit their campaign expenditures to an amount prescribed by federal law
If presidential candidates accept federal support int eh form of matching campaign financing, then they
Agree to limit their campaign expenditures to an amount prescribed by federal law
Who among the following was not a Democratic-Republican during our nation's first party system? a. None of the above; all were Democratic-Republicans. b. Thomas Jefferson c. James Monroe d. James Madison e. Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton.
Which of the following is TRUE? a. All of the above are true. b. Progressive reforms that placed jobs under the merit system weakened the discretion and power of political machines. c. Urban party machines are no longer very active as a rule. d. Ethnic integration weakened the relevancy of political machines. e. Regulations concerning fair bidding on government contracts weakened the discretion and power of political machines.
All of the above are true
The responsible party model requires parties to meet which of the following conditions? a. The majority party must implement its programs, and the minority party must state what it would do if it were in power. b. Parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation. c. All of the above are true. d. The majority party must accept responsibility for the performance of the government. e. Each party's candidates must be committed to its program and have internal cohesion and discipline to carry out its program.
All of the above are true.
In the 2000 presidential election, a. Bush did especially well in less populous states possessing fewer than seven electoral votes. b. All of the above are true. c. Gore received more votes than did Bush. d. Bush won the presidency without winning the popular vote, the first time a candidate did so since 1888. e. Gore did especially well in states with greater than 18 electoral votes.
All of the above are true..
Which of the following statements about voter turnout in 2008 is TRUE? a. Young voters aged 18-20 had the lowest turnout. b. Women had a higher turnout than men. c. College-educated voters had the highest turnout. d. All of these are true. e. White voters had the highest turnout.
All of these are true..
Which of the following best describes the history of American political parties?
America has had two parties that have consistently dominated the political arena
The term ʺminority majorityʺ refers to the fact that
America will soon cease to have a white majority and together the minority groups will become a majority.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Americans are expected to vote for a much narrower range of political offices than most democracies.
Which of the following statements about voting in elections in the United States is FALSE? a. Americans are expected to vote for a much narrower range of political offices than most democracies. b. Unlike the United States, the governments of most democracies take the responsibility of seeing to it that all of their eligible citizens are on the voting lists. c. American government asks citizens to vote far more often than most democracies. d. Americans are less likely to vote than are citizens of other democracies. e. The choice offered Americans at elections is not as great as in other democracies.
Americans are expected to vote for a much narrower range of political offices than most democracies
Which of the following trends most closely reflects the last 40 years of American electoral history?
An increase in suffrage opportunities
An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress with which of the following situations?
An issue that is narrow in scope and low in public visibility
In order to organize their presidential campaigns effectively, a candidate must do all the following EXCEPT:
Announce his or her choice for vice president during the primaries
The court of which of the following Chief justices handed down the most activist decisions ? a. Salmon Chase b. William Rehnquist c. Earl Warren d. Roger Taney e. Warren Burger
Answer is C
Which of the following is NOT TRUE of the relationship between party identification and age? a. More young Americans age 18 to 24 identify as Independents than identify as Democrats or Republicans. b. As of 2008, older Americans over 65 were more likely to say they were Independents than were younger Americans. c. As individuals get older, they are more likely to identify with either the Democrats or the Republicans. d. More Americans age 65 and older identify as Democrats than identify as Independents or Republicans. e. As of 2008, young Americans age 18 to 24 were more likely to say they were Independents than were older Americans.
As of 2008, older Americans over 65 were more likely to say they were Independents than were younger Americans
Which of the following supports the thesis that the rise of television broadcasting has reinforced and furthered individualism in the American political process? A. Americans' propensity to respond to television advertising by making campaign contributions. B. Candidate-centered elections, in which candidates are capable of running on their own by directly appealing to the people through TV. C. The fact that individual voters can see candidates "up close and personal," and therefore have less need for political parties to educate them about candidates.
B & C
Which of the following decisions made by Chief Justice John Marshall's Court established the principle that the Bill of Rights only applied to the federal government?
Barron v Baltimore
Which of the following is NOT a factor that increases a person's likelihood of voting? a. Discerning the ways in which policy differences affect one's interests b. Having a sense of civic duty c. Possessing political efficacy d. Believing that some policies of one party are balanced by other policies of the other party e. Believing that the benefits of voting outweigh the costs
Believing that some policies of one party are balanced by other policies of the other party.
Who among the following was NOT a national party chairperson? a. Tim Kaine b. Bill Clinton c. Howard Dean d. Bob Dole e. George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton.
The appointment of Supreme Court justices in the 1980s was characterized by
Bitter confirmation battles over personal and philosophical positions of the nominees
Which of the following represents a legal difference between de facto and de jure segregation?
De jure segregation is illegal based on Supreme Court decisions
Which of the following states has increased its representation in the House from just seven in 1900 to 53 today?
California
Four decades of research on political campaigns lead to the following conclusion that
Campaigns mostly reinforce and activate, only rarely do they convert
In what major way do presidential campaigns serve to stimulate big government?
Candidates make promises to particular groups and states so much on different campaign stops, and many of the promises involve more government spending and new or bigger programs.
Before primaries existed, state parties selected their delegates to the national convention through which of the following processes?
Caucus
_______ is consciously breaking a law that is thought to be unjust.
Civil disobedience
Which of the following historical events advanced the intent of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Civil rights acts
All the following represent examples of the use of checks and balances except
Congress passing the Crime Bill after a conference committee made changes
Which of the following is INCORRECT?
Congress requires voter registration nationwide
Which of the following statements about voter registration is FALSE? a. In North Dakota, you don't have to register to vote. b. States with same-day registration tended to have higher voter turnout rates in the 2008 election. c. The Motor Voter Act allows eligible voters to register by checking a box on their driver's license application. d. Congress requires voter registration nationwide. e. In a few states, you can register to vote on Election Day.
Congress requires voter registration nationwide.
Which fo the following documents created a compromise that led to the formation of a bicameral legislature?
Connecticut Compromise
Which of the following represents the most effective way for a president to manage news coverage?
Controlling the flow of information
Which of the following terms means that people are gradually moving away from both parties?
Dealignment
The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations in the past of man toward woman. Which of the following documents contained this passage?
Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions
Andrew Jackson was the first president identified as a(n) a. Democrat. b. Independent. c. Democratic-Republican. d. Whig. e. Republican.
Democrat
The dominant political party in America's first party system was the a. Federalists. b. Democratic-Republicans. c. Democrats. d. Republicans. e. Whigs.
Democratic-Republicans.
In the second party system in United States history, the election contests were between which two major parties? a. Democrats and Whigs b. Republicans and Whigs c. Federalists and Anti-Federalists d. Federalists and Whigs e. Democrats and Republicans
Democrats and Whigs.
Which of the following statements best describes the Articles of Confederation?
Domination of the government by the states. A national congress with one house and no executive. No national court system. No ability of the central government to enforce the collection of taxes
Special interest groups do all the following except
Donate money to federal judges
As provided in the Constitution, how are electoral votes allocated for each state? a. Each state is proportioned to its population, with all states having at least one vote. b. Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members in both the House and the Senate. c. Each state casts two electoral votes. d. Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members in the House of Representatives. e. Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members in the Senate.
Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members in both the House and the Senate
As provided in the Constitution, how are electoral votes allocated for each state?
Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members in the Senate.
Which of these groups did NOT support William Jennings Bryan in 1896? a. Eastern manufacturers b. Westerners in the silver-producing states c. Rural doctors d. All of the groups above supported William Jennings Bryan in 1896. e. White southerners
Eastern manufacturers.
Elections serve the purpose of a. providing regular access to political power. b. helping to guide the policy direction of the government. c. Elections serve the purpose of all of the above. d. socializing and institutionalizing political activity. e. providing a legitimate means to replace leaders.
Elections serve the purpose of all of the above.
Which of the following theories contends that our society is divided along class linse and that a narrow upper-class strata rules regardless of the formal organization of government?
Elite
Where is the proportional method of representation most commonly used? a. Asia b. China c. Europe d. The United States e. Africa
Europe
Which of the following statements about the electoral college is FALSE?
Every state has a winner-take-all system where electors vote as a bloc for the winner.
Few developments since the Watergate crisis have generated as much cynicism about government as the
Explosive growth of special interest groups and PACs
The administration of the campaign finance laws and the enforcement of compliance with their requirements is handled by the
Federal Election Commission
The group responsible for administering and enforcing the Federal Election Campaign Act is the
Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The first party system in the United States consisted of the a. Democrats and Whigs. b. Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. c. Federalists and Whigs. d. Democrats and Republicans. e. Democratic-Republicans and Whigs.
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
Which of the following principles describes a philosophy of the Federalist Party?
Federalists believed in a loose construction of the Constitution
Which type of federalism is characterized by a pattern of competitive grants?
Fiscal federalism
what president was arguably the most influential when it comes to conception of "media politics"?
Franklin D Roosevelt
Which of the following principles is most fundamental to democratic theory?
Free elections and universal suffrage
The terms prior review and prior restraint refer to which of the following constitutional principles?
Freedom of the press
Public opinion polling was first begun in 1932 by
George Gallup.
Which general area of policy is generally left up to the states?
Health and welfare
The largest component of the minority majority is the
Hispanic population
The 2000 census indicated that the largest minority population is comprised of
Hispanics
The largest racial/ethnic minority group in the United States is
Hispanics
The most recent wave of immigration since World War II has consisted primarily of
Hispanics and Asians
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Hispanics are primarily concentrated in the rural areas
In which of the following institutions have the Republicans consistently been the minority party from 1968 to 1994?
House of Representatives
Which of the following is TRUE of changing patterns in voting behavior among Catholics and Protestants. a. Fewer African Americans supported Obama in 2008 than supported Kennedy in 1960. b. Men were more likely than women to support Democratic candidates in 1960 and 2008. c. In 1960, Catholics were much more likely to support the Democratic Party than were Protestants; in 2008, there was only a slight difference between Catholic and Protestant support for the Democrats. d. Protestants were more likely to support Obama in 2008 than were Catholics. e. Women were more likely than men to support Democratic candidates in 1960 and 2008.
In 1960, Catholics were much more likely to support the Democratic Party than were Protestants; in 2008, there was only a slight difference between Catholic and Protestant support for the Democrats.
Which of the following is TRUE about the presidential nomination process?
In most states, presidential primaries are held with the national convention delegates allocated to each candidate in rough proximity to their percentage of popular vote.
The Supreme Court decision Gitlow v New York
Incorporation of the Bill of Rights in state cases was allowed
Which of the following doctrines made the Bill of Rights applicable to the states?
Incorporation principle
Which group is most likely to engage in ticket splitting? a. Independents b. Southerners c. Republicans d. Northeasterners e. Democrats
Independents
Which general area of policy is generally left up to the central government?
Interstate commerce
The first time a candidate attempts to effectively use money and media attention in order to achieve name recognition is the
Invisible primary
The first presidential caucus of the campaign season is traditionally held in
Iowa
The first presidential caucus is held in
Iowa.
Which of the following illustrates the effects that the system of checks and balances and separation of powers has on the legislative process?
It can create gridlock. It can encourage political compromise
Which of the following is TRUE about the Electoral College? a. It is used in nearly half of the democratic nations around the world. b. It is scheduled to be phased out in 2011, though some still argue its usefulness and want to rescind the phase-out. c. All 50 states employ a winner-take-all system in which all of their electors are awarded to the presidential candidate who wins the most votes statewide. d. An elector has never voted differently from the popular vote winner of his state. e. It overrepresents small states.
It overrepresents small states..
The Motor Voter Act signed by President Clinton makes it easier than ever to vote. All the following provisions accomplish the goals of the act except:
It purges people from voter rolls because they didn't vote in the previous election
Which of the following is FALSE about the Federalist Party? a. It quickly faded following John Adam's failed reelection bid in 1800. b. It was created, in part, by Alexander Hamilton's efforts to establish a national bank. c. It was the nation's most short-lived party. d. It was comprised by a group of professional politicians. e. It was crushed by the Democratic-Republicans.
It was comprised by a group of professional politicians.
Which of the following is TRUE of the presidential election of 1800?
It was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world.
Which of the following is TRUE of the presidential election of 1800? a. The candidates traveled throughout the smaller number of United States at the time to campaign for votes. b. It was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world. c. All of the above are true. d. It was a gentlemanly contest in which partisans on both sides showed respect for the opposition. e. It was carefully and objectively covered in the newspapers of the day, with logical reasoning and respect for both candidates in articles and editorials.
It was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties via the electoral process in the history of the world.
Which of the following represents a major reason why the electoral college was created?
It would enable a select group of electors to cast the final vote for president and vice president
Which of the following has had a positive impact on the youth vote?
Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition efforts, MTV's Rock the Vote efforts
Which of the following is FALSE? a. A majority of Americans with high income identify with the Democratic Party. b. African Americans identify overwhelmingly with the Democratic Party. c. Jews identify overwhelmingly with the Republican Party. d. A majority of Americans with low income identify with the Democratic Party. e. Most white evangelicals identify with the Republican Party.
Jews identify overwhelmingly with the Republican Party.
Which of the following statements is true about the effect of ethnic groups on voter choice during the presidential elections of the 1990s
Jews tend to vote Democratic
The most liberal religious group in America are
Jews.
What are patronage jobs? a. Jobs that manage volunteers b. A description of anyone who worked in the Daley administration in Chicago c. Jobs given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence d. Jobs in the national convention e. Jobs given on the basis of merit rather than for political reasons
Jobs given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence.
The last Federalist president was a. Thomas Jefferson. b. Abraham Lincoln. c. Andrew Jackson. d. Alexander Hamilton. e. John Adams.
John Adams
What was the major factor that led to the Democrats' loss of power in 1968? a. The Civil Rights Movement b. The end of World War II c. The assassination of JFK d. Johnson's Vietnam policies e. The beginning of the Cold War
Johnson's Vietnam policies.
Which of the following arguments represents the best reason why a bill of rights was added to the Constitution?
Key states insisted on a bill of rights prior to approving the Constitution
Which kind of federalism best describes an autonomous relationship between the states and the national government?
Layer cake federalism
Which of the following translate in puts from the public into outputs from the policymakers?
Linkage institutions
According to the writings of the Federalist Paper, which of the following reflects a major reason for the support of a federal system?
Local governments will maintain their authority and will be able to care for their citizens
Advocates of a strong federal system believe in all of the following EXCEPT
Local problems are more suited to solve problems than national leaders
All of the following Supreme Court cases dealt with the issue of federalism except
Marbury v Madison
The most famous practitioner of civil disobedience in the United States during the twentieth century was this Nobel Peace Prize winner,
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Which of the following is TRUE in regard to the voting habits of African Americans and Hispanic Americans?
Members of these groups are more likely to vote than whites of the same income level.
Which of the following statements about voter participation is FALSE?
Men are more likely to vote than women.
Which is primarily responsible for crafting the political party's platform and for nominating its candidates for president and vice president? a. National convention b. National committee c. Primary committee d. Party in the electorate e. Party in government
National convention.
The goal of the nominating game is to win a majority of delegates' support at which of the following stages of the campaign?
National party convention
The worst off of Americaʹs minority groups are
Native Americans.
The least-healthy, the poorest, and the least-educated group in the American mosaic are the
Native-American Indians.
The state that has disproportionate power because it holds the first presidential primary each election year is
New Hampshire
With the exception of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, no one has been elected president since 1952 without first having won
New Hampshire
Which of the following statements about voter turnout in the U.S. is FALSE? a. Older people are less likely than younger people to vote. b. African Americans are less likely than whites to vote. c. Women are more likely to vote than men. d. People with higher than average education levels have a higher voter participation rate. e. Americans' voter participation rate is far lower than voter turnout in other democracies.
Older people are less likely than younger people to vote.
Which of the following is TRUE about the electoral college?
On very rare occasions, an elector has voted differently from the popular vote winner of his state
One of the effects of growing older on political learning and political behavior is that
One of the effects of growing older on political learning and political behavior is that
Which of the following statements reflects an action taken by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention?
Outlawing future importing of slaves. Setting a number for counting slaves for representation purposes
Which of the following was NOT part of Nixon's "Southern Strategy"? a. Emphasizing a strong military posture b. Breaking the Democrat's long hold over southern conservatives c. Overturning Brown v. Board of Education d. Emphasizing states' rights e. Emphasizing law and order
Overturning Brown v. Board of Education
Critics of the PAC system are concerned that
PACs may control what the electoral winners do once in office.
All of the following actions represent the conventional manner people usually participate in the political process EXCEPT
Participating in civil disobedience to achieve political goals
Almost all definitions of political parties have which of the following in common? a. Parties have formal organizations. b. Parties are run by elites. c. Parties try to win elections. d. Parties have a mass following. e. Parties have limited policy agendas.
Parties try to win elections
________ are crucial for many voters because they provide a regular perspective through which voters can view the political world.
Party identifications
The people who keep the party running between elections and make its rules are members of which "head" of the party? a. Party in the electorate b. Party in the White House c. Party in the states d. Party in government e. Party in organization
Party in organization
Which of the following terms represents the official designation of a person running for office?
Party nomination
All of the following choices reflect major changes that have occurred to the party system since Roosevelt's New Deal except:
Party organizations have become more energetic and effective, party loyalty has increased
Which of the following results after a critical election occurs?
Party realignment
The implied power clause in the Constitution has been described as the ability of Congress to take which of the following actions?
Pass an assault weapons ban
Discrimination in the workplaces has been made illegal by all the following except:
Passage of proposition 187
All of the following characteristics reflect the reasons why political parties are formed except
People band together because they have similar income
Which of the following is TRUE of voters, according to Anthony Downs' theory of rational voting behavior? a. It is always rational for people to vote. b. It is always irrational for people not to vote due to the small chance that their vote might actually matter. c. People with higher levels of education are less likely to vote. d. People who see policy differences between the parties are less likely to vote. e. People who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to vote.
People who see policy differences between the parties are more likely to vote.
The authors of The American Voter would agree with each of the following statements EXCEPT
People who think in ideological terms are most likely to switch parties from one election to the next.
Which of the following groups believes that bargaining and compromise are essential to democracy?
Pluralists
________ occurs when people base their choices in an election on their own issue preferences.
Policy voting
________ occurs when people base their electoral choices on the basis of their own policy preferences and the candidates' stand on policy issues. a. Agenda setting b. Suffrage c. Retrospective voting d. Policy voting e. Civic duty
Policy voting.
Which of the following statements about political participation is FALSE
Political activity is an important part of the everyday life of most Americans.
Which of the following are considered linkage institutions?
Political parties, the media
Which of the following defines a team of men and women banding together to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election?
Political party
Which of the following molds the values a person develops?
Political socialization
All of the following statements best explain why people vote except
Political surveys
Which of the following is NOT a criticism of modern polling?
Polls are subject to very wide margins of error, yet are treated as accurate measurements of public opinion.
The Republicans lost the election of 1932 primarily due to a. the nomination of a popular war hero by the Democrats. b. Hitler's election as chancellor of Germany and the Republicans' failure to prevent it. c. the failure of the Republicans to hold onto the support of urban industrialists. d. rising political and economic instability in Europe. e. President Herbert Hoover's handling of the Depression.
President Herbert Hoover's handling of the Depression
Which of the following is the only stated constitutional responsibility of the vice president?
Presiding over the Senate
What is one of the reasons that urban party machines are no longer very active? a. Ethic integration became less prevalent. b. Progressive regulations were struck down by the Supreme Court. c. Progressive reforms that placed jobs under the merit system weakened the machines' power. d. All of the party bosses died out. e. Regulations concerning fair bidding on government contracts were struck down.
Progressive reforms that placed jobs under the merit system weakened the machines' power
Which of the following groups was eligible to vote in 1800? a. African Americans b. Property-owning males over the age of 21 c. White male and female property owners d. Women e. Anyone over the age of 18
Property-owning males over the age of 21.
________ is the distribution of the populationʹs beliefs about politics and policy issues
Public opinion
Which of the following statements about public opinion polling is FALSE?
Public opinion polling is a uniquely American phenomenon.
All of the following factors tend to weaken a candidate's chances for election EXCEPT
Raising large amounts of money
_______ occurs after every census to reallocate the 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, reflecting shifts in the population of the states and, thus, how many seats each state is allotted.
Reapportionment
Presidential candidates must file periodic reports with the Federal Election Commission, listing who contributed money and how it was spent
Regardless of whether or not they receive matching federal funding
A major impact of the Bakke decision was that
Reverse discrimination based on quotas was illegal
Which of the following cases used the Ninth Amendment as a constitutional argument?
Roe v Wade
Which of the following Supreme Court cases established the "clear and present danger" doctrine?
Schenck v United States
Which of the following judicial principles reduced the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Separate but equal
All of the following are enumerated powers of the Congress except:
Setting up the first National Bank of the Untied States
Creative federalism of the Great Society was characterized by
Shared costs between the national and state governments, guidelines and rules set down by the federal government
Which of the following do you need to do to become a Republican or Democrat? a. Simply believe that you belong to the party of your choice b. Give money c. Formally join the party d. Add your name to a mailing list e. Prove that you've voted for the party
Simply believe that you belong to the party of your choice.
The ________ Act required that as of 1987, employers document the citizenship or legal immigrant status of their employees, or face substantial criminal penalties for failing to do so
Simpson-Mazzoli
Which of the following groups examines a candidate's record primarily on specific issues?
Single-interest groups
________ resulted from an amendment in 1979 to the original Campaign Reform Act, which allows parties to raise and spend money on voter registration and other campaign materials without limits on spending or the size of contributions that they can accept.
Soft money
Which of the following is FALSE? a. State parties are on the downswing throughout the country. b. State parties are on the upswing throughout the country. c. Today, almost all state parties have permanent physical headquarters and professional staff. d. State parties primarily serve to supplement candidates' personal campaign organizations. e. State parties' budgets have increased dramatically since the late 1970s.
State parties are on the downswing throughout the country.
The manner in which candidates attempt to effectively use money and media attention in order to achieve the nomination is called campaign
Strategy
The principle established by the Supreme Court in the case of Tinker v Des Moines states that
Student rights did not stop at the schoolhouse gates
Which of the following countries has a lower voter turnout rate than the United States?
Switzerland
All of the following reflect the constitutional basis of suffrage except:
Term limits on United States senators and representatives passed by individual states
The constitutional provision used in the Supreme Court case McCulloch v Maryland was
The "necessary and proper" clause The Supremacy Clause
Which of the following statements about the 1800 presidential election is TRUE?
The 1800 election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives
Which of the following statements about the 1800 presidential election is TRUE? a. The candidates in the 1800 election vigorously campaigned in each of the states. b. For the first time, the focus of the 1800 election was on the citizen voters. c. The 1800 election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives. d. The 1800 election was the first one in which the candidates were chosen by party conventions. e. All of the above are true.
The 1800 election was ultimately decided in the House of Representatives.
Which historical period represents the introduction of competitive federalism?
The 1970s and 1980s
Which of the following is FALSE regarding the New Deal coalition? a. The New Deal coalition did little to win the support of Jews and Catholics. b. FDR was the first president to enthusiastically support unions, and, as a result, he earned their support. c. Large cities, such as Philadelphia and Chicago, became bastions of Democratic support during the New Deal. d. Poor voters overwhelmingly supported FDR. e. A majority of African Americans supported FDR and the Democrats even though their loyalties historically had been with the Republicans.
The New Deal coalition did little to win the support of Jews and Catholics
Which of the following events signaled the beginning of a Republican Party ascendancy for more than 60 years?
The Civil War
Which of the following institutions established in the Constitution make public policy?
The Congress, the president, and the courts
Which statements best reflects what the United States Constitution represents?
The Constitution is a basic framework for the government. The Constitution is an explanation of the way government operates, assigning separate powers to each branch and guaranteeing citizens their rights. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
Which characteristic reflects party politics of the 1990s?
The Democrats' Solid South no longer exists in national elections
Which of the following time periods reflects a change from the dominance of the Republicans as the nation's majority party?
The Great Depression
What was the issue that brought the Democrats to power in 1932? a. Vietnam b. World War I c. The Great Depression d. Slavery e. Silver coinage
The Great Depression.
Which of the following governmental bodies is most directly responsible to the electorate?
The House of Representatives
Which of the following is NOT true of the 2008 presidential election? a. Obama won 365 electoral votes, compared to 173 for McCain. b. The Democrats won nine states that they had lost in 2004. c. Among the states that Democrats won in 2008 were Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. d. Obama carried 53 percent of the popular vote, compared to 46 percent for McCain. e. The Republicans won nine states that they had lost in 2004.
The Republicans won nine states that they had lost in 2004
Which section of the country has the lowest voter turnout?
The South
The practice of judicial review was first established by which of the following actions?
The Supreme Court can declare a congressional act unconstitutional
The constitutional basis of dual federalism can be found in
The Tenth Amendment
Political "spin" means
The attempts of handlers to present a favorable account of events
Which of the following institutions is commonly called the fourth branch of government?
The bureaucracy
All of the following statements about campaign strategy are true EXCEPT:
The candidate must campaign in all 50 states
Which of the following does NOT characterize presidential elections around 1800? a. Campaigns were directed at state legislators, not the voters. b. The candidates barnstormed the country campaigning and giving speeches. c. Most of the campaigning was done by state and local party organizations. d. Newspaper coverage of the campaign was extremely partisan and dishonest. e. The vice presidential nominee tried to usurp the presidential candidate's nomination.
The candidates barnstormed the country campaigning and giving speeches
Which of the following does NOT characterize presidential elections around 1800?
The candidates barnstormed the country campaigning and giving speeches.
Which of the following represents what media watchers would portray as the benchmark of investigative journalism?
The efforts of Woodward and Bernstein in uncovering the Watergate coverup
In a presidential election, if no candidate receives an electoral college majority
The election is thrown into the House of Representatives
Which of the following statements about the election of 1896 is FALSE?
The election resulted in the Democrats becoming firmly entrenched as the majority party in the Northeast and Midwest.
The question of the constitutionality of a term limit for legislators imposed by a state constitution is based on which of the following arguments?
The fact that the Constitution sets the qualifications for congressmen
Which statement reflects James Madison's point of view in the Federalist Papers regarding the consequences of unequal distribution of wealth?
The formation of factions. The probability of minority discontent. The development of political parties.
Which of the following statements best reflects the political philosophy established after the colonists achieved their independence?
The former colonists believed that the states should become the dominant political and social force
Which of the following reforms took place as a result of the McGovern-Frasier Commission?
The incorporation of minority delegates
Which of the following statements about Political Action Committees (PACs) is FALSE?
The influence of PACs is particularly important in presidential campaigns.
Which of the following statements is FALSE? a. The initiative petition has been an insignificant form of election. b. Citizens can use the initiative process to force decisions on issues that state legislatures have failed to act on or address. c. Twenty-four states currently allow voters to propose and decide legislation through an initiative petition. d. Initiative petitions are frequently the result of the actions of dedicated individuals, or policy entrepreneurs. e. Most states require initiative petitions to gain signatures equal to about 10 percent of the voting population to put an issue on the state ballot.
The initiative petition has been an insignificant form of election.
Which of the following definitions reflects the idea that the victorious party should carry out its proposed agenda?
The mandate theory of elections
Which of the following groups represents the audience the media aims to develop stories for?
The masses
Which of the following is considered a linkage institution?
The media
Which of the following is NOT a criticism of the current system of presidential primaries and caucuses?
The media do not have enough of a role in this process.
All the following are criticisms aimed at the media except:
The media's investigations of politicians usually emphasize serious issues
Which of these is NOT part of the responsible party model? a. The majority party must accept responsibility for the performance of the government. b. The parties must present distinct, comprehensive programs for governing the nation. c. Each party's candidate must be committed to its program and have the discipline to carry it out. d. The minority party must promote the majority party's platform. e. The majority party must implement its programs.
The minority party must promote the majority party's platform
Which of the following determines the party platform?
The national convention
Which of the following is TRUE of Americans' political party identifications? a. The number of people identifying as Democrats has declined since 1952. b. The number of people identifying as Republicans has declined since 1952. c. The number of people identifying as Republicans has consistently outnumbered the number of people identifying as Democrats since 1952. d. There has been little change in Americans' party identification since 1952. e. The number of people identifying as Independents has declined since 1952.
The number of people identifying as Democrats has declined since 1952
Relationships among which of the following exist in political parties?
The party and the courts
Which of the following has been suggested to increase party identification?
The party should present clearly defined programs, the party should present candidates who are committed to the party's positions
Which of the following best represnts the components of fiscal federalism?
The passage of funded mandates, the passage of revenue sharing measures, and the passage of categorical grants
All of the following are characteristics of politics EXCEPT
The passage of laws that serve to further minority rights
All of the following are characteristics of politics except:
The passing of laws that serve to further minority rights
Which of the following resulted after the Supreme Court made a ruling in Baker v Carr
The principle of "one man, one vote" was established
Which of the following is TRUE about American elections over the past 100 years?
The suffrage has broadened, and the turnout has decreased.
Criticisms of the election process include all the following except:
The system allows little room for media involvement
Which of the following statements in the Federalist Papers referred to "the most common and durable source of faction"
The unequal distribution of property
_____ was once the main political party organization in America. a. Patronage b. The coalition c. The urban political party d. The national convention e. The critical election
The urban political party.
Which of the following is NOT true about elections in American society?
The vast majority of eligible citizens cast ballots, even for local races
Many political scientists concluded that Bill Clinton had won the election of 1996 because
There was unity in the Democratic Party
Which of the following is TRUE about most third-party campaigns in American history? a. They occasionally succeed. b. They almost never win office. c. They frequently are successful. d. They have been most successful at promoting party dealignment. e. They usually become major political parties over time.
They almost never win office.
Which of the following concerns most bothers politicians about the rising costs of campaigning?
They are involved with fundraising, which takes up most of their time
Which of the following is TRUE about most liberals in American politics?
They believe we should guard carefully the rights of defendants in criminal cases.
Which of the following is TRUE of most conservatives in American politics?
They favor free market solutions to problems rather than looking to the government for regulating business
Which of the following is TRUE about PACs?
They must report their contributions to the Federal Election Commission.
All of the following statements concerning interest groups are true except
They often run their own candidates for public office
In the Electoral College vote in the election of 1800, there was a tie between a. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. b. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. c. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. d. John Adams and James Madison. e. John Adams and Aaron Burr.
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
In the electoral college vote in the election of 1800, there was a tie between
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr
Who became president with the election of 1800? a. Aaron Burr b. James Madison c. George Washington d. John Adams e. Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson.
Which of the following cases helped further civil rights for students?
Tinker v Des Moines
Which of the following furthered the cause of civil rights for women?
Title VII of the Civil RIghts Act of 1964, decisions of the Court regarding the issue of comparable worth, medium scrutiny standards established in judicial decisions
The intent of the decision made in Miranda v Arizona was
To guarantee due process rights of the accused
Which of the following countries has the lowest voter turnout rate?
United States
Which class of people has the highest percentage of voter turnout?
Upper class
television became especially important in bringing the reality of _________ home to America as its first heavily televised war.
Vietnam War (governmental naivete)
the media generally became more cynical in its coverage of politicians after?
Vietnam and Watergate
Which of the following is NOT a typical ingredient of a critical election? a. New issues appear and divide the electorate in new ways. b. Parties form new, enduring coalitions. c. Voter turnout declines precipitously. d. National crises e. Existing fissures in political parties cause coalitions to begin to fracture.
Voter turnout declines precipitously.
Which of the following statements is FALSE?
Voters in primaries and caucuses tend to be representative of voters at large.
Which of the following provisions of the Republican Contract with America addresses the issue of federalism?
Welfare Reform Act, balanced budget constitutional amendment
If engaged in retrospective voting, an individual would ask:
What have you done for me lately?
Who traveled through 26 states and logged 18,000 miles in his campaign for president? a. William McKinley b. William Jennings Bryan c. Grover Cleveland d. Thomas Jefferson e. John Adams
William Jennings Bryan.
Who was described by the New York Tribune as "in league with the Devil"? a. Abraham Lincoln b. William Jennings Bryan c. Dred Scott d. William McKinley e. Hannibal Hamlin
William Jennings Bryan.
The winner of the presidential election of 1896 was
William McKinley.
The winner of the presidential election of 1896 was a. Theodore Roosevelt. b. Grover Cleveland. c. Ulysses Grant. d. William McKinley. e. William Jennings Bryan.
William McKinley.
All the following conclusions are true about voting behavior except:
Young people have the highest turnout rate
Retrospective voting refers to voting for
a candidate who promises to continue policies that have made you feel better off.
A political ideology is
a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy
During the second party system in United States history, Martin Van Buren argued that a. the Republicans should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people. b. a governing party needed a loyal opposition party to represent parts of society that it could not. c. political parties were harming the country because they promoted factionalism, petty bickering, and disunity. d. the Whigs should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people. e. the Democrats should be the sole party, as they were the only legitimate representatives of the people.
a governing party needed a loyal opposition party to represent parts of society that it could not
The media act as a(n)________between the people and policymakers.
a linkage institution
Realignments are typically associated with a. one party winning the presidency while the other controls Congress. b. changes in election laws. c. the creation of new states. d. a major reorganization of the executive branch. e. a major crisis or trauma in the nation.
a major crisis or trauma in the nation
Party outsiders have ________ getting elected in the United States than in other countries.
a much easier time
Unlike Hispanics who have come to America to escape poverty, the recent influx of Asians has been driven by
a new class of professionals looking for greater opportunity
Nomination for public office is
a partyʹs selection of a candidate
An initiative is put on the ballot as a result of a. the governor's order. b. a petition signed by a certain percentage of the voters in the previous election. c. public opinion polls showing strong support for a certain measure not acted upon by the legislature. d. a special, legally constituted convention voting to place it there. e. a Supreme Court ruling.
a petition signed by a certain percentage of the voters in the previous election.
The initiative is put on the ballot as a result of
a petition signed by a certain percentage of the voters in the previous election.
The Federalists believed that a nation dominated by factions would lead to
a tyranny of the majority
The establishment clause of the First Amendment speaks of
a wall of separation between church and state
Which of these would be most likely to vote?
a well-educated, middle-aged government worker
African Americans comprise what proportion of the American population?
about 12 percent
The final major event of each partyʹs national convention, during the last hour or so on the fourth and final night, is the
acceptance speech by the presidential candidate.
The ʺBig Moʺ refers to
achieving momentum in the nomination campaign
All of the following criteria represent procedures used for evaluating the legitimacy of affirmative action programs except
affirmative action programs based strictly on quotas
Conservatives would tend to favor each of the following EXCEPT
affirmative action.
A very important ground rule concerning the behavior of political action committees is
all expenditures must be meticulously accounted for to the FEC
Elections in the United States perform which of the following functions
all of the above
Iowa and New Hampshire have been especially important in the nomination process over the past several decades because they help candidates to
all of the above
Native Americans tend to be
all of the above
Public opinion polls are only estimates because
all surveys have a sampling error
In Bush v. Gore (2000), the United States Supreme Court ruled that
although a recount was legal, the same (or more precise) standards for evaluating ballots would have to be applied in all counties
Because Bushʹs lead over Gore in the initial count was less than one-tenth of one percent, Florida law mandated
an automatic recount.
For ________, voting places are randomly selected around the country, and interviewers ask every tenth person how they voted.
an exit poll
Patronage is a. an inducement of jobs and financial rewards given for political reasons by party machines. b. an incentive given by national party offices. c. commonly used by political parties today. d. the deference that elected officials give to their campaign contributors in making policy decisions. e. based on merit and competence.
an inducement of jobs and financial rewards given for political reasons by party machines.
Californiaʹs Proposition 209, which intended to end affirmative action programs in the state, is an example of
an initiative.
Californiaʹs famous Proposition 13, in which voters frustrated by a lack of action by their legislature forced an issue on the ballot and voted to limit the rise in property taxes, was an example of
an initiative.
California's famous Proposition 13, in which voters frustrated by a lack of action by their legislature forced an issue on the ballot and voted to limit the rise in property taxes, was an example of a. an initiative. b. a referendum. c. a direct primary. d. a voter override. e. an indirect primary.
an initiative..
Political culture refers to
an overall set of values widely shared within a society
Most people pay little attention to campaigns,
and have a selective perception about events and candidates.
Critics of judicial restraint would favor a Supreme Court that would a. create new precedent b. decrease the power of the federal govt. c. decrease the power of he state govt s d. only agree to hear limited number of cases e. uphold precedent
answer is A
Acceptance of writ of certiorari is based on all of the following criteria except a. a vote by three Supreme Court justices b. a court decision that conflicts with precedent c. a court of appeals decision that conflicts with another court of appeals decision d. inconsistencies between courts of different states e. split decision in the court of appeals
answer is A A writ of certiorari is an order a higher court issues in order to review the decision and proceedings in a lower court and determine whether there were any irregularities.
Which of the following committees is responsible for reviewing the Supreme Court Nominees? a. House Judiciary b. Senate Judiciary c. house rules d. Senate appropriations e. house ways and means
answer is B
Which represents a major reason for the submission of an amicus curiae brief a. the court must rely on precedent cases b. a friend of the court wishes to provide additional information to the court c. lower courts must provide transcripts of its decisions d. the supreme court requires related interest in the case to submit briefs e. the brief from the petitioner provides amended inormation about the case
answer is B
Critics of judicial activism would favor a Supreme Court that would a. give greater protection to the accused b. expand civil rights c. act as a watchdog over the other branches of govt d. increase the power of the fed govt. e, allow the president to influence the opinion of the court
answer is C
Which of the following actions requires senatorial courtesy? a. a bill introduced by a senator from one state must get agreements from the other senator representing that state b. members of the same party agree on the order of legislation c. senators from the same state in which a judicial appointment is being made by the president are informed of who the candidates is prior to the actual appointment d. the majority leader of the senate informs the minority leader who he is appointing as committee chairman e. the president informs the chairman of the Judiciary committee of a Supreme Court nominee prior to the announcement
answer is C the concept of senatorial courtesy is a tradition that facilitates all judicial appointments to federal courts (excluding the Supreme Court)
An example of a decision that would be classified as activist is a. San Antonio v Rodriquez b. Dred Scott v Standford c. plessy v Furguson d. Brown v. board of education e. new jersy v TLO
answer is D
In most advanced industrialized countries, national campaigns
are limited by law to no more than two months
Party realignments in the United States a. are slight adjustments of political allegiance among voters in at least one region of the country. b. occur when a party makes dramatic changes in its positions on issues. c. are rare events in the United States, usually associated with a major national crisis or trauma, in which one party's majority domination is replaced with another's. d. happen after most presidential elections and occasionally in between. e. involve the death of one party and the birth of a brand-new one.
are rare events in the United States, usually associated with a major national crisis or trauma, in which one party's majority domination is replaced with another's
Over the years, television coverage of national party conventions has
been scaled back.
The partyʹs platform is drafted
before the convention, by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidateʹs strength
People are more likely to vote for all of the following reasons EXCEPT if they
believe that some policies of one party are balanced by other policies of the other party.
Most polling today is done
by phone.
If a presidential candidate does not receive a majority of electoral college votes, then the president is chosen
by the House with one vote for each state.
The 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act
placed legal limits on presidential campaign spending.
Reapportionment occurs after every census to reallocate seats in
the House of Representatives
News coverage of presidential campaigns tends to emphasize
campaign strategies and poll results.
The way in which candidates attempt to manipulate money, the media, and momentum to achieve the nomination is through
campaign strategy
Highly educated individuals are more likely to vote because they a. have a lower sense of political efficacy. b. can better discern policy differences between candidates. c. are usually white males. d. are smarter. e. have more influence in the political process.
can better discern policy differences between candidates
Reapportionment
can dramatically shift political power between the regions.
Policy voting has increased in recent years primarily because
candidates are regularly forced to take some clear stands in order to appeal to their own partyʹs primary voters.
Most PACs give money to
candidates who already agree with them in the first place.
The most valuable method for understanding demographic changes in America is the
census.
Precinct-level presidential caucuses
choose delegates to county caucuses/conventions where delegates to the state convention are selected, then the state convention chooses national convention delegates.
If you believe that citizens should vote in order to support democratic government, then you believe in a. suffrage. b. policy voting. c. rationality. d. civic duty. e. political efficacy.
civic duty.
The belief that in order to support democratic government a citizen should always vote is a belief in the notion of a. suffrage. b. civic duty. c. the mandate theory of elections. d. political efficacy. e. political legitimacy.
civic duty..
A group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends are called a a. party ballot. b. party machine. c. coalition. d. party ticket. e. national committee.
coalition
Research has found that those most likely to view the candidates in terms of their personal attributes are
college-educated voters
PACs are
committees organized by interest groups to channel money to parties and candidates
Which of the following is an example of civil disobedience?
consciously breaking a cityʹs law by purposely blocking entrance to a legally operating abortion clinic
Civil disobedience necessarily involves
consciously breaking a law thought to be unjust
Sidney Verba and his colleagues found that while voter turnout declined between 1967 and 1987
contacting government officials and giving money to candidates increased.
According to a 2008 Census Bureau survey, the most common response given by nonvoters for not voting in the 2008 election was that they a. forgot that it was Election Day. b. could not take off time from work or school that day. c. forgot to register in time for the election. d. did not know who the candidates were. e. could not find their polling place.
could not take off time from work or school that day
The most frequent reason nonvoters give for not voting on election day is that they a. believed their vote would not make a difference. b. did not know where their polling place was. c. did not have transportation to their polling place. d. could not take time off from work or school to go vote. e. forgot that it was Election Day.
could not take time off from work or school to go vote..
In the original constitutional system
each presidential elector cast two ballots and the top vote-getter was named president and the runner-up became vice president.
People gradually moving away from both parties is referred to as a(n) a. coalition politics. b. realignment. c. dealignment. d. partisan drift. e. alignment.
dealignment
Most political coverage by the media during a presidential campaign
deals with the campaign game: whoʹs ahead in the polls, what candidate Xʹs new strategy will be, and speculation.
In 1896, who liked silver money?
debtors
The presidential election of 1800 was a. the first use of direct primaries in the United States. b. notable for the importance of key convention speeches to swing the votes in the Electoral College. c. decided by the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College. d. the first transition of power between parties accomplished by voters' ballots in the history of the world. e. influenced by media intent on forcing the incumbent out of office.
decided by the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College
The election of 1800 was
decided by the House of Representatives.
Over the last five decades, voting based primarily on party identification has
declined sharply.
The funds allocated to public financing of presidential campaigns based on income tax check-offs have
decreased substantially.
According to Marc Hetherington, what is the largest impact of declining political trust?
decreased support for programs that address poverty and racial inequality
Since the 1960s, Americansʹ trust in government has
decreased.
The science of population changes is
demography.
The science of population changes is called
demography.
One way in which conventions are more important than they once were is that they
develop the partyʹs policy positions.
One of the most effective methods of raising money for an election campaign has been the use of
direct mail.
Providing select information and a request for money to lists of people who have supported candidates of similar views in the past is a frequently used political technique known as
direct mail.
According to the Federal Election Campaign Act, candidates must
disclose who contributed to their campaigns, and how the money was spent.
Public opinion analysts agree that the level of public knowledge about politics is
dismally low.
For a candidate, the most important and desirable result of the early nomination contests is
doing better than expected, thus winning an image as the partyʹs frontrunner and holder of momentum.
Public opinion polls can weaken democracy by
drowning out election issues with a steady flood of poll results.
In the original constitutional system, a. each presidential elector cast two ballots, with the top vote-getter named president and the runner-up named vice president. b. the Senate elected the president, and the House of Representatives elected the vice president. c. the state legislatures elected the president and vice president, with the candidate getting the second-most votes becoming vice president. d. the president, once elected by the Electoral College, chose the vice president. e. each presidential elector cast one ballot for one of the president/vice president teams running.
each presidential elector cast two ballots, with the top vote-getter named president and the runner-up named vice president..
If the presidential election is thrown into the House of Representatives,
each stateʹs House delegation may cast only one vote, regardless of its number of representatives.
In achieving ʺmomentum,ʺ nothing helps a candidate more than
early unexpected primary and caucus victories
When the Articles of Confederation were adopted, the nation's major concern was dominated by
economic issues
The type of public policy that seems to have the greatest effect on elections today is
economic policy
The election of 1896 was largely fought over the issue of
economics
According to the text, the most important factor affecting voter turnout is
education.
Examples of issues addressed in recent initiatives include all of the following EXCEPT
election day registration.
The work of the McGovern-Fraser Commission appointed during the turbulent Chicago Convention of 1968 was a reflection of concern over
elite control of the party.
A new approach to reporting introduced during the 2003 Iraq war was to
embed reporters with troops.
The initiative petition
enables voters to put proposed legislation on the ballot.
The initiative petition a. enables voters to put proposed legislation on the ballot. b. is used to select party nominees for congressional and state offices. c. is a petition that initiates a recall election to determine whether an elected official shall be removed from office. d. is an election in which voters approve or disapprove a legislative act. e. is needed for a candidate to get his or her name on the ballot.
enables voters to put proposed legislation on the ballot.
Closed primaries a. have fewer undercounts. b. depress voter turnout. c. discourage party loyalty. d. cost less than open primaries. e. encourage party loyalty.
encourage party loyalty
According to Epstein's account in News from Nowhere, stories were deemed newsorthy based primarily on ____ factors
entertainment
In 2000, Green Party candidate Ralph Nader forced more attention on ________ issues and drew away a small percentage of votes from Al Gore. a. health b. environmental c. national security welfare d. budgetary e. None of the above is true.
environmental
According to the classic study, The American Voter, done in the 1950s, most Americans fell into the category of
group benefits voters.
As one becomes more socialized with age, oneʹs political orientations
grow firmer
Random sampling in public opinion polling operates on the principle that
everyone should have an equal probability of being selected.
The nearly two centuries of American electoral history has been characterized by a. All of the above are true. b. increasing voter turnouts. c. expansion of the right to vote. d. a proliferation of presidential candidates. e. consistently close elections.
expansion of the right to vote
The nearly two centuries of American electoral history has been characterized by
expansion of the right to vote.
t/f according to social science studies, there is a liberal bias among reporters that is echoed in their coverage of political issues
false
t/f if barrack obama verbally attacks hillary clinton during an NBC program that is not the news, Clinton has the right-of-reply on the same station, according to FCC rules
false
t/f studies have found that people who watch the news on tv on a regular basis are more likely to vote than people who rely mostly on print media
false
t/f the impact of the internet on politics has been revolutionary
false
true/false: Most journalists identify themselves as Republicans, but strive to report the news objectively.
false
true/false: Political elites tend to dominate the media such that the poor and minority groups are unable to use it for their benefit.
false
true/false: The results of a poll taken after the first televised presidential debate in 1960 showed that most who listened to the debate on radio thought Kennedy had won, while those who watched on television thought Nixon had won.
false
true/false: When the media focus on the injustice in society, they inevitably create incentive to help keep government small.
false
true/false: Young people, age 18-29, are more likely than older people to read a daily newspaper and to watch the nightly network news.
false
Soft money consists of money
for voter registration drives and campaign material at the grass-roots level
The election of 1828 that brought Andrew Jackson to the presidency was significant because it a. marked the beginning of the dominance of northern industrialists. b. marked the rise of the Whigs. c. began the ascendancy of the New Deal coalition around the Democratic Party. d. forged a new political coalition. e. was the first time the Republican Party controlled Congress.
forged a new political coalition
Each party holds a national convention every a. year. b. two years. c. four years. d. five years. e. six years.
four years
Power in the major United States political parties is a. centralized in national party organizations. b. concentrated in party machines at the local level. c. fragmented among local, state, and national party organizations. d. concentrated in the state parties, with national and local organizations playing only minor roles. e. hierarchically distributed from the national to local levels.
fragmented among local, state, and national party organizations
The Electoral College was originally established in order to a. provide direct election of the president by the people, although its operation has had the opposite effect. b. give legitimacy to the presidency, which was regarded suspiciously by most people as another potential monarchy. c. give the nation's elite, rather than the people directly, the power to choose the president and vice president. d. merely certify the results of the people's choice for president and vice president. e. insure high voter turnouts in elections throughout the country.
give the nation's elite, rather than the people directly, the power to choose the president and vice president
The electoral college was originally established in order to
give the nationʹs elite the power to choose the president and vice president rather than the people directly
While the threat of electoral punishment constrains policymakers, it also helps to increase generalized support for
government and its powers.
President Ronald Reagan argued that
government was not the answer to the nationʹs problems, government was the problem
The American Voter study on ideological sophistication among voters in the 1950s showed that a plurality of Americans were
group benefits voters
Among the states that allow voter registration at the polls on Election Day, voter turnout rates are a. declining over time and at a higher rate than in other states. b. no different than in other states. c. lower than the national average. d. higher than in other states. e. impossible to compute.
higher than in other states
Among the states that allow voter registration at the polls on election day, voter turnout rates are
higher than in other states.
Media coverage of a candidateʹs campaign is a function of
how candidates spend their advertising budget and the ʺfreeʺ attention they get as newsmakers.
Sampling error describes
how close a sample estimate is to the real population value.
The political "party in the electorate" is defined as people who a. register as members of a party. b. work for a party's candidates. c. identify with a party. d. vote for the candidates from one party. e. walk door-to-door to meet the voters and personally campaign for their party's candidates.
identify with a party.
Donating $200,000 to a political party to help its presidential nominee in somewhat indirect ways is
illegal under the McCain-Feingold Act.
According to the text, public opinion polls are
important because policymakers can keep in touch with changing opinions on the issues.
Over the last fifty years much of Americaʹs population growth has occurred
in the West and South
One of the provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act of 2002 was to
increase the limit on individual contributions from $1,000 to $2,000.
Concerns about reliance of pollsters on telephone surveys have recently been caused by
increased use of cell phones
Who opposes public financing of campaigns the most?
incumbents
The rise of television broadcasting has reinforced and furthered _____ in the American political process.
individualism
Of the following, which is the most direct form of democracy?
initiative
A process permitted in some states whereby voters may put proposed changes in the state constitution to a vote if sufficient signatures are obtained on a petition calling for such a vote is called a(n) a. initiative petition. b. policy choice election. c. primary election. d. referendum. e. constitutional convention.
initiative petition..
Which of these is the least important dimension of a candidateʹs image?
intelligence
The Federal Election Commission
is a bipartisan body responsible for administering campaign finance laws and enforcing compliance with those laws.
Protest
is designed to achieve policy change through dramatic and unconventional tactics.
Civil disobedience
is intentionally violating a law believed to be unjust in order to bring about change
According to political scientist Gary Jacobsonʹs research, a Congressional incumbent who spends a tremendous amount of money to get reelected
is more likely to lose.
Research by Rosenberg and McCafferty discovered that
it is possible to manipulate a candidateʹs appearance in a way that affects votersʹ choices.
The New Hampshire primary is important because
it is the first primary.
Critics of polling think
it makes politicians more concerned with following than leading.
if ABC sells a 30 second time slot for a campaign commercial to Barrack Obama:
it must sell a 60 second time slot to both John Mcain and Hillary Clinton
One of the major functions of policy advisors in a campaign is to
keep the candidate informed on the issues.
The party's national committee a. writes and approves the party's platform. b. is composed of each party's members of Congress. c. meets once every four years. d. keeps the party operating between conventions. e. selects the party's presidential candidate.
keeps the party operating between conventions
One can predict how the majority of young people will vote simply by
knowing the political leaning of their parents.
The Lemon test is used to determine if
legislation that deals with religion creates illegal government interference
When _____ is high, as it is in the U.S., even losers of elections accept the results peacefully. a. voter registration b. legitimacy c. the degree of clarity of the idea in a party platform d. voter participation e. policy voting
legitimacy
Proponents of a national primary argue that it would do each of the following EXCEPT
lengthen the time of the campaign.
The use of PAC money in presidential campaigns is
less important than in Congressional campaigns
The Electoral College system can introduce bias in the electoral process because it overrepresents a. states with big cities. b. urban states. c. more populous states. d. Both a and c are true. e. less populous states.
less populous states..
a 2002 survey of 1149 journalists found that, compared to the general public, journalists were twice as likely to consider themselves
liberals
In most advanced industrialized countries, election campaigns are
limited by law to no more than two month
Madison believed that in order to prevent a "tyranny of the majority" the new government should include all the following EXCEPT
limiting the president's term of office
As ________, political parties serve the role of translating inputs from the public into outputs from policymakers. a. machines b. political converters c. linkage institutions d. coalitions e. superdelegates
linkage institutions.
If you believe that "public officials don't care much about what people like me think," then you are expressing feelings of a. low political efficacy. b. rationality. c. policy voting. d. high political efficacy. e. retrospective voting.
low political efficacy..
Which of the following functions do elections LEAST serve?
making and coordinating public policy
The idea that a winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platform and politics is called a. policy voting. b. mandate theory of elections. c. civic duty. d. suffrage. e. political efficacy.
mandate theory of elections.
One of the reasons why the participation gap between minority groups and the national average is no longer enormous is because
minorities have a group consciousness that gives them an extra incentive to vote.
In 2000, exit polls received much of the blame for the mediaʹs inaccurate call of the Florida result, but blame could also be placed on
mistakes in early reporting of vote results in some counties. and underestimates of the absentee vote
A political figure who is in favor of increased military spending, supported freedom of choice on abortion, opposed affirmative action programs, wanted to tax the rich more, and felt the courts should stop coddling criminals is a
mixture of liberal and conservative.
Many voters have come to feel that they no longer need the parties to guide their electoral choices because
modern technology makes it possible for them to evaluate and make their own decisions about the candidates.
Soft money is
money donated to parties rather than candidates, thus not subject to contribution or spending limits.
Compared to other countries, the United States holds ________ elections for various offices.
more
Throughout American history, presidential campaigns have become
more and more democratic.
The greater one's sense of political efficacy, the a. less likely one is to view the election process in the United States as legitimate. b. more likely one is to vote. c. less likely one is to vote. d. more likely one is to see differences between the parties. e. greater one's chance of being defeated in an election.
more likely one is to vote
The greater oneʹs sense of political efficacy, the
more likely one is to vote.
Compared to other industrialized democracies, the United States has a ________ voter turnout
much lower
Compared to other industrialized democracies, the United States has a ________ voter turnout. a. much lower b. rising c. slightly higher d. much higher e. slightly lower
much lower.
With the advent of television
multiballot conventions died
media outlets that do not appeal to a relatively broad audience but instead focus on a specifically defined audience's interest are said to be engaged in ________. Please give an example of such an outlet.
narrowcasting/ MTV, ESPN, C-SPAN
Keeping the party operating between conventions is the job of the a. elected officials. b. congressional leadership. c. regional offices. d. national committee. e. majority or minority whip.
national committee.
The supreme power within each of the parties is the a. national convention. b. state party organizations. c. national chairperson. d. president. e. national committee.
national convention.
The Democratic and Republican candidates for president are formally nominated by the
national party conventions.
John Locke's Second Treatise of Civil Government advocates
natural rights
The impact of the Motor Voter Act of 1993 was evidenced in a. higher registration and lower turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. b. no changes in either registration or turnout between 1992 and 2008. c. lower registration and higher turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. d. lower registration and lower turnout in 2008 compared to 1992. e. higher registration and higher turnout in 2008 compared to 1992.
no changes in either registration or turnout between 1992 and 2008
According to the categories used in the classic study, The American Voter, those who voted for a party out of routine, or judged candidates strictly by their personalities were classified as
no-issue-content voters
A party's endorsement to officially run for office as the candidate of that party is called a(n) a. ballot. b. ticket. c. confirmation. d. nomination. e. appointment.
nomination
A(n) ________ is a partyʹs official selection of a candidate to run for office
nomination
Liberals tend to
none of the above
The McCain-Feingold Act of 2002 did all of the following EXCEPT
none of the above
Which of the following statements about the New Hampshire presidential primary is FALSE?
none of the above
The fact that candidates must tailor their appeals to the particular interest of each major state tends to result in
numerous campaign promises adding up to new government programs.
The familyʹs role in political socialization is central because
of its monopoly on time and emotional commitment.
Voter turnout in the United States is much lower than in other countries in part because
of the unique American requirement of voter registration.
Voters in presidential primaries and caucuses tend to be
older and more affluent than the United States population as a whole
An exit poll is taken
on election day, by interviewing voters as they leave the polling place.
By custom, the vice-presidential nominee is chosen
on the basis of the presidential nomineeʹs recommendation
Just over ____ of the population votes. a. one-quarter b. one-third c. three-quarters d. one-half e. two-thirds
one-half.
If the exact same methods are used to update the analysis of The American Voter study, one finds
only some increase in the percentage of ideologues in 1988 compared to 1956.
Primaries that allow voters to decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests are called a. political primaries. b. blanket primaries. c. open primaries. d. closed primaries. e. party machine primaries.
open primaries
Today, state presidential caucuses are
open to all registered party voters, or those who claim party allegiance in states with no party registration.
Following the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968, the party chose to
open up its process of choosing delegates to the national convention in order to respond to demands for greater inclusion from women, minorities, youth, and other groups.
Critics of the primary and caucus system point to the fact that
participation in primaries and caucuses is unrepresentative of the public at large.
A voter's perception of what the Republicans or Democrats stand for, such as conservatism or liberalism, is called a. party in the electorate. b. party identification. c. ideological position. d. party in government. e. party image.
party image.
The largest component of American political parties is the a. party in the White House. b. party in the Congress. c. party as an organization. d. party in government. e. party in the electorate.
party in the electorate
According to rational choice theory, American political parties tend to adopt middle-of-the-road positions because a. most Americans are extremists, holding either extremely liberal or extremely conservative views. b. most Americans are conservatives, pulling both parties toward the right. c. party leaders have to negotiate what is in effect a cultural war in U.S. politics. d. most Americans are centrist. e. party leaders have little incentive to differentiate themselves from one another.
party leaders have to negotiate what is in effect a cultural war in U.S. politics
The selective perception of most voters means that they
pay most attention to things they already agree with, and interpret events according to their own predispositions.
The presidential election of 1800 represents the first
peaceful transfer of power in the world between parties via the electoral process
Public opinion polls have shown that
people are more likely to recognize slogans from TV commercials than famous political figures
Research has shown that the cost of American election campaigns is
per person, about the same as a DVD movie.
Research on voting behavior has shown that
policy voting has become somewhat easier than in the past.
A voter supporting a candidate based specifically on comparing the candidateʹs stances on the issues of abortion rights, health care, and government aid to education to the voterʹs own preferences on such issues is an example of
policy voting.
PAC is an acronym for
political action committee.
A ________ is a coherent set of values and beliefs about public policy
political ideology
The presidential primary was begun in the early twentieth century, most strongly pushed by
political reformers who wanted to take nominations out of the hands of party bosses
Governments throughout the world use the schools to help with the ________ of young people
political socialization
The process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations, including his or her knowledge, feelings, and evaluations regarding his or her political world, is known as
political socialization
Many political scientists believe that
politicians overestimate the power of how important a good campaign is to victory
Which of the following groups would be LEAST likely to vote in a typical election?
poor white voters
Today, a majority of the delegates to the national convention are selected through
presidential primaries.
The member of a presidential campaign who helps reporters make their deadlines with stories that the campaign would like to see reported is the
press secretary
the bottom line that shapes how journalists define the news, where they get the news, and how they present it is
profits
An electoral system that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in an election is called a. responsible party government. b. first-past-the-post representation. c. coalition government. d. winner-take-all representation. e. proportional representation.
proportional representation
As the right to vote has been extended,
proportionately fewer of those eligible have chosen to vote
As the right to vote has been extended, a. the number of candidates running for office has increased. b. proportionately fewer of those eligible have chosen to vote. c. the scope of American government has shrunk. d. voter turnout has increased proportionately. e. voter turnout has actually remained about the same.
proportionately fewer of those eligible have chosen to vote.
Which of the following did the Federal Election Campaign Act NOT do?
provide public financing of House and Senate races
Following the 1964 election
public trust in government dropped significantly
Caucuses are usually organized like
pyramids
Today, most polling is done through
random digit dialing
Samples of public opinion today are usually selected through
random digit dialing.
The key to the accuracy of public opinion polls is
random sampling.
The theory that seeks to explain political processes and outcomes as consequences of purposive behavior is called the a. goals theory. b. behaviorism. c. rational-choice theory. d. cognitive theory. e. means-ends theory.
rational-choice theory.
Demographic changes in the United States population could translate to political consequences through the process of
reapportionment.
The state level method of direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove proposed legislation or a state constitutional amendment is called a(n) a. initiative petition. b. primary election. c. referendum. d. stakeholder election. e. secondary election.
referendum
If no candidate receives an electoral college majority,
the House of Representatives chooses among the top three electoral vote winners.
During the 1992 election campaign, CBS News promised to ________, but then changed its policy when it proved to be unworkable.
reform the sound bite process, allowing candidates a full 30 seconds of uninterrupted coverage.
A major reason cited for America's level of voter turnout compared to other industrialized countries is a. registration is more cumbersome in the United States. b. registration is more cumbersome in other nations. c. greater interest in democracy in the United States. d. Americans' high sense of political efficacy. e. bad weather in certain parts of the United States on Election Day.
registration is more cumbersome in the United States
A major reason cited for Americaʹs level of voter turnout compared to other industrialized countries is
registration is more cumbersome in the United States.
Which of the following have been found to be most successfully affected by campaigns?
reinforcement and activation
Campaigns are most effective in
reinforcing existing preferences toward candidates
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act
represented a crackdown on illegal aliens by requiring that employers document the citizenship or legitimate immigrant status of workers or pay stiff fines
The Federal Election Campaign Act
required all candidates for federal office to disclose all contributions made to their campaigns.
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act
required employers to document the citizenship of their employees
The Motor Voter Act of 1993
requires states to register individuals to vote when they apply for, or renew, their driverʹs license.
The Motor Voter Act of 1993 a. requires states to provide transportation for citizens who are unable to get to the polls on their own efforts. b. requires states to mail voter registration forms to all individuals holding driver's licenses. c. requires states to register individuals to vote when they apply for, or renew, their driver's license. d. requires the federal government to register individuals to vote when they apply for or renew their driver's license. e. established drive-in polling places to make voting more convenient and increase voter turnout.
requires states to register individuals to vote when they apply for, or renew, their driver's license.
In ________, incumbents who provide desired results are rewarded; those who fail to do so are punished.
retrospective voting
When President Herbert Hoover and the Republicans were crushed in the election of 1932, voters were responding to the severity of the Great Depression under Hooverʹs presidency by
retrospective voting.
When President Herbert Hoover and the Republicans were crushed in the election of 1932, voters were responding to the severity of the Great Depression under Hoover's presidency by a. irrational choice voting. b. initiative. c. retrospective voting. d. indirect primary voting. e. direct primary voting.
retrospective voting.
A theory of voting according to which voters make their decisions based on their answer to the question "What have you done for me lately?" is called a. the mandate theory of elections. b. prospective voting. c. retrospective voting. d. policy voting. e. political efficacy.
retrospective voting..
Presidential nominating conventions have not required more than one ballot to choose the partyʹs official nominee since 1952, largely due to the
role of television, and the desire of both parties to unite behind one candidate in advance in order to present a show of harmony, rather than bickering, to those who tune in.
Because it would be prohibitively expensive to ask every citizen his or her opinion on a whole range of issues, polls rely on what is called a(n) ________ of the population
sample
A relatively small proportion of people who are chosen as representative of the whole is called a(n)
sample.
The level of confidence about a public opinion poll is referred to as
sampling error.
The mandate theory of elections
says that people vote for candidates because they want them to carry out certain policies.
The most obvious intrusion of the government into Americaʹs socialization is through
schooling.
The ʺelectorsʺ in the electoral college are
selected by state parties, usually as a reward for faithful service to the party over the years.
The vice-presidential nominee is usually
selected by the delegates as something of a formality, as the vast majority always vote for whomever the presidential nominee picks.
Which of the following factors weaken political campaignsʹ effects on voters?
selective perception, party identification, and incumbent name recognition
Critics of the "minimal effects hypothesis" about the media's effect on public opinion point to the media's role in
shaping what priority Americans attach to problems.
a talking head is a
shot of a person speaking directly into the television camera
In 2004 almost three-fourths of the Republican and Democrat delegates were chosen within ________ of the New Hampshire primary.
six weeks
a policy entrpreneur is
someone who invests his political "capital" in an issue. someone who works to get ideas on the governments policy agenda
The relationship between campaign spending and electoral success is that
spending more than your opponent does not assure victory
The term gender gap refers to
stable pattern where women tend to be more likely than men to vote Democratic.
A media event is
staged primarily for the purpose of being covered by the press
The dates of the different presidential primaries and delegate allocations are established by
state laws.
The rules determining the way in which the primaries are set up and the delegates are allocated are made by
state legislatures and state parties.
Today, most delegates to each major partyʹs national convention are chosen by
state presidential primaries
Voter registration was begun around the turn of the twentieth century
to make elections more ethical
In Buckley v. Valeo (1976), the Supreme Court
struck down the part of the Federal Election Campaign Act that restricted the amount individuals could contribute to their own campaign.
In states with caucuses
supporters of candidates try to get elected as delegates through a pyramid of meetings
The principle established in the Supreme Court case of Texas v Johnson was based on
symbolic speech
The largest expenditure in a campaign budget for the presidency or a statewide office today would almost certainly be
television advertising
rather than cover entire political speeches, networks tend to provide mostly ________of fifteen seconds or less on the evening news
ten
The United States Constitution requires that the government conduct an ʺactual enumerationʺ of the population every
ten years
By constitutional requirement, the government conducts the United States Census every
ten years.
Compared to most other democratic systems, nominations and campaigns in the United States
tend to be more open.
PACs may control what the electoral winners do once in office.
tend to support those who agree with them in the first place.
It has been shown in recent elections that during severe economic troubles, the electorate
tend to vote out incumbents
What bothers politicians most about the rising costs of high-tech campaigning is
that fund-raising has come to take up so much of their precious time, distracting them from legislation
A disadvantage of telephone public opinion surveys is
that they have a lower response rate than face-to-face interviews and that some individuals do not own phones
Recent presidential elections have shown
that voters are less interested in ideology or issue positions than in candidate traits such as competence and integrity.
The election of 1896 left a legacy of a political alignment that endured for several decades, wherein
the Democrats won the South and West, while the Republicans won in the more populous Northeast and Midwest.
Daniel Smith argues that initiatives typically stem from
the actions of a dedicated policy entrepreneur.
The principal source of news and information for most Americans today is...
the broadcast media
the principal source of news and info for most americans today is
the broadcast media
In the election of 1800, a. candidates were nominated at the national convention. b. the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became the vice president. c. the focus of the campaign was on the voters. d. media coverage was extensive. e. a large entourage of reporters accompanied the candidates during their national campaign.
the candidate with the second-highest number of electoral votes became the vice president
whats a great example of yellow journalism
the coverage of the Monica Lewinsky affair
According to Russell Neuman, the paradox of mass politics is that the American political system works as well as it does given
the discomforting lack of public knowledge about politics.
Public opinion is defined in the text as
the distribution of the populationʹs beliefs about politics and policy
The first party system (1796-1824) was characterized by a. the dominance of the Republican Party. b. the dominance of the northern capitalist states. c. professional politicians running for office. d. the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party. e. the dominance of the presidency by the Federalist Party.
the dominance of the Democratic-Republican Party.
Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan's vision of new federalism favored
the downsizing of the federal government
In the 2004 election, John Kerry won votes among those most concerned with
the economy, health care, and education.
Legitimacy in terms of American elections means
the election is nearly unanimously accepted as a fair and free method to select political leaders.
The mandate theory of elections is the idea that
the election winner has authorization from the voters to carry out his or her promised policies.
In the case of Mapp v Ohio, the Supreme Court
the exclusionary rule of evidence
The presidential election of 1800 was
the first transition of power between parties accomplished by votersʹ ballots in the history of the world.
Studies have shown that during the 1960s and 1970s,
the hold of the parties on voters eroded substantially.
Which of the following was NOT a reason for the Democratic party adding superdelegates to its national nominating conventions?
the insistence of the McGovern-Fraser Commission to have superdelegates play a major veto-like role
Random sampling is considered
the key to the accuracy of opinion polls.
Suffrage means a. voting for the loser. b. the struggle for equal rights for women. c. turning out to vote. d. voting for the winner. e. the legal right to vote.
the legal right to vote.
If public opinion analysts agree about anything it is that
the level of public knowledge about politics is dismally low
In the 1976 case of Buckley v. Valeo, the Supreme Court ruled that
the limitation on the amount of money persons could contribute to their own election campaigns violated free speech, and was unconstitutional.
When, after his 2008 win, President Obama stated, "I don't think there's any question that we have a mandate to move the country in a new direction and not continue the same old practices that have gotten us into the fix that we are in," he was expressing a. the mandate theory of elections. b. partisanship. c. policy voting. d. bipartisanship. e. a call to arms.
the mandate theory of elections.
According to many observers, ʺthe new parentʺ in the socialization process has become
the mass media
Most of the money spent on presidential campaigns these days is spent on
the media
The "minimal effects hypothesis" suggested that
the media had little effect on Americans because it did not influence how they voted.
Critics of primaries and caucuses contend that the presidential ʺkingmakersʺ are now
the media.
In the long history of the American party system, successful parties rarely stray from
the midpoint of public opinion
The greater the policy differences between the candidates, a. the more likely voters will provide an "echo" rather than a "voice" on Election Day. b. the more likely citizens will feel a sense of civic duty. c. the less likely voters will be able to steer government policies by their choices. d. the less likely voters will turn out on Election Day. e. the more likely voters will be able to steer government policies by their choices.
the more likely voters will be able to steer government policies by their choices
The process of selecting Americaʹs leaders has almost no downtime before it revs up all over again. This is referred to as
the permanent campaign
All the following criteria were used to establish the nationalization of the Fourteenth Amendment except
the police power of states
The chairperson of the party that controls the White House is normally selected by a. None of the above is true. b. a closed primary. c. members of the party in Congress. d. a committee of state chairpersons. e. the presidential nominee.
the presidential nominee
Political socialization is defined as
the process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations.
Few developments have changed American politics as much as
the proliferation of presidential primaries.
A pollster using a representative sample of 1,500 Americans finds that 52 percent support candidate X and 48 percent support candidate Y. The pollsterʹs conclusion should be that
the race is too close to call because of a possible sampling error.
All of the following factors contribute to an enlightened understanding of the electorate EXCEPT
the right to property
Suffrage means
the right to vote.
Suffrage refers to
the right to vote.
Suffrage refers to a. a type of election unique to the United States. b. voter turnout rates. c. voting procedures in the Electoral College. d. the right to vote. e. a voter registration system.
the right to vote.
The McGovern-Fraser Commission was set up to reform
the rules for selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention.
An issue that became controversial regarding the 1990 census was
the undercount of minority groups.
Political protest is
the use of unconventional and dramatic actions to achieve policy change
Electors in the electoral college meet in their states in December (following the November general election) to officially cast their ballots, then mail their votes to
the vice president.
According to exit polls, ________ was a major reason voters selected Bush in 2004
the war on terrorism
The mandate theory of elections is most often cited as the proper way to view elections by
the winning candidate.
In the 1800 election presidential candidates were nominated by
their partiesʹ elected representatives in Congress.
According to Herbert Alexanderʹs ʺdoctrine of sufficiency,ʺ
there is a minimum amount of money that candidates must spend to have a chance at winning.
When people vote according to the nature of the times
they are more interested in results than ideology and judge presidents by results.
In 1936, the Literary Digest wrongly predicted the defeat of President Franklin Roosevelt, having polled over two million people. The problem was
they polled too many people who were not an accurate representation of the American electorate.
Highly educated individuals are more likely to vote because
they see more policy differences between candidates.
Anthony Downsʹ theory of rational voting behavior predicts that people will vote if they
think one party will give them more policy benefits than the other.
Anthony Downs' theory of rational voting behavior predicts that people will vote if they a. think one party will give them more policy benefits than the other. b. feel obligated to do so. c. identify with a particular candidate, even though they doubt that one vote can make a difference. d. think their vote will make the difference for a particular candidate. e. can afford the time and energy to do so.
think one party will give them more policy benefits than the other..
Nationwide, the fastest growing age group is composed of
those over 65 years old
The addition of superdelegates to the Democratic national conventions was spearheaded by
those who felt the McGovern-Fraser Commission had opened up the delegate selection process too much.
The hydraulic theory says that money always finds a way to get around legal obstacles. Thus, when the soft money loophole was closed, how did money continue to find its way into political campaigns?
through 527 Groups
Linkage institutions a. translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers. b. help link the three branches of government together to achieve coherent policies. c. link the president to members of his or her party in Congress so they can coordinate their policies in government. d. link political parties to the government. e. are used to implement public policies.
translate inputs from the public into outputs from the policymakers.
information leaked to reporters to see what the political reaction will be is known as a(n)
trial balloons
t/f in recent presidential elections, the large majority of the prominently aired tv ads of candidates were negative commercials
true
t/f over time, media coverage of presidential campaigns has become increasingly negative
true
true/false: A small number of massive media conglomerates control over 80% of the nation's daily news circulation.
true
true/false: By increasing public attention to specific problems, television news can influence the criteria by which the public evaluates political leaders.
true
true/false: Contemporary presidents have found it increasingly difficult to get their messages covered on major networks.
true
true/false: The American political system has entered a period of high-tech politics.
true
true/false: The information society has not brought about the rise of an "informed society."
true
An alternative developed by the federal government that places the primary fiscal responsibility on the states was
unfunded mandates
All of the following are basic principles of our democracy today EXCEPT a belief in
universal healthcare
In a winner-take-all system, a. the party winning the majority of the votes wins all the seats up for election in the legislature. b. legislative seats are allocated according to each party's percentage of the nationwide vote. c. coalition governments are common. d. unless a party wins, there is no reward for the votes it gets. e. if no single party gets a majority vote, a runoff election is held between the top two parties.
unless a party wins, there is no reward for the votes it gets.
A party machine is a kind of local party organization that a. specializes in computerized mass mailings both to raise funds and influence voters on behalf of its candidates. b. threatens the efficiency of state and national party organizations. c. remains strong in most large American cities. d. has recently come to depend heavily on ethnic group support. e. uses specific and material inducements to win party loyalty and power.
uses specific and material inducements to win party loyalty and power
Historically disadvantaged groups tend to
vote Democratic.
Largely to prevent corruption associated with stuffing ballot boxes, states adopted ________ around the turn of the twentieth century.
voter registration
Largely to prevent corruption associated with stuffing ballot boxes, states adopted ________ around the turn of the twentieth century. a. voter registration b. voting machines c. primary elections d. the secret ballot e. the Electoral College
voter registration.
Elections have a tendency to expand the scope of government because
voters like to feel that they are sending a message to government to accomplish something.
Political scientists tend to focus on each of the following major elements of votersʹ decisions EXCEPT
votersʹ ideology and world view.
Ticket splitting refers to a. voting for a party other than the one you identify with. b. voting for one party for one office and another party for other offices. c. the procedure used to conduct computerized, automated vote counting. d. switching membership in political parties. e. voting with one party in one presidential election and another party in the next presidential election.
voting for one party for one office and another party for other offices
The most common form of political participation in the United States is
voting in presidential elections.
Conventions are not as important as they once were in that
we know who is going to win the presidential nomination before the convention meets.
The McGovern-Fraser Commission made the delegate selection process of the Democratic party more democratic by
weakening the power of party leaders to choose convention delegates.
During the first Persian Gulf War, reporters
were denied freedom of movement and had only limited access to accurate military information on a timely basis.
One of the things that makes the Internet different from television is that it is "purposive," meaning that
what people see is a product of their own intentional choices.
A referendum is an election
whereby voters are given the chance to approve or disapprove some legislative act or constitutional amendment.
To be the presidential candidate of a major political party, a person must
win a majority of the delegates at the partyʹs national convention
The specific goal of the presidential nomination game is to
win the majority of delegate votes in order to win the party nomination
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who come in first in their constituencies is called a ______________ system. a. democratic b. liberal c. republican d. proportional e. winner-take-all
winner-take-all.
Except in Maine and Nebraska, the electoral college system operates in each state on the principle of allocating electoral votes on the basis of
winner-take-all.
The "party in government" refers to a. winning candidates who become the main spokespersons for the party that nominated them. b. party workers who hold patronage jobs in the government and can influence policy. c. coalitions of interests and ideologies that support a party's candidates. d. registered party voters who hold civil service jobs in the government and are influencing policy. e. party members who perpetuate the party, make its rules, and keep it running.
winning candidates who become the main spokespersons for the party that nominated them.
The group of people with the lowest voter turnout rate is
young people.
Both authoritarian and democratic political systems seek to teach citizens, especially youth, the positive aspects of their political systems because
youth will then grow up to be supportive citizens.