CH.8 POLITICAL PARTIES, CH.9 NOMINATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS, CH.10 ELECTIONS, CH.11 Interest Groups
An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake A. is narrow in scope and low in public visibility B. is part of the president's legislative package C. has been dramatized by the media D. engages legislators' deeply held convictions E. divides legislators along party lines
A
An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving A. narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information B. broad, highly visible national issues C. broad foreign policy issues D. major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties E. areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment
A
When contributing to congressional campaigns, political action committees (PACs) are most likely to contribute to A. incumbents of both major parties B. third-party challengers C. Republican challengers D. state party organizations E. national party organizations
A
Which of the following activities by interest groups best illustrates attempts to educate members of Congress on public policy? A. A green energy group sending a research report to congressional offices B. A law-reform group sending alerts to its members encouraging them to contact their representatives C. A single-issue group holding a rally in Washington to show support for their cause D. A PAC giving contributions to the reelection campaigns of members of Congress
A
Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? A. They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. B. They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C. They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. D. They are now unconstitutional. E. They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision.
A
Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? A. They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators. B. They are a part of political party organizations. C. They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in any election. D. They nominate candidates for president at national party conventions. E. They operate at the state level but not at the national level.
A
Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States? A. Political Parties Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups Interest groups seek to influence public policy. B. Political Parties Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them. Interest Groups Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation. C. Political Parties Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office. Interest Groups Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns. D. Political Parties Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of the courts. Interest Groups Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.
A
All of the following contribute to the success of incumbent members of Congress in election campaigns EXCEPT: A. Incumbents usually raise more campaign funds than do their challengers. B. Incumbents tend to understand national issues better than do their challengers. C. Incumbents are usually better known to voters than are their challengers. D. Incumbents can use staff to perform services for constituents. E. Incumbents often sit on committees that permit them to serve district interests.
B
In response to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), the United States Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), ruled that A. limits cannot be placed upon candidates' contributions to their own campaigns B. independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions are protected by the First Amendment C. limits on issue advertisements 90 days before an election are unconstitutional D. limits on campaign contributions by minors are constitutional under the First Amendment E. requiring endorsement statements in campaign advertisements is unconstitutional
B
Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by A. environmental activists B. evangelical Christians C. civil libertarians D. labor unions E. active military officers
B
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) was designed to curtail which of the following? A. Individual contributions to candidates B. Soft money C. Hard money D. Public disclosure rules E. Lobbying
B
The free rider problem occurs when A. interest groups seek public funding to advance their special interests B. people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution C. elected officials provide government services for those who have helped their campaigns D. political campaigns manipulate the news media in order to obtain free advertising E. congressional candidates win elections because they belong to the party of a popular president
B
Which of the following describes a fundamental difference between political parties and interest groups? A. Political parties are prohibited from sponsoring campaign advertisements, and interest groups are not. B. Political parties represent broad arrays of issues, whereas interest groups are more likely to focus on narrow sets of issues. C. Political parties are more likely to focus on national politics, whereas interest groups focus on local politics. D. Political parties tend to have strength in particular regions, whereas the power of interest groups is more consistent across states. E. Political parties are required to disclose their campaign finance activities, whereas interest groups are not.
B
Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades? A. Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party B. Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions C. A sharply declining role for political action committees (PAC's) D. Decreasing cost of campaigns E. Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes
B
Which of the following is the most accurate statement about political parties in the United States? A. Parties increasingly identify themselves with coherent ideologies to attract large blocs of voters. B. The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's. C. National party organizations are generally the strongest party organizations. D. It is increasingly difficult for third parties to gain more than two percent of the popular vote. E. Most candidates prefer to run as independents rather than as Democrats or Republicans.
B
Which of the following scenarios is most closely related to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ? A. A member of Congress establishes a political action committee to gain influence within the chamber. B. A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election. C. A state senator receives a large cash donation from a corporate executive in exchange for specific political favors. D. A lobbyist writes the language of a bill that is later introduced into both chambers of Congress.
B
Which of the following took place after presidential candidates Truman in 1948, Nixon in 1968, and Clinton in 1992 won only pluralities of the popular vote? A. The election was formally decided in the House of Representatives. The election was formally decided in the Senate. B. The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast. C. The electoral college votes cast by independents were critical in determining the winner. D. The results of the popular vote necessitated a runoff.
B
A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is called A. an open primary B. a blanket primary C. a closed primary D. a runoff primary E. a presidential preference primary
C
An election involving more than two candidates in which the person who receives the most votes is the winner is called A. a majority election B. a proportional election C. a plurality election D. a simple election E. an indirect election
C
Based on the table, which of the following political action committees (PACs) is most partisan in its allocation of contributions to candidates? A. AT&T Inc. B. National Beer Wholesalers Association C. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers D. Lockheed Martin
C
In 1987 the cooperation among the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court was an example of A. impeachment B. litigation C. coalition building D. the recall process E. the initiative process
C
Interest groups and political parties both promote United States democracy by A. expressing detailed, ideologically distinct programs B. centralizing public authority C. linking citizens to the political process D. increasing domination of the political process by elites E. lobbying members of Congress
C
One reason for the persistence of a two-party system in the United States is A. the lack of divisive issues in United States politics B. the separation of powers C. the single-member district electoral system D. the lack of a strong labor movement E. low voter turnout in most elections
C
Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A. The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B. The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C. The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. D. The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.
C
Which of the following describes the activities represented by data in the table? A. Interest groups form political action committees (PACs) to nominate candidates during elections. B. Government agencies receive a large portion of their funding from private interest groups, which affects their decisions. C. Groups in American society form political action committees (PACs) so they can influence policy. D. There are no limits on the amount of money an individual may contribute to a political action committee (PAC).
C
Which of the following is most directly related to the large amount of money spent by outside groups in the 2012 election? A. The reliance on professional consulting firms to help run candidate-centered campaigns B. The emergence of social media as a campaign tool to mobilize supporters to make large donations C. The use of super PACs as a mechanism to raise money and influence elections D. Strict regulations on campaign spending by political parties
C
A chief executive officer (CEO) of a corporation believes that the Republican candidate for president will enact policies that are more beneficial to her business. The CEO donated the maximum amount allowed by law directly to the candidate's campaign fund. To increase the candidate's chances for election, the CEO also directed her corporation to donate funds to an independent political action committee to create ads criticizing the opposing candidate. According to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which provision of the Constitution protects her actions? A. Reserved powers in the Tenth Amendment B. Due process clause in the Fifth Amendment C. Freedom of association in the First Amendment D. Freedom of speech in the First Amendment
D
A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following? A. A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant B. A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue C. A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation D. A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard E. A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue
D
An electoral system based on single-member districts is usually characterized by A. strong, centralized political parties and a weak executive B. higher rates of voter turnout than are common in other systems C. legislative representation of each party in proportion to the number of votes it receives D. domination of the legislature by two political parties E. ideological rather than mass-based parties
D
If a researcher were interested in understanding how much the NRA spent in each state, what visual could be created to accurately display this information in the bar graph? A. A table that gives details about the home states of candidates receiving money from the NRA in 1994 B. An infographic that explains how the NRA has helped Republicans win elections in the South C. A pie chart that shows the amount of money the NRA spent in each state since 1992 D. A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992
D
In the process and structure of public policy-making, "iron triangles" refer to the A. bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B. dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C. interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D. networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E. group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda
D
In the process and structure of public policymaking, "iron triangles" refer to the A. bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B. dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C. interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D. networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E. group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda
D
In the last thirty years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been, A. incumbency B. personal wealth C. previous political offices held in the district D. membership in the political party of the President E. positions on key social issues
A
One of the best strategies that interest groups can use to achieve their goals is A. pressing for changes in high-profile public policies B. lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy C. using the judiciary to invalidate federal legislation D. encouraging states to use their Tenth Amendment rights and ignore federal law E. running candidates for office
B
The primary election system of selecting presidential candidates has had which of the following effects? A. It has increased the importance of state party organizations. B. It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process. C. It has reduced the role of citizens in the candidate selection process. D. It has lowered the cost of running for office. E. It has led to a decline in the importance of party voter-registration drives.
B
The three points of an iron triangle include A. an independent agency, a state, and a member of Congress B. an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee group, and the House majority leader C. a cabinet department, an interest D. a regulatory commission, a corporation, and the White House Office the Executive Office of the President, an interest group, and a Senate committee
B
Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? A. They are a part of political party organizations. B. They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators. C. They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in a given contest. D. They effectively control the presidential campaigns. E. They may operate at the state level but not at the national level.
B
All of the following are commonly used by interest groups to influence the political process EXCEPT A. lobbying B. contributing money to candidates C. nominating candidates D. filing lawsuits E. appealing to the public opinion
C
For which of the following tasks would using the bar graph as currently designed be the LEAST helpful? A. Comparing whether the National Rifle Association (NRA) prefers Democrats or Republicans B. Tracking the campaign spending of the NRA over time C. Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis D. Determining which years the NRA spent the most money on elections
C
There is an ongoing debate over the role of money in elections. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 banned soft money and restricted advertisements in the weeks before an election. Parts of this act were challenged and struck down in the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010). Which of the following was a consequence of that ruling? A. The Federal Election Commission cannot place any restrictions on political advertisements because they are protected by the freedom of speech. B. The Federal Election Commission cannot place any restrictions on political advertisements because they are protected by the freedom of speech. C. Super PACs may spend unlimited funds on advertisements that are not coordinated with the campaign because they are protected by the freedom of speech. D. Advertisements produced in coordination between campaigns and super PACs cannot be restricted because they are protected by the freedom of speech. E. The Federal Election Commission can place restrictions on all advertisements because they are not protected by the freedom of speech.
C
Which of the following exemplifies the free-rider problem for interest groups? A. A supporter of the Second Amendment who is a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) B. A bird enthusiast who contributes to the Sierra Club to receive a free bird-watching guide C. A teacher who does not join the local teachers union but receives a salary negotiated by the union D. A 50-year-old woman who joins the AARP to get a discount card
C
Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)?*This item is subject to changes in the campaign finance laws A. The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade. B. Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents. C. The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law. D. PAC's are illegal in most states. E. PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.
C
Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through A. "wining and dining" legislators B. orchestrating petition drives and B. letter-writing campaigns C. placing persuasive advertisements in the media D. threatening to help the legislator's opponent in the next election E. providing legislators with information on technical issues
E
The advantages of incumbency in congressional elections include which of the following? I. Incumbents receive more campaign contributions than do challengers. II. Incumbents are able to provide important services for individual voters. III. The government provides campaign funds for incumbents. IV. The President usually endorses incumbents for reelection. V. Most American voters believe Congress does a good job. A. I and II only B. III and IV only C. I, IV, and V only D. II, III, and V only E. III, IV, and V only
A
Which of the following explains how The Federalist 10 relates to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ? A. Both regarded factions as destructive to liberty. B. In both, a limited approach to government regulation was argued for. C. In The Federalist 10, the author opted for stricter regulation of factions, whereas in Citizens United, petitioners argued that regulation was a violation of liberties. D. The Federalist 10 supports free speech, whereas the Citizens United decision opposes free speech.
B
A state has 11 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48 percent of that state's popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40 percent of the vote, and an independent candidate receives 12 percent of the vote. If the state is similar to most other states, how will the electoral votes most likely be allocated? A. The Democratic candidate will receive 5 electoral votes, the Republican will receive 4, and the independent will receive 2. B. The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral votes and the Republican will receive 5. C. The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes. D. The votes will not be allocated until there has been a runoff election between the Democratic and Republican candidates. E. The House of Representatives will determine the allocation of the electoral votes.
C
In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following? A. Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion B. Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget C. Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making D. Bureaucratic agency implementing policy
C
Question Interest groups use political action committees (PACs) to A. provide expertise to members of Congress when they are writing legislation B. lobby the executive bureaucracy when they are considering new rules and regulations C. raise and spend money on election campaigns D. generate research that can be used to influence public opinion E. hire policy experts who will promote their views in the media
C
The bar graph shows the National Rifle Association's spending on Democratic and Republican candidates over several decades of election cycles in support of gun ownership rights. How could a visual best be created to better understand how the spending of the NRA compares to that of gun control proponents? A. A line graph that compares the amount that gun control proponents gave to Democrats over time B. A table that shows how much each member of Congress received in contributions from both gun control advocates and the NRA C. A pie chart that tallies total spending by both the NRA and gun control proponents since 1992 D. The graph that includes information regarding important gun control laws that have been passed since 1992
C
The table above supports which of the following conclusions? I. A plurality of the people has consistently supported the Democrats. II. Support for the two major parties increased slightly between 1952 and 1994. III. The largest percentage increase in political identification between 1952 and 1994 occurred among independents. Responses A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and II only E. I, II, and III
C
Which of the following activities would the author most likely be concerned about interest groups engaging in? A. Educating and mobilizing citizens around their cause B. Introducing legislation that limits the power of others C. Representing broad segments of society and sparking emotional political debates D. Forming iron triangles with bureaucratic agencies and congressional committees
D
Which of the following best describes César Chávez' view on the use of violence versus nonviolence? A. The use of violence should be the primary tactic as it will address the feelings of frustration and anger throughout the movement. B. The use of violence will motivate the American people as people everywhere still yearn for justice. C. The use of nonviolent actions, such as demonstrations and marches, does not bring honor to the cause and will negatively impact the movement. D. The use of nonviolent actions allows more people to be involved in the movement and effect change.
D
Which of the following criticisms of political campaigns is the author of the political cartoon most likely to agree with? A. Political campaigns have not adequately adapted to the increase in social media usage in modern society. B. Rising campaign costs and intensive fund-raising efforts make running for office too expensive for the average citizen. C. The duration of election cycles is too long. D. Candidates rely too heavily on professional consultants.
D
Which of the following statements is true regarding political advertisements in 2012 based on the information graphic? A. Taxpayers paid over 2 billion dollars for political advertisements. B. Political action committees aired 3 million political ads. C. Fewer than 2 million advertisements were aired in 2012. D. Few advertisements appealed to positive emotions.
D
Compared to the general population, delegates to presidential nomination conventions are A. less interested in politics B. less educated C. financially worse off D. more likely to register as independent E. more ideological
E
Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States? A. Political Parties Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups Interest groups seek to influence public policy. B. Political Parties Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them. Interest Groups Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation. C. Political Parties Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office. Interest Groups Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns. D. Political Parties Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of the courts. Interest Groups Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.
A
The America First Action is a super PAC led by former administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon. Which of the following best explains how the organization can operate to influence elections, according to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010) ? Responses A. The super PAC can be led by a former government official but cannot accept contributions from former officials. B. The super PAC can spend unlimited funds and coordinate its campaign with candidate campaigns but must abide by "Stand by Your Ad" provisions. C. The super PAC can spend unlimited money on issue-advocacy advertisements that are not coordinated with the campaign. D. The super PAC can spend unlimited money on campaign expenditures but is subject to maximum contribution limits from donors.
C
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) did which of the following? A. It created interest groups known as 527s. B. It made it illegal for unions to donate to presidential campaigns. C. It banned soft money donations to national parties. D. It banned candidates from running negative advertisements. E. It banned third-parties from federal funding.
C
The data displayed in the table above best support which of the following statements? A. The reelection rate is higher in the Senate than in the House. B. The average vote won by Senate members surpasses that won by House members. C. House seats are safer from election turnover than are Senate seats. D. House members serve more terms than do Senators. E. More members of the Senate win reelection by 60% or more of the vote than do members of the House.
C
Which of the following arguments best supports a claim that the electoral college violates democratic principles? A. The winner-take-all system encourages candidates to campaign in every state, which limits the attention each state will receive from the candidates. B. Electors are chosen by the voters in each state, which gives parties undue influence over candidates' success. C. Smaller states are disproportionately advantaged by the two additional electoral votes granted to each state for its senators. D. The electoral college lacks transparency because electors frequently switch their vote during the national convention.
C
Which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary? A. Voters must pay a poll tax to vote in a closed primary, but not in an open primary. B. Voters are allowed to split their ticket in a closed primary but not in an open primary. C. Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party's closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries. D. Open primaries require a run-off system, while closed primaries do not. E. Candidates must seek the approval of the party organization to run in a closed primary, but anyone may be a candidate in an open primary.
C
Political parties serve which of the following functions in the United States? I. Informing the public about political issues II. Mobilizing voters and getting them to the polls III. Organizing diverse interests within society IV. Establishing the rules governing financial contributions to political candidates Responses A. II only B. I and II only C. III and IV only D. I, II, and III only E. I, III, and IV only
D
Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most related to the topic in the cartoon? A. United States v. Lopez (1995) B. McDonald v. Chicago (2010) C. Shaw v. Reno (1993) D. Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)
D
Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system? Responses A. The winner of the presidency often lacks a majority of the popular vote. B. Candidates focus on one-party states in which they can win most of the electoral votes. C. The House of Representatives frequently chooses the President from the top three candidates. D. Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations. E. Campaign spending increases because candidates emphasize television advertising.
D
Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members? A. It is easy to garner support from most members of Congress on any issue. B. All members of society desire the legislation that special interests pursue. C. It is very easy to get legislation passed in Congress. D. A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population. E. Interest group activity represents the democratic process at work because individual interest groups often represent more than half the population.
D
Which of the following policies would an individual who identifies as a Democrat most likely support? A. Reducing regulations on Wall Street to stimulate economic growth B. Decreasing the role of the federal government to ensure access to health care C. Increasing federal enforcement of immigration laws D. Strengthening anti-discrimination policies for married gay couples
D
Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the table above? Responses A. Latinos are fairly homogeneous in their party identification. B. Latinos have become substantially more supportive of the Democratic Party than they were in the 1950s. C. The majority of Latinos probably voted for Bill Clinton in 1992. D. Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the Republican Party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent. E. Latinos of Mexican descent are less likely to consider themselves independent than are Latinos of Cuban or Puerto Rican descent.
D
Critical elections in the United States typically have occurred A. as a result of a temporary shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties B. whenever a third party has secured more than fifteen percent of the presidential vote C. each time a Republican has been elected President D. when voter turnout has declined significantly from the previous election E. when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties
E
How is a president chosen when none of the candidates receives a majority of the electoral college vote? A. There is a national runoff election between the two candidates with the greatest number of electoral votes. B. The United States Supreme Court directly elects the president. C. The election is ruled null and void and Congress appoints a new president. D. The Senate chooses a new president by a majority vote of its entire membership. E. The House chooses a new president by a majority vote of its state delegations.
E
Since 1972, voters in presidential elections have A. become more focused on individual candidates B. increasingly based their votes on televised candidate debates C. become more influenced by party platforms D. become more likely to focus on local rather than national conditions E. become more likely to rely on print media for information
A
The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? A. Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. B. Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. C. Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. D. Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.
A
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario? A. Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. B. Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website. C. Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle. D. Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.
A
Which of the following is the best interpretation of the political cartoon? A. Members of Congress are richer than the people they represent. B. Members of Congress represent a wide diversity of political and economic interests. C. Members of Congress receive political contributions from many special interest groups. D. Members of Congress are specialists in economic policy issues.
C
Which of the following scenarios depicts the concept of an iron triangle? A. A well-funded PAC and professional campaign consultants meet with congressional Democrats to discuss strategy and campaign spending for the upcoming election. B. A group of citizens mobilize to conduct a letter-writing campaign, voter registration drive, and public rally in an attempt to influence the policy decisions of lawmakers. C. Lobbyists from the energy industry provide information to the Department of Energy before the department head testifies before the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives. D. A former member of Congress decides not to run for reelection and instead accepts a job as a corporate lobbyist.
C
Which of the following statements about interest groups would the author most likely agree with? A. Interest groups play the important function of including more people in elections. B. Interest groups undermine stability by creating too much conflict and polarization in politics. C. Interest groups tend to over-represent elite interests. D. Interest groups have less power in American government than political parties have.
C
Which of the following would result from the direct election of presidential candidates? A. A national primary would be established. B. Party nominating conventions would be abolished. C. Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election. D. The electoral college would become more influential in the electoral process. E. Third-party candidates would have less chance of winning the election.
C
Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT A. testifying before congressional committees B. sponsoring issue advocacy ads C. lobbying federal agencies D. filing federal lawsuits E. using the franking privilege
E
The concept of "critical elections" is most closely associated with A. the electoral college process B. elections during wartime C. the nomination process D. economic recession E. party realignment
E
The franking privilege refers to the A. Federal Reserve Board's control over interest rates B. practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees C. practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve C. practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees D. right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee E. right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense
E
The primary function of political action committees (PAC's) is to A. serve as fund-raising organizations for challengers B. provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation C. consult with the President regarding domestic policy D. encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate E. raise campaign funds to support favored candidates
E
Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? A. President, Congress, Supreme Court B. President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader C. Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader D. Executive department, House majority leader, President E. Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group
E
Which of the following is NOT a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns? A. By requirements for disclosure of campaign donations B. By establishment of federal agencies to regulate campaign finance activities C. By limits on the distribution of soft money D. By limits on individual donations to campaigns E. By prohibitions on negative advertising
E
Which of the following statements about political action committees (PACs) is true? A. PACs may give unlimited contributions to the election campaigns of individual candidates. B. PAC spending has not kept pace with inflation. C. PAC activity is limited to direct contributions to candidates. D. Social issue groups are the source of most PAC dollars. E. PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds.
E
Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true? Responses A. According to the Constitution, only two major political parties may exist at any time. B. The Constitution requires political parties to be restricted by both federal and state law. C. The Constitution indicates that political party leaders at the national level be elected by political party leaders at the state level. D. The Constitution specifies that political party leaders must be native-born United States citizens. E. The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.
E
Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the two major political parties in the United States? A. Parties have no organization except at the national level. B. Parties are centrally organized to provide a smooth transition from one national campaign to the next. C. Parties are organized much like a large corporation, in that decisions flow from national to state and local levels. D. Local and state parties have virtually no power in the party system. E. Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state, and local levels.
E
Which of the following techniques would a corporate lobbyist be likely to use to influence political outcomes in Congress? I. Organizing a demonstration in Washington just because a key House vote II. Ensuring that the corporation's political action committee (PAC) makes donations to the campaigns of members of key committees III. Meeting informally with Senate aides over lunch or cocktails IV. Bringing influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives A. II only B. I and II only C. III and IV only D. I, III, and IV only E. II, III, and IV only
E
