gov test 2
. What phrase did Alexis de Tocqueville coin to describe Americans in his 1835 work Democracy in America?
"a nation of joiners"
What phrase did Alexis de Tocqueville coin to describe Americans in his 1835 work Democracy in America?
"a nation of joiners"
Relationships that improve our individual lives by giving us social connections to solve common problems are forms of
. social capital.
American radio listeners first heard news in real time in which decade?
1920s
What decade s\do political scientist argue forst cemented the ideological differences between toady's Democrats and Republicans? A) 1930s B) 1940s C) 1950s D) 1960s E) 1970s
1930s
What year saw the Supreme Court ban southern states from formally excluding African Americans from primary voting? A) 1938 B) 1944 C) 1948 D) 1956 E) 1960
1944
Being telegenic first became a significant factor in presidential politics in the
1960s
In what decade was union membership the HIGHEST?
1960s
When did talk radio—a format featuring call-ins from listeners—bring about a renaissance in radio?
1970s and 1980s
The age of new media began in the
1980s
In what year did Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader likely tip the presidential election to Republicans?
2000
In what decade was union membership the LOWEST?
2000s
Super PACs first became an important factor in national elections in
2012
In general, minority journalists are more likely to be employed at newspapers with circulations of
250,000-500,000.
How many "faces", or spheres of operation, do American political parties have A) 2 B) 3 C) 4 D) 5 E) 6
3
economic, public and ideological, and foreign
3 main categories of interest groups
What percentage of Americans belong to voluntary groups or associations?
80
What percentage of Americans belong to voluntary groups or associations?
80 percent
In 2014, how much money could an individual give to each candidate or candidate committee, per election? A. $2,600 B. $5,000 C. $32,400 D. $45,400 E. no limit
A. $2,600
In many states, what percentage of votes must a candidate receive in a general election to avoid a runoff election? A. 50 percent B. 55 percent C. 60 percent D. 65 percent E. 70 percent
A. 50 percent
Tax-exempt groups that raise money for political activities are known as _______. A. 527s B. 501c3s C. 502s D. 501c4s E. 521s
A. 527s
Which region of the country is MOST accommodating of voters, in that it is overall easier to vote early, by mail, and by absentee ballot? A. West Coast B. South C. Plains States D. Midwest E. Northeast
A. West Coast
What age limit for election to the House of Representatives is codified by Article I of the Constitution? A. at least 25 years old B. at least 28 years old C. at least 30 years old D. at least 35 years old E. at least 38 years old
A. at least 25 years old
In some states, party voters select delegates at state party meetings known as A. caucuses. B. congresses. C. secretariats. D. commissions. E. GOTV rallies.
A. caucuses.
Which type of ballot generally leads to the coattail effect, where down-ballot candidates benefit from the popularity of those listed above them? A. party-column ballot B. Australian ballot C. butterfly ballot D. office-block ballot E. absentee ballot
A. party-column ballot
What theory states that making the conscious choice not to vote is rational and logical? A. rational abstention thesis B. voter fatigue thesis C. cumulative cost thesis D. rational actor thesis E. nonvoter rationalization thesis
A. rational abstention thesis
What type of election allows voters to cut short an officeholder's term? A. recall election B. runoff election C. instant runoff election D. primary election E. runoff primary election
A. recall election
A voter who evaluates an incumbent candidate based on the candidate's past decisions and actions is a(n) A. retrospective voter. B. salient voter. C. issues voter. D. prospective voter. E. absentee voter.
A. retrospective voter.
Which three networks dominated television news in the 1960s?
ABC, CBS, and NBC
In what way do interest groups succeed in channeling civic participation?
All of these answers are correct.
The media perform which of the following political functions?
All of these answers are correct.
Which of the following is/are employed by special interest representatives to gain access to policymakers?
All of these answers are correct.
What factor influences and decides an interest group's political effectiveness?
All of these factors influence and decide an interest group's political effectiveness.
Which social group is likely to be overrepresented in interest groups
All of these groups are likely to be overrepresented in interest groups
Which social group is likely to be overrepresented in interest groups?
All of these groups are likely to be overrepresented in interest groups.
US citizens and legal immigrants
Although only ___ can contribute to federal PACs, American employees of foreign companies do form and contribute to PACs.
In 2014, how much money could a national party give to each candidate or candidate committee, per election? A. $2,600 B. $5,000 C. $32,400 D. $45,400 E. no limit
B. $5,000
What is the minimum number of votes required to win the Electoral College? A. 100 B. 270 C. 435 D. 527 E. 658
B. 270
Which group had the highest turnout rate in the 2012 presidential election? A. Whites B. African Americans C. Hispanics D. Asians E. None of these answers is correct.
B. African Americans
In which month is Super Tuesday, the day on which the most presidential primary elections take place? A. February B. March C. October D. November E. June
B. March
In the 2000 presidential election, the ballot design used in Florida likely led many Al Gore voters to mistakenly vote for A. George W. Bush. B. Pat Buchanan. C. Joe Lieberman. D. Ralph Nader. E. no one at all.
B. Pat Buchanan.
Which anticorruption reform is also known as the Hatch Act of 1939? A. Federal Corrupt Practices Act B. Political Activities Act C. Federal Election Campaign Act D. Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act E. McCain-Feingold Act
B. Political Activities Act
Who can vote in an open primary election? A. anyone, even unregistered voters B. any registered voter of any party, and independents C. any registered voter of any party except independents D. only registered voters of members of that party E. only preapproved registered voters of members of that party
B. any registered voter of any party, and independents
A candidate for vice president must be A. at least 30 years old. B. from a different state than the presidential candidate. C. a person with excellent debating skills. D. younger than the presidential candidate. E. All these answers are correct.
B. from a different state than the presidential candidate.
Which of the following is a major result of the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission? A. decreased importance of money in politics B. growth of the Super PACs C. candidates having a more difficult time soliciting individual donors D. decreased influence of traditional PACs E. All of these answers are correct.
B. growth of the Super PACs
In the United States, the length of presidential campaigns tends to lead to voter fatigue. How long do presidential campaigns in the United States generally last? A. over three years B. over one year C. up to a year D. six to nine months E. three to six months
B. over one year
Which of the following conducts focus groups to determine candidate strengths and weaknesses? A. campaign manager B. pollster C. fundraising consultant D. media consultant E. campaign strategist
B. pollster
Contributions to political parties designated for so-called party-building activities are known as A. PAC donations. B. soft money. C. independent expenditures. D. grants-in-kind. E. extra-campaign contributions.
B. soft money.
Efforts to limit the influence of money on political campaigns started after A. the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. The Federal Election Commission during Barack Obama's presidency. B. the Teapot Dome scandal during Warren Harding's presidency. C. passage of the McCain-Feingold legislation during George W. Bush's presidency. D. passage of the Hatch Act during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. E. Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act during Richard Nixon's presidency.
B. the Teapot Dome scandal during Warren Harding's presidency.
1st ammemndment reporter question
Branzburg v Hayes
Which 1976 Supreme Court decision created the soft money loophole, through which political parties could raise unlimited funds at the state level?
Buckley v. Valeo
By 2014 there were about _____ super PACs. A. 20 B. 200 C. 1,000 D. 8,000 E. 20,000
C. 1,000
Which year saw a party convention that prodded both parties to make significant reforms that increased party-voter influence for candidate selection? A. 1948 B. 1960 C. 1968 D. 1980 E. 1988
C. 1968
Which state has the MOST electoral votes? A. Texas B. New York C. California D. Florida E. Pennsylvania
C. California
Due to the popularity of voting by mail, which state has recently abandoned voting in polling places on Election Day? A. Kansas B. California C. Oregon D. Idaho E. Nevada
C. Oregon
Which of the following is an effect of the office-block ballot? A. Candidates for lower-level offices are more likely to benefit from the popularity of a top-of-ticket nominee. B. Voters are less likely to know which party the candidates represent. C. Voters are more likely to split their ticket. D. The secrecy of the ballot is more difficult to maintain. E. Voters are more likely to vote absentee.
C. Voters are more likely to split their ticket.
Which of the following statements about who can vote in primary elections is the MOST accurate? A. All registered voters can vote in primary elections. B. Only registered party members are eligible to vote in primary elections. C. Who can vote in primary elections varies from state to state. D. All citizens can vote in primary elections, regardless of registration status or party affiliation. E. Only popularly nominated delegates can vote in primaries.
C. Who can vote in primary elections varies from state to state.
What age limit for senatorial office is codified by Article I of the Constitution? A. at least 25 years old B. at least 28 years old C. at least 30 years old D. at least 35 years old E. at least 38 years old
C. at least 30 years old
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the McCain-Feingold Act in McConnell v. the Federal Election Commission. What portion of that act did the Supreme Court invalidate in its 2007 ruling in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc.? A. ban on independent expenditures B. ban on limits to overall campaign expenditures C. ban on issue-based ads within the 30- and 60-day election window D. limitations on advertisements and donations from corporations and labor unions E. restriction on public funding of political candidates
C. ban on issue-based ads within the 30- and 60-day election window
For most of the last 40 years, the MOST common type of PAC was A. nonconnected. B. labor. C. corporate. D. health. E. None of these answers is correct.
C. corporate
Lacking in the original legislation, what was the MOST important provision in the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act? A. a voluntary tax return check-off for qualified presidential candidates B. limits on campaign expenditures C. creation of an enforcement mechanism D. limits on campaign finances E. public financing for all candidates
C. creation of an enforcement mechanism
Which of these factors is MOST important in determining voter participation? A. age B. income level C. education level D. gender E. ethnicity
C. education level
Today, most political campaigns are conducted and managed by A. party volunteers. B. unpaid campaign consultants. C. paid campaign consultants. D. local electoral officials. E. political party organizations.
C. paid campaign consultants.
Identify the correct chronological order among the following, starting with which comes first. A. primary election, general election, candidate nomination B. candidate nomination, primary election, general election C. primary election, candidate nomination, general election D. general election, candidate nomination, primary election E. general election, primary election, candidate nomination
C. primary election, candidate nomination, general election
In general elections for Congress, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to win? A. 50 percent of the vote B. a majority of the vote C. the most votes D. 50 percent of the vote, plus one E. a preponderance of the votes
C. the most votes
Which of these groups controls the timing of primary elections? A. registered voters B. national party organizations C. the states D. the Federal Election Commission E. the Supreme Court
C. the states
Which of the following Supreme Court decisions drastically altered the political landscape by allowing corporate and union election financing?
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
How can today's media consumers be sure that the information that they are receiving is accurate?
Consumers should gather news from media outlets with a track record of adhering to journalistic standards.
With respect to real political power, which of these groups is/are the most important component(s) of a party organization? A) Nation party B) Regional party C) State party D) County party E) County and local party
County and local party
Where was the battleship Maine when it exploded in February 1898?
Cuba
Nonprofit groups operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, which can include lobbying and engaging in political campaigning, are known as _______. A. 527s B. 501c3s C. 502s D. 501c4s E. 521s
D. 501c4s
Which of the following statements about age and voting in the United States is MOST accurate? A. Because of initiatives like MTV's Rock the Vote, young people are more likely to vote than the middle-aged. B. The youth turnout rate for President Obama's 2008 election broke turnout-rate records. C. Since the 2008 presidential election, youth turnout rates have continued to rise. D. Eighteen-year-olds were first given the right to vote in the 1970s. E. As Americans age, they are less likely to vote.
D. Eighteen-year-olds were first given the right to vote in the 1970s.
During the presidential election of 2000, which state's voting system came under enormous scrutiny because of paper perforations known as chads? A. California B. New York C. South Carolina D. Florida E. Ohio
D. Florida
In the United States, most general elections are held in what month? A. February B. March C. October D. November E. June
D. November
All of the following are considered informal qualifications for federal office EXCEPT A. possession of a college degree. B. considerable professional experience. C. strong communications skills. D. age and gender. E. None of these answers is correct.
D. age and gender.
Which of the following BEST describes a proposition? A. a special election B. a proposed measure C. a recall D. an instant runoff election E. a winner-take-all election
D. an instant runoff election
What age limit for presidential office is codified by Article I of the Constitution? A. at least 25 years old B. at least 28 years old C. at least 30 years old D. at least 35 years old E. at least 38 years old
D. at least 35 years old
The McCain-Feingold Act A. passed over the veto of George W. Bush. B. has so far withstood every court challenge. C. ended public financing of presidential campaigns. D. banned most soft money contributions. E. All these answers are correct.
D. banned most soft money contributions.
All of the following are influential factors in general election competitiveness EXCEPT A. the presence of incumbency. B. the strength of incumbency. C. party competition. D. candidate gender. E. level of office.
D. candidate gender.
What technology has facilitated the use of instant runoff elections? A. computers B. mobile technologies and devices C. cellular phones D. computerized voting machines E. touch-screen voting portals
D. computerized voting machines
Which of the following is the BEST example of grassroots organizing? A. donating money to a campaign B. reading about politics C. drafting a party's platform D. get-out-the-vote activities E. voting
D. get-out-the-vote activities
Who is primarily responsible for creating ads for television, radio, print, and the Internet? A. campaign manager B. pollster C. fundraising consultant D. media consultant E. campaign strategist
D. media consultant
All of the following are true about balloting in the United States EXCEPT that A. the secret ballot is used. B. the government prepares the ballot. C. when balloting is complete, the ballots are counted by government officials. D. methods of balloting are constitutionally stipulated. E. the Australian ballot is used.
D. methods of balloting are constitutionally stipulated.
Who can vote in a closed primary election? A. anyone, even unregistered voters B. any registered voter of any party, and independents C. any registered voter of any party except independents D. only registered voters of members of that party E. None of these answers is correct.
D. only registered voters of members of that party
A voter who evaluates candidates based on the candidates' positions and votes for the candidate that best represent his or her views is a(n) A. retrospective voter. B. salient voter. C. issues voter. D. prospective voter. E. absentee voter.
D. prospective voter.
On which of these types of issues are voters MOST willing to base their vote? A. party-based issues B. personal issues C. liberty issues D. salient issues E. controversial issues
D. salient issues
In a referendum, voters in a state can vote for or against a measure proposed by whom? A. citizens B. interest groups C. county governments D. state legislatures E. state Supreme Courts
D. state legislatures
How many electors are there in the Electoral College? A. 100 B. 103 C. 435 D. 535 E. 538
E. 538
What is the major significance of the Supreme Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo? A. All political expenditures are protected by the First Amendment. B. PACs can legally coordinate expenditures with political campaigns. C. A PAC's contributions to a political candidate cannot be limited. D. Congress can limit overall campaign spending. E. Independent expenditures are protected by law against limitations.
E. Independent expenditures are protected by law against limitations.
Which two states traditionally hold the first contests in the presidential nominee selection process? A. Colorado and Vermont B. Pennsylvania and Virginia C. Wisconsin and Florida D. California and New York E. Iowa and New Hampshire
E. Iowa and New Hampshire
What is the MOST important factor that determines how a person will vote? A. whether or not the candidate is an incumbent B. the gender of the candidate C. the race of the candidate D. the effectiveness of campaign ads for and against the candidate E. None of these answers is correct.
E. None of these answers is correct.
A person with this education level is MOST likely to vote: A. less than high school graduate. B. high school graduate. C. associate's degree. D. bachelor's degree. E. advanced degree.
E. advanced degree.
Which of the following describes a factor or factors in determining eligibility and qualifications for elected office at the state level? A. citizenship B. residency C. age D. place of birth, and gender E. age, residency, and citizenship
E. age, residency, and citizenship
Which groups typically sponsor initiatives, or initiative petitions? A. citizens' groups B. interest groups C. county governments D. state legislatures E. citizens' and interest groups
E. citizens' and interest groups
Which of the following describes what motivates individuals to run for office? A. a sense of civic responsibility B. party loyalty and allegiance C. desire for financial and personal gain D. personal goals and a desire for greater name recognition E. civic responsibility, party allegiance, personal goals, and desire for greater name recognition
E. civic responsibility, party allegiance, personal goals, and desire for greater name recognition
In recent years, political campaigns have grown A. increasingly positive. B. somewhat more positive. C. neither positive nor negative. D. somewhat more negative. E. increasingly negative.
E. increasingly negative.
In U.S. presidential primaries, who decides which candidate receives the national party nomination? A. party-registered voters B. local party leaders C. state party organizations D. national party leaders E. locally-selected delegates
E. locally-selected delegates
In 2014, how much money could a PAC donate in total to all candidates, per election? A. $2,600 B. $5,000 C. $32,400 D. $45,400 E. no limit
E. no limit
All of the following are factors cited by some scholars as disadvantages of voting by mail EXCEPT A. a lack of access to late information about candidates. B. that it may undermine feelings of civic engagement. C. that chances of fraud are increased. D. that it leads to a reduction of privacy. E. that it decreases voter participation.
E. that it decreases voter participation.
Presidential elections are always held on what day? A. whatever day is set by the Supreme Court for that specific year B. the last Tuesday before the last Wednesday in October C. the last Tuesday in October D. the second Tuesday in November E. the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
E. the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
Direct forms of political participation include A. voting. B. volunteering on a campaign. C. running for office. D. answering Internet political surveys. E. volunteering on a campaign, running for office, and voting.
E. volunteering on a campaign, running for office, and voting.
_________ theory posits that political power is dominated by the wealthy, who commonly use that power for the benefit of themselves.
Elite
Which of these groups is/are most likely to vote for Democrats? A) whites and men B) people with some college education C) ethnic minorities and women D) people with a college degree E) Asian Americans
Ethnic minorities and women
From 1932 to 1968, the Democrats dominated the A) Third Party system B) Fourth Party system C) Fifth Party system D) Sixth Party system E) Seventh Party system
Fifth Party System
How many was Franklin D. Roosevelt elected president? A) once B) twice C) three times D) four times E) five times
Four times
Which U.S. president's fireside chats were the first to exploit the value of radio as a device for political communication?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Explain how the party in government influences operations at all levels.
Government is influenced on various levels. Inmost towns, the party identification of the majority of the members of legislative branch determines who will serve as the head of legislature. On a state level government plays a similar role in organizing government work. Seating assignments and committee assignments are made by the majority party leadership and are based on legislatures party affiliation.
Which of the following parties is an example of an issue advocacy party? A) Green Party B) Libertarian Party C) Socialist Party D) States Party E) Progressive Party
Green Party
Whose exposé of the oil industry between 1902 and 1904 appeared in McClure's magazine?
Ida Tarbell
Which of the following is held as an undisputed fact among political scientists today?
Interest groups are an essential feature of American democracy.
collective force, individuals, communities, participation
Interest groups provide a way for people to band together to influence government as a __ Interest groups involve ___more actively in the political process by encouraging them to vote and to communicate their views to their elected officials. Interest groups assist in the engagement of ___ by providing a forum through which people can come together and form associations. Interest groups offer an alternative means of ___ to individuals who are disenchanted with the two-party system.
Which of the following statements about interest groups and their political action committees (PACs) is most accurate?
Interest groups tend to strengthen the advantages of incumbency.
Which of the following best describes union membership in the United States since the 1960s?
It has declined dramatically.
During the era of the Second Party System, which political party rose to power? A) Federalists B) Anti- Federalist C) Jeffersonian Republicans D) Whigs E) Jacksonian Democrats
Jacksonian Democrats
In the first ever televised presidential debate, which person was the first to display telegenic qualities?
John F. Kennedy
What factor do scholars identify as supportive of the current two-part system? A) increased public interest in politics B) favorable laws that directly subsidize existing party structures C) solid corporate and foreign support D) a new cohort of young E) lack of a viable alternative
Lack of a viable alternative
Which of the following statements about the newspaper industry today is the most accurate?
Large cities are more likely to have smaller weekly publications that target specific demographic audiences.
foreign governments
Often will benefit from the efforts of an interest group made up of U.S. citizens of the foreign nation's heritage, e.g. AIPAC
incumbents
PACs, particularly those formed by economic interests groups, overwhelmingly favor
Which of the following statements about interest groups and their political action committees (PACs) is most accurate?
Participation of PACs in a campaign tend to make it more even and less expensive
The formal apparatus is known as the A) party identifiers B) party affiliations C) party organizations D) party committee E) party caucus
Party organizations
In most states, party identifiers are typically measured by A) online surveys B) entry and exit polls C) party registration during voting D) telephone surveys E) postal surveys
Party registration during voting
Which group is recognized as the national Catholic peace movement?
Pax Christi USA
All of the following are tenets of pluralist theory EXCEPT that
Policy-making is an elite business, staffed by the powerful and highly educated
what kind of issues concern them and who benefits from the groups' activities
Political scientists generally categorize interest groups by
agricultural interests
Probably have the most disproportionate amount of influence
What term is used to describe a shift in a party allegiance or electoral support? A) transference B) realignment C) reconstruction D) reorganization E) reconsideration
Realignment
Which pre-Revolutionary British legislation directly attacked colonial American newspapers?
Stamp Act
Because of its sometimes fractured relationship with the Republican Party, which of the following has caused people to wonder whether or not it might become a splinter party?
Tea Party
Which of the following statements about the press in the 1830s is FALSE?
The consumption of media was becoming an increasingly elite pursuit.
Which of the following statements about blogs is NOT accurate?
The media establishment is mostly uninfluenced by blogs.
Discuss the rise of candidate committees and their influence on political process.
The rise of candidate committees, organizations that candidates form to support heir individual election as opposed to the party's slate of candidates, is one reflection of how politics has increasingly become candidate centered. They raise and spend money, organize campaigns , and attempt to mobilize voters. One effect of their enhanced influence has been that elected officials, particularly members of congress, are less likely indebted to their parties then in previous eras and thus sometimes demonstrate less loyalty when voting on bills in the legislature.
In what way do interest groups succeed in channeling civic participation?
They offer ways for people to act collectively. B. They involve individuals more actively in politics. C. They assist in engaging communities in political issues. D. They offer an alternative participatory option over the two-party system. E. All of these answers are correct
Which of these features is a characteristic of political parties?
They seek to govern. They have a special relationship with the government. They have broad concerns. They run candidates under a label.
Today, religious interests are among the most influential interest groups in U.S. politics, but for a long time organized religious interests were uninvolved in politics. Why?
They were afraid of losing their tax-exempt status.
Which founding father, as founder of the Anti- Federalists, instigated the process of direct communication with voter? A) John Adams B) Thomas Jefferson C) Alexander Hamilton D) George Washington E) James Madison
Thomas Jefferson
For mush of its existence, the United States has had a "blank" system. A) one- party B) two- party C) three- party D) multiparty E) antiparty
Two- party
Which interest group spent the most money on lobbying in 2015?
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Who can legally contribute to federal political action committees?
U.S. citizens and legal immigrants only
Which of these groups have usually composed the base of the Republican Party? A) women B) African Americans C) small-business owners D) religious citizen E) upper- middle-class voters, religous citizens, and small-business owners
Upper- middle-class voters, religous citizens, and small-business owners
Who wrote The Jungle, an exposé of the meat-packing industry that ultimately led to the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration?
Upton Sinclair
2003 scandal
Valerie Plame
Today political parties are accessible to A) powerful interest groups B) government and elected officials C) virtually everyone D) Fortune 500 corporations E) labor unions and workers' organizations
Virtually everyone
direct
___ strategies include lobbying, litigation, providing info or expert testimony to decision makers
According to Democratic marketing consultant David Weinberger, conversation is the opposite of a. marketing. b. electioneering. c. networking. d. propaganda. e. dogma.
a
American radio listeners first heard news in real time in which decade? a. 1920s b. 1930s c. 1940s d. 1950s e. 1960s
a
Between 1977 and 2003, viewer audiences for network television a. declined significantly. b. declined marginally. c. remained steady. d. increased marginally. e. increased significantly.
a
Democrats in Texas are typically all of the following EXCEPT a. young. b. native Texans. c. minorities. d. less prosperous. e. less well-educated.
a
Early in the nineteenth century, advances in technology allowed the sale of newspapers for a. one penny. b. two pennies. c. five cents. d. six cents. e. eight cents.
a
How many newspaper publishers and editions do most American cities have today? a. one b. two c. three d. four e. five or more
a
In many states, what percentage of votes must a candidate receive in a general election to avoid a runoff election? a. 50 percent b. 55 percent c. 60 percent d. 65 percent e. 70 percent
a
In the 2008 elections, approximately what percentage of large institutional donations came from interest groups working outside the traditional party structure? a. 88 percent b. 75 percent c. 57 percent d. 41 percent e. 23 percent
a
Most Americans see the Internet as a vehicle and an example of the principle of a. free speech. b. individual liberty. c. freedom from censorship. d. freedom of assembly. e. freedom of public opinion.
a
Tax-exempt groups that raise money for political activities are known as ________. a. 527s b. 501c3s c. 502s d. 501c4s e. 521s
a
The first hints of a shift toward the Republican Party in Texas occurred when the state voted for ________ for president. a. Eisenhower b. Kennedy c. Nixon d. Reagan e. George H. W. Bush
a
The shift from Democratic to Republican control of Texas state politics has resulted in a. no significant change in governing policy or philosophy. b. no significant change in governing policy or philosophy regarding economics, but a much more active agenda on social policy. c. no significant change in governing policy or philosophy regarding social policy, but a much more active agenda on economics. d. a much more active agenda on both economic and social policies. e. a much more limited agenda on both economic and social policies.
a
Today, party voters select delegates at state party meetings known as a. caucuses. b. congresses. c. secretariats. d. commissions. e. GOTV rallies.
a
What age limit for election to the House of Representatives is codified by Article I of the Constitution? a. at least 25 years old b. at least 28 years old c. at least 30 years old d. at least 35 years old e. at least 38 years old
a
What theory states that making the conscious choice not to vote is rational and logical? a. rational abstention thesis b. voter fatigue thesis c. cumulative cost thesis d. rational actor thesis e. nonvoter rationalization thesis
a
What type of election allows voters to cut an officeholder's term short? a. recall election b. runoff election c. instant runoff election d. primary election e. runoff primary election
a
Which media technology was the first to offer people the opportunity to express political views publicly? a. print media b. talk radio c. television d. Internet e. social media
a
Which of the following is true about third parties in Texas? a. They have never had much influence. b. They had influence in the past, but very little in the present. c. They had very little influence in the past, but have a growing influence in the present. d. The individualistic political culture in Texas makes it easier for them to emerge than in other states. e. The Texas state constitution makes it more difficult for them to emerge than in other states
a
Which of the following public perspectives on media bias gained the highest response rate? a. too liberal b. just about right c. too favorable toward special interests d. too conservative e. too extreme
a
Which of the following statements is correct? a. By allowing individuals to publish slander and hate speech, the Internet has led to a decline in civil political discourse. b. Although there may have been some problems, the Internet has led to an improvement in civil political discourse. c. The Internet has had little impact on the civility of political discourse. d. The Internet has encouraged the development of new and creative approaches to political civility. e. The Internet has greatly reduced the amount of political discourse, and also reduced the amount of slander and hate speech within it.
a
Which of the following statements is correct? a. Democratic elected officials believe that newer media outlets are dominated by conservatives. b. Democratic and Republican officials believe that newer media outlets are controlled by independents. c. Democratic officials believe that newer media outlets are controlled by corporate interests. d. Republican officials believe that newer media outlets are controlled by liberal media interests. e. Republican officials believe that the newer media are liberally biased in the same ways as traditional media.
a
Which of the following terms means the quality of looking good on TV? a. telegenic b. photogenic c. the "it" factor d. the "x" factor e. celebrity skin
a
Which type of ballot generally leads to the coattail effect, where down-ballot candidates benefit from the popularity of those listed above them? a. party-column ballot b. Australian ballot c. butterfly ballot d. office-block ballot e. absentee ballot
a
Who can vote in an open primary election? a. anyone, even unregistered voters b. any registered voter of any party, and independents c. any registered voter of any party except independents d. only registered voters of members of that party e. only pre-approved registered voters of members of that party
a
All of the following are key Democratic positions EXCEPT
a larger role for state governments
Which of the following is a major priority for the Tea Party movement?
a smaller government that performs fewer social welfare functions
rational choice theory
according to ____ it is not rational for people to participate in a collective action designed to achieve a collective good when they can secure that good without participating.
Of all the different types of U.S. interest groups, which of the following tends to have the most disproportionate amount of influence?
agricultural interest groups
One of the ways that talk radio promotes civic discourse is that it
allows for a real-time exchange of information.
religious interests
among the most influential interest groups in U.S. politics.
public employees
among the most unionized workforces
When interest groups employ former members of government as lobbyists, they are creating
an issue network.
interest group
an organization that seeks to achieve goals by influencing government decision making.
Which party rose to dominance for several elections after 1860?
antislavery republicans
executives in business and industry
are likely to be members of industry-specific and general business organizations that advocate on behalf of their members.
The election laws at the federal and state levels
are written primarily by Democrats and Republicans.
As a result of the 2000 election, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 set which year as the deadline for states to install electronic voting systems? a. 2004 b. 2005 c. 2006 d. 2007 e. 2008
b
As governor of ________, Franklin Roosevelt first effectively employed the radio for political communication. a. Connecticut b. New York c. New England d. New Jersey e. Rhode Island
b
Contributions to political parties designated for so-called party-building activities are known as a. PAC donations. b. soft money. c. independent expenditures. d. grants-in-kind. e. extra-campaign contributions.
b
Governor Bush made a particular effort to appeal to which group of voters? a. whites b. Mexican Americans c. African Americans d. Asian Americans e. None of these answers is correct.
b
How many fireside chats, or radio addresses to the country, did Franklin Roosevelt complete during his time as president? a. thirteen b. thirty c. forty d. sixty e. seventy-three
b
In the United States, presidential campaigns generally last a. for over three years. b. for over one year. c. up to a year. d. six to nine months. e. three to six months
b
Since 2007, which month has included Super Tuesday, the day on which most presidential primary elections take place? a. February b. March c. October d. November e. June
b
The term narrowcasting means which of the following? a. the practice of aiming media content at many segments of the public b. the practice of aiming media content at specific segments of the public c. the practice of aiming media content at groups based on age or gender d. the practice of aiming media content at groups based on ethnicity or socioeconomic status e. the practice of aiming media content at groups based on religious affiliation
b
Two-party politics in Texas really began with the election of a. Allan Shivers. b. John Tower. c. Bill Clements. d. Mark White. e. Phil Gramm.
b
Unequal access to computer technology is known as the a. digital deficit. b. digital divide. c. digital decline. d. digital conundrum. e. digital enigma.
b
Which Web site, which debuted in 2005, enhances civic engagement by allowing citizens to access and post video that includes political content? a. Google Earth b. YouTube c. MySpace d. Friendster e. Netflix
b
Which anti-corruption reform is also known as the Hatch Act of 1939? a. Federal Corrupt Practices Act b. Political Activities Act c. Federal Election Campaign Act d. Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act e. McCain-Feingold Act
b
Which device captured the shooting and death of Neda-Agha Soltan, who was shot protesting the outcome of the Iranian elections in June 2009? a. VHS video camera b. cell phone video camera c. digital camera d. digital video camera e. film camera
b
Which issue has been identified by political scientist Pippa Norris as a common frame through which journalists generate political stories? a. age b. gender c. income d. ethnicity e. race
b
Which of the following conducts focus groups to determine candidate strengths and weaknesses? a. campaign manager b. pollster c. fundraising consultant d. media consultant e. Internet consultant
b
Which of the following is NOT true about the election of precinct chairs in Texas? a. They are usually uncontested elections. b. Candidates must file signature petitions to run for the office. c. Candidates have been elected with as little as 1 vote. d. Write-in candidates often win these elections. e. Any registered voter may have his or her name placed on the ballot
b
Which of the following statements are true about positions on the state executive committee? a. These positions are considered breeding grounds for new political talent. b. These positions are customarily evenly divided between men and women. c. There is one member for every senatorial district in the state. d. They are primarily fundraising positions. e. They are largely ceremonial positions.
b
Which of the following statements is true about voter ID cards? a. The U.S. Supreme Court has declared them unconstitutional. b. Many people think they will make voting more difficult for poor people. c. They are strongly opposed by both Republicans and Democrats in Texas. d. They are strongly supported by both Republicans and Democrats in Texas. e. Governor Perry vetoed a bill instituting them in Texas.
b
Which president was the first to display telegenic qualities? a. Richard Nixon b. John F. Kennedy c. Ronald Reagan d. Bill Clinton e. George W. Bush
b
Which president's administration was involved in the Teapot Dome scandal? a. Theodore Roosevelt b. Warren Harding c. Calvin Coolidge d. Herbert Hoover e. Franklin Roosevelt
b
purposive incentives
because they believe in the group's cause from an ideological or a moral standpoint.
All of the following are examples of indirect strategies used by interest groups to advance their cause EXCEPT
buttonholing
According to the map in the text, Texas is currently a a. one-party Republican state. b. modified one-party Republican state. c. two-party competitive state. d. modified one-party Democratic state. e. one-party Democratic state.
c
All of the following have changed because of the Internet EXCEPT a. how the average U.S. citizen is educated. b. how the average U.S. citizen communicates and gets news. c. where the average U.S. citizen lives. d. how and where the average U.S. citizen shops. e. how the average U.S. citizen participates in politics.
c
All these technologies are considered new media EXCEPT a. the Internet. b. blogs. c. television. d. cable television. e. satellite television
c
Due to the popularity of voting by mail, which state has recently abandoned voting in polling places on Election Day? a. Washington b. California c. Oregon d. Idaho e. Nevada
c
Identify the correct chronological order among the following: a. primary election, general election, candidate nomination b. candidate nomination, primary election, general election c. primary election, candidate nomination, general election d. general election, candidate nomination, primary election e. general election, primary election, candidate nomination
c
In 2009, how many newsroom supervisors were women? a. one-fifth b. one-quarter c. one-third d. two-fifths e. one-half
c
Internet-centered efforts on behalf of candidates and causes have come to be called a. e-campaigning. b. the blogosphere. c. netroots. d. internetworks. e. prosumption
c
Political scientist Shanto Iyengar argues that a process known as ________ sets a context that helps people understand important events and matters of shared interest. a. infotainment b. the 24/7 news cycle c. media framing d. media consumption e. priming
c
The idea that Internet traffic should flow without oversight or interference is known as a. Net liberty. b. freedom of the Net. c. Net neutrality. d. Net privacy. e. freedom from Net scrutiny.
c
The role of the precinct chair includes all of the following EXCEPT a. identifying party supporters. b. turning out voters on election day. c. raising money for campaign ads. d. making sure party supporters are registered to vote. e. promoting the interests of the party at the local level.
c
To run as an independent candidate for county office, an individual must collect signatures equal to ________ percent of the votes cast for that office in the last election. a. 1 b. 3 c. 5 d. 8 e. 10
c
Today, most political campaigns are conducted and managed by a. party volunteers. b. unpaid campaign consultants. c. paid campaign consultants. d. local electoral officials. e. political party organizations.
c
Until the ________, most Americans could not read or write. a. 1790s b. 1810s c. 1830s d. 1850s e. 1870s
c
What age limit for senatorial office is codified by Article I of the Constitution? a. at least 25 years old b. at least 28 years old c. at least 30 years old d. at least 35 years old e. at least 38 years old
c
What types of media have succeeded in attracting young, liberal voters? a. talk radio b. television c. blogs and Web sites d. newspapers and periodicals e. email lists and mailed flyers
c
When did talk radio—a format featuring call-ins from listeners and interviews—emerge from behind television? a. 1950s and 1960s b. 1960s and 1970s c. 1970s and 1980s d. 1980s and 1990s e. 1990s and 2000s
c
When did the Republican Party become the dominant party in Texas politics? a. on both the state and national levels during the 1950s b. on the national level during the 1950s and on the state level during the 1980s c. on the national level during the 1950s and on the state level after the turn of the twenty-first century d. on the national level during the 1980s and on the state level after the turn of the twenty-first century e. on both the state and national levels after the turn of the twenty-first century
c
Where was the battleship Maine when it exploded in February 1898? a. Puerto Rico b. the Philippines c. Cuba d. Spain e. Jamaica
c
Which independent used e-campaigning to win the governorship in Minnesota in 1999? a. Ralph Nader b. Ross Perot c. Jesse Ventura d. Pat Buchanan e. Charlie Crist
c
Which large corporation's collapse in 2002 led to the passage of the McCain-Feingold Act? a. Lehman Brothers b. AIG c. Enron d. AT&T e. Northern Trust
c
Which media technology dominated between the 1940s and 1980? a. newspapers b. radio c. broadcast television d. cable television e. satellite television
c
Which of the following ideological perspectives are favored by giant media conglomerates? a. strong liberal bias b. mild liberal bias c. ideological neutrality d. mild conservative bias e. strong conservative bias
c
Which of the following is true about states without presidential preference primaries? a. Their outcomes are more likely to coincide with the preference of the majority of voters in the state. b. They tend to favor wealthier candidates. c. They tend to favor candidates with well-organized, active volunteers. d. They tend to favor more conservative candidates. e. They tend to favor outsider candidates.
c
Which of the following statements about straight ticket voting in Texas is true? a. It is not allowed in Texas elections. b. It has been made more difficult by a party column format on electronic ballots. c. It has helped the Republicans, particularly in state judicial elections. d. It has helped the Democrats, particularly in state judicial elections. e. It has not had a significant impact on Texas elections.
c
Which of the following words best describes the evolutionary development of the U.S. media industry ownership over the last several decades? a. diversification b. devolution c. consolidation d. deleveraging e. cross-pollination
c
Which of these factors is most important in determining voter participation? a. age b. income level c. education level d. gender e. ethnicity
c
Which of these groups controls the timing of primary elections? a. registered voters b. national party organizations c. the states d. the Federal Election Commission e. the Supreme Court
c
Which of these pieces of legislation created the Federal Election Commission, the agency responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws? a. Federal Corrupt Practices Act b. Political Activities Act c. Federal Election Campaign Act d. Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act e. McCain-Feingold Act
c
Which state does not even require voters to register in order to participate in elections? a. Montana b. Oregon c. North Dakota d. Idaho e. Wyoming
c
Which year saw both parties make significant increases in party-voter influence for candidate selection? a. 1948 b. 1960 c. 1968 d. 1972 e. 1988
c
Whose exposé of the oil industry between 1902 and 1904 appeared in McClure's magazine? a. Joseph Pulitzer b. William Randolph Hearst c. Ida Tarbell d. Upton Sinclair e. Lincoln Steffens
c
Which of the following states has solid Democratic control in the state legislature?
california
environmental interest groups
came about as a result of a broader environmental movement in the 1970s.
In order to attract greater attention, which group is often used by interest groups to testify before Congress as a means of raising public awareness?
celebrities
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
citizens argued that federal bans on corporate and union expenditures to promote or target candidates for fed office violated the org's right to free speech, SC agreed and lifted the ban
The practice of using public outreach to build favorable public opinion of an organization or company is known as
climate control.
The benefits of public interest group activity are most often not limited to the group's membership, but rather result in
collective goods.
According to research presented in the text, people with this education level had the highest participation rates in online groups:
college grad
Which of the following words BEST describes the evolutionary development of the U.S. media industry ownership over the last several decades?
consolidation
The number of corporations that supply the majority of news to Americans has shrunk from 50 in 1983 to just 6 today. This is a result of
consolidation.
Ralph Nader is best known for his involvement with ________ interest groups.
consumer
The emergence of the multimedia start-up Politico is an example of the merging of various forms of media under one corporate roof with one set of business and editorial leaders. This is known as
convergence.
Which of the following best describes the journalists in the era of muckraking?
critical, writing exposés of corruption in government and industry
A primary that allows voters to register or change their registration on election day is known as a(n) ________ primary. a. open b. semiopen c. blanket d. semiclosed e. closed
d
All of the following are considered informal qualifications for political office EXCEPT a. possession of a college degree. b. considerable professional experience. c. strong communications skills. d. age and gender. e. ethnicity and religious affiliation
d
All of the following are influential factors in general election competitiveness EXCEPT a. the presence of incumbency. b. the strength of incumbency. c. party competition. d. number of candidates. e. level of office.
d
All of the following are powerful media audience attractors EXCEPT a. celebrity and sports news. b. fires and violent crime. c. political and sports scandals. d. good news reports. e. sex scandals.
d
During the presidential election of 2000, which state's voting system came under enormous scrutiny because of paper perforations known as chads? a. California b. New York c. South Carolina d. Florida e. Ohio
d
In a referendum, voters in a state can vote for or against a measure proposed by whom? a. citizens b. interest groups c. county governments d. state legislatures e. state Supreme Courts
d
In the United States, most general elections are held in what month? a. February b. March c. October d. November e. June
d
In which year did the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repeal the fairness doctrine, which had required stations to provide equal time to all sides regarding public issues and equal access to all candidates for public office? a. 1957 b. 1967 c. 1977 d. 1987 e. 1997
d
One fairly stable third party in Texas in recent years is a. the Raza Unida Party. b. the Socialist Party. c. the Grange. d. the Libertarian Party. e. the Greenback Party
d
The Republican Party's ability to keep control will depend on which of the following? a. the state of the Texas economy b. the state of the national economy c. the vote of Texas's white population d. the vote of Texas's minority population e. the vote of Texas's female population
d
What age limit for presidential office is codified by Article I of the Constitution? a. at least 25 years old b. at least 28 years old c. at least 30 years old d. at least 35 years old e. at least 38 years old
d
What technology has facilitated the use of instant runoff elections? a. computers b. mobile technologies and devices c. cellular phones d. computerized voting machines e. touch-screen voting portals
d
What year were 18-year-olds granted the right to vote in the United States? a. 1948 b. 1960 c. 1968 d. 1972 e. 1978
d
Which animated children's show includes an episode that discusses the issue of censorship? a. Barney b. Sesame Street c. Dora the Explorer d. Arthur e. The Magic School Bus
d
Which of these media organizations is an example of media convergence? a. NBC News b. CNN c. Fox News d. Politico e. YouTube
d
Which of these types of issues are those that voters are willing to base their vote on? a. party-based issues b. personal issues c. liberty issues d. salient issues e. controversial issues
d
Which pre-Revolutionary British legislation directly attacked colonial American newspapers? a. Navigation Acts b. Declaratory Act c. Tea Act d. Stamp Act e. Townshend Act
d
Who can vote in a closed primary election? a. anyone, even unregistered voters b. any registered voter of any party, and independents c. any registered voter of any party except independents d. only registered voters of members of that party e. None of these answers is correct.
d
Whose exposé of the meat-packing industry led to the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration? a. Joseph Pulitzer b. William Randolph Hearst c. Ida Tarbell d. Upton Sinclair e. Lincoln Steffens
d
Between 1992 and 2012, viewer audiences for network television
declined significantly.
Which of the following occupations are primarily represented by professional organizations?
doctors and lawyers
professional associations
doctors and lawyers often join ___ such as AMA and ABA
County chairs are responsible for which of the following? a. maintaining party headquarters b. fund-raising c. conducting primary elections d. officially counting the ballots in a primary election. e. All these answers are correct
e
Globally, how many people are currently using the Internet? a. 180 million b. 800 million c. 1 billion d. 1.4 billion e. 1.8 billion
e
How many electors are there in the Electoral College? a. 100 b. 103 c. 435 d. 535 e. 538
e
How many hours do Americans spend online today? a. one hour a day b. two hours a day c. three hours a day d. four hours a day e. over four hours a day
e
In U.S. presidential primaries, who decides which candidate receives the national party nomination? a. party-registered voters b. local party leaders c. state party organizations d. national party leaders e. locally-selected delegates
e
In general, minority journalists are more likely to be employed at which of the following? a. newspapers with circulations of less than 10,000 b. newspapers with circulations of 10,000-50,000 c. newspapers with circulations of 50,000-125,000 d. newspapers with circulations of 125,000-250,000 e. newspapers with circulations of 250,000-500,000
e
In the United States, voters with the highest income level have voting rates of a. 50-60 percent. b. 60-70 percent. c. 70-80 percent. d. 80-85 percent. e. over 85 percent.
e
Over the last few years, many political campaigns have grown a. increasingly positive. b. somewhat more positive. c. neither positive nor negative. d. somewhat more negative. e. increasingly negative.
e
Passage of the National Voter Registration Act—or "Motor Voter" Act—in 1993 has had a ________ effect on voter registration and turnout. a. very significant b. somewhat significant c. moderate d. partial e. negligible
e
Runoff primaries are used primarily in which region of the country? a. the Northeast b. the West c. the Midwest d. the Northwest e. the South
e
The first four-year terms for officeholders in Texas were instituted in ________. a. 1846 b. 1877 c. 1918 d. 1954 e. 1978
e
Traditionally, media outlets and journalists have been labeled a. mostly conservative. b. somewhat conservative. c. both conservative and liberal. d. somewhat liberal. e. mostly liberal.
e
Using online donations and other Internet-based fundraising strategies, how much money did Barack Obama raise in his 2008 presidential campaign? a. $5 million b. $50 million c. $150 million d. $250 million e. $500 million
e
What happened in the Dallas County elections in 2006? a. Republicans swept countywide offices for the first time ever. b. African Americans and Latinos voted Republican in record numbers. c. Republicans won their first majority of countywide offices. d. Democrats won their first countywide election in twenty years. e. African American and Latino votes helped Democrats to win most countywide elections for the first time in twenty years.
e
What percentage of incumbents, or those already holding office, generally win re-election to the House of Representatives and the Senate? a. 50-60 percent b. 60-75 percent c. 75-85 percent d. 85-90 percent e. over 90 percent
e
What role did race play in Texas politics before the 1960s? a. It was the primary issue in most elections. b. It was a primary issue in rural regions, but less so in urban areas. c. It was an important issue, but subordinate to economics. d. It was an important issue during times of prosperity, but not during difficult economic times. e. It was not a prominent issue.
e
What types of opportunities do elections offer for citizen involvement? a. candidate recruitment for political parties b. volunteering opportunities at rallies and fundraisers c. phone-bank and poll volunteering d. GOTV activities on elections day e. candidate recruitment, volunteering activities, and GOTV activities
e
What year saw the passage of the Telecommunications Act, which opened the communications markets to telephone companies? a. 1934 b. 1949 c. 1968 d. 1986 e. 1996
e
Which factors are cited by some scholars as disadvantages of voting by mail? a. lack of access to late information about candidates b. lower cost than a regular election, which can lead to increased turnout c. chances of fraud are increased d. leads to a reduction of privacy e. increased chances of fraud, reductions in privacy, and lack of access to late candidate information
e
Which factors determine eligibility and qualifications for elected office at the state level? a. citizenship b. residency c. age d. place of birth, and gender e. age, residency, and citizenship
e
Which form of new media is considered by its users to be the most influential on politics? a. e-campaigning b. Web sites c. talk radio d. cable television e. blogs
e
Which groups typically sponsor initiatives, or initiative petitions? a. citizens' groups b. interest groups c. county governments d. state legislatures e. citizens' and interest groups
e
Which of the following are direct forms of political participation? a. voting b. volunteering on a campaign c. running for office d. answering Internet political surveys e. volunteering on a campaign, running for office, and voting
e
Which of the following is part of the profile for the average Republican voter in Texas? a. young b. prosperous c. Anglo d. suburban e. All these answers are correct.
e
Which of the following sources of political information is/are almost entirely unmonitored for accuracy? a. newspapers b. magazines and periodicals c. television networks d. talk radio shows e. blogs and websites
e
Which of these media platforms are NOT regulated by the federal government? a. newspapers b. magazines and periodicals c. broadcast television d. regular radio e. the Internet and satellite radio
e
Which of these reasons motivate individuals to run for office? a. a sense of civic responsibility b. party loyalty and allegiance c. desire for financial and personal gain d. personal goals and desire for greater name recognition e. civic responsibility, party allegiance, personal goals, and desire for greater name recognition
e
Which political function(s) is/are performed by the media? a. providing political information b. helping interpret policy and events, and influencing the national policy agenda c. providing a forum for political conversations d. socializing children to political culture e. All these answers are correct.
e
Yellow journalism, or an irresponsible, sensationalist approach to news reporting, first appeared in which time period? a. 1850s b. 1860s c. 1870s d. 1880s e. 1890s
e
Many people over 50 join the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) in order to enjoy the discounts provided to members. This is an example of which type of incentive?
economic
When an interest group representing teachers lobbies a state legislature for an increase in retirement benefits, it is seeking to provide its members with ________ benefits.
economic
When interest groups engage in indirect strategies to support candidates supportive of their agendas, it is known as
electioneering.
In the iron triangle, which of the following is a benefit Congress derives from its relationship with interest groups?
electoral support
What role is undertaken by the majority party in legislatures at all levels?
elects the legislatures leaders
_________ theory posits that political power is dominated by the wealthy, who commonly use that power for the benefit of themselves.
elite
pluralist theory
emphasizes how important it is for a democracy to have large numbers of diverse interest groups representing a wide variety of views.
PACs (political action committees)
entity whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence the outcome of elections
All of the following are key Republican positions EXCEPT
environmental protection.
Which of the following occupations are represented by industry-specific organizations?
executives in business and industry
size of membership, cohesion, intensity, deomographics
factors that affect membership success
organizational resources and organizational envoirnment
factors that influence whether an interest group will succeed
The problem of someone deriving a benefit from the actions of others is known as the
free rider problem.
Which issue has been identified by political scientist Pippa Norris as a common frame through which journalists generate political stories?
gender
Most Americans have a ________ impression of interest groups.
generally negative
All of the following are powerful media audience attractors EXCEPT
good news reports.
ralph nader
has founded numerous organizations to promote the rights of consumers
china
has spent millions of dollars trying to influence trade and other U.S. policies to its advantage.
What is the best predictor of a person's party identification?
ideology
Which demographic characteristics have historically been the best predictors of interest group membership?
income and education
All of the following characterize the party system in the United States since 1968 EXCEPT
increased patronage.
The use of portable cellular technology like phones and tablets has
increased the traffic on major newspaper websites.
What is one major reason for the particularly low favorability ratings received by the Republican Party in recent times?
increasing factionalization within party ranks
In elections, PAC funding shapes electoral outcomes by tending to favor which type of candidate?
incumbents
Political Action Committees give a large majority of their contributions to
incumbents of both parties.
The sheer quantity and constant availability of information, which may cause media consumers to dismiss the significance of particular events, is known as
information overload.
Shows such as Samantha Bee's Full Frontal that unite comedy and political content are best described as
infotainment.
The Occupy Movement that protested income inequality reached a crescendo of activism in 2011, but activity has quieted significantly since that time. This is an example of what facet of interest group membership?
intensity
income, social class, and education
interest group participation is related to three demographic characteristics:
information
interest groups are one of the chief sources of ___ for policy
former government officials
interest groups hire ____ as lobbyists
umbrella organizations
interest groups that represent collective groups of industries or corporations
direct strategies
involve actual contact between representatives of the interest group and policy makers.
The interaction of mutual interests involving interest groups, government officials, and members of Congress is known as the
iron triangle.
During the era of the Second Party System, which political coalition rose to power?
jacksonian democrats
leadership and the presence or absence of opposition from other groups
key factors in the organizational environment of an interest group
policy issues, avenue of access, mobilize, stimulate
key functions of interest groups: Interest groups educate the public about __ Interest groups provide average citizens with an ___to activism. Interest groups __citizens and stimulate them to ___ in civic and political affairs
democrats
labor and traditional PACs tend to contribute more heavily to
public employee unions
labor organizations comprising federal, state, and municipal workers, including police officers and teachers
Which of the following are key factors in an interest groups' organizational environment?
leadership and opposition
For a range of reasons, children from working-class families are ________ to have been socialized to participate in traditional interest groups.
less likely
Between 2003 and 2011, the greatest increase in support for a third major party came from
liberals
teachers and tradespeople
likely to belong to labor unions
President Ulysses S. Grant coined which of the following terms after walking through the Willard Hotel and commenting on the presence of people who represented various interests and were waiting to speak to members of Congress?
lobbyist
business PACs and individuals with business interests
make up the largest sources of revenue for political candidates and tend to favor *republicans*
Which of the following is NOT among the vital functions served by interest groups?
making money an issue in politics
Political scientist Shanto Iyengar argues that a process known as ________ sets a context that helps people understand important events and matters of shared interest.
media framing
The ability of advertisers to target African Americans on Black Entertainment Television (BET) or Latinos on Telemundo is due to
media segmentation.
One recent study indicated that college students are ________ to join a politically motivated interest group than their peers who do not attend college.
more than twice as likely
Traditionally, media outlets and journalists have been labeled
mostly liberal.
purposive incentives, economic benefits, and solidary incentives
motivations for joing interest groups:
Gallup Organization surveys show that public trust and confidence in the mass media is ________ it was in the mid-1970s.
much lower now than
Most Americans have a ________ impression of interest groups
negative
Like the penny papers of the 1830s, blogs often lack
neutrality
Which state does not even require voters to register in order to participate in elections? a. Montana b. Oregon c. North Dakota d. Idaho e. Wyoming
north dakota
In 2015, approximately how many newsroom supervisors were women?
one-third
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 did which of the following?
opened communications markets to telephone companies
collective goods (public goods)
outcomes shared by the general public, result of efforts of public interest goups
Most of the FCC's rules deal with media
ownership.
An organization of ideologically similar people that nominates and elects its members to office is known as a political
party
Early in the nineteenth century, advances in technology allowed newspapers to drop their prices, which made possible newspapers known as the
penny press.
80%
percent of all Americans belong to some kind of voluntary group or association, although not every group is an interest group.
11
percent of all US workers belonging to unions
35
percent of all gov employees belonging to a labor union
All of the following are tenets of pluralist theory EXCEPT that
policy-making is an elite business, staffed by the powerful and highly educated.
Separate entities formed by interest groups whose specific goal is to raise and spend money to influence election outcomes are known as
political action committees.
Which of the following is the best way to describe the manner in which the media influence the setting of the public agenda?
priming
Which of the following BEST describes the emphasis of the Christian Coalition's platform?
promotion of "pro-family" values
Which voting system rewards political parties with a number of seats equal to the percentage of the vote it receives? A) winner-take-all B) proportional representation C) cumulative voting D) partial-list voting E) transferable voting
proportional representation
Belief in a group's cause is an example of which type of incentive?
purposive
Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) are motivated primarily by ________ incentives.
purposive
Which of the following best describes the status of political parties?
quasi-public
The theory that it does not make economic sense for someone to participate in collective action when they can receive a benefit without participating is known as
rational choice theory.
iron triangle
refers to the interaction of mutual interests among members of Congress, executive agencies, and organized interests during policy making.
tax-exempt status
religious interests were uninvolved in politics for a long time bc they were afraid of losing their
Which of the following was a major factor in the growth of partisan radio programming?
repeal of the FCC's fairness doctrine
What major factor, in addition to new technology, led newspapers in the 1830s to lower their prices?
sale of advertising
elite theory
says a ruling class composed of wealthy, educated individuals wields most of the power in government and also within the top universities, corporations, the military, and media outlets.
Relationships that improve our individual lives by giving us social connections to solve common problems are forms of
social capital.
Which type of incentive for joining interest groups is closely linked to Robert Putnam's idea of social capital?
solidary
The term narrowcasting means the practice of aiming media content at
specific segments of the public.
Studies by various political scientists have found that most news stories
take the form of a debate.
Which of the following occupations are represented by labor unions?
teachers and tradespeople
Which media technology dominated between the 1940s and 1980?
television
Which of the following is the dominant medium by which young children receive both entertainment and socialization?
television
All of these technologies are considered new media, EXCEPT
television.
New media include all of the following, EXCEPT
television.
income and education
tend to be the best predictors of interest group membership
All of these are examples of public interest groups EXCEPT
the AFL-CIO.
Which of the following has the GREATEST influence on enabling people to communicate their views?
the Internet
On which of the following do voters increasingly rely for political information and knowledge?
the Internet and cellular phones
Which religious interest organization was instrumental in Ronald Reagan's 1980 election to the presidency?
the Moral Majority
solidary incentives
the feeling of belonging, companionship, friendship, and the satisfaction derived from socializing with others.
issue network
the fluid web of connections among those concerned about a policy and those who create and administer the policy
Before the advent of non-print media, the most notable exception to the historically one-way tradition of people forming opinions based on what they read, heard, and saw was
the letter to the editor.
college students
the most avid participants in internet-based activist groups
climate control
the practice of using public outreach to build favorable public opinion of the organization or company.
social capital
the relationships that improve our lives by giving us social connections with which to solve common problems.
organizational environment
the setting in which an interest group attempts to achieve their goals
organizational resources
the tools an interest group has at its disposal to help achieve its goals
economic incentives
they want to support groups that work for policies that will provide them with economic benefits.
How many "faces," or spheres of operation, do American political parties have?
three
lobby
to communicate directly with, policy makers on the interest groups' behalf.
Which of the following public perspectives on media bias gained the highest response rate?
too liberal
All of the following are concerns about large corporate conglomerate control over the media EXCEPT that
too much competition will dilute the quality of the news.
For what reason is a foreign interest MOST likely to lobby the U.S. government?
trade policies
membership and financial resources
two key types of organizational resources that interest groups rely on:
direct and indirect
two kinds of strategies used by interest groups to advance their causes
public interest groups
typically are concerned with a broad range of issues that affect the populace at large.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce represents a collective group of large and small businesses; it is an example of which type of interest group?
umbrella organization
indirect strategies
use intermediaries to advocate for a cause or generally to attempt to persuade the public, including policy makers, to embrace the group's position.
. As opposed to pluralist theory, elite theory posits that
wealthy, educated individuals control the direction of major policy.
As opposed to pluralist theory, elite theory posits that
wealthy, educated individuals control the direction of major policy.
Traditional media sources include all of the following, EXCEPT
websites.
electioneering
working to influence the elections of candidates who support the organization's issues
Encouraging the outbreak of the Spanish-American War is the most famous example of what type of journalism?
yellow journalism
