Political Science Review Exam 2

Why do dictatorships generally tolerate the presence of political parties?

Dictators use political parties to provide the illusion of a more democratic government.

In what sense do parties help to maintain government legitimacy?

They give citizens a way to communicate their needs to the government.

Which of these is a characteristic of single-party systems?

They lack ideological commitment. They are generally poorly organized. They lack competition and accountability. They foster too much competition to retain stability.

Which of the following is most likely to result in a pollster recording a non-attitude response for a participant? asking the participant his opinion on a religious issue asking the participant about an issue that he is passionate about asking the participant his opinion on crime in his neighborhood asking the participant his opinion on an especially complex issue

asking the participant his opinion on an especially complex issue

In order to prevent interest groups from influencing politics, it would be necessary to curtail their __________.

freedom of expression

A "stalemate society" is one in which __________.

government is trapped by competing interests

A media that is critical of its nation's government is typically indicative of a __________.

high degree of democracy

A pollster can decrease a poll's margin of error by __________.

increasing the sample size

A strong party system is likely to produce __________.

ineffective public policies

In a two-party system, third parties tend to __________.

remind the major parties about voter discontent

A strong state is necessary for a healthy interest group environment because strong states have __________.

the ability to keep groups from acting outside the law

Which of these changes is likely to have the greatest impact on the number of parties in a country's political system? a wave of anti-corruption reform a tightening of campaign finance regulations the loosening of rules about who may run for office the introduction of a proportional representation system

the introduction of a proportional representation system

What is the relationship between alternation in power and democratic elections?

Both must have an element of uncertainty and fluidity.

Which statement explains why government bureaucracies tend to become influential interest groups? Bureaucrats in specialized agencies have a major role in crafting legislation. Bureaucrats in umbrella agencies have a major role in setting the legislative agenda. Bureaucrats in specialized agencies have a major role in vetting presidential appointees. Bureaucrats in umbrella agencies have a major role in getting Congressional candidates elected.

Bureaucrats in specialized agencies have a major role in crafting legislation.

Incomplete or late attempts to integrate subcultures into the mainstream may cause those subcultures to seek __________.

Independence

Which of these is true about the party system in the United States?

It is rare for individuals to change their party identification.

Which statement explains why electoral propaganda can be considered beneficial for a democratic society?

It simplifies complex issues for voters.

Lower levels of education, along with corresponding lower incomes, reduce the likelihood that people will __________.

Lower levels of education, along with corresponding lower incomes, reduce the likelihood that people will __________.

Which is a major shortcoming of a government that is heavily influenced by interest groups?

Many people do not have the resources to organize into a group that can influence the government.

What do studies on political culture and public opinion have in common?

Responses are often tracked over time to find patterns.

What German thinker argued that any organization, no matter how democratic its intent, ends up run by a small elite?

Robert Michels

Which condition suggests that a state's elections are rigged?

The regime controls most or all of the press in the country.

Which of the following is the strongest source of political socialization?

family

The main way that democratic governments are held accountable is through __________.

regular electoral challenge

__________ has grown in the political cultures of most advanced democracies.

Cynicism

Which statement represents a pluralist explanation for increases in defense spending? Increases in defense spending mainly reflect intense lobbying by weapons manufacturers. Increases in defense spending reflect the personal preferences of elected officials. Defense spending increases when the public demands greater attention be paid to national security threats. d. Increases in defense spending are typically random adjustments reflecting fluctuations in tax revenue.

Defense spending increases when the public demands greater attention be paid to national security threats.

Governments often engage in overt socialization through __________.

Education

Which statement explains the claim that "democracy does not always equal freedom"?

Even democratic elections can produce regimes that limit rights and freedoms.

Which statement explains why the implementation of "responsible party government" is difficult in the United States? American parties are highly centralized. Party power is too heavily concentrated in Congress. American political parties are very ideological and focused on specific issues. Party power is highly fragmented and divided across branches of government.

Party power is highly fragmented and divided across branches of government.

Which statement explains why the issue of access challenges the pluralist theory? Pluralists assume that larger interest groups have greater access to fund-raising opportunities. Pluralists argue that access to government benefits should be evenly distributed to all interest groups. Pluralists argue that access to policy makers should be limited to those groups whose interests align with the public good. Pluralists assume that all groups have access to policy makers when some groups are actually shut out of the system almost entirely.

Pluralists assume that all groups have access to policy makers when some groups are actually shut out of the system almost entirely.

Why might a government go ahead with a policy or action that the majority of citizens oppose?

Public opinion does not always reflect what is best for the nation.

Which of the following viewpoints is most consistent with elite political culture? Running for office is viable and realistic. Voting is a waste of time. The political bureaucracy is impossible to navigate. Politicians are all lawyers who will say whatever they think you want to hear.

Running for office is viable and realistic.

What is one reason that distrusting the government can be a good thing?

Skeptical citizens are more likely than trusting citizens to notice and oppose government corruption.

Which statement explains why public opinion is an important consideration for both democratic and authoritarian governments? Public opinion provides leaders with smart policy ideas. Manipulating public opinion is necessary to maintain social control. Every society needs to have uniformity of public opinion to remain strong. Strong public dissent can lead to an electoral defeat or the collapse of the regime.

Strong public dissent can lead to an electoral defeat or the collapse of the regime.

Which statement explains why elected officials in the United States are less likely to be able to enact the agenda of their party than elected officials in Europe? U.S. parties are more ideological than European parties. U.S. parties must satisfy a broader range of interests than European parties. The United States has a written constitution that specifies what parties can and cannot do. The U.S. system is characterized by checks and balances that put obstacles in the way of legislation.

The U.S. system is characterized by checks and balances that put obstacles in the way of legislation.

States with which type of government regularly use organized terror and violence against citizens to maintain control and achieve goals?

Totalitarianism

Under which of these systems is party discipline likely to be highest? a system in which the population is highly polarized along ideological lines a highly centralized system in which candidate selection is in the hands of party leaders a decentralized system in which candidate selection is in the hands of local party organizations a system where candidate selection is partly in the hands of party leaders and partly in the hands of local organizations

a highly centralized system in which candidate selection is in the hands of party leaders

An interest group with structured access has __________ relationship with government.

a stable and beneficial

For interest groups to function properly, there must be __________.

a strong government

In any country in the world, which of the following people would you expect to participate the most in politics?

a wealthy business leader

Elite theorists and pluralists differ on whether or not __________.

any single group has a monopoly on the influence over government policies

Which type of distribution curve is the most dangerous for a democracy?

bimodal

Interest groups in the United States tend to over-represent __________.

business interests

In most democratic countries, major parties attempt to be _________ in order to win a large number of votes

catchall parties

A government-created interest group is one that results from __________.

creation of a government program or bureaucracy

A subculture can be expected to have __________ than the mainstream culture around it.

different voting habits

One benefit of a system with frequent alternation in power is __________.

effective control over corruption

Published surveys tend to be more carefully watched by the public during __________.

election years

What does public opinion polling provide that election results cannot? the popularity of specific candidates insight into citizens' views on specific issues a clear indication which political party is dominant information about candidates' real views on the issues.

insight into citizens' views on specific issues

Which of these is the most significant cause for democratic failure?

lack of a middle class

Political parties differ from interest groups because parties __________.

must win elections to influence policy

According to Almond, the elite might pay attention public because the attentive public tends to __________.

pass on views that mobilize the general public

Which feature of democracy may still exist in an authoritarian regime?

periodic elections

Which term describes a democratic system where all kinds of people with different opinions and values compete to influence government policy?

pluralist

Some political thinkers are concerned about U.S. stability if __________ continues to grow.

polarization

Studies of __________ look for basic, general values regarding politics and government.

political culture

Suppose two surveys are conducted, one asking people's level of support for "welfare" and the other using the term "assistance to the poor." The former survey finds much lower support than the latter. This discrepancy shows that __________. public opinion surveys are generally unreliable pollsters should avoid questions dealing with social policy a misinformed public will provide inconsistent survey answers pollsters must be careful to word questions in ways that avoid biased responses

pollsters must be careful to word questions in ways that avoid biased responses

What evidence would pluralists most likely cite to support their claims that elites are ultimately accountable? the comparative wealth of most members of Congress tax cuts given to the richest 1 percent of the population the millions spent by corporations to back the major political parties the millions of dollars that tobacco firms have paid out in lawsuits and settlements

the millions of dollars that tobacco firms have paid out in lawsuits and settlements