Unit 10 Political Parties and Elections Quiz

Ticket splitting was most prominent during which decade? A). 1970s B). 1990s C). 1980s D). 1960s E). 1970s

A). 1970s

In the 2012 presidential election, ______ used the internet most successfully to attract followers and raise donations A). Barack Obama B). Joe Lieberman C). John McCain D). Hillary Clinton E). Mitt Romney

A). Barack Obama

Organizationally, U.S. party organizations are A). Decentralized and fragmented B). Centralized and weak C). Decentralized and strong D). Centralized and strong E). No longer in operation

A). Decentralized and fragmented

Which of the following statements about the patronage system is true? A). It was a means of rewarding party workers for their loyalty B). It was the first established in the early 20th century C). It had fallen increasingly into the hands of party organizations D). It weakens the bond that most federal staff members my otherwise feel for the congressperson under which they work E). Today there are almost no patronage jobs left

A). It was a means of rewarding party workers for their loyalty

Roughly how much of campaign spending is devoted to producing and airing televised political advertisements? A). One-half B). Three-quarters C). One-quarter D). One-third E). One-tenth

A). One-half

The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of A). Political parties B). High voter turnout C). Separation of powers D). Economic recessions E). Protest movements

A). Political parties

The function that the national party organizations perform in relation to congressional candidates can best be described as a A). Service role - helping candidates conduct their personal campaigns B). Power role - making party assistance conditional upon the candidates' endorsement of the party platform C). Central role - organizing and conducting the campaigns for the candidates D). Non-participant role - staying out of congressional campaigns and assisting only in the presidential campaign E). None of these answers is correct

A). Service role - helping candidates conduct their personal campaigns

Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to A). When legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections B). Receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls C). Win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support D). And patronage appointments, which serves as an incentive to lure campaign workers E). Advertise on television

A). When legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections

______ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party A). Prospective voting B). Retrospective voting C). Split-ticket voting D). Straight ticket voting E). None of these answers is correct

B). Retrospective voting

Andrew Jackson's contribution to the development of political parties was the A). Forging of a coalition of Democrats and Whigs B). Introduction of primary elections C). Formation of a new type of grassroots party organization D). Formation of the Federalist Party E). Formation of the Republican Party

C). Formation of a new type of grassroots party organization

State central committees A). Endorse candidates in their state-wide primaries but do not have formal control over who is chosen B). Have the final say in who will be chosen as the candidates for national office from their party in their home state. C). Provide only general policy guidance for their state organizations D). Are prevented from participating in fundraising and voter registration because they receive government funding E). Concentrate most strongly on national elections

C). Provide only general policy guidance for the state organizations

If a minor party gains a large following, it is almost certain that A). The major parties will join together to attach the minor party B). Congress will enact legislation to make it difficult for the minor party to get on the ballot C). Party in-fighting will tear it apart D). One or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support E). The media will attack the minor party

D). One or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support

During the twentieth century, American parties lost their complete control over A). Nominations B). Financing C). Platforms D). The staffing of government jobs E). All of these answers are correct

E). All of these answers are correct

Political parties in the United States originated partly as a political feud between A). Marshall and Adams B). Adams and Jefferson C). Lincoln and Douglas D). Cleveland and Bryan E). Hamilton and Jefferson

E). Hamilton and Jefferson

For most of its history, the U.S. has had a two party political system which is primarily the result of it using __________ to select its elected officials A). Party organizations B). Primary elections C). Publicly funded campaigns D). Party coalitions E). Single-member districts

E). Single-member districts