Deck 9: Political Parties

Question 1

Which level of party organization is most responsible for helping the party's nominee win the presidency?

A) precinct
B) county
C) state
D) national

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Critical Thinking Questions



-If you were required to become active in some aspect of a political party, what activity and level of party organization would you choose and why?

Answer 2

Answers will vary according to personal choice, but a sample answer might look like the following:] It is preferable to engage at the state level. State party organizations recruit candidates to run for both state and national office and organize state primaries. Thus, there is more need for people to help at this level and more to do. Getting in at the state level is also a good way to meet state party leaders, helpful for those who may be interested in a political career of their own one day. Most national candidates make a name for themselves at the state level first. Because money is always needed for candidates' campaigns and voter turnout is often an issue, fundraising, helping people to register, and reminding people to vote are useful activities to undertake.

Question 3

How do members of the party organization differ from party identifiers? What role does each play in the party as a whole?

Answer 3

Party organization members are active in recruitment, registration, fundraising, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Identifiers may donate money, but typically they only vote.

Question 4

How have the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street Movement affected partisan politics?

Question 5

What techniques led the Democratic Party to national prominence in the 1830s through 1850s?

Question 6

Critical Thinking Questions



-In what ways are political parties of the people and in what ways might they be more responsive to elites?

Question 7

Which of the following does not represent a major contributing factor in party realignment?

A) demographic shifts
B) changes in key issues
C) changes in party strategies
D) third parties

Question 8

In what ways do political parties collude with state and local government to prevent the rise of new parties?

Question 9

Why were the early U.S. political parties formed?

Question 10

Does gerrymandering lead to increased polarization?

Question 11

Why is winning votes so important to political parties? How does the need to win elections affect party structures?

Question 12

Critical Thinking Questions



-Is it possible for a serious third party to emerge in the United States, positioned ideologically between the Democrats on the left and the Republicans on the right? Why or why not?

Question 13

What is the sorting thesis, and what does it suggest as the cause of party polarization?

Question 14

Which supporter of federalism warned people about the dangers of political parties?

A) John Adams
B) Alexander Hamilton
C) James Madison
D) George Washington

Question 15

Critical Thinking Questions



-Is it preferable for the U.S. government to have unified party control or divided government? Why?

Question 16

In which type of electoral system do voters select the party of their choice rather than an individual candidate?

A) proportional representation
B) first-past-the-post
C) plurality voting
D) majoritarian voting

Question 17

What impact, if any, do third parties typically have on U.S. elections?

Question 18

Critical Thinking Questions



-In general, do parties make the business of government easier or harder to accomplish?

Question 19

Which of the following was not a third-party challenger?

A) Whig Party
B) Progressive Party
C) Dixiecrats
D) Green Party

Question 20

What are the positives and negatives of partisan polarization?