Question 1

Why do seats in the House of Representatives need to be reapportioned?

Accepted Answer

The number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives is determined by its population, which can increase or decrease over time, necessitating reapportionment to ensure representation is proportional to current population figures.

Question 2

According to research by Jacobs and Shapiro,why do politicians use public opinion polls?

Accepted Answer

Politicians use public opinion polls to shape their messages to the public, allowing them to tailor their communication strategies to align with public sentiment and increase their appeal.

Question 3

Political protests are often described as __________.

Accepted Answer

Protests are typically designed to be dramatic and unconventional to attract public and media attention, distinguishing them from more conventional forms of political participation.

Question 4

Darrell M.West argues that the United States needs to reorient its immigration policy toward enhancing economic development.Which of the following potential immigrants would he think is most deserving of an immigrant visa?

Accepted Answer

Darrell M. West's argument for reorienting U.S. immigration policy towards enhancing economic development suggests a preference for immigrants who can contribute significantly to the economy. A Turkish national with a promising new manufacturing process fits this criterion by potentially offering economic benefits through innovation and job creation.

Question 5

From which of the following populations should you select a sample to determine if families with children would use school vouchers to send their children to charter schools?

Accepted Answer

Parents of children under age 18 are the most relevant group to survey about using school vouchers for charter schools, as they are directly affected by this issue.

Question 6

Which of the following viewpoints is more likely to be held by a political liberal than by a political conservative?

Accepted Answer

Liberals generally support the idea that the government should play a significant role in regulating the economy to ensure public welfare, which contrasts with conservative views that often prioritize minimal government intervention in economic matters.

Question 7

How do liberals differ from conservatives?

Accepted Answer

Liberals generally support a wide scope for the central government, especially in policies aimed at promoting equality, such as social welfare programs and regulations designed to reduce economic disparities. This contrasts with conservative views, which typically emphasize smaller government, personal responsibility, and free market principles.

Question 8

Which of the following do politicians tend to ignore?

Accepted Answer

Politicians tend to ignore nonvoters because they focus their efforts on those who are likely to vote, as engaging with active voters is more likely to influence election outcomes. Nonvoters, by not participating in the electoral process, generally receive less attention from politicians who are seeking to maximize their support and influence.

Question 9

What was the effect of the 1924 immigration law that established official quotas for immigrants based on national origin?

Accepted Answer

The 1924 immigration law, also known as the National Origins Act, established quotas that favored immigrants from northwestern Europe, significantly reducing immigration from other regions and altering the composition of immigration to the United States.

Question 10

Which of the following statements about American attitudes toward the scope of government is true?

Accepted Answer

A majority of Americans generally believe that the federal government should be more efficient and streamlined, reflecting a preference for limited government intervention.

Question 11

Which sector do conservatives generally favor?

Accepted Answer

Conservatives generally favor the private sector because they believe in limited government intervention in the economy and that private companies are more efficient in providing services and goods.

Question 12

Which of the following generally increase with age?

Accepted Answer

Political participation and strength of party attachment generally increase with age as individuals have more time to engage with political systems and develop stronger affiliations with political parties. This is due to a combination of factors including increased political knowledge, more stable political beliefs, and a greater sense of civic duty often found in older populations.

Question 13

According to Russell Neuman,the "paradox of mass politics" is that the American political system works as well as it does despite __________.

Accepted Answer

The "paradox of mass politics," as described by Russell Neuman, highlights the functioning of the American political system despite the public's general lack of knowledge about politics. This suggests that, counterintuitively, the system can operate effectively even when the electorate is not highly informed about political matters.

Question 14

Assume that Howard and Javier used proper sampling techniques to draw two samples of Hispanic Floridians.Each sample will be surveyed about proposed immigration policy reform and its impact on Hispanics living in the state.The samples were selected identically,but one includes 1,000 respondents and the other consists of 2,000 respondents.Given the information presented in this scenario,which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

Larger sample sizes generally lead to more precise estimates, reducing sampling error and increasing confidence in the results.

Question 15

Women are more likely than men to cast their ballots for which type of candidate?

Accepted Answer

Women are more likely to support Democratic candidates who advocate for increased spending on social services rather than on the military, reflecting the gender gap in American politics that generally shows a preference for the Democratic Party among women.

Question 16

According to Ronald Reagan,what was the main cause of society's problems?

Accepted Answer

Reagan believed that government overreach was the main cause of society's problems, emphasizing that excessive government intervention and regulation hindered personal freedom and economic growth.

Question 17

Which of the following is a disadvantage of conducting a public opinion survey over the phone?

Accepted Answer

People are generally less willing to participate in telephone surveys compared to in-person surveys, partly due to polling fatigue and the impersonal nature of phone calls.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about the 1936 Literary Digest poll that predicted Roosevelt's reelection defeat is true?

Accepted Answer

The 1936 Literary Digest poll is infamous for its sampling bias, particularly for oversampling higher-income individuals. This occurred because the poll relied on telephone directories and motor vehicle registration lists for its sampling frame, which at the time were more likely to include wealthier individuals, who were less supportive of Roosevelt.

Question 19

In a random sample of 1,000 high school students,29 percent indicated that they had read the Declaration of Independence at least once,with a sampling error of 4 percent.Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The sampling error of 4 percent means the true percentage of the population who have read the Declaration of Independence could be 4 percent higher or lower than the observed 29 percent, thus between 25 and 33 percent.

Question 20

How is political participation defined?

Accepted Answer

Political participation is broadly defined as all the activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. This includes a wide range of activities such as voting, campaigning, attending political meetings, activism, and engaging in various forms of political communication.

Quiz 6: Public Opinion and Political Action