Question 1

A political party is a group of individuals who do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Political parties exist to win elections and operate the government. They organize themselves to run candidates in elections, promote their policies and ideas to the public, and ultimately gain power in order to implement their agenda. While party members may generally agree on policy issues and values, there is often internal disagreement and debate on specific issues. Party members do not necessarily answer strictly to designated leaders and are not required to pay monthly dues to an ideological organization.

Question 2

Which of the following is the primary goal of an American political party?

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of an American political party is to get their candidates elected to office by winning elections.

Question 3

After winning office in 1828, Andrew Jackson shortened the name of his party to what, signaling that it was a new kind of political party organization?

Accepted Answer

Andrew Jackson shortened the name of his party to the Democratic Party, signaling that it was a new kind of political party organization with a focus on popular participation and the expansion of democratic rights.

Question 4

Which of the following is a group of individuals who join together to choose candidates for elected office, whether by informal group voting or a formal nominating process?

Accepted Answer

Political parties are groups of people who come together to nominate candidates for office and work to achieve those candidates' election or appointment to office. Interest groups, labor unions, lobbies, and special interests may seek to influence the political process or policies, but they do not choose candidates for office.

Question 5

Which of the following best describes George Washington's views on political parties?

Accepted Answer

George Washington believed that political parties were a threat to national unity and popular government. In his farewell address, he warned against the dangers of political factions and urged Americans to avoid them. He believed that political parties would encourage individuals to place their own interests above those of the country, and that they would ultimately weaken the government and its ability to serve the people.

Question 6

The four most important functions of a political party are structuring the voting choice in elections, proposing alternative government programs, coordinating the actions of government officials, and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Nominating candidates for election to public office is one of the key functions of a political party as it helps to structure the voting choice in elections. Political parties identify, recruit, and support candidates who share their ideology and values, and help to build their public image and reputation to attract voters.

Question 7

The first partisan political division in the United States was between which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The first partisan political division in the United States was between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists, with the Federalists supporting a stronger federal government and the Anti-Federalists advocating for states' rights and a more limited federal government. This division ultimately led to the ratification of the Constitution, with the Federalists winning out in the debate.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes political parties during the period leading up to the Civil War?

Accepted Answer

The Whig Party, formerly the major opposition to the Democratic Party, split over the issue of slavery in the 1850s, with some Northern antislavery Whigs joining forces with members of other parties to become the Republican Party. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. The Federalist Party, which had dissolved in the 1820s, did not experience a resurgence of support during this time period, making option C incorrect. Option A and E are partially correct but do not fully encapsulate the political changes that occurred leading up to the Civil War.

Question 9

Which of the following describes the formation of the modern Republican Party?

Accepted Answer

The modern Republican Party was formed from a coalition of antislavery factions. The party's first platform, in 1856, declared its opposition to the expansion of slavery.

Question 10

What most distinguishes political parties from interest groups like the AFL-CIO and the National Association of Manufacturers?

Accepted Answer

Political parties nominate candidates to run for office as their avowed representatives and focus on a broad range of issues, while interest groups typically focus on one specific issue and do not nominate candidates for office. Additionally, political parties generally have more money than interest groups, but this is not the main distinguishing factor between the two. Both political parties and interest groups can have clear political ideologies, and pluralists generally view interest groups as necessary for democracy to function.

Question 11

Which party won most presidential elections from 1932, during the Great Depression, through the election of 1964, when the turbulent 1960s created the environment for a major political realignment?

Accepted Answer

During the period of 1932-1964, the Democratic Party won most presidential elections. This period marked the era of the New Deal coalition, which was formed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and included support from labor unions, urban voters, African Americans, and other minority groups. The Democrats won seven out of nine presidential elections during this time, including the election of Roosevelt to an unprecedented four terms in office. The only exceptions were Dwight D. Eisenhower's two victories as a Republican in 1952 and 1956.

Question 12

Which of the following lays out the party's core beliefs and policy proposals?

Accepted Answer

A party platform is a document that outlines a political party's core beliefs and policy proposals. It serves as a roadmap for the party's candidates and elected officials to follow. The other options listed may also refer to important party documents, but they do not specifically address a party's beliefs and policies.

Question 13

When an election elicits a sharp change in the existing patterns of party loyalty among groups of voters, it is called which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A critical election is one that leads to a significant shift in the way voters align themselves, often resulting in a new political era or realignment.

Question 14

From 1832 to 1856, which two parties dominated American politics and presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party and the Whig Party dominated American politics and presidential elections from 1832 to 1856.

Question 15

Just prior to the Civil War, which party was born from a coalition of antislavery Liberty Party members, Free Soilers, and antislavery northern Democrats?

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party was born from a coalition of antislavery Liberty Party members, Free Soilers, and antislavery northern Democrats just prior to the Civil War.

Question 16

The main purpose of a political party is to do which of the following in order to control government and implement its policies?

Accepted Answer

The main purpose of a political party is to win elections in order to control government and implement its policies. While nominating candidates, shaping the judiciary, discussing policy, and registering voters are important functions of political parties, they all ultimately serve the purpose of winning elections and gaining control of government.

Question 17

The first political parties in the United States, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, had opposing views related to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Federalists favored a strong central government and believed that the national government should have more power than the state governments. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, believed in a more decentralized government with more power given to the states. This fundamental disagreement over the amount of power granted to the national government led to the formation of the first political parties in the United States.

Question 18

The Republican Party was established to deal with which of the following issues?

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party was established in 1854 primarily to oppose the expansion of slavery into new territories of the United States.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes realignment?

Accepted Answer

Realignment occurs when a significant group of voters shift their party affiliation. This can result in a lasting change in the political landscape, such as the New Deal realignment in the 1930s when many voters switched from the Republican to the Democratic Party. Realignment is not tied to specific elections or on a schedule, and does not necessarily involve one dominant party replacing another. While realignment can be predicted and speculated on, it is not inevitable in the foreseeable future.

Question 20

What term is used to describe the phenomenon when voters adjust their long-term allegiance from one party to another in response to ideological changes?

Accepted Answer

Realignment refers to the process where voters shift their long-term allegiance from one political party to another due to ideological changes. This usually takes place after a major event such as a shift in the dominant political issue or a major election that affects the political landscape, leading to significant changes in party loyalties among voters. This contrasts with party identification, which refers to the long-term psychological attachment that voters have with a particular political party, regardless of changes in party ideology.

Quiz 8: Political Parties