Question 1

When we speak of divided government in the states, we typically mean that one party controls the governor's office and another party controls the legislature.

Accepted Answer

When we speak of divided government in the states, we typically mean that one party controls the governor's office and another party controls the legislature.

Question 2

In spite of the fact that two political parties dominate politics in the states; third parties have achieved limited success in some states.

Accepted Answer

Third parties such as the Libertarian Party and Green Party have achieved limited success in some states, including winning local elections and gaining ballot access. However, they still face significant obstacles in gaining national recognition and representation in Congress.

Question 3

What 1976 U.S.Supreme Court case held that governments could not limit a person's right to spend money in order to spread his or her particular political views in political campaigns?

Accepted Answer

The 1976 U.S. Supreme Court case that held that governments could not limit a person's right to spend money in order to spread his or her particular political views in political campaigns is Buckley v. Valeo.

Question 4

Political parties in the states often develop factions-that is, identifiable subsets within the party, such as liberal versus conservative or urban versus rural.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Political parties in the states often have factions or subsets within the party based on various factors such as ideology, demographics, and geography.

Question 5

The condition of contemporary American political parties has been described with words such as decline, decay, and demise, but a more precise description may be that political parties are in the process of transformation.

Accepted Answer

Political parties are facing challenges and changes, but they are not necessarily completely declining and dying out. Instead, they are adapting and evolving to new political and social dynamics.

Question 6

Republicans typically have been considered the party of big business, and the Democrats the party of workers.

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party has often been associated with advocating for business-friendly policies and corporate interests, while the Democratic Party has historically been seen as a champion for workers' rights and advocating for policies that address income inequality.

Question 7

In efforts to reform negative advertising,

Accepted Answer

Spot checks on claims made by candidates can hold them accountable for their statements and provide voters with accurate information. It also puts pressure on candidates to be truthful in their advertising. The other options either do not directly address negative advertising or rely on legal action, which can be a slow and costly process.

Question 8

To a candidate, one of the most valuable services the state party can provide is access to its database of party voters.

Accepted Answer

Access to a state party's voter database can provide a candidate with valuable information and targeted outreach to potential supporters.

Question 9

Running for public office has become increasingly expensive.To try to level the playing field and diminish the role of private money, most states

Accepted Answer

The best choice is D because it states that most states limit contributions and provide for public financing, which is a way to level the playing field and diminish the role of private money in politics. This option acknowledges the reality of the current political landscape while still attempting to address the issue of money in politics. Choice A is not entirely accurate, as some states still allow contributions from certain special-interest groups, such as labor unions. Choice B is also inaccurate, as some states have continued to pass laws to limit the influence of money in politics despite the Supreme Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo. Choice C is not accurate, as not all states provide public financing for all major elections.

Question 10

Most states currently exhibit substantial two-party competition.

Accepted Answer

The majority of states in the United States have a two-party system with significant competition between the Democratic and Republican Parties. However, there are some states where third-party candidates and independents may occasionally have a chance of winning an election or exerting influence in the political process.

Question 11

State political parties are stronger today than at any time in the nation's history.

Accepted Answer

State political parties were stronger in the past, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In recent years, there has been a trend towards independent voters and a decrease in party loyalty. However, political parties still play a significant role in the political process.

Question 12

State efforts at campaign reform have generally been effective with regard to

Accepted Answer

Efforts at campaign reform have been effective in establishing campaign finance reporting and providing online databases for transparency in campaign contributions.

Question 13

Two-party competition is increasing in the states at a time when the states are becoming the political battleground for the resolution of many difficult policy issues.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true.

Question 14

Negative advertising aimed at a political opponent is

Accepted Answer

Negative advertising can be a powerful tool in the hands of clever and aggressive politicians, but it also has the potential to backfire and create a backlash against the side employing it. This is because voters may perceive negative advertising as overly aggressive or unfair, and may be turned off by it.

Question 15

Since the end of the Civil War, the southern states have remained single-party Democratic strongholds.

Accepted Answer

Since the Civil Rights Movement and the subsequent political realignment, the southern states have largely shifted to become Republican strongholds.

Question 16

The weakening of an individual's attachment to political parties is called realignment.

Accepted Answer

The weakening of an individual's attachment to political parties is called dealignment, not realignment. Realignment refers to a significant shift in the political landscape, often involving changes in party support or ideology.

Question 17

The existence of only two major political parties in the United States is attributable to Article VII of the United States Constitution, which mandates that the nation will have only two major parties.

Accepted Answer

Article VII of the United States Constitution does not specify the number of political parties that should exist in the country. The two-party system in the US developed over time due to various factors such as winner-takes-all elections, political polarization, and the electoral college system.

Question 18

The goal of the 2002 Federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was

Accepted Answer

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act aimed to control the amount of soft money influenced in federal elections by banning national political party committees from accepting or spending any soft money, which were unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions that could be used to influence elections but not donated directly to political candidates. By doing so, the act sought to reduce the perception that wealthy special interests could buy influence with elected officials. It also created new limits on the amount that individuals and PACs could donate directly to candidates and parties. However, the act did not increase the use of publicly financed campaigns.

Question 19

Voters display a remarkable penchant for ticket splitting-that is, voting for a Democrat for one office and a Republican for another in the same election.

Accepted Answer

Ticket splitting refers to the practice of voters choosing candidates from different political parties for different offices in the same election, indicating a willingness to cross party lines rather than voting strictly along party lines for all positions. This behavior demonstrates voters' evaluation of individual candidates over party allegiance in certain instances.

Question 20

Groups that spend money to influence the outcome of elections but do not contribute directly to candidates are called

Accepted Answer

527 groups are tax-exempt organizations that can spend money on election-related activities but are prohibited from contributing directly to candidates. Political action committees (PACs) can contribute directly to candidates, but 527 groups cannot. Political consulting groups and soft money interest groups may be involved in election-related activities or spending, but they are not specifically defined as groups that spend money to influence elections without directly contributing to candidates.

Quiz 5: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

When we speak of divided government in the states, we typically mean that one party controls the governor's office and another party controls the legislature.

In spite of the fact that two political parties dominate politics in the states; third parties have achieved limited success in some states.

What 1976 U.S.Supreme Court case held that governments could not limit a person's right to spend money in order to spread his or her particular political views in political campaigns?

Political parties in the states often develop factions-that is, identifiable subsets within the party, such as liberal versus conservative or urban versus rural.

The condition of contemporary American political parties has been described with words such as decline, decay, and demise, but a more precise description may be that political parties are in the process of transformation.

Republicans typically have been considered the party of big business, and the Democrats the party of workers.

In efforts to reform negative advertising,

To a candidate, one of the most valuable services the state party can provide is access to its database of party voters.

Running for public office has become increasingly expensive.To try to level the playing field and diminish the role of private money, most states

Most states currently exhibit substantial two-party competition.

State political parties are stronger today than at any time in the nation's history.

State efforts at campaign reform have generally been effective with regard to

Two-party competition is increasing in the states at a time when the states are becoming the political battleground for the resolution of many difficult policy issues.

Negative advertising aimed at a political opponent is

Since the end of the Civil War, the southern states have remained single-party Democratic strongholds.

The weakening of an individual's attachment to political parties is called realignment.

The existence of only two major political parties in the United States is attributable to Article VII of the United States Constitution, which mandates that the nation will have only two major parties.

The goal of the 2002 Federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was

Voters display a remarkable penchant for ticket splitting-that is, voting for a Democrat for one office and a Republican for another in the same election.

Groups that spend money to influence the outcome of elections but do not contribute directly to candidates are called