Question 1

__________ believed that a stable federal government that could collect tax revenue, fund and regulate a national army, regulate foreign and domestic trade, and stabilize currency would make the American democratic experiment a success.

Accepted Answer

The Federalists, including figures like Alexander Hamilton, believed in a strong central government that had the power to collect taxes, regulate trade, maintain a standing army, and stabilize the currency to ensure the success of the American democratic experiment.

Question 2

In changing the location of the nomination process to parties at the state level starting in 1828, it _______ the number of people involved in making the decision about who could run for president.

Accepted Answer

Moving the nomination process to parties at the state level in 1828 significantly increased the number of individuals participating in the decision-making process regarding presidential candidates, making the process more democratic and inclusive.

Question 3

An electoral system that assigns one seat in a legislative body to represent citizens who live in a district is known as a

Accepted Answer

A single-member plurality system is one in which each electoral district elects one representative to the legislative body, typically the candidate who receives the most votes in that district, even if it is not an absolute majority. This system is also commonly referred to as a "first-past-the-post" system.

Question 4

The Progressive Party was successful in getting Congress to pass and the states to ratify the __________ on April 8, 1913, which allowed for the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters themselves.

Accepted Answer

The Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on April 8, 1913, established the direct election of U.S. senators by the voters of the states, a reform advocated by the Progressive Party.

Question 5

In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt ran for president as the ________ Party candidate.

Accepted Answer

In 1912, Teddy Roosevelt ran for president as the candidate of the Progressive Party, which was also known as the "Bull Moose Party." He had previously been a Republican president but split from the Republican Party when he did not secure the nomination.

Question 6

The erosion of party organizations' control over government jobs and elections can be attributed to a change in the way nominees were selected, ballot reform, and

Accepted Answer

The erosion of party organizations' control over government jobs and elections is largely due to the creation of a merit-based system for government employment, among other factors. This system, often associated with civil service reforms, reduced the power of party bosses to distribute jobs as political rewards, thereby weakening their influence over elections and government operations.

Question 7

After winning the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson used his victory to transform his fledgling political party into a viable, long-term organization to become known as the __________, whereas the supporters of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton united around the Federalist Party.

Accepted Answer

After winning the election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson transformed his political group into the Democratic-Republican Party, which opposed the Federalist Party of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton.

Question 8

In a majority vote, the winner needs to obtain

Accepted Answer

In a majority vote system, the winner must secure 50 percent of the total votes cast plus one additional vote to achieve a majority. This ensures the winner has more than half of the votes.

Question 9

Political parties used the patronage system as a way to

Accepted Answer

The patronage system, also known as the spoils system, was used by political parties to reward supporters and ensure loyalty by offering them government jobs and contracts. This practice helped to build and maintain party loyalty among members and supporters.

Question 10

__________ is a voting system in which state governments run elections and provide voters the option of choosing candidates from multiple parties; also known as being called the secret ballot.

Accepted Answer

The Australian ballot is a voting system where state governments administer elections, allowing voters to select candidates from multiple parties in secrecy, hence also known as the secret ballot.

Question 11

Minor political parties that present an alternative to the two dominant political parties in the American political system are known as

Accepted Answer

Third parties are minor political parties that offer an alternative to the two major parties in the United States, providing additional choices for voters.

Question 12

The median voter theorem suggests that, all things being equal, if voters select candidates based upon ideology, the

Accepted Answer

The median voter theorem posits that in a majority-rule voting system, the candidate or party that positions itself closest to the median voter's preferences (i.e., the middle of the political spectrum) is more likely to win. This is because their position appeals to the broadest segment of the electorate.

Question 13

__________ was given credit for forcing the two major party candidates in 1992, President George H. W. Bush and Governor Bill Clinton, to address the federal deficit, the amount by which annual government spending exceeds incoming revenue.

Accepted Answer

Ross Perot, an independent candidate in the 1992 U.S. presidential election, focused his campaign on the issue of the federal deficit, compelling the major party candidates to address this issue as well.

Question 14

Just prior to the Civil War, the modern ________ was born from a coalition of antislavery Liberty Party members, Free Soilers and antislavery northern Democrats.

Accepted Answer

The modern Republican Party was formed in the 1850s from a coalition of antislavery activists, including members of the Liberty Party, Free Soilers, and antislavery northern Democrats, in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the spread of slavery into American territories.

Question 15

Which 1984 African American presidential contender for the Democratic Party helped increase participation of minorities in the nomination process?

Accepted Answer

Jesse Jackson ran for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984 and again in 1988, significantly increasing minority participation in the electoral process. His campaigns were notable for mobilizing a broad coalition of African American voters.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The two parties that dominated American politics and presidential elections from 1832 to 1856 were the Democrats and the Whigs. The Democratic Party was led by Andrew Jackson and advocated for states' rights and a limited federal government, while the Whig Party was led by Henry Clay and supported a stronger federal government and internal improvements.

Question 17

In 1883, the __________ reformed the civil service by requiring that government jobs be filled based on merit, not political connections.

Accepted Answer

The Pendleton Act of 1883 established that federal government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit through competitive exams, rather than through political affiliation or connections, marking a significant reform in the civil service system.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

After winning office in 1828, Andrew Jackson shortened the name of his party to the Democratic Party, signaling a new kind of political party organization distinct from the earlier "Democratic-Republican Party" of which it was a part. This marked the emergence of the Democratic Party as a major political entity in the United States.

Question 19

The American electoral system can be described as both a _______ and a single-member plurality system.

Accepted Answer

The American electoral system is described as a two-party system because it is predominantly dominated by two major parties, the Democrats and Republicans, making it difficult for third parties to gain significant traction. Additionally, it is a single-member plurality system, where the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not have a majority.

Question 20

James Madison, writing in Federalist 10 and 51, predicted the rise of ________, groups of individuals who share a common political goal and ally with each other on a temporary basis to accomplish that goal.

Accepted Answer

James Madison, in Federalist Papers 10 and 51, discussed the inevitability and dangers of factions, which are groups of individuals united by a common political purpose. He argued that the structure of the government must control the effects of factions.

Quiz 9: Political Parties