Question 1

Traditional democratic ideals assert that all citizens should participate equally and have equal influence on the political process

Accepted Answer

This is a key principle of democracy, known as political equality. Every citizen should have equal access to political institutions and equal influence on political decision-making.

Question 2

Democracies are relatively unstable because people engage in so much conflict.

Accepted Answer

Democracies are considered stable because they provide a framework for conflict resolution through peaceful and legal means, allowing for the expression of different opinions and peaceful transitions of power.

Question 3

In a pluralist society, no one group dominates because new coalitions are always forming.

Accepted Answer

In a pluralist society, there are multiple groups with different interests and beliefs. No single group has complete dominance because new coalitions are constantly forming as groups align and realign on different issues. This allows for a diverse range of perspectives to be represented and for power to be distributed across different groups.

Question 4

If a political system is to resemble the pluralist ideal, however, electoral procedures ought to minimize participation.

Accepted Answer

The pluralist ideal emphasizes the importance of widespread citizen participation in politics. Therefore, electoral procedures should seek to maximize participation rather than minimize it.

Question 5

Political participation refers only to voting, the primal democratic act.

Accepted Answer

Political participation includes various types of activities such as attending rallies or protests, contacting elected officials, joining political organizations, running for office, and more. Voting is just one aspect of political participation.

Question 6

Voting and partisanship are the only types of political participation in a democracy.

Accepted Answer

There are many types of political participation in a democracy, including but not limited to: running for office, donating to campaigns or political organizations, attending protests or rallies, contacting elected officials, writing letters to the editor, and engaging in civil discourse with others.

Question 7

Pluralism includes the idea that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pluralism includes the idea that:
...

Question 8

Pluralism includes the idea that:

Accepted Answer

Pluralism emphasizes the importance of diverse groups and interests having access and influence in the political arena. This means that everyone should have an opportunity to participate and have a say in the decision-making process. It is based on the belief that allowing multiple viewpoints and interests to be represented will lead to more fair and just outcomes.

Question 9

________________ refers to people's attempt at influencing either who gets elected or the appointments, policies, and laws passed by government.

Accepted Answer

Political participation refers to the various activities used by people to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue.

Question 10

Elections function simultaneously as a method for citizens to express their desires and to:

Accepted Answer

Elections are a means of holding decision-makers accountable. By casting their vote, citizens have the power to choose who they believe will best serve their interests and can hold elected officials responsible for their actions while in office.

Question 11

Between elections, the main form of partisanship consists of _________, the attempt at influencing legislators or other decision-makers in favor of (or against) a specific cause.

Accepted Answer

Lobbying is the main form of partisanship between elections, as it involves attempting to influence legislators or other decision-makers on specific causes or issues. Wearing political buttons or placing stickers on cars and complaining on talk radio shows are forms of expressing political opinions, but they do not directly influence decision-makers. Political rallies can be a form of lobbying, but they are not the main form. Political payoffs, while unfortunately sometimes used, are illegal and unethical forms of influencing decision-makers.

Question 12

Political alienation, or a sense of powerlessness, among groups of people in the United States periodically results in ______________.

Accepted Answer

When individuals feel a sense of political alienation, they may feel powerless and excluded from the political process. This can lead to feelings of frustration and anger which may result in unruliness, which at times can become violent.

Question 13

Even if elected representatives' appeal to ordinary citizens, the ultimate political power rests in the hands of partisans.

Accepted Answer

Ultimate political power in a democratic system is intended to rest with the electorate, the ordinary citizens, who elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. Partisans, or party members, may influence decisions, but the power ultimately comes from the people's vote.

Question 14

Historically, a steadily smaller proportion of the population has had the right to vote

Accepted Answer

Historically, the trend has been towards expanding the franchise, meaning a steadily larger proportion of the population has gained the right to vote over time through reforms and social changes.

Question 15

The extension of political access resulted from unruly (and often illegal) activities such as riots, demonstrations, and other forms of protest by those excluded from a presumably pluralist system.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately states that political access for excluded groups often only came about after protests and demonstrations, which could be unruly and illegal in nature.

Question 16

The current low rate of voting is not inevitable.

Accepted Answer

The rate of voting is affected by various factors such as accessibility to polling stations, ease of registration, education and mobilization efforts, and perception of the significance of the election. Therefore, it is not an inevitable occurrence and can be improved through proactive measures.

Question 17

It can be concluded from the low voting turnout rate among members of the poor and working that they are satisfied with public policy.

Accepted Answer

Low voter turnout among members of the poor and working class may not necessarily indicate satisfaction with public policy. There may be other factors contributing to this, such as barriers to access and participation, lack of trust in the political system, or simply feeling disengaged and powerless.

Question 18

The pattern of electoral participation is not much different in other Western societies

Accepted Answer

The answer of The pattern of electoral participation is not...

Question 19

Elected decision-makers are effectively held accountable by two constituencies:

Accepted Answer

Middle class people with votes and rich people with cash hold elected decision-makers accountable through their ability to vote and their financial contributions to campaigns.

Question 20

The rate of voting in the United States reflects the impact of each of the following except:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rate of voting in the United...

Quiz 6: Political Participation and Power

Traditional democratic ideals assert that all citizens should participate equally and have equal influence on the political process

Democracies are relatively unstable because people engage in so much conflict.

In a pluralist society, no one group dominates because new coalitions are always forming.

If a political system is to resemble the pluralist ideal, however, electoral procedures ought to minimize participation.

Political participation refers only to voting, the primal democratic act.

Voting and partisanship are the only types of political participation in a democracy.

Pluralism includes the idea that:

Pluralism includes the idea that:

________________ refers to people's attempt at influencing either who gets elected or the appointments, policies, and laws passed by government.

Elections function simultaneously as a method for citizens to express their desires and to:

Between elections, the main form of partisanship consists of _________, the attempt at influencing legislators or other decision-makers in favor of (or against) a specific cause.

Political alienation, or a sense of powerlessness, among groups of people in the United States periodically results in ______________.

Even if elected representatives' appeal to ordinary citizens, the ultimate political power rests in the hands of partisans.

Historically, a steadily smaller proportion of the population has had the right to vote

The extension of political access resulted from unruly (and often illegal) activities such as riots, demonstrations, and other forms of protest by those excluded from a presumably pluralist system.

The current low rate of voting is not inevitable.

It can be concluded from the low voting turnout rate among members of the poor and working that they are satisfied with public policy.

The pattern of electoral participation is not much different in other Western societies

Elected decision-makers are effectively held accountable by two constituencies:

The rate of voting in the United States reflects the impact of each of the following except: