Question 1

The Greenbacker, Free-Soil, and Prohibitionist parties were all third parties.

Accepted Answer

The Greenbacker, Free-Soil, and Prohibitionist parties were all third parties that emerged in the United States during the mid-19th century. Third parties are political parties that are not one of the two major parties (Democratic and Republican) and often arise out of dissatisfaction with the existing political system or the major parties' positions on certain issues.

Question 2

The power an interest group exerts is generally dependent upon

Accepted Answer

The unity of its members and their ability to work together is crucial for an interest group to exert power. Without coordination and cooperation among members, the group will not be able to effectively advocate for their interests or influence policy decisions. Other factors such as location, socio-economic status, and funding can also play a role, but without unity they will not have as much impact. Appealing to governments can also be important, but this again requires a cohesive and well-organized group.

Question 3

The dealignment theory stresses that, currently,

Accepted Answer

Dealignment theory suggests that political parties are losing their influence and voter loyalty, leading to a decline in party identification and an increase in independent or non-affiliated voters.

Question 4

Which organization began the court case that became known as Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka and represented Brown before the U.S.Supreme Court?

Accepted Answer

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) began the court case and represented Brown before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT an organization that primarily serves the interests of farmers?

Accepted Answer

Common Cause is not an organization that primarily serves the interests of farmers. It is a nonpartisan lobbying group focused on government ethics, transparency, and campaign finance reform. The other options listed are all organizations that primarily serve the interests of farmers.

Question 6

Which of the following has NOT been a factor in the growth of interest groups?

Accepted Answer

An aging population is not directly related to the growth of interest groups, whereas economic specialization, the success of established interest groups, federalism, and separation of powers have contributed to their growth by creating more diverse interests and opportunities for influence.

Question 7

Three major political parties have played an important role in American elections and politics since 1796.

Accepted Answer

The United States has primarily been a two-party system, with the Democratic and Republican parties being the dominant ones since the mid-19th century. Other parties have existed but have not consistently played a major role.

Question 8

The national chair often emerges as a strong leader of the party.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The national chair often emerges as a...

Question 9

By far, the largest number of political action committees (PACs) are those created by:

Accepted Answer

According to the Federal Election Commission, corporations and trade associations make up the largest number of PACs, with 4,463 registered as of April 2021. This is followed by ideological organizations (2,293), labor unions (1,186), independent organizations (877), and farm organizations (258).

Question 10

Federalism and the separation of powers

Accepted Answer

Federalism and the separation of powers create a political system with multiple levels of government and checks and balances, which provides numerous opportunities for interest groups to influence policy decisions at both the state and national levels. Therefore, interest group activity is encouraged in this type of system.

Question 11

In 2006, approximately what percent of U.S.lawmakers vote with their party's position on specific issues?

Accepted Answer

In 2006, approximately 86 percent of U.S. lawmakers voted with their party's position on specific issues, according to a study by Congressional Quarterly.

Question 12

At the start of each Congress, the majority party elects

Accepted Answer

The majority party in each chamber of Congress elects its own leaders at the beginning of each session of Congress. These leaders include the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, among others. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 13

A new development regarding interest groups has seen

Accepted Answer

Lobbyists have increasingly been using technology, such as social media and online campaigns, to influence public opinion and policy decisions. This has become a more common practice among interest groups in recent years.

Question 14

Imagine that the Sierra Club wants the U.S.president to introduce a bill to Congress that would protect a section of old-growth forest in Washington from clear cutting.They create a written statement and present it to the secretary of the interior.Which method of lobbying has the Sierra Club employed?

Accepted Answer

Direct lobbying involves direct interaction with government officials or lawmakers to influence their decision-making. In this scenario, the Sierra Club presented their statement directly to the secretary of the interior, which fits the definition of direct lobbying.

Question 15

The chair of the national committee generally

Accepted Answer

The answer of The chair of the national committee generally
...

Question 16

An assemblage of people who share common attitudes and interests, who try to influence the political system by shaping public opinion, and who can influence the decisions of government officials is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

An interest group is made up of people with shared interests and attitudes who try to influence the political system by shaping public opinion and influencing government decisions. The other choices do not accurately describe this type of group.

Question 17

The National Right to Life Committee is an example of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The National Right to Life Committee is a single-issue group that focuses primarily on issues related to abortion and opposing pro-choice policies. They do not focus on broader economic or professional issues, and they are not a political party.

Question 18

Two-party systems are found in almost every democracy.

Accepted Answer

Many democracies around the world use multi-party systems, where more than two political parties have the capacity to gain control of government offices, either separately or in coalition.

Question 19

Which one of the following is true of party identification trends in the United States?

Accepted Answer

According to polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, the Democrats have consistently led the Republicans in terms of party identification since 1991. In recent years, the gap has narrowed, but the Democrats still maintain a slight lead. This trend is likely due to changing demographics and political issues.

Question 20

At the national level, the party system has been marked by long stretches of single-party dominance.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. In the history of the United States, there have been long periods of time where one political party has dominated the national political scene. For example, the Democratic Party controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress for much of the period from the mid-1930s until the mid-1990s, with only brief interruptions. Similarly, the Republican Party has had periods of dominance, such as in the 1920s and again in the 1980s and 2010s.

Quiz 5: Political Parties and Interest Groups