Question 1

Which of the following statements about the difficulties faced by third parties in the United States is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution does not explicitly give Congress the power to regulate political parties. Instead, this power has been granted through various court decisions interpreting the Constitution. Additionally, third parties are not always excluded from the legislative process and can potentially influence party regulations through lobbying and advocacy efforts. Therefore, statement E is the least accurate as it incorrectly implies that Congress has exclusive power over regulating political parties.

Question 2

Generally speaking, the American political system differs from that of most European democracies in that

Accepted Answer

The American political system, characterized by a two-party system and a separation of powers, tends to lead to more stability in government after elections. This is because the system is designed to ensure continuity and prevent sudden shifts in policy, unlike many European democracies where coalition governments can lead to more frequent changes in government policies and direction.

Question 3

________ is specifically a practice of exchanging votes for jobs.

Accepted Answer

Patronage is specifically a practice of exchanging votes for jobs, where political leaders or elected officials appoint their supporters or friends to government positions as a reward for their loyalty or political support. This practice is often criticized for promoting corruption and nepotism, as it prioritizes political loyalty over merit and qualifications for a job.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about political parties is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The role and function of political parties is not clearly delineated in the US Constitution. Political parties are not mentioned in the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers did not anticipate their existence.

Question 5

The two men MOST responsible for turning the Democrats into the first mass political party were Martin Van Buren and

Accepted Answer

Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson were the two men most responsible for turning the Democrats into the first mass political party. Van Buren was a key strategist and organizer for the party, while Jackson's popularity and charismatic leadership helped to mobilize large numbers of voters. Together, they built a broad coalition of farmers, urban workers, and others who had not previously been politically engaged, which helped to establish the Democratic Party as a major force in American politics.

Question 6

In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama won all of the following groups, EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

According to exit polls, Barack Obama won voters under 30, women, people with advanced degrees, and Hispanics. However, he did not win among people without a college education, who tended to vote more for his opponent, Mitt Romney.

Question 7

The ________ is a merit-based system of employment and personnel management that replaced patronage.

Accepted Answer

The civil service is a merit-based system of employment and personnel management that replaced patronage (the spoils system) in the US government. The political machine and job pool are not related to the civil service.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about the third party era is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party did not control the presidency during most of the third party era; rather, the Republicans mostly held the presidency during this time.

Question 9

One of the two major parties that dominated America's first party era was the Democratic-Republicans, who were led by

Accepted Answer

The Democratic-Republicans were led by Thomas Jefferson.

Question 10

After the Democratic Party lost five six presidential elections between 1968 and 1988, it decided to

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party's decision to move ideologically more toward the center after losing five out of six presidential elections between 1968 and 1988 is well documented. This shift in ideology was intended to attract more moderate voters who might have previously voted for Republican candidates.

Question 11

In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama

Accepted Answer

Barack Obama won the 2012 presidential election with a significant margin in both the Electoral College (332 to 206) and the popular vote (51.1% to 47.2%).

Question 12

Which of the following factors is LEAST responsible for the predominance of just two parties in the American political system?

Accepted Answer

While election rules, electoral finances, state laws governing elections, and popular distrust of ideological extremism all contribute to the predominance of just two parties in the American political system, popular satisfaction with limited electoral choices is the least responsible factor. In fact, many Americans are dissatisfied with the limited options presented to them and would prefer more choices, indicating that popular satisfaction is not a significant factor in the predominance of the two-party system.

Question 13

________ is a strong party organization that maintains control by exchanging votes for favors.

Accepted Answer

A political machine is a strong party organization that maintains control by exchanging votes for favors, such as by providing jobs, social services, or other benefits to supporters. The machine typically operates in a single city or region and maintains a tight grip on local politics through a network of loyal politicians, operatives, and community leaders. Patronage is one of the key tools that political machines use to build and maintain their power. The civil service and steering committee are not directly related to the concept of a political machine.

Question 14

________ are organizations created for the purpose of winning elections and governing once in office.

Accepted Answer

Political parties are organizations whose main goal is to get candidates elected to political office and then govern once in office. They create platforms, endorse candidates, and work to mobilize voters to support their candidates. While political movements, special interest groups, political action committees, and lobbyist organizations can also work towards political goals, their main focus is not necessarily on winning elections and governing.

Question 15

According to Duverger's law,

Accepted Answer

Duverger's law states that single-member districts lead to stable two-party systems. This is because in a winner-takes-all system where only one candidate is elected per district, smaller parties are at a disadvantage as they may not win any seats. As a result, voters tend to strategically vote for one of the two major parties, leading to a dominance by these parties over time.

Question 16

The fourth party era was marked by the dominance of the

Accepted Answer

The fourth party era, also known as the Progressive Era, was marked by the dominance of the Republican Party in the United States, lasting from the 1890s to the 1930s.

Question 17

Which major third party emerged in the 1890s and drew support primarily from southerners and westerners?

Accepted Answer

The Populist Party emerged in the 1890s and drew support primarily from southerners and westerners who were frustrated with the economic and political power structures of the time. The party called for a host of reforms, including the direct election of senators, shorter working hours, and the regulation of big business. While the party made significant gains in the 1892 presidential election, it ultimately failed to displace the two major parties and faded from prominence by the turn of the century.

Question 18

The only two states that do not automatically award all of their electoral votes to one presidential candidate are Maine and

Accepted Answer

Both Maine and Nebraska use a congressional district method in allocating their electoral votes. However, only Nebraska has one additional electoral vote that is awarded to the presidential candidate who wins the majority of the state's popular vote. Therefore, the correct answer is B)Nebraska.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the run-up to the second party era is LEAST accurate?

Accepted Answer

The statement about a significant decline in voter turnout is not accurate. In fact, there was a significant increase in voter turnout during this period, as more and more people became politically engaged and organized through mass political parties.

Question 20

Which billionaire defied the two-party system by waging substantial presidential runs in 1992 and 1996 as a third-party candidate?

Accepted Answer

H. Ross Perot defied the two-party system by waging substantial presidential runs in 1992 and 1996 as a third-party candidate. Perot ran as an independent candidate and his campaigns focused on reducing the national debt and opposing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Quiz 9: Parties and Political Campaigns