Deck 3: Political Actions

Question 1

Which of the following statements is(are) true?

A) In democracies, most people regularly engage in high levels of political action.
B) Rates of political participation are fairly consistent from one country to another.
C) Rates of political participation vary substantially from one country to another.
D) None of the above
E) All of the above

Answer 1

Rates of political participation vary substantially from one country to another.

Question 2

To have the greatest impact on politics, an individual's best strategy is to

A) join a political group.
B) vote.
C) contribute to a political party.
D) contact elected officials.
E) establish a political blog.

Answer 2

join a political group.

Question 3

Political interest groups can engage in which of the following activities?

A) Coordinate letter-writing campaigns regarding policy issues
B) Provide gifts to legislators in return for favorable action
C) Publish reports that analyze policy choices
D) A and C
E) All of the above

Answer 3

All of the above

Question 4

An interest group that emerges spontaneously and for a short duration to express opposition to or support for a particular policy is a(n)

A) associational interest group.
B) institutional interest group.
C) non-associational interest group.
D) anomic interest group.
E) corporatist interest group.

Question 5

An interest group is transformed into a political party when it

A) is effectively organized.
B) seeks to place its members in political office.
C) has a large number of members throughout the country.
D) obtains substantial financial resources.
E) develops policy positions that are supported by many people.

Question 6

A pragmatic political party

A) emphasizes economic issues.
B) seeks major programmatic goals.
C) shifts its policy to gain votes.
D) does not obstruct the actions of the governing party.
E) All of the above

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a function of a political party?

A) Recruitment of candidates for public office
B) Coordination of government operations
C) Serving as a source of political opposition
D) Political socialization
E) Implementation of laws

Question 8

The boundaries of acceptable political action that constrain the behavior of political groups particularly depend on the

A) effectiveness of the group's leaders.
B) resources available.
C) the number of political parties.
D) political environment.
E) type of interest group.

Question 9

When political parties aggregate and simplify many demands into a few packages of clear alternatives, they are functioning as a

A) broker of ideas.
B) facilitator of political socialization.
C) loyal opposition.
D) recruiter of political activists.
E) non-associational interest group.

Question 10

A political interest group is most likely to exert more influence on the government when

A) its members care deeply about an issue.
B) it resists compromise.
C) it has greater political resources.
D) it has an active website.
E) its leader is highly intelligent.

Question 11

Political interest groups are composed of people who

A) work together to place their members in public office.
B) are members of the same occupational or class group.
C) work to achieve a shared policy goal.
D) feel incapable of influencing politics by themselves.
E) are otherwise uninvolved in politics.

Question 12

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) in the United States is an example of a(n)

A) associational interest group.
B) institutional interest group.
C) non-associational interest group.
D) anomic interest group.
E) fragmented interest group.

Question 13

An ideological political party

A) holds extreme political views.
B) rarely cooperates with other parties.
C) is deeply committed to certain policy goals.
D) B and C only
E) All of the above

Question 14

Focus in 3 on the rise of the Green Party in Germany particularly highlights which of the following?

A) The increasing apathy of members of political parties
B) The effects of dominant parties on politically marginal groups
C) The transformation of an interest group into a political party
D) The limited influence of government on a political party
E) The changed politics of Germany resulting from membership in the European Union

Question 15

A violent political demonstration is an example of

A) an associational interest group in action.
B) the only political action possible for those without political resources.
C) an unconventional political action.
D) an illegal political action.
E) an attempt to overthrow the current political leaders.

Question 16

Lower levels of influence by most political interest groups are particularly likely when

A) contributions to politicians are illegal.
B) there are many political parties.
C) there are few political parties.
D) the government is open to many political actors.
E) the government is repressive.

Question 17

When a political party serves as a broker of ideas, it

A) reduces the complexity of the political debate.
B) recruits an ideological candidate.
C) facilitates political socialization.
D) tries to arrange policy compromises with other parties.
E) coordinates government operations.

Question 18

The story of Aung San Suu Kyi primarily indicates that

A) only extraordinary people become political activists.
B) people can pool their political resources to increase their influence.
C) political leaders are made, not born.
D) government repression does not necessarily deter political activism.
E) it is more difficult for women to become political activists.

Question 19

What are the boundaries of unconventional, but acceptable political action by individuals in a free society? Offer a clear set of criteria and justify each criterion.

Question 20

Should any actions by political interest groups be prohibited? What criteria (if any) should define the boundaries of acceptable political action by interest groups?

Question 21

Political scientist E. E. Schnattschneider observed that "democracy is unthinkable in the absence of political parties." Make a persuasive case for or against this claim. More broadly, could a government function effectively in the absence of interest groups?