Deck 13: Political Parties and Voting

Question 1

The primary concern of the Federalist Party in the late 1700s was

A) a strong national government.
B) powerful state governments.
C) alliances and peace with Native Americans.
D) state control of the military.
E) westward expansion.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In his Federalist No. 10 in 1787, James Madison elaborated on his fear of "factions" within the American democracy. In modern society, which of the following groups would Madison be most likely to identify as a faction?

A) Business groups
B) Religious groups
C) Nonprofit organizations
D) Political parties
E) Federal government agencies

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT an accurate comparison of American political parties to parties from most other democratic countries?

A) American parties have strong, clear, and focused ideological platforms.
B) American parties tend to alienate themselves to the ideological extremes during elections.
C) Parties in most democracies are strong and well organized, whereas American parties tend to be weaker organizationally.
D) American parties have strong, clear constituencies based along religious, social, and regional differences.
E) Unlike some European counterparts, American parties cannot depend on unwavering support from their constituents.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Prior to the Revolutionary War, many citizens of the American colonies aligned themselves with the Whig Party, an organization that continued well into the 1800s. What was the primary stance of the colonial Whigs?

A) Loyalty to the King of England
B) A new and independent American nation
C) World military dominance
D) Abolition of slavery
E) Control of the international shipping market by creation of a powerful navy

Question 5

Thomas Jefferson helped to create the Democratic-Republican Party in the 1790s. He criticized then-President George Washington's administration as

A) being weak on illegal immigration.
B) being weak with our enemy.
C) assuming greater powers than those granted to the federal government by the Constitution.
D) being opposed to the military.
E) being a tax-and-spend liberal.

Question 6

Which of the following was NOT an expansion of the federal government's power during Benjamin Harrison's administration?

A) Raising import duties
B) Expanding the size of the Army and Navy by 20 percent
C) Expanding the money supply through issuance of certificates backed by silver
D) Increasing pensions for military veterans
E) Passing the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to regulate the power and growth of monopolies

Question 7

The first presidential election in which political parties played a role was

A) the first election in 1788.
B) 1792.
C) 1860.
D) 1912.
E) 1960.

Question 8

E. E. Schattschneider observed in1942 that

A) "democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties."
B) "factions have a baneful effect."
C) "factions are tools of the politically ambitious that tend to promote corruption and bias in the political system."
D) "republic under God, rather than democracy."
E) "individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives [and] they have the right to live in whatever manner they choose so long as they do not interfere with the rights of others."

Question 9

Which of the following is considered a positive role of political parties?

A) The constitutional role of political parties is to balance control of the legislative and executive branches.
B) Political parties control the government, thereby keeping government power in check.
C) The major political parties play a central role in running government at all levels, including organizing and providing context to voters.
D) Political parties stir dissent so that citizens do not trust their government too much.
E) Effective political parties successfully eliminate competition.

Question 10

Which of the following is the best definition of a political party?

A) An organization that seeks to win elections for the purpose of influencing the outputs of government
B) An organization that seeks to generate a profit from its control of government
C) A government agency that seeks to control government at local, state, and federal levels
D) A quasi-government agency that controls the government and minimizes competition of ideas
E) An organization that seeks to define values for Americans and to create methods to enforce those values

Question 11

What was the opinion of political parties held by many of the Founders who drafted the U.S. Constitution?

A) The Founders held political parties in high regard and viewed them as proper and necessary for organizing the new government.
B) Political parties were viewed with great suspicion but were accepted as legitimate and necessary.
C) Political parties did not exist in the 1700s.
D) Political parties were distrusted and rejected as tools of the politically ambitious that tended to promote corruption and bias.
E) The Founders had no opinion concerning political parties.

Question 12

European political parties have clearly defined constituencies based on all the following except

A) social class.
B) ideology.
C) region.
D) ethnicity.
E) religion.

Question 13

President George Washington considered himself to be a member of which political party?

A) Tories
B) Whigs
C) Republicans
D) He did not join a party officially but was aligned with the Anti-Federalists.
E) He despised political parties and refused to endorse their presence in politics.

Question 14

Though originally opposed to political parties, many Framers of the U.S. Constitution ultimately became strong party participants. This phenomenon is often considered to be proof of the

A) necessity of political parties in American government.
B) inconsistency of the early founders.
C) dishonesty of the early leaders.
D) power of the political parties to control thought.
E) weaknesses of the early founders.

Question 15

According to the American Political Science Association (APSA), which of the following is NOT a role of political parties?

A) Offering clear programs to voters
B) Developing policy positions and opinions
C) Encouraging voter registration
D) Working toward achieving the programs and policies they recommend when they are successful in elections
E) Aggressively seeking to damage the opposite party's credibility

Question 16

One of the prominent political parties in colonial America until the Revolutionary War was the Tory Party. What was the primary stance of the Tories?

A) Control of health care, which should be provided by the government
B) Aggressive military intervention in European affairs
C) Support of an early form of Communism
D) Overthrow of the British control
E) Loyalty to Britain and the king

Question 17

Which of the following was NOT a principle espoused by the Tea Party movement?

A) Fiscal responsibility
B) Adherence to the Constitution
C) Limited government
D) Opposition to excessive government spending
E) Restricting gun control

Question 18

Though never explicitly intended, which of the following has been a positive benefit of the competition for power between the two major parties?

A) Competition has been successful in keeping the government weak and under control.
B) The struggles between the two parties have kept third parties from confusing the goals of democracy.
C) Competition has proven to be a significant check against tyranny.
D) The two parties have been able to retain control of the government in the proper hands.
E) Most observers doubt that there are any positive benefits from political parties.

Question 19

What does the U.S. Constitution say about political parties?

A) The Constitution makes no mention of political parties.
B) The Constitution recognizes political parties but they are treated with suspicion and distrust.
C) The Constitution says that political parties are private organizations, but that due to their public importance the government must regulate them.
D) The Constitution originally banned political parties.
E) The Constitution says that political parties are subordinate to the executive branch.

Question 20

What was the primary stance of the Anti-Federalists of the late 1700s?

A) A strong central government and less autonomy in the state governments
B) World dominance
C) A weak federal government and strong state sovereignty
D) An alliance with the British government
E) One branch of government, that being the legislature

Question 21

An election that results in a clear shifting of voter preferences from one party to another, or that clearly solidifies a party's unity, is referred to as a

A) realigning, or critical, election.
B) divisive, or polarizing, election.
C) party election, or political sweep.
D) party overthrow.
E) sectionalization.

Question 22

The 1792 election was the first presidential race following the initial election of George Washington as first president, and Washington ran unopposed for his second term. Which of the following is true concerning this election?

A) Washington was the only candidate because he did not allow anyone to oppose him.
B) This was the first and the last presidential election in which there was no political party competition.
C) It was later learned that Britain's king was supportive of Washington's candidacy.
D) Political parties were illegal during this time so no legitimate competition could be formulated.
E) It marked the beginning of a long era of the one-party system of government in the United States.

Question 23

Woodrow Wilson in 1912 was the only Democratic presidential candidate to win an election between 1896 and 1932. To what do most experts credit Wilson's win?

A) Wilson's promise of neutrality in WWI
B) Wilson's education and credentials
C) The demise of the Republican Party
D) The Great Depression, which had seriously damaged the government's credibility among citizens
E) A strong third-party campaign by former Republican president Theodore Roosevelt, which had clearly siphoned votes away from the unpopular current president, Howard Taft

Question 24

The Twelfth Amendment, ratified in 1804, helped to eliminate what problem that had existed in two of the earlier elections?

A) It corrected a frequent problem of having a president and vice president who were political enemies from different political parties.
B) It made the office of vice president an appointed position instead of an elected position.
C) It eliminated the problem of non-citizens casting votes for president.
D) It ensured that only landholders could vote for president.
E) It pushed elections back to the state level.

Question 25

In times of political unrest or when a major political party splits, smaller parties will often arise and gain limited influence for a short period. Which of the following is NOT an example of a legitimate historical political party that existed and successfully participated in American politics?

A) Free Soil
B) Know-Nothing
C) Populist
D) Socialist
E) Nazi

Question 26

In the late 1790s the Federalist Party had, among other things, sought to build a trade alliance with Britain. The Anti-Federalists were distrustful of Britain, especially in light of the war we had just fought. Instead the Anti-Federalists sought alliance and favorable relations with which country?

A) Germany
B) Japan
C) Canada
D) France
E) South Africa

Question 27

In 1824 Andrew Jackson won the popular vote for president but did not receive enough electoral votes to win outright. The vote was constitutionally thrown to the U.S. House of Representatives, which chose John Quincy Adams, the "number two" candidate. This outcome was a catalyst for Jackson to

A) assume the office of president by force.
B) run for a House of Representatives seat in the hopes of reforming the chamber.
C) split from his party to create the new Democratic Party, and then win the 1828 election.
D) fight for the remainder of his life for the abolition of political parties.
E) fight for the abolition of the electoral college.

Question 28

The first Presidential candidate of the Republican Party was

A) Jesse Fremont.
B) James Buchanan.
C) Abraham Lincoln.
D) John Fremont.
E) Millard Fillmore.

Question 29

A nationally traumatic event such as a major war or economic depression will often signal a shift in public opinion, which will be evidenced by realigning elections. The Great Depression was in full swing in 1932 when the Republicans finally lost their grip on the presidency. Who was the successful Democratic candidate in the realigning election of 1932?

A) Herbert Hoover
B) Calvin Coolidge
C) Franklin D. Roosevelt
D) Harry Truman
E) Dwight Eisenhower

Question 30

In the early 1800s the Democratic-Republican Party was the dominant force in American politics. Its only rival, the Federalist Party, was quickly losing power and prestige. It seems that the Democratic-Republicans would then have control to enact all the laws that they wanted. Instead, what happened?

A) The government banned political parties and the Democratic-Republicans lost their dominance.
B) The Federalist Party regrouped and ousted the Democratic-Republicans from power.
C) Factions began to appear within the ranks of the Democratic-Republicans that would eventually lead to a split and formation of a new party.
D) The Democratic-Republican leadership graciously agreed to voluntarily share power with weaker political parties.
E) The Whig Party was created and it rose rapidly to overshadow the Democratic-Republicans.

Question 31

In 1828, the Democratic-Republicans

A) split into the Democrats and the Republicans.
B) split into the Democrats and the National Republicans.
C) split into the Democrats and the Whigs.
D) split into the Democrats and the Anti-Masons.
E) split into the Democrats and the Federalists.

Question 32

Which of the following ensures any one group or "faction" from becoming too powerful for too long?

A) Competition between the political parties
B) Checks and balances
C) The media watchdog
D) Public opinion
E) Both options A and B are true.

Question 33

Which of the following was NOT a purpose of the earliest national party conventions?

A) Selection of the party's presidential candidate by the delegates
B) Selection of the candidate for vice president
C) Forum for open debate between the two major national political parties
D) Adoption and articulation of the party platform
E) Coordination of the activities of parties across the states in anticipation of the pending national elections

Question 34

The Whig Party was a major and dominant party for the 20 or so years immediately preceding the Civil War, even to the point of winning the presidency. By the 1850s the Whig Party began to witness very serious party divisions that led to its demise. What was the basis of this split?

A) Serious differences over the legality and morality of slavery
B) Differences over the relationship of the United States with the Republic of Texas
C) The Mexican War
D) Disagreements over alliances with France
E) Relations with Native American people as the nation expanded westward

Question 35

The "corrupt bargain" was

A) another term for the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
B) Populist movement against banks and railroads.
C) the appointment of Henry Clay as Secretary of State by John Quincy Adams after Clay supported the election of Adams as President.
D) the Indian Ring's bribery to acquire posts as Indian agents.
E) the attempt by Jay Gould and Jim Fisk to corner the gold market.

Question 36

By 1840, the formerly strong Democratic-Republican Party had been fatally damaged by the creation of Andrew Jackson's successful Democratic Party. Members of the remaining splinter group, realizing that they could not win the election, united with smaller factions to create a new and stronger opposition party. This new party was referred to as

A) Republicans.
B) Populists.
C) Anti-Slavery.
D) Temperance.
E) Whigs.

Question 37

One theory states that certain elections can be characterized as producing sharp changes in patterns of party loyalty among voters, such as the election of 1860 in which Abraham Lincoln won the presidency. This theory is called

A) partisan theory.
B) critical election theory.
C) progressive era theory.
D) democratic theory.
E) socialist theory.

Question 38

Regional, or sectional, differences have existed in the American political arena since colonial times. These differences are evident in political party affiliations. Historically, where did the strongest support for Thomas Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party lie?

A) In the larger cities
B) In the more liberal northern states
C) Across the nation, because Jefferson was unique in that he was not opposed by the other major party
D) In the southern and mid-Atlantic states
E) West of the Mississippi River

Question 39

Which term refers to a document, or official statement, that outlines the political party's position on important policy issues?

A) Statute
B) Party platform
C) Amicus curiae
D) Declaration of intent
E) Pre-emptive legislation

Question 40

In the 1828 presidential election Andrew Jackson won easily against the candidates who had defeated him in an 1824 electoral college upset. Jackson won this election decisively. Which of the following was NOT a result of this important election?

A) A new major party emerged almost overnight and immediately became a strong and lasting force in politics.
B) Political parties quickly realized the need to organize within the states to build a strong organizational base.
C) Political parties became larger and stronger.
D) Political parties began to hold national party conventions.
E) The dominant party influenced the enactment of legislation that solidified a one-party system by making it difficult to oppose this dominant party.

Question 41

Since 1968 the American political scene has witnessed a slow but steady shift in political party affiliation, especially in the South. What is occurring?

A) The historically solid Democratic stronghold in the South has reverted to a strong Republican territory.
B) A strong third party has emerged.
C) States' Rights party of Strom Thurmond has been instrumental in cementing the Democratic stronghold in the South.
D) Northern Republicans are migrating to the South but the native population in the southern states remains committed to the Democratic Party.
E) The Democratic Party in the South has lost much support but that loss has been seen mostly across racial lines.

Question 42

If a third-party candidate has no expectation of winning an election, what would be a positive reason for him/her to run for the presidential office?

A) To cast doubt on the legitimacy of the two major parties
B) To create doubts in the minds of citizens concerning the trustworthiness of government
C) To keep the successful major party from winning with a majority of the votes
D) To advocate for and raise awareness of a particular ideology or cause, and to garner support for the issue among voters
E) To advocate for overthrow of the two-party system in the United States

Question 43

Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor to the decline of political parties?

A) Increased negativity toward the parties
B) Mass media neglecting to cover parties
C) Voters now turning to media as their prime information source about political issues and candidates
D) Mass media allowing candidates to appeal directly to the public for financial support
E) Substantial improvement in equality of government officials

Question 44

Which term refers to a government with split party control of the presidency and Congress?

A) Realignment
B) Party identification
C) Divided government
D) Party majority
E) Multi-party management

Question 45

Most major political parties are organized with the primary structure and activity being at the

A) federal level, where the funding is significant.
B) regional level, because most fundraising is done based on geographic area of the country.
C) national level, where the bulk of the work of elections is carried out.
D) local or grassroots level, where party supporters meet and get out the vote.
E) congressional district level.

Question 46

The practice by which victorious parties offer loyal party members jobs in government is called

A) political screening.
B) party proliferation.
C) the bureaucracy.
D) patronage.
E) spoilage.

Question 47

The percentage of partisan votes taken in the House and Senate is measured by the

A) Daily Yelp.
B) Online Onslaught.
C) Congressional Quarterly.
D) Mortality and Morbidity Report.
E) Congressional Record.

Question 48

Ideologically, American public opinion tends to show certain consistent trends. Ideologically, most Americans

A) are either extreme left or extreme right in their leanings.
B) are prone to swing back and forth between liberal and conservative ideologies.
C) are prone to follow the lead of European nations such as France and Britain.
D) are moderate, or centrist, thus creating a scenario in which the two major parties are leery of venturing away from the center.
E) are unsure of where they stand.

Question 49

The central governing body of the two major American political parties is called the

A) politburo.
B) national committee.
C) presidential counsel.
D) central bureau.
E) Congress.

Question 50

In the United States a candidate for a congressional seat wins a plurality of the votes but not a majority, however, the candidate still wins the seat. This process is referred to as

A) proportional representation.
B) winner-take-all.
C) district voting.
D) clean sweep theory.
E) constitutional apportionment.

Question 51

In the United States, which party is also identified with a number of social justice causes, including feminism, promotion of diversity, and global responsibility?

A) Socialist Party
B) Libertarian Party
C) Green Party
D) Natural Law Party
E) Constitution Party

Question 52

The Libertarian Party

A) endorses the notion that government should be small and limited, interfering as little as possible with the lives of citizens.
B) place a premium on individual liberties and personal responsibility.
C) bases the foundation of its political activities on religious principles of Christianity.
D) Both options A and B are true.
E) Both options B and C are true.

Question 53

What is the psychological connection that voters have with a political party that influences other attitudes as well as voting behavior?

A) Party unity
B) Party identification
C) Issue attachment
D) Anomie
E) Electoral bonding

Question 54

Dealignment refers to

A) a shifting of party coalitions in the electorate that remain in place for several election cycles.
B) the decline in voter attachment to both parties.
C) party identification.
D) issue attachment.
E) party unity.

Question 55

The strongest third-party campaign for president took place during the 1912 election, which resulted in the third-party candidate receiving the second place and gaining more votes than one of the major party candidates. Who was this third-party candidate and his party?

A) Robert LaFollette/Socialist
B) Strom Thurmond/States' Rights
C) George Wallace/Independent
D) Theodore Roosevelt/Bull Moose
E) Eugene V. Debs/Progressive

Question 56

Which of the following was a candidate of the Progressive Party for President?

A) Ralph Nader
B) Henry Wallace
C) Millard Fillmore
D) Eugene V. Debs
E) Theodore Roosevelt

Question 57

Political scientist Philip Converse refers to a "normal vote." In the context of the political party, what is meant by this term?

A) There are no controversies involved in the electoral outcome.
B) The election has one Democrat and one Republican, with no third party candidates.
C) A certain number of Democratic votes will be cast by Democrats and a certain predictable number of Republican votes will be cast by Republican voters.
D) In this type of vote, a predictable amount of voters turn out and participate.
E) The results of the election are not dramatic or realigning.

Question 58

The person regarded as the father of the national party system is

A) Andrew Johnson.
B) Alexander Hamilton.
C) Martin Van Buren.
D) Andrew Jackson.
E) Thomas Jefferson.

Question 59

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

A) Negotiating content of new laws
B) Recruiting and promoting political candidates
C) Establishing networks of business relationships
D) Setting the agenda of government
E) Defining the nature of public policy

Question 60

Which party endorses a strong government role in providing health care, jobs, housing, and education, among other public programs?

A) Socialist Party
B) Libertarian Party
C) Green Party
D) Natural Law Party
E) Constitution Party

Question 61

What were the primary differences between the first two major parties; i.e., the Federalists and Anti-Federalists? What forces led to the dissolution of these parties?

Question 62

What is meant by divided government? Describe how divided government, though it sounds negative, may actually have a very beneficial effect on a democracy.

Question 63

Social capital is

A) declining.
B) also called "social connectedness" of a community.
C) is evidenced in labor unions and bowling leagues.
D) directly associated with the amount of television intake.
E) All of the above is true.

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a generally used method of voting?

A) Hand-counted paper ballots
B) Mechanical lever machines
C) Internet voting
D) Computer punch cards
E) Optical scan cards

Question 65

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a "high stimulus" election?

A) Greater levels of media coverage
B) Perceptions of a close race
C) Higher significance of office
D) The costs of obtaining information about an election outweighing the benefits of making a vote
E) High importance attached to an issue

Question 66

Which of the following is NOT a factor in motivating people to vote?

A) An individual's interest in politics
B) Mandatory requirement of registered citizens
C) A sense of civic duty
D) The perception that an individual's vote can have an impact on an election
E) Social group pressure

Question 67

Majoritarianism is

A) the principle that the choice supported by the most voters is the choice that prevails.
B) the idea that all citizens in a nation have the right to vote.
C) the percentage of voters that can be expected with reasonable certainty to cast a ballot for each of the two major political parties.
D) the idea that all voters will ultimately make the same decision for the good of the country.
E) the principle that refuses to hear the vote of minorities.

Question 68

Discuss the impact of third parties in American political history. Have they generally been successful? Describe some of the most significant third-party presidential campaigns.

Question 69

What constitutional amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in all local, state, and federal elections?

A) Fifteenth Amendment
B) Nineteenth Amendment
C) Twenty-third Amendment
D) Twenty-fourth Amendment
E) Twenty sixth Amendment

Question 70

Which of the following countries has the largest voter turnout?

A) The United States
B) France
C) Italy
D) Canada
E) Switzerland

Question 71

The Fifteenth Amendment

A) guarantees the right to vote regardless of race, color, or any previous condition of servitude.
B) legally required that that individuals pay a fee before being allowed to vote.
C) outlawed poll taxes.
D) required individuals must be able to read and write before being allowed to vote.
E) mandates that when an individual applies for or renews a state driver's license, the state must also provide that individual with voter registration materials.

Question 72

Which of the following is true of voter turnout?

A) Younger people are more likely to vote than middle-aged people.
B) Education depreciates the sense of civic duty.
C) Those in the age bracket of 25-44 years, are the most likely to vote.
D) Women are slightly more inclined to vote than men.
E) Voter turnout is affected only by political factors and not demographic.

Question 73

The franchise is

A) the idea that all citizens in a nation have the right to vote.
B) another term for suffrage or the right to vote.
C) typically a high draft choice.
D) a requirement that individuals pay a fee before being allowed to vote.
E) a decline in voter attachment to parties and in clarity of party coalitions.

Question 74

What constitutional amendment guarantees women equal voting rights.

A) Fifteenth Amendment
B) Nineteenth Amendment
C) Twenty-third Amendment
D) Twenty-fourth Amendment
E) Twenty Sixth Amendment

Question 75

A change in the early twentieth century whereby the rank-and-file party members rather than party leaders began to choose the party's nominees for offices is referred to as

A) general election preemption.
B) general election screening process.
C) direct primary election.
D) local primary preference.
E) straw vote.

Question 76

Passed in 1964, which Amendment outlawed poll taxes by making unconstitutional any law that made payment of a tax a voting eligibility requirement in federal elections?

A) Fifteenth Amendment
B) Nineteenth Amendment
C) Twenty-third Amendment
D) Twenty-fourth Amendment
E) Twenty sixth Amendment

Question 77

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for low voter turnout?

A) There are a large number of elections in America, making the opportunity to participate less of a novelty.
B) Voting in the United States usually requires advance registration.
C) Extensions of the franchise lead to short-term declines in turnout.
D) The rise in "social capital"
E) Voting in the United States is not compulsory.

Question 78

How did the early leaders of the United States, such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, view political parties? Did their views persist over a long period of time or have a significant impact?

Question 79

The core principle underlying representative democracy is

A) the franchise.
B) majoritarianism.
C) proportional representation.
D) the multiparty system.
E) the two-party system.

Question 80

What is meant by the term critical election? Identify and discuss at least two critical presidential elections in American history. Why were these elections designated as critical?