Deck 5: Political Parties and Interest Groups

Question 1

Which one of the following is true of third political parties?

A)They tend to be competitive with the two major parties.
B)They always form around a specific issue, such as prohibition.
C)They may organize or form around a specific ideology or a specific issue.
D)They are often spoiler parties, influencing the outcomes of elections.
E)They are highly successful at raising money and winning local elections.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Examining and criticizing the policies and proposals of the majority party is a function of

A)the majority party.
B)foreign governments.
C)the minority party
D)government bureaucrats.
E)the judicial branch.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which one of the following is true of the Whig Party shortly before the Civil War?

A)it became the Populist Party.
B)it remained competitive in presidential elections well into the 20th century.
C)it became the Democratic Party.
D)it became the Republican Party.
E)it became the Socialist Workers' Party.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Groups which try to influence government indirectly by shaping public opinion, supporting or opposing candidates, and influencing the decisions of government officials are known as

A)focus groups.
B)political action committees.
C)interest groups.
D)political parties.
E)political candidates.

Question 5

Trade unions, labor unions, and corporations generally contribute to political campaigns through

A)lobbyists.
B)political action committees.
C)single-issue interest groups.
D)nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
E)foreign governments.

Question 6

The first political issue faced by the nation was ratification of the Constitution.This was a yes/no issue that divided Americans into two groups: one supporting agricultural interests and the other supporting financial and mercantile interests.This pattern has persisted ever since.This explanation of the development of the American two-party system can be described as

A)tribal.
B)social consensus.
C)historical.
D)institutional.
E)factional.

Question 7

What is the most outstanding characteristic of the American political party system?

A)coalition governments
B)strong ideological diversity
C)the two-party system
D)decentralization of power
E)lack of ideological diversity

Question 8

The institutional theory for explaining the persistence of the two-party system in America refers to

A)the fact that the two parties have each become societal landmarks.
B)the limited ability of voters to focus on more than two parties.
C)the American media's focus on only the two dominant parties.
D)America's heavy reliance on single-member districts for elections.
E)the two major parties are coalitions, drawing their support from large segments of the population.

Question 9

In theory, the political party's top national authority is the

A)national convention.
B)national committee.
C)state convention.
D)state committee.
E)county committee.

Question 10

Minor or third parties

A)generally persist and become institutionalized forces in the American political system.
B)usually disappear soon after contesting one or two national elections.
C)are never permitted on state ballots in the American political system.
D)develop into major parties soon after their establishment.
E)are highly competitive with the two major parties in local elections.

Question 11

The most important local party organization in most states is

A)the county committee.
B)the city committee.
C)the precinct committee.
D)the national convention.
E)the national committee.

Question 12

Groups which try to influence policy primarily by getting their members elected or appointed to government office are known as

A)focus groups.
B)special interest groups.
C)interest groups.
D)pressure groups.
E)political parties.

Question 13

Which one of the following is true of congressional elections?

A)House elections tend to be more competitive than Senate elections.
B)Senate re-election rates are higher than those of House incumbents.
C)In general, few members of either the Senate or the House are re-elected.
D)House and Senate elections are equally competitive.
E)Senate races tend to be more competitive than those of House candidates.

Question 14

In terms of party systems, many democratic nations have

A)multiparty systems.
B)two-party systems.
C)single-party systems.
D)no-party systems.
E)fluctuating party systems.

Question 15

Which one of the following scenarios accurately predicts political party success?

A)The party that adheres most rigidly to its ideology will win elections.
B)The party that seeks to encompass wide range of views will win elections.
C)The party that takes the most extreme or dogmatic position will win elections.
D)The party that avoids the moderate majority will win elections.
E)The party that sets its positions forth in very clear and specific terms will win elections.

Question 16

A major characteristic of America's two major parties is that they

A)are highly centralized, with strong national organs exercising a heavy influence over weaker state party organizations.
B)tend to be single-interest parties that avoid becoming multi-interest coalitions.
C)are coalitions, gaining support from varied segments of the population.
D)avoid taking moderate political positions in order to attract voters.
E)are very powerful at all levels from national convention to state and local party organizations.

Question 17

Which of the following does NOT explain why one-party systems exist within a two-party system?

A)a local basis for party loyalty that overrides any other factor
B)party competition itself, such that the minority party in a given area is unable to change the situation
C)The two-party system is inundated with multiple parties that aid one party's dominance.
D)People who live in one area may be so similar that most of them support the same party.
E)In some regions of the country neither of the two parties has local organizations or is competitive.

Question 18

Which one of the following is true of a national party's national convention?

A)It has a broad range of powers.
B)It has a voice in the selection of candidates for congressional, state, and local offices.
C)It can force candidates to support its platform.
D)It meets every year to nominate candidates.
E)It nominates presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Question 19

What is the most widely accepted theory for the existence of the American two-party system?

A)cultural
B)historical
C)social consensus
D)institutional
E)pluralistic

Question 20

In 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified-a victory for the Prohibition party.This illustrates the influence of

A)alcohol vendors.
B)churches.
C)minor parties.
D)women.
E)courts.

Question 21

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

Question 22

The power an interest group exerts is generally dependent upon

A)its geographic location in the country.
B)the socio-economic status of its members.
C)the unity of its members and their ability to work together.
D)how much money it receives in membership dues.
E)its ability to appeal to federal, state, and local governments.

Question 23

The dealignment theory stresses that, currently,

A)political parties are in a state of disintegration.
B)a realignment of party loyalties is taking place that will lead to a transfer of voter support from one party to the other.
C)each major political party is splitting into conservative and liberal wings.
D)the rise of the black vote now gives the Democratic party an advantage over the Republican party in national elections.
E)national party organizations are becoming more powerful than the state or local party organizations.

Question 24

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?

A)Urban League
B)American Jewish Congress
C)Southern Christian Leadership Conference
D)National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
E)American Civil Liberties Union

Question 25

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

A)National Grange
B)American Farm Bureau Federation
C)Common Cause
D)National Farmers' Union
E)National Apple Institute

Question 26

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

A)economic specialization
B)an aging population
C)the success of established interest groups
D)federalism
E)separation of powers

Question 27

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

Question 28

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

Question 29

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

A)corporations and trade associations.
B)independent organizations.
C)ideological organizations.
D)labor unions.
E)farm organizations.

Question 30

Federalism and the separation of powers

A)make the activities of interest groups more difficult.
B)encourage interest group activity.
C)have no impact on the formation of interest groups and their work.
D)discourage interest group activity.
E)promote interest group activity, but only at the state level.

Question 31

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

A)about 10 percent.
B)about 28 percent.
C)about 77 percent.
D)about 86 percent.
E)about 100 percent.

Question 32

At the start of each Congress, the majority party elects

A)the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
B)the president of the United States.
C)the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
D)the various members of the House and Senate.
E)the justices of the Supreme Court and the president.

Question 33

A new development regarding interest groups has seen

A)lobbyists making increasing use of technology.
B)a rise in labor union PACs
C)a decrease in lobbying expenditures.
D)a decrease in the use of the media.
E)a decrease in the number of lobbyists.

Question 34

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?

A)evasive threat
B)personal visits
C)indirect lobbying
D)direct lobbying
E)amicus curiae briefs

Question 35

The chair of the national committee generally

A)is ceremonial, as no power is associated with the position.
B)is the presidential nominee for the party.
C)becomes the leader of the party.
D)dominates the national committee.
E)state and local parties.

Question 36

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)

A)interest group.
B)focus group.
C)peer group.
D)reference group.
E)governmental group.

Question 37

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

A)trade association.
B)single-issue group.
C)economic interest group.
D)professional association.
E)political party.

Question 38

Two-party systems are found in almost every democracy.

Question 39

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

A)The Republicans have consistently held a wide lead over the Democrats since the 1930s.
B)During most of the time since 1991, the Democrats have led the Republicans among people who identify or who lean toward a party.
C)The Republicans have been unable to increase their party identification since the 1930s.
D)There has been a decrease in the number of people who refer to themselves as independents.
E)The Republicans and Democrats are nearly even in terms of the number of people who identify with each party.

Question 40

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

Question 41

Independent voters split their ticket when voting more often than do those who identify with one of the major political parties.

Question 42

Identify strategies used by interest groups to lobby government officials in their effort to influence public policy.Make sure to provide examples of each.Which do you think is the most effective? Why?

Question 43

With respect to party identification, what are the most likely future trends? Make sure you explain how historical trends support your prediction.

Question 44

The primary form of grassroots lobbying "involves using group members (or the general public) to pressure policy makers to support to group's agenda."

Question 45

Business interests are represented in the nation's capital by a variety of groups, some known as trade associations.

Question 46

George Washington and James Madison strongly supported political parties and their role in politics.

Question 47

Alabama governor George Wallace's 1968 campaign under the banner of the American Independence Party was the most successful third party presidential campaign of the 20th century.

Question 48

In the early twentieth century, state party organizations were led by U.S.senators. This was changed by the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment.

Question 49

A minor political party has never replaced a major party.Minor party ideals have always become incorporated into one of the major parties.

Question 50

Minor political parties frequently win elections for state and local public offices.

Question 51

Overall, do you see interest groups as playing a positive or negative role in a democratic political system? Explain your answer with reference to the types and strategies of interest groups.

Question 52

Under what circumstances could the United States become a multi-party system? Make sure you address the factors that contribute to two-party dominance in your answer.

Question 53

Summarize the main efforts made to limit the power of interest groups and assess their effectiveness.

Question 54

The realignment theory and dealignment theory suggest reasons for the existence of the American two-party system.

Question 55

Interest groups frequently have more success lobbying the president than they do lobbying individual members of Congress.

Question 56

Federalism and separation of powers have limited the growth of interest groups.

Question 57

Since 1976, the number of people who consider themselves Independents has grown.

Question 58

The term amicus curiae means "friend of the court."

Question 59

PACs are an illegal way for business and industry to influence campaigns and elections.

Question 60

The economic specialization of American society has increased the number of interest groups that are active.