Deck 51: US Politics

Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about third parties?

A)Third parties have occasionally changed the predicted outcome of presidential elections.
B)Third parties are greatly encouraged by our election system, as they usually draw a greater voter turnout.
C)The existence of third parties is protected under the Bill of Rights.
D)Third parties benefit equally with existing parties under federal campaign financing laws.

Answer 1

Third parties have occasionally changed the predicted outcome of presidential elections.

Question 2

Very often, small identifiable groups greatly benefit from policies that are paid for by a large part of the tax-paying public. What type of politics is this known as?

A)Interest group politics
B)Entrepreneurial politics
C)Client politics
D)Majoritarian politics

Answer 2

Client politics

Question 3

What has been the greatest change in liberalism in the United States?

A)A shift to the northeastern part of the United States
B)The rise of women's issues
C)A shift from localism to nationalism
D)The rise of the Populist Party

Answer 3

A shift from localism to nationalism

Question 4

What has been the greatest change in conservatism in the United States?

A)Change from an emphasis on national leadership to an emphasis on local leadership
B)Rising control of western and rural states
C)Dixiecrats moving to the Republican party
D)Emergence of religious leadership

Question 5

Which of the following statements about political parties in the United States is most correct?

A)Two parties have continued to consistently dominate.
B)Parties have been stable since their founding.
C)Broad changes in control over political parties have routinely occurred.
D)Parties have grown in power as presidents gained greater power.

Question 6

What is the best explanation for the two-party dominance that has been in effect for much of U.S. history?

A)On the whole, citizens had general distrust of political parties.
B)Parties were readily able to absorb new political goals.
C)Major political parties have significant money from campaign funds.
D)Urban political party "machines" have blocked the formation of other political parties.

Question 7

What is the main reason why campaign finance reform efforts have been so minimal?

A)The free speech issue has relatively limited restrictions.
B)Those who benefit from the current systems see little reason to change.
C)Interest and lobby groups find ways around controls.
D)All of the above

Question 8

What are national party conventions are primarily used for?

A)To support the nominee
B)To give party speeches in front of television audiences
C)To set the agenda for the campaign
D)To reward the faithful members of the party with jobs

Question 9

What is a major dilemma of trying to get elected as president?

A)Facing the television debates
B)Trying to effectively fundraise in all states
C)Pleasing loyal member of the party without alienating the public
D)Organizing the right campaign staff

Question 10

Why are there thousands of interest groups in the United States?

A)Many of them believe that they have a right to access leaders.
B)Parties are unable to effectively control the political agenda.
C)The American political system is stable.
D)The politically system can be rapidly changed through public input.

Question 11

Where does most of the political power of interest groups lie?

A)Lobbying and persuading leaders
B)Choosing the key issues to change or protect
C)Bringing money to campaigns
D)All of the above

Question 12

Which of the following statements about media in the United States is most historically correct?

A)National information is a media goal.
B)Party bias is often a media goal.
C)Free speech for all is a media goal.
D)Fairness is a media goal.

Question 13

Why did daily news reporting become a national phenomenon?

A)The invention of television
B)The invention of radio
C)The invention of coast-to-coast telegraph systems
D)All of the above

Question 14

What has been the most consistent trend in media coverage in the country?

A)A reduction of story time and coverage
B)It takes a generally neutral stand on most party issues.
C)It has transformed into more consistent political coverage
D)It has expanded to cover candidates' personal issues

Question 15

What determines the number of delegates sent to a national party convention and the rules under which those delegates are chosen?

A)State legislatures
B)Local party caucuses
C)State party conventions
D)National committee of the particular party

Question 16

Which types of elections legally use federal money during campaigns?

A)Congressional elections
B)Presidential elections
C)Local elections
D)None of the above

Question 17

Which historical events are generally blamed for ending the friendly relationship between politicians and the press?

A)The Great Depression and Prohibition
B)World War I and World War II
C)Vietnam and Watergate
D)The Civil Rights Movement and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Question 18

What are primaries called wherein voters are presented with a list of candidates from all parties and may switch back and forth between parties?

A)Caucus primaries
B)Blanket primaries
C)Run-off primaries
D)Closed primaries

Question 19

Which party position in Congress is responsible for making certain that party members are present for a vote and that they vote the way the party wishes?

A)Minority leader
B)Chairman of the caucus
C)President pro tempore
D)Party whip

Question 20

What is the difference between an open primary election and a closed primary election?

A)In an open primary, non-citizens can vote.
B)In a closed primary, you can only vote if you have voted before.
C)In an open primary, you can vote if you have not declared a party affiliation.
D)In a closed primary, you can only vote if you have been cleared by the party as being a loyal member.
E)In an open primary, poll workers will open the door for you and welcome you with a cookie.

Question 21

Which two states are generally considered to be the most important in the presidential nominating process?

A)New York and California
B)Texas and California
C)Illinois and Texas
D)Illinois and California
E)Iowa and New Hampshire

Question 22

Each state has one vote in the Electoral College for:

A)Every 100,000 citizens in the state
B)Every 500,000 citizens in the state
C)Every member of the House of Representatives
D)Every member of the Senate
E)Every member of the House of Representatives and Senate

Question 23

Some political scientists argue that, for most Americans, their vote for president doesn't really matter. What is the strongest reason for this belief?

A)Since most of the states are "winner-takes-all", your vote only matters if you live in a swing state.
B)Electoral College electors so frequently ignore the wishes of the voters that it's as if your vote doesn't matter.
C)Each presidential candidate is going to do the same thing in office, so it doesn't matter who wins the election.
D)Most years the president is actually selected by Congress because there is no majority in the Electoral College.
E)It is hardly ever the case that a presidential election is close enough for votes to actually matter.

Question 24

Incumbents in the House of Representatives who are running for reelection in the same district generally win about ________ of the time.

A)25%
B)40%
C)50%
D)60%
E)95%

Question 25

What is the difference between "hard money" and "soft money"?

A)Hard money goes directly to a campaign while soft money tries to help campaigns indirectly.
B)Hard money is cash on hand while soft money is money that has been promised.
C)Hard money is cash from donations while soft money is from loans.
D)Hard money is coins and soft money is bills.
E)Hard money comes from named donors and soft money comes from anonymous donors.

Question 26

Which US Supreme Court decision prohibited the government from restricting political spending by corporations and unions?

A)Hardwick v. Bowers
B)Bush v. Gore
C)Citizens United v. FEC
D)Lithgow v. New York
E)McCain v. Forrester

Question 27

Why would billionaire Richie McBuck be more likely to win as a candidate for Senate, all things being equal, than Bob Lawsome, who is not wealthy?

A)The billionaire is already better-known.
B)If the billionaire could get that rich in the first place, he must be a good at helping run government.
C)The billionaire could use his own money to run the campaign, and wouldn't have to spend time fundraising.
D)Poor people don't know how to write laws.
E)Poor people have never won elected office.

Question 28

When are federal general elections held?

A)The first Saturday after Thanksgiving.
B)The first Saturday after Halloween.
C)Thirty days after the last televised debate.
D)The first Tuesday of November in even-numbered years.
E)The second Tuesday of October in odd-numbered years.

Question 29

Who is in charge of monitoring federal elections in the US?

A)The US State Department
B)The Federal Election Commission
C)The Campaign Compliance Commission
D)The political parties are to monitor each other and issue complaints to the Justice Department.
E)Each individual state

Question 30

Suppose Candidate Kane is a Democrat and he lives in a predominantly Democratic district. Not many people in the district know who he is and they aren't generally highly educated on the issues. Which campaign strategy should he use?

A)A party-centered strategy
B)An issue-oriented strategy
C)A candidate-oriented strategy
D)A benchmark strategy
E)A heavy-spending strategy

Question 31

Suppose Candidate Kane is a Republican and he lives in a predominantly Democratic district. He is widely known and liked in the district, but the voters are not highly educated on the issues. Which campaign strategy should he use?

A)A party-centered strategy
B)An issue-oriented strategy
C)A candidate-oriented strategy
D)A benchmark strategy
E)A heavy-spending strategy

Question 32

Suppose Candidate Kane is a Democrat and he lives in a predominantly Democratic district. He is not widely known in the district and is running against a better-known incumbent Democratic candidate in the primary. The voters are a little upset about the incumbent's votes on education reform. Which campaign strategy should Candidate Kane use?

A)A party-centered strategy
B)An issue-oriented strategy
C)A candidate-oriented strategy
D)A benchmark strategy
E)A heavy-spending strategy

Question 33

Voters who vote against an incumbent during a bad economic time exemplify:

A)Fiscal voting
B)Monetary voting
C)Interest voting
D)Retrospective voting
E)Introspective voting

Question 34

On average, which of the following candidates is most likely to win an election?

A)The tall, good looking man.
B)The older man who has a war injury.
C)The younger woman who is wearing braces.
D)The middle-aged man with a "beer belly".
E)The woman in her 60s.

Question 35

Political parties are distinguished from interest groups in American politics by the fact that interest groups do not:

A)Endorse candidates in campaigns
B)Financially support candidates for public office
C)Get involved in politics
D)Sponsor candidates for office under their name
E)Maintain organizations that assist candidates in campaigns

Question 36

The primary goal of interest groups is to:

A)Fight corruption in government
B)Influence public policy
C)Mobilize members to support certain political candidates
D)Sponsor candidates for election
E)Educate the public about issues

Question 37

It could be argued that interest groups better represent their constituents than do members of Congress because:

A)Interest groups are elected from smaller populations than congressional districts.
B)Citizens are more informed about interest group activity than about congressional action.
C)Interest group representatives are more honest and conscientious than are members of Congress.
D)Some constituents will not be ideologically represented by their member of Congress.
E)Most interest groups represent a wider range of opinions and needs than do members of Congress.

Question 38

What is an interest group entrepreneur?

A)Someone who makes her living off of lobbying for interest groups.
B)Someone who provides financial backing for start-up interest groups.
C)Someone who organizes or leads an interest group.
D)Someone who is a lobbyist for small businesses.
E)Someone who develops mail-drives for small interest groups.

Question 39

Which of the following groups of Americans are most likely to join an interest group?

A)The wealthy and highly educated.
B)Blue collar workers.
C)The economically oppressed.
D)Widows and orphans.
E)The young and economically disadvantaged.

Question 40

Grassroots lobbying is designed to influence policy by:

A)The amount contributed to campaigns from members.
B)Convincing large numbers of citizens to contact political leaders by letters, telegrams, e-mail, faxes, and phone calls.
C)Reminding legislators of the values and beliefs they held when they first entered politics.
D)Promising to take care of the lawns of congressional committee chairs.

Question 41

Which of the following is not a function of interest groups?

A)Representing people
B)Educating policymakers
C)Government oversight
D)Bring issues to the limelight
E)Administrative adjudication

Question 42

When the Coalition for the Advancement of Old People (CAOP) runs commercials on CNN warning viewers that legislation pending in the House would likely cut Medicare, what type of lobbying are they performing?

A)Direct lobbying
B)Grassroots lobbying
C)Social media lobbying
D)Information campaigns
E)Coalition building

Question 43

Any increase in lobbying regulations conflicts with:

A)The First Amendment's right to petition.
B)The Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause
C)Ninth Amendment provisions on individual rights.
D)The Fairness Doctrine
E)Griggs v. Hartwick

Question 44

Suppose the Organization for the Advancement of Bad Music (OABM) failed in their direct lobbying efforts in Congress, the White House, and the bureaucracies. Where else can they legally go?

A)Nowhere. They're stuck like Chuck in the muck.
B)They can lobby judges through bribes.
C)They can create a lawsuit in federal court.
D)They can lobby foreign countries to try to influence US policymakers.
E)They can lobby at the state level since state law supersedes federal law in issues of commerce.

Question 45

What is a PAC?

A)The character in an old video game.
B)Political Action Committee
C)Policy Advocacy Coalition
D)Presidential Advisory Committee
E)Pacifists Against Corruption (an interest group)

Question 46

If you were the administrator of a small business PAC, you would be most likely to contribute campaign funds to:

A)An incumbent who is a member of the sub-committee in charge of regulating small businesses.
B)The challenger to an open congressional seat.
C)Any candidate who shares your ideology.
D)A candidate from the area where the small businesses are located.
E)The candidate who donated the most to your interest group.

Question 47

A political party's primary purpose in the US is to:

A)Inform the electorate about important issues.
B)Run candidates for political office.
C)Organize politicians to act as cohesive units.
D)Provide jobs for people once their candidate is elected.
E)Provide contrasting issue positions than the government.

Question 48

It could be argued that political parties in the US behave as if they were coalitions of:

A)Disgruntled politicians
B)Bureaucratic organizations
C)Interest groups
D)Ideologies
E)Regime changes

Question 49

In a system of separation of powers like that in the United States, parties serve to:

A)Bring about some coordination between the branches of government
B)Make it impossible for the branches of government to coordinate
C)Further separate the powers
D)Dredge up embarrassing information on their opponents
E)Rehabilitate federalism

Question 50

What is the best explanation for the US developing and maintaining a dominant two-party system?

A)Historically there have always just been two dominant parties. That's just the way it is.
B)The Constitution says that there should only be two parties.
C)There are only two ideologies in the US, and one party represents each ideology.
D)Legislative districts and election rules make it difficult for third-parties to succeed.
E)There is a conspiracy going back to George Washington to maintain power in the hands of a few, and you need two parties to fool the people.

Question 51

Which of the following best describes the structure of the two major American political parties?

A)They are without organization or structure.
B)They are alliances of national, state, and local organizations unified by agreement on ideology and policy.
C)They are centrally controlled hierarchical organizations.
D)They are alliances of national, state, and local organizations that are often divided into ideological factions.
E)They are affiliated with international political parties with headquarters in Switzerland.

Question 52

An election trend where voters select the candidates from the political party they are not known to normally vote for and persist in the behavior for several elections would be identified as:

A)A progressive election
B)A split election
C)Electoral dealignment
D)Electoral realignment
E)A cascade election

Question 53

What are the primary ideological differences between the Democratic and Republican Parties?

A)Republicans are more socially conservative and anti-business than Democrats.
B)Democrats are more socially conservative and anti-business than Republicans.
C)Republicans are more socially conservative and pro-business than Democrats.
D)Democrats are more socially conservative and pro-business than Republicans.
E)There aren't any ideological differences between the two parties.

Question 54

Which modern political party has existed in the US since the late 18th century?

A)Democratic Party
B)Republican Party
C)Grand Old Party
D)Libertarian Party
E)The Whig Party

Question 55

What were the first two major political parties in the US?

A)Democrats and Republicans
B)Democratic-Republicans and Federalists
C)Democratic-Republicans and the Grand Old Party (GOP)
D)Federalists and the Grand Old Party (GOP)
E)The Democrats and the Whigs

Question 56

According to Anthony Downs, if political parties in the US were acting rationally, where would they position themselves ideologically?

A)One party would be liberal and the other party would be conservative.
B)Both parties would be conservative
C)Both parties would be liberal.
D)Both parties would try to hide their views on policy.
E)Both parties would try to get as near to the ideological center as they could.

Question 57

Which of the following is the best explanation for why, in recent years especially, presidential candidates for the two major political parties have not been as near the ideological center as one might expect?

A)The majority of voters are no longer near the center.
B)The parties don't really care about winning.
C)Most years the parties haven't been able to attract good centrist candidates.
D)Candidates near the ideological middle have a harder time winning the party's nomination.
E)Voters are unaware of the ideological views of the candidate.

Question 58

Where is the party platform adopted?

A)In a backroom where a bunch of old guys smoke cigars.
B)At the national party convention.
C)In Congress.
D)At a Cabinet meeting.
E)The party platform is never adopted-it's an informal thing.

Question 59

Of the following factors, which is the most important for predicting the outcome of Congressional elections?

A)Whether or not there are hot button issues on the table during the campaign
B)The amount of money spent by the candidate
C)Whether or not the candidate is an incumbent
D)Size of the voter turnout

Question 60

Which of the following descriptions best suits the use of a random sample in polling?

A)Only computers select who is called.
B)Complex math models in computer programs determine calls.
C)Any person in the population has an equal chance at being called.
D)No predetermined criteria are used for calls.

Question 61

Last-minute polls often produce different results from earlier polls. What is the best reasoning behind this?

A)An increase in sampling errors
B)Lack of proper questions
C)Lack of random controls
D)Use of different questions

Question 62

Which of the following groups make up the highest voter turnout in presidential elections in the United States?

A)Women who are motivated by gender-specific issues
B)Eighteen to twenty-five year olds who are excited to vote the first time
C)College-educated citizens, no matter what their social standing or ethnicity
D)Citizens who are lower on the socioeconomic scale and are dissatisfied with their living and/or working conditions.

Question 63

According to current research, what is the single greatest factor that determines what voters base their decisions upon in United States presidential elections?

A)How effective a candidate is during televised debates
B)Television advertising
C)Party platforms created at the conventions
D)Party identification, individual issues, and which party the over believes is most perceptive to these issues

Question 64

Which of the following has been the greatest change in the political efficacy of citizens?

A)Increasing voter turnouts
B)Lack of civil rights reforms
C)Willingness (or lack of) citizens to participate in the system
D)The support citizens give to their leaders and hope for political reform

Question 65

What is a major difference between the elections of presidents and elections of members of Congress?

A)Candidates for Congress must be more partisan.
B)Presidents must be more partisan.
C)More voters are able to cast ballots during presidential elections.
D)Presidential races are easier to fund.

Question 66

Which of the following has been a recent trend in presidential campaigns?

A)A rise in successful third-party candidates
B)Television debates have become critical
C)An increase in personal attacks on candidates
D)Party leaders have pushed to return to more state caucuses

Question 67

In recent years, the general opinion of the government has been fairly negative in the minds of many. What is the most likely way the bureaucracy contributes to these feelings?

A)Not providing jobs for the public
B)Existing far from public controls
C)Being comprised by political appointees
D)Not tackling national problems

Question 68

What is the most common form of political activity carried out by citizens of the United States?

A)Voting in local and state elections
B)Voting in presidential elections
C)Placing yard signs for state elections
D)Donating money to candidates

Question 69

Which of the following is the most common determining factor when people vote for a presidential candidate?

A)The candidate's identification with a political party
B)The candidate's stance on certain political and social issues
C)The candidate's position on fiscal policy
D)The effectiveness of the candidate's media campaign

Question 70

"The prevailing moral values, beliefs, and myths people live by and are willing to die for" is commonly called:

A)Republicanism
B)Crazy
C)Institutional norms
D)The categorical imperative
E)Political culture

Question 71

Which of the following is not a commonly accepted tenet of the American Creed?

A)The right to pursue one's own life
B)Liberty
C)Economic opportunity through private property
D)Obedience to authorities
E)Political equality

Question 72

Which of the following US documents is most influential on the content of the American Creed?

A)The Declaration of Independence
B)The Emancipation Proclamation
C)The Monroe Doctrine
D)The Articles of Confederation
E)The Federalist Papers

Question 73

Which economic system is generally viewed as part of the American Creed?

A)Socialism
B)Communism
C)Anarchism
D)Free Enterprise
E)Command Economics

Question 74

Political socialization is the process by which:

A)People learn the political culture
B)People socialize with each other
C)Government leaders learn what to do in office
D)Politicians learn how to win elections
E)People learn to participate in society

Question 75

In the United States, which of the following are the primary agents of political socialization for children?

A)Religion and social class
B)Family, religion, and party
C)Family, school, community, and peers
D)School and social class
E)Peers and religion

Question 76

According to US political culture, each citizen's having one vote is supposed to indicate:

A)Equality of opportunity.
B)Social equality.
C)A republic.
D)Political equality
E)A theocracy.

Question 77

Which of the following is not a way to become a US citizen?

A)Be born in the United States.
B)Have both parents already be citizens, at least one of whom once lived in the US.
C)Completing the naturalization process as described in US law.
D)Being the child (under 18 years-old) of a parent who completes the naturalization process as described in US law.
E)Living in the US for at least 21 years.

Question 78

An individual's consistent set of values and beliefs about the proper role of government is called:

A)Political ideology
B)Political culture
C)Party affiliation
D)Systematic theology
E)Stabilization metric

Question 79

What is the relationship between political ideology and political culture?

A)One can have an ideology without having a political culture, but one cannot have a political culture without having an ideology.
B)One can have a political culture without having an ideology, but one cannot have an ideology with having a political culture.
C)Most ideologies in a given country will fit within that country's political culture.
D)Ideology is for groups and culture is for individuals.
E)They are opposite concepts.

Question 80

In the context of the United States, the beliefs in smaller government, limited government intervention in the private sector, and traditional moral values best fit within which ideology?

A)Liberal
B)Conservative
C)Libertarian
D)Communitarian
E)Socialist