Deck 8: Political Parties

Question 1

If we chose candidates through a "top two" bipartisan primary election

A) candidates would have to appeal to a wider range of public opinion.
B) it would increase voter participation.
C) the major political parties might lose some of their influence.
D) it would be the end of the open primary system.
E) All of the above are true.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

During the Civil War

A) the issue of slavery did not affect the political party alignment.
B) the political parties realigned to form new parties, one in support of slavery and one opposed.
C) political parties were suspended until the end of the war.
D) the political parties unified behind President Lincoln.
E) All of the above are true.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The first partisan political division in the United States was between

A) the Democrats and the Republicans.
B) the Whigs and the Democrats.
C) the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists.
D) the Whigs and the Tories.
E) the Whigs and the Republicans.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

A political system in which only two parties have a reasonable chance of winning is called

A) a bipartisan government.
B) a two-party system.
C) a bicameral system.
D) bifurcated government.
E) representative democracy.

Question 5

All of the following are true except

A) the Republican Party was founded by uniting northern Whigs, antislavery Democrats, and members of the Free Soil Party.
B) southerners resented Republicans' role in defeating the South in the Civil War.
C) the Republicans after the Civil War supported business interests and evangelical Protestant cultural values.
D) the Republicans turned to supporting states' rights after the Civil War.
E) the Republicans opposed the prohibition of alcoholic beverages after the Civil War.

Question 6

Today about how many voters call themselves independents?

A) 20 percent
B) 40 percent
C) 10 percent
D) 50 percent
E) 75 percent

Question 7

During primary elections

A) voters chose the candidates who will represent each party in the November general election.
B) candidates compete to be the advocate of the party's philosophy.
C) competition between candidates results in severe polarization.
D) campaigning can result in "purity" contests.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 8

A political party is a group of individuals who

A) agree on all policy issues.
B) organize to win elections and operate the government.
C) pay monthly dues to an ideological organization.
D) have been elected to office and have obtained positions of power.
E) accept the decisions of the party's leaders.

Question 9

Political parties differ from factions in that

A) factions are large social movements.
B) factions are groups that left the party to start a new party.
C) factions are groups within parties that follow a particular leader or share an ideological viewpoint.
D) factions are a newer phenomenon than political parties.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 10

A voter or a candidate who does not identify with a political party is called

A) a naysayer.
B) an independent.
C) a liberal.
D) a conservative.
E) a libertarian.

Question 11

Functions of political parties in the United States include all of the following except

A) operating the government.
B) acting as an organized opposition to the party in power.
C) signing up large numbers of dues-paying committed members.
D) recruiting candidates for public office.
E) presenting alternative policies to the electorate.

Question 12

All of the following statements about the early Republican Party are true except

A) it was initially led by Thomas Jefferson.
B) it supported a strong, more active central government.
C) it was supported by artisans and farmers.
D) it supported states' rights.
E) in office, its members acquired Louisiana and established a national bank.

Question 13

The major functions of American political parties are carried out by

A) elected party leaders.
B) leaders chosen by the President.
C) a small, relatively loose-knit nucleus of party activists.
D) a large group of highly organized volunteers.
E) dues-paying members.

Question 14

The primary goal of an American political party is

A) peaceably influencing the American public.
B) signing up large numbers of deeply committed members.
C) getting the party's candidates elected to office by winning elections.
D) collecting member dues.
E) trying to find the other party doing "bad" things.

Question 15

Which if the following is true?

A) Political parties organize voter registration drives.
B) Political parties recruit volunteers to work at the polls on election day.
C) Political parties raise money for campaign materials.
D) Political parties work to raise awareness for their candidates and increase voter turnout.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 16

A political party differs from an interest group in that

A) political parties want to operate the government and interest groups do not.
B) political parties do not want to operate the government and interest groups do.
C) individuals must pay dues to a political party but not to an interest group.
D) individuals in a political party agree on all major policy issues.
E) interest groups select candidates to run for office, political parties do not.

Question 17

George Washington viewed political parties as a

A) necessity for the functioning of democracy.
B) tradition from colonial times that would always exist.
C) threat to national unity and popular government.
D) legitimate means for interest groups to attempt to gain control of the government.
E) vestige of politics under Great Britain and thus a thing of the past.

Question 18

All of the following statements about the early Democratic Party are true except

A) it was an anti-slavery party.
B) it favored federal spending on internal improvements.
C) it was the party of the wealthy elites.
D) it was a branch of the Anti-Federalist Party
E) None of these statements are true.

Question 19

In primary elections

A) candidates appeal to a wide range of opinion to get votes.
B) candidates tend make moderate stands on issues.
C) partisan campaigning leads to less overall spending on campaigns.
D) candidates try to appeal to the more extreme members of their party.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 20

The two-party system

A) emerged as a consequence of the form of government created by the Constitution.
B) is a requirement in the Constitution.
C) emerged in the twentieth century.
D) was favored by George Washington.
E) Options A and D are true.

Question 21

The party organization is

A) the members of the general public who identify with a political party.
B) the formal structure and leadership of a political party.
C) all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a party.
D) the urban machines that distribute social benefits.
E) responsible only for mundane matters such as printing signs and scheduling events.

Question 22

The party-in-the-electorate is made up of

A) the members of the general public who identify with a political party.
B) the formal structure and leadership of a political party.
C) all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a party.
D) the members of the electoral college.
E) the individuals who choose the members of the electoral college.

Question 23

Which of the following is true?

A) The Great Depression shattered the working-class belief in Democratic economic competence.
B) The Great Depression solidified the Republican Party as the dominant and most trusted party in American government and politics.
C) Roosevelt's relief programs were generally not available to African Americans, resulting in African Americans' antagonism toward the Democratic Party that lasted for decades.
D) The Great Depression shattered the working-class belief in Republican economic competence.
E) Republicans held the presidency from the early 1930s until the late 1960s.

Question 24

During the late 1960s,

A) economically liberal, socially conservative voters left the Republican Party.
B) the Democrats gained strength in the South.
C) the Republican ascendance came to an end..
D) Republicans gained a majority in Congress.
E) urban riots and anti-Vietnam War protests pushed many voters towards conservatism.

Question 25

Progressivism was

A) a response to the growing power of corporations.
B) embraced by Teddy Roosevelt.
C) a belief that honest, impartial government could regulate the economy.
D) Options A and B are true.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 26

Which of the following is true about the 2008 elections?

A) Fourteen out of the fifteen wealthiest states tended to vote Republican.
B) Southern states voted for Democratic candidates more than for Republicans.
C) Thirteen out of the fifteen poorest states voted Republican.
D) The reverse-income effect proved that those with lower incomes usually vote for independent candidates.
E) In the Democratic presidential primaries, working-class voters voted for Obama rather than for Hillary Clinton.

Question 27

In general, the Democrats have been known as the party of

A) well-educated, professional individuals.
B) economic depression.
C) the economic elite.
D) conservative political ideas.
E) states' rights.

Question 28

The presidential election of 1912 was unique because

A) the Democratic Party temporarily split in two.
B) the "Bull Moose" ticket candidate won the election.
C) the Republican Party was temporarily split that allowed Democrat Woodrow Wilson to be elected.
D) all of the major parties opposed progressivism.
E) the Socialist candidate almost won.

Question 29

In general, the Republicans have been known as the party of

A) liberal political ideas.
B) social welfare programs.
C) business.
D) the working class.
E) racial and ethnic minorities.

Question 30

Republicans have emphasized

A) the need for governmental regulation of the economy.
B) the importance of the marketplace, with less emphasis on social programs.
C) social freedoms like the proposed Equal Rights Amendment.
D) the need to increase taxes on the wealthy and large corporations.
E) national authority versus the states' authority.

Question 31

Under Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic Party

A) rejected the policies of progressivism.
B) continued to adhere to the same basic policies that it did in the nineteenth century.
C) began a radical change by endorsing the idea that government should become involved in the economy.
D) shattered into three very distinct parties that were extraordinarily antagonistic toward each other.
E) adopted a policy of isolating the United States from the affairs of the rest of the world.

Question 32

All of the following are true except that

A) During the administrations of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, it appeared that the parties had come to a consensus on the size of government.
B) During the Obama administration, both parties reverted to their traditional positions on the size of government.
C) The Rise of the Tea Party may push the Republicans to maintain a strong stance on reducing government spending.
D) President Bill Clinton increased spending by reforming the welfare system.
E) President George W. Bush increased spending by embarking in two wars and adding prescription drug benefits for seniors to Medicare.

Question 33

All of the following are true of the elections of 2000 and 2004 except

A) Al Gore won the popular vote for president in 2000.
B) George W. Bush became president in 2004.
C) commentators began to use the terms "red states" for those that had voted Democratic and "blue states" for those that voted Republican.
D) only three states changed their votes for president in 2004 from the 2000 election.
E) the Republican and Democratic Parties were very close in the number of votes each got.

Question 34

Which of the following is false?

A) The Jewish electorate tends to be heavily Democratic.
B) Hispanics are strongly Republican.
C) Urban people tend to vote Democratic.
D) Rural voters support Republicans.
E) Union members tend to vote Democratic.

Question 35

In "Wave Elections"

A) dissatisfaction with the performance of one part or another can produce a wave of support for the other party.
B) the effects of the election results are temporary.
C) support for the major parties realign.
D) the results are landslide victories for Republicans or Democrats.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 36

Which is true of the election of 2008?

A) The collapse of the economy in 2007 was a major factor in the election outcome.
B) President Obama won with one of the narrowest margins in recent history.
C) The Republicans gained seats in the U.S. House and Senate.
D) The Democrats obtained 51 seats in the U.S. Senate.
E) President Obama was able to capitalize on President Bush's high approval ratings before the election.

Question 37

Democrats have emphasized

A) limited government.
B) a flat tax that would eliminate the progressive income tax system.
C) social welfare and protection of seniors' benefits.
D) a major reduction in most social programs that result in direct payments to individuals.
E) conservative political ideas.

Question 38

The elements of the reverse-income effect include a tendency for

A) wealthier states and regions to support the Democratic Party.
B) less wealthy states or regions to support the Republican Party.
C) less wealthy states and regions to support the Democratic Party.
D) wealthy states or regions to support the Republican Party.
E) Options A and B are true.

Question 39

In regard to cultural politics which is true?

A) Economic conservatism is associated with higher incomes.
B) Social conservatism is more common among lower income groups.
C) Cultural conservatives view themselves as embattled "ordinary Americans" under threat from liberal, cosmopolitan elites.
D) The election of President Obama and a Democratic Congress magnified conservatives fear, resulting in the Tea Party movement.
E) All the above are true.

Question 40

Which is (are) true of the New Deal period?

A) President Roosevelt's programs were open to whites and African Americans.
B) The Great Depression shattered working class voters' confidence in the Republican Party.
C) Roosevelt's coalition of whites and blacks was large enough to establish the Democrats as the majority party.
D) Democrats made major interventions in the economy to combat the Great Depression.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 41

Third parties have influenced American politics by

A) refusing to allow their policies to be adopted by a major party.
B) sometimes determining whether the Republicans or Democrats win an election.
C) focusing their efforts on getting judges appointed to the bench rather than winning elections for the executive or legislative branches.
D) winning elections to state legislative bodies.
E) gaining control of several municipal governments.

Question 42

The lowest layer of official party machinery is

A) the local organization supported by district leaders, precinct or ward captains, and party workers.
B) the state party chairperson and committees.
C) the national campaign chairperson's volunteers.
D) the White House interns.
E) the National Convention Delegates.

Question 43

The two-party system has dominated the American political landscape for all of the following reasons except

A) political socialization and practical considerations.
B) the winner-take-all electoral system.
C) state and federal laws favor the two major parties.
D) historical foundations of the system.
E) third parties are illegal in many jurisdictions.

Question 44

A major reason for the two-party system is the electoral system, which is based on

A) the winner-take-all, or plurality, system.
B) proportional representation.
C) one-party dominance of elections.
D) majoritarianism.
E) multi-member constituencies.

Question 45

Tipping takes place

A) when a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance.
B) when increasing numbers of voters call themselves "independents."
C) when a group that is becoming more numerous over time grows large enough to change the political balance in a state.
D) as a result of immigration or differential birth rates.
E) only in countries that employ a multiparty system.

Question 46

Which is true about independents?

A) True independents, those that are open to candidates of both parties, make up a relatively large share of the voters.
B) In times of economic crisis, the independent vote can decide elections.
C) All independents tend to stick with one party despite claiming to be open to all viewpoints.
D) Independents helped elect President Obama.
E) Options B and D are true.

Question 47

Realignment

A) is of necessity tied to specific elections.
B) takes place when a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance.
C) takes place when one dominant party replaces another one.
D) took place on schedule in 2004.
E) has been predicted as inevitable in the foreseeable future.

Question 48

Local party organizations are still important to local campaigns today because

A) they provide foot soldiers for political campaigns.
B) local party leaders are influential in determining the party's candidates for national elections.
C) national parties are dependent on money from the local party leaders.
D) the local party leaders control social services.
E) they receive substantial coverage in the media.

Question 49

Divided government

A) reflects a situation when a person votes for candidates of two parties for different offices.
B) exists when the presidency and Congress are controlled by different parties.
C) is another name for federalism.
D) increases the control of the winning party in an election.
E) is a strong indication of the emergence of a new third party.

Question 50

In the winner-take-all system,

A) the candidate that gets the most votes wins.
B) one must get a majority of votes cast to win.
C) votes are allocated on a proportional basis.
D) only parties receiving more than five percent of the vote are allocated seats.
E) a party must have competed in a previous election to be placed on the ballot.

Question 51

The national convention

A) is held every two years.
B) nominates the presidential and vice-presidential candidates and develops the party platform.
C) selects all candidates for office running on the party label.
D) gets rid of members who have failed to support the party.
E) passes legislation that will prevent the development of third parties.

Question 52

Most candidates for public office in the United States are chosen

A) by party "bosses."
B) by dues-paid party members.
C) as a result of the candidate's hard work and personal organization.
D) at party conventions.
E) in such a way that the party leadership can be sure that the candidates will support the party's platform.

Question 53

Which is true of federal and state laws?

A) They have encouraged third parties to get candidates on the ballot.
B) They let third parties get fewer signatures to place their candidates on the ballot than major parties.
C) The two major parties have a clear advantage because the laws have fewer obstacles for them.
D) The federal laws have made it easy for third or minor-party candidates to get federal matching funds.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 54

Many political scientists contend that third parties

A) have consistently failed because they never reflect the political mood of the nation.
B) serve as a safety valve for dissident political groups, preventing major confrontations and political unrest.
C) can only come into existence if they are organized around a single charismatic leader.
D) can only come into existence if they split off from one of the major political parties.
E) are incapable of being formed from scratch by individuals who are committed to a particular issue or ideology.

Question 55

Examples of party polarization include all of the following except

A) party-line voting.
B) the end of overlapping party ideologies.
C) the rise of extreme ideology in the Republican Party.
D) the rise of liberal Republicans.
E) All of the above are true.

Question 56

The party-in-government is made up of

A) the members of the general public who identify with a political party.
B) the formal structure and leadership of a political party.
C) all of the elected and appointed officials who identify with a political party.
D) pledged to support all of the party's political positions.
E) no longer significant due to candidate-centered elections.

Question 57

One example of realignment was when

A) antislavery Republicans left to join the Democratic Party before the Civil War.
B) working-class voters abandoned the Republican Party in 1896 due to the Republicans' populist politics.
C) the New Deal Democratic Coalition brought African Americans and ardent segregationists into the same party in 1932.
D) cultural conservatives abandoned the Republicans in 1968, especially in the South.
E) evangelical Christians abandoned the Republican Party and voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Question 58

Third parties

A) are minor parties.
B) can act as critics of the major parties.
C) can be spoilers in an election.
D) often start because of an idea or person.
E) All the above are true.

Question 59

Which of the following is true about third parties?

A) The Green Party favors globalization.
B) The Libertarian Party favors governmental intervention into overseas conflicts.
C) The Progressive Party was an advocate of federal regulation to protect consumers.
D) The Socialist Party favors small business interests and is growing in size.
E) The Populist Party was initiated by businessman Ross Perot in an effort to combat federal budget deficits

Question 60

Which is true?

A) Straight-ticket voting is now nearly universal.
B) The number of people identifying as independents has grown in recent years.
C) Party identification has been increasing.
D) The rise in Democratic identification may be because of the southern voter.
E) Split-ticket voting is declining.

Question 61

Which do you consider yourself-a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? Explain your answer by discussing your viewpoints on the issues that align with one of the above ideologies.

Question 62

Describe the history of political parties in the United States.

Question 63

How can an individual voter become involved with a political party? Outline some party activities that are available for individual voters.

Question 64

Describe the importance of independent voters and provide examples of their impact in recent elections.

Question 65

Describe the different functions of political parties in our system.

Question 66

Explain the phenomenon of "wave" elections and provide examples.

Question 67

Explain the activities of political parties at the national, state, and local levels.

Question 68

Why do we only have two major parties? Explain the circumstances that have perpetuated the two-party system.

Question 69

Contrast the two major parties in the United States today.

Question 70

Analyze the role of cultural politics in recent elections.

Question 71

Explain the differences between the party-in-the-electorate, the party organization, and the party-in-government.

Question 72

Explore the role played by third parties in the United States.