Question 1

What motive is there for a third-party candidate to adopt the party identification of one of the two major parties?

Accepted Answer

Adopting the party identification of one of the two major parties increases the chances that the candidate will be successful in an election by tapping into the established voter base and support structure of that party. This can improve the candidate's visibility and ability to fundraise, as well as make them more competitive in the race.

Question 2

Which statement best describes the success of third-party candidates in the American political system?

Accepted Answer

Third parties in the U.S. often face significant challenges and, even when they gain some traction, their success is typically short-lived due to the dominant two-party system.

Question 3

Why does the Electoral College favor a two-party system?

Accepted Answer

The Electoral College system requires that a candidate obtain a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) to become president. This means that for a third-party candidate to win, they would need to win enough states to deny both major party candidates a majority of electoral votes, and then have the House of Representatives select them as president. This is very unlikely to happen, as third-party candidates rarely win any electoral votes. As a result, the Electoral College and its winner-take-all system favor the two major parties and make it difficult for third-party candidates to gain traction.

Question 4

How does the winner-take-all system prevent third parties from being successful?

Accepted Answer

The winner-take-all system means that the candidate with the most votes in an election wins all of the representation for that district. This makes it very difficult for third parties to win elections because they would need to win the majority of the votes. In most cases, third parties do not have the support necessary to win a majority, making it unlikely for them to gain any representation.

Question 5

What is one result of having an Electoral College decide presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

The Electoral College system tends to favor a two-party system because it makes it difficult for third-party candidates to win enough electoral votes to secure the presidency, even if they have significant popular support. This system encourages voters to align with one of the two major parties, as votes for third-party candidates are less likely to influence the outcome of the election.

Question 6

How do systems of representation in other democracies differ from the system for congressional elections in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Other democracies use a proportional system, in which the number of seats a party receives in the legislature is based on the percentage of votes it received in the election. This is different from the winner-take-all system used in the United States, in which the candidate with the most votes in a district wins and other candidates receive no representation, even if they received a significant percentage of the votes.

Question 7

Who is considered the father of the national party organization?

Accepted Answer

Andrew Jackson is considered the father of the national party organization because of his role in establishing the Democratic Party's first national convention, which set the precedent for modern party conventions. He also established a nationwide network of party loyalists and supporters, creating a strong, centralized party organization.

Question 8

A voter's feeling of attachment to a political party is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

Party identification is the correct term to describe a voter's emotional and psychological attachment to a political party. Partisan attitude refers to a voter's opinion on a specific political issue, while grassroots action refers to activities organized by a political party, campaign, or interest group at the local level. Voter efficacy is the belief in one's ability to participate in and influence the political process.

Question 9

Eric identifies with more conservative values: he does not believe the government should be too heavily involved in the economy, supports strong border security, and considers himself pro-life. There is an upcoming election and Eric intends to vote, but he has not had time to really review the policy positions of the candidates running. What will Eric most likely do in order to vote for a candidate who aligns the closest with his values?

Accepted Answer

Eric is likely to use party identification as a heuristic, or shortcut, to make his decision. His conservative values align more closely with the Republican Party, which traditionally supports limited government intervention in the economy, strong border security, and pro-life policies. This approach allows him to vote in a way that is consistent with his beliefs without needing to research each candidate's specific policy positions.

Question 10

The idea that there is a certain percentage of voters who will reliably vote for a Democratic candidate and another percentage of voters who will reliably vote for a Republican candidate is characteristic of which theory?

Accepted Answer

The concept described is characteristic of the "normal vote" theory, which posits that there is a stable percentage of the electorate that consistently votes for each of the major political parties, reflecting underlying partisan loyalties.

Question 11

Which type of party system does the United States have?

Accepted Answer

The United States has a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. While there are other parties in existence, they are not as influential and do not have as much representation in government as the two major parties.

Question 12

How do campaign laws and regulations hurt the chances of a third-party candidate from running a successful presidential campaign?

Accepted Answer

Campaign laws and regulations often require a candidate to meet certain criteria in order to receive federal funds and get on the ballot. Third parties are often unable to meet these criteria, which makes it difficult for them to run a successful campaign. Additionally, they may not have the financial resources to pay the hefty ballot fees required by some states and counties.

Question 13

Suppose a candidate for president has historically identified as an independent and has values that align more closely with a democratic-socialist agenda. What would be the best way for this candidate to run for president?

Accepted Answer

Running as a Democrat would give the candidate access to established party resources, such as fundraising and trained staff, that would be difficult to obtain as an independent or in a new party. Additionally, running as a Democrat would give the candidate the opportunity to influence the party's platform and bring attention to their values within a larger political structure. Shifting their values to a major party or starting a new party may compromise the candidate's integrity and authenticity, while running as an independent would make it difficult to gain significant support in a two-party political system.

Question 14

Andrea identifies as a Libertarian and holds more conservative beliefs, although she would describe her position on some issues as centrist. Who will Andrea most likely vote for if she wants to feel as though her vote has counted toward the election results?

Accepted Answer

As Andrea identifies as a Libertarian with more conservative beliefs, she is most likely to align with the Republican candidate who also holds conservative values. This would make her feel as though her vote counted towards the election results.

Question 15

Which factor contributes to the two-party system in America by making it disadvantageous to run as a third-party candidate?

Accepted Answer

The rules and regulations on campaigns make it difficult for third-party candidates to gain visibility and credibility, as well as access to public funding and media coverage. This gives a significant advantage to the two major parties, making it hard for third-party candidates to mount a viable campaign. Factors such as Americans' party identification and low voter turnout rates also play a role, but the rules and regulations on campaigns are the most significant factor. The fact that Election Day is on a workday also poses some challenges, but it is not a major factor contributing to the two-party system.

Question 16

In 2018, the midterm election resulted in Democratic control of the House of Representatives, while the Republican Party maintained control of the Senate, with a Republican president in the White House. What are the results of this election an example of?

Accepted Answer

Divided government occurs when different political parties control the different branches of government. In this case, the Democrats controlled the House of Representatives while the Republicans controlled the Senate and the presidency, leading to a split government. This often leads to gridlock and difficulty passing legislation, as each party may have different priorities and agendas.

Question 17

Who is responsible for overseeing the conduct of a presidential campaign and developing a strategy for congressional elections?

Accepted Answer

The national committee, such as the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, is responsible for overseeing the conduct of a presidential campaign and developing a strategy for congressional elections. State party organizations also play a significant role in executing the national strategy within their respective states, but the overall coordination and direction come from the national level. Grassroots organizations and individual American citizens can participate in campaign activities and contribute to the strategy, but they are not responsible for overseeing and developing it.

Question 18

Who has control over the leadership in Congress?

Accepted Answer

The majority party, meaning the party with more seats in Congress, has control over the leadership positions in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The party's leadership, including the Speaker of the House and the Senate Majority Leader, determine which bills are debated and voted on, and have significant influence over the legislative agenda. The minority party and the president can have some impact on the legislative process, but ultimately it is the majority party that holds the most control over leadership in Congress. The Supreme Court does not have any control over leadership in Congress as it is a separate branch of government.

Question 19

Which statement best describes the winner-take-all system that is used in the selection of members of Congress in the United States?

Accepted Answer

In a winner-take-all system, the candidate who wins the most votes in a district will win that seat. This means that even if a candidate wins by a small margin, they will still be awarded the entire seat and the losing candidate will not receive any representation. This system is also sometimes called "first past the post."

Question 20

What is the relationship between a party's control over the federal government and the influence it has over public policymaking?

Accepted Answer

When a party has greater control over the federal government, it can more easily pass legislation and implement policies that align with its platform and values. This gives them greater influence over public policymaking, as they have the power to shape and direct the agenda.

Quiz 13: Political Parties and Voting