Question 1

Explain the role of minor parties in promoting the democratic process. How might they detract from it?

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Question 2

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

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Question 3

The awarding of legislative seats to political parties to reflect the percentage of the popular vote each has received in an election is __________.

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Question 4

Describe the various kinds of minor parties and what their focus has been. Provide examples.

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Question 5

What is party identification, and why is it important? How do political parties make use of it?

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Question 6

Assess the utility of the party platform in drawing party support and to what extent politicians are held accountable to it.

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Question 7

How has the nomination process moved over time from being party-centered to being candidate-centered?

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Question 8

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

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Question 9

List the major functions of political parties. How does the public benefit from the party label, and how does the public use it to exert pressure on public officials?

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Question 10

When did the "parties at war" era begin, and what changes have occurred in this era? Do you think the changes have reflected the attitudes and views of the American public?

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Question 11

Briefly assess why dealignment in the party system has occurred and identify one of the signs in terms of an increase or decrease in party affiliation.

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Question 12

One definitive period of __________, where power is transferred from one party to another, started with the rise of the New Deal coalition.

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Question 13

Define political realignment and describe it using one particular period to illustrate your response.

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Question 14

Why have minor parties been so unsuccessful in U.S. politics?

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Question 15

The best way of assessing voting behavior over time continues to be by determining __________, rather than concern for one person or policy.

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Question 16

Describe the proportional representation system used in most other democratic nations and the single-district, winner-take-all system used in the United States. Why might the proportional representation system be more attractive from a voter's point of view?

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Question 17

Describe how the New Deal coalition realigned American politics.

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Question 18

A party's statement of its positions on the issues of the day passed at the national convention is the __________.

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Question 19

A self-identified independent who voted for Barack Obama in the last two elections and who consistently votes for Democratic candidates in local and state elections can safely be described as a __________.

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Question 20

Which political era saw the longest period of Democratic domination? Explain the origins, the ideology of the party, and what led to the demise of party domination following this period.

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Quiz 9: Political Parties