Political Parties and Campaigns Test Bank Docx Chapter 9

AM GOV 2019-2020, 6e (Losco)

Chapter 9 Parties and Political Campaigns: Putting Democracy into Action

1) A lack of political parties would likely result in

A) less fragmentation in government.

B) more frequent turnover of elected representatives.

C) more enduring coalitions in support of specific initiatives.

D) a great weakening of lobbyists and special interest groups.

E) the appearance of powerful institutions capable of taking collective action on citizens’ behalf. 

2) ________ are organizations created for the purpose of winning elections and governing once in office.

A) Political movements

B) Special interest groups

C) Political action committees

D) Political parties

E) Lobbyist organizations

3) Which of the following statements about political parties is LEAST accurate?

A) They try to construct voting majorities in order to get legislation passed.

B) They help to simplify electoral choices for voters.

C) Unlike many political institutions, they can be held accountable in elections.

D) They help to synthesize policies that will be acceptable to diverse viewpoints. 

E) Their role and function is clearly delineated in the Constitution.

4) Which of the following factors is LEAST responsible for the predominance of just two parties in the American political system?

A) popular satisfaction with limited electoral choices

B) election rules

C) electoral finances

D) state laws governing elections

E) popular distrust of ideological extremism

5) Which of the following statements about the difficulties faced by third parties in the United States is LEAST accurate?

A) Third parties rarely have a track record that can make them attractive to campaign financing contributors. 

B) They often face tight deadlines for gathering signatures to get on the ballot.

C) Many states make it prohibitively difficult for small parties to get their candidates' names on the ballot.

D) The two major parties are able to write rules that make it hard for third parties and independents to compete.

E) The Constitution places most power for regulating political parties in the hands of Congress, where third party voices are rarely heard.

6) The only two states that do NOT automatically award all of their electoral votes to one presidential candidate are Maine and

A) Florida.

B) Nebraska.

C) Pennsylvania.

D) Ohio.

E) California.

7) According to Duverger's law,

A) a winner-takes-all system encourages third-party growth.

B) small parties flourish best in a single-member district system.

C) proportional representation systems lead to two-party systems.

D) single-member districts lead to stable two-party systems.

E) single-member districts lead to instability because political stakes are so high.

8) Generally speaking, the American political system differs from that of most European democracies in that

A) its major parties are more ideologically driven.

B) it makes it easier for minority interests to gain direct representation in government.

C) it discourages cooperation among diverse interests.

D) it leads to more stability in government after the election ends.

E) it allows for more proportionate representation of a wide variety of political views in the halls of government.

9) Which 1992 third-party candidate combined personal appeal with a single-issue focus to achieve a major showing the presidential contest?

A) Nelson Rockefeller

B) Ross Perot

C) Ralph Nader

D) George Soros

E) Carl Lindner

10) One of the two major parties that dominated America's first party era was the Democratic-Republicans, who were led by

A) Thomas Jefferson.

B) Alexander Hamilton.

C) Benjamin Franklin.

D) John Adams.

E) George Washington.

11) The two men most responsible for turning the Democrats into the first mass political party were Martin Van Buren and

A) Thomas Jefferson.

B) Alexander Hamilton.

C) James Madison.

D) Andrew Jackson.

E) Abraham Lincoln.

12) Which of the following statements about the run-up to the second party system is LEAST accurate?

A) The era witnessed a significant decline in voter turnout.

B) The era witnessed the appearance of the first mass political party in U.S. history.

C) The era witnessed structural changes such as the popular election of presidential electors.

D) The era witnessed the use of rallies, bonfires, and parades to mobilize popular support.

E) The era was brought to an end with the establishment of a stable two-party system of Republicans and Democrats.

13) ________ is a strong party organization that maintains control by exchanging votes for favors.

A) A political machine

B) Patronage

C) The civil service

D) A steering committee

E) None of these answers is correct.

14) ________ is specifically a practice of exchanging votes for jobs.

A) The political machine

B) Civil service

C) Patronage

D) Job sharing

E) Bureaucracy

15) The ________ is a merit-based system of employment and personnel management that replaced patronage.

A) civil service

B) spoils system

C) political machine

D) job pool

E) None of these answers is correct.

16) Which of the following statements about the third party system is LEAST accurate?

A) Local politics were controlled by political machines, which traded services for voter support.

B) The political violence and corruption of the era were accompanied by extraordinarily high rates of voter turnout.

C) The Democratic Party controlled Congress and the presidency during most of this period.

D) The period was marked by wild economic fluctuations that encouraged widespread popular discontent.

E) Parties used patronage—the promise of employment in return for voting the right way—to bring voters to the polls.

17) Which major third party emerged in the 1890s and drew support primarily from southerners and westerners?

A) Populists

B) Bull Moose

C) National Republican

D) States' Rights

E) Federalists

18) The fourth party system was marked by the dominance of the

A) Federalist Party.

B) Populist Party.

C) Republican Party.

D) Democratic Party.

E) Whig Party.

19) Which of the following groups was NOT a member of the New Deal coalition?

A) southern whites

B) northern industrial workers

C) northeastern businessmen

D) Catholics

E) African Americans

20) What was the "southern strategy"?

A) an attempt by Franklin Roosevelt to add the South to his New Deal Coalition

B) an effort by the Republican Party starting in the 1960s to woo the white South away from the Democratic Party

C) an attempt by Democrats in the 1970s to enhance their standing in the South by appealing to black voters

D) the national government's attempt to ensure black citizens' right to vote by allowing federal agents to monitor southern elections

E) an effort by the Republican Party in the late nineteenth century to weaken the Democratic Party's influence in the North by associating Democrats with the secessionist South

21) Which of the following groups was NOT one of the bases of support contributing to the resurgence of the Republican Party in the late 1960s?

A) African Americans

B) southern whites

C) conservatives

D) evangelical Christians

E) upper-income businessmen

22) Despite fluctuations in overall levels of party support as a result of short-term events, the major parties

A) today maintain rough parity among voters.

B) have reflected Democratic Party dominance in most elections.

C) have reflected Republican Party dominance in most elections.

D) have declined in popularity among voters in recent years.

E) have witnessed the rise of numerous third parties in recent years.

23) Scholars have theorized that realignments are the result of

A) major events that trigger a prolonged change in party control of the institutions of government.

B) generational shifts that happen every 28 to 36 years. 

C) generational realignments that occur over long periods of time.

D) increased voter interest and party competition triggered by major events.

E) All of these answers are correct.

24) The political term realignment refers to

A) a periodic change in the composition, strength, and direction of parties.

B) the regular transfer of power from one party to another after an election.

C) redrawing the lines of political districts in order to benefit the party in power.

D) how candidates change their political strategies after they've won a primary and can wield the resources of their party.

E) the occasional emergence of a third party that briefly commands limited public attention and then vanishes without having much effect on the political system.

25) The orthodoxy in political science holds that realignments are signaled by one or more

A) close elections.

B) critical elections.

C) rebounding elections.

D) major shift elections.

E) periodic elections.

26) Which of the following accurately describes part of the demographic change that the Democratic Party has undergone in recent years?

A) The party has done better among white Catholics.

B) The party has made inroads into middle-income and blue-collar voters.

C) The party has done better in recent years among professionals with higher incomes and education.

D) The party has made inroads into union members.

E) The party has increased in popularity among housewives.

27) ________ is characterized by control of the White House by one party while the opposition party controls one or both houses of Congress.

A) Divided government

B) Split government

C) Minority government

D) Parliamentary government

E) Grand coalition government

28) Which of the following is true about the characteristics of the political parties and voters in recent years?

A) Neither party has been able to dominate the national government for a sustained period of time.

B) Much of the period has been characterized by divided government.

C) Partisan identification has been closely divided.

D) National elections have been extremely competitive.

E) All of these answers are correct.

29) What is the defining feature of dealignment?

A) The major parties move toward parity.

B) One party gains long-term dominance over the other.

C) A third party emerges to attract enough attention to force one or both of the major parties to adopt elements of the third party's platform.

D) The two major parties appear to be losing their relevance to the voting population.

E) A group that had long been associated with one party suddenly throws its support to that party's opponent.

30) A major driving force behind the current polarization in American politics is 

A) radical decisions by federal judges.

B) the mainstream media.

C) interference by foreign governments.

D) interest-group and party elites.

E) high-ranking government bureaucrats.

31) Which of the following statements about the Republican and Democratic national committees is LEAST accurate?

A) The RNC seeks a level of parity between male and female delegates.

B) Both grant seats to delegates from each state in the Union.

C) Their primary responsibility is to nominate and elect their party’s candidates for Congress.

D) The DNC is significantly larger than the RNC.

E) Both grant seats to delegates from each American territory.

32) The duties of national party chairs include all of the following EXCEPT

A) choosing their party's presidential candidate.

B) helping to set their party's agendas and rules.

C) handling conflicts that arise during primaries.

D) monitoring the success of their party's candidates in elections throughout the country.

E) managing the day-to-day affairs of the national headquarters.

33) In the pyramid-structure analogy of American political parties, the ________ are at the base/bottom of the pyramid.

A) national committees

B) precinct committees

C) congressional campaign committees

D) local government committees

E) state committees

34) Which of the following statements about "soft money" is LEAST accurate?

A) It generally consists of large contributions.

B) It is currently the primary means by which parties raise money.

C) It generally comes from wealthy donors, unions, and corporations.

D) It is ostensibly used partly for voter-registration drives.

E) It is ostensibly used partly for promoting party-supported issues.

35) Which of the following statements about the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 is most accurate?

A) It increased legal access to soft money.

B) It banned parties from raising hard money.

C) It allowed parties to collect money only for party-building activities, not for funding individual candidates' campaigns.

D) It allowed parties to collect soft money, but only on the condition that they distribute it to candidates rather than spend it directly.

E) It increased contribution limits on giving hard money to parties.

36) Which of the following statements about the nature of national conventions is LEAST accurate?

A) The national convention is responsible for drafting and approving the party's platform.

B) As a result of the need for compromise, party platforms are usually more moderate, and less ideological, than the average party supporter desires.

C) Democrats send superdelegates to their national convention, but Republicans do not.

D) The convention is responsible for nominating the party's presidential nominee.

E) Party loyalists and special interests have a strong influence on the party platform formed during the convention.

37) Which of the following statements about the political parties' role in campaign funding is LEAST accurate?

A) Both parties have organizations dedicated to getting party members elected to both the House and the Senate.

B) Party members from safe seats often siphon some of their funds into the coffers of colleagues engaged in more competitive races.

C) Although parties can only give $5,000 directly to House candidates, they can give $47,400 to Senate candidates.

D) To maintain party loyalty, all of a party's candidates are guaranteed the same amount of party money to fund their campaigns.

E) Parties not only contribute directly to members' campaign funds but also distribute money through leadership PACs associated with congressional party leaders.

38) Which of the following statements about parties' state committees is LEAST accurate?

A) Day-to-day activities are handled by the state party chairperson.

B) They employ many of the same sophisticated communications systems used by national parties.

C) Because their expenses have mounted, they currently rely heavily on soft money distributed to them by the national party.

D) They frequently cooperate with the national party to achieve mutual ends.

E) They focus on statewide elections, such as the governorship and membership in the state legislature, rather than on local elections.

39) All of the following factors have contributed to the declining power of local party organizations EXCEPT

A) party reform.

B) the growth of mass media as a source of information for voters.

C) the decline of patronage.

D) the expansion of government welfare services.

E) the rise of the candidate-centered campaign.

40) The geographic area served by a polling place is a

A) congressional district.

B) precinct.

C) municipality.

D) township.

E) county.

41) The defining characteristic of a splinter party is

A) its small size.

B) that it attracts new citizens who previously had rarely voted.

C) that it breaks away from an existing party.

D) that it forms in response to a crisis.

E) that it forms around a single idea or candidate.

42) Which of the following statements about third parties in the United States is LEAST accurate?

A) They have been rare throughout most of American history.

B) They sometimes act as spoilers, by drawing voters away from one of the candidates in a tight election.

C) They often arise to give voice to discontent among the electorate.

D) They are often absorbed by one of the larger parties if their ideologies or policy proposals prove popular.

E) They must overcome significant obstacles just to make one credible campaign, let alone maintain a lasting presence in electoral politics.

43) It is possible, though not certain, that the ________ and Libertarian Party siphoned off enough votes from Hillary Clinton in 2016 to cost her the presidential election.

A) Green Party

B) Populist Party

C) Reform Party

D) Socialist Party

E) Prohibition Party

44) Which of the following did not or has not managed to run its own presidential candidate?

A) Bull Moose Party

B) Tea Party

C) Libertarian Party

D) Green Party

E) Progressive Party

45) What major and enduring party began as a splinter party?

A) the Federalist Party

B) the Whig Party

C) the Green Party

D) the Democratic Party

E) the Republican Party

46) Super PACs

A) had a huge impact in funding elections in recent years.

B) were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2010.

C) can only be formed by independent citizens' groups, not corporations or unions.

D) must officially coordinate their spending with the national political parties.

E) All of these answers are correct.

47) Which of the following statements about 527 groups is LEAST accurate?

A) They may spend as much as they want on political advertising.

B) They may not instruct the voter to vote for or against a particular candidate.

C) They are tax-exempt.

D) They can only advocate general issues or positions; they cannot attack an individual candidate.

E) They do not have to disclose their donors.

48) Which of the following statements about 501(c) groups is LEAST accurate?

A) They are considered to be "social welfare" advocacy groups.

B) They have been accused of perpetuating "dark money" in politics.

C) They are not taxed.

D) They can participate in campaigns but can only spend half or less of their money on politics.

E) To maintain their special status, they must fully disclose the extent and nature of their expenditures to the general public.

49) In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), federal courts ruled that

A) individuals and organizations can spend up to $5,000 each for or against political candidates or causes as independent advocates.

B) individuals and organizations can spend unlimited amounts of money for or against political candidates or causes as independent advocates.

C) individuals and organizations can spend unlimited amounts of money for or against political candidates or causes part of a major party campaign.

D) individuals and organizations can spend unlimited amounts of money for or against general issues or causes only.

E) individuals and organizations cannot spend any amount of money for or against political candidates or causes unless they are independent advocates.

50) Contemporary sources of funding for campaigns and candidates (either in direct support or on behalf of candidates and campaigns) include

A) section 501(c) groups.

B) section 527 groups.

C) political action committees.

D) the Internet.

E) All of these answers are correct.

51) Which of the following statements about the use of the Internet to solicit political contributions is LEAST accurate?

A) In recent elections, candidates have managed to raise millions of dollars through the Internet.

B) Moderate-means individuals are growing as a force in Internet donations.

C) Most people who contribute over the Internet are wealthy.

D) Internet contributors represent less diverse interests than large, traditional, cash contributors.

E) The Internet has demonstrated the possibility of raising large sums through small donations.

52) Which of the following statements about the costs of funding a political campaign is LEAST accurate?

A) In the lead-up to the primaries, most candidates receive strong financial support from the party to which they belong.

B) Candidates running for state office often have to spend large sums of money on mass media advertising.

C) Increasingly, candidates spend money on market research to help them target potential supporters.

D) Media costs reach their highest levels in presidential contests.

E) Although many candidates rely heavily on unpaid volunteers, they also need the support of a paid staff.

53) What is the idea behind a closed primary system?

A) Any registered voter should have a say in who will lead both of the major parties in the general election.

B) Voters should be allowed to choose freely from a list of every candidate regardless of party affiliation.

C) Voters should not be forced to make public their choice in the primary election for who will lead them in the general election.

D) Only party members should be able to determine who will lead them in the general election.

E) If no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first election, further elections should be run in order for one candidate to gain a majority.

54) Which of the following statements about primaries is LEAST accurate?

A) Some states used to hold blanket primaries, which allowed voters to cast votes across party lines, but this was ruled unconstitutional.

B) Some states hold closed primaries, which allow only registered party members to participate.

C) Some states hold open primaries, which allow voters to participate in whichever primary they wish.

D) Some states insist that candidates receive a majority of the votes, not just a plurality, and require runoff elections if no one gains a majority.

E) Once candidates have won their party's primary, they lose their independence to the party, which takes over decisions about how to utilize resources.

55) What is earned media?

A) media attention a candidate receives because of a recent action or announcement

B) advertising a candidate pays for out of general party funds

C) free airtime candidates must receive from networks that give airtime to their opponents

D) the right to an exclusive interview, which a candidate provides to a network in return for friendly coverage

E) attack ads launched against an opponent in response to his or her own negative campaign

56) Which of the following candidates from the 2016 election received the most benefit from "free" media attention?

A) Bernie Sanders

B) Donald Trump

C) Hillary Clinton

D) Jeb Bush

E) There is no such thing as "free" media attention in politics.

57) Describe the general characteristics of America's two-party system. How does it differ from the system used in most European democracies? What are the drawbacks and benefits of a system dominated by two main parties? Does the two-party system provide an adequate voice to political minorities? What are the different types of third parties that occasionally emerge in the American political system? What obstacles make it difficult for such parties to compete?

58) Explain how the American political system has changed over time. What were the defining characteristics of each of the five main party eras? What forces produced the changes that brought one era in and ushered out another? What were the strengths and weaknesses of each era? Despite the changes from era to era, can one nonetheless discern a consistent American political tradition or traditions?

59) Discuss the differences between the major parties today. What are the most important constituencies of each party? Are these constituencies currently stable or in flux? Do the parties adequately represent the beliefs and concerns of their average supporters? Do the events of recent years suggest that a realignment is taking place in the American political system, or will dealignment remain the prevailing trend?

60) Describe the structure of the major parties. What are the functions of national party organizations? How do they decide on candidates and platforms? How closely do they work with state and local organizations? How has the balance of power between national and local party organizations changed in recent decades?

61) Discuss the relationship between candidates and their parties today. How has that relationship changed in recent decades? What roles have candidates assumed for themselves? How do they fund their campaigns? In what ways do they remain dependent on the party structure? How do they win the nomination of their party? How have super PACs and 527 groups and similar organizations affected the way in which campaigns are funded?

62) The two major political parties currently exhibit a high degree of polarization. What factors account for this? What changes could bring about a new era of increased bipartisanship?

63) Third parties have major impacts in the United States. Discuss the different types of third parties and why they have not had lasting success since the middle of the nineteenth century.