Question 1

Groups of at least 50 individuals who contribute higher dollar amounts than individuals within federal limits are known as ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Groups of at least 50 individuals who...

Question 2

What is the least number of Electoral College votes that any state can be allocated?

Accepted Answer

Each state is allocated a minimum of three Electoral College votes, which includes two votes for its two Senators and at least one vote for its Representative in the House.

Question 3

In the 1976 case of Buckley v. Valeo, the U.S. Supreme Court ______.

Accepted Answer

In Buckley v. Valeo, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of restrictions on individual campaign contributions, stating that they were necessary to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption in the political process. The Court did not prohibit outside political contributions or self-funded campaigning, nor did it declare political action committee contributions as unconstitutional.

Question 4

When the Democratic and Republican parties face competition, the candidate usually focuses on a single issue that needs more emphasis than is being provided. This candidate would be considered a member of which party?

Accepted Answer

The fact that the candidate is facing competition from more established parties (presumably the Democrats and Republicans) suggests that they are running as a third party candidate. Third party candidates often focus on a particular issue or set of issues in order to differentiate themselves from the two major parties and gain support from voters who are dissatisfied with the status quo.

Question 5

When a voter is able to cast a single vote for one congressional candidate knowing the candidate with the most votes will win, the voter is participating in which type of system?

Accepted Answer

The voter is participating in a single-member plurality system where only one candidate can win and the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they receive a majority or not. This is the most common system used for electing members of Congress in the United States.

Question 6

By 1824, the Whig Party had been developed when the ______ Party had largely dissolved.

Accepted Answer

The Democratic-Republican Party had largely dissolved by 1824, which allowed for the creation and development of the Whig Party. The Federalist Party had dissolved earlier in the 19th century, the Tory Party was a British political party and the Bull Moose Party was not formed until 1912.

Question 7

The two major political parties in the United States are the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Republican Party and the Democratic Party are the two major political parties in the United States. The Green Party and the Libertarian Party are both minor parties.

Question 8

During which party system did the antislavery Whigs and Democrats form the Republican Party?

Accepted Answer

The antislavery Whigs and Democrats formed the Republican Party during the third party system, which took place from the mid-1850s to the mid-1890s. This system was characterized by sectionalism, with the issue of slavery heavily dividing the North and South. The Republican Party emerged as a major political force in the North, advocating for the abolition of slavery and drawing support from former Whigs, Democrats, and members of the Free Soil Party.

Question 9

During the Sixth Party Period, Democrats were focused on vigorous ______ government, and Republicans were focused on ______ government.

Accepted Answer

During the Sixth Party Period (1968-2004), Democrats were typically associated with a desire for strong federal government intervention in areas such as civil rights, social welfare programs, and environmental protection. Republicans, on the other hand, tended to advocate for smaller federal government and greater emphasis on state and individual rights.

Question 10

The Great Depression ushered in which party system?

Accepted Answer

The Great Depression led to the establishment of the Fifth Party System in the United States, characterized by the dominance of the Democratic Party starting with Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition.

Question 11

When a voter is able to cast a single vote for one candidate knowing the representation in the legislative bodies will be based upon the percentage of votes overall for each party, the voter is participating in which type of system?

Accepted Answer

This question is describing a system of proportional representation, in which parties receive a share of seats in a legislative body that is proportional to the share of votes they received in an election. In such a system, voters are typically casting their vote for a party rather than an individual candidate, as individual candidates may be ranked or selected by the party itself.

Question 12

The bureaucratic entity that is charged with overseeing and implementing national campaign finance laws is the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is charged with overseeing and implementing national campaign finance laws. It is an independent regulatory agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing the provisions of the law such as contribution limits and reporting requirements, and investigating and enforcing violations of the law.

Question 13

In an effort to effectively control the ballooning growth of campaign contributions, Congress passed the ______.

Accepted Answer

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, also known as the McCain-Feingold Act, aimed to limit the influence of money in politics through various measures such as limiting contributions, banning soft money, and regulating issue advocacy.

Question 14

In the 1970s, following the Watergate scandal, Congress passed the ______.

Accepted Answer

Following the Watergate scandal, Congress passed the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1971, which placed limits on campaign contributions, required disclosure of campaign finance information, and created the Federal Election Commission to enforce these regulations.

Question 15

Since the mid-1800s, control of government has been ______.

Accepted Answer

Since the mid-1800s, control of government has been shifting back and forth between the Democratic and Republican parties. While there have been periods of dominance by one party or the other, the balance of power has always been in flux, with control often changing hands in response to shifting political climates and events.

Question 16

In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United, ______ are allowed to spend unlimited amounts during a political campaign as long as the spending is not coordinated with that campaign.

Accepted Answer

Super PACs are allowed to spend unlimited amounts as long as the spending is not coordinated with a campaign, according to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United. Individuals, finance committees, and campaign managers are subject to contribution limits and other regulations.

Question 17

First and foremost, money buys ______ in a candidate's campaign.

Accepted Answer

Money is essential for buying media time, which allows candidates to share their message and reach a larger audience. Organizers, event space, posters, and flyers are important, but without media time, the message may not be effectively communicated to potential voters.

Question 18

When outside spending on other national elections was added to that of the presidential election of 2016, the total spent was about ______.

Accepted Answer

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the total outside spending on the 2016 presidential election and other national elections was approximately $6.8 billion.

Question 19

During which party system saw the dissolution of the Democratic-Republican Party with many members forming the Whig Party?

Accepted Answer

The second party system, which lasted from around 1828 to 1854, saw the dissolution of the Democratic-Republican Party and the formation of several new parties, including the Whig Party. This period was characterized by intense political competition between the Democrats and Whigs, and many key issues such as slavery and westward expansion were hotly contested between the two parties.

Question 20

A critical point in which public support shifts substantially from one party to another is known as ______.

Accepted Answer

A realignment is a dramatic shift in the balance of power between political parties, often marked by a critical election. This shift can lead to a new dominant party and a reconfiguration of the political landscape. Polarization refers to the growing divide between political parties or ideological groups. Periodization refers to the categorization of history into periods for analysis and understanding. Partisanship refers to a strong and consistent allegiance to a political party.

Quiz 7: Parties, Elections, and Participation: the Insurgents Versus the Establishment