Quiz 11: Political Parties

Which of the following is a primary activity of political parties? A)dividing the electorate B)creating interest groups to lobby government C)seeking to gain office for their candidates D)reducing accountability mechanisms E)reducing partisanship

Which of the following is true of research on the effects of unified government? A)There are fewer important laws,and substantial delays in legislative activity. B)Important laws are passed less often,but there are fewer delays in legislative activity. C)Important laws are much easier to pass,but it increases delays in legislative activity. D)There is a significant effect on enacting important laws,and legislative activity delays are reduced. E)There is no major effect on enacting important laws or reducing delay in legislative activity.

In comparison to major parties,which of the following is true of third parties? A)Several third parties have endured as long as a century. B)Third party candidates rarely win many votes. C)Third party candidates are usually competitive in presidential elections. D)Third party candidates are usually competitive at the state level. E)Third party candidates are usually competitive in congressional races.

How are third political parties usually significant? A)They distract from important policy debates. B)They effectively disprove Duverger's law. C)They intentionally spoil election wins by their ideologically closest major party. D)They push major parties to incorporate new ideas or elucidate current ones. E)They win elections in crucial swing states.

The tripartite/three-legged stool model of party organization has three general components.Which one refers to the formal structure that sets rules for party operations and provides services for various party units and candidates? A)party in the constitution B)party in the electorate C)party in government D)party as organization E)party as provider

The responsible party model implies that elected officials should be __________. A)more accountable regarding adherence to the party platform B)more accountable regarding adherence to popular opinions C)more accountable regarding electoral rules and regulations D)more accountable to the party in majority E)more accountable to party leaders

What must precede a major-party realignment? A)a caucus B)censure C)a critical election D)economic crises E)a key nomination

The heyday of local party machines occurred between what years? A)1830-1880 B)1870-1920 C)1850-1940 D)1920-1950 E)1970-1990

After voter dealignment peaked in the mid-1980s,how did voting behavior change? A)electorate polarization disappeared B)ticket-splitting increased C)voter turnout increased D)voter attachment to party increased E)transference from one party to the other increased

Awarding jobs in government based on party support and loyalty would be best characterized as __________. A)patronage B)reform C)platforming D)fusion E)gerrymandering

The official,though ambiguously written,party __________ is/are ratified by delegates and leaders at the national party convention every four years but given little serious attention. A)articles B)constitution C)platform D)procedure document E)regulations code

Which of the following favors two-party competition? A)multi-member districts and a proportional voting system B)single-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system C)multi-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post)voting system D)single-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post)voting system E)multi-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system

Which of these is an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge,new coalitions replace old ones,and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party? A)a critical election B)a decisive election C)a revolutionary election D)an upheaval election E)a volcanic election

National party conventions occur how frequently,and what purpose do they serve? A)every two years; to choose the party platform B)every two years; to select the party's presidential and vice presidential nominees C)every four years; to select the party's presidential and vice presidential nominees D)prior to every state and national election; to choose the party platform E)after every state and national election; to decide party policy

What changed in the demographics of the New Deal coalition after nearly four decades of political control? A)Southern whites,union families,and lower to lower-middle income voters were replaced by minorities,academics,and upper-middle-class professionals during the Vietnam War. B)Southern whites,union families,and lower to lower-middle income voters were replaced by minorities,academics,and upper-middle-class professionals during World War II. C)Minorities,academics,and upper-middle-class professionals were gradually replaced by southern whites,union families,and lower to lower-middle income voters over forty years. D)Minorities,academics,and upper-middle-class professionals were replaced by southern whites,union families,and lower to lower-middle income voters during the Vietnam War. E)Minorities,academics,and upper-middle-class professionals were replaced by southern whites,union families,and lower to lower-middle income voters during World War II.

Which of the following is true of voter ID requirements in the United States? A)All states require a photo ID. B)All states allow voting without a photo ID. C)The states vary when it comes to voter ID laws. D)Most states have strict photo ID laws. E)Most states have ID laws,but do not require photo IDs.

Approval voting works by allowing voters to __________. A)vote for any number of candidates they prefer B)vote by ranking their preferred candidates C)vote again if no candidate receives a majority D)remove any elected official by a majority vote E)select one candidate,and the majority wins

Which of the following is an advantage of approval voting? A)It supports the two-party system. B)It discourages candidates who might not win. C)It eliminates the possibility of voter fraud. D)It encourages decisive victories. E)It reduces the perception of wasted votes.

According to Figure 11.3,which of the following is true of third party and independent candidates on U.S.House district ballots since 1992? A)There have been more third party and independent candidates than in the past. B)There have been less third party and independent candidates than in the past. C)The level of third party participation has remained constant with past levels. D)Many districts have actively discouraged third party and independent candidates. E)All districts have had at least one third-party or independent candidate since 1992.

Progressive reforms did which of the following to the political parties? A)increased the organizational power of the parties B)decreased the organizational power of the parties C)limited the use of primaries in most states D)concentrated power among the political elite E)increased the power of political machines

Who is included in the "party in the electorate"? A)party officers who seek to educate the public on key party stances B)party officers who seek to steer the electorate through media spin C)public officials who are registered with one major party D)voters active in the business of the party E)voters loyal to/identify with one of the two major parties

What hampers accountability to a party platform according to critics of the responsible party model? A)competition B)compromise C)constitutional constraints D)contradictory promises E)contradictory platforms

When did the last political realignment occur,according to most political scientists? A)1860 B)1894 C)1932 D)1968 E)2000

The years 1860-1928 saw the ascendency of which party? A)Democratic-Republicans B)Democrats C)Federalists D)Republicans E)Whigs

Willingness to cast a vote for a candidate from a party for which you are not registered could be an indication of __________. A)corruption B)dealignment C)polarization D)raiding E)realignment

According to Figure 11.4,party control of the presidency and Congress can be explained best by which of the following statements? A)Democrats have controlled both the presidency and Congress for the majority of years. B)Republicans have controlled both the presidency and Congress for the majority of years. C)Democrats have controlled the presidency,while Republicans have controlled Congress for the majority of years. D)Republicans have controlled the presidency,while Democrats have controlled Congress for the majority of years. E)Republicans and Democrats have controlled the presidency and the Congress for a nearly equal number of years.

Which of the following is true of the national party conventions today? A)National party conventions occur in all fifty states. B)The president is appointed from the Democratic and Republican nominees. C)Battles over the party platform have become heated,television events. D)The party nominees are now known well in advance. E)The party nominees are not known until many ballots are taken.

In __________ electoral systems,smaller parties have the potential to win seats. A)majoritarian B)multiparty C)plurality D)polarized E)two-party

Which of the following best describes the relationship between critical elections and party realignment? A)A party realignment occurs before one or more critical elections and may involve a national crisis. B)A party realignment occurs during one or more critical elections and is characterized by gradual change. C)A party realignment occurs after one or more critical elections and is characterized by barely discernible demographic shifts. D)A party realignment occurs before one or more critical elections and may be characterized by gradual or dramatic change. E)A party realignment occurs after one or more critical elections in reaction to crucial developments,such as war or depression.

The __________ is the formal meeting of delegates for the national parties. A)national party assembly B)national party committee C)national party convention D)national party delegation E)national party legislature

Which president forged the New Deal coalition? A)Lyndon Johnson B)William McKinley C)Teddy Roosevelt D)Franklin Roosevelt E)Harry Truman

Which reform in the early twentieth century and has reduced the power of political parties? A)party machines B)party nominations C)policy coordination D)critical elections E)primary elections

According to the Unresolved Debate feature,which of the following is true of divided government? A)Most political scientists argue that it is intentional. B)Most political scientists argue that it is unintentional. C)Political scientists are divided over whether or not it is intentional. D)Most political scientists argue that divided government has not occurred since the early 1940s. E)Most political scientists have noted that the United States is the only democracy to have experienced divided government.

What major concern did the 2000 presidential election between Gore and Bush highlight regarding the role of third parties? A)third parties' ineffective organization B)third parties' lack of media attention C)third parties' poor access to ballots D)third parties' poor candidate choices E)third parties' spoiling of elections

A banker who promises low interest loans to party supporters is an example of __________. A)patriarchy B)patricianism C)patrimony D)patronage E)punditry

Twentieth century Progressive reforms had which effect on political parties? A)The power of political parties was weakened by Congressional legislation. B)The power of political parties was weakened by a collective opposition. C)The power of political parties was strengthened by several Supreme Court decisions. D)The power of political parties was strengthened by congressional legislation. E)The power of political parties was largely unaltered despite the efforts of reformers

How do voter attitudes serve as a barrier to third parties in government? A)Americans increasingly identify as Republican or Democrat. B)Americans overwhelmingly favor a two-party system. C)Americans often believe a third-party vote is a wasted vote. D)Americans fear the federal penalty for breaking Duverger's law. E)Americans largely fail to realize the barrier is merely psychological.

The tripartite view,or three-legged model,of American political parties includes which of the following elements? A)party activity within the presidency,legislature,and judiciary B)party identification as Democrats,Republicans,or independents C)party platform,constitutional constraints,and will of the electorate D)the party of the voters,the party of the president and members of Congress,and the national and state party committees E)party alignment,de-alignment,and realignment

Advocates of the responsible party model believe parties should craft an articulate platform and __________. A)be consistently held accountable to it B)be flexible to the will of the electorate C)do what is in the best interest of the entire nation D)do whatever is necessary to stay in the majority E)act in a way that adheres to the Constitution

What was the result of the 1896 presidential election? A)The Federalists won. B)The Democratic Party won. C)The parties became competitive for over thirty years. D)The New Deal emerged. E)The Fair Deal emerged.

What key issue led to the dissolution of the Whig party? A)malfeasance in office B)the Mexican-American War C)post-Civil War Reconstruction D)slavery in the South E)federal taxation

The year 1969 in the United States brought the beginning of a new political era and __________. A)dealignment B)evenly matched parties C)"good feelings" D)realignment E)the Reagan Democrats

The substantial rise in independent voters between the late 1960s and 1980s could have been an indication of __________. A)realignment B)de-alignment C)progressive reforms D)issue evolution E)the responsible party model

When can a party change its platform? A)after a federal census B)at the start of each fiscal year C)during the national party convention D)every two years E)virtually anytime

Why does the United States have a two-party system? A)The Framers wanted competition between political parties. B)The Framers wanted to avoid the mistakes of Europe. C)It was a compromise between a unitary system's efficiency and a multi-party system's diversity. D)It developed in the struggle between slave owners and abolitionists. E)It developed in the struggle between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

A critical election is typically associated with __________. A)dealignment B)electoral realignment C)polar realignment D)presidential realignment E)secular realignment

The Whig Party developed out of which existing political party? A)the Democratic Party B)the Democratic Republican Party C)the National Republican Party D)the Populist Party E)the Federalist Party

Supreme Court rulings on state-level party organizations since the 1980s have resulted in __________. A)state parties treated as quasi-public utilities,not private associations B)state parties treated as private associations,not quasi-public utilities C)state parties treated as corporations,not public entities D)state parties treated as public entities,not corporations E)state parties treated as federal party utilities,not private associations

A period of dealignment associated with the end of the __________ began in the late 1960s. A)Christian coalition B)Democratic-Republican coalition C)Federalist coalition D)New Deal coalition E)populist coalition

Which traditional party role has largely been usurped by other entities? A)campaign organization and finance B)facilitating voter choice C)nomination of candidates D)organizing the election process E)party platform creation

Most scholars believe that we have not experienced a major realignment since 1932,and this fact may help us to understand the continuing voter preference for a __________ government since that time. A)balanced B)divided C)federalist D)republican E)united

Which of the following strategies would be best for a small party in the current electoral system in the United States? A)join with other small parties B)join either the Democrats or the Republicans C)focus on one issue D)focus on presidential races E)run in single-member district elections

Third parties might fare better in European democracies than in the United States,due to __________ in Europe. A)constitutional mandates and public campaign financing B)constitutional mandates and proportional voting systems C)liberal populations and constitutional mandates D)public campaign financing and proportional voting systems E)public campaign financing and liberal populations

What sequence best represents party organization development over time in the United States? A)informal and undemocratic,disciplined and corrupt,progressive and ineffective,more democratic and more organized B)informal and undemocratic,disciplined and corrupt,more democratic and more organized,progressive and ineffective C)informal and undemocratic,more democratic and more organized,progressive and ineffective,disciplined and corrupt D)disciplined and corrupt,informal and undemocratic,more democratic and more organized,progressive and ineffective E)disciplined and corrupt,more democratic and more organized,progressive and ineffective,informal and undemocratic

Ticket splitting is a key indicator of __________. A)dealignment B)issue evolution C)patronage D)progressive reform E)realignment

Which of the following is true of ideological movement of parties in the House? A)Liberals identify with Republicans,while conservatives identify with Democrats. B)Liberals identify with Democrats,while conservatives identify with Republicans. C)Liberals and conservatives have shifted to and moderated the Republican Party. D)Liberals and conservative have shifted to and moderated the Democratic Party. E)Liberals and conservatives have increasingly chosen to run as independents.

Which of the following would undermine the responsible party model? A)party unity in Congress increasing B)unified government becoming the norm C)voters uninformed about party and candidate policies D)voters well-informed about party and candidate policies E)party platforms becoming similar to one another

Preference and approval voting are potentially viable alternative forms of voting because __________. A)they would not require altering the structures within which candidates are elected B)they would require altering the structures within which candidates are elected C)they would restrict interference of third party candidates in the electoral system D)they would reduce the role of states in federal elections E)they would reduce the role of the national government in state elections

Franklin Roosevelt's victory in 1932,in conjunction with Democratic majorities in Congress,is defined as a __________. A)de-aligning election B)national party convention C)nonpartisan election D)realigning,or critical election E)maintaining election

Super PACs,bolstered by recent Supreme Court decisions,may have unlimited campaign donations by both individuals and corporations,as long as __________. A)they avoid all coordination with candidates and their staffs B)they coordinate and cooperate with candidates and their parties C)they do not accept contributions from foreign individuals and corporations D)the funds are fully reported and subject to taxation E)any funds remaining post-election go to charity

Strict voter ID laws are more likely to benefit the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.

The array of new government services,programs,and entitlements created by Roosevelt helped to maintain the Democratic Party's voter coalition into the 1960s.

Progressive movement reforms gave voters leverage over a party's power to control nominations.

Voter ID requirements are the same in all fifty states.

Minor parties have played a more important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation and have become even more important.

A common perspective among political scientists is that the United States has experienced sixteen periods of party competition

Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission (2010)established that individuals can make monetary contributions for campaign advocacy.

The tripartite/three-legged stool/three part party model describes parties and their effects on the three branches of government: judicial,legislative,and executive.

According to the responsible party model,voters should be able to hold politicians accountable for adherence to party platforms.

Electoral realignments occur exclusively as a result of a critical election.

Ross Perot was able to win three states during his 1992 presidential bid.

The form of change in which a dominant party declines and is replaced by another dominant party is called dealignment.

Compared to the Democrats and Republicans,third party candidates might be disadvantaged by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision.

The Libertarian Party platform seeks a limited role of government in society.

The Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 indicated support for the responsible party model.

A __________ election would be indicated following a sudden and drastic realignment of the electorate.

The __________ is the site for the writing of the party platform every four years.

Franklin D.Roosevelt's __________ ushered in a forty-year period of Democratic Party dominance.

Although reducing the potential for fraud is undoubtedly a good thing,observers contend that one of the results of requiring a photo ID to vote is to harm the electoral prospects of the __________ Party by discouraging voting by legal immigrants who are wary of U.S.authorities.

__________ voting would allow voters to rank favored candidates on a ballot.

Attitudinal barriers,such as fear of wasting a vote or electoral preference for policy moderation,have thwarted the rise of __________.

Electoral realignment is a shift in the composition of party __________ that produces a new,relatively durable pattern of party competition.

Third parties,such as the Green Party in the 2000 presidential election,are seen by some to act as __________,which in this case they believe split the liberal vote,thus giving the election to George W.Bush.

The __________ is the part of the "three-legged stool" that includes the voters who identify themselves as Democrats or Republicans.

According to the __________ model,President George H.W.Bush would have been penalized by voters for breaking his promise not to raise taxes.

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

The new party system that emerged from the Civil War featured a victorious __________ Party that generally represented the northern industrial economy,and a struggling __________ Party that generally represented a southern agricultural economy.

In recent years,Democrats have become more ideologically __________,while Republicans have become more __________.

Since Democrats and Republicans in Congress are further apart today than they have been in the past,we might conclude that Congress is more __________.