Question 1
Question
Political parties serve to
Answer
-
link the public with its elected leaders.
-
enable people with different backgrounds and opinions to act together.
-
offer the public a choice between policies and leaders.
-
provide potential leaders an opportunity to attain public office.
-
All these answers are correct.
Question 2
Question
The first American political parties emerged from the conflict between
Answer
-
slave states and free states.
-
the older eastern states and the newer western states.
-
small farmers and states' rights advocates, and those favoring commercial and wealthy interests.
-
business and labor.
-
Protestants and Catholics.
Question 3
Question
Andrew Jackson's contribution to the development of political parties was the
Answer
-
forging of a coalition of Democrats and Whigs.
-
introduction of primary elections.
-
formation of a new type of grassroots party organization.
-
formation of the Federalist Party.
-
formation of the Republican Party.
Question 4
Question
Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to
Answer
-
win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections.
-
receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls.
-
win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support.
-
share in patronage appointments, which serve as an incentive to lure campaign workers.
-
advertise on television.
Question 5
Question
Democrats and Republicans have endured as the two major U.S. parties primarily due to
Answer
-
the stability of their ideologies.
-
the lack of good third-party candidates.
-
a high degree of party discipline.
-
their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
-
None of these answers is correct.
Question 6
Question
In 1912, a candidate for which minor party managed to earn more votes than one of his major party opponents?
Answer
-
Socialist
-
Prohibition
-
Bull Moose
-
Reform
-
Populist
Question 7
Question
If a minor party gains a large following, it is almost certain that
Answer
-
the major parties will join together to attack the minor party.
-
Congress will enact legislation to make it difficult for the minor party to get on the ballot.
-
party in-fighting will tear it apart.
-
one or both major parties will absorb its issue, and the minor party will lose support.
-
the media will attack the minor party.
Question 8
Question
The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is
Answer
-
that there are naturally only two sides to political disputes.
-
regional conflict.
-
the existence of single-member election districts.
-
the existence of state laws prohibiting the placement of a third major party on the ballot.
-
proportional representation.
Question 9
Question
The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of
Question 10
Question
All of the following are characteristic of a party realignment EXCEPT
Answer
-
sharp divisions between the parties.
-
enduring changes in party coalitions.
-
major policy initiatives by the winning party.
-
a very close electoral result.
-
the disruption of the existing political order.
Question 11
Question
Which of the following encourages the two major parties to build broad coalitions?
Answer
-
the need to raise campaign funds
-
the need to have policy "wiggle-room" once elected into power
-
the desire to avoid their policy preferences becoming hijacked by extreme elements
-
fear of demonization by the press
-
the two-party system and the need to gain a plurality
Question 12
Question
The issue of slavery gave birth to the ________ party as a major political party.
Answer
-
Federalist
-
Democratic
-
Republican
-
Whig
-
Populist
Question 13
Question
Political parties in the United States originated partly as a political feud between
Answer
-
Marshall and Adams.
-
Adams and Jackson.
-
Lincoln and Douglas.
-
Cleveland and Bryan.
-
Hamilton and Jefferson.
Question 14
Question
The Democratic Party's long-time regional stronghold, "the Solid South", stemmed from a realignment during which historical period?
Question 15
Question
Which of the following is an indication of strong party loyalty?
Answer
-
split-ticket voting
-
an increase in independent voters
-
straight-ticket voting
-
the influence of short-term issues and candidates
-
a focus on candidate charisma and personal style
Question 16
Question
Party dealignment is
Answer
-
essentially the same as party realignment.
-
a process that has discouraged the formation of third parties.
-
a process that has strengthened the major parties.
-
a process that refers to American political parties in the early 1800s.
-
None of these answers is correct.
Question 17
Question
Prospective voting is characterized by
Answer
-
a sudden shift in the vote from one party to another.
-
choices based on party loyalty.
-
choices based on a candidate's past performance.
-
choices based on what candidates promise to do if elected.
-
the symbolism of a candidate's personality.
Question 18
Question
________ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party.
Question 19
Question
________ lost the 1964 presidential election in a landslide because his views were seen as too extreme.
Answer
-
James Weaver
-
Jimmy Carter
-
George McGovern
-
Richard Nixon
-
Barry Goldwater
Question 20
Question
________ does not have a competitive multiparty system.
Answer
-
Germany
-
Italy
-
The Netherlands
-
The United States
-
Sweden
Question 21
Question
What was especially unique about the "Era of Good Feeling"?
Answer
-
Political parties were banned.
-
President Monroe ran unopposed in 1820.
-
Jefferson's faction adopted the label "Republican".
-
The president and vice president were from competing parties.
-
Federalists won the election of 1820.
Question 22
Question
________ warned Americans of the "baneful effects" of factions (political parties) in his 1797 farewell address.
Answer
-
James Madison
-
Thomas Jefferson
-
George Washington
-
Andrew Jackson
-
Abraham Lincoln
Question 23
Question
What party has made big gains in recent decades among white fundamentalist Christians, based on its positions on topics like abortion and school prayer?
Answer
-
Democratic
-
Republican
-
Green
-
Socialist
-
Reform
Question 24
Question
Candidates' first priority in a close election is to
Answer
-
secure their "base voters".
-
rally the faithful and "get out the vote".
-
increase TV spending.
-
paint their opponents in a bad light.
-
win over the "swing voters".
Question 25
Question
Which of the following groups is most closely aligned with the Democratic Party, voting more than 80 percent Democratic in presidential elections?
Question 26
Question
Which of the following groups is NOT typically a part of the Democratic coalition?
Question 27
Question
In twentieth-century American history, the most important minor parties were ________ parties.
Answer
-
ideological
-
single-issue
-
factional
-
reform
-
non-aligned
Question 28
Question
Ticket splitting was most prominent during which decade?
Answer
-
1970s
-
1990s
-
1980s
-
1960s
-
1950s
Question 29
Question
________ was the only Republican elected president from 1932 to 1964.
Answer
-
Richard Nixon
-
Barry Goldwater
-
Dwight Eisenhower
-
Herbert Hoover
-
Calvin Coolidge
Question 30
Question
All of the following use top-two primaries EXCEPT
Answer
-
Oregon.
-
Washington.
-
California.
-
Nebraska.
-
Louisiana.