Question 1

Why are elections based on a plurality system discouraging to new party formation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Plurality requires each party to be as narrowly based as possible, leaving little room for new parties. 
B)  Plurality gives an advantage to savvy political unknowns who can grab the media spotlight. 
C)  Plurality requires parties to form alliances with other parties to win elections. 
D)  Only parties receiving more than 5% of the vote are allocated seats. 
E)  Under this winner-take-all system, no incentive is given for finishing second. 
A)  Plurality requires each party to be as narrowly based as possible, leaving little room for new parties. 
B)  Plurality gives an advantage to savvy political unknowns who can grab the media spotlight. 
C)  Plurality requires parties to form alliances with other parties to win elections. 
D)  Only parties receiving more than 5% of the vote are allocated seats. 
E)  Under this winner-take-all system, no incentive is given for finishing second.

Question 2

Analyze the factors that reinforce the two-party system in the United States.

Accepted Answer

There are several factors that reinforce

Question 3

Which of the following statements about third parties in the United States is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have been relatively inactive throughout the history of presidential elections. 
B)  They generally downplay ideology in favor of winning elections. 
C)  They are discouraged by the election laws in many states. 
D)  They have been increasingly more important in many national elections, most recently in 2004. 
E)  They do not need to meet minimum signature requirements in order to appear on ballots. 
A)  They have been relatively inactive throughout the history of presidential elections. 
B)  They generally downplay ideology in favor of winning elections. 
C)  They are discouraged by the election laws in many states. 
D)  They have been increasingly more important in many national elections, most recently in 2004. 
E)  They do not need to meet minimum signature requirements in order to appear on ballots.

Question 4

Evaluate the ability of third parties to cause change in the U.S. political system.

Accepted Answer

Third parties in the U.S. political syst

Question 5

When political parties offer voters a clear choice through a distinct range of policies and programs, they are acting as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nonpartisan parties 
B)  Reagan Democrats 
C)  Responsible parties 
D)  Responsible incumbents 
E)  Lame ducks 
A)  Nonpartisan parties 
B)  Reagan Democrats 
C)  Responsible parties 
D)  Responsible incumbents 
E)  Lame ducks

Question 6

Which of the following best describes realignment?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is of necessity tied to specific elections. 
B)  It takes place when a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance. 
C)  It takes place when one dominant party replaces another one. 
D)  It took place on schedule in 2004. 
E)  It has been predicted as inevitable in the foreseeable future. 
A)  It is of necessity tied to specific elections. 
B)  It takes place when a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance. 
C)  It takes place when one dominant party replaces another one. 
D)  It took place on schedule in 2004. 
E)  It has been predicted as inevitable in the foreseeable future.

Question 7

What term is used to describe the phenomenon when voters adjust their long-term allegiance from one party to another in response to ideological changes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party identification 
B)  Moving to the center 
C)  Liberalization 
D)  Party alignment 
E)  Realignment 
A)  Party identification 
B)  Moving to the center 
C)  Liberalization 
D)  Party alignment 
E)  Realignment

Question 8

The winner-take-all principle can be observed in the United States when which of the following selects the president and the vice president?

Accepted Answer

A)  Party elders 
B)  Electoral college 
C)  National committee 
D)  Party-in-government 
E)  Voters in each state 
A)  Party elders 
B)  Electoral college 
C)  National committee 
D)  Party-in-government 
E)  Voters in each state

Question 9

The first partisan political division in the United States was between which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Democrats and the Republicans 
B)  The Whigs and the Democrats 
C)  The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists 
D)  The Whigs and the Tories 
E)  The Whigs and the Republicans 
A)  The Democrats and the Republicans 
B)  The Whigs and the Democrats 
C)  The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists 
D)  The Whigs and the Tories 
E)  The Whigs and the Republicans

Question 10

The main purpose of a political party is to do which of the following in order to control government and implement its policies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nominate candidates 
B)  Win elections 
C)  Shape the judiciary 
D)  Discuss policy 
E)  Register voters 
A)  Nominate candidates 
B)  Win elections 
C)  Shape the judiciary 
D)  Discuss policy 
E)  Register voters

Question 11

The task of planning the next campaign and convention, obtaining financial contributions, and publicizing the national party belongs to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  National chairperson 
B)  Presidential nominee 
C)  State chairperson 
D)  State committee 
E)  Local delegation 
A)  National chairperson 
B)  Presidential nominee 
C)  State chairperson 
D)  State committee 
E)  Local delegation

Question 12

The American electoral system can be described as both a single-member plurality system and which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  No-party system 
B)  Two-party system 
C)  Multiparty system 
D)  Three-party system 
E)  Single-party system 
A)  No-party system 
B)  Two-party system 
C)  Multiparty system 
D)  Three-party system 
E)  Single-party system

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the reason that the two-party system has endured in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Constitutional provision for a bipartisan system that mirrors the bicameral legislature 
B)  Prevalence of single-member electoral districts 
C)  Prevalence of multimember electoral districts 
D)  Rules of proportional representation 
E)  Constitutional restriction on the speech of third-party candidates 
A)  Constitutional provision for a bipartisan system that mirrors the bicameral legislature 
B)  Prevalence of single-member electoral districts 
C)  Prevalence of multimember electoral districts 
D)  Rules of proportional representation 
E)  Constitutional restriction on the speech of third-party candidates

Question 14

At each national convention, a political party drafts what document that outlines the party's policies, positions, and principles?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ordinance 
B)  Caucus 
C)  Constitution 
D)  Platform 
E)  Treaty 
A)  Ordinance 
B)  Caucus 
C)  Constitution 
D)  Platform 
E)  Treaty

Question 15

A political party is a group of individuals who do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Answer strictly to designated party leaders 
B)  Agree on all policy issues 
C)  Obtain positions of official power 
D)  Organize to win elections and operate the government 
E)  Pay monthly dues to an ideological organization 
A)  Answer strictly to designated party leaders 
B)  Agree on all policy issues 
C)  Obtain positions of official power 
D)  Organize to win elections and operate the government 
E)  Pay monthly dues to an ideological organization

Question 16

Which of the following best describes political parties during the period leading up to the Civil War?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Whig Party split over the issue of slavery. 
B)  Antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party. 
C)  The Federalist Party experienced a resurgence of support. 
D)  The Whig Party split over the issue of slavery, and antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party. 
E)  Antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party, and the Federalist Party experienced a resurgence of support. 
A)  The Whig Party split over the issue of slavery. 
B)  Antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party. 
C)  The Federalist Party experienced a resurgence of support. 
D)  The Whig Party split over the issue of slavery, and antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party. 
E)  Antislavery factions of many parties coalesced to form the Republican Party, and the Federalist Party experienced a resurgence of support.

Question 17

Summarize the major explanations for why the United States features a two-party system and why it has remained stable for so long.

Accepted Answer

The major explanations for why the Unite

Question 18

Analyze the relationship of the national, state, and local party organizations to each other. Include organizational examples of each type.

Accepted Answer

The relationship between national, state

Question 19

Evaluate the degree to which party identification changed among white southerners from 1952 to the present.

Accepted Answer

The degree to which party identification

Question 20

Evaluate the two-party system in the United States. Is proportional representation a better option?

Accepted Answer

The two-party system in the United State

Why are elections based on a plurality system discouraging to new party formation?

Analyze the factors that reinforce the two-party system in the United States.

Which of the following statements about third parties in the United States is true?

Evaluate the ability of third parties to cause change in the U.S. political system.

When political parties offer voters a clear choice through a distinct range of policies and programs, they are acting as which of the following?

Which of the following best describes realignment?

What term is used to describe the phenomenon when voters adjust their long-term allegiance from one party to another in response to ideological changes?

The winner-take-all principle can be observed in the United States when which of the following selects the president and the vice president?

The first partisan political division in the United States was between which of the following?

The main purpose of a political party is to do which of the following in order to control government and implement its policies?

The task of planning the next campaign and convention, obtaining financial contributions, and publicizing the national party belongs to which of the following?

The American electoral system can be described as both a single-member plurality system and which of the following?

Which of the following best describes the reason that the two-party system has endured in the United States?

At each national convention, a political party drafts what document that outlines the party's policies, positions, and principles?

A political party is a group of individuals who do which of the following?

Which of the following best describes political parties during the period leading up to the Civil War?

Summarize the major explanations for why the United States features a two-party system and why it has remained stable for so long.

Analyze the relationship of the national, state, and local party organizations to each other. Include organizational examples of each type.

Evaluate the degree to which party identification changed among white southerners from 1952 to the present.

Evaluate the two-party system in the United States. Is proportional representation a better option?

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Exam 9: Political Parties

Why are elections based on a plurality system discouraging to new party formation?

Analyze the factors that reinforce the two-party system in the United States.

Which of the following statements about third parties in the United States is true?

Evaluate the ability of third parties to cause change in the U.S. political system.

When political parties offer voters a clear choice through a distinct range of policies and programs, they are acting as which of the following?

Which of the following best describes realignment?

What term is used to describe the phenomenon when voters adjust their long-term allegiance from one party to another in response to ideological changes?

The winner-take-all principle can be observed in the United States when which of the following selects the president and the vice president?

The first partisan political division in the United States was between which of the following?

The main purpose of a political party is to do which of the following in order to control government and implement its policies?

The task of planning the next campaign and convention, obtaining financial contributions, and publicizing the national party belongs to which of the following?

The American electoral system can be described as both a single-member plurality system and which of the following?

Which of the following best describes the reason that the two-party system has endured in the United States?

At each national convention, a political party drafts what document that outlines the party's policies, positions, and principles?

A political party is a group of individuals who do which of the following?

Which of the following best describes political parties during the period leading up to the Civil War?

Summarize the major explanations for why the United States features a two-party system and why it has remained stable for so long.

Analyze the relationship of the national, state, and local party organizations to each other. Include organizational examples of each type.

Evaluate the degree to which party identification changed among white southerners from 1952 to the present.

Evaluate the two-party system in the United States. Is proportional representation a better option?

Gateways to American Democracy

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The News and Social Media

Interest Groups

Elections and Campaigns

Voting and Participation

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Economic, Domestic, and Foreign Policy

Filters