Question 1

Of the following, which is the best example of a special interest group?

Accepted Answer

A) The National Farmers Organization (NFO) 
B) The Republican Party 
C) Microsoft 
D) The Boy Scouts of America 
E) The Catholic Church 
A) The National Farmers Organization (NFO) 
B) The Republican Party 
C) Microsoft 
D) The Boy Scouts of America 
E) The Catholic Church A

Question 2

Which of the following is a consequence of winner-take-all elections?

Accepted Answer

A) They ensure that no vote is effectively wasted. 
B) They diminish the success of the winner. 
C) They exaggerate the success of the winner. 
D) They neither exaggerate nor diminish the success of the winner. 
E) They ensure minority interests are fairly represented. 
A) They ensure that no vote is effectively wasted. 
B) They diminish the success of the winner. 
C) They exaggerate the success of the winner. 
D) They neither exaggerate nor diminish the success of the winner. 
E) They ensure minority interests are fairly represented. C

Question 3

What is a key advantage that political parties in multi-party systems have over American parties?

Accepted Answer

A) They avoid confrontation. 
B) They avoid negative campaigning. 
C) They offer clear policy differences from their competitors. 
D) They are inherently less corrupt. 
E) They make politics personal. 
A) They avoid confrontation. 
B) They avoid negative campaigning. 
C) They offer clear policy differences from their competitors. 
D) They are inherently less corrupt. 
E) They make politics personal. C

Question 4

Which of the following is an advantage of winner-take-all elections?

Accepted Answer

A) They ensure fairness in vote counting. 
B) They give minority interests extra opportunity. 
C) They undercut the advantages of incumbents. 
D) They open the door for challengers. 
E) They encourage stability. 
A) They ensure fairness in vote counting. 
B) They give minority interests extra opportunity. 
C) They undercut the advantages of incumbents. 
D) They open the door for challengers. 
E) They encourage stability.

Question 5

Which of the following is often a result of proportional representation?

Accepted Answer

A) It fosters the growth of two-party systems. 
B) It encourages the growth of multiparty systems. 
C) It leads to one-party dominant systems. 
D) It impedes the growth of small parties. 
E) It has little influence on the number of parties in a system. 
A) It fosters the growth of two-party systems. 
B) It encourages the growth of multiparty systems. 
C) It leads to one-party dominant systems. 
D) It impedes the growth of small parties. 
E) It has little influence on the number of parties in a system.

Question 6

Describe how polling methodology can influence respondents to give answers that are preferred by the pollsters.

Accepted Answer

Polling methodology can influence respon

Question 7

According to the theory of low-information rationality, how do voters tend to choose candidates?

Accepted Answer

A) According to rational choices, but based on little evidence 
B) According to guidance from the media 
C) According to superficial criteria, such as looks 
D) According to guidance from their clergy and other informal leaders 
E) According to random choice 
A) According to rational choices, but based on little evidence 
B) According to guidance from the media 
C) According to superficial criteria, such as looks 
D) According to guidance from their clergy and other informal leaders 
E) According to random choice

Question 8

Explain how candidates use polls to tailor their message, and how they use those messages to approach voters.

Accepted Answer

Candidates use polls to tailor their mes

Question 9

What was the end result of the 1936 Literary Digest presidential election poll?

Accepted Answer

A) Franklin Roosevelt won, and the Literary Digest attained greater credibility. 
B) Alf Landon lost, and the Literary Digest went out of business. 
C) The Literary Digest became the most important periodical in America. 
D) The Literary Digest set new standards for scientific polling. 
E) There was little change in political polling methods. 
A) Franklin Roosevelt won, and the Literary Digest attained greater credibility. 
B) Alf Landon lost, and the Literary Digest went out of business. 
C) The Literary Digest became the most important periodical in America. 
D) The Literary Digest set new standards for scientific polling. 
E) There was little change in political polling methods.

Question 10

Identify two countries that have winner-take-all elections.

Accepted Answer

A) Norway and Germany 
B) Belgium and Canada 
C) United States and Israel 
D) Norway and Great Britain 
E) United States and Great Britain 
A) Norway and Germany 
B) Belgium and Canada 
C) United States and Israel 
D) Norway and Great Britain 
E) United States and Great Britain

Question 11

In the best public opinion polls, what is the standard margin of error?

Accepted Answer

A) Plus or minus less than one point 
B) Plus or minus one point 
C) Plus or minus three points 
D) Plus or minus five points 
E) Plus or minus ten points 
A) Plus or minus less than one point 
B) Plus or minus one point 
C) Plus or minus three points 
D) Plus or minus five points 
E) Plus or minus ten points

Question 12

Analyze how a participant in the American system might see a need to turn to illegal action in order to pursue political goals; consider in your response the responsiveness of government to peaceful and legal action.

Accepted Answer

A participant in the American system mig

Question 13

In general, how does public opinion tend to influence politicians?

Accepted Answer

A) Public opinion is usually disregarded by officials. 
B) When a majority of voters have a strong opinion about an issue, politicians listen. 
C) A miniscule but noisy minority of motivated voters can usually get officials to listen. 
D) Public opinion is so changeable that politicians have a hard time following it. 
E) Elected officials tend to listen to every individual voter. 
A) Public opinion is usually disregarded by officials. 
B) When a majority of voters have a strong opinion about an issue, politicians listen. 
C) A miniscule but noisy minority of motivated voters can usually get officials to listen. 
D) Public opinion is so changeable that politicians have a hard time following it. 
E) Elected officials tend to listen to every individual voter.

Question 14

According to the rational actor model, for whom do voters tend to vote?

Accepted Answer

A) Party leaders who have national and international interests at heart 
B) Intelligent and competent candidates, regardless of experience 
C) New faces who may or may not be qualified 
D) Charismatic challengers who grab the imagination 
E) Experienced incumbents who can deliver benefits to their constituents 
A) Party leaders who have national and international interests at heart 
B) Intelligent and competent candidates, regardless of experience 
C) New faces who may or may not be qualified 
D) Charismatic challengers who grab the imagination 
E) Experienced incumbents who can deliver benefits to their constituents

Question 15

According to the elite theory, how much power do voters and the people in general have compared to the rich and powerful?

Accepted Answer

A) Absolutely none 
B) Little 
C) Just as much 
D) More 
E) They are all part of the same group. 
A) Absolutely none 
B) Little 
C) Just as much 
D) More 
E) They are all part of the same group.

Question 16

Explain why voting rates in the United States are lower than in other countries and what might be done to raise them.

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons why voting rat

Question 17

Examine the effects of large monetary contributions to political campaigns; in your opinion, is this healthy for democracy or an element of political corruption?

Accepted Answer

Large monetary contributions to politica

Question 18

In a direct democracy, who can overturn the actions of the legislature?

Accepted Answer

A) No one 
B) The courts 
C) The executive branch 
D) The electorate 
E) A panel of experts 
A) No one 
B) The courts 
C) The executive branch 
D) The electorate 
E) A panel of experts

Question 19

Describe the changes in American politics due to the rise in social media use. In general, have they been for the better, or has social media had an overall negative influence on political life? Be sure to use examples to demonstrate your point.

Accepted Answer

The rise of social media has had a signi

Question 20

Which of the following is a type of illegal political engagement?

Accepted Answer

A) Soliciting signatures on a petition 
B) Working for a political campaign 
C) Lobbying on behalf of special interests 
D) Contributing to a political campaign 
E) Engaging in civil disobedience 
A) Soliciting signatures on a petition 
B) Working for a political campaign 
C) Lobbying on behalf of special interests 
D) Contributing to a political campaign 
E) Engaging in civil disobedience

Of the following, which is the best example of a special interest group?

Which of the following is a consequence of winner-take-all elections?

What is a key advantage that political parties in multi-party systems have over American parties?

Which of the following is an advantage of winner-take-all elections?

Which of the following is often a result of proportional representation?

Describe how polling methodology can influence respondents to give answers that are preferred by the pollsters.

According to the theory of low-information rationality, how do voters tend to choose candidates?

Explain how candidates use polls to tailor their message, and how they use those messages to approach voters.

What was the end result of the 1936 Literary Digest presidential election poll?

Identify two countries that have winner-take-all elections.

In the best public opinion polls, what is the standard margin of error?

Analyze how a participant in the American system might see a need to turn to illegal action in order to pursue political goals; consider in your response the responsiveness of government to peaceful and legal action.

In general, how does public opinion tend to influence politicians?

According to the rational actor model, for whom do voters tend to vote?

According to the elite theory, how much power do voters and the people in general have compared to the rich and powerful?

Explain why voting rates in the United States are lower than in other countries and what might be done to raise them.

Examine the effects of large monetary contributions to political campaigns; in your opinion, is this healthy for democracy or an element of political corruption?

In a direct democracy, who can overturn the actions of the legislature?

Describe the changes in American politics due to the rise in social media use. In general, have they been for the better, or has social media had an overall negative influence on political life? Be sure to use examples to demonstrate your point.

Which of the following is a type of illegal political engagement?

Introduction: the Study of Politics

The Idea of the Public Good: Ideologies and Isms

Utopias: Model States

Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation

The Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality

The Totalitarian Model: a False Utopia

Parliamentary Democracy: Pros and Cons of Perishable Governments

Transition Systems: Yesterday and Today

Problems of Development: Progress and Poverty in a Global Age

Political Socialization: the Making of a Citizen

Political Leadership: the Many Faces of Power

Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practices

Revolution: in the Name of Justice

War: Politics by Other Means

Terrorism: War, Crimes, or War Crimes

World Politics: the Struggle for Power

International Law and Organizations: the Quest for Order

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Exam 11: Political Participation: the Limits of Democracy

Of the following, which is the best example of a special interest group?

Which of the following is a consequence of winner-take-all elections?

What is a key advantage that political parties in multi-party systems have over American parties?

Which of the following is an advantage of winner-take-all elections?

Which of the following is often a result of proportional representation?

Describe how polling methodology can influence respondents to give answers that are preferred by the pollsters.

According to the theory of low-information rationality, how do voters tend to choose candidates?

Explain how candidates use polls to tailor their message, and how they use those messages to approach voters.

What was the end result of the 1936 Literary Digest presidential election poll?

Identify two countries that have winner-take-all elections.

In the best public opinion polls, what is the standard margin of error?

Analyze how a participant in the American system might see a need to turn to illegal action in order to pursue political goals; consider in your response the responsiveness of government to peaceful and legal action.

In general, how does public opinion tend to influence politicians?

According to the rational actor model, for whom do voters tend to vote?

According to the elite theory, how much power do voters and the people in general have compared to the rich and powerful?

Explain why voting rates in the United States are lower than in other countries and what might be done to raise them.

Examine the effects of large monetary contributions to political campaigns; in your opinion, is this healthy for democracy or an element of political corruption?

In a direct democracy, who can overturn the actions of the legislature?

Describe the changes in American politics due to the rise in social media use. In general, have they been for the better, or has social media had an overall negative influence on political life? Be sure to use examples to demonstrate your point.

Which of the following is a type of illegal political engagement?

Introduction: the Study of Politics

The Idea of the Public Good: Ideologies and Isms

Utopias: Model States

Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation

The Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality

The Totalitarian Model: a False Utopia

Parliamentary Democracy: Pros and Cons of Perishable Governments

Transition Systems: Yesterday and Today

Problems of Development: Progress and Poverty in a Global Age

Political Socialization: the Making of a Citizen

Political Leadership: the Many Faces of Power

Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practices

Revolution: in the Name of Justice

War: Politics by Other Means

Terrorism: War, Crimes, or War Crimes

World Politics: the Struggle for Power

International Law and Organizations: the Quest for Order

Filters