Exam 5: Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns

There are a variety of interest groups in the states. Identify some of the major types of interest groups and discuss what their motivation is for participating in the political system at the state and local level.

The explosion of interest groups in state capitals is primarily caused by

Political parties are centralized organizations.

Grassroots lobbying occurs when

Most states currently exhibit meaningful two-party electoral competition, meaning both Democrats and Republicans are offering credible candidates for state offices.

When an interest group stages a demonstration in front of city hall, it is an indirect action.

State political parties have undergone a transformation during the past thirty years and they have proven themselves quite adaptable.

According to surveys of local officials in small cities, the two functional areas in which interest groups have the greatest influence are economic development and

Ideologically, Republicans tend to be more conservative, favoring a limited role for government; Democrats tend to be more liberal, preferring a more activist government.

Should state governments regulate campaign contributions and spending? Discuss how money may affect politics, specifically in terms of the nature of elections (how they are run), the outcome of elections (who wins), and the policies that are influenced. How would public financing or some other form of campaign finance alter these outcomes?

Schoolteachers' organizations are ranked among the most influential interest groups in thirty-one states

The Internet has become a powerful campaign tool for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

Cecilia participates in an organization of individuals who share her political views and desire to influence government. These organizations are commonly called

When a voter casts ballots for a Democratic governor and a Republican state legislator in the same general election, they are engaged in

In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Vermont's spending limits were too low to allow candidates to compete effectively in political campaigns.

In 2002, Governor _______ of _______ became the first governor to be elected with full public financing of her campaign.

A well represented and powerful interest group in the lobby of the state capitol would be

Do new technologies, such as the Internet and social media, change the nature of elections? Provide specific examples to illustrate your points. Are these changes good or bad for democracy?

According to the text, which two of these third parties have enjoyed some success in local races in recent times?

The main reason that there are only two major political parties in the United States is attributable to Article VII, Section 4 in the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that the nation will have only two parties.