Question 1

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Patronage jobs.

Accepted Answer

Patronage jobs, also known as "spoils" or "political jobs," refer to positions of employment within the government that are given to individuals based on their loyalty and service to a political party, rather than on merit or qualifications. These jobs are often awarded as a reward for political support, campaign contributions, or active involvement in a political party.

The relevance of patronage jobs to the study of political parties lies in several key areas:

1. Party Organization and Strength: Patronage can be a tool for political parties to maintain cohesion and loyalty among their members. By offering jobs to party supporters, parties can build a reliable base of individuals who are invested in the success of the party.

2. Voter Mobilization: Patronage jobs can be used as incentives to mobilize voters and activists during election campaigns. The promise of employment can encourage individuals to work on behalf of the party, engage in campaign activities, and turn out to vote.

3. Policy Implementation: Individuals who receive patronage jobs often have a vested interest in implementing the policies and agenda of the party that appointed them. This can affect how government programs and initiatives are executed, potentially aligning them more closely with the party's platform.

4. Political Corruption: The practice of patronage can lead to corruption, as it may prioritize loyalty over competence and qualifications. This can result in less efficient government services and can erode public trust in government institutions.

5. Civil Service Reform: The issues arising from patronage systems have historically led to calls for civil service reform, where government jobs are filled based on merit through competitive examinations and other objective criteria. This has been a significant factor in the development of modern public administration.

In summary, patronage jobs are a critical aspect of the study of political parties because they influence party dynamics, electoral strategies, policy implementation, and the broader functioning of government. Understanding the role of patronage helps scholars and policymakers to assess the health and integrity of political systems and to devise mechanisms to ensure that government serves the public interest rather than partisan agendas.

Question 2

Democratic activists are more likely than Republican activists to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  more highly educated, male, and white 
B)  female, black, or associated with a union 
C)  less highly educated, male, and married 
D)  married white males 
A)  more highly educated, male, and white 
B)  female, black, or associated with a union 
C)  less highly educated, male, and married 
D)  married white males B

Question 3

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Purist activists.

Accepted Answer

Purist activists are individuals within political parties who adhere strictly to the ideological principles and policy positions of their party. They are often contrasted with pragmatists or moderates, who may be more willing to compromise on certain issues for strategic reasons, such as to achieve electoral success or to pass legislation.

Purist activists are relevant to the study of political parties for several reasons:

1. **Influence on Party Direction**: Purist activists can significantly influence the direction and policies of a political party. Their commitment to the party's core principles can push the party towards a more ideologically consistent stance, which can affect the party's platform and the types of candidates it supports.

2. **Internal Party Dynamics**: The presence of purist activists can impact the internal dynamics of a party. They can be a source of tension or conflict within the party, especially when their views clash with those of more pragmatic members who may prioritize electoral viability over ideological purity.

3. **Voter Mobilization**: Purist activists are often highly motivated and engaged in the political process. They can be effective at mobilizing the party's base, participating in grassroots organizing, and campaigning for party candidates who align with their views.

4. **Policy Advocacy**: Because of their strong adherence to party principles, purist activists can be powerful advocates for specific policies. They can drive the policy debate within the party and influence the party's legislative agenda.

5. **Party Image and Branding**: The presence and visibility of purist activists can shape public perceptions of the party. If purist activists are seen as the face of the party, it can affect the party's image and how it is branded in the political landscape, potentially attracting or alienating certain segments of the electorate.

6. **Primary Elections**: In systems where parties use primary elections to select candidates, purist activists can play a crucial role in determining which candidates are nominated, often preferring those who are less willing to compromise on the party's core values.

Understanding the role of purist activists is important for analyzing the behavior of political parties, their policy positions, and their strategies for elections and governance. Their influence can have both positive and negative effects on a party's cohesion, electoral success, and ability to govern effectively.

Question 4

Scholars have classified party activists into two types. What are they called?

Accepted Answer

A)  Activists and workers. 
B)  Volunteers and paid staff. 
C)  Pragmatists and purists. 
D)  Partisans and helpers. 
A)  Activists and workers. 
B)  Volunteers and paid staff. 
C)  Pragmatists and purists. 
D)  Partisans and helpers.

Question 5

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Purposive incentives.

Accepted Answer

Purposive incentives refer to the benefi

Question 6

What forces caused the use of patronage to decline in the U.S. parties during the past century? How prevalent are patronage jobs today in party politics? In what ways could the use of patronage be considered unhealthy for a democracy, and in what ways could patronage be thought to benefit a democracy?

Accepted Answer

The use of patronage in U.S. parties has

Question 7

Most successful appeals to take part in campaign work come from whom?

Accepted Answer

A)  The party leaders by phone call. 
B)  Friends or acquaintances of the individual. 
C)  The local voter registration office. 
D)  The party executive committees. 
A)  The party leaders by phone call. 
B)  Friends or acquaintances of the individual. 
C)  The local voter registration office. 
D)  The party executive committees.

Question 8

In recent years, Republican Party activists have been:

Accepted Answer

A)  further to the Right than Democratic activists are to the Left 
B)  increasingly liberal or leftist 
C)  more attracted to party work by material benefits 
D)  less and less conservative 
A)  further to the Right than Democratic activists are to the Left 
B)  increasingly liberal or leftist 
C)  more attracted to party work by material benefits 
D)  less and less conservative

Question 9

Someone dedicated to abortion rights, for example, who works for a pro-choice candidate is a likely example of what sort of incentive?

Accepted Answer

A)  Purposive. 
B)  Solidary. 
C)  Mixed. 
D)  Material. 
A)  Purposive. 
B)  Solidary. 
C)  Mixed. 
D)  Material.

Question 10

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Material incentives.

Accepted Answer

Material incentives refer to tangible re

Question 11

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Solidary incentives.

Accepted Answer

Solidary incentives refer to the social

Question 12

Party organizations are likely to:

Accepted Answer

A)  apply strict ideological tests to people who want to volunteer as activists 
B)  accept help from whatever volunteers are available 
C)  let activists participate only under strict professional supervision 
D)  have extensive paid staffs at the local level 
A)  apply strict ideological tests to people who want to volunteer as activists 
B)  accept help from whatever volunteers are available 
C)  let activists participate only under strict professional supervision 
D)  have extensive paid staffs at the local level

Question 13

The sense of satisfaction people feel when promoting an issue or cause that matters to them is known as ______ incentives for joining a group.

Accepted Answer

A)  solidary 
B)  purposive 
C)  material 
D)  mixed 
A)  solidary 
B)  purposive 
C)  material 
D)  mixed

Question 14

Most people who work on behalf of the U.S. parties are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Paid staff members 
B)  Volunteer activists 
C)  Corporate executive officers 
D)  Required to adopt the party's stand on each issue 
A)  Paid staff members 
B)  Volunteer activists 
C)  Corporate executive officers 
D)  Required to adopt the party's stand on each issue

Question 15

The support of party candidates by ______ is conditional on the candidates' principles.

Accepted Answer

A)  pragmatists 
B)  purists 
C)  patronage employees 
D)  party congressional campaign committees 
A)  pragmatists 
B)  purists 
C)  patronage employees 
D)  party congressional campaign committees

Question 16

One of the most distinctive characteristics of American party activists is that compared with the average voter:

Accepted Answer

A)  they tend to be of higher income but with less formal education 
B)  they tend to have lower income and less education 
C)  they tend to be of higher income and have more formal education 
D)  they are more likely to be Hispanic-American than Anglo-American 
A)  they tend to be of higher income but with less formal education 
B)  they tend to have lower income and less education 
C)  they tend to be of higher income and have more formal education 
D)  they are more likely to be Hispanic-American than Anglo-American

Question 17

In what ways has the increasing use of social media made a difference in party organizations' ability to motivate activists and conduct campaigns? How has that affected the parties' functioning?

Accepted Answer

The increasing use of social media has h

Question 18

How do the socio-economic characteristics of party activists affect the issue agendas of the parties and the ability of citizens to feel represented by parties? What is the argument that parties are stronger when their activists share the characteristics of the voters they hope to persuade, and what is the argument that this is not necessarily true?

Accepted Answer

The socio-economic characteristics of pa

Question 19

Tangible rewards for activity in a group are known as ______ incentives.

Accepted Answer

A)  solidary 
B)  purposive 
C)  mixed 
D)  material 
A)  solidary 
B)  purposive 
C)  mixed 
D)  material

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a reason why party activists can limit party leaders' power?

Accepted Answer

A)  Volunteers are scarce, so party leaders have to pay attention to activists' concerns. 
B)  Many activists press for internally democratic party organizations. 
C)  There are so many activists that they can outvote party leaders. 
D)  Activists are often free to define what they want to do for the party. 
A)  Volunteers are scarce, so party leaders have to pay attention to activists' concerns. 
B)  Many activists press for internally democratic party organizations. 
C)  There are so many activists that they can outvote party leaders. 
D)  Activists are often free to define what they want to do for the party.

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Patronage jobs.

Democratic activists are more likely than Republican activists to be:

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Purist activists.

Scholars have classified party activists into two types. What are they called?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Purposive incentives.

Most successful appeals to take part in campaign work come from whom?

In recent years, Republican Party activists have been:

Someone dedicated to abortion rights, for example, who works for a pro-choice candidate is a likely example of what sort of incentive?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Material incentives.

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Solidary incentives.

Party organizations are likely to:

The sense of satisfaction people feel when promoting an issue or cause that matters to them is known as ______ incentives for joining a group.

Most people who work on behalf of the U.S. parties are:

The support of party candidates by ______ is conditional on the candidates' principles.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of American party activists is that compared with the average voter:

In what ways has the increasing use of social media made a difference in party organizations' ability to motivate activists and conduct campaigns? How has that affected the parties' functioning?

Tangible rewards for activity in a group are known as ______ incentives.

Which of the following is NOT a reason why party activists can limit party leaders' power?

What Are Political Parties

The American Two-Party System

State and Local Party Organizations

The Parties National Organizations

Party Identification

Party Coalitions and Party Change

Parties and Voter Turnout

How Parties Choose Candidates

Choosing the Presidential Nominees

The General Election

Financing the Campaigns

Parties in Congress and State Legislatures

The Party in the Executive and the Courts

The Semi-Responsible Parties

The Place of Parties in American Politics

Filters

Exam 5: Party Activists

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Patronage jobs.

Democratic activists are more likely than Republican activists to be:

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Purist activists.

Scholars have classified party activists into two types. What are they called?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Purposive incentives.

Most successful appeals to take part in campaign work come from whom?

In recent years, Republican Party activists have been:

Someone dedicated to abortion rights, for example, who works for a pro-choice candidate is a likely example of what sort of incentive?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Material incentives.

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Solidary incentives.

Party organizations are likely to:

The sense of satisfaction people feel when promoting an issue or cause that matters to them is known as ______ incentives for joining a group.

Most people who work on behalf of the U.S. parties are:

The support of party candidates by ______ is conditional on the candidates' principles.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of American party activists is that compared with the average voter:

In what ways has the increasing use of social media made a difference in party organizations' ability to motivate activists and conduct campaigns? How has that affected the parties' functioning?

Tangible rewards for activity in a group are known as ______ incentives.

Which of the following is NOT a reason why party activists can limit party leaders' power?

What Are Political Parties

The American Two-Party System

State and Local Party Organizations

The Parties National Organizations

Party Identification

Party Coalitions and Party Change

Parties and Voter Turnout

How Parties Choose Candidates

Choosing the Presidential Nominees

The General Election

Financing the Campaigns

Parties in Congress and State Legislatures

The Party in the Executive and the Courts

The Semi-Responsible Parties

The Place of Parties in American Politics

Filters