Question 1

What is a major cause of any reduction in the president's party's share of House seats in the midterm election?

Accepted Answer

A)  Approval ratings of the president have dropped. 
B)  More voters turn out to vote in midterm than in presidential elections. 
C)  Midterm elections draw more young people than do presidential elections. 
D)  The president has long coattails. 
A)  Approval ratings of the president have dropped. 
B)  More voters turn out to vote in midterm than in presidential elections. 
C)  Midterm elections draw more young people than do presidential elections. 
D)  The president has long coattails. A

Question 2

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Campaigns for state Supreme Court seats

Accepted Answer

Campaigns for state Supreme Court seats refer to the political processes and activities involved in electing justices to a state's highest court. These campaigns can include various strategies such as advertising, public appearances, debates, and fundraising efforts, similar to other political campaigns. Candidates for these positions may run on a nonpartisan basis, but in some states, they may be affiliated with political parties.

The relevance of these campaigns to the study of political parties includes:

1. **Party Influence**: Even in states where judicial elections are nonpartisan, political parties may still endorse or support certain candidates, reflecting the party's values and legal philosophies. Understanding these influences can shed light on how political parties shape the judiciary and, consequently, legal outcomes at the state level.

2. **Policy Impact**: State Supreme Courts are the final arbiters of state law. Their decisions can have significant policy implications, affecting everything from criminal justice to environmental regulations. Political parties are interested in these outcomes as they often align with or oppose the party's platform and policy goals.

3. **Judicial Behavior**: Research into whether judges' decisions are influenced by their political affiliations or the nature of their election (partisan versus nonpartisan) is a key area of study. This can help determine the extent to which political parties affect judicial independence and the impartiality of the courts.

4. **Public Perception**: Campaigns for judicial seats can affect public perception of the judiciary's neutrality. If campaigns become highly partisan or politicized, it may lead to a perception that justice is not blind, but rather influenced by political considerations.

5. **Fundraising and Spending**: The role of money in judicial campaigns is a growing area of concern. Political parties and outside groups may spend significantly to influence the outcome of these elections, raising questions about the potential for conflicts of interest and the integrity of the judicial system.

6. **Election Methods**: The study of political parties and their influence on the selection of judges can also involve examining the various methods of judicial selection (e.g., elections, appointments, merit selection) and how these methods impact the relationship between the judiciary and political parties.

In summary, campaigns for state Supreme Court seats are relevant to the study of political parties because they provide insight into how parties can influence the judiciary, affect policy outcomes, and shape the public's trust in the legal system. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for assessing the health of democratic institutions and the separation of powers within a state.

Question 3

Retention elections:

Accepted Answer

A)  usually favor challengers rather than incumbents 
B)  rarely attract much campaign spending or advertising 
C)  occur when previously appointed judges must run in a later election 
D)  are no longer held in states 
A)  usually favor challengers rather than incumbents 
B)  rarely attract much campaign spending or advertising 
C)  occur when previously appointed judges must run in a later election 
D)  are no longer held in states C

Question 4

The federal bureaucracy:

Accepted Answer

A)  responds to partisan forces over the long run 
B)  is completely nonpartisan 
C)  has no constituency groups, unlike members of Congress 
D)  is composed almost entirely of political appointees 
A)  responds to partisan forces over the long run 
B)  is completely nonpartisan 
C)  has no constituency groups, unlike members of Congress 
D)  is composed almost entirely of political appointees

Question 5

Partisanship in the executive and the judiciary is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Not present in the process used to appoint executives and judges 
B)  nonexistent 
C)  due to the differing values of Democrats and Republicans who hold these positions 
D)  easy to eliminate by simply passing laws against it 
A)  Not present in the process used to appoint executives and judges 
B)  nonexistent 
C)  due to the differing values of Democrats and Republicans who hold these positions 
D)  easy to eliminate by simply passing laws against it

Question 6

When a president's popularity and success leads other candidates of that party to win their races, we refer to that as:

Accepted Answer

A)  the midterm election effect 
B)  swing districts 
C)  coattails 
D)  merit elections 
A)  the midterm election effect 
B)  swing districts 
C)  coattails 
D)  merit elections

Question 7

Which key resource assists the chief executive in getting Congress to go along with his or her programs?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president's popular support. 
B)  Congressional committees. 
C)  Conference committees. 
D)  Swing districts. 
A)  The president's popular support. 
B)  Congressional committees. 
C)  Conference committees. 
D)  Swing districts.

Question 8

If you were president, under what circumstances would you expect the strongest support for your proposals from both houses of Congress? What could you do to try to increase that support?

Accepted Answer

As president, I would expect the stronge

Question 9

State court judges are often ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  appointed rather than elected 
B)  elected rather than appointed 
C)  hired as employees by the state personnel agency 
D)  civil service appointees 
A)  appointed rather than elected 
B)  elected rather than appointed 
C)  hired as employees by the state personnel agency 
D)  civil service appointees

Question 10

"Divided control of government":

Accepted Answer

A)  means that it is even more difficult now than it used to be for Congress to pass legislation 
B)  is when at least one house of Congress is controlled by the party other than the president's party 
C)  has occurred only rarely in the U.S. government since the end of World War II 
D)  has occurred only rarely in state governments 
A)  means that it is even more difficult now than it used to be for Congress to pass legislation 
B)  is when at least one house of Congress is controlled by the party other than the president's party 
C)  has occurred only rarely in the U.S. government since the end of World War II 
D)  has occurred only rarely in state governments

Question 11

Explain how presidential or party influence can be felt in the decision-making by executive branch agencies. When this influence exists, is it more likely to reflect presidential influence or that of the party? What is the argument that such influence benefits a democratic system? What is the argument that it doesn't?

Accepted Answer

Presidential or party influence can be f

Question 12

In what ways do we find evidence of partisanship in judges' behavior? Does this mean that party organizations are telling judges how to rule in particular cases? What else could account for the presence of partisanship in the courts?

Accepted Answer

Partisanship in judges' behavior can be

Question 13

Coattail effects since the 1990s have:

Accepted Answer

A)  weakened as the parties became more polarized 
B)  remained limited to federal races 
C)  strengthened as the parties became more polarized 
D)  remained the same as they were prior to the 1990s 
A)  weakened as the parties became more polarized 
B)  remained limited to federal races 
C)  strengthened as the parties became more polarized 
D)  remained the same as they were prior to the 1990s

Question 14

In many European nations, people become judges by:

Accepted Answer

A)  studying for and scoring well on a judgeship exam 
B)  being appointed by elected officials 
C)  running for the office in frequent elections 
D)  getting patronage appointments 
A)  studying for and scoring well on a judgeship exam 
B)  being appointed by elected officials 
C)  running for the office in frequent elections 
D)  getting patronage appointments

Question 15

Judges appointed by ______ tend to be more ______ on issues such as civil rights and crime.

Accepted Answer

A)  Republicans; liberal 
B)  Democrats; conservative 
C)  Republicans; conflicted 
D)  Democrats; liberal 
A)  Republicans; liberal 
B)  Democrats; conservative 
C)  Republicans; conflicted 
D)  Democrats; liberal

Question 16

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties.
-Divided control of government.

Accepted Answer

Divided control of government refers to

Question 17

A ______ district is one in which both parties are competitive.

Accepted Answer

A)  bipartisan 
B)  swing 
C)  landslide 
D)  urban 
A)  bipartisan 
B)  swing 
C)  landslide 
D)  urban

Question 18

Generally, partisan influence in the executive branch and the judiciary is:

Accepted Answer

A)  not present in either 
B)  present in the executive branch but not in the judiciary 
C)  present in the judiciary but not in the executive branch 
D)  present in both, to at least some degree 
A)  not present in either 
B)  present in the executive branch but not in the judiciary 
C)  present in the judiciary but not in the executive branch 
D)  present in both, to at least some degree

Question 19

How has the recent polarization of American politics affected presidential nominations to the Supreme Court? Give an example of a case in which a presidential nomination was stopped due to partisan or ideological forces.

Accepted Answer

The recent polarization of American poli

Question 20

What causes partisan behavior on the courts?

Accepted Answer

A)  Local party organizations tell judges how they are expected to decide cases. 
B)  There is no such thing as partisan behavior on courts. 
C)  An elected official is likely to nominate equal numbers of judges from each major party. 
D)  Judges are usually partisans, and they have some discretion in applying laws to specific cases. 
A)  Local party organizations tell judges how they are expected to decide cases. 
B)  There is no such thing as partisan behavior on courts. 
C)  An elected official is likely to nominate equal numbers of judges from each major party. 
D)  Judges are usually partisans, and they have some discretion in applying laws to specific cases.

What is a major cause of any reduction in the president's party's share of House seats in the midterm election?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Campaigns for state Supreme Court seats

Retention elections:

The federal bureaucracy:

Partisanship in the executive and the judiciary is:

When a president's popularity and success leads other candidates of that party to win their races, we refer to that as:

Which key resource assists the chief executive in getting Congress to go along with his or her programs?

If you were president, under what circumstances would you expect the strongest support for your proposals from both houses of Congress? What could you do to try to increase that support?

State court judges are often ______.

"Divided control of government":

In what ways do we find evidence of partisanship in judges' behavior? Does this mean that party organizations are telling judges how to rule in particular cases? What else could account for the presence of partisanship in the courts?

Coattail effects since the 1990s have:

In many European nations, people become judges by:

Judges appointed by tend to be more on issues such as civil rights and crime.

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Divided control of government.

A ______ district is one in which both parties are competitive.

Generally, partisan influence in the executive branch and the judiciary is:

How has the recent polarization of American politics affected presidential nominations to the Supreme Court? Give an example of a case in which a presidential nomination was stopped due to partisan or ideological forces.

What causes partisan behavior on the courts?

What Are Political Parties

The American Two-Party System

State and Local Party Organizations

The Parties National Organizations

Party Activists

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 Semi-Responsible Parties

The Place of Parties in American Politics

Filters

Exam 14: The Party in the Executive and the Courts

What is a major cause of any reduction in the president's party's share of House seats in the midterm election?

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Campaigns for state Supreme Court seats

Retention elections:

The federal bureaucracy:

Partisanship in the executive and the judiciary is:

When a president's popularity and success leads other candidates of that party to win their races, we refer to that as:

Which key resource assists the chief executive in getting Congress to go along with his or her programs?

If you were president, under what circumstances would you expect the strongest support for your proposals from both houses of Congress? What could you do to try to increase that support?

State court judges are often ______.

"Divided control of government":

In what ways do we find evidence of partisanship in judges' behavior? Does this mean that party organizations are telling judges how to rule in particular cases? What else could account for the presence of partisanship in the courts?

Coattail effects since the 1990s have:

In many European nations, people become judges by:

Judges appointed by ______ tend to be more ______ on issues such as civil rights and crime.

Define each of the following and briefly explain why it is relevant to the study of political parties. -Divided control of government.

A ______ district is one in which both parties are competitive.

Generally, partisan influence in the executive branch and the judiciary is:

How has the recent polarization of American politics affected presidential nominations to the Supreme Court? Give an example of a case in which a presidential nomination was stopped due to partisan or ideological forces.

What causes partisan behavior on the courts?

What Are Political Parties

The American Two-Party System

State and Local Party Organizations

The Parties National Organizations

Party Activists

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 Semi-Responsible Parties

The Place of Parties in American Politics

Filters

Judges appointed by tend to be more on issues such as civil rights and crime.