Question 1

The electoral competition theory ensures democratic control only if

Accepted Answer

A)  parties are fragmented. 
B)  parties take ambiguous stands on policy issues. 
C)  all eligible voters vote. 
D)  voters focus on candidates and personalities. 
E)  parties are responsible. 
A)  parties are fragmented. 
B)  parties take ambiguous stands on policy issues. 
C)  all eligible voters vote. 
D)  voters focus on candidates and personalities. 
E)  parties are responsible.

Question 2

Why do most observers think that money creates problems in U.S. presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

A)  Money comes from private sources that may influence government policy. 
B)  Too much money is spent to elect a candidate. 
C)  Money comes from the government through federal election campaign funds, which increases the deficit. 
D)  Money that comes from the government shouldn't be used to support any individual running for office, as it lends a sense of unearned legitimacy to the candidate. 
E)  The amount of money spent on elections should be spent on other, more deserving causes. 
A)  Money comes from private sources that may influence government policy. 
B)  Too much money is spent to elect a candidate. 
C)  Money comes from the government through federal election campaign funds, which increases the deficit. 
D)  Money that comes from the government shouldn't be used to support any individual running for office, as it lends a sense of unearned legitimacy to the candidate. 
E)  The amount of money spent on elections should be spent on other, more deserving causes.

Question 3

Compared to other modern industrialized countries, voting turnout in the United States is

Accepted Answer

A) much lower. 
B)  about the same. 
C)  higher. 
D)  much higher. 
E)  lower, but not in any significant way. 
A) much lower. 
B)  about the same. 
C)  higher. 
D)  much higher. 
E)  lower, but not in any significant way.

Question 4

The electoral competition model relies on the notion that

Accepted Answer

A)  political parties are responsible in the sense of European parties. 
B)  both parties are likely to end up standing for the same policies, those favored by the most voters. 
C)  a plurality of votes wins an election. 
D)  the electoral college would be abolished. 
E)  voters are unlikely to turn out to vote. 
A)  political parties are responsible in the sense of European parties. 
B)  both parties are likely to end up standing for the same policies, those favored by the most voters. 
C)  a plurality of votes wins an election. 
D)  the electoral college would be abolished. 
E)  voters are unlikely to turn out to vote.

Question 5

What are some reasons for low voter turnout in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The authors of Struggle for Democracy pr

Question 6

In the electoral competition model, parties appeal to the ________ voter.

Accepted Answer

A)  oldest 
B)  richest 
C)  median 
D)  most partisan 
E)  mean 
A)  oldest 
B)  richest 
C)  median 
D)  most partisan 
E)  mean

Question 7

What demographic characteristic is the most significant predictor of whether someone will vote?

Accepted Answer

A)  age 
B)  income 
C)  race 
D)  education 
E)  gender 
A)  age 
B)  income 
C)  race 
D)  education 
E)  gender

Question 8

Why, have some people argued, doesn't it matter if many people don't vote?

Accepted Answer

A)  They believe that the results would be about the same whether or not they voted. 
B)  Not everyone is educated enough to have an opinion. 
C)  It is more important that people who care about the outcome are the ones who vote. 
D)  Even if they don't vote, policies will still be in place that effect every citizen's life. 
E)  Non-voters' policy preferences are rarely those of the majority. 
A)  They believe that the results would be about the same whether or not they voted. 
B)  Not everyone is educated enough to have an opinion. 
C)  It is more important that people who care about the outcome are the ones who vote. 
D)  Even if they don't vote, policies will still be in place that effect every citizen's life. 
E)  Non-voters' policy preferences are rarely those of the majority.

Question 9

One aspect of the electoral competition theory that is clearly democratic is that parties

Accepted Answer

A)  seek investors as well as voters. 
B)  are motivated by selfish reasons. 
C)  give distinct choices to voters. 
D)  respond directly to public opinion. 
E)  respond directly to party delegates. 
A)  seek investors as well as voters. 
B)  are motivated by selfish reasons. 
C)  give distinct choices to voters. 
D)  respond directly to public opinion. 
E)  respond directly to party delegates.

Question 10

What is the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of voters and party loyalties?

Accepted Answer

People's socioeconomic status, religion,

Question 11

What is one of the main reasons why government policy is significantly influenced by public opinion?

Accepted Answer

A)  electoral competition 
B)  the rewards and punishment system 
C)  the responsible voting model's adherence to public opinion 
D)  the retrospective outlook of the media 
E)  the importance of the prospective voting model in the media 
A)  electoral competition 
B)  the rewards and punishment system 
C)  the responsible voting model's adherence to public opinion 
D)  the retrospective outlook of the media 
E)  the importance of the prospective voting model in the media

Question 12

What is the chief means by which citizens control what their government does?

Accepted Answer

A)  elections 
B)  interest groups 
C)  primary votes 
D)  the electoral college 
E)  advocacy groups 
A)  elections 
B)  interest groups 
C)  primary votes 
D)  the electoral college 
E)  advocacy groups

Question 13

Because voters are clearly different from nonvoters,

Accepted Answer

A)  a political system that includes and mobilizes nonvoters might well produce different policies. 
B)  increased voter turnout probably would not have much effect on policies because different types of voters would cancel each other out. 
C)  it really does not matter who participates because voting does not have any real influence on policymakers. 
D)  elections should be held more frequently so that nonvoters would be encouraged to participate. 
E)  elections are not truly democratic unless all participate. 
A)  a political system that includes and mobilizes nonvoters might well produce different policies. 
B)  increased voter turnout probably would not have much effect on policies because different types of voters would cancel each other out. 
C)  it really does not matter who participates because voting does not have any real influence on policymakers. 
D)  elections should be held more frequently so that nonvoters would be encouraged to participate. 
E)  elections are not truly democratic unless all participate.

Question 14

Why might it not make any difference whether people vote?

Accepted Answer

Some observers argue that it does not ma

Question 15

It is not uncommon to have a turnout in the range of ________ percent of the eligible voters in local elections.

Accepted Answer

A)  10-20 
B)  20-30 
C)  30-40 
D)  40-50 
E)  50-60 
A)  10-20 
B)  20-30 
C)  30-40 
D)  40-50 
E)  50-60

Question 16

Which of the following groups won the right to vote last?

Accepted Answer

A)  women 
B)  southern blacks 
C)  18- to 20-year-olds 
D)  felons 
E)  minorities 
A)  women 
B)  southern blacks 
C)  18- to 20-year-olds 
D)  felons 
E)  minorities

Question 17

Identify and then discuss the reasons for low voter turnout in the United States.

Accepted Answer

There are several reasons for low voter

Question 18

When does a candidate win a plurality?

Accepted Answer

A)  when he/she wins more votes than any other candidate but less than a majority of all votes cast 
B)  when he/she wins the majority of all votes cast 
C)  when he/she wins the electoral college 
D)  when he/she wins the popular vote but not the electoral college vote 
E)  when he/she wins enough votes to appear on a ballot 
A)  when he/she wins more votes than any other candidate but less than a majority of all votes cast 
B)  when he/she wins the majority of all votes cast 
C)  when he/she wins the electoral college 
D)  when he/she wins the popular vote but not the electoral college vote 
E)  when he/she wins enough votes to appear on a ballot

Question 19

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eligible people of all ages vote in similar proportions. 
B)  There is a class bias in political participation in the United States. 
C)  Blacks do not vote nearly as often whites of similar class and background. 
D)  Hispanics vote in higher proportions than whites. 
E)  none of the above 
A)  Eligible people of all ages vote in similar proportions. 
B)  There is a class bias in political participation in the United States. 
C)  Blacks do not vote nearly as often whites of similar class and background. 
D)  Hispanics vote in higher proportions than whites. 
E)  none of the above

Question 20

In democracies, the chief means by which citizens control the government are supposed to be

Accepted Answer

A)  interest groups. 
B)  opinion polls. 
C)  social movements. 
D)  elections. 
E)  political parties. 
A)  interest groups. 
B)  opinion polls. 
C)  social movements. 
D)  elections. 
E)  political parties.

The electoral competition theory ensures democratic control only if

Why do most observers think that money creates problems in U.S. presidential elections?

Compared to other modern industrialized countries, voting turnout in the United States is

The electoral competition model relies on the notion that

What are some reasons for low voter turnout in the United States?

In the electoral competition model, parties appeal to the ________ voter.

What demographic characteristic is the most significant predictor of whether someone will vote?

Why, have some people argued, doesn't it matter if many people don't vote?

One aspect of the electoral competition theory that is clearly democratic is that parties

What is the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of voters and party loyalties?

What is one of the main reasons why government policy is significantly influenced by public opinion?

What is the chief means by which citizens control what their government does?

Because voters are clearly different from nonvoters,

Why might it not make any difference whether people vote?

It is not uncommon to have a turnout in the range of ________ percent of the eligible voters in local elections.

Which of the following groups won the right to vote last?

Identify and then discuss the reasons for low voter turnout in the United States.

When does a candidate win a plurality?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

In democracies, the chief means by which citizens control the government are supposed to be

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 10: Participation Voting, and Elections

The electoral competition theory ensures democratic control only if

Why do most observers think that money creates problems in U.S. presidential elections?

Compared to other modern industrialized countries, voting turnout in the United States is

The electoral competition model relies on the notion that

What are some reasons for low voter turnout in the United States?

In the electoral competition model, parties appeal to the ________ voter.

What demographic characteristic is the most significant predictor of whether someone will vote?

Why, have some people argued, doesn't it matter if many people don't vote?

One aspect of the electoral competition theory that is clearly democratic is that parties

What is the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics of voters and party loyalties?

What is one of the main reasons why government policy is significantly influenced by public opinion?

What is the chief means by which citizens control what their government does?

Because voters are clearly different from nonvoters,

Why might it not make any difference whether people vote?

It is not uncommon to have a turnout in the range of ________ percent of the eligible voters in local elections.

Which of the following groups won the right to vote last?

Identify and then discuss the reasons for low voter turnout in the United States.

When does a candidate win a plurality?

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

In democracies, the chief means by which citizens control the government are supposed to be

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters