Question 1

Why were Republicans able to pass so many laws after they came to power in 2001 in spite of their small majorities in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Republicans were disciplined and acted out of party unity, so they were able to control the legislative agenda. 
B)  The Democrats were distracted by 9/11 and focused on terrorism, so they did not pay much attention to what the Republicans were doing. 
C)  The president was Republican, so the legislators had his full support for their programs, especially after 9/11. 
D)  The president was Democrat, but the Republicans were extremely focused, disciplined, and displayed remarkable party unity. 
E)  The Democrats had no party unity and tended to be undisciplined, so the Republicans could control the agenda. 
A)  The Republicans were disciplined and acted out of party unity, so they were able to control the legislative agenda. 
B)  The Democrats were distracted by 9/11 and focused on terrorism, so they did not pay much attention to what the Republicans were doing. 
C)  The president was Republican, so the legislators had his full support for their programs, especially after 9/11. 
D)  The president was Democrat, but the Republicans were extremely focused, disciplined, and displayed remarkable party unity. 
E)  The Democrats had no party unity and tended to be undisciplined, so the Republicans could control the agenda.

Question 2

Over which of the following do official party organizations have no control?

Accepted Answer

A)  national party conventions 
B)  nomination of candidates 
C)  national party committees 
D)  direct mail campaigns 
E)  state party organizations 
A)  national party conventions 
B)  nomination of candidates 
C)  national party committees 
D)  direct mail campaigns 
E)  state party organizations

Question 3

Ross Perot's Reform Party signified __________ of the party system.

Accepted Answer

A)  corruption 
B)  dealignment 
C)  polarization 
D)  raiding 
E)  realignment 
A)  corruption 
B)  dealignment 
C)  polarization 
D)  raiding 
E)  realignment

Question 4

The percentage of people claiming to be independent has increased from a percentage in the low 20s during the 1960s to approximately 34 percent today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Although Democrats and Republicans often appoint party activists and financial contributors to agencies in the executive branch in return for their support, they do so only when the appointees are qualified for the positions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Dealignment is associated with the end of the __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Christian coalition 
B)  Democratic-Republicans 
C)  Federalists 
D)  New Deal coalition 
E)  Whigs 
A)  Christian coalition 
B)  Democratic-Republicans 
C)  Federalists 
D)  New Deal coalition 
E)  Whigs

Question 7

Categorization of leaners when determining which party is leading in numbers of supporters can make a significant difference in the outcome of a poll.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The U.S. electoral system is capable of producing a major minor party. What features largely account for it failing to do so?

Accepted Answer

A)  multi-member districts and a proportional voting system 
B)  single-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system 
C)  multi-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post) voting system 
D)  single-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post) voting system 
E)  multi-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system 
A)  multi-member districts and a proportional voting system 
B)  single-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system 
C)  multi-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post) voting system 
D)  single-member districts and a plurality (first-past-the-post) voting system 
E)  multi-member districts and a nonpartisan blanket primary system

Question 9

The form of change in which a dominant party declines and is replaced by another dominant party is called dealignment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a substantial role in providing economic justice and opportunity?

Accepted Answer

A)  moderates 
B)  independents 
C)  conservatives 
D)  leaners 
E)  liberals 
A)  moderates 
B)  independents 
C)  conservatives 
D)  leaners 
E)  liberals

Question 11

Which of the following is one of the contributing factors to the increase in partisanship at all levels of government since the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

A)  the increase of moderates within the political parties 
B)  tension over the debt ceiling bill introduced into Congress 
C)  the increase in the number of competitive districts in House races 
D)  the explosion of advocacy groups that demand unity on issues 
E)  the gridlock created by extreme views and unwillingness to compromise 
A)  the increase of moderates within the political parties 
B)  tension over the debt ceiling bill introduced into Congress 
C)  the increase in the number of competitive districts in House races 
D)  the explosion of advocacy groups that demand unity on issues 
E)  the gridlock created by extreme views and unwillingness to compromise

Question 12

What is party ideology? What trends are we seeing in political parties on the ideological level? How are specific ideologies affecting party politics in the United States? Are third parties destined to have more impact on the political system in the future?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Examine the r

Question 13

How are minor political parties usually significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  They distract from important policy debates. 
B)  They effectively disprove Duverger's law. 
C)  They intentionally alter election wins by their ideologically closest major party. 
D)  They push major parties to incorporate new ideas or elucidate current ones. 
E)  They win elections in crucial swing states. 
A)  They distract from important policy debates. 
B)  They effectively disprove Duverger's law. 
C)  They intentionally alter election wins by their ideologically closest major party. 
D)  They push major parties to incorporate new ideas or elucidate current ones. 
E)  They win elections in crucial swing states.

Question 14

Which of the following would be most likely to tolerate a government shutdown to achieve their goals?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tea Party Republicans 
B)  Democratic centrists 
C)  Republican social conservatives 
D)  Republican economic conservatives 
E)  Democratic liberals 
A)  Tea Party Republicans 
B)  Democratic centrists 
C)  Republican social conservatives 
D)  Republican economic conservatives 
E)  Democratic liberals

Question 15

What binds national and state parties?

Accepted Answer

A)  Article I of the U.S. Constitution 
B)  federal statutes and campaign money 
C)  ideology, sentiment, and campaign money 
D)  shared policies and sentiments 
E)  fundamental beliefs and federal statutes 
A)  Article I of the U.S. Constitution 
B)  federal statutes and campaign money 
C)  ideology, sentiment, and campaign money 
D)  shared policies and sentiments 
E)  fundamental beliefs and federal statutes

Question 16

The __________ is the formal governing body of both major parties.

Accepted Answer

A)  national party assembly 
B)  national party committee 
C)  national party convention 
D)  national party delegation 
E)  national party legislature 
A)  national party assembly 
B)  national party committee 
C)  national party convention 
D)  national party delegation 
E)  national party legislature

Question 17

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

Accepted Answer

A)  party code 
B)  party literature 
C)  party mandates 
D)  party platform 
E)  party preferences 
A)  party code 
B)  party literature 
C)  party mandates 
D)  party platform 
E)  party preferences

Question 18

How did the party demographics change toward the end of the New Deal coalition and at the beginning of dealignment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Southern whites, blue-collar workers, and religious conservatives switched to the Republican Party; minorities became more loyal to the Democrats. 
B)  Southern whites, union families, and minorities switched to the Republican Party; academics and upper-middle-class professionals joined the Democrats. 
C)  Academics and upper-middle-class professionals began to join the Republican Party; southern whites, union families, and lower-income voters became Democrats. 
D)  Union families, minorities, and academics switched to the Republican Party; upper-middle-class professionals and higher-income voters joined the Democrats. 
E)  Upper-middle-class professionals and religious conservatives moved to the Republican Party; southern whites, union families, and lower-income voters became Democrats. 
A)  Southern whites, blue-collar workers, and religious conservatives switched to the Republican Party; minorities became more loyal to the Democrats. 
B)  Southern whites, union families, and minorities switched to the Republican Party; academics and upper-middle-class professionals joined the Democrats. 
C)  Academics and upper-middle-class professionals began to join the Republican Party; southern whites, union families, and lower-income voters became Democrats. 
D)  Union families, minorities, and academics switched to the Republican Party; upper-middle-class professionals and higher-income voters joined the Democrats. 
E)  Upper-middle-class professionals and religious conservatives moved to the Republican Party; southern whites, union families, and lower-income voters became Democrats.

Question 19

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that

Question 20

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gridlock is least likely to occur when...

Why were Republicans able to pass so many laws after they came to power in 2001 in spite of their small majorities in Congress?

Over which of the following do official party organizations have no control?

Ross Perot's Reform Party signified __________ of the party system.

The percentage of people claiming to be independent has increased from a percentage in the low 20s during the 1960s to approximately 34 percent today.

Although Democrats and Republicans often appoint party activists and financial contributors to agencies in the executive branch in return for their support, they do so only when the appointees are qualified for the positions.

Dealignment is associated with the end of the __________.

Categorization of leaners when determining which party is leading in numbers of supporters can make a significant difference in the outcome of a poll.

The U.S. electoral system is capable of producing a major minor party. What features largely account for it failing to do so?

The form of change in which a dominant party declines and is replaced by another dominant party is called dealignment.

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a substantial role in providing economic justice and opportunity?

Which of the following is one of the contributing factors to the increase in partisanship at all levels of government since the 1980s?

What is party ideology? What trends are we seeing in political parties on the ideological level? How are specific ideologies affecting party politics in the United States? Are third parties destined to have more impact on the political system in the future?

How are minor political parties usually significant?

Which of the following would be most likely to tolerate a government shutdown to achieve their goals?

What binds national and state parties?

The __________ is the formal governing body of both major parties.

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

How did the party demographics change toward the end of the New Deal coalition and at the beginning of dealignment?

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 9: Political Parties

Why were Republicans able to pass so many laws after they came to power in 2001 in spite of their small majorities in Congress?

Over which of the following do official party organizations have no control?

Ross Perot's Reform Party signified __________ of the party system.

The percentage of people claiming to be independent has increased from a percentage in the low 20s during the 1960s to approximately 34 percent today.

Although Democrats and Republicans often appoint party activists and financial contributors to agencies in the executive branch in return for their support, they do so only when the appointees are qualified for the positions.

Dealignment is associated with the end of the __________.

Categorization of leaners when determining which party is leading in numbers of supporters can make a significant difference in the outcome of a poll.

The U.S. electoral system is capable of producing a major minor party. What features largely account for it failing to do so?

The form of change in which a dominant party declines and is replaced by another dominant party is called dealignment.

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a substantial role in providing economic justice and opportunity?

Which of the following is one of the contributing factors to the increase in partisanship at all levels of government since the 1980s?

What is party ideology? What trends are we seeing in political parties on the ideological level? How are specific ideologies affecting party politics in the United States? Are third parties destined to have more impact on the political system in the future?

How are minor political parties usually significant?

Which of the following would be most likely to tolerate a government shutdown to achieve their goals?

What binds national and state parties?

The __________ is the formal governing body of both major parties.

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

How did the party demographics change toward the end of the New Deal coalition and at the beginning of dealignment?

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism: States and Nation

The Structural Foundations of American Government and Politics

Public Opinion

The News Media

Interest Groups and Business Organizations

Social Movements

Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

Congress

The Presidency

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Civil Liberties: the Struggle for Freedom

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

Domestic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters