Question 1

Which of the following would most likely be viewed differently by various members of the Democratic Party depending on whether they fell into the liberal or centrist camp?

Accepted Answer

A)  civil rights 
B)  equal pay for equal work 
C)  war on drugs 
D)  affirmative action 
E)  education 
A)  civil rights 
B)  equal pay for equal work 
C)  war on drugs 
D)  affirmative action 
E)  education

Question 2

Briefly assess why dealignment in the party system has occurred and identify one of the signs in terms of an increase or decrease in party affiliation.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Indicate that

Question 3

How does the presidential primary system contribute to the intense partisanship of American politics today?

Accepted Answer

A)  It allows minor parties to compete against the major parties, forcing the main parties into extremism. 
B)  The time leading up to the primaries is intensely competitive, so candidates become more and more extreme. 
C)  It takes power out of the political parties and puts it into the hands of the candidates, who react by taking their positions to the extreme. 
D)  The conventions create an artificial emotionalism that appeals to extreme elements. 
E)  It forces candidates to play the most ideologically extreme elements within their party. 
A)  It allows minor parties to compete against the major parties, forcing the main parties into extremism. 
B)  The time leading up to the primaries is intensely competitive, so candidates become more and more extreme. 
C)  It takes power out of the political parties and puts it into the hands of the candidates, who react by taking their positions to the extreme. 
D)  The conventions create an artificial emotionalism that appeals to extreme elements. 
E)  It forces candidates to play the most ideologically extreme elements within their party.

Question 4

Explain the role of minor parties in promoting the democratic process. How might they detract from it?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Describe how

Question 5

Which statement best describes what E. E. Schattschneider meant by the claim that "political parties created democracy"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Political parties mobilize majorities for the purpose of taking over government, which is the very definition of democracy. 
B)  Through party platform creation, political parties give democratic voters a clear idea of the kind of people they are electing to represent them. 
C)  In nominating candidates, political parties narrow voter choice and thus make an otherwise confusing democratic process understandable. 
D)  By organizing the election process, political parties make it possible for voters to go to the polls and vote, thereby maintaining democracy. 
E)  Political parties facilitate voter choice through their campaigns on public issues about which democratic voters would otherwise have no knowledge. 
A)  Political parties mobilize majorities for the purpose of taking over government, which is the very definition of democracy. 
B)  Through party platform creation, political parties give democratic voters a clear idea of the kind of people they are electing to represent them. 
C)  In nominating candidates, political parties narrow voter choice and thus make an otherwise confusing democratic process understandable. 
D)  By organizing the election process, political parties make it possible for voters to go to the polls and vote, thereby maintaining democracy. 
E)  Political parties facilitate voter choice through their campaigns on public issues about which democratic voters would otherwise have no knowledge.

Question 6

When political parties mobilize voters, bring issues to the public attention, educate the public on issues of interest to the party, and compete with each other by expanding the scope of conflict, what else do they accomplish?

Accepted Answer

A)  They stimulate political interest among citizens, and thus contribute to democracy by increasing democratic participation by the American public. 
B)  They demonstrate that politicians will say and do anything to get elected and that campaign promises do not indicate what they will do once elected. 
C)  They show the American public what true patriotism is through their candidates' willingness to do what they believe is in the best interests of the entire nation. 
D)  They gain political power under the guise of educating Americans on public policy issues, thus contributing to the appearance of democratic governance. 
E)  They carry out constitutional directives about the way the leaders of the country should behave and what they should accomplish. 
A)  They stimulate political interest among citizens, and thus contribute to democracy by increasing democratic participation by the American public. 
B)  They demonstrate that politicians will say and do anything to get elected and that campaign promises do not indicate what they will do once elected. 
C)  They show the American public what true patriotism is through their candidates' willingness to do what they believe is in the best interests of the entire nation. 
D)  They gain political power under the guise of educating Americans on public policy issues, thus contributing to the appearance of democratic governance. 
E)  They carry out constitutional directives about the way the leaders of the country should behave and what they should accomplish.

Question 7

Minor parties have played a more important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation, and have become even more important.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

An active partisan is a person who claims to be independent but consistently favors one party over another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The awarding of legislative seats to political parties to reflect the percentage of the popular vote each has received in an election is __________.

Accepted Answer

proportion

Question 10

Party identification helps political parties identify their __________ so they can start a campaign by mobilizing these core supporters.

Accepted Answer

A)  party base 
B)  campaign centers 
C)  party leaners 
D)  party committees 
E)  geographical base 
A)  party base 
B)  campaign centers 
C)  party leaners 
D)  party committees 
E)  geographical base

Question 11

Partisanship has been increasing since the 1980s, and seems likely to rise even more in the near future.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The __________ Party has many more moderate supporters and elected officials than its counterpart.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The __________ Party has many more moderate...

Question 13

How do minor parties facilitate democracy in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  by bringing more citizens into the political process with issue awareness 
B)  by challenging the constitutional supports for the two-party system 
C)  by sending important delegates to the major parties' national conventions 
D)  by thwarting the major party that is most ideologically distant 
E)  by winning a disproportionate number of local elections 
A)  by bringing more citizens into the political process with issue awareness 
B)  by challenging the constitutional supports for the two-party system 
C)  by sending important delegates to the major parties' national conventions 
D)  by thwarting the major party that is most ideologically distant 
E)  by winning a disproportionate number of local elections

Question 14

How does the American two-party system facilitate or hinder democracy? Compare the U.S. electoral system to multiparty systems. How did the American electoral system arise, and who has manipulated it? Offer an analysis of the potential for realistic pro-democratic change in the U.S. electoral system.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Describe the

Question 15

Which political era saw the longest period of Democratic domination? Explain the origins, the ideology of the party, and what led to the demise of party domination following this period.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Describe the

Question 16

Assess the utility of the party platform in drawing party support and to what extent politicians are held accountable to it.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define the pl

Question 17

What institutional feature helps prevent the rise of minor parties?

Accepted Answer

A)  a constitutional restriction 
B)  the electoral college 
C)  multi-member districts 
D)  proportional representation 
E)  open-primary systems 
A)  a constitutional restriction 
B)  the electoral college 
C)  multi-member districts 
D)  proportional representation 
E)  open-primary systems

Question 18

One of the various ways in which political parties contribute to democratic governance is by __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  dividing the electorate 
B)  narrowing voter choice 
C)  ensuring majority rule 
D)  reducing accountability mechanisms 
E)  encouraging inter-party cooperation 
A)  dividing the electorate 
B)  narrowing voter choice 
C)  ensuring majority rule 
D)  reducing accountability mechanisms 
E)  encouraging inter-party cooperation

Question 19

Franklin D. Roosevelt's __________ ushered in a forty-year period of Democratic Party dominance.

Accepted Answer

New Deal (

Question 20

Which of the following best describes why the Federal Emergency Management Agency failed during Hurricane Katrina?

Accepted Answer

A)  The agency was headed by a political contributor of George Bush, not an emergency relief specialist, so the leader was unprepared. 
B)  The agency had been merged into the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, so it was unclear who was in charge. 
C)  The agency surprised everyone by its poor response, since it had successfully handled previous disasters in California and Florida. 
D)  The head of the agency had been appointed by Bill Clinton because he was one of Clinton's supporters, and he had no experience with disaster relief. 
E)  The agency had been merged into the Commerce Department, and its funds had been depleted by that department, leaving it without resources. 
A)  The agency was headed by a political contributor of George Bush, not an emergency relief specialist, so the leader was unprepared. 
B)  The agency had been merged into the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, so it was unclear who was in charge. 
C)  The agency surprised everyone by its poor response, since it had successfully handled previous disasters in California and Florida. 
D)  The head of the agency had been appointed by Bill Clinton because he was one of Clinton's supporters, and he had no experience with disaster relief. 
E)  The agency had been merged into the Commerce Department, and its funds had been depleted by that department, leaving it without resources.

Which of the following would most likely be viewed differently by various members of the Democratic Party depending on whether they fell into the liberal or centrist camp?

Briefly assess why dealignment in the party system has occurred and identify one of the signs in terms of an increase or decrease in party affiliation.

How does the presidential primary system contribute to the intense partisanship of American politics today?

Explain the role of minor parties in promoting the democratic process. How might they detract from it?

Which statement best describes what E. E. Schattschneider meant by the claim that "political parties created democracy"?

When political parties mobilize voters, bring issues to the public attention, educate the public on issues of interest to the party, and compete with each other by expanding the scope of conflict, what else do they accomplish?

Minor parties have played a more important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation, and have become even more important.

An active partisan is a person who claims to be independent but consistently favors one party over another.

The awarding of legislative seats to political parties to reflect the percentage of the popular vote each has received in an election is __________.

Party identification helps political parties identify their __________ so they can start a campaign by mobilizing these core supporters.

Partisanship has been increasing since the 1980s, and seems likely to rise even more in the near future.

The __________ Party has many more moderate supporters and elected officials than its counterpart.

How do minor parties facilitate democracy in the United States?

Which political era saw the longest period of Democratic domination? Explain the origins, the ideology of the party, and what led to the demise of party domination following this period.

Assess the utility of the party platform in drawing party support and to what extent politicians are held accountable to it.

What institutional feature helps prevent the rise of minor parties?

One of the various ways in which political parties contribute to democratic governance is by __________.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's __________ ushered in a forty-year period of Democratic Party dominance.

Which of the following best describes why the Federal Emergency Management Agency failed during Hurricane Katrina?

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

Which of the following would most likely be viewed differently by various members of the Democratic Party depending on whether they fell into the liberal or centrist camp?

Briefly assess why dealignment in the party system has occurred and identify one of the signs in terms of an increase or decrease in party affiliation.

How does the presidential primary system contribute to the intense partisanship of American politics today?

Explain the role of minor parties in promoting the democratic process. How might they detract from it?

Which statement best describes what E. E. Schattschneider meant by the claim that "political parties created democracy"?

When political parties mobilize voters, bring issues to the public attention, educate the public on issues of interest to the party, and compete with each other by expanding the scope of conflict, what else do they accomplish?

Minor parties have played a more important role in the United States than in virtually any other democratic nation, and have become even more important.

An active partisan is a person who claims to be independent but consistently favors one party over another.

The awarding of legislative seats to political parties to reflect the percentage of the popular vote each has received in an election is __________.

Party identification helps political parties identify their __________ so they can start a campaign by mobilizing these core supporters.

Partisanship has been increasing since the 1980s, and seems likely to rise even more in the near future.

The __________ Party has many more moderate supporters and elected officials than its counterpart.

How do minor parties facilitate democracy in the United States?

Which political era saw the longest period of Democratic domination? Explain the origins, the ideology of the party, and what led to the demise of party domination following this period.

Assess the utility of the party platform in drawing party support and to what extent politicians are held accountable to it.

What institutional feature helps prevent the rise of minor parties?

One of the various ways in which political parties contribute to democratic governance is by __________.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's __________ ushered in a forty-year period of Democratic Party dominance.

Which of the following best describes why the Federal Emergency Management Agency failed during Hurricane Katrina?

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