Question 1

Unlike associational and non-associational interest groups, how are institutional interest groups different?

Accepted Answer

A) They exist within the government. 
B) They develop spontaneously when many individuals feel strongly about particular policies. 
C) They have a distinctive name, national headquarters, and professional staff. 
D) They seek to promote causes that benefit society as a whole. 
E) They exist within the private sector. 
A) They exist within the government. 
B) They develop spontaneously when many individuals feel strongly about particular policies. 
C) They have a distinctive name, national headquarters, and professional staff. 
D) They seek to promote causes that benefit society as a whole. 
E) They exist within the private sector.

Question 2

Imagine that you are one of the founders of a new democracy, and are charged with designing an electoral system that is stable, efficient, and representative. What type of system would you choose? What factors influenced your choice?

Accepted Answer

As one of the founders of a new democrac

Question 3

Which theory says that the necessities involved in managing an organization inevitably become concentrated in the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then wield true power in the organization?

Accepted Answer

A) Political apathy 
B) Low-information rationality 
C) Elitist theory of democracy 
D) Iron law of oligarchy 
E) Political efficacy 
A) Political apathy 
B) Low-information rationality 
C) Elitist theory of democracy 
D) Iron law of oligarchy 
E) Political efficacy

Question 4

In a proportional representation system, the electorate is divided into multimember districts, with a formula awarding each district's seats in proportion to the vote the various parties receive in that district.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Explain the role of referenda in the functioning of a democracy. How important are referenda in the United States when compared to other democracies? Should they play a bigger role?

Accepted Answer

Referenda play a crucial role in the fun

Question 6

To win a plurality election, a candidate must have at least 60% of the vote.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following is a major criticism of the winner-take-all electoral system?

Accepted Answer

A) It emphasizes political parties at the expense of individual candidates. 
B) It tends to magnify the legislative power of major parties while greatly diminishing the chances of minor parties. 
C) It causes a pronounced tendency toward party decentralization. 
D) It makes forming a national consensus more difficult. 
E) It encourages the emergence of single-issue splinter parties. 
A) It emphasizes political parties at the expense of individual candidates. 
B) It tends to magnify the legislative power of major parties while greatly diminishing the chances of minor parties. 
C) It causes a pronounced tendency toward party decentralization. 
D) It makes forming a national consensus more difficult. 
E) It encourages the emergence of single-issue splinter parties.

Question 8

In politics, money talks.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What kind of vote takes place most often in America for deciding the winner of a single-member district?

Accepted Answer

A) Majority vote 
B) Simple majority vote 
C) Supermajority vote 
D) Objective vote 
E) Plurality vote 
A) Majority vote 
B) Simple majority vote 
C) Supermajority vote 
D) Objective vote 
E) Plurality vote

Question 10

The most accurate public opinion polls utilize

Accepted Answer

A) multiple choice questions. 
B) random sampling, 
C) open ended questions. 
D) stratified sampling. 
E) random digit dialing. 
A) multiple choice questions. 
B) random sampling, 
C) open ended questions. 
D) stratified sampling. 
E) random digit dialing.

Question 11

Polls not only measure public opinion; they also

Accepted Answer

A) allow public opinion to change. 
B) influence public opinion. 
C) make public opinion less arbitrary. 
D) create legal precedents. 
E) educate the respondents. 
A) allow public opinion to change. 
B) influence public opinion. 
C) make public opinion less arbitrary. 
D) create legal precedents. 
E) educate the respondents.

Question 12

Over half of 2,500 American citizens who took a 33-question basic civics exam failed.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What term is used to describe the system of voting where the seats of the legislature are assigned to parties based on the percentage of the popular vote that each party receives?

Accepted Answer

A) Plurality 
B) Proportionality 
C) Mechanized 
D) Subjective 
E) Repetitional 
A) Plurality 
B) Proportionality 
C) Mechanized 
D) Subjective 
E) Repetitional

Question 14

Straw polls use stratified sampling techniques to assure accuracy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

In Europe's parliamentary system, parties are generally more important than personalities, because winning a majority of seats in parliament is the key to controlling the government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What does Alexis de Tocqueville argue is detrimental to a sense of social and civic duty and thus diminishes the life of the community?

Accepted Answer

A) Political efficacy 
B) Popular referendum 
C) Individualism 
D) Coalition government 
E) Low-information rationality 
A) Political efficacy 
B) Popular referendum 
C) Individualism 
D) Coalition government 
E) Low-information rationality

Question 17

Which age group has been the most supportive of the Democratic Party in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 general elections?

Accepted Answer

A) Young adults aged 18-29 
B) Middle-aged adults, 30-39 
C) Older adults aged 40-49 
D) Seniors in their golden years, aged 50-64 
E) Retired seniors, aged 65 and older 
A) Young adults aged 18-29 
B) Middle-aged adults, 30-39 
C) Older adults aged 40-49 
D) Seniors in their golden years, aged 50-64 
E) Retired seniors, aged 65 and older

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the typically unexamined assumptions about democracy and participation?

Accepted Answer

A) Public opinion matters. 
B) The more citizen participation, the healthier the democracy. 
C) Citizens are usually apathetic. 
D) Voters know and understand the choices they make. 
E) None of the above 
A) Public opinion matters. 
B) The more citizen participation, the healthier the democracy. 
C) Citizens are usually apathetic. 
D) Voters know and understand the choices they make. 
E) None of the above

Question 19

Direct referenda are often used on issues regarding the European Union.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

How does the amount of information available to voters impact their process of decision-making? Is it better to have higher participation of voters with low levels of information, or lower participation of voters with high levels of information? Why?

Accepted Answer

The amount of information available to v

Unlike associational and non-associational interest groups, how are institutional interest groups different?

Imagine that you are one of the founders of a new democracy, and are charged with designing an electoral system that is stable, efficient, and representative. What type of system would you choose? What factors influenced your choice?

Which theory says that the necessities involved in managing an organization inevitably become concentrated in the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then wield true power in the organization?

In a proportional representation system, the electorate is divided into multimember districts, with a formula awarding each district's seats in proportion to the vote the various parties receive in that district.

Explain the role of referenda in the functioning of a democracy. How important are referenda in the United States when compared to other democracies? Should they play a bigger role?

To win a plurality election, a candidate must have at least 60% of the vote.

Which of the following is a major criticism of the winner-take-all electoral system?

In politics, money talks.

What kind of vote takes place most often in America for deciding the winner of a single-member district?

The most accurate public opinion polls utilize

Polls not only measure public opinion; they also

Over half of 2,500 American citizens who took a 33-question basic civics exam failed.

What term is used to describe the system of voting where the seats of the legislature are assigned to parties based on the percentage of the popular vote that each party receives?

Straw polls use stratified sampling techniques to assure accuracy.

In Europe's parliamentary system, parties are generally more important than personalities, because winning a majority of seats in parliament is the key to controlling the government.

What does Alexis de Tocqueville argue is detrimental to a sense of social and civic duty and thus diminishes the life of the community?

Which age group has been the most supportive of the Democratic Party in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 general elections?

Which of the following is NOT one of the typically unexamined assumptions about democracy and participation?

Direct referenda are often used on issues regarding the European Union.

How does the amount of information available to voters impact their process of decision-making? Is it better to have higher participation of voters with low levels of information, or lower participation of voters with high levels of information? Why?

Introduction: The Study of Politics

The Idea of the Public Good: Ideologies and Isms

Utopias: Model States

Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation

The Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality

The Totalitarian Model: A False Utopia

Parliamentary Democracy

States and Economies in Transition: Between Democracy and Yesterday

Development: Myths and Realities

Political Socialization: The Making of a Citizen

Political Leadership: The Many Faces of Power

Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practicies

Revolution: In the Name of Justice

War: Politics by Other Means

Terrorism: Weapon of the Weak

World Politics: The Struggle for Power

International Organizations: Globalization and the Quest for Order

Filters

Exam 11: Political Participation: The Limits of Democracy

Unlike associational and non-associational interest groups, how are institutional interest groups different?

Imagine that you are one of the founders of a new democracy, and are charged with designing an electoral system that is stable, efficient, and representative. What type of system would you choose? What factors influenced your choice?

Which theory says that the necessities involved in managing an organization inevitably become concentrated in the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then wield true power in the organization?

In a proportional representation system, the electorate is divided into multimember districts, with a formula awarding each district's seats in proportion to the vote the various parties receive in that district.

Explain the role of referenda in the functioning of a democracy. How important are referenda in the United States when compared to other democracies? Should they play a bigger role?

To win a plurality election, a candidate must have at least 60% of the vote.

Which of the following is a major criticism of the winner-take-all electoral system?

In politics, money talks.

What kind of vote takes place most often in America for deciding the winner of a single-member district?

The most accurate public opinion polls utilize

Polls not only measure public opinion; they also

Over half of 2,500 American citizens who took a 33-question basic civics exam failed.

What term is used to describe the system of voting where the seats of the legislature are assigned to parties based on the percentage of the popular vote that each party receives?

Straw polls use stratified sampling techniques to assure accuracy.

In Europe's parliamentary system, parties are generally more important than personalities, because winning a majority of seats in parliament is the key to controlling the government.

What does Alexis de Tocqueville argue is detrimental to a sense of social and civic duty and thus diminishes the life of the community?

Which age group has been the most supportive of the Democratic Party in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 general elections?

Which of the following is NOT one of the typically unexamined assumptions about democracy and participation?

Direct referenda are often used on issues regarding the European Union.

How does the amount of information available to voters impact their process of decision-making? Is it better to have higher participation of voters with low levels of information, or lower participation of voters with high levels of information? Why?

Introduction: The Study of Politics

The Idea of the Public Good: Ideologies and Isms

Utopias: Model States

Constitutional Democracy: Models of Representation

The Authoritarian Model: Myth and Reality

The Totalitarian Model: A False Utopia

Parliamentary Democracy

States and Economies in Transition: Between Democracy and Yesterday

Development: Myths and Realities

Political Socialization: The Making of a Citizen

Political Leadership: The Many Faces of Power

Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practicies

Revolution: In the Name of Justice

War: Politics by Other Means

Terrorism: Weapon of the Weak

World Politics: The Struggle for Power

International Organizations: Globalization and the Quest for Order

Filters