Question 1

What are the key functions of political parties that differentiate them from other political organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)   fund-raising, mobilizing voters, and creating media ads
B)   nominating candidates, mobilizing voters, and promoting ideas about public policies
C)   promoting a defining issue, disseminating information, and mobilizing voters
D)   nominating candidates, winning political power, and promoting ideas about public policies
E)   winning political power, promoting a defining issue, and fund-raisingF) C) and E)
G) B) and E)

Question 2

How are national and state party organizations interrelated?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are part of a hierarchical structure, with the national convention at the top, the national organizations in the middle, and the state organizations at the bottom.
B)   They are independent of each other except for the fact that they are all expected to follow the party rules set at the national convention every four years.
C)   National organizations finance state organizations, so while they are not officially in charge of them, they often control them through funding.
D)   National organizations are in charge of overseeing state organizations and enforcing party rules at all levels of the party.
E)   They are independent except for ties in terms of ideologies, campaign money, and party rules.F) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 3

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.F) A) and C)
G) B) and C)

Question 4

One reason for the tensions and bitter disputes in government today is the decline in the number of moderates within the political parties.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Increasing partisanship in government at all levels since the 1980s has resulted in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   voters becoming active in the business of their party
B)   an increase in the number of competitive districts in House races
C)   undermining of civil liberties and a turn toward socialism
D)   an increase in the use of conference committees to iron out differences
E)   bitter debates, incivility, and difficulty in reaching agreementsF) B) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 6

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 7

To be a member of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or to be an independent is, in reality, a matter of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   attending meetings
B)   identifying with a party's sentiments
C)   doing volunteer work
D)   organizational membership
E)   supporting a candidateF) A) and E)
G) None of the above

Question 8

In what year was the United States on the edge of default due to the election of a large number of conservative party members who had promised to slash federal spending, regardless of consequences, resulting in bitter acrimony between the president and congressional leaders?

Accepted Answer

A)   2010
B)   2001
C)   2011
D)   1999
E)   2005F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 9

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.F) C) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 10

What is the national party convention, and how much control does it exert over nominees and state and local party organizations? What are national party committees, and what do they do? In what ways have they become increasingly important? What are congressional campaign committees, and what do they do? How are they related to the national party convention and the national party committees? What do the connections between these national party bodies say about the organizational structure of the parties?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Describe the ...

Question 11

What caused a large increase in the amount of Democratic-Republican cooperation in late 2001 and early 2002?

Accepted Answer

A)   a shared threat and approval from the American public
B)   a sense of patriotism and American public approval
C)   a shared threat and a new foreign policy
D)   a shared threat and a sense of patriotism
E)   a new foreign policy on which everyone could agreeF) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 12

What major concern about minor parties was highlighted by the 2000 presidential election between Gore and Bush?

Accepted Answer

A)   ineffective planning and organization
B)   lack of media attention
C)   poor access to ballots
D)   poor choices of candidates
E)   possibility of altering of electionsF) A) and B)
G) B) and E)

Question 13

The __________ is the site for the writing of the party platform every four years.

Accepted Answer

national p...

Question 14

A self-identified independent who voted for Barack Obama in the last two elections and who consistently votes for Democratic candidates in local and state elections can safely be described as a __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A self-identified independent who voted for Barack...

Question 15

Define political realignment and describe it using one particular period to illustrate your response.

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Define realig...

Question 16

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 17

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 18

Electoral realignments occur exclusively as a result of a critical election.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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.F) None of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 20

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a very small role in economic regulation and social justice?

Accepted Answer

A)   moderates
B)   independents
C)   conservatives
D)   leaners
E)   liberalsF) None of the above
G) C) and D)

Exam 9: Political Parties

The __________ is the site for the writing of the party platform every four years.

Correct Answer
verified
national p...
View Answer

To be a member of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or to be an independent is, in reality, a matter of __________.

Correct Answer
verified

In what year was the United States on the edge of default due to the election of a large number of conservative party members who had promised to slash federal spending, regardless of consequences, resulting in bitter acrimony between the president and congressional leaders?

Correct Answer
verified

What caused a large increase in the amount of Democratic-Republican cooperation in late 2001 and early 2002?

Correct Answer
verified

One reason for the tensions and bitter disputes in government today is the decline in the number of moderates within the political parties.

Correct Answer
verified

Electoral realignments occur exclusively as a result of a critical election.

Correct Answer
verified

How are minor political parties usually significant?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a very small role in economic regulation and social justice?

Correct Answer
verified

Define political realignment and describe it using one particular period to illustrate your response.

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Define realig...
View Answer

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.

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Indicate that...
View Answer

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

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Describe how ...
View Answer

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

Correct Answer
verified

What are the key functions of political parties that differentiate them from other political organizations?

Correct Answer
verified

Increasing partisanship in government at all levels since the 1980s has resulted in which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

How are national and state party organizations interrelated?

Correct Answer
verified

What major concern about minor parties was highlighted by the 2000 presidential election between Gore and Bush?

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Define the pl...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Describe the ...
View Answer

A self-identified independent who voted for Barack Obama in the last two elections and who consistently votes for Democratic candidates in local and state elections can safely be described as a __________.

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: Political Parties

The __________ is the site for the writing of the party platform every four years.

Correct Answerverifiednational p...View AnswerShow Answer

To be a member of the Republican Party or the Democratic Party or to be an independent is, in reality, a matter of __________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what year was the United States on the edge of default due to the election of a large number of conservative party members who had promised to slash federal spending, regardless of consequences, resulting in bitter acrimony between the president and congressional leaders?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What caused a large increase in the amount of Democratic-Republican cooperation in late 2001 and early 2002?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One reason for the tensions and bitter disputes in government today is the decline in the number of moderates within the political parties.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Electoral realignments occur exclusively as a result of a critical election.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are minor political parties usually significant?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following combine both social and economic dimensions and hold that the federal government should play a very small role in economic regulation and social justice?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Define political realignment and describe it using one particular period to illustrate your response.

Correct AnswerverifiedAn ideal response will:1. Define realig...View AnswerShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedAn ideal response will:1. Indicate that...View AnswerShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedAn ideal response will:1. Describe how ...View AnswerShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the key functions of political parties that differentiate them from other political organizations?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Increasing partisanship in government at all levels since the 1980s has resulted in which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are national and state party organizations interrelated?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What major concern about minor parties was highlighted by the 2000 presidential election between Gore and Bush?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedAn ideal response will:1. Define the pl...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedAn ideal response will:1. Describe the ...View AnswerShow Answer

A self-identified independent who voted for Barack Obama in the last two elections and who consistently votes for Democratic candidates in local and state elections can safely be described as a __________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified
national p...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Define realig...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Indicate that...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Describe how ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Define the pl...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
An ideal response will:
1. Describe the ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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