Federal Government Exam 2 Test Questions – Flashcards
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American political parties are responsible-centered.
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True
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Interest groups are formed
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all of the above
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The "out of power" party holds its national convention first.
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True
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The political parties choose delegates to their national conventions in exactly the same manner.
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false
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Under the Electoral College system of electing the president,
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there are really 50 separate state elections to choose electors who will choose the president.
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What is the single greatest influence in establishing a person's first party identification?
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Parents
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What are some of the major barriers to minor-party political success?
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constitutional restrictions, voter perceptions, and the secret ballot
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The most visible instrument that parties use to formulate, convey, and promote public policy is __________________.
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its platform
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A __________ is a collection of policy-oriented researchers and academics who are sources of policy ideas.
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Think tank
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Modern national party conventions serve what end?
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They mobilize support for the nominee who has essentially already been selected.
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What has become the most powerful predictor of how members of Congress vote?
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party affiliation
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Members of which of the following groups are most likely to prefer the Democratic Party?
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Protestants
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Which of the following was a prominent feature of the era called the "Golden Age" of political parties?
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political machines
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What is the party in the electorate?
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citizens who identify with a political party
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Which of the following is a prominent feature of the modern era of political parties?
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political machines
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A __________ is when a party's base of supporters undergoes a rapid, fundamental, and enduring alteration.
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party realignment
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The decrease in the number of __________ has been identified as one cause of increasing polarization.
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southern conservative Republicans
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Proponents of a government that includes a greater role for minor parties might suggest that the United States consider Europe's system of __________.
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proportional representation
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Which of the following voter profiles most strongly suggests that an individual will identify with the Republican Party?
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Protestant, male, annual income over $75,000
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The winners of elections often believe that they have a(n) __________, which is a command, indicated by an electorate's votes, for the newly elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda.
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mandate
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A(n) __________ is the process by which citizens propose legislation or constitutional amendments through the petition process followed by a popular vote.
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initiative
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A majority of the __________ selects the president of the United States.
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Electoral College
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When a citizen votes for candidates from different parties in the same election, he or she is __________.
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ticket-splitting
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Which of the following reasons do voters most often give for not voting?
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too busy
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Roughly what percentage of Americans rarely or never vote?
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35 percent
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According to political scientists, which of the following has historically been the most successful mobilizer of Americans to vote?
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political parties
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How many electoral votes are needed to be elected president?
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270
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Democrats no longer use the winner-take-all primary because __________.
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it was generally less representative
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A registered Republican can crossover vote for a Democratic presidential candidate in a(n) __________ primary.
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open
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What is said of a successful presidential candidate who helps members of Congress get elected as well?
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The president has long coattails.
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Which of the following do some consider to be a problem with the Electoral College?
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The winner of a popular vote can still fail to be elected.
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Which is a potential problem with online voting?
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Internet access for lower-income Americans
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If you were a campaign manager trying to target the largest population of likely voters, at which place would you suggest your candidate campaign?
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at the local senior citizens association
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If you are competing for your party's nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives, you must first participate in a(n) __________ election.
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primary election
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Which of the following is true about young citizens?
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Young citizens are less likely to vote.
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How do elections aid democracy?
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They confer legitimacy on government.
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Why are some people concerned about electronic voting?
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Electronic voting could increase election fraud
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Most candidates running in a general election have an incentive to move toward the __________.
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ideological center
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The person in the campaign who is closest to the candidate and who makes the essential day-today decisions is the __________.
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campaign manager
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The __________ is the bureaucratic agency in charge of monitoring federal campaign activity.
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Federal election commission
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What Supreme Court decision determined that no limits could be placed on the amount of his or her own money a candidate spends in an election?
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Buckley v. Valeo
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The brief, clever quotes that candidates hope will be replayed after media events are known as __________.
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sound bites
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One of the primary dangers for the nomination campaign is that its candidate __________.
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can become too ideologically extreme
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Nomination campaigns __________.
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involve candidates of the same political party
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One of the most basic methods of canvassing is __________.
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going door to door to solicit votes
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Nonprofit, tax-exempt groups that can spent no more than half of their money on campaign politics and are not required to disclose the names of contributors are called __________.
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501(groups
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Which of the following is a strategy that campaigns frequently use when attempting to control media coverage?
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staging media events
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Which of the following is characteristic of negative ads?
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They may not even mention the sponsor of the ads except as required.
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Why is a candidate's moving to the left or the right during the nomination phase both an advantage and a disadvantage?
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While moving to one end of the spectrum might motivate the party base during the nomination, it might actually alienate more moderate voters of the general election.
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A form of journalism that was popular in the late nineteenth century and featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized, oversimplified news coverage was called __________.
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yellow journalism
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A __________ is a live engagement between a press secretary and the press in which the range of questions is limited.
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press briefing
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What is the term for change in public opinion and voting preferences caused by media coverage?
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media effects
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The president addresses the nation directly during a __________.
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press conference
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Over the last thirty years, media ownership has __________.
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become more consolidated
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Television and radio are regulated by the federal government because __________.
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the airwaves are public property
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The press has the greatest impact on public opinion regarding __________.
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events in foreign countries
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Which of the following gets the most media coverage?
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the president
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The U.S. media have a great deal of journalistic freedoms guaranteed by law, but their corporate ownership subjects them to pressures from __________.
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the market
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What is a potential downside of narrowcasting?
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It allows people to ignore news contradicting their preexisting points of view.
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The type of information presented by a privately owned, for-profit press may be suspect because of the importance of what?
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the bottom line
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The media have an increased influence on those who lack strong political beliefs.
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true
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Americans' opinion of the news media has become increasingly unfavorable in recent years
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true
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Media coverage has a stronger effect on independents than on partisans
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true
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When a case that an interest group is interested in comes before the Supreme Court, the group can __________.
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file an amicus curiae brief to present the group's analysis of the case
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Grassroots lobbying includes __________.
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using campaign contributions to influence elections
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Which of the following raise money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to political candidates?
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political action committees
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Which of the following would be considered lobbying?
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communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy position
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The __________ problem occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group's efforts.
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free rider
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What is a public interest group?
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a group that expresses its political views publicly
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Which of the following is the main type of organization that lobbies on behalf of workers?
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labor union
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What is a political action committee?
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an organization affiliated with an interest group that solicits campaign contributions and distributes them to political candidates
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Which of the following is an example of a trade association?
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the National Association of Manufacturers
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How do lobbyists typically seek to influence members of Congress who already tend to support the interest group?
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by providing information on policy issues
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How do interest groups lobby the courts?
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by filing a lawsuit or direct sponsorship of those willing to file a lawsuit
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Who do political action committees tend to give money to?
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members of Congress who serve on committees or subcommittees that routinely consider legislation important to that group
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Which of the following is a way that interest groups seek to influence elections?
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recruiting and training candidates
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How might pluralism serve to enhance democracy?
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by ensuring that all groups have an opportunity to influence the outcome
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The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 banned gifts and honoraria to members of Congress and their staffs.
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true
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An interest group is an organization that seeks to influence public policy.
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false
