question

Which of the following is a characteristic of the responsible party model? a. It ensures a party candidate for each electoral district. b. It allows party candidates to enact whichever programs they deem acceptable once elected. c. It prevents voters from voting their members out of office. d. It presents a coherent set of programs to voters. e. It encourages dissent and criticism of party leaders from rank-and-file members.

answer

It presents a coherent set of programs to voters.

question

The responsible party model

answer

makes it easier for voters to hold parties accountable for their actions.

question

The party that usually gets the most votes is the party that

answer

best appeals to moderate voters.

question

Up until Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the major source of money for party fundraisers comes from

answer

olitical action committees.

question

Why would the two American parties feel the need to take more extreme issue positions?

answer

To satisfy the party activists and primary election voters

question

Which of the following statements is NOT true regarding party machines? a. Party machines were strongest in rural areas. b. Party machines guaranteed people's support through patronage. c. Party machines came under attack from reformers in the early 1900s. d. Party bosses had complete control over the nomination process. e. Party machines originated with the Jacksonian Democrats.

answer

Party machines were strongest in rural areas.

question

Realignments are significant because they

answer

usually result in a change in policy direction.

question

Party officials complain about the open primary because

answer

members of the other party can contaminate the nomination process.

question

To receive the maximum number of votes and have the largest impact on an election, a third party should probably have

answer

a well-known leader who is very popular with a large segment of the population.

question

Interest groups are formed with the common goal of

answer

altering public policy by engaging in any of the above

question

Political action committees, or PACs, are

answer

the fundraising arm for interest groups.

question

A common feature of all interest groups is that they

answer

are organized around shared interests among members.

question

Many interest groups face the _______ when recruiting members who can gain the benefits of their activities whether or not they join.

answer

free rider problem

question

Interest groups often provide selective incentives, which are

answer

benefits available only to group members.

question

Selective incentives are necessary for some interest groups because

answer

collective benefits cannot be kept from those who do not join the group.

question

The "revolving door" exists because

answer

some of the most effective lobbyists are former government officials.

question

Astroturf lobbying refers to

answer

organizing and lobbying efforts that manipulate or create the illusion of grass roots public sentiment

question

The _______ role of interest groups is reflected in MADD's attempts to increase public awareness of problems related to drunk driving and to direct legislative attention to the issue.

answer

agenda-building

question

Directly lobbying the Supreme Court is against the law. The one way an interest group can, however, influence the judiciary is to

answer

challenge the legality of laws or administrative regulations by filing suit or filing amicus briefs in courts.

question

Citizens' feelings of effectiveness in political affairs is called

answer

political efficacy.

question

Which of the following statements does NOT reflect a key change in attitude within the American electorate that has likely led to decreased voter turnout? a. The long-term decline in party identification has led to lower participation. b. Political efficacy has increased significantly in recent decades. c. People question whether the government is responsive to citizens' wishes. d. Declining political efficacy has led to lower participation. e. Scandals have led to negative views about government and a decrease in turnout at elections.

answer

Political efficacy has increased significantly in recent decades.

question

In the 2008 presidential elections, voter turnout reversed the trend by

answer

rising

question

Some of the overall decline in voter turnout is likely due to

answer

declining citizen involvement in community groups (the "all politics is local" factor).

question

A party's effort to inform potential voters and persuade them to vote for that party is known as

answer

voter mobilization.

question

_______ voting occurs when people base their voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of their votes.

answer

Prospective

question

_______ voting occurs when people use their judgment of the current political situation along with the past performance of the incumbents.

answer

Retrospective

question

A party caucus is a meeting of

answer

local party members who choose delegates for the national convention.

question

Front-loading is the process of

answer

scheduling presidential primaries earlier in the primary season.

question

The Constitution dictates that each state has

answer

one elector for each senator and representative.

question

Faithless electors are electors who

answer

vote their conscience rather than for the candidate they were pledged to support in the Electoral College.

question

All of the following statements concerning the Electoral College are true EXCEPT: a. The rules of the Electoral College give all the states equal importance in presidential elections. b. Critics argue that the Electoral College is undemocratic. c. Critics argue that a close election could be decided by a few faithless electors. d. It distorts candidates' campaign strategies. e. All the proposed alternatives have problems or at least serious criticisms.

answer

The rules of the Electoral College give all the states equal importance in presidential elections.

question

The founders created the Electoral College and specified that senators would be chosen by the state legislatures because

answer

they feared that the people would easily be mislead or would to fight for their own interests rather make choices based on the public good.

question

Because of the Electoral College, presidential candidates generally spend most of their time and resources in

answer

competitive states, especially large ones.

question

Who may collect government matching funds during the general election?

answer

Major-party candidates and third-party candidates whose party received at least 5 percent of the vote in the previous presidential election

question

advertising that registers more quickly and is remembered longer than information from positive advertisements. Is accepted as fact by the public in campaigns for lower office but is rejected in presidential elections.

answer

negative advertising

question

Infotainment refers to

answer

"news" shows dressed up with drama and entertainment to entice viewers to tune in. e. Internet sites that allow visitors to watch videos.

question

The advent of cable and satellite television providers has had all of the following effects EXCEPT: a. increasing dramatically the number of channels available to viewers. b. increasing the quality of news available to viewers. c. creating fierce competition for viewers. d. encouraging broadcasters to focus on narrow audiences. e. it has led to the blurring of the lines between news and entertainment.

answer

increasing the quality of news available to viewers.

question

What is a downside of all the information available on the internet?

answer

it is difficult to sort and evaluate the available information.

question

One of the problems in selecting the Internet as an alternative to the mainstream corporate media is that

answer

it takes time and effort to find out which sources are accurate and trustworthy.

question

The drive to attract customers to newspapers in the 1800s led publishers to print papers that were all of the following EXCEPT

answer

less dependent on advertising.

question

Yellow journalism refers to

answer

the effort to lure audiences by reporting on sensational topics.

question

The tendency of the media to make coverage and programming decisions based on what will attract a large audience and maximize profits is known as

answer

commercial bias.

question

The impact of the deregulation of broadcast journalism by the 1996 Telecommunications Act has been to

answer

increase media monopolies.

question

The corporate nature of the American media has caused

answer

advertisers to dictate the content of the news.

question

The most basic consequence of the concentrated corporate ownership of the news is

answer

commercial bias.

question

An investigative reporter who searches for and exposes misconduct in corporate activity or public officials is called a

answer

muckraker.

question

Which of the following statements is NOT true concerning pundits?

answer

They usually have high levels of expertise and professionalism.

question

The tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector jobs is known as

answer

the revolving door.

question

Because television is an entertainment medium, its coverage of political events focuses on

answer

image

question

Which of the following statements is NOT true concerning use of the media to gather information about the news? a. Party machines were strongest in rural areas. b. Party machines guaranteed people's support through patronage. c. Party machines came under attack from reformers in the early 1900s. d. Party bosses had complete control over the nomination process. e. Party machines originated with the Jacksonian Democrats.

answer

Americans have become well informed about their political world.

question

One significant impact of the rise of the political pundit is that

answer

people hear less from the politicians themselves and more from people commenting on what the politicians are doing.

question

"Dumbing down" of the news refers to the news media's action of

answer

broadcasting more human interest and other "light" news and less about major news events of the day.

question

The major consequence of the press's increased emphasis on conflict and image is

answer

increased cynicism by the public toward both the media and politics.

question

Voters make choices based on which party's programs most closely reflect their own ideas and hold the parties responsible for _______ by voting members out of office

answer

un-kept promises

question

The system of quasi-checks and balances in place by political parties begins to fail when voters _________ wanes.

answer

party identification

question

Senators who change parties during senate service:

answer

turncoats

question

__________ and confusion occurs when political party has conflicting issues in its platform.

answer

Voter disillusionment

question

In general, the electors for the electoral college are nominated by his/her state ______

answer

party committee

question

Electors for the electoral college might "campaign" for a spot and the decision is made during a vote held at the state's ________

answer

party convention

question

Most Republican _______ voters are very conservative, while most Democratic primary voters are very liberal, meaning that candidates must run to _______ to win the party's nomination.

answer

primary, extremes

question

Many moderate voters turn out in the ________ election, so candidates should position themselves at the _______ of the ideological scale to win the general election

answer

general, center

question

a change in the basic party attachments of the voters that results in a new structure of party conflict.

answer

Realignment

question

_________ began in 1960s and is evidenced by ticket-splitting and independent voting as party identification declined

answer

de-alignment

question

________ primaries (or pick-a-party) are those in which voters of any affiliation may vote for the slate of any party.

answer

Open

question

Missouri has what type of primary?

answer

Open

question

Primary voters may select only _________

answer

one party's ballot

question

Voters who do not wish to give a political party preference may request an________ , if one is available in that particular jurisdiction.

answer

issues only ballot

question

_______ primaries are those in which only the voters affiliated with a party may vote in its primary.

answer

Closed

question

What is the benefit of a closed primary?

answer

Political opponent cannot cross-over and vote in the other party's political primary for the candidate least likely to win the general election.

question

Caucuses are simply meetings, open to all registered voters of the party, at which __________

answer

delegates to the party's national convention are selected.

question

Third party candidates cannot get ________ until after the election, and only if they receive 5 percent of the National vote.

answer

federal campaign funds

question

Parties have been _________ disciplined in the U.S. than in other countries

answer

less

question

Less disciplined parties leads to elected officials voting

answer

with the opposing party or with their conscience.

question

Three things citizens can do to offset their frustration with political parties, according to your text book:

answer

realistic expectations, Get involved, Don't split your ticket

question

a group, either loosely or tightly organized, that is determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without being directly elected.

answer

interest group

question

a group of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.

answer

faction

question

the fundraising arm of an interest group

answer

Political Action Committee (PAC)

question

interest group activities aimed at persuading policymakers to support the group's positions

answer

lobbying

question

Popular leftist interest groups:

answer

Greenpeace USA , NARRAL - National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, The Sierra Club

question

Popular rightist interest groups

answer

National Rifle Association, National Right to Life Committee, Family Research Council, The Christian Coalition, The John Birch Society

question

_____ founded and led the first successful farm workers' union in U.S. history. When he passed away on 23 April 1993, he was president of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO

answer

Cesar Estrada Chavez

question

founded MADD in 1980 after her daughter, Cari, was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender

answer

Candy Lightner

question

A recruiting difficulty groups face because potential members can gain the benefits of the group's actions whether or not they join

answer

Free rider problem

question

a good or service that, by its very nature, cannot be denied to anyone who wants to consume it. E.g: Public safety, clean air, national defense

answer

Collective good

question

benefits available only to group members as inducements to get them to join

answer

Selective incentives

question

selective incentive in the form of a tangible reward (mug, t-shirt, name printed in newsletter)

answer

Material benefit

question

selective incentive related to the interaction and bonding among group members (friendship, sense of belonging and well being)

answer

Solidary benefit

question

selective incentive that derives from the opportunity to express values and beliefs and to be committed to a greater cause (warm fuzzy feeling; sense of righteousness)

answer

Expressive benefit

question

organize to influence government policy for the economic benefit of members

answer

Economic interest groups

question

organize to promote the civil and economic rights of underrepresented or disadvantaged groups

answer

Equal opportunity interest groups

question

organize to influence government to produce collective goods or services that benefit the general public

answer

public interest groups

question

organize to lobby the U.S. federal government to influence national policy

answer

Government interest groups

question

direct interaction with public officials for the purpose of influencing policy decisions

answer

Direct lobbying

question

attempts to influence government policymakers by encouraging the general public to put pressure on them

answer

indirect lobbying

question

With the Supreme Court, lobbying may be in terms of ___________ or __________ (friend of the court) briefs, which often are drafted by interest groups.

answer

public opinion, amicus curiae

question

tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sectors

answer

Revolving door

question

strategies for congressional lobbying

answer

Personal contacts, Campaign contributions, PACs,

question

lobbyists are required to register with the Clerk of the House of Representative and the Secretary of the Senate. Anyone failing to do so is punishable by a civil fine of up to $50,000. The clerk and secretary must refer any acts of non-compliance to the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.

answer

Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995

question

indirect lobbying efforts that spring from widespread public concern

answer

Grassroots lobbying

question

indirect lobbying efforts by interest groups that manipulate or create public sentiment.

answer

Astroturf lobbying

question

______ lobbying is becoming increasingly rare, but _______ lobbying is growing

answer

grassroots, astroturf

question

Originally, a Senator was elected by the ______, and was expected to represent the state government within the Federal government.

answer

state legislature

question

Provided for direct election of senators

answer

17th amendment

question

functions of elections

answer

Select leaders, Direct policy , Citizen development / involvement, Inform the public, Contain conflict, Legitimacy and system stability,

question

voter turnout for the _________ election is higher than turnout for the _________ election.

answer

presidential, midterm

question

Legal obstacles to voting

answer

Registration, Tuesday voting, frequency of elections, felonies

question

Attitude changes about voting

answer

Lower efficacy (the sense of belief that one's actions have an effect on the environment), decreased party identification

question

Active generations replaced by less politically engaged ones, in turn may be replaced by a more politically active generation

answer

generational changes

question

Less participation in social groups and communities (recall: "all politics is local")

answer

decrease in social connectedness

question

Calculates that vote will not make a difference to outcome

answer

rational nonvoter

question

the biggest factor accounting for how people vote

answer

party identification

question

basing voting decisions on well-informed opinions and consideration of the future consequences of a given vote

answer

Prospective voting

question

basing voting decisions on reactions to past performance; approving the status quo or signaling a desire for change

answer

Retrospective voting

question

___________ voting is idealized model of policy voting, but __________ voting is more realistic

answer

prospective, retrospective

question

_________ are run by state and local governments, while ________ are private events run by the political parties.

answer

Primary elections, caucuses

question

local gathering of party members to choose convention delegates

answer

Party caucus

question

an election by which voters choose convention delegates committed to voting for a certain candidate

answer

Presidential primary

question

the process of scheduling presidential primaries early in the primary season

answer

Front-loading

question

the leading candidate and expected winner of a nomination or election

answer

Front-runner

question

the widely held public perspective that a candidate has gained electoral strength

answer

Momentum

question

Campaigning for President often begins a _____ or more before the New Hampshire Primary, and almost ______ year (s) before the presidential election.

answer

year, two

question

an issue on which most voters and candidates share the same position

answer

Valence issue

question

an issue on which the parties differ in their perspectives and proposed solutions

answer

Position issue

question

a controversial issue that one party uses to split the voters in the other party

answer

Wedge issue

question

the tendency of one party to be seen as more competent in a specific policy area

answer

Issue ownership

question

campaign advertising that emphasizes the negative characteristics of opponents rather than one's own strengths

answer

Negative advertising

question

advertisements paid for by soft money, and thus not regulated, that promote certain issue positions but do not endorse specific candidates

answer

Issue advocacy ads

question

cheap papers led to more superficial content designed to appeal to mass audiences (new sensationalism, muck raking, and yellow journalism)

answer

The penny press (1833)

question

a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines and sensationalized stories to sell more newspapers.

answer

Yellow journalism

question

the tendency to make coverage and programming decisions based on what will attract a large audience and maximize profits

answer

commercial bias

question

The content of the news reflects the political opinions of the media owner.

answer

Conflicts of interest

question

the effort to make the delivery of information more attractive by dressing it up as entertainment

answer

Infotainment

question

if a station allows a candidate for office to buy or use airtime, it must allow all candidates to do so

answer

The equal time rule

question

requires that stations give free airtime to issues that concern public and to opposing sides when controversial issues are covered

answer

The fairness doctrine

question

individuals whose reputations are damaged on air have a right to respond

answer

The right of rebuttal

question

abolished most limitations on station ownership, thus increasing possibilities for media monopoly

answer

The Telecommunications Act of 1996

question

those journalists who decide what news gets covered and how

answer

Gatekeepers

question

those journalists who confine their role to getting the facts of the story straight and moving the story out to the public quickly

answer

Disseminators

question

investigate government's claims, analyze and interpret complex problems, discuss public policies

answer

Investigators

question

develop cultural and intellectual interests of the public, set the political agenda, let people express their views

answer

Public mobilizers

question

a observer and commentator on politics; may or may not have expertise in government or public policy

answer

Pundit

question

Problem with increase in number and visibility of pundits?

answer

You have someone telling you how to interpret a speech or public problem (someone telling you what to think), rather than you thinking for yourself

question

influencing what issues are on the public agenda through the decision of what stories to cover

answer

Agenda setting

question

influencing the public's perception of certain people, events, and issues by the emphasis given to particular characteristics of them

answer

Priming

question

the process through which the media emphasize particular aspects of a news story, thereby influencing the public's perception of the story

answer

Framing

question

the tendency for viewers to agree with trusted newscasters and expert sources

answer

Persuasion by professional communicators

question

the media's focus on the competitive aspects of politics rather than on actual policy proposals and political decisions

answer

Horse-race journalism

question

the tendency of the media to focus on what people look like, what they sound like, and how an event is staged

answer

Emphasis on image

question

the tendency of reporters to concentrate on developing scandals to the exclusion of other, possibly more relevant, news events

answer

Scandal watching

question

the tendency of reporters to be cynical about politics and to focus on the negative aspects of politics

answer

Growing negativism, increased cynicism

question

One of the main problems with reporting?

answer

reporters trained in writing / media, not political science, public administration, economics, history

question

a movement among journalists to be responsive to citizen input in determining what news stories to cover

answer

Civic journalism

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