Question 1

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

Accepted Answer

A)   party code
B)   party literature
C)   party mandates
D)   party platform
E)   party preferencesF) B) and C)
G) C) and D)

Question 2

Which demographic group currently identifies most closely with the Democratic Party?

Accepted Answer

A)   African Americans
B)   Catholics
C)   Hispanics
D)   Protestants
E)   whitesF) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 3

Which of these is most likely to lead to gridlock?

Accepted Answer

A)   Democratic dominance in Congress
B)   divided government
C)   Republican dominance in Congress
D)   dealignment
E)   unified governmentF) C) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 4

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gridlock is least likely to occur when...

Question 5

The year 1968 in the United States brought the beginning of a new political era and __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   dealignment
B)   evenly matched parties
C)   "good feelings"
D)   realignment
E)   the Reagan DemocratsF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 6

How are most party candidates nominated today?

Accepted Answer

A)   in district, state, and national conventions
B)   through manipulations by party officials
C)   in primaries or grassroots caucuses
D)   in grassroots caucuses and national conventions
E)   in national primaries and conventionsF) A) and D)
G) A) and C)

Question 7

Which president forged the New Deal coalition?

Accepted Answer

A)   Lyndon Johnson
B)   William McKinley
C)   Teddy Roosevelt
D)   Franklin Roosevelt
E)   Harry TrumanF) A) and E)
G) C) and D)

Question 8

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.F) B) and D)
G) B) and C)

Question 9

Polls concerning party identification might lead a political scientist trying to understand voter behavior to believe that the increase in the percentage of people claiming to be independent is because of what?

Accepted Answer

A)   the rise in the number of minor parties offering alternatives
B)   the decline of the parties because they have become less well-organized
C)   the decline in the economy, since people become less political during such times
D)   the incivility and ineffectiveness in government because of intense partisanship
E)   the ineffectiveness of the parties in campaigning because of lack of fundsF) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 10

Which of the following describes realignment?

Accepted Answer

A)   awarding legislative seats to political parties according to percentages of the popular vote
B)   the process by which one party supplants another as the dominant party in a two-party system
C)   a gradual reduction in the dominance of one political party without another supplanting it
D)   the process by which parties gain approximately equal representation in a multiparty system
E)   the unification of various factions in a political party to represent a united front during a campaignF) A) and B)
G) A) and E)

Question 11

How do voter attitudes serve as a barrier to minor parties in government?

Accepted Answer

A)   Americans increasingly identify as Republican or Democrat.
B)   Americans overwhelmingly favor a two-party system.
C)   Americans often believe a minor-party vote is a wasted vote.
D)   Americans fear the federal penalty for breaking Duverger's law.
E)   Americans largely fail to realize the barrier is merely psychological.F) A) and C)
G) All of the above

Question 12

What is party identification, and why is it important? How do political parties make use of it?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that ...

Question 13

What binds national and state parties?

Accepted Answer

A)   Article I of the U.S. Constitution
B)   federal statutes and campaign money
C)   ideology, sentiment, and campaign money
D)   shared policies and sentiments
E)   fundamental beliefs and federal statutesF) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 14

Though a large majority of Americans identify with one of the two major parties, party polarization is increasing, primarily because partisans vote more than independents and participate more in campaigns.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

The years 1860-1928 saw the ascendency of which party?

Accepted Answer

A)   Democratic-Republicans
B)   Democrats
C)   Federalists
D)   Republicans
E)   WhigsF) None of the above
G) B) and E)

Question 16

How has the nomination process moved over time from being party-centered to being candidate-centered?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Identify that...

Question 17

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

Accepted Answer

An ideal response will:
1. Explain that ...

Question 18

People do not choose a party because they identify with its views and approve of its candidates for elected office; rather, party identification shapes people's views about issues and their selection of candidates for elected office.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Most Western democracies have a two-party political system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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 ...

Exam 9: Political Parties

What binds national and state parties?

Correct Answer
verified

Most Western democracies have a two-party political system.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of these is most likely to lead to gridlock?

Correct Answer
verified

The year 1968 in the United States brought the beginning of a new political era and __________.

Correct Answer
verified

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Correct Answer
verified

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

Polls concerning party identification might lead a political scientist trying to understand voter behavior to believe that the increase in the percentage of people claiming to be independent is because of what?

Correct Answer
verified

What is party identification, and why is it important? How do political parties make use of it?

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

Which president forged the New Deal coalition?

Correct Answer
verified

Though a large majority of Americans identify with one of the two major parties, party polarization is increasing, primarily because partisans vote more than independents and participate more in campaigns.

Correct Answer
verified

People do not choose a party because they identify with its views and approve of its candidates for elected office; rather, party identification shapes people's views about issues and their selection of candidates for elected office.

Correct Answer
verified

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

Correct Answer
verified

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

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

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

Correct Answer
verified

How has the nomination process moved over time from being party-centered to being candidate-centered?

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

Which of the following describes realignment?

Correct Answer
verified

How are most party candidates nominated today?

Correct Answer
verified

How do voter attitudes serve as a barrier to minor parties in government?

Correct Answer
verified

Which demographic group currently identifies most closely with the Democratic Party?

Correct Answer
verified

The years 1860-1928 saw the ascendency of which party?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: Political Parties

What binds national and state parties?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Most Western democracies have a two-party political system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of these is most likely to lead to gridlock?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The year 1968 in the United States brought the beginning of a new political era and __________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Gridlock is least likely to occur when the government is __________, since then political party loyalty helps to overcome the constitutionally designed conflict between the different branches of government.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Polls concerning party identification might lead a political scientist trying to understand voter behavior to believe that the increase in the percentage of people claiming to be independent is because of what?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is party identification, and why is it important? How do political parties make use of it?

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

Which president forged the New Deal coalition?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Though a large majority of Americans identify with one of the two major parties, party polarization is increasing, primarily because partisans vote more than independents and participate more in campaigns.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

People do not choose a party because they identify with its views and approve of its candidates for elected office; rather, party identification shapes people's views about issues and their selection of candidates for elected office.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The presidential nominee need not adhere to either the letter or the spirit of the __________, although most nominees stay fairly close.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What are the demographics of the two major parties? How have their geographic centers of strength shifted in the last half century?

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

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How has the nomination process moved over time from being party-centered to being candidate-centered?

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

Which of the following describes realignment?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How are most party candidates nominated today?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How do voter attitudes serve as a barrier to minor parties in government?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which demographic group currently identifies most closely with the Democratic Party?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The years 1860-1928 saw the ascendency of which party?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified