Chapter 8 Test

Question 1

What does Madison say concerning the causes of political division ?

Answer 1

“Sown in the nature of man”

Question 2

What are the major purposes of a political party ?

Answer 2

To nominate

Question 3

How do political parties play an important role in governing the nation ?

Answer 3

1) Party ties provide a basis for legislative cooperation as well as obstruction
2) the major party in the House and Senate controls top committee posts and sets legislative agenda
3) the president may use his party ties to push legislation through Congress, uphold vetoes, and determine executive and judicial appointments

Question 4

Explain how political parties are a moderating influence.

Answer 4

The major parties tend to lesson extremism and bring diverse interest together in a consensus over broad principles

Question 5

How does the electoral system encourage a two part system ?

Answer 5

Through single member districts and election law

Question 6

What are the characteristics of the two party system ?

Answer 6

diverse support, broad appeal, similarities, different ideologies, party member by personal identification, stability, flexibility

Question 7

Explain why a two party system provides more stability than a multiparty system.

Answer 7

In multi party system many factions divide the electorate making a difficult for one party to win majority. Coalitions between these parties don’t always hold together

Question 8

What were the four significant political results of Andrew Jackson election to the presidency in 1832 ?

Answer 8

1) organized competition broadened voter participation
2) the nomination process was expanded through the use of the convention
3) the spoils system was introduced
4) political campaigning came into being

Question 9

What was the single most influential factor in building political party organization after 1828, and why was it so influential ?

Answer 9

The spoils system gave man greater incentive to get involved in the party and encouraged voter turnout for his candidate

Question 10

When did the political campaigning begin?

Answer 10

Andrew Jackson’s campaign for president in 1828

Question 11

What re the differences between the nominating and presidential primaries ?

Answer 11

Nominating primaries are state-run elections to select the party nominees for most local, state, and national offices.
Presidential primaries- voters elect the state party’s delegates that will go to the party’s national convention to select the party’s candidate.

Question 12

How have primaries weakened political parties ?

Answer 12

1) By shifting the power focus form the party organization to the campaign organization
2) making the party servant and not the master of candidates and incumbents

Question 13

List the four types of third parties ?

Answer 13

1) issue
2) ideological
3) depression
4) splinter

Question 14

Which amendments came into being because of specific third party issues ?

Answer 14

Amendment 16 & 17

Question 15

What are the differences between major and third political parties ?

Answer 15

1) major parties are organized to gain power by wining elections
2) minor (third) parties are smaller and are organized around a particular issue

Question 16

What’s type of third party is formed over a personality conflict or policy conflict within a major party ?

Answer 16

Splinter party

Question 17

List three ways third parties have influenced the American political system ?

Answer 17

1) began the use of a national convention to elect a presidential candidate
2) it can play an important role in election results
3) it draws attention to specific issues that major parties ignore or do not strongly support

Question 18

List three factors contributing to the fragmented nature of political parties ?

Answer 18

1) membership strength
2) federalism
3) nominating process

Question 19

What are the two major purposes of a party’s national convention ?

Answer 19

1) To nominate the party’s candidates for president and vice president
2) to approve the party platform

Question 20

What groups manages national party activities during the time between national conventions ?

Answer 20

National committee

Question 21

Which person acts as the nominal party leader ?

Answer 21

National chairman

Question 22

What is the smallest unit of election districts and party administrations ?

Answer 22

Precincts

Question 23

Widespread protests at what event sparked much campaign reform ?

Answer 23

The 1968 democratic national convention in Chicago

Question 24

What two important changes resulted from these reforms ?

Answer 24

1) An increase in the number of primaries

2) increased number of delegates drawn from the primaries

Question 25

What is ticket splitting ?

Answer 25

Voting for candidates of both parties for different offices