Pols Exam #3 (material questions)

Question 1

In a ____________ voters select the candidate they wish to represent the party in the general election.

retention meeting

primary election

realignment

spoils system

Answer 1

primary election

Question 2

To have party government in the U.S., parties must be firmly held together by strong ideologies and must try to govern based on these strongly held beliefs.

True
False

Answer 2

True

Question 3

If we had an electoral system based on proportional representation (PR) like what most other democratic nations use, we would probably have a multi-party system and not a two party system.

True
False

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Jefferson and Madison were so concerned over Alexander Hamilton’s plan to build the nation’s manufacturing base they paid a private army to try to overthrow the government.

True
False

Answer 4

False

Question 5

Which parties were part of the first party system in the United States?

Republicans and Whigs

Democrats and Republicans

Federalists and Whigs

Democratic-Republicans and Federalists

Answer 5

Democratic-Republicans and Federalists

Question 6

The argument that we are now in a 6th party system is based on

the shift in party control in the south brought about by the reforms connected with the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

the rise of new third parties that have consistently won seats in the U.S. Congress.

the fact that unified government has been the norm since WWII.

All of the choices are correct.

Answer 6

the shift in party control in the south brought about by the reforms connected with the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Question 7

Parties were created by the Constitution and are found in Article IV.

True
False

Answer 7

False

Question 8

The phrase “like waiting for Godot” is a reference to something that happens frequently and was used to explain why realignments are so common in the U.S.

True
False

Answer 8

False

Question 9

The party in government is the members of a party who hold elected or appointed positions in our government.

True
False

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Which party era or system was dominated by the Republican Party?

2nd.

None of the choices are correct.

3d.

1st.

Answer 10

3rd

Question 11

the “Jeffersonian solution” was to _______ as a way of fighting ______.

write the Bill of Rights; the Anti-Federalists

only serve two terms as president; too much power in the executive branch

have a government with separate branches; factions

create a political party; gridlock in government

Answer 11

create a political party; gridlock in government

Question 12

The Democrats switched to an ideology based on populism in 1896, but failed to win the presidency. This is an example of a converting election.

True
False

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What effect do single-member districts have on third parties in the United States?

They hurt their chances of winning seats.

They increase their chances of gaining seats.

They hurt liberal third parties, but help conservative third parties.

They have no particular effect.

Answer 13

They hurt their chances of winning seats.

Question 14

U.S. political parties __________.

All of the choices are correct.

exist to help contest elections and govern

are extra-constitutional

are political institutions

Answer 14

All of the choices are correct

Question 15

Which of the following is true as it relates to how we defined a party system in class?

Nations like Italy and France have true party systems because two or more parties are in real competition with one another.

Because it is so powerful, the Communist Party in Cuba fits with our definition of a party system.

North Korea has a true party system because they hold elections.

Britain does not have a true party system because they do not allow the voting public to vote for the nation’s Prime Minister.

Answer 15

Nations like Italy and France have true party systems because two or more parties are in real competition with one another.

Question 16

According to the assigned reading of Politico’s Playbook, the first witness that will be called by the prosecution in Donald Trump’s hush money case will be former porn star Stormy Daniels.

True
False

Answer 16

False

Question 17

According to the required reading in Politico, the military response that Israel launched against Iran was smaller than expected.

True
False

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Most Independents

strongly oppose both major parties.

Correct Answer
actually have an attachment to one of the major parties.

are conservative.

are liberal.

Answer 18

actually have an attachment to one of the major parties.

Question 19

Which important political event led to the creation of the New Deal Coalition?

the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor

World War I

the Great Depression

the Civil Rights Act

Answer 19

the Great Depression

Question 20

It is ironic that James Madison helped to create the first political party in the U.S. since he was so against factions during the writing of the Constitution.

True
False

Answer 20

True

Question 21

Measures of turnout based on _______ produce the largest turnout percentages.

a)
small sample sizes

b)

the voting eligible population (over 18 and not limited from voting by state law)

c)

the voting age population

d)

newspaper polls

Answer 21

the voting eligible population (over 18 and not limited from voting by state law)

Question 22

People like James Madison and Samuel Huntington are ________ because they see too much participation as a problem for democracy.

a)

popular democrats

b)

overload theorists

c)

abolitionists

d)

socialists

Answer 22

overload theorists

Question 23

According to the required reading of Politico, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, David Pecker, gave testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money case that appeared to be damaging to Trump.

True
False

Answer 23

True

Question 24

When suffrage has been expanded, as with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, turnout has always increased in the next election.

True
False

Answer 24

False

Question 25

A straight ticket is a ballot on which a voter selects

a)

candidates from only one political party.

b)

only incumbent candidates.

c)

candidates from more than one political party.

d)

only non-incumbent candidates.

Answer 25

candidates from only one political party.

Question 26

“GOTV” and “ground game” refer to a candidate’s attempts to win endorsements.

True
False

Answer 26

False

Question 27

The potential costs of voting were outlined in the following equation: V=C-P*B. What is represented in the parts of the equation?

a)

The Vote is equal to the Current party in power, minus the President’s party, times the Business community’s wishes.

b)

The Value of success in an election is equal to Cash raised, minus the cost of Publicity, times the Base salary for the elected office.

c)

Voting is determined by the Cost of voting, minus the Probability of influencing the outcome of the election, times the Benefit received from the vote.

d)

The Value of the election equals the Congress, minus the President, times the Bureaucracy.

Answer 27

Voting is determined by the Cost of voting, minus the Probability of influencing the outcome of the election, times the Benefit received from the vote.

Question 28

2022 was a __________ election year and 2024 is a ________ election year.

a)

midterm; presidential

b)

presidential; midterm

c)

parliamentary; run-off

d)

run-off; midterm

Answer 28

midterm; presidential

Question 29

The highest turnout we have ever had in a presidential election took place in 2020.

True
False

Answer 29

False

Question 30

The number of electors each state has for the Electoral College is based on voter turnout in the previous election.

True
False

Answer 30

False

Question 31

States hold primaries and caucuses to select

a)

leaders of their congressional delegation.

b)

delegates to their redistricting commissions

c)

delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

d)

party platforms.

Answer 31

delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

Question 32

If no presidential candidate wins a majority of votes in the electoral college, what happens?

a)

A runoff election is held in closely divided states.

b)

The names of the top three candidates are submitted to the House, where each state will be able to cast one vote.

c)

It is impossible that no candidate would receive a majority of votes in the Electoral College.

d)

The names of the top three candidates are submitted to the Senate, where each state will be able to cast one vote.

Answer 32

The names of the top three candidates are submitted to the House, where each state will be able to cast one vote.

Question 33

Many states have recently moved to require that voters produce specific forms of identification before they are allowed to vote

True
False

Answer 33

True

Question 34

Soft money–now illegal–was money that could be given to the parties in unlimited amounts for “party building” activities.

True
False

Answer 34

True

Question 35

The vast majority of incumbents in both parties in the U.S. House and Senate get reelected every election.

True
False

Answer 35

True

Question 36

On average, ________ of eligible voters participate in modern presidential elections.

slightly more than 15 percent

less than 30 percent

almost 95 percent

around 60 percent

Answer 36

Around 60 percent

Question 37

According to the required reading of Politico, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a harsh critic of Speaker Mike Johnson, is now one of his biggest supporters.

True
False

Answer 37

False

Question 38

Which of the following is one of the aspects of education that causes it to have such a powerful impact on voting?

It gives you gratification from knowing how the political system works and being able to take part in it.

It trains you to deal with bureaucracy.

It develops your cognitive skills.

All the choices are correct.

Answer 38

All the choices are correct

Question 39

Turnout in presidential elections is __________ when compared to midterm elections.

a)

about equal

b)

slightly lower

c)

significantly higher

d)

slightly higher

Answer 39

significantly higher

Question 40

Younger adults (ages 18-29) have lower turnout than other older age brackets, but will likely have greater turnout as the group ages.

True
False

Answer 40

True