Question 1

Which of the following statements about party building is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   Republicans have paid much more attention to party building than Democrats since the Eisenhower presidency.
B)   Democrats have paid much more attention to party building than Republicans since the Eisenhower presidency.
C)   Both parties have completely abandoned party building since the Eisenhower presidency.
D)   Both parties have devoted equal effort to party building since the Eisenhower presidency.
E)   The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act outlawed party-building activities.

Question 2

Issues such as the environment, health care, retirement benefits, and taxation are on the political agenda in the United States because

Accepted Answer

A)   these are the only issues that are important to all Americans.
B)   these are the only problems that have yet to be solved by the free market.
C)   contemporary political parties mainly compete for the support of middle-class Americans and these issues are important to the middle class.
D)   the Constitution limits the federal government's powers to legislating on these issues.
E)   these are the only issues where Democrats and Republicans consistently agree with each other.

Question 3

Which group was NOT a part of the New Deal coalition?

Accepted Answer

A)   Catholics
B)   farmers
C)   business leaders
D)   organized labor
E)   upper-middle-class intellectuals

Question 4

The two major parties in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s were the ________ and the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Federalists; Jeffersonians
B)   Federalists; Whigs
C)   Democrats; Whigs
D)   Democrats; Republicans
E)   Federalists; Democrats

Question 5

When Richard Nixon employed his "southern strategy," he

Accepted Answer

A)   used the FBI to help collect secrets and blackmail southern Democratic leaders.
B)   ignored the southern states in favor of voters in the Midwest and Northeast.
C)   appealed to disaffected white voters in the South.
D)   referred to the break-in at the Watergate complex.
E)   appealed to black southerners who had recently mobilized for civil rights.

Question 6

________ referred to himself as a "compassionate conservative" in 2000.

Accepted Answer

A)   John McCain
B)   Al Gore
C)   George W. Bush
D)   Bob Dole
E)   Bill Clinton

Question 7

The Federalist Party disappeared forever as a result of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Jefferson's election in 1800
B)   the War of 1812
C)   the Louisiana Purchase
D)   Alexander Hamilton being killed by Aaron Burr
E)   the Civil War

Question 8

________ develops when the winner of an electoral race obtains more votes than any other candidate.

Accepted Answer

A)   The majority system
B)   The plurality system
C)   Proportional representation
D)   The winner-take-all system
E)   The spoils system

Question 9

In which of the following years was there NOT an electoral realignment?

Accepted Answer

A)   1800
B)   1828
C)   1896
D)   1932
E)   1994 E

Question 10

One important cause of the United States' two-party system is

Accepted Answer

A)   the Constitution's requirement for bipartisanship in Congress.
B)   single-member electoral districts.
C)   multimember electoral districts.
D)   proportional representation.
E)   internal mobilization.

Question 11

During the late 1840s and early 1850s, both the Democratic and Whig parties were divided by

Accepted Answer

A)   conflicts over slavery.
B)   fiscal policies imposed during the tariff crisis.
C)   lingering conflict concerning the War of 1812.
D)   the westward expansion of the United States.
E)   the appropriate amount of government regulation of the economy.

Question 12

"Me too" Republicanism refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the tendency of Republican politicians during the New Deal to support popular programs such as Social Security rather than advocate alternative policies.
B)   the tendency of southern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws apply equally to the northern and southern states.
C)   the tendency of northern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws favor the northern states over the southern states.
D)   an ideology that argues for more representative government and less direct democracy.
E)   an ideology that argues a strong federal government should promote economic equality.

Question 13

________ warned Americans against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.

Accepted Answer

A)   George Washington
B)   John Adams
C)   Thomas Jefferson
D)   James Madison
E)   James Monroe A

Question 14

In 1964, the Republican Party presidential nominee, ________, espoused a number of ideas, such as less taxation and less government regulation of the economy, that became major themes for the modern Republican Party.

Accepted Answer

A)   Richard Nixon
B)   Barry Goldwater
C)   Ronald Reagan
D)   Franklin Delano Roosevelt
E)   Dwight Eisenhower

Question 15

State ballot access laws, such as registration fees and petition requirements, have the effect of

Accepted Answer

A)   increasing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates.
B)   reducing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates.
C)   reducing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office.
D)   increasing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office.
E)   decreasing the importance of soft money in election campaigns.

Question 16

Describe the organizational structure of political parties. How do both the electoral system and federalism affect the shape of parties? What are some of the functions of parties in the electoral arena?

Accepted Answer

Political parties have a hierarchical organizational structure that typically includes a national committee, state and local committees, and various levels of leadership such as party chairs, precinct captains, and campaign managers. The national committee sets the overall direction and platform for the party, while state and local committees focus on organizing and mobilizing voters at the regional level.

The electoral system and federalism can significantly impact the shape of political parties. In a proportional representation electoral system, parties may be more diverse and fragmented, while in a winner-takes-all system, parties tend to coalesce around two major parties. Federalism also allows for variation in party organization and platform at the state and local levels, as parties must adapt to the unique political landscapes of different regions.

Political parties serve several functions in the electoral arena. They help to mobilize and educate voters, recruit and support candidates, and advocate for specific policy positions. Parties also serve as a link between the government and the public, providing a platform for citizens to engage in the political process and influence decision-making. Additionally, parties play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and promoting democratic values. Overall, political parties are essential actors in the electoral arena, shaping the political landscape and representing the interests of their constituents.

Question 17

The first party system was characterized by conflict between the ________ and the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)   Federalists; Jeffersonian Republicans
B)   Democrats; Republicans
C)   Whigs; Democrats
D)   Whigs; Jeffersonian Republicans
E)   Whigs; Federalists

Question 18

In 2012, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney raised about ________ each in their respective campaigns.

Accepted Answer

A)   $50 million
B)   $200 million
C)   $500 million
D)   $1 billion
E)   $1 trillion

Question 19

What issue led to the demise of the Whig Party?

Accepted Answer

A)   slavery
B)   economic regulations and tariffs
C)   the admission of California into the Union
D)   the death of Andrew Jackson
E)   industrialization

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   George W. Bush's 2004 campaign revolutionized how parties conduct voter mobilization drives.
B)   Barack Obama's 2008 campaign revolutionized how parties conduct mobilization drives.
C)   George W. Bush's 2004 campaign engaged in micro-targeting of prospective voters.
D)   Barack Obama's 2008 campaign engaged in micro-targeting of prospective voters.
E)   all of the above

Exam 9: Political Parties

Which of the following statements about party building is true?

Correct Answer
verified

Issues such as the environment, health care, retirement benefits, and taxation are on the political agenda in the United States because

Correct Answer
verified

Which group was NOT a part of the New Deal coalition?

Correct Answer
verified

The two major parties in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s were the and the .

Correct Answer
verified

When Richard Nixon employed his "southern strategy," he

Correct Answer
verified

________ referred to himself as a "compassionate conservative" in 2000.

Correct Answer
verified

The Federalist Party disappeared forever as a result of ________.

Correct Answer
verified

________ develops when the winner of an electoral race obtains more votes than any other candidate.

Correct Answer
verified

In which of the following years was there NOT an electoral realignment?

Correct Answer
verified
E

One important cause of the United States' two-party system is

Correct Answer
verified

During the late 1840s and early 1850s, both the Democratic and Whig parties were divided by

Correct Answer
verified

"Me too" Republicanism refers to

Correct Answer
verified

________ warned Americans against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.

Correct Answer
verified
A

In 1964, the Republican Party presidential nominee, ________, espoused a number of ideas, such as less taxation and less government regulation of the economy, that became major themes for the modern Republican Party.

Correct Answer
verified

State ballot access laws, such as registration fees and petition requirements, have the effect of

Correct Answer
verified

Describe the organizational structure of political parties. How do both the electoral system and federalism affect the shape of parties? What are some of the functions of parties in the electoral arena?

The first party system was characterized by conflict between the and the .

Correct Answer
verified

In 2012, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney raised about ________ each in their respective campaigns.

Correct Answer
verified

What issue led to the demise of the Whig Party?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following statements is true?

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 9: Political Parties

Which of the following statements about party building is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Issues such as the environment, health care, retirement benefits, and taxation are on the political agenda in the United States because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which group was NOT a part of the New Deal coalition?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The two major parties in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s were the ________ and the ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

When Richard Nixon employed his "southern strategy," he

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ referred to himself as a "compassionate conservative" in 2000.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Federalist Party disappeared forever as a result of ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ develops when the winner of an electoral race obtains more votes than any other candidate.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which of the following years was there NOT an electoral realignment?

Correct AnswerverifiedE

One important cause of the United States' two-party system is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

During the late 1840s and early 1850s, both the Democratic and Whig parties were divided by

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

"Me too" Republicanism refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

________ warned Americans against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

In 1964, the Republican Party presidential nominee, ________, espoused a number of ideas, such as less taxation and less government regulation of the economy, that became major themes for the modern Republican Party.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

State ballot access laws, such as registration fees and petition requirements, have the effect of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Describe the organizational structure of political parties. How do both the electoral system and federalism affect the shape of parties? What are some of the functions of parties in the electoral arena?

The first party system was characterized by conflict between the ________ and the ________.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In 2012, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney raised about ________ each in their respective campaigns.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What issue led to the demise of the Whig Party?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following statements is true?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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The two major parties in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s were the and the .

Correct Answer
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E

Correct Answer
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A

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The first party system was characterized by conflict between the and the .

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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