POLS 1113 American Federal Government

1. POLS 1113American Federal Government Chapter 11: Political Parties & Interest Groups

2. At a basic level, political parties are� a. organizations dedicated to promoting particular policies. b. expected to contest elections. c. responsible for recruiting candidates for political offices. d. a group of office holders, candidates, activists, and voters who identify with a group label. e. all of the above. Answer: e Page Ref: 385Answer: e Page Ref: 385

3. In his presidential farewell address, __ warned the nation against the evil of political parties. a. George Washington d. James Madison b. John Adams e. James Monroe c. Thomas Jefferson Answer: A Page Ref: 386Answer: A Page Ref: 386

4. Political parties provide most democratic political systems with� a. inherent instability. d. a reliable vehicle for b. unity. mass participation. c. a logical mechanism e. �creative destruction.� for preventing dissent. Answer: D Page Ref: 386Answer: D Page Ref: 386

5. The Republican Party was established in� a. 1824 d. 1854 b. 1832 e. 1860 c. 1848 Answer: D Page Ref: 386Answer: D Page Ref: 386

6. The first real party system formed around the powerful personalities of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, who were respectively leaders of the __ and the __ parties. a. Whig; Republican d. Tory; Whig b. Democratic; Whig e. Roundhead; Royalist c. Federalist; Democratic- Republican Answer: C Page Ref: 386Answer: C Page Ref: 386

7. Most scholars trace the origins of the Democratic Party to the rise of __ in American politics. His successful campaign for the presidency in 1828 (after losing in 1824 despite having the most popular and Electoral College votes) was driven by his creation of the first disciplined party in American politics. a. John Quincy Adams d. John Tyler b. Andrew Jackson e. Thomas Jefferson c. Abraham Lincoln Answer: B Page Ref:387Answer: B Page Ref:387

8. A party organization that recruits members and seduces voters with tangible incentives like money, welfare programs, and jobs, is called a(n)� a. machine. d. syndicate. b. alliance of e. state party. convenience. c. coalition. Answer: A Page Ref: 389Answer: A Page Ref: 389

9. The selection of party candidates through the ballots of qualified voters is called a� a. party conference. d. plebiscite. b. party caucus. e. nominating convention. c. direct primary. Answer: C Page Ref: 389Answer: C Page Ref: 389

10. Voting for candidates of different parties in the same election (e.g. Republican for president, Democrat for Senate) is called __, and is becoming more frequent in American elections. a. bet hedging d. �splitting the difference� b. ticket splitting e. straight-line voting. c. patronage Answer: B Page Ref: 390Answer: B Page Ref: 390

11. Issue-oriented politics has become more prevalent due to� a. changes in suffrage rules. b. civil service reform and the demise of political machines. c. broad-based education and social change. d. all of the above. e. none of the above. Answer: C Page Ref: 390Answer: C Page Ref: 390

12. The United States has a __ party system. a. one- d. multi- b. two- e. all of the above. c. three- Answer: the correct answer is �B�, but a case could be made that �E� is also correct; however, for quiz and examination purposes, the correct answer will be that the United States has a fairly weak but competitive two-party system. Page Ref: Answer: the correct answer is �B�, but a case could be made that �E� is also correct; however, for quiz and examination purposes, the correct answer will be that the United States has a fairly weak but competitive two-party system. Page Ref:

13. The tendency for minor parties to emerge in American electoral politics is described in the text as� a. third-partyism. d. nascent party syndrome. b. party formulation. e. electoral fission c. party evolution. Answer: A Page Ref: 390Answer: A Page Ref: 390

14. American political parties have been affected, and in general weakened, by� a. television. b. the movement of people to the suburbs. c. technology that enabled activists to �bypass� parties. d. state primary laws that enable anyone to vote in party primaries. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: Take my word for it! ? Answer: E Page Ref: Take my word for it! ?

15. During the 2004 congressional elections, __ of candidates for office were independent or third-party candidates. a. 23 d. more than 850 b. less than 20 e. 2,000 c. 476 Answer: C Page Ref: 390Answer: C Page Ref: 390

16. Third parties in the United States typically have their roots in� a. sectionalism. b. economic protest. c. issues that get ignored by the major parties. d. charismatic independent candidates. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 391Answer: E Page Ref: 391

17. Third parties tend to appear and disappear in American politics due to� a. proportional electoral rules. b. inflexibility on the part of the two major parties. c. cooption by one of the major parties. d. options a and b. e. all of the above. Answer: C Page Ref: 391Answer: C Page Ref: 391

18. Political parties adopt their platforms� a. through a national referendum of registered party members. b. at the national conventions. c. at local party meetings. d. at closed-door meetings of the state-wide office holders of that particular political party. e. by holding extensive focus groups designed to identify issue positions that would most resonate with a majority of voters. Answer: B Page Ref: 392Answer: B Page Ref: 392

19. In the United States, party identification is� a. ever-changing. d. informal. b. a direct consequence e. discouraged. of parental influence. c. a formal requirement for voting Answer: D Page Ref: 395Answer: D Page Ref: 395

20. In his book Bowling Alone, the Harvard sociologist Robert Putnam argues that� a. there has been a virtual explosion of voluntary associations and interest groups in the United States. b. the Internet has favorably changed the nature of interest groups. c. fewer Americans are joining interest groups. d. Americans are still a nation of �joiners.� e. interest group activity has faded to nothingness. Answer: C Page Ref: 403Answer: C Page Ref: 403

21. Interest groups often� a. fill voids left by traditional political parties. b. give Americans another opportunity to take their claims to government. c. make the policy process more responsive. d. facilitate adversarial politics. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 404Answer: E Page Ref: 404

22. David Truman�s __ theory explains the primary motivation for interest group formation. a. chaos d. squeaky wheel b. pluralism e. entrepreneur c. disturbance Answer: C Page Ref: 405Answer: C Page Ref: 405

23. Robert Salisbury�s study of interest groups focused on the role that __ play in forming and sustaining interest groups. a. citizens d. entrepreneurs b. activists e. poor people c. government funding Answer: D Page Ref: 405Answer: D Page Ref: 405

24. Common Cause, peace groups, and environmental organizations are examples of __ interest groups. a. public d. multi-issue b. economic e. group identity c. single-issue Answer: A Page Ref: 411Answer: A Page Ref: 411

25. The 1960�s and 1970�s were characterized by� a. a decrease in the power of public interest groups. b. an increase in the number of trade and professional associations. c. the rise of public interest groups. d. the victory of corporations over labor unions. e. all of the above. Answer: C Page Ref: 411Answer: C Page Ref: 411

26. In 1978, a number of conservative groups began to form in response to the successes of a number of liberal interest groups in shaping and defining the public agenda during the 1960�s. Prominent among these groups was the __, formed and led by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. a. John Birch Society d. Common Cause b. Moral Majority e. Family Research c. 700 Club Council Answer: B Page Ref: 411Answer: B Page Ref: 411

27. In order to promote gun ownership and pro-gun public policies, the __ formed a political action committee in 1972 to fund conservative candidates an advertisements attacking pro-gun control candidates. a. Straight Shooters Club d. He-Man Women b. NRA Hater�s Club c. Club for Growth e. �Shoot First, Ask Questions Later Club Answer: B Page Ref: 412Answer: B Page Ref: 412

28. Another conservative economic group, the __, was formed in 1972 in order to give corporations an opportunity to �tell their side� of the story. a. Business Roundtable d. CEO-Corp b. Club for Growth e.USA Chambers c. Country Club of Commerce Republicans Answer: A Page Ref: instructor�s notesAnswer: A Page Ref: instructor�s notes

29. In 1914, Congress passed the __ Act, which was hailed by labor leader Samuel Gompers as the Magna Carta of the labor movement. This law allowed unions to organize and guaranteed their right to strike. a. Pendleton d. Right to Work b. Clayton e. Coulter c. Taft-Hartley Answer: B Page Ref: 409Answer: B Page Ref: 409

30. Among the lobbying techniques employed to advance interest group policy aims include� a. testifying at legislative hearings. b. providing information to individual congresspersons. c. encouraging constituents to contact their representatives. d. forming political action committees to support candidates for certain offices. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 412Answer: E Page Ref: 412

31. Many of the most effective lobbyists are� a. former congressional staffers. b. former White House staff. c. former Cabinet officers. d. former members of Congress. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 414Answer: E Page Ref: 414

32. Interest groups that want to lobby the executive branch generally target the� a. president him or her/self. b. White House staff. c. Cabinet level officers. d. many levels of the executive branch bureaucracy. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 415Answer: E Page Ref: 415

33. Interest groups lobby the courts by� a. direct lobbying of judges and justices. b. sponsoring lawsuits and filing amicus curaie briefs. c. contributing to judge�s and justice�s �retirement funds.� d. direct cash payments. e. all of the above. Answer: B Page Ref: 416Answer: B Page Ref: 416

34. Grass roots lobbying includes tactics such as� a. door-to-door campaigns. b. petition drives. c. faxing candidates and office holders. d. telephoning congresspersons. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 417Answer: E Page Ref: 417

35. Many interest groups become directly involved in elections through� a. �get out the vote� (GOTV) efforts. b. endorsement of specific candidates. c. rating the candidates and office holders. d. extensive television advertising campaigns. e. all of the above. Answer: E Page Ref: 418Answer: E Page Ref: 418

36. A federally registered fundraising committee that represents an interest group in the political process through campaign donations is called a(n)� a. political interest group. d. political action b. campaign finance committee. committee. c. federal election committee . e. campaign funding group. Answer: D Page Ref: 418Answer: D Page Ref: 418

37. True/False Universe

38. The American two-party system was established within the framework of the Constitution. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 385Answer: False Page Ref: 385

39. George Washington was the founder of the American political party system. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 386Answer: False Page Ref: 386

40. Massive changes in political conditions and dramatic shifts in the moods of the electorate have dramatically weakened the major parties and eliminated their ability to influence the political process. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 390Answer: False Page Ref: 390

41. Political parties remain the strongest possible intermediary institution between candidate and voter. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 390Answer: False Page Ref: 390

42. Third parties are on the rise because of neglect of important issues by Republicans and Democrats. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 390Answer: False Page Ref: 390

43. Party chairpersons do a substantial amount of the planning for presidential nominating conventions. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 393Answer: True Page Ref: 393

44. Strict rules govern member�s behavior within the American party system. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 393Answer: False Page Ref: 393

45. Party identification tends to act as an information filter for voters. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 395Answer: True Page Ref: 395

46. The national party platform is an ideological statement with few practical uses. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 400Answer: False Page Ref: 400

47. In Congress, party leaders can muster a substantial amount of party discipline on most votes. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 402Answer: True Page Ref: 402

48. Once elected, party affiliation is not very meaningful to elected officials. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 402Answer: False Page Ref: 402

49. The face of interest group politics is changing as fast as laws, political consultants, and technology allow. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 403Answer: True Page Ref: 403

50. Groups that mobilize to protect particular economic interests generally are the most fully and effectively organized. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 403Answer: True Page Ref: 403

51. Political scientists generally agree on why interest groups form, their nature, and their role in our political system. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 403Answer: False Page Ref: 403

52. Generally, interest groups form in response to disturbances in society. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 405Answer: True Page Ref: 405

53. Many interest groups formed during the 1960�s and 1970�s. a. True b. False Answer: True. Page Ref: 409Answer: True. Page Ref: 409

54. The Moral Majority, founded in 1978, was the beginning of a conservative backlash of group formation. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 411Answer: True Page Ref: 411

55. Interest groups play a negligible role in American politics. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 412Answer: False Page Ref: 412

56. Effective lobbyists are often former members of Congress of a presidential administration. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 414Answer: True Page Ref: 414

57. There have been virtually no congressional attempts to curb interest group�s lobbying efforts. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 414Answer: False Page Ref: 414

58. The executive branch is a favorite target of lobbyists because it has many points of access. a. True b. False Answer: True Page Ref: 415Answer: True Page Ref: 415

59. Interest groups do not generally lobby the courts. a. True b. False Answer: False Page Ref: 415Answer: False Page Ref: 415

60. The business lobby provides most of the electoral funding for the Republican Party. a. True b. False Answer: True Page 416Answer: True Page 416