11 Unit Three Question Pool

Multiple Choice:

• Groups that raise money for the specific and explicit purpose of contributing to political campaigns are known as:

A. Super-Pacs
B. Political Action Commitees
C. Interest Groups
D. 501 (c) groups.

• Jill is a registered Democrat who would like to vote in her state’s Republican primary.  What type of election would allow her to do this?

A. Open Primary.
B. Closed Primary.
C. Ballot Measure.
D. General Election.

• Loyal opposition is:

A. The principle that explains how the minority party and majority party both support the United States regardless of which maintains power.
B. The principle that states the minority party in Congress is most likely to commit treasonous acts against the United States.
C. The central principle impacting the government of Zimbabwe.
D.  The practice of drawing district lines to benefit a specific political party.

• The Electoral College consists of how many members?

A. 300
B. 435
C. 535
D. 538

• The Republican Party was formed from:

A. Northern Democrats and Abolitionist Whigs.
B. Pro-Slavery Whigs and Southern Democrats.
C. Pro-slavery Democrats and disillusioned Whigs.
D. Pro-State’s Rights Libertarians.

• The purpose of a party’s national convention is:

To nominate presidential and vice-presidential candidates, establish party platforms and act as a “pep rally.”

To run the day-to-day operations of the state parties.

To introduce the world to new celebrities.

To select congressional majority and minority leaders.

• The theory, echoing Federalist Papers No. 10, that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government is:

A. Pluralism.
B. Conservatism.
C. Liberalism.
D. Madisonianism.

• To become president, Barack Obama or Mitt Romney needed ____________ Electoral votes.

A. 270
B. 300
C. 535
D. 538

• What Supreme Court decision allows New York mayor Michael Bloomberg to spend an unlimited amount of his own money towards his re-election campaign?

Buckley v. Valeo

Citizens United v. F.E.C.

Clinton v. New York.

Mapp v. Ohio.

• Which level of government is primarily responsible for making decisions regarding elections?

A. The states.
B. The federal government.
C. Local government.
D. Congressional districts.

• Which of the following parties was NEVER one of the two major American political parties?

A. The Whigs.

B. The Federalists.
C. The Democratic-Republicans.
D. The Constitutional Party.

• In recent years, American electoral politics has tended to center on the:

A. Party Platform.
B. Individual Candidates.
C. Caucuses.
D. Districts.

• The type of primary election most supportive of strong political parties is the:

A. Open primary.
B. Closed primary.
C. Run-off primary. 
D. Blanket primary.

• The type of nomination process that is the most conducive to new issues and new types of candidates is the:

A. Primary.
B. Caucus.
C. Convention.
D. Conference Committee.

• The committee system of both chambers of Congress is a product of:

A. the Two-Party system.
B. the Electoral College.
C. Executive bureaucracy.
D. Article One, Section 9 of the Constitution.

• James Madison argued that organized interests would have less opportunity to dominate the political process if the nation is:

A. Large with diverse interests.
B. Small with diverse interests.
C. Large with common interests.
D. Small with common interests.

• An organized group of individuals or organizations that makes policy-related appeals to government is called a/an:

A. Political party.
B. Interest Group.
C. Lobbying firm.
D. Caucus.

• In the quest for political influence, insider strategies include:

A. Lobbying.
B. Using electoral politics.
C. Going public.
D. Media campaigns.

• In the quest for political influence, outsider strategies include:

A. Going public.
B. Amicus briefs.
C. Lobbying.
D. Bureaucratic participation.

• An attempt by a group to influence the policy process through persuasion of government officials is known as:

A. Lobbying.
B. Access.
C. Voting.
D. Media management.

• Drawing electoral district lines to favor the party in power is:

A. Gerrymandering.
B. Redistricting.
C. Coalition building.
D. Redlining.

• The process that allows citizens to vote directly on proposed laws or other governmental actions is called a/an:

A. Referendum.
B. Electorate.
C. Ballot Measure.
D. Disenfranchisement.

• During primaries and caucuses candidates will most likely cater to the ___________ members of the party.

A. Independent. 
B. Fanatic. 
C. Conservative.
D. Moderate.

• During general elections the majority of American voters would be considered:

A. Anarchists.
B. Liberals.
C. Conservatives.
D. Moderates.

• Between presidential elections, the ___________________ operates the major political parties.

A. National Committee
B. National Convention
C. 527 Groups
D. Congressional Convention

Essay Questions

1. Identify and discuss the central arguments made by Madison in Federalist Papers No. 10.   What relationship do his arguments have with contemporary American government?

2. First, identify and discuss three reasons why third parties tend to be electorally unsuccessful.  Second, considering their general lack of victory, do third parties achieve any success toward the accomplishment of their aims? If so, identify and discuss this area of success.

3.First, identify the three main sources of media power.  Second, explain how, using these sources, the media can influence government and elected officials