Political Science 1 - Government of the United States and California » 2019 » Quiz 8

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Question #1
The __________ is the official statement of a political party's policy alternatives.
A.   gavel
B.   platform
C.   articles of incorporation
D.   party constitution
Question #2
Part of Anthony Downs's rational-choice model is that __________.
A.   voters want to maximize the chance that their preferred policies will be adopted by government
B.   voters are acting rationally when they vote against their self-interest
C.   party identity will lose its importance over the next 100 years
D.   logic and reason always prevail in the American electorate
Question #3
What is the party in the electorate?
A.   party officers who seek to educate the public on key party stances
B.   public officials who are registered with a political party
C.   all citizens who claim to be a member of a political party
D.   voters active in the business of the party
Question #4
The __________ is the formal structure of the political party that sets rules for party operations, pursues electoral victories, and keeps the party running between elections.
A.   party in government
B.   party as provider
C.   party in the electorate
D.   party as an organization
Question #5
Of the following, who is most likely to split their ticket?
A.   angry voters
B.   minorities
C.   younger voters
D.   older voters
Question #6
Which of the following is a potential danger associated with open primaries?
A.   Open primaries may result in the election of more extreme candidates.
B.   The other party can "raid" the primary to vote for the least viable candidate.
C.   The presence of too many candidates on the ballot can confuse voters.
D.   Open primaries give too much power to those who reside outside of the district.
Question #7
The national __________ is the supreme power of the national party organization.
A.   legislature
B.   assembly
C.   delegation
D.   convention
Question #8
Who runs the national party organizations between conventions?
A.   the state party organizations
B.   the party's congressional caucus
C.   the parties in the electorate
D.   the party's national committee
Question #9
What best explains the demise of party machines?
A.   progressive reforms that instituted a merit-based hiring system
B.   congressional reforms that prevented private party meetings in "smoke-filled rooms"
C.   judicial reforms that ended the "pay to play" system of assigning public defenders
D.   Keynesian economic reforms that increased individual wealth
Question #10
When can a party change its platform?
A.   at the start of each fiscal year
B.   every two years
C.   during its national party convention
D.   after the census
Question #11
Which has partly filled the void left by the decline of the urban party machine?
A.   county parties
B.   labor unions
C.   corporations
D.   family farmers and small business owners
Question #12
Which of these is an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party may be displaced by the minority party?
A.   a coalition election
B.   a critical election
C.   a seismological election
D.   a midterm election
Question #13
The loyal opposition in the era of Democratic President Andrew Jackson was __________.
A.   the Whig Party
B.   the progressive party
C.   Federalist
D.   Republican party
Question #14
What is a disadvantage of divided government?
A.   It acts as a check and balance across institutions.
B.   It does not allow for clear accountability on policy.
C.   It often stunts economic growth.
D.   It often expands the scope of government.
Question #15
A major party realignment occurred during the initial election of President __________.
A.   Franklin Roosevelt
B.   George W. Bush
C.   Herbert Hoover
D.   Barack Obama
Question #16
What does Ralph Nader's 2000 presidential election bid illustrate regarding the role of third parties?
A.   third parties' potential to affect the outcome of the election
B.   third parties' potential to affect the outcome of the election
C.   third parties' absence of media attention
D.   third parties' poor candidate choices
Question #17
European democracies have more parties in positions of political power than does the United States because of their use of __________.
A.   party platforms
B.   critical elections
C.   winner-take-all systems
D.   proportional representation
Question #18
One of the consequences of two-party government is __________.
A.   the increased likelihood of proportional representation
B.   greater fluidity of representation
C.   the increased likelihood of coalition government
D.   the moderation of political conflict
Question #19
Why are coalition governments so prevalent in parliamentary systems?
A.   The winner-take-all system that is used in parliamentary systems encourages coalition governments.
B.   In a multiparty system with proportional representation, single parties usually do not win a majority of the seats.
C.   Parliamentary systems are nonpartisan, but coalition governments can often act much like parties.
D.   Coalition governments discourage third parties.

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