Deck 8: Going Public: Governing Through the Media

Question 1

In considering the effects of real-world events and news coverage on presidential popularity regarding the issues of unemployment and terrorism, which of the following is true?

A) News coverage of unemployment has more impact on popularity than the rate of unemployment.
B) News coverage of terrorism has more impact on popularity than the number and scope of terrorist events.
C) In both issue areas, real-world events are more influential than news coverage.
D) In both issue areas, news coverage is more influential than real-world events.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The frequency of presidential press conferences

A) increased until the 1990s and then decreased.
B) has not changed.
C) decreased until the 1970s and then increased.
D) has decreased steadily.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Governing by the media rests on which of the following axioms?

A) Presidents who initiate policy action are likely to be more popular than those who don't.
B) Presidents who get along with the press are likely to get along with Congress.
C) The more popular the president, the greater his power in Washington.
D) All of these are correct.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Key differences between bargaining and going public as forms of governance include

A) greater concern with public image in the case of going public.
B) greater reliance on forging compromises in the case of bargaining.
C) more frequent use of media appeals in the case of going public.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 5

Elected officials' increasing reliance on going public means that

A) they will increase their output of speeches.
B) they will decrease their availability for press questioning.
C) they will seek out opportunities to boost their public image.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 6

One of the reasons why going public does not work as well as a style of leadership in Congress is

A) members of Congress do not have sufficient resources to spin the media.
B) Congress does not usually speak with one voice.
C) Congress is insufficiently newsworthy.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 7

The rally effect refers to

A) the increase in a president's popularity following a party rally.
B) the increase in financial contributions to a candidate who has been attacked by an opponent.
C) the increase in a president's popularity during military or national security crises.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 8

The cases of Reagan and Clinton rebut which of the following theories of popularity?

A) Each president will suffer from reduced popularity over the course of his or her term in office.
B) Popularity is determined by real-world events rather than media management.
C) Media management allows a president to maintain high levels of popularity despite adverse events.
D) There is no "honeymoon" period during a president's second term.

Question 9

As a strategy of governance, going public is more suited to

A) chief executives.
B) legislators.
C) national rather than state officials.
D) It is equally suited to all officials.

Question 10

In comparing the Congress and the presidency as focal points of news media coverage, which of the following applies?

A) The two branches are equally newsworthy.
B) The executive becomes more newsworthy when domestic issues are salient.
C) Congress becomes less newsworthy when foreign policy issues are salient.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 11

One of the implications of aversion to going public is that

A) elected officials have little incentive to address tough policy problems.
B) elected officials are more likely to bargain and compromise.
C) campaigning and governance have little in common.
D) all of these are correct