Deck 13: Political Parties and Voting

Question 1

How did the Federalist Party differ from the opposing Democratic-Republican Party during the late 1700s?

A) The Federalists favored a stronger national government, whereas the Democratic-Republican Party favored a smaller federal government.
B) The Federalists were against a large government, while the Democratic-Republicans supported one.
C) The Federalists were generally composed of lower- and middle-class citizens, whereas the Democratic-Republicans were dominated by elites.
D) The Federalists supported the abolition of slavery in the United States, while the Democratic-Republican Party did not.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Why do political parties carefully select which candidates will represent the party in an election?

A) Political parties get more money if they have a candidate who is attractive and intelligent.
B) They want to make sure their candidate is fully aligned with their platform and agenda.
C) Parties choose candidates who will be controversial so the media pays more attention to them.
D) They want to choose candidates who give them the best chance at winning an election.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

In 2019, upwards of twenty candidates announced their intentions to run for president in 2020 for the Democratic Party. Once a candidate has emerged as a clear frontrunner in 2020 after the primaries, the Democratic Party will mobilize its resources at the national level to form a platform and agenda for the candidate, and supporters at the state level will begin grassroots efforts for the candidate's campaign. What are the Democratic Party's actions an example of?

A) contesting the presidential election
B) providing organization for the operation of government
C) developing a framework for voters to make choices
D) selecting leadership in the federal government

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which event during the early 1900s caused a realigning election?

A) the Civil War
B) U.S. involvement in World War I
C) the Great Depression
D) the election of William McKinley

Question 5

Political parties have developed complex organizations at the national, state, and local levels to fulfill which core function?

A) providing a framework for voters
B) influencing public policy
C) contesting elections
D) selecting leadership in government

Question 6

How do political parties help voters determine who to vote for?

A) Local party organizations hold educational meetings regularly during elections to go through a candidate's positions.
B) Parties host fundraisers to inform voters about who is running for office and convince them to vote for their candidates.
C) A candidate's party affiliation helps voters to better understand the candidate's policy perspectives.
D) Leaders of political parties offer incentives to voters to cast a vote for their candidate in an election.

Question 7

What is the main distinction between realignment and dealignment?

A) Realignment refers to changes in party attachment, while dealignment is the decline in attachment to either party.
B) Realignment is related to political party identification, whereas dealignment relates more to voter turnout rates.
C) Realignment happens during a presidential election, while dealignment happens during a midterm election.
D) Realignment usually is a long-term process, whereas dealignment typically happens after a significant event.

Question 8

Who was a prominent member of the Democratic-Republican Party?

A) John Adams
B) George Washington
C) Alexander Hamilton
D) Thomas Jefferson

Question 9

What led to the formation of the Democratic Party?

A) the ratification of the United States Constitution
B) the outcome of the 1824 election
C) the abolition of slavery in the United States
D) the death of Alexander Hamilton

Question 10

Why is the main goal of political parties to win elections?

A) When a political party wins an election, it gets more money from lobbyists and candidates.
B) Winning elections means that political party has more influence over the policymaking process.
C) A political party must win a certain number of elections in order to remain legitimate.
D) If a political party wins an election, it has a better chance of winning other elections.

Question 11

Which option best describes a realignment of political parties?

A) an increase in voters identifying more closely with smaller, third parties
B) a disconnect between voters and a specific political party alignment
C) a return to ideals that were critical in the initial formation of a political party
D) a long-lasting reconfiguration of the party identification of certain groups

Question 12

In relation to factionalism, the Founders' vision of the functioning of American government under the Constitution ______.

A) anticipated the development of many smaller political parties
B) intentionally made parties weaker than those in other nations
C) placed greater emphasis on parties than what in fact developed
D) was abandoned almost immediately after its ratification

Question 13

Suppose a group of delegates for the Whig Party have gathered together in 1840 to choose a candidate to run for president in the upcoming general election, form the party's position on a variety of issues, and coordinate party activities across the states. What is this group?

A) a political party
B) an interest group
C) a national party convention
D) a political action committee

Question 14

How are candidates for office recruited and screened?

A) through an application process
B) through a series of interviews and debates
C) through recommendations by citizens
D) through political parties

Question 15

Suppose it is the 1792 and there is an election coming up. You have the choice between candidates who support George Washington's administration and promote a stronger national government, or candidates who are critical of Washington's first term and suspicious of the United States' ties with Great Britain. You decide that you support George Washington as president, since you believe he has done a fine job so far. Which party are you most likely to align with in the coming election?

A) the Democratic Party
B) the Whig Party
C) the Federalist Party
D) the Democratic-Republican Party

Question 16

During the election of 1860, the Democratic and Republican parties aligned themselves along North-South lines due to strong differences on the issue of slavery. This is an example of ______.

A) devolution
B) a critical election
C) dealignment
D) divided government

Question 17

Organizations made up of those who have a similar political philosophy and approach to governing are known as ______.

A) interest groups
B) lobbying firms
C) political parties
D) grassroots movements

Question 18

What impact did slavery have on the second party system during the nineteenth century?

A) The Civil War and the abolition of slavery led to the end of the Whig Party.
B) The abolition of slavery led to the splintering of the major parties into smaller parties.
C) Opposition to the abolition of slavery led to the formation of the Whig Party.
D) The South formed a new party, the Republicans, to fight against the abolition of slavery.

Question 19

Where does most recruiting for political candidates happen?

A) at the state level
B) at the local level
C) at the national level
D) at the regional level

Question 20

Under the "responsible party government" model, political parties can be characterized as ______.

A) organizationally weak
B) ideologically distinct
C) bipartisan in practice
D) inclusive in its membership

Question 21

What motive is there for a third-party candidate to adopt the party identification of one of the two major parties?

A) Doing so allows the candidate to advertise his or her own platform and agenda.
B) It increases the chances that the candidate will be successful in an election.
C) It would boost the ability for the candidate to appeal to undecided voters.
D) Doing so gives the candidate a better chance at causing a party realignment.

Question 22

Which statement best describes the success of third-party candidates in the American political system?

A) Even the third parties that are successful are only successful for a short time.
B) Third party candidates have been successful primarily in local and state elections.
C) Only a handful of presidents have identified and run as third-party candidates.
D) Third parties tend to be more successful in midterm elections than in presidential elections.

Question 23

Why does the Electoral College favor a two-party system?

A) Electors in the Electoral College tend to ignore votes for third-party candidates in an election.
B) The Electoral College requires that there be at least two different options for people to vote for.
C) A candidate must obtain a majority of votes, not just a plurality, in the Electoral College to win.
D) Only the parties that can afford to pay electors may have representation in the Electoral College.

Question 24

How does the winner-take-all system prevent third parties from being successful?

A) The winner-take-all system requires that a candidate or party pay a significant fee to get on the ballot, which third parties cannot afford.
B) Since a third party would have to win most of the votes in an election, it is unlikely that they will have any representation.
C) A third party would have to campaign heavily to win a plurality of the vote, and they simply do not have the resources to do that.
D) In the winner-take-all system, representation is based on the percentage of votes a party receives, which usually goes to one of the two major parties.

Question 25

What is one result of having an Electoral College decide presidential elections?

A) The electorate often rejects the results of the election and calls for a re-count.
B) A candidate must win the popular vote in order to win the Electoral College.
C) Elections are seen as corrupt due to the issue of faithless electors in the Electoral College.
D) Third-party candidates cannot compete with candidates in the two major parties for office.

Question 26

How do systems of representation in other democracies differ from the system for congressional elections in the United States?

A) Other democracies utilize a direct democracy system that eliminates the need for selecting representatives.
B) Other democracies utilize a winner-take-all system in which the candidate with a plurality of votes wins the election.
C) Other democracies use a proportional system that awards seats based on the percentage of the vote that party received.
D) Other democracies select their representation the same way the United States does, so the process is not different.

Question 27

Who is considered the father of the national party organization?

A) Andrew Jackson
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) George Washington
D) Alexander Hamilton

Question 28

A voter's feeling of attachment to a political party is known as ______.

A) party identification
B) partisan attitude
C) grassroots action
D) voter efficacy

Question 29

Eric identifies with more conservative values: he does not believe the government should be too heavily involved in the economy, supports strong border security, and considers himself pro-life. There is an upcoming election and Eric intends to vote, but he has not had time to really review the policy positions of the candidates running. What will Eric most likely do in order to vote for a candidate who aligns the closest with his values?

A) spend the remaining time learning about each candidate and their position on issues
B) utilize party identification and vote for the Republican candidate
C) ask his friend who he will vote for and cast a vote based on the response
D) cast a vote based on which candidate is ahead in the most recent polls

Question 30

The idea that there is a certain percentage of voters who will reliably vote for a Democratic candidate and another percentage of voters who will reliably vote for a Republican candidate is characteristic of which theory?

A) the biased vote
B) the party vote
C) the normal vote
D) the secured vote

Question 31

Which type of party system does the United States have?

A) a two-party system
B) a single-party system
C) a multi-party system
D) a third-party system

Question 32

How do campaign laws and regulations hurt the chances of a third-party candidate from running a successful presidential campaign?

A) The laws require that a party be well-established and have a significant voting base, which is hard to prove.
B) Parties are required to submit a hefty ballot fee in order for a state or county to even consider putting the candidate on the ballot.
C) Several criteria must be met for a candidate to receive federal funds and get on the ballot, which third parties are often unable to meet.
D) Campaign regulations require that an Independent candidate register as either Democrat or Republican.

Question 33

Suppose a candidate for president has historically identified as an independent and has values that align more closely with a democratic-socialist agenda. What would be the best way for this candidate to run for president?

A) run as an independent
B) run as a Democrat
C) shift their values to a major party
D) start a new party

Question 34

Andrea identifies as a Libertarian and holds more conservative beliefs, although she would describe her position on some issues as centrist. Who will Andrea most likely vote for if she wants to feel as though her vote has counted toward the election results?

A) the Democratic Socialist candidate
B) the Libertarian candidate
C) the Democratic candidate
D) the Republican candidate

Question 35

Which factor contributes to the two-party system in America by making it disadvantageous to run as a third-party candidate?

A) Americans' party identification
B) the rules and regulations on campaigns
C) low voter turnout rates
D) the fact that Election Day is on a workday

Question 36

In 2018, the midterm election resulted in Democratic control of the House of Representatives, while the Republican Party maintained control of the Senate, with a Republican president in the White House. What are the results of this election an example of?

A) gridlocked government
B) divided government
C) failed government
D) partisan government

Question 37

Who is responsible for overseeing the conduct of a presidential campaign and developing a strategy for congressional elections?

A) grassroots organizations
B) individual American citizens
C) the national committee
D) state party organizations

Question 38

Who has control over the leadership in Congress?

A) the majority party
B) the president
C) the minority party
D) the Supreme Court

Question 39

Which statement best describes the winner-take-all system that is used in the selection of members of Congress in the United States?

A) The candidate who wins the most votes in a district will win that seat.
B) The number of seats a party occupies in Congress is based on the percentage of the vote it got.
C) The party that wins in a majority of districts in a state will win the rest of the districts.
D) The party that wins the fewest amount of votes in a state must concede to the opposing party.

Question 40

What is the relationship between a party's control over the federal government and the influence it has over public policymaking?

A) The less control a party has over Congress and the executive branch, the more that party depends on lobbyists to pass legislation.
B) The less control a party has in Congress and the executive branch, the less that party must participate in the policymaking process.
C) The more control a party has in Congress and the executive branch, the less it must respond to the demands of its constituents when making policy.
D) The more control a party has over Congress and the executive branch, the more influence it has over public policy.

Question 41

Which level of party organization primarily conducts "get out the vote" efforts?

A) local
B) regional
C) national
D) state

Question 42

Lucinda is planning on running for the open seat in her district for the House of Representatives. Lucinda will be running as a Democrat and wants to make sure that she has a successful campaign so she can secure the seat in the House. What should Lucinda do to ensure that her campaign is successful?

A) She should ask her friends and family to volunteer and depend mostly on grassroots efforts.
B) She should utilize the resources of her local and state Democratic Party organization.
C) She should use her own personal savings to pay for television and radio advertisements.
D) She should run as an independent candidate to set herself apart from her opponents.

Question 43

According to the text, which core principle underpins representative democracy?

A) liberty
B) individualism
C) majoritarianism
D) diversity

Question 44

Which level of party organization is responsible for mobilizing grassroots efforts?

A) national party organizations
B) local party organizations
C) district-level organizations
D) state-level organizations

Question 45

What impact did the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment have on the system of voting in America?

A) It extended suffrage to African American men.
B) It granted women the right to vote.
C) It lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
D) It outlawed literacy tests and poll taxes.

Question 46

Why do candidates running for local or state office feel compelled to be more responsive to the party they are affiliated with?

A) They tend to be new to politics and thus use the party platform as a guide.
B) They are less accountable to voters since turnout is lower at that level.
C) They often depend on the party organization's resources and services.
D) They are often paid by the party to espouse its beliefs and platform.

Question 47

Who would have been permitted to vote in the first few elections in the United States?

A) an African American man who was once a slave
B) a wealthy white male who owned a large home in Virginia
C) a well-educated white woman who was married to a wealthy man
D) a poor, white tenant farmer with no education

Question 48

How do state and local party organizations differ from national party organizations in terms of influence over a candidate's campaign?

A) State and local party organizations coordinate volunteers for the party, while the national party handles everything else.
B) The national party tends to handle most of a candidate's campaign strategy and relies on state and local party organizations to mobilize the vote.
C) State and local party organizations have a greater role in organizing and developing a candidate's campaign than the national party.
D) The national party provides advice for a candidate's campaign, while the state and local party organizations play a minimal role.

Question 49

Suppose it is 2020 and Donald Trump is working on his campaign for re-election as president. What will the Republican National Committee likely be responsible for during his campaign?

A) raising money
B) advising him on policy positions
C) creating advertisements
D) mobilizing grassroots movements

Question 50

What is one responsibility that is unique to local party organizations?

A) selecting a candidate to run as president
B) developing a platform for the party
C) coordinating congressional elections
D) identifying and recruiting citizens to run for office

Question 51

According to the U.S. Constitution, what role do the states have in the system of voting?

A) States are responsible for holding elections while the federal government counts votes.
B) States are responsible for all matters regarding the system of voting, from eligibility to tallying votes.
C) States are responsible for setting requirements for voting, but the federal government holds elections.
D) States are responsible for adhering to requirements and processes set by the federal government.

Question 52

Which campaign activity is unique to local party organizations?

A) playing a supportive role during the presidential campaign
B) helping develop strategies for Congressional elections
C) nominating a presidential candidate for the party
D) launching effective "get out the vote" campaigns

Question 53

A representative democracy is one in which ______.

A) the citizens directly influence public policy
B) the citizens choose the individuals who make and enforce policy
C) the central government exercises significant power over citizens
D) the wealthy and well-educated are the sole participants

Question 54

Who is in charge of running the Democratic Party and is responsible for helping with presidential campaigns and forming the party platform?

A) Barack Obama, the former Democratic President
B) Joe Biden, the former Democratic Vice President
C) Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House
D) Tom Perez, the Chair of the Democratic National Committee

Question 55

Why is it important to the structure of the American political system that regular elections are held?

A) They ensure that the majority can continue to control the direction of public policy.
B) They boost the confidence of those in power who are re-elected.
C) They allow the people to voice their opinion on policies they support or oppose.
D) They prevent congressional representatives from staying in office too long

Question 56

The right to vote is also known as ______.

A) majoritarianism
B) efficacy
C) franchise
D) delegation

Question 57

How does the role of the national organization today differ from its role in previous decades?

A) National party organizations used to have a hands-off approach to presidential campaigns, but are now more involved in coordination and advising a candidate.
B) National party organizations used to play a larger advisory role in presidential campaigns, but now provide more of a supportive role.
C) National party organizations used to have greater influence over voters, but social media has decreased that influence.
D) National party organizations used to choose and support presidential candidates, but have become more symbolic and serve few real functions now.

Question 58

Why do voters depend more on party identification in state and local elections?

A) Voters tend to pay less attention to campaigns for state and local elections.
B) Candidates running in state and local elections adhere more to a party platform.
C) Voters are required to vote a straight party ticket in state and local elections.
D) Ballots in state and local elections list only a candidate's name, not their party.

Question 59

It is the late 1800s, and Earl, an African American, has shown up to a precinct to cast a ballot in the presidential election. Before he can do so, however, Earl is required to prove that he can read and write by reading a passage from a book and writing a few simple sentences that are recited to him. What is this an example of?

A) the grandfather clause
B) a violation of the Fifteenth Amendment
C) a literacy test
D) poll taxes

Question 60

What was the main function of poll taxes and literacy tests?

A) to protest the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment
B) to keep women from casting a ballot in elections
C) to help the state gain additional revenue and ensure voters were qualified to cast a ballot
D) to prevent black men from voting without violating the Fifteenth Amendment

Question 61

Which election will likely generate the most voter turnout?

A) a highly contested and acrimonious presidential election
B) an election with a well-liked incumbent president
C) a midterm election with mostly incumbent candidates
D) a midterm election during a controversial presidency

Question 62

What is one reason that the United States has lower voter turnout compared to other democracies?

A) Elections are not held often enough to get a good sense of turnout rates.
B) The electorate in America is much larger than other nations, which skews the turnout rate.
C) Elections do not get as much media attention in America as they do in other democracies.
D) Election Day is on a Tuesday, when most Americans have to work.

Question 63

Which amendment to the Constitution lowered the voting age from 21 to 18?

A) the Fifteenth Amendment
B) the Nineteenth Amendment
C) the Twenty-Fourth Amendment
D) the Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Question 64

What motive is there for a person to cast a ballot on Election Day?

A) Individual votes have been proven to make a difference in an election.
B) Some see voting as a civic duty and the responsibility of a good citizen.
C) Research has found definitively that voting boosts a person's self-esteem.
D) Voters receive a tax credit for showing proof that they voted in an election.

Question 65

What is the relationship between level of education and voter turnout?

A) Those with less education often cannot pass literacy tests and thus vote at lower levels.
B) Those with lower levels of education are more affected by election results and thus vote at higher levels.
C) Those who have higher levels of education are better informed and thus tend to turn out to vote at higher levels.
D) Those who have more education have a lower sense of voter efficacy and thus vote at lower levels.

Question 66

Why might regular, periodic elections held in the United States be seen as a drawback?

A) There is too much turnover during midterm elections for Congress to get anything done.
B) There are so many elections for different government levels that people are less likely to participate in any particular one.
C) Regular elections often cause heightened partisan hostilities and divide Americans along ideological lines.
D) There is not enough time between elections to properly evaluate a representative's actions.

Question 67

The percentage of eligible voters who show up to vote on Election Day is known as ______.

A) voter efficacy
B) the rational turnout
C) the election contest
D) voter turnout

Question 68

What impact did the Nineteenth Amendment have on the voting rights of Americans?

A) It granted suffrage to women.
B) It extended the right to vote to African American men.
C) It outlawed poll taxes and literacy tests.
D) It gave Washington, D.C. residents representation in Congress.

Question 69

Compared to other demographic groups, voter turnout for Hispanics in America ______.

A) has increased drastically over the last several decades
B) is more difficult to gauge due to illegal immigration
C) has decreased significantly over the last few generations
D) has become the highest of all demographic groups

Question 70

Volunteering for political campaigns, donating to a candidate, signing petitions, and attending rallies are all examples of which behavior?

A) civil disobedience
B) committing election fraud
C) political participation beyond voting
D) exercising the First Amendment

Question 71

Which is an example of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 in action?

A) a man who goes to his local Secretary of State office to fill out the necessary paperwork to register to vote
B) a college student who registers to vote at her local precinct on Election Day upon presenting her student ID
C) a citizen automatically getting a voter registration card and identification specifically for voting upon turning 18
D) a woman at the Department of Motor Vehicles registering to vote while renewing her driver's license

Question 72

Why are older Americans more likely to turn out to vote than younger Americans?

A) Older Americans are far more involved in politics and understand the issues better than younger Americans.
B) Older Americans are more socially and personally established, whereas younger Americans have less stability.
C) Older Americans usually do not have to go to work on Election Day, but younger Americans often do.
D) Older Americans know more about politics and appreciate democracy more than younger Americans.

Question 73

Who is the most likely to cast a ballot on Election Day?

A) a college student studying political science who has been following news about the campaign
B) a recent high school graduate working two jobs with friends who do not care about voting
C) a Hispanic immigrant who is not fluent in English and works full-time during the week
D) an older American who does not feel strongly about either of the candidates

Question 74

Why do some see voter registration as an obstacle to voting?

A) The process is intentionally set up to discriminate against ethnic minorities, the poor, and the under-educated.
B) The process for registering to vote must be initiated by the citizen and often has requirements that must be met.
C) The voter registration process requires several forms of identification, which many do not have readily available.
D) The fee and exam required to register to vote are often too much to pay and too difficult to pass for regular Americans.

Question 75

Cindy is a 16-year-old high school junior who wants to get involved in politics. She is passionate about certain issues, such as gun violence and tuition-free college, that directly impact her life. How can Cindy get involved in politics right now?

A) She can vote in the next presidential primary for a candidate whose beliefs align with hers.
B) She can run for a local office position on a platform that includes those issues.
C) She can cast a vote in the next state election for a representative who shares her values.
D) She can attend an anti-gun violence rally in her town to help bring awareness to the issue.

Question 76

According to the text, which is a political factor that explains why certain people vote on Election Day?

A) level of education
B) average income
C) interest in politics
D) ethnicity

Question 77

Which group is more likely to turn out to vote at a lower rate?

A) white men and women
B) those with high-paying jobs
C) college-educated individuals
D) racial and ethnic minorities

Question 78

According to the rational choice theory, why do some people choose not to vote?

A) If citizens do not know anything about the candidates running, it is not logical to cast a vote on Election Day.
B) Individual votes that are cast on Election Day do not have any real impact on the outcome of the election.
C) The cost of learning about candidates and taking the time to vote outweigh the benefits of voting.
D) Many people do not feel a sufficient sense of accomplishment or fulfillment of civic duty after voting regularly.

Question 79

Suppose the president has just issued an executive order, unchallenged by Congress, that makes Election Day a federal holiday and requires states to streamline voter registration requirements. What effect will this likely have on voter turnout?

A) Voter turnout will decrease.
B) Voter turnout will increase.
C) Voter turnout will stay the same.
D) Voter turnout will be near 100%.

Question 80

Which movement emerged in 2009 as a response to President Obama's deficit spending policies and proposals to overhaul the U. S. health care system?

A) the Tea Party
B) Black Lives Matter
C) Occupy Wall Street
D) #MeToo