exam 4

Question 1

what are citizens

Answer 1

Members of the polity who, through birth or naturalization, enjoy the rights, privileges, and responsibilities attached to membership in a given nation.

Question 2

what is the most common factor of influence on a person’s political position?

Answer 2

their parents

Question 3

what are political parties?

Answer 3

A group of people with shared ideals and common goals that attempt to forward those goals by controlling the government through winning elections.

Question 4

what are interest groups?

Answer 4

Associations of people who hold common views and who work together to influence what government does.

Question 5

what are registered voters?

Answer 5

people that can participate in elections

Question 6

what is lobbying?

Answer 6

The act of communicating with government officials to persuade them to support a particular policy position.

Question 7

what amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

Answer 7

the 26th amendment

Question 8

what is a divided government?

Answer 8

When one party holds the presidency but does not control both houses of Congress.

Question 9

what is a special interest group?

Answer 9

The National Rifle Association, The TEA Party, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers are considered this type of interest group.

Question 10

what amendment gave women the right to vote?

Answer 10

the 19th amendment

Question 11

The National Rifle Association is an example of what type of interest group?

Answer 11

Single-issue group

Question 12

what is the primary system?

Answer 12

The most common method for nominating candidates for public office in the United States.

Question 13

what were the two parties in the early republic?

Answer 13

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

Question 14

what is mobilization?

Answer 14

Efforts by party activists and interest groups to turn out potential supporters.

Question 15

who led the Democratic-Republicans political party?

Answer 15

Thomas Jefferson

Question 16

what is the electoral college?

Answer 16

A group of people from each state, chosen by the voters of that state, who formally elect the president and vice president.

Question 17

what happened in Reynolds v. Simms?

Answer 17

the Supreme Court held that everyone’s vote should count roughly the same regardless of where they live

Question 18

what is gerrymandering?

Answer 18

Drawing a congressional boundary to give one political party electoral advantage over the opposing party.

Question 19

what is grassroots lobbying?

Answer 19

The action of persuading citizens to contact their elected officials regarding a particular issue or piece of legislation.

Question 20

what reform in the early twentieth century reduced the power of political parties?

Answer 20

Primary Elections

Question 21

what are linkage institutions?

Answer 21

Groups that connect the public to the federal government and translate public concerns into political issues for the government to address.

Question 22

what is the place and time of year (month) that Electoral College electors vote?

Answer 22

At their state capitol, in December

Question 23

what was Buckley v. Valeo?

Answer 23

The Supreme Court case that upheld Congress’ right to regulate elections by restricting contributions to campaigns and candidates, but also overturned restrictions on expenditures by candidates and their families.

Question 24

what was Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?

Answer 24

Supreme Court decision that declared unconstitutional the ban on corporations and unions’ contributing money for “electioneering communications”.

Question 25

what causes the free rider problem?

Answer 25

It occurs when people fail to join a group because they can get the benefits the group offers without contributing to the group’s efforts.

Question 26

T/F: The party in the electorate are those members of the voting public who consider themselves to be part of a political party.

Answer 26

true

Question 27

Reynolds v. Simms held that…

Answer 27

Districts had to be adjusted so they would have roughly equal population

Question 28

T/F: Divided government occurs when the state and local governments try to implement a policy that is different from the national government.

Answer 28

false

Question 29

In a primary election the voters choose…

Answer 29

the candidate for office

Question 30

T/F: Third parties have brought important issues to the attention of the electorate but have failed to last because the major parties have incorporated those issues into their platforms.

Answer 30

true

Question 31

T/F: The collective action problem exists when people have a disincentive to act.

Answer 31

true

Question 32

T/F: Free riding is when some individuals can receive benefits without helping to bear the cost.

Answer 32

true

Question 33

T/F: Direct or inside lobbying is directly involving interest group members in lobbying efforts.

Answer 33

false

Question 34

T/F: The Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruled that corporation and unions can spend unlimited amounts of their funds on elections.

Answer 34

true

Question 35

Grassroots lobbying tactics include…

Answer 35

press releases, sending letters, placing articles in the media, making telephone calls

Question 36

T/F: Winners always outspend their opponents.

Answer 36

false

Question 37

T/F: While in office members of the House and Senate work throughout their term to secure their reelection. This is described as the permanent campaign.

Answer 37

true

Question 38

T/F: If a tie occurs in the Electoral College the Senate elects the President.

Answer 38

false

Question 39

T/F: The Electoral College meets in January every four years to elect the president.

Answer 39

false

Question 40

Voter turnout can be predicted with a strong degree of accuracy. The factors that influence voter turnout are:

Answer 40

age, education, income