Politics as Usual
American Landscape
Constitutional Underpinnings
100
How many officials would be elected in a winner-take-all, plurality district?
One
100
What section of the country has experienced the fastest population growth in the past two decades?
The South aka The Sun Belt
100
What is the difference between a representative democracy and a direct democracy?
Representative democracy: citizens vote for leaders/representatives Direct democracy: citizens vote on every major issue/decision
200
What is party dealignment?
When people leave their political party in favor of becoming independent/unaffiliated.
200
What ethnic group is the largest minority group in the U.S. today?
Hispanic/Latino
200
Name two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
No power to: tax, enforce laws, draft troops, control trade There was no: national army/navy, system of national courts Each state could issue its own paper money
300
Name two functions of a political party.
May include: control the government develop policy nominate people for office organize/inform voters watchdog for other party represent individuals/groups
300
How do younger Americans differ from older Americans in their political beliefs?
Generally speaking, younger voters are more liberal that older voters.
300
In the battle over Constitutional ratification, which group argued for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights?
The Anti-Federalists
400
Name one realigning election in American history.
1828, Andrew Jackson 1860, Abraham Lincoln 1896, William McKinley 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt
400
The US is predicted to have a minority majority population by 2050. What does this mean?
Whites will still be a plurality, but the combination of minorities will make up 51+%of the population.
400
What was the purpose of the 3/5 Compromise?
It decided how slaves would be counted (3/5ths a person) for representation purposes.
500
What does Duverger’s Law state?
Plurality-rule elections within single-member districts tend to favor a two-party system.
500
What is the name of political divisions within a society that can make political conflict more intense and society more polarized?
Reinforcing Cleavages
500
What was the agreement reached in the Connecticut Compromise?
Bicameral Congress House of Representatives: representation based on population (VA Plan) Senate: equal representation for each state (NJ Plan)
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