Socialization
The most important influence in an individual’s political socialization if his or her
a. school
b. church
c. occupational group
d. family
e. local government
d. Family
Which of the following groups have had the highest percentage of its members voting for Democratic candidates in recent presidential elections?
a. white southerners
b. blacks
c. Jews
d. blue-collar workers
e. Catholics
b. blacks
Public opinion polls are most likely to be accurate if
a. the candidate personally finances the poll
b. the polls are taken at least three weeks before the election
c. outspoken minorities are polled
d. the federal government sponsors the polls
e. a representative sample of voters is polled
e. a representative sample of voters is polled
What are TWO agents of political socialization?
The most important agents of political socialization are family, religion, school, peers, group affiliations, and exposure to mass media.
The process through which an individual acquires his/her particular political views, knowledge, and evaluation is called
a. political socialization
b. political articulation
c. political aggregation
d. political efficacy
e. public opinion
a. Political Socialization
Which of the following is the most important institutional block to voter turnout? Today
a. literacy tests
b. poll taxes
c. voter registration
d. mediocre candidates
c. voter registration
Traditionally, the Republican party has enjoyed electoral success in
a. cities
b. the middle-Atlantic states
c. the South
d. the most populous states
e. parts of the mid-West and New England
c. the South
Summarize the legal struggle for African American voting rights.
The Fifteenth Amendment stipulates that “the rights of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by any state on account of race.” However, states employed literacy tests, poll taxes, violence and intimidation, and grandfather clauses to prevent blacks from voting. It was not until the voting Rights Act of 1965 that African American voting rights were enforced.
Scholars infer the existence of political culture by observing…
A The kinds of books Americans read.
B The political choices Americans make.
C The slogans Americans respond to
D The speeches Americans hear.
E All of the above.
E. All of the above
Which of the following is the best single predictor of the likelihood that citizens will vote?
a. income
b. race
c. age
d. gender
e. educational level
e. education level
A good public opinion poll requires all of the following EXCEPT:
a. a representative sample
b. carefully constructed questions
c. an accurate statistical analysis
d. careful planning
e. a 30% sample of the universe
e. a 30% sample of the universe
What age group votes the most? The least?
People between 18-24 vote the least, while those over 65 vote the most.
Compared with people in other democracies, Americans are particularly preoccupied with…
A. Elections.
B The assertion of rights.
C Social harmony.
D Institutions
E. Equality.
Equality
All of the following are accurate descriptions of the voter registration system EXCEPT:
a. The registration system was adopted at the turn of the century to prevent corruption.
b. Registration procedures differ significantly from state to state
c. Voter registration is more difficult if an individual did not vote in the most recent election.
d. Turnout is higher in areas that are less restrictive in voter registration requirements.
c. Voter registration is more difficult if an individual did not vote in the most recent election.
Which is a correct description of trends in the political efficacy of Americans from the mid-1960s to today?
A. Internal efficacy has dramatically increased.
B. External efficacy has dramatically increased.
C. Internal efficacy and external efficacy have dramatically increased.
D. Internal efficacy appears to be in decline while external efficacy has remained the same.
E. Internal efficacy appears to be the same while external efficacy appears to be in decline.
D. Internal efficacy appears to be in decline while external efficacy has remained the same.
What is the most common form of political participation?
Voting is the most common form of political participation.
The increase in cynicism toward our government has been specifically directed at…
A. Officials and policies.
B The system of government itself.
C The Constitution.
D The Declaration of Independence.
E Capitalism in America.
A. Officials and policies.
Party identification is
a. almost always a reliable predictor of how a citizen will vote
b. a more important indicator of a citizens’ voting behavior than it was 40 years ago
c. not as strong an influence on voter behavior as it was before the days of television and candidate-centered politics
d. generally a more important influence on Democrats than on Republicans
a. almost always a reliable predictor of how a citizen will vote
Why is voting turnout so low in the United States?
The most common reasons cited for low turnout are scheduling conflicts, registration difficulties, political fatigue, and political apathy.
Define political culture.
Political culture is a set of basic values and beliefs about a country or government shared by most citizens.