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Parties
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Vocab
100

TRUE OR FALSE 

According to polling data, people with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservatives than are those with lower incomes

True

100

Define party platform 

statement of goals and policies for the next four years, highlights the party's beliefs for each issue or plank. It is written prior to the convention by the committee.

100

Define exit poll and list one thing revealed by the 2016 exit polls

a poll of people leaving a polling place, asking how they voted.

100

Registered voters directly elect which of the following:

I. The pres and vice pres

II. Supreme Court Justices

III. Members of the Senate

IV. Members of the House of Representatives 


A) I only

B) IV only 

C) I and II only 

D) III and IV only


D) III and IV only (congress) 

Electoral college for executive, nominations by executive and approval from senate for the Supreme Court Justices

100

Political socialization is the process by which

A) the use of private property is regulated by the government 

B) governments communicate with each other 

C) public attitudes toward government are measured and reported 

D) Political values are passed to the next generation 

D) Political values are passed to the next generation

200

Which is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections? 


A) partisan identification 

B) Party platform adopted at the national convention 

C) Vice presidential running mate

D) Endorsement by political incumbents 

A) partisan identification 

(people are loyal to the party they identify with and will vote for them) 

200

Which of the following planks would be linked to the Republican party platform 

I) Pro-choice 

II) Anti-immigration 

III) Pro-gun control 

IV) Pro Welfare 

V) Pro Life


A) I and II

B) II, IV and V

C) II and V

D) None 

II) Anti-immigration 

V) Pro-life


C) Anti-immigration and pro-life

200

Which of the following is NOT a battleground states: 

Ohio, Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Iowa, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania

Massachusetts
200

When did African American women technically get the right to vote?

Passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920

200

Which of the following best summarizes the concept of dealignment?

A) People are increasingly detached from political parties 

B) A large number of people change political party allegiance 

C) The two major political parties have become increasingly ideological 

D) A third party begins to attract a majority of voters 

A) People are increasingly detached from political parties 

300

Which of the following generalizations about group voting tendencies is true?

A) Jewish votes tend to vote Republican
B) Protestant voters tend to be more liberal than Roman Catholics on economic issues

C) More women than men tend to identify themselves as Republicans

D) African American Democrats tend to support more liberal candidates within their party 

D) African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party

300

Who of the national chairperson of a party and what is their job? 

A political party chairperson is the head of a political party at the local, state, or national level. A chairperson generally acts as the chief executive officer of the party and oversees party operations, election strategy, candidate recruitment, and fundraising. A chairperson's specific duties depend on each unique party's structure and bylaws. (DAY TO DAY MANAGEMENT)

300

Describe two reasons that the founding fathers created the Electoral College.

1. Buffer between population and selection of President (fear the will of the majority) 

2. Protect small states, make sure minority interests have a say

300

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

26th amendment in 1971 (reaction to Vietnam war and draft)

300

Interest groups and political parties both promote the United States democracy by, 

A) expressing detailed ideologically distinct programs 

B) centralizing public authority 

C) linking citizens to the political process

D) increasing domination of the political process by elites

C) linking citizens to the political process

(LINKAGE INSTITUTIONS)

400

Which of the following important functions of democracy would most likely be more difficult without political parties?

(A) Eliminating corruption in the bureaucracy

(B) Educating the public about upcoming elections

(C) Ensuring that only eligible voters can vote

(D) Reducing gridlock in Congress

(B) Educating the public about upcoming elections

400

Identify two activities that political parties do to win elections AND describe one way third parties can affect elections

Two activities: advertise, fundraise, nominate candidates, organize rallies, hold conventions, mobilize voters, generate a platform, conduct public opinion polling, recruit candidates 


Ways third party influences it: • Take votes away from one of the major party candidates (spoiler effect) • Bring new issues to the forefront/set the agenda • Give voters another option • Shift attention away from the major party candidates

400

A realigning critical election is characterized by which of the following: 

I. Unusually low voter turnout

II. Clear policy differences between the major parties

III. The tendency of voters to engage in split-ticket voting 

IV. A significant and long-lasting shift of group of support from one party to another


A) II only

B) I and II only 

C) II and IV only 

D) I, II, III, and IV

C) Clear policy differences and a significant and long-lasting shift of group support from one party to another

400
Define at least three types of primaries and tell me which one is most common

closed/modified closed primaries are most common 

400

Define linkage institution, list the four linkage institutions and provide an example for how two of these function

Parties: nominate and elect candidates to office (how gov should run= ideologies)

Elections: allow you to select your rep (republicanism)

Media: gatekeeper, watchdog, scorekeeper

Special Interests: pluralistic, represent minority views to influence government

(Polling sometimes fifth)

500

25. Which of the following is a consequence of candidate-centered campaigns?

(A) The electoral success of third-party candidates sharply increases.

(B) Parties tighten their control over candidate fund-raising to ensure compliance with regulations.

(C) Candidates have less accountability for their positions because the importance of the party platform increases.

(D) Candidates’ ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.

(D) Candidates’ ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.


Campaigns have become more candidate centered in recent years

500

Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on your knowledge of voter behavior?

(A) More citizens vote in presidential elections because more citizens are eligible to vote in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

(B) More citizens vote in presidential elections because there is more media coverage of presidential elections than midterm elections.

(C) More citizens vote in midterm elections because midterm elections are more important than presidential elections.

(D) More citizens vote in midterm elections because there is more m

(B) More citizens vote in presidential elections because there is more media coverage of presidential elections than midterm elections.

500

List the 7 steps of the election process in order

1. Candidates announce their candidacy 

2. Invisible primary 

3. Party primary/caucus

4. National Convention

5. General Election

6. Electoral College Vote

7. Inauguration of President

500

Explain the difference between primaries and general elections OR explain the difference between congressional and presidential elections:

The United States holds two very different kinds of elections: primary and general. Both are important in determining the will of the people. This process finds out who the people want to run for each party, and then which party's candidate they choose over the other party's candidate. The primary election is the party nomination part of the election and the general election is the vote for the office-holder.


Primary Election

A primary election is the process used by political parties to nominate their candidates to run in the general election. Each party has its own primary election to decide which of its candidates has the best chance of winning the general election over competing parties. Primary elections force party members to run against each other to gain nominations. In the United States, this means that Republicans run against other Republicans and Democrats run against other Democrats in primary elections.

In a primary election, you are only allowed to vote for one party's candidate. When you register to vote, you must choose a political party or identify as an independent voter. If you register as an independent voter with no party affiliation, you may not be able to vote during primary elections in some states. Certain states, like Florida, have closed primary races that only allow votes from voters who are registered with one of the parties in the running and even then they can only vote for the party with which they are registered. If you registered as a Democrat, for example, but your favorite candidate happens to be a Republican in a primary race, you may only be able to vote for one of the Democratic candidates in the primary.

General Election

The general election is the main election where the voters make their final decision on the winner. This vote is mostly between those individuals nominated by their party in the primary elections, but it also includes any independent candidates.

500
Define unconventional and conventional participation and give an example of both AND describe which one might be more affective.


Political Participation is any activity that shapes, affects, or involves the political sphere. Political participation ranges from voting to attending a rally to committing an act of terrorism to sending a letter to a representative. Broadly speaking, there are three types of participation:

Conventional Participation: Activities that we expect of good citizens. For most people, participation occurs every few years at election time. People strongly committed to politics are more likely to participate on a regular basis.


Example: Conventional political participation includes voting, volunteering for a political campaign, making a campaign donation, belonging to activist groups, and serving in public office.


Unconventional Participation: Activities that are legal but often considered inappropriate. Young people, students, and those with grave concerns about a regime’s policies are most likely to engage in unconventional participation.


Example: Unconventional political participation includes signing petitions, supporting boycotts, and staging demonstrations and protests.