Political Parties and Interest Groups Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is a political party?

A group sharing similar political beliefs and goals.

What are party eras?

Periods of party dominance in government.

What are critical elections?

Elections causing significant party realignment.

What is party realignment?

<p>Shift of party loyalty among voters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are delegates?

<p>Individuals representing voters at party conventions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are minor parties?

<p>Political parties outside the main two.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a winner-take-all system?

<p>Candidate winning majority gets all delegates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is proportional representation?

<p>Seats allocated based on vote percentage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is patronage?

<p>Political support rewarded with government jobs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a national convention?

<p>Event for party nomination and platform creation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Duverger's Law?

<p>Single-member districts favor two-party systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a caucus?

<p>Meeting of party members to select candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is party-in-government?

<p>Elected officials representing a political party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is party-in-the-electorate?

<p>Voters identifying with a political party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a single-member district?

<p>One representative per electoral district.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are issue ads?

<p>Advertisements focusing on specific political issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is selective perception?

<p>Interpreting information based on personal biases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are coattails?

<p>Influence of popular candidates on other candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is retrospective voting?

<p>Voting based on candidate's past performance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the franking privilege?

<p>Free mailing for Congress members.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a divided government?

<p>Different parties control different government branches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is party identification?

<p>Voter's personal affiliation with a political party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ticket splitting?

<p>Voting for candidates from different parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are political action committees?

<p>Organizations raising funds for political campaigns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are iron triangles?

<p>Stable relationships among interest groups, Congress, and agencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is soft money?

<p>Unregulated donations to political parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Buckley v. Valeo?

<p>Court case limiting campaign spending.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Citizens United v. FEC?

<p>Ruling allowing unlimited corporate spending.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is muckraking?

<p>Investigative journalism exposing corruption.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is gerrymandering?

<p>Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an environmental interest group?

<p>Focus on environmental protection and policy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are political machines?

<p>Corrupt party organizations using patronage for control.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are candidate-centered campaigns?

<p>Focus on individual candidates over party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is loyal opposition?

<p>Party opposing the majority while supporting government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Election of 1800?

<p>First peaceful transfer of power between parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is John Adams?

<p>Federalist president who tied in Electoral College.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Electoral College?

<p>System for electing the president via state votes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How many times did the Electoral College have to vote to elect Adams?

<p>36 ballot attempts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did Jefferson win the presidency?

<p>Won presidency with support from 10 states.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the Federalists' power transfer?

<p>Peaceful transition of power to Republicans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were Hamilton's economic policies?

<p>Advocated for private enterprise investments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a national bank?

<p>Bank established to stabilize the economy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are excise taxes?

<p>Taxes on specific goods, like whiskey.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What were Hamilton's pro-British trade policies?

<p>Hamilton's support for continued trade with Britain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did the Republicans oppose?

<p>Jefferson and Madison opposed Hamilton's policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of war bonds speculation?

<p>Greedy investors profiting from government bonds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are linkage institutions?

<p>Connect citizens to government: parties, media, groups.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are interest groups?

<p>Organizations advocating for specific issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does media influence the government?

<p>Shapes public agenda by highlighting key issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is investigative journalism?

<p>Reporting aimed at uncovering political scandals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is horse race journalism?

<p>Coverage focusing on campaign competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a sound bite?

<p>Short, impactful statements by candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is media watchdog?

<p>Monitors government actions for public awareness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a two-party system?

<p>Political landscape dominated by Democrats and Republicans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define the winner-take-all system.

<p>Electoral system favoring major parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a National Party Convention?

<p>Event showcasing party nominees to the public.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are candidate-centered elections?

<p>Elections focused on individual candidates over parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define political parties.

<p>Organizations that seek to gain political power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are independent voters?

<p>Citizens who do not align with any party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define divided government.

<p>One party controls Congress, another the presidency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is polarization?

<p>Increasing ideological distance between political parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is campaign finance?

<p>Funding of political campaigns and elections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Federal Election Commission?

<p>Agency enforcing campaign finance laws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the McCain-Feingold Act?

<p>Law aimed at regulating soft money contributions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Political Action Committees (PACs)?

<p>Organizations raising funds for political candidates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 527 Organizations?

<p>Tax-exempt groups influencing elections without direct candidate support.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are grassroots campaigns?

<p>Mobilizing public opinion to influence politics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Amicus Curiae Briefs?

<p>Legal documents offering advice to courts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are economic interest groups?

<p>Groups advocating for financial interests of members.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are public interest groups?

<p>Organizations aiming to improve society's welfare.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is lobbying?

<p>Direct interaction with legislators to influence policy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are issue specialists?

<p>Groups providing technical information to legislators.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Where does the majority of campaign funds go?

<p>Primarily directed to Congressional incumbents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are factions?

<p>Groups with shared interests, as discussed in Federalist #10.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is hyperpluralism?

<p>Theory suggesting too many competing groups hinder governance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Greenpeace?

<p>Environmental organization advocating for ecological issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the League of Conservation Voters?

<p>Political organization focused on environmental legislation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the NAACP?

<p>Civil rights organization for African Americans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a policy agenda?

<p>Set of issues prioritized by policymakers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is agenda setting?

<p>Media's role in highlighting important public issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is media influence?

<p>News media shapes public opinion on issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is presidential campaign coverage?

<p>Focus on daily activities during elections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an electoral coalition?

<p>Alliance of groups supporting a political party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is voter identification trends?

<p>Decline in self-identification as Democrats or Republicans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are electoral system obstacles?

<p>Rules hindering minor party election success.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the media attention advantage?

<p>Presidents gain more media focus than Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is public opinion?

<p>Collective attitudes of citizens on issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Democratic Party decline?

<p>Reduced support among White southerners in the 1980s.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is youth media consumption?

<p>Younger audiences watch less TV news.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do interest groups support political parties?

<p>Ways interest groups assist political parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the goals of political parties?

<p>Elect candidates and control government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the diversity in Congress?

<p>Increase in minorities and women post-1992 election.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is ballot access?

<p>Requirements for third parties to appear on ballots.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is federal funding?

<p>Government financial support for presidential elections.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are third parties often excluded from presidential debates?

<p>Third parties often barred from major debates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are single-member plurality districts?

<p>Electoral system where one candidate wins per district.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do third parties bring to politics?

<p>New ideas.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Political Parties and Interest Groups

  • Political parties are groups with shared beliefs and goals, aiming to gain political power and nominate candidates for office.
  • Party eras are periods of party dominance in government.
  • Critical elections are events that cause significant shifts in party loyalty and alignments.
  • Party realignment is a change in voters' party loyalty among voters.
  • Delegates represent voters at party conventions.
  • Superdelegates are party leaders with unpledged voting power.
  • Minor parties are political parties outside the main two.
  • The winner-take-all system gives all delegates to the candidate with a majority of votes.
  • Proportional representation allocates seats based on vote percentage.
  • Patronage is political support rewarded with government jobs.
  • National conventions are events used to nominate party candidates and create platforms.
  • Duverger's Law explains how single-member districts favor a two-party system.
  • A caucus is a meeting of party members to choose candidates.
  • The party-in-government comprises elected officials representing a party.
  • The party-in-the-electorate is made up of voters identifying with a political party.
  • Single-member districts have one representative per electoral district.
  • Issue ads concentrate on specific political issues.
  • Selective perception is interpreting information based on personal biases.
  • Coattails are the influence of popular candidates on other candidates.
  • Retrospective voting is based on a candidate's past performance.
  • Prospective voting is based on candidate's future promises.
  • Franking privilege allows Congress members free mailing.
  • Divided government is when different parties control different government branches.
  • United government is when the same party controls both branches of government.
  • Party identification is a voter's personal affiliation with a political party.
  • Ticket splitting is voting for candidates from different parties.
  • Political action committees (PACs) raise funds for political campaigns.
  • Iron triangles refer to stable relationships among interest groups, Congress, and government agencies.
  • Soft money is unregulated donations to political parties.
  • Hard money is regulated contributions to candidates.

Campaign Finance and Law

  • Buckley v. Valeo limited campaign spending.
  • Citizens United v. FEC allowed unlimited corporate spending.
  • Muckraking is investigative journalism exposing corruption.
  • Gerrymandering manipulates district boundaries for political advantage, often involving cracking (diluting voter influence) and packing (concentrating voters).
  • Environmental interest groups focus on environmental issues and policy.
  • Political machines are corrupt party organizations using patronage for control.
  • Candidate-centered campaigns focus on candidates rather than parties.
  • Loyal opposition is a party opposing the majority but supporting the governmental processes

Early American Politics (1700s-1800s)

  • Election of 1800 was the first peaceful transfer of power between parties.
  • John Adams was a Federalist president who was involved in a tie in the Electoral College.
  • The Electoral College is a system for electing the president using state votes.
  • 36 ballot attempts were needed to elect Jefferson's successor.
  • Jefferson's victory represented a shift in power from Federalists to Republicans.

Linkage Institutions and Interest Groups

  • Linkage institutions connect citizens with their government through parties, media, and interest groups.
  • Interest groups advocate for specific issues and policies.
  • Media influences the public agenda by highlighting specific issues.
  • Investigative journalism reports on political scandals.
  • Horse-race journalism focuses on campaign competition.
  • Sound bites are short, effective statements by candidates.
  • The media act as a watchdog for government actions.

Contemporary Political Parties, Elections, and Public Opinion

  • Two-party system is the U.S.'s dominant political trend.
  • Third parties face challenges in gaining electoral traction.
  • The winner-take-all system favors major parties.
  • National party conventions showcase party nominees.
  • Candidate-centered elections focus on individual candidates.
  • Political parties aim to win elections and control government.
  • Interest groups seek to influence legislation and policies.
  • Independent voters are not affiliated with any particular political party.
  • Divided government means one party controls Congress while the other controls the presidency.
  • Voter turnout is frequently lower in mid-term elections.
  • Cost of campaigns leads to voter distrust and apathy.

Campaign Finance Reform and Regulation

  • Campaign finance reform includes changes in campaign funding regulation.
  • Independent expenditures are funded by un-affiliated groups.
  • Closed primaries require party affiliation to vote.
  • Plurality elections are where the candidate with the most votes wins, not necessitating a majority.
  • Public financing funds presidential campaigns only.
  • Soft money is unregulated party contributions.
  • Hard money is regulated candidate contributions.
  • PACs raise funds to support or oppose candidates and initiatives.
  • 527 organisations are tax-exempt groups, influencing elections without directly supporting candidates.
  • Grassroots campaigns mobilize ordinary people for political causes.

Interest Groups and Political Strategies

  • Economic interest groups advocate for financial interests.
  • Public interest groups aim for societal betterment.
  • Lobbying is direct interaction with lawmakers to influence policy.
  • Issue specialists give technical information to policymakers.
  • Majority of campaign funds go to incumbent Congressional members.
  • Factions are groups with shared interests that influence political outcomes.
  • Hyperpluralism suggests many competing groups hamper governance.
  • Interest groups like Greenpeace and the League of Conservation Voters exist to influence policy.
  • The NAACP is a civil rights organization.
  • Policy agenda is a set of prioritized issues.
  • Agenda setting is the media's role in highlighting important issues.
  • Presidential campaign coverage focuses on daily activities.
  • Minor parties represent alternative political viewpoints.
  • Electoral coalitions are groups supporting a political party.
  • Critical elections mark significant voter shifts.

Contemporary Issues in American Politics

  • Voter identification trends reveal a decrease in self-identification with either party.
  • Electoral system obstacles hinder minor party success.
  • Media attention gives presidents more focus than Congress.
  • Public opinion is the collective attitudes of citizens on political matters.
  • Democratic party decline reflects reduced support among Southern Whites.
  • Younger audiences consume less television news than previous generations.
  • Interest group support aids parties in achieving goals.
  • Political party goals include electing candidates and controlling government.
  • Diversity in Congress increased post 1992.
  • The winner-take-all system awards all electoral college votes to one candidate.
  • Ballot access requirements impact third-party participation.
  • Campaign finance regulates funding sources.
  • Federal funding is limited to presidential campaigns.
  • Third-party presidential candidates are frequently excluded from debates.
  • Single-member plurality districts favor dominant parties.
  • New ideas are introduced by third parties.
  • Third parties serve as a voice for fringe groups, act as a safety valve expressing discontent with major parties, and enhance voter participation and offer critical perspectives.
  • Third parties push major parties to include underrepresented issues.
  • Decline in voter turnout has consequences.
  • Consequences of voter distrust are political apathy and disengagement.
  • Campaign finance reforms are legislative changes adjusting campaign funding methods.

Additional

  • Independent expenditures: spending by unaffiliated individuals and groups.
  • First Amendment: protects free speech and political contributions.
  • Buckley v. Valeo: Supreme Court case on campaign finance regulations.
  • Political action committees (PACs): groups raising money for political candidates.
  • Grassroots participation: ordinary citizens' involvement in political processes.
  • Campaign contributions: funds given to candidates.
  • Monetary contributions: financial donations for political action.
  • Lobbying: influencing policymakers for specific goals.
  • Litigation: legal action to influence policy.
  • Mass mobilization: organizing large groups for political causes.
  • Transparency in campaigns: disclosure of funding and expenses.
  • Influence of interest groups: ability to sway policy.
  • Campaign finance reform: changes to regulations.
  • Corporate lobbyists: represent businesses influencing legislation.
  • Factions: groups with shared interests affecting outcomes.
  • Candidate endorsement by interest groups.
  • Media campaigns: using media to promote candidates.
  • Political strategies: plans for electoral success.
  • Public opinion: collective citizen attitudes.
  • Contribution limits: legal caps on individual donations.

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Test your knowledge on political parties and interest groups with this quiz. Explore concepts like party eras, critical elections, and the role of delegates. Understand important terms such as patronage and proportional representation.

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