144 Questions
Which of the following is the main goal of a political party?
To control government
Why do political parties facilitate collective action in the electoral process?
To win elections
What is the main difference between political parties and interest groups?
Political parties exist to win elections, while interest groups mainly focus on influencing elected officials.
According to the text, who determines the composition of the committees in Congress?
The majority party
What is the main purpose of political parties, as stated in the text?
To elect political candidates
According to the text, what is the relationship between the president and his party?
The president's character and popularity shape the party's brand
Which type of primary allows members of any party to vote in the primary?
Open primary
In a state with closed primaries, who can vote in the democratic primary?
Only democrats
Why do some states try to have their primaries early?
To have more participation
Which of the following is one of the main functions of political parties in the U.S.?
Recruit candidates
What happens once a candidate has enough delegates?
They become the nominee
What is the process through which a potential candidate is chosen to represent a particular party in an election?
Nominating
Which type of primary election allows only registered voters of a particular party to vote?
Closed primary
What is the main reason for political parties to recruit and nominate candidates?
To ensure the best candidates are chosen
Which of the following statements is true about the first elections under the new Constitution in 1788?
There were no parties during the first elections.
When did the first party system in America begin?
1796
Which parties were involved in the first party system?
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
Which party was dominant in the presidential contests between 1800 and 1824?
Democratic-Republicans
Who was the first Whig candidate to win the presidency?
William Henry Harrison
Which party re-branded themselves as the 'Democrats'?
Democratic-Republicans
Which party was destroyed by the issue of slavery?
Whigs
During the third party system, the Democratic party gained support from which two groups of people?
White Southerners and working class immigrants
Which party was primarily associated with political machines during the third party system?
Democratic party
Which party merged with the Democrats in 1896 and brought certain elements of populism?
The People's Party (Populists)
Which party was unable to elect any presidential candidates between 1896 and 1932, except for Woodrow Wilson in 1912?
Democratic party
Which group of people were attracted to the Democratic party during the New Deal era?
All of the above
What was a major re-alignment in terms of African American support for political parties?
African Americans shifted their support from the Republican party to the Democratic party
What is the main reason for the shift in the South from solid Democratic support to unshakable Republican support?
Race and the Democrats' support of civil rights legislation
Which group of voters is now more likely to vote Republican compared to the past?
White working class men
According to Duverger's Law, what is the strongest influence on the number of parties in a political system?
The way people vote
What is the voting method used in America called?
Plurality voting
What is the main disadvantage of winner-takes-all districts in terms of representation?
Smaller parties have no chance of winning
According to Duverger's 2nd Factor, why is plurality voting hard on small parties?
People are afraid of the 'Spoiler' effect
What is one advantage of Approval Voting over plurality voting?
Approval Voting allows voters to express all the candidates they approve of
What is the main difference between Approval Voting and Proportional Representation?
Approval Voting is a single-winner voting method, while Proportional Representation is a multi-winner voting method
What is one advantage of Proportional Representation over plurality voting?
Proportional Representation encourages more honest voting
Which organization supports Crash Course U.S. Government and Politics?
Voqal
What is the main purpose of Voqal?
To promote social equity
Who is Crash Course made with the help of?
Special interests
Which branch of government do interest groups primarily focus on?
Congress
What is the term used to describe the combination of interest groups, congress, and the bureaucracy?
Iron triangle
Which level of government is it more likely for interest groups to write bills for?
State
Which group is more likely to have more funding for research and information compared to bureaucratic agencies?
Interest groups
Which of the following is a main function of interest groups in the U.S. political system?
Mobilizing voters and putting direct pressure on elected officials
What is the main characteristic of an interest group?
It is an organized group of individuals
What are the two main things that interest groups do when they interact with the government?
Shape policies and gather information for elected officials
What is one argument in favor of interest groups, according to the clone with a tie?
Interest groups offer more opportunity for participation in politics.
According to the clone without a tie, why do interest groups diminish American democracy?
Interest groups represent the voices of the wealthy.
What evidence does the clone without a tie provide to support their argument?
A chart showing the growth of PACs since the mid-1970s.
What is the main function of interest groups in the American political system, according to Wheezy?
To shape policies that affect people's lives.
According to the pluralist theory, what is the main proposition regarding interest groups?
Every group with a particular interest should be able to form an organization that will pursue policies to further that interest.
What is the main reason why not every interest forms a group, according to political scientists?
Collective action problems
What is a classic example of a collective action problem?
Building a road that many people could use but no one individual could build on their own
What is one type of benefit that interest groups provide to their members?
Financial benefits
What is the term used to describe people who benefit from a project without contributing to it?
Free riders
Why are smaller groups more successful in forming and pushing their agenda compared to larger groups?
They are more cohesive
What is the term used to describe individuals who make extraordinary efforts to bring people together for the purpose of changing policy?
Political entrepreneurs
Which term describes the practice of an organized group encouraging its members to contact elected officials through letter writing, emails, or telephone calls?
Grassroots lobbying
What is one reason why grassroots lobbying has become increasingly prominent?
Advancements in technology
What term is used to describe bogus attempts at grassroots organizing?
Astroturf lobbying
Which of the following is an example of an insider lobbying strategy mentioned in the text?
Filing amicus curiae briefs
What is the main purpose of grassroots lobbying?
To engage in protests
Which group is often the focus of the courts in terms of lobbying strategies?
Minority groups
What is the main goal of lobbying according to the text?
To influence policy by providing officials with information
According to James Madison, why did he believe it was better to let factions flourish and compete against each other?
To protect individual freedoms
What is the main difference between interest groups and political parties?
Interest groups do not primarily focus on electing candidates or controlling the government
What is one concern raised about the number of interests in the United States?
All of the above
What is the primary goal of interest groups?
To influence government decision-making
What is a lobbyist?
Someone who influences policy
What is lobbying?
Influencing policy through contacting lawmakers
What is the relationship between interest groups and political parties?
They sometimes work together and sometimes compete
Which of the following is a common insider tactic used by lobbyists?
Contacting lawmakers
What is the primary goal of most interest groups in their lobbying efforts?
To influence decision-makers and public policies
Which of the following is an example of an outside lobbying tactic?
Placing stories and articles in the media
What are some tactics used by interest groups to get their message out to the public?
Entering coalitions with other groups
Which of the following is an example of a membership group mentioned in the text?
The National Rifle Association (NRA)
What is the main purpose of interest groups?
To represent the views and concerns of a specific group of people
What is the term used to describe groups of institutions that join with others within the same trade or industry?
Associations
What is the main difference between inside lobbying and outside lobbying?
Inside lobbying takes the interest group's message directly to a government official, while outside lobbying targets the general public.
Which of the following is a characteristic of a collective action problem?
Organizations must overcome collective action problems to be productive
According to economist Mancur Olson, where are collective action problems prevalent?
Among organized interests
Why do most people take no action on most issues, according to the text?
Their action will likely have little bearing on whether a given policy is adopted
Which of the following is a reason why some students choose to do little on a group project?
They prefer to do something else
What is the term used to describe the phenomenon where some individuals can receive benefits without helping to bear the cost?
Free rider problem
Why do many listeners not contribute to National Public Radio's fund-raising efforts?
Their donation is unlikely to be decisive in whether NPR has adequate funding
What advantage do smaller, well-organized interest groups have in mobilizing compared to larger groups?
Opinions within smaller groups may be more similar, making it easier to reach consensus
Why do interest groups use incentives to overcome collective action problems?
To encourage members to join and participate
Which of the following is an example of a situation where membership in an organization is required in order to participate in a profession?
Joining the American Bar Association to practice law
When could union membership be required of workers in the past?
In urban areas controlled by political machines
Which of the following is a reason why the wealthy and elites do not always win in every situation, according to the text?
Their position may be at odds with the wish of an attentive public
What was the recent dispute between fast food chains and their employees about?
Minimum wage
What was the outcome of the dispute between fast food chains and their employees in New York?
The minimum wage for fast food employees was raised to $15 per hour
Which of the following is an example of a way in which interest groups offer opportunities for political participation?
Attending Tea Party protests
What role did established interest groups play in promoting the aims of the Tea Party movement?
They actively supported and promoted the movement
What is one issue that advocacy interest organizations like the Human Rights Campaign are currently dealing with?
Continuing discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community
Which of the following is a reason for the increase in the number of interest groups in the United States?
Advancements in technology and social media
Which issues does the interest group Student PIRGs focus on?
Education costs and homelessness
What are some common barriers to political participation in the United States?
Wealth and education
What is one reason why not every interest forms a group, according to political scientists?
Lack of resources
Which of the following is a reason why individuals living in poverty may have limited opportunities to participate in politics?
They have financial barriers to participation
Which group is more likely to participate in the political process due to their tremendous resources?
Large corporations
What is the main argument of pluralist scholars regarding representation in the political system?
People naturally join groups and compete for access to decision-makers
According to the elite critique, which interests are often overrepresented before government?
Businesses and the wealthy
Which event is considered a turning point in LGBTQ identity and led to increased cultural acceptance and securing of rights?
The Stonewall Inn riots
What is the significance of the Stonewall Inn in New York City?
It is a historic landmark for the LGBTQ movement
What is an example of digital means used by interest groups to gain attention for their causes?
Hashtag activism
How do interest groups frame issues to benefit their cause?
By using emotionally charged language
What is the main difference between the terms 'climate change' and 'global warming'?
'Climate change' refers to the negative effects of human activity on the earth's temperature and weather patterns, while 'global warming' refers to alterations in the earth's climate.
According to political scientists Jeffrey Berry and Clyde Wilcox, what are some functions of interest groups?
Representing people and serving as a link between them and government, influencing public policy, and educating the public.
What is an example of a grassroots movement mentioned in the text?
The Tea Party
What has been a trend in lobbying over the past few decades?
Increased professionalization and sophistication of lobbying techniques.
Which group has the most influence on government policy decisions?
Wealthy voters
What is the iron triangle?
A hypothetical arrangement among three elements: interest groups, congressional committee members, and an agency within the bureaucracy
What is an alternate explanation for the arrangement of duties carried out by interest groups, legislators, and agency bureaucrats?
They are the experts in the given policy area
What do neopluralist scholars argue about the influence of certain interests?
Certain interests are in a privileged position
Which of the following is a challenge in assessing the influence of interest groups on lawmakers?
Uncertainty about the impact of interest group contributions
What do interest group contributions primarily buy from lawmakers?
Access to lawmakers
What is the main reason why it is difficult to determine the impact of interest group contributions on the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
The ACA would have been different without interest group lobbying
Which of the following is a result of the 2010 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
There is no limit to how much money unions or corporations can donate to super PACs.
What is the main purpose of political action committees (PACs)?
To collect funds from donors and distribute them to candidates who support their issues.
What is a super PAC?
A PAC that can spend unlimited amounts of money on behalf of political candidates.
Which of the following is a reason why interest groups support incumbents in elections?
Interest groups want access to the candidate who is likely to win
Why do interest groups support candidates who are sympathetic to their views?
To gain access to lawmakers once they are in office
What is one way interest groups influence governmental policy?
By providing lawmakers with information about technical details of policy proposals
Why do interest groups target members of relevant committees in the legislative process?
To directly inform other lawmakers about their positions
Which branch of government do interest groups primarily focus on?
Legislative branch
What is the main purpose of political parties, as stated in the text?
To nominate candidates for elections
What is one concern raised about the number of interests in the United States?
It leads to excessive lobbying and influence
What are some tactics used by interest groups to get their message out to the public?
Advertising, social media campaigns, and grassroots mobilization
What is one of the products manufactured by Koch Industries?
Paper
In the 2012 election, how much money did the Koch brothers and their affiliates spend supporting Republican candidates?
$400 million
Do some people argue that the ability to donate unlimited amounts of money to political candidates is protected as a First Amendment right?
Yes
Which of the following did lobbyist Jack Abramoff do during his time as a lobbyist for a prominent law firm?
Paid for trips for members of Congress
What was Jack Abramoff lobbying Congress for in relation to the Northern Mariana Islands?
Exempt the territory from paying the federal minimum wage
What was the outcome of Jack Abramoff's activities as a lobbyist?
He was sentenced to four years in prison
What requirements do foreign lobbyists have to fulfill when lobbying the U.S. government?
Register as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act
What did the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case do?
Allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections
What did the McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission case do?
Limited the amount of money individuals can donate to campaigns
What did the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act do?
Restricted the use of soft money in campaigns
What did the Federal Election Campaign Act require?
Required public disclosure of campaign contributions and their sources
Which act increased restrictions on lobbying in 2007?
Honest Leadership and Open Government Act
What is the penalty for knowingly violating the law regarding gift giving, according to the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act?
$200,000 fine
Which former lawmakers are mentioned as examples of individuals who became lobbyists?
Trent Lott and Richard Gephardt
What is the purpose of disclosure requirements in lobbying?
To promote transparency and prevent accusations of vote buying
Test your knowledge of primary elections in the United States and discover the differences between closed and open primaries. Learn about the impact of these primary systems on voter participation and their potential effects on general election outcomes. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of the electoral process!
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