Political Parties, Ideologies, and Interest Groups

Essential Question

How does the two-party system influence American democracy?

Multiple Choice

Voter who does not support any particular party

• coalition goverment

• plurality

• independent

• liberal

Multiple Choice

What is one function of political parties?

• to lobby public officials to support the party's policies

• to critique the actions of public officials from their own party

• to reduce debate on controversial issues

• to get candidates elected to public office

Multiple Choice

In what way do parties contribute to political stability in the country?

• They dispense patronage after elections.

• They promote the peaceful transfer of power after elections.

• They influence members to vote along party lines.

• They educate the public on the issues.

Multiple Choice

The party that is out of power assumes the role of watchdog over the government by

• trying to block all proposals of the party in power.

• passing laws that counter those of the party in power.

• criticizing proposals of the party in power and offering alternative solutions.

• conducting surveillance of members of the party in power.

Multiple Choice

Which type of party system is usually found in nations with authoritarian governments?

• one-party system

• two-party system

• multi-party system

• coalition system

Multiple Choice

In what way do parties contribute to the political stability in the country?

• They dispense patronage after elections.

• They influence members to vote along party lines.

• They educate the public on the issues.

• They promote the peaceful transfer of power after elections.

Multiple Choice

What party system is most common in the world today?

• one-party system

• two-party system

• multi-party system

• coalition system

Multiple Choice

A coalition government generally forms when

• one party dominates the elected offices.

• one party fails to get enough support to control the government.

• one party disputes the results of the election.

• one party controls the presidency while another controls one of both houses of the legislature.

Multiple Choice

What were the two original political parties in the United States?

• Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

• Federalist-Republicans and Democrats

• Whigs and Federalists

• Whig-Republicans and Federalists

Multiple Choice

What is one impact of third parties in the United States?

• A third-party candidate sometimes wins the presidency.

• Major parties sometimes adopt third-party issues.

• Third parties tend to persist and influence elections over many cycles.

• Third-party candidates sometimes win a majority of seats in Congress.

Multiple Choice

Third-party candidates have difficulty winning elections in the United states because nearly all elected officials are selected by

• at-large districts

• caucuses.

• single-member districts.

• proportional representation.

Multiple Choice

Which political ideology is generally associated with the Democratic Party?

• conservative

• socialist

• liberal

• libertarian

Multiple Choice

Which political ideology is generally associated with the Republican Party?

• socialist

• conservative

• libertarian

• liberal

Multiple Choice

Which of these policies would Republicans most likely support?

• a tax increase

• reduced government regulation

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Discover the difference between PACs and SuperPACs

​PACs

Super PACs

​Origins: created in 1944 by the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which wanted to promote the re-election of President Roosevelt. In 1971, new regulations were established to limit the amount of money that corporations, unions and private doners could use to influence elections - $5,000 donations cap.

​Origins: Created only in 2010, following a decision of the Supreme Court, which allowed the organization Citizens United to air and promote a film, critical of HIllary Clinton, within 30 days of the 2008 Democratic primary elections. Even though they are much younger than the original PACs Super PACs have so far had a major impact in domestic policies and have raised millions of dollars to promote their agendas.

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Discover the difference between PACs and SuperPACs

​PACs

Super PACs

​Goal: can donate money directly to political parties - even though they have to respect some limits, but they can also invest money in advertisement broadcasting, campaigning and in any other activity overtly supporting the chose candidate.

Goal: Since Super PACs cannot directly donate money to their chosen candidate, they need to invest the funds raised in other activities advocating for or advertising against a political candidate.

Super PACs can raise unlimited funds from donors, unions, and corporations, without having to respect the $5,000 cap.

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Discover the difference between PACs and SuperPACs

​Similarities

PACs and Super PACs have several aspects in common. Even though there are some basic differences between the two, both are created to support candidates and/or parties and are deeply politicized. Some of the main similarities between the two include:

1. Both can be created and administered by corporations, nonprofit organizations, trade associations and labor unions;

2. Both can raise money to support their expenditures aimed at advocating for or advertising against candidates or parties;

3. Both have specific sets of rules they must respect;

4. Both can be created to support specific ideals (i.e. abortion rights, LGBTI rights, etc.) and both support candidates and parties with similar values and ideals; and

5. Both have also been seen as ways in which corporations and finance institutions can interfere in the political sphere of the country, although the criticism is more focused on Super PACs, which do not have any limits in fund raising and spending.

Multiple Choice

Because of polarization among Americans, the parties are more likely to nominate candidates who are

• centrist.

• ideological.

• moderate.

• independent.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following characterizes the relationship between levels of a party's organization?

• The national organization manages the state and local organizations.

• The national organization manages the state organization, and the state manages the local organization.

• The national, state, and local organizations operate independently.

• The state and local parties are made up of representatives from the national organization.

Multiple Choice

People who join a political party are obligated to

• give money.

• vote.

• volunteer during campaigns

• attend party meetings

Multiple Choice

In this type of primary, voters from both parties may participate.

• open primary

• direct primary

• indirect primary

• closed primary

Multiple Choice

A candidate who wins a plurality of the vote has received

• at least 50 percent plus one vote.

• fewer votes than the winner.

• a super-majority of votes.

• more votes than any other candidate.

Multiple Choice

In a proportional system, the candidate who wins a state's presidential primary gets

• all the state's convention delegates.

• delegates based on the state's population.

• delegates based on the number of popular votes he or she received.

• delegates based on the percentage of state party members who cast ballots.

Multiple Choice

At a party's national convention, who selects the ticket?

• the leadership committee

• the nominating committee

• the delegates

• the platform committee

Multiple Choice

What is a plank in a party's platform?

• a controversial position that divides the party

• an overall mission statement of the party

• a principle that guides the choice of candidates

• a statement of position on one issue

Multiple Choice

In choosing a running mate, presidential candidates often look for someone who

• agrees with them on almost all issues.

• appeals to the same voter segments.

• is from their home region.

• is demographically different from them.

Multiple Choice

What is one criticism of presidential primaries?

• Primaries don't run long enough for candidates to make a good showing.

• Relatively few people vote in primaries or attend caucuses.

• Caucus states have more voting power at the convention than do primary states.

• Candidates who win early primaries often must drop out later for lack of money.

Multiple Choice

1.Which of the following characterizes the relationship between levels of a party's organization?

• The national organization manages the state and local organizations.

• The national organization manages the state organization, and the state manages the local organization.

• The national, state, and local organizations operate independently.

• The state and local parties are made up of representatives from the national organization.