Unit 4 - Elections, Media, and Shaping Policy

1. Which is the correct description of a party platform?

• A. It is a place where political candidates make speeches.

• A. It is a statement that outlines views on issues.

• A. It is determined by means of a primary election.

• A. It is held after the nominating convention.

1. In the modern political system, which issue represents a basic disagreement between Republicans and Democrats?

• A. the responsibilities of government

• A. the frequency of national elections

• A. the legality of the U.S. Constitution

• A. the support for the U.S. military soldier

1. What is the most important thing that a political debate can teach a voter about a candidate?

• A. how much support the candidate already has

• A. what kind of television personality the candidate has

• A. where the candidate stands on certain issues

• A. whether the candidate is comfortable on camera

1. Which of the following would be the best source for accurate information about a candidate’s experience and qualifications?

• A. an interest group’s concealed propaganda

• A. a letter to the editor published in the local newspaper

• A. a speech made by an opposing candidate

• A. an unbiased voter guide written by an independent nonpartisan group

1. Why is it important to analyze political ads carefully before choosing a candidate?

• A. Political ads are designed to convince you to vote for a candidate and may not present all sides of an issue.

• A. Political ads are usually an afterthought for a campaign and probably do not contain up-to-date information.

• A. Political ads contain only propaganda and lies and should not be a factor when selecting a candidate.

• A. Political ads often present a balanced viewpoint of all issues and therefore can be a good source of information.

1. Which is a main purpose of public opinion polls?

• A. analyzing citizen support for a law, issue or candidate

• A. getting a law passed

• A. interpreting a newly passed law

• A. opposing a law

1. What would be the most effective way for a special-interest group to try to influence the outcome of a presidential election?

• A. to conduct a public opinion poll

• A. to hire a lobbyist

• A. to hold a primary election

• A. to run television ads

1. What is the most direct way to use the mass media to promote political change?

• A. donating money to political parties in order to get opponents elected

• A. helping write legislation by running for office

• A. purchasing time on tv and space for ads in order to target individual voters

• A. testifying at public hearings

1. What is the best reason that press releases from a politician or a government agency are not always the best source of public information about an issue?

• A. They are not covered by news outlets.

• A. They give too much detail to be useful.

• A. They may be released too late to be useful.

• A. They may present only one point of view about an issue.

1. Which source would be most likely to provide a thorough and balanced analysis of political issues?

• A. an article in an independent nonpartisan political journal

• A. a call-in radio show

• A. an interest group’s campaign ad

• A. text messages from a friend