Discontent with major political parties leads to the organization of a third party ------> Potential voters mobilize support for the third party ---------> The third party becomes competition for the major parties.

How have major parties reacted to the scenario described above?

• By suing the third parties in court for campaign-finance violations

• By persuading the third parties to present a new platform

• By addressing the issues raised by the third parties

• By preventing third parties from holding conventions

Which headline describes an event that resulted from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001?

• “Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations Resume”

• “Debt Crisis Shakes European Union”

• “Russia Increases Petroleum Exports”

• “Troops Deployed to Afghanistan”

This table shows the number of votes received in the state of Florida by the three leading candidates in the 2000 presidential election.

Candidate Party Votes Received

George W. Bush Republican 2,912,790

Al Gore Democratic 2,912,253

Ralph Nader Green 97,488

Which of the following best describes Ralph Nader’s effect on the election in Florida?

• He contested the recounting of election ballots in federal court.

• His presence as a third-party candidate discouraged voter turnout.

• He persuaded state officials to abandon the punch-card method of voting.

• His candidacy drew crucial votes away from the other candidates

Which of the following resulted from the U.S.-led military coalition’s engagement in the Persian Gulf War?

• The Shah of Iran was overthrown.

• Saddam Hussein was forced from power.

• The nation of Kuwait was liberated.

• Iraqi Kurds were granted equal rights

We are on a mission to make sure that freedom is enduring. We’re on a mission to say to the rest of the world, come with us—come with us, stand by our side to defeat the evil-doers who would like to rid the world of freedom as we know it.

—President George W. Bush, September 26, 2001

How did President Bush attempt to complete the mission described above?

• By overthrowing a dictator in North Korea

• By fighting a global war on terrorism

• By offering assistance to refugees escaping genocide

• By supporting the Arab Spring movement

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

—Barack Obama, November 4, 2008

Barack Obama described his 2008 election victory in this manner because the election was the first in which —

• a minority candidate was elected president

• naturalized immigrants had access to multilingual ballots

• federal courts ordered voter recounts to stop

• religious beliefs played a significant role in the presidential campaign

What was the initial response of the U.S. government to the attacks of September 11, 2001?

• To impose economic sanctions on Libya for sponsoring terrorist activities

• To begin military operations in Afghanistan

• To reopen military bases in Europe that had been closed after the Cold War

• To form a coalition to eliminate training bases in Pakistan

One reason the 2008 presidential election was historically significant is that it was the first time —

• traditionally Republican states voted Democratic

• voters used computerized ballots

• an African American won the presidency

• a Southerner won the vice-presidency

The main reason the United States launched military operations in Afghanistan in October 2001 was to —

• prevent genocide

• seize weapons of mass destruction

• destroy an international terrorist organization

• overthrow an absolute monarchy

The Daily Star December 8, 1987

President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev Sign Missile Treaty

How did this treaty contribute to the end of the Cold War?

• By reducing tensions associated with the threat of nuclear war

• By providing an exchange of weapons for war hostages

• By allowing secret weapons technologies to be shared

• By establishing an official cease-fire