Review Parties

How do American political parties compare with political parties in Europe?

• Because of federalism, American political parties are decentralized, with significant power at the state and local levels.

• American parties are stronger and have more loyal members.

• American parties are more centralized, with more control by the national party organizations.

• American parties are more centralized, with more control by the national party organizations.

Policy gridlock is most likely to occur when

• a party wins a significant majority of the seats in Congress

• a party wins a significant majority of the seats in Congress

• a political party forms a coalition around a specific policy

• the president is of a different party from the majority party in Congress

The influence of political parties has been declining for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

• the government has failed to enforce party membership among the electorate

• the electorate is becoming increasingly independent from party affiliation

• candidates can share their views directly with the electorate through television

• the electorate is becoming more educated and so doesn't rely on the party for information

All of the following are purposes of political parties in the U.S. EXCEPT

• to serve as linkage institutions between the people and their government

• to serve as linkage institutions between the people and their government

• to provide alternate interpretations of constitutional law, as it applies to political campaigns

• to articulate policies and give cues to voters

• to serve as a watchdog on the party in control of the government

The major impact third political parties have on presidential elections has been to

• draw enough votes from the major parties to throw the election into the House of Representatives.

• generate increased party identification among the electorate.

• encourage a larger voter turnout.

• develop issues that are later adopted by the major political parties.

Which of the following best describes the practice of "ticket-splitting"?

• A presidential nominee selects a running mate who can appeal to voter groups whose support of the nominee is weak

• A voter chooses the presidential nominee of one major party, but chooses congressional nominees of the other major party.

• A delegate to a national party convention supports the front-runner but remains uncommitted on the party platform.

• A member of Congress votes against legislation proposed by his or her party leader.

In the United States a two-party system

• has only existed in the 20th century.

• has existed since the mid-nineteenth century

• has existed throughout United States history.

• has never existed

All of the following are recognized functions of the major political parties EXCEPT

• recruiting candidates for public office

• providing personnel to staff elections and run the government

• establishing links between public and government

• providing payments for supporting interest groups

A trend toward dealignment began in the 1990s because

• the Motor Voter Law has increased registration for the Democrats and Republicans

• voters had strong party identification

• there was a general mistrust of elected officials

• the Republicans gained control of Congress in 1994

Since the last few decades of the 20th century, the hold of the major political parties on the electorate was weakened by all of the following EXCEPT

• crossover voting in primaries

• split-ticket voting in general elections

• the increased importance of the national nominating conventions

• news media coverage of campaigns

• the rise of political interest groups