AP Gov Unit 5 - Political Participation

What is the purpose of a political party's platform?

• to tell Americans what to believe

• to outline and make clear their views on important issues

• to help candidates who don't understand the issues

• to make it easy for opposing parties to adopt their views

What is a strategy an interest group might use to influence an election's outcome (results)?

• pay candidates to quit running

• conduct public opinion polls

• run TV and newspaper ads

• hire high-powered lobbyists to influence legislators

The Save the Turtles Political Action Committee (PAC) can only support one candidate. The chart below shows four candidates' positions on important issues. Which candidate would the PAC choose to support, based upon this information?

• Don McDude

• Bernie McSanders

• Mitchie O'Connell

• Hilaria McLinton

What do lobbyists try to do?

• help Congress in writing legislation for the common good

• ensure the federal budget balances

• help the President to choose Supreme Court justices and Cabinet members

• influence the decisions made by government officials

Which is NOT a way that the media affects government?

• monitor elected officials to ensure responsible behavior

• influence voters' criteria for evaluating candidates

• encourage voters to share their beliefs and views

• shape legislation (laws) by influencing Congressional voting

How do Political Action Committees (PACs) influence government?

• advising the President

• staffing Congressional offices

• financially supporting causes and campaigns

• sending written summaries of cases to the Supreme Court

What do the following groups have in common? M.A.D.D., A.A.R.P., W.W.F., N.R.A., P.E.T.A.?

• They're all government agencies seeking to influence Congress.

• They're all nonprofit groups seeking funding for their causes.

• They're all political third parties seeking election of supportive candidates.

• They're all interest groups seeking to draw attention to and lobby for their causes.

Why is the same event sometimes reported differently by different news networks?

• Newspapers and networks hold certain political beliefs (biases) that are shown in their reporting.

• Newspapers and networks don't get enough information to report events accurately.

• Some newspapers and networks just want to trick the public into believing things that aren't true.

• Political parties pay newspapers and news networks to make them look good, leading to false reporting.

What would be the most accurate source to find information about candidates' views during an election?

• a private interest group's website

• a record of the candidates' voting history on issues-related legislation

• a TV commercial sponsored by a political party

• a newspaper editorial

Carlos is 21 years old. He goes to college in the evenings, works at a nursing home for senior citizens during the day, and is happy to return to his rented apartment home at night. Based on the candidates' positions on the chart, which one is Carlos most likely to vote for?

• Candidate A

• Candidate B

• Candidate C

• Candidate D