Political Parties

Which of the following best describes a multi-party system?

• Membership in the party of choice is not generally voluntary

• There is usually a consensus of agreement as to basic principles of government

• Multi-party systems usually give the voters meaningful choices

• Parties tend to avoid extreme ideologies

Which of the following is not a responibility of a political party?

• organize the government

• represent special interests

• recruit candidates

• educate voters

The Republican and Democratic parties have dominated the political scene throughout American history. Minor parties have often surfaced to fill the void they left by the major parties. A splinter party can best be characterized by-

• the fact that it is the result of a revolt within a major party

• the fact that it is usually built around the working-class American

• the permanence of its presence on the political scene

• its presence during times of economic discontent

Minor parties seldom win elections at the national level. Which of the following best describes a factor that prevents minor parties from winning elections?

• gridlock

• lack of political efficacy

• proportional member districts

• winner-take-all electoral system

The national convention serves what major purpose for a political party?

• to allow the people to direct the work of the national committee through a system of national participation

• to establish the rules of party campaigning

• to serve as the party's national voice in the selection of the party's candidate

• to manage the political party's business by the vote of party constituents

Which of the following best describes state party organizations?

• They are independent of the national party

• they are subject to their own jurisdiction according to party doctrines

• They are determined and organized by the national party in accordance with national law

• their funding has been affected by campaign reform law

Membership in an American political party is voluntary and based on party identification. Which of the following factors influence party identification?

• education

• cost of membership

• history of the party

• national law

Which of the following best describes the structure and organization of a political party?

• they are close-knit and very organized

• they are highly decentralized or fragmented

• after election day, they are usually less responsible to the people

• the president plays no role in party leadership after his/her election

The shifting of voting patterns and formation of new coalitions of party supporters in known as

• alignment

• realignment

• divided government

• dealignment

The future of political parties in the United States is uncertain due to

• decline of third-party challenges

• perceived differences between the parties

• increase in split-ticket voting

• lack of party reform