Unit 5 Quiz

What is an important difference between interest groups and political parties?

• Interest groups have more members than political groups
• Interest groups have platforms addressing all issues of public concern
• Interest groups are organized to elect their candidates to political office
• Interest groups attempt to influence government directly on particular issues

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which the media influence government?

• by providing information to the public
• by contributing to election campaign funds
• by focusing public attention on particular issues
• by making public officials accountable for their actions

Sarah felt very strongly about an issue in the news. She wrote to her representative in Congress and expressed her feelings on the issue. Then she started a petition on the same issue, collected signatures from her neighbors, and sent it off. Which statement describes Sarah's activities?

• She was acting as a lobbyist
• She was forming her own political party
• She was starting her own special interest group
• She was influencing government as an individual

"Italians make the best chefs in the world." What does this statement show?

• a form of media
• being a watchdog
• an example of bias
• an example of symbolism

The table below describes 4 interest groups. Which of these interest groups would be most likely to support a ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico?

• Interest Group 1
• Interest Group 2
• Interest Group 3
• Interest Group 4

How does the media hold government officials accountable?

• by voting them out of office
• by informing government officials on public issues
• by acting as a watchdog, reporting officials' actions to the public
• by raising campaign funds to help re-elect officials they prefer

What is one method that interest groups use to influence government?

• bribing legislators to support their proposals
• impeaching their opponents in their legislature
• sponsoring news programs on major television networks
• giving legislators the benefit of their subject-area expertise

The sign shown here was posted all over the town of Mayberry. Which method does this political communication have in common with propaganda?

• using symbolism
• name-calling of opponents
• presenting an opinion as fact
• appealing to readers' greatest fears

What is one method that interest groups use to monitor government?

• They file lawsuits on special issues
• They publish editorials in newspapers
• They attend legislative committee hearings
• They advertise candidates on election strategies

Which argument is often raised against the Electoral College?

• Many electors do not honor the choice of most of their states voters
• The Electoral College encourages the growth of too many "third parties"
• A candidate can win the Presidency without a majority of the popular vote
• Presidential elections are too often decided by the House of Representatives