How can the differences between the two major parties in the UnitedStates best be characterized?
B. There are large policy differences among activists and muchsmaller ones among the rank and file
Since 1972, ideological differences between convention delegatesand rank-and-file party voters have been greatest among...
B. Democrats
Why should the Democrats have been so unsuccessful in winning the presidency before 1992 at the same time that they were so successful in winning congressional seats?
C. Because their presidential candidates tended to be out of stepwith voters on issues of taxation and social policy
The disadvantage of the new primary system that has developed inthe United States is that it
B. increases the chances that the party will nominate a candidatewho is unappealing to the average voter
The typical convention delegate―Democratic or Republican―can best be characterized as a(n)
C. issue-oriented amateur
An example of how the partisan makeup of state party caucuses can result in the choice of the most ideological candidate was the success of
A. Jesse Jackson in the 1988 Democratic party caucuses.
Compared to primary voters, members of caucuses are more likely to
C. support the most ideological candidate
The makeup of state party caucuses can best be characterized as
B. highly partisan.
A meeting of party followers at which convention delegates are picked is known as a
E. caucus
National convention delegates, compared to their respective party members, tend to be
A. more liberal if they are Democrats, more conservative if theyare Republican
At party conventions in recent years, the ________ has (have) become increasingly important.
B. policy interests of the party
In the days when party conventions were heavily influenced by party leaders and elected officials, it was relatively easy to ignore
E. the policy preferences of dissident factions.
Even though minor parties have had little success in national elections, they have played an important role in many elections by
B. influencing the public policy positions of the two major parties
Which of the following statements about political parties in theUnited States is true?
B. Parties today are relatively weak, but they are not weak in all areas of the country
The key term in the definition of a political party is
label- to give a candidate party identification
Party identification among voters is one way of gauging the strengthof a party. Another cited by the text is the
C. strength of the organization that recruits and campaigns for candidates
The federal system goes a long way toward explaining why U.S. parties are ________ than their European counterparts
E. more decentralized
One reason why political parties in the United States today areweaker than in Europe is that, in the United States
A. party leaders do not typically select people to run for office
In most states, candidates for office are chosen by
C. primary election
In Europe, almost the only way a person can become a candidate is by
E. being nominated by party leaders
What role do political parties play in the lives of most Americans?
B. Most Americans separate political parties from other aspects of their lives
George Washington's view of parties may have been influenced by
C. The constant quarreling between Hamilton and Jefferson in his cabinet.
Why should George Washington, among other Founders of our nation, have been so opposed to political parties?
A. Because disputes over policies and elections were not easilyseparated from disputes over government legitimacy
The Founders saw political parties as:
E. Factions motivated by ambition and self-interest.
The first organized political party in American history was
A. made up of Jefferson's followers.
Some were so distraught by the election of Thomas Jefferson that they
E. Organized to have New England secede
During the founding period of U.S. history, political parties could best be characterized as
B. small coalitions based more on geography class than on common economic interest
According to the text, when did political parties in the United States develop a comprehensive organizational form and appeal?
C. From the time of President Jackson to the Civil War
The first Republican party, with its base of support in the South, wasorganized in the 1790s by
A. Thomas Jefferson
The Federalist party could not compete effectively in national elections because
E. It had such a limited and sectional base
National party conventions were developed as a reform of
B. Party caucuses
In the Jacksonian era, for the first time a party system was built...
A. from the bottom up
Prior to 1824, presidential candidates were nominated by
D. caucuses comprising of members of congress
Party conventions emerged during the Jacksonian era as a means of
A. giving some measure of local control to the presidential nominating process
The first Convention in American history was that of the ________ party
D. Anti-Masonic
Which of the following statements about the modern Republican party is correct...
C. It emerged as a major party only after the Civil War.
One effect of the geographic split in parties that occurred as a consequence of the Civil War was the...
B. emergence of strong party factions such as the mugwumps
The ________, a faction of the Republican party, were opposed to the patronage system and feared the influx of immigrants who could be incorporated into the political machine.
E. Progressives
The progressives favored all except:
D. Better relations with businesses
The progressive movement reduced the level of political corruption but ultimately failed to
E. Solve the problem of how to select candidates.
Procedures such as the initiative and referendum arose as efforts to give
B. Citizens a direct say in law-making.
Scholars have identified ___ critical or realigning periods in American Politics
D. 5
The three clearest cases of critical or realignment periods are:
C. 1865, 1896, and 1932
Which of the following were major issues in the three clearest cases of critical or realignment periods?
A. Slavery and economics
Which of the following statements concerning slavery and the election of 1860 is incorrect?
E. Party loyalties remained fluid after 1860.
Which of the following statements about the critical election of 1896 is correct?
C. The Republicans won support of those in cities.
The elections of Ronald Reagan could not have represented a better realignment because
B. They left control of Congress in the hands of the democratic party.
Dramatic realignments, such as the one in 1932, may not occur again because
D. Party labels have lost meaning for a growing number of voters.
In recent elections, ticket splitting has been most common
B. in the South
Ticket splitting was almost unheard of in the 19th century because
A&D. Political parties provided voters with ballots and government printed ballots listed candidates in columns.
One would generally expect split-ticket voting to occur more often when
A. States adopt the office ballot.
The national convention meets every _____ years to nominate a presidential candidate
C. Four
Between the national conventions party affairs are managed by a _____ made up of delegates from each state and territory.
D. National Committee
In Congress each party has a _____ that helps members of Congress who are running for re-election or would-be members seeking election.
E. Congressional Campaign Committee
This person manages the day to day work of the party
B. National chairman
Beginning in the 1960s, the ____ became more bureaucratized while the ____ became more factionalized.
A. Republican party, Democratic party.
Throughout the 1970s, the general thrust of the Democratic commissions considering delegate selection was to
B. Weaken the influence of party leaders and enlarge the role of rank and file.
Democratic rule changes were drafted in 1972 by a commission headed by
D. George McGovern
The Hunt commission's changes in the Democratic party rules were designed to
E. increase the influence of party leaders
The term "superdelegate" refers to
A. Elected officials and party leaders who are not required to pledge themselves in advance to a presidential candidate
The winner-reward system of delegate distribution were banned in the campaign of
D. 1992
The three areas of rule-changes approved by the 1992 Democratic National Committee were
C. Rules violation penalty, winner-reward systems, and proportional representation
Party machines
A. Are characterized by a high degree of leadership control over member activity.
The classical machine-type party was developed
A. in the 19th century before the large-scale Irish and Italian immigration
Old-style political machines relied on
D. Civil servants
Unlike political machines, idealogical parties tend to be
E. Factionalized
Party organizations based on their member's enjoyment of the sociability of politics are referred to as
A. Solidary parties
The political involvement of the United Auto Works in Detroit provides an example of a(n):
A. sponsored party
Which of the following statements about the two-party system is correct?
B. The United states is one of few countries with such a system.
Tow in in a plurality system such as that in the United States, a candidate must
E. Gather more votes than anyone else.
The most dramatic example of the winner take all principle in U.S. electoral system is the
E. Electoral college
The two-party system has worked in the United States but not Europe because
C. Americans agree on enough issues to form broad coalitions.
Many strong social movements in the US never produced a significant 3rd party because
B. Dissident elements were able to influence elections through party primaries and national conventions
Compared to primary voters, members of caucuses are more likely to
C. Support the most idealogical candidate.
An example of how the partisan makeup of state party caucuses can result in the choice of the most idealogical candidate was the success of
A. Jesse Jackson in the 1988 democratic party caucuses.
1st
Federalists for national gov- faded into history Republicans (Antifeds) against strong national gov't, weak bc they were new "factions" -Jefferson v Hamilton -loose caucus's of political notables -no representation of economic interests
2nd
Jacksonian Era, Political Participation in mass phenomenon, mass voting -new republicans result of civil war -more voters to reach -abandoning presidential caucuses -beginning of national conventions -dies bc of slavery
3rd
Civil war and sectionalism -new republicans become dominant -one party dominates in each state -Party professionals- "stalwarts" -Mugwumps, reformers and progressives are other faction
4th
Progressive and Reform Era push to curtail parties -primary elections, nonpartisan elections, no party-business alliances, strict voter registration, civil service reform, initiative and referendum - weakens political parties and ends corruptions
1800
Jeffersonians defeat Federalists
1828
Jacksonian Democrats came to power
1860*
Whigs end and Log Cabin Republicans win
1896*
Republicans defeat WJ Bryan (Dem)
1932*
FDR Democrats come to power during Depression
2 kinds of realignments
Oblivion: party disappears and is replaced Shifting Alliance: voters shift from one party to another
Machine
1. Recruitment via tangible incentives 2. High degree of leadership control 3. Abuses a) Gradually controlled by reforms b) But machines continued 4. Both self-serving and public regarding 5. Winning above all else
Ideological
1. Principle above all else 2. Usually outside Democrats and Republicans 3. But some local reform clubs 4. Reform clubs replaced by social movements
Solidary
1. Most common form of party organization 2. Members motivated by solidary incentives 3. Advantage: neither corrupt nor inflexible 4. Disadvantage: not very hard working
Sponsored
1. Created or sustained by another organization 2. Example: Detroit Democrats controlled by UAW 3. Not very common
Personal Following
1. Examples: Kennedys, Curley, Talmadges, Longs 2. Viability today affected by TV and radio 3. Advantage: vote for the person 4. Disadvantage: takes time to know the person
Minor Parties
A. Ideological parties: comprehensive, radical view; most enduring Examples: Socialist, Communist, Libertarian B. One-issue parties: address one concern, avoid others Examples: Free Soil, Know-Nothing, Prohibition C. Economic protest parties: regional, oppose depressions Examples: Greenback, Populist D. Factional parties: from split in a major party Examples: Bull Moose, Henry Wallace, American Independent E. Movements not producing parties; either slim chance of success or major parties accommodate Examples: civil rights, antiwar, labor F. Factional parties have had greatest influence 1. 1992 and 1996, Ross Perot 2. 2000 and 2004, Ralph Nader