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Chapter 9: Political Parties

Multiple-Choice Quiz

Multiple-Choice Quiz

Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

This activity contains 19 questions.

	Most Western democracies have:   multiparty systems. two-party systems. confederal systems. unitary legislatures. three-party systems.

	The United States has the most "pure" _______________ in the world.   democracy parliamentary system electoral system two-party system republic

	Which of the following is a reason for the disappearance of the Federalist Party?   the Alien and Sedition Acts sympathies with Great Britain in an anti-British era their inability to transform themselves from a party of the wealthy All are correct. the Spanish-American War

	The "second party system" was a struggle for power between:   Federalists and Anti-federalists. Democrats and Whigs. Federalists and Democrat-Republicans. Democrats and Republicans. Whigs and Democrats.

	The GOP is another name for the:   Democratic party. Socialist party. Republican party. Progressive party. Populist party.

	Which late-nineteenth-century political party formed an alliance of black and white poor, small farmers?   Dixiecrats American party Greenback party Populist party Socialist party

	The "Party System of 1896" resulted in:   the emergence of the "New Deal." the War on Poverty. thirty-six years of Republican dominance. three decades of Democratic dominance. a brief period of a viable three-party system.

	The "New Deal Party System" resulted in:   the emergence of the Independent party. the War on Poverty. thirty-six years of Republican dominance. Democratic dominance for around 40 years. a brief period of a viable three-party system.

	The term political scientists use to designate the transition from one party system to another is:   dealignment. unfolding. generational. realignment. the Fifth Party system.

	The term political scientists use to describe the process by which the superiority of a dominant political party diminishes without another party's supplanting it is:   dealignment. unfolding. generational. realignment. the Sixth Party system.

	How do winner-take-all, single-member district election structures discourage minor party efforts?   Minor party candidates are prohibited by law from running. Minor parties have difficulty raising enough money to purchase a position on the election ballot. Although the news media provide free time for the major parties to advertise candidates, minor parties must purchase advertising time. Failure to win a plurality leaves a minor party with no representation at all. Winners are determined by majority and minority parties cannot achieve them.

	Which of the following is an example of a single-member district election?   an urban ward a congressional district a county All are correct. the U.S. presidency

	This type of party is barely distinguishable from interest groups.   single-issue ideological splinter "know nothing" protest

	Which of the following statements best describes the organizational structure of American political parties?   Leaders of the national parties issue orders that get passed down a long chain of command to party organizations near the bottom. Each level of the party is completely autonomous from the other levels and in many instances may work against the efforts of the other levels. Elected officials usually are the ones who dictate what the party can or cannot do, since they are the ones who live or die by the parties' actions. Each level of the party is relatively independent and acts in concert with others, not on the basis of orders, but on the basis of common interest such as the desire to win elections. The party controls the behavior of its officeholders and the flow of money that funds campaigns.

	Which of the following is probably the greatest weakness of American political parties?   Parties are vulnerable to being taken over by minor parties. Parties are unable to control the selection of the candidates who run for office under the party banner and to direct their activities. The national parties can't tell the state and local party organizations what to do. The national conventions set the rules by which the national party is governed for the next four years. The inability to unite local, state, and national campaigns.

	Which group is primarily responsible for providing money and services to congressional candidates?   congressional campaign committees congressional leadership congressional caucuses the national party committees state caucuses

	One major way that the Democratic and Republican parties differ is:   one party believes in civil rights and the other does not. one party believes in civil liberties and the other does not. all Democrats are liberals. in the perceptions of the people. one party is more receptive to minority concerns.

	Which of the following is true with respect to major-party platforms?   the rhetoric or language of both platforms is very similar public policies advocated vary very little pledges made are almost the same None is correct. issues addressed are similar

	In recent years the Republican party has become more   liberal. conservative. ideologically diverse. socialist. progressive.

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