Fed Government Test #2

What is political socialization?

The process of forming political beliefs and values

What is public opinion?

The views people hold about political issues and leaders

Which can influence political socialization?

All of the above

How can family influence political views?

By shaping early beliefs and values

How can schools influence political beliefs?

Through education about government and civic life

How can peers influence political opinions?

By sharing ideas and attitudes

How can media influence public opinion?

By selecting and presenting information about issues

How might a job or community influence political views?

Through shared interests and experiences

What is the social contract?

An idea that government authority rests on an agreement with the governed

In a democracy, sovereignty ultimately rests with whom?

The people

How can public opinion affect government decisions?

Leaders may respond to voters' concerns

What is political ideology?

A connected set of beliefs about politics and government

Why is voting important in a democracy?

It lets citizens help choose leaders and influence government

What is the purpose of a litmus test for a candidate?

To assess a candidate's position on a key issue

What did the 14th Amendment establish?

Citizenship and equal protection under the law

What did the 15th Amendment prohibit?

Denying voting rights based on race, color, or previous enslavement

What did the 19th Amendment accomplish?

Prohibited denying voting rights based on sex

What did the 24th Amendment prohibit in federal elections?

Poll taxes

What did the 26th Amendment do?

Lowered the voting age to 18

What was the purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

To prohibit discriminatory voting practices and enforce voting rights

What was a major purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

To prohibit discrimination in several areas of public life

What did Smith v. Allwright (1944) rule about white primaries?

They were unconstitutional racial discrimination in elections

What did Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966) rule?

Poll taxes in state elections violated equal protection

What was a grandfather clause used for?

To exempt some people from voting restrictions while excluding many Black voters

How were literacy tests used?

To restrict voting through discriminatory reading tests

What is voter intimidation?

Threatening or pressuring people to affect their voting choices or participation

What is racial gerrymandering?

Drawing district boundaries using race in a way that raises constitutional concerns

Which is an example of a financial barrier to voting?

A poll tax

Which factor may affect voter participation?

All of the above

What is a primary election?

An election used to choose a party's candidate for the general election

What is an open primary?

A primary in which voters are not required to be registered with that party to participate, subject to state rules

What is a closed primary?

A primary limited to voters affiliated with the party, under state rules

What is crossover voting?

Voting in a party primary different from one's usual party affiliation, where allowed

What is a blanket primary?

A primary where voters can choose among candidates from different parties for different offices

What is a runoff election?

A second election between leading candidates when required by the rules

How does a general election differ from a primary?

It determines who wins the office, rather than selecting a party nominee

What is a political party?

An organization seeking to win elections and influence government by electing its candidates

What is a coalition of interests?

Different groups joining around shared political goals

What is a single-party system?

A system in which one party dominates or is legally the only party

What is a two-party system?

A system in which two major parties dominate electoral competition

What is a multiparty system?

A system in which several parties compete and may win representation

Which are the two major U.S. political parties?

Democratic and Republican

How does a political party differ from an interest group?

Parties seek to win office; interest groups primarily seek to influence policy

What is a plurality?

More votes than any other candidate, but not necessarily more than half

What is a majority?

More than half of the relevant votes

Why do minor parties struggle in U.S. elections?

Electoral rules and winner-take-all contests often favor major parties

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of ratifying the Constitution and a stronger national government

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Critics who feared the proposed Constitution gave the national government too much power

Which early party was associated with Thomas Jefferson?

Democratic-Republican Party

Why was the election of 1824 notable?

No candidate won an Electoral College majority, so the House chose the president

Which party developed around Andrew Jackson?

Democratic Party

What was the Whig Party?

A 19th-century party that opposed many policies of Andrew Jackson

How did slavery affect U.S. political parties in the 1850s and 1860s?

It intensified sectional conflict and contributed to party realignment

Which party opposed the expansion of slavery and became a major party in the 1850s?

Republican Party

How did the Great Depression affect party support?

It helped increase support for Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democrats

What is a political faction?

A group of people united by a shared interest or passion that may conflict with others' rights or the community's interests

In Federalist No. 10, who discussed the problem of factions?

James Madison

Why did Madison consider factions natural?

People have different opinions, interests, and abilities

What did Madison argue about eliminating factions?

Eliminating their causes would require destroying liberty or forcing uniformity

What is a political movement?

Collective action seeking social or political change

What does it mean that a movement is episodic?

It may rise during particular periods rather than operate continuously

How might a movement differ from a political party?

It may be less formally organized and focus on changing an issue or society

What is an interest group?

An organized group that seeks to influence public policy

What is lobbying?

Attempting to influence government officials or policy decisions

What is the difference between lobbying and bribery?

Lobbying seeks to influence policy through advocacy; bribery involves improper exchange for official action

What does quid pro quo mean?

Something given in exchange for something else

What is inside lobbying?

Direct contact with government officials to influence policy

What is outside lobbying?

Mobilizing the public to pressure government officials

What is collective action?

People coordinating efforts to achieve a shared goal

What is the free-rider problem?

People benefit from a group effort without contributing to it

What is a public good?

A benefit that is difficult to exclude people from using and one person's use does not greatly reduce another's

What is an exclusive or selective benefit?

A benefit reserved for members or contributors

Why can large groups find collective action difficult?

Individual members may have less incentive to contribute and coordination is harder

What does NAACP stand for?

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

What does NOW stand for in the context of U.S. interest groups?

National Organization for Women

What does NRA stand for?

National Rifle Association

What is an economic interest group?

A group seeking to advance members' economic interests

What is a public-interest group?

A group that claims to promote benefits for society broadly, not only its members

What is a material benefit?

A tangible benefit such as a service, discount, or financial advantage

What is an intangible benefit?

A nonmaterial reward such as solidarity, status, or satisfaction

What does FEC stand for?

Federal Election Commission

What is the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)?

To regulate aspects of federal campaign financing and disclosure

What is a political action committee (PAC)?

An organization that raises and spends money to influence elections under campaign finance rules

What is a super PAC generally allowed to do?

Raise and spend unlimited amounts on independent political expenditures, but not coordinate those expenditures with candidates' campaigns

Why are campaign finance laws important?

They set rules for political fundraising, spending, and disclosure

What is the significance of Citizens United v. FEC (2010)?

It protected certain independent political spending by corporations and unions under the First Amendment

What should be checked before using a campaign contribution limit in a current answer?

The applicable election cycle and current FEC rules

Why is knowledge of political issues important for a candidate?

It helps the candidate explain positions and respond to voters' concerns

Why does a candidate need a campaign team?

To coordinate communication, outreach, scheduling, and campaign operations

What is the purpose of an election campaign?

To persuade voters to support a candidate or cause

How can media coverage affect a candidate?

It can shape how voters perceive the candidate and issues

What happened in the 1948 U.S. presidential election?

Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey despite predictions that Dewey would win

What lesson does the 1948 election illustrate?

Polls and predictions can be wrong

What is the difference between a projected winner and the actual winner?

A projection is a prediction; the actual winner is determined by the official election result

How do political socialization, public opinion, and voting connect?

Socialization shapes views, public opinion reflects views, and voting can translate them into political choices

How have constitutional amendments and federal laws expanded voting rights?

By prohibiting certain forms of discrimination and removing barriers to voting

How can voting obstacles undermine democracy?

They can prevent eligible citizens from participating equally

Which statement best compares parties, movements, factions, and interest groups?

Parties seek office, movements seek change, factions share interests, and interest groups influence policy

How do Madison's ideas about factions relate to modern interest groups?

Groups naturally form around differing interests, so institutions must manage competing interests

When can political influence become improper?

When it involves corruption, bribery, or prohibited coordination or exchanges