Question 1

What is soft money?

Accepted Answer

money given to a political party instead of to a political canididate directly

Answer

money given by a PAC to a political candidate to affect his or her vote

Answer

money given to a political candidate to support his or her campaign

Answer

money given by an interest group to voters to influence an election

Question 2

Which event is most important in choosing presidential candidates for the major political parties

Accepted Answer

primary elections

Answer

state conventions

Answer

precinct caucuses

Answer

national conventions

Question 3

About what number of Americans have voted in recent presidential elections?

Accepted Answer

two-thirds

Answer

one in four

Answer

every eligible voter

Answer

45 percent

Question 4

What is a plurality?

Accepted Answer

the highest number of votes for a single candidate in an election

Answer

an election called to decide an election between two candidates with an equal number of votes

Answer

more than 50 percent of votes for a single candidate in an election

Answer

the two-party system of American politics

Question 5

Which of the following is a common criticism of campaign advertising?

Accepted Answer

Advertisements may distort or omit information, leaving voters misinformed

Answer

Advertisements often cause voters to change their minds on an issue

Answer

Third-party candidates have too many advertisements

Answer

Advertisements don't discuss the important issues of the election

Question 6

which of the following statements about political parties is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

Political parties are different than interest groups because political parties pressure the government from the outside

Answer

Liberals usually support government action to change policies that are believed to be unfair.

Answer

Conservatives usually support limited government interference, lower taxes, and traditional social values

Answer

Political parties try to elect their member to public office

Question 7

Which of the following is true of the American political party system?

Accepted Answer

It is a two-party system, but some smaller parties exist

Answer

There are only two political parties in the country

Answer

It is a multi-party system in which many parties share power

Answer

It is a one-party system

Question 8

In the 2000 presidential election, what third party's candidate may have kept Al Gore from winning Florida and the presidency?

Accepted Answer

the Green Party

Answer

the Libertarian Party

Answer

the Constitution Party

Answer

the Reform Party

Question 9

Which of the following is a benefit of political parties?

Accepted Answer

Political parties provide stability

Answer

Voters are required to gather information about many different candidates

Answer

Political parties force candidates to fulfill their campaign promises

Answer

Political parties stop candidates from flip-flopping, or changing their position on issues over time

Question 10

Which of the following groups is generally a part of the Democratic constituency?

Accepted Answer

educated urban voters

Answer

corporate interests

Answer

white men

Answer

religious conservatives

Question 11

Which of the following is the main purpose of a special interest group?

Accepted Answer

to represent a groups view on an issue and try to influence public policy and the public agenda on that issue

Answer

to research and report public opinion on many issues to government policy makers

Answer

to raise money in support of a particular candidate in an election

Answer

to spread political candidates' views on public policy issues.

Question 12

The Snack Food Association is an example of what kind of interest group

Accepted Answer

trade associaion

Answer

agricultural lobbying group

Answer

professional group

Answer

labor union

Question 13

the American Bar Association might try to influence public policy on whic of the following issues?

Accepted Answer

licensing requirements for lawyers

Answer

the environmental impact of fertilizer use

Answer

workers' rights for factory workers

Answer

fighting drunk driving

Question 14

Why might a PAC give money to both candidates in an election?

Accepted Answer

The interest group hopes that whicever candidate wins will support their policy suggestions

Answer

Different people within an interest group may support different candidates

Answer

The amount of money given to each candidate indicates the percentage of supporters within the group.

Answer

Lobbying groups are required by law to give an equal amount of money to each candidate

Question 15

Which of the following was a cause of the passage of ethics and lobbying reform legislation?

Accepted Answer

People feared that lobbyists were using financial gifts to influence representatives' policy decisions

Answer

Voters were receiving financial gifts from lobbyists for supporting a particular candidate

Answer

Lobbyists were conducting too many polls of voters

Answer

Interest groups were no longer representing the opinions of their memebers

Question 16

How did media coverage of the Vietnam War affect public opinion?

Accepted Answer

As the media showed the violence of the war, more people began to oppose the war

Answer

Media coverage of protests against the war convinced

Answer

Since the media barely covered the war, people became uninterested in supporting the war

Answer

the lack of media coverage  encouraged more people to support the war.

Question 17

What is public policy?

Accepted Answer

the choices the government makes and the actions it takes in response to a particular issue or problem

Answer

the process by which voters express their public opinion

Answer

a group of views shared by a segment of society on an issue

Answer

the process by which people acquire political beliefs

Question 18

Which of the following media has seen a dramatic increase as a source of news in recent years?

Accepted Answer

the interenet

Answer

tlevision

Answer

print newspapers

Answer

penny press

Question 19

why is it important to analyze the format of a poll?

Accepted Answer

The wording and order of questions can affect people's answers

Answer

Including a margin of error indicates that the poll is probably inacurate

Answer

Asking a random ample of people the same questions does not result in an accurate picture o public opinions

Answer

A large sample size can skew results to an incorrect conclusion

Question 20

Which of the following is an accurate interpretation of a poll answer with a percentage of 43%, with a margin error of 2%

Accepted Answer

Between 41% and 45% probaly agree with the answer

Answer

between 41 percent and 45 percent disagree with the answer

Answer

43 percent of people agree with the answer

Answer

43 percent of people disagree with the answer

Question 21

Which selection would be an interest group?

Accepted Answer

NOW - National Organization for Women

Answer

Food and Drug Administration

Answer

Federal Aviation Administration

Answer

Secretary of Education

Question 22

Which would be a bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

Labor Department

Answer

Mothers against drunk drivers

Answer

National Rifle Association

Answer

Boy Scouts of America

Question 23

American Associaiton of Retired persons is a(n)

Accepted Answer

interest group

Answer

Fraternity

Answer

Bureaucracy

Answer

Political party

Question 24

Which is not considered a linkage institution?

Accepted Answer

Caucuses .

Answer

Media

Answer

Interest Groups

Answer

Political Parties

Question 25

This type of journalism uses sensationalism, scandal, and appeals to patriotism to influence readers

Accepted Answer

yellow journalism

Answer

tabloid journalism

Answer

red journalism

Answer

Muckraker journalism

Question 26

what does OPEC stand for?

Accepted Answer

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

Answer

Offering Petroleum and Environment Control

Answer

Offering Petroleum for Every Country

Answer

Only Petroleum for European Countries

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