Practice Quiz - Political Parties
Here's a practice quiz for Political Parties from SB Ch. 7NOTE: This one does NOT contain any questions from Carney.
- 1.Political parties act as a link between the public and the government. Which of the following events brought about a change in the political system?
- A.
Start of Revolutionary war (or War of Independence) in 1776
- B.
End of Civil War in 1865
- C.
End of World War II in 1945
- D.
Start of Cold War in 1945
- E.
None of the above
- 2.The U.S. has had a two party system consisting of _________ and _________ ever since the major change in the political system.
- A.
Democrats; Republicans
- B.
Democrats; Green
- C.
Republicans; Libertarian
- D.
Green; Libertarian
- E.
Democrats; Jefferson Republican
- 3.A plurality is ____________________.
- A.
More than a majority, and the most votes
- B.
Less than a majority, but the most votes
- C.
Less than a majority, and not necessarily the most votes, either.
- D.
More than a majority, but can be less votes
- E.
More than a majority, and the votes do not count
- 4.Because the two major parties usually win elections, minor parties are often referred to as ________ parties.
- A.
"Neutral"
- B.
"Third"
- C.
"Invisible"
- D.
"Trivial"
- E.
"Inconsequential"
- 5.Most exceptions to the major party domination of U.S. election occur at the _______ and _____ levels; Jesse Venture, representing the Reform Party recently won by defeating a popular and well respected Republican and Democrat.
- A.
State; local
- B.
Local; special district
- C.
Federal; state
- D.
Federal; local
- E.
Federal; special district
- 6.Despite lack of success at winning most offices, minor parties do have an impact on American politics. Which of the following does not set the valid reason to run in election?
- A.
They bring new issues to the political agenda.
- B.
They serve as a safety valve for the expression of protest with those dissatisfied with the two major parties.
- C.
They can determine the outcome of a particular election by "spoiler effect".
- D.
All of the above
- E.
None of the above
- 7.What is a "spoiler effect"?
- A.
A method to ruin the other parties' campaign, such as running propaganda.
- B.
A method to prevent majority party from winning an election when results are close.
- C.
A method to speed up the election process by eliminating any unnecessary campaign.
- D.
A method to "spoil" the election, such as altering the vote counts.
- E.
A method to confuse the voters by nominating random candidates.
- 8.In the last three decades, major crisis such as Watergate and the Clinton impeachment have ________ major party loyalty while _________ the number of independents.
- A.
Increased; stabilizing
- B.
Decreased; increasing
- C.
Increased; decreasing
- D.
Stabilized; decreasing
- E.
Stabilized; increasing
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