Which part of the Constitution discusses political parties?
The Constitution does not discuss political parties.
the Preamble
the 16th Amendment
Article I
The Constitution does not discuss political parties.
Which of the following is true of party workers, candidates, and members?
They pay dues to the party.
They are required to work together.
They perform similar functions for the party.
They increase party influence over government.
They increase party influence over government.
The RNC is which of the following?
a state-level party organization
a national-level party organization
the Republican candidate election process
the Republican Party's agenda
a national-level party organization
Which of the following tasks (among others) are party workers primarily responsible for?
conducting research, stuffing ballot boxes, and enforcing party policies
making large campaign contributions, producing political ads, and mobilizing voters
raising m
raising money, mobilizing voters, and conducting research
How might the national committee chair try to get state and local committees to adopt policy positions?
by hiring like-minded committee members
by threatening to withhold funding
by enlisting the help of high-level party members like senators and governor
by threatening to withhold funding
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 stipulated that public employees be hired according to what criteria?
connections to powerful families
appearance
merit
links to political parties
merit
How might the party in government try to enact the party agenda?
by hiring party donors for government positions
by coordinating executive and legislative actions
by appointing party members to the Senate
by planting spies to undermine the opposition part
by coordinating executive and legislative actions
Since the 1950s, Republicans and Democrats have become which of the following?
more polarized
less powerful in Congress
increasingly moderate
more likely to work together
more polarized
Which of the following represents a notable instance of party members working across party lines?
Southern Democrats voting to oppose health care reform
Republicans voting to oppose health care reform
President Bush encouraging Democrats to support H.R. 4
Southern Democrats voting to oppose health care reform
In April 2020, a plurality of Americans identified themselves as which of the following?
anarchists
Democrats
independents
Republicans
independents
Party activists may be described as which of the following?
contributors of resources
candidates in training
authors of the party platform
disaffected party workers
contributors of resources
The power of which of the following appears to be increasing?
the party in government
the Democratic Party
the party in the electorate
the Republican Party
the party in government
The responsible party government model suggests which of the following?
The winning party may change its programs once elected.
Parties should make sure all their members vote.
Candidates should carry out campaign promises.
It is impossible for parties to
Candidates should carry out campaign promises.
What action did the Blue Dog Democrats take with regard to health care reform?
They ignored the wishes of their constituents.
They adhered to the responsible party government model.
They voted for health care reform.
They defied party leadership.
They defied party leadership.
The "Contract from America" succeeded in doing which of the following?
securing Republican majority control in the Senate
defeating health care reform legislation
securing the House of Representatives for the Republicans
strengthening the Democratic Party
securing the House of Representatives for the Republicans
What function do minor parties serve in the political system?
They decrease the power of the Republican Party.
They provide popular alternatives to major-party candidates.
They spotlight issues ignored by the major parties.
They decrease the power of the
They spotlight issues ignored by the major parties.
The electoral system in the United States is characterized by which of the following?
third-party dominance
independent districts
single-member districts
ranked voting
single-member districts
Which of the following explains the reasons for the two-party system in the United States?
multimember districts
Article I of the Constitution
Duverger's Law
the ideological spectrum
Duverger's Law
Which of the following would be considered an advantage of the two-party system?
a lack of coalition building
little difference in party platforms
a guaranteed legislative majority
fewer candidates
a guaranteed legislative majority
Which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of the two-party system?
limited access to minor parties
simplified vote choices
checks and balances on political power
reflection of the median of public opinion
limited access to minor parties
Which parties existed at the time of the Founding?
Republicans and Democrats
No official parties existed at the time of the Founding.
All of today's parties were present during the Founding.
Whigs and Democratic-Republicans
No official parties existed at the time of the Founding.
Who participated in the vote to elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House in 2007?
all senators
all representatives in the House
registered Democratic voters
registered Republican voters
all representatives in the House
In his farewell address, George Washington outlined his views on which of the following?
the formation of third parties
the spirit of party as an aspect of human nature
the responsible party government model
the benefits of a two-party system
the spirit of party as an aspect of human nature
The Democratic-Republican Party was most closely aligned with which of the following?
the anti-Federalists
the Republicans
the Federalists
the Progressives
the anti-Federalists
Who are considered the fathers of American political parties?
Alexander Hamilton and George Washington
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Jefferson and George Washington
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
Why was the time of the Monroe administration known as the Era of Good Feelings?
No political disputes resulted in duels.
Thomas Jefferson reconciled with James Monroe.
The 19th Amendment granted female suffrage.
Electoral politics were dominated by the D
Electoral politics were dominated by the Democratic-Republicans.
The political party formed by Andrew Jackson is the ancestor of which of the following?
the modern Democratic Party
the Whig Party
the Progressive Party
the modern Republican Party
the modern Democratic Party
What issue caused a serious rift in the Whig Party?
laissez-faire economics
expansion of slavery
manifest destiny
the national bank system
expansion of slavery
Who became the first Republican president?
Thomas Jefferson
William Howard Taft
John Adams
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
A single event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what?
an electoral realignment
a swing vote
a critical election
a decisive contest
a critical election
The election of 1860 divided the country between which of the following?
Eastern and Western states
liberals and conservatives
Black Americans and white Americans
Northern and Southern states
Northern and Southern states
What does the "Solid South" refer to?
Stonewall Jackson's troop positions during the Civil War
the oil boom in Texas at the turn of the century
Democratic Party dominance in Southern states following the Civil War
the Ku Klux Klan's reign of terror during
Democratic Party dominance in Southern states following the Civil War
During the era of Republican Party dominance, the political agenda focused on which of the following issues (among others)?
health care reform
women's suffrage
slavery
affirmative action
women's suffrage
The era of Republican Party dominance is also known as what?
the golden age of parties
the time of legends
the Progressive Era
the Reconstruction Era
the Progressive Era
The goals of the Progressive Party centered on which of the following priorities (among others)?
freedom from government regulation
support for monopolistic practices
social welfare for working men
expansion of women's suffrage
expansion of women's suffrage
Which event ended the era of Republican Party dominance?
the Stock Market Crash of 1929
the passage of the New Deal
World War I
World War II
the Stock Market Crash of 1929
President Franklin Roosevelt responded to the economic situation of the 1930s with which of the following measures (among others)?
a policy of isolationism
public works projects
tax cuts for wealthy business owners
deregulation of major industries
public works projects
Which issues led to conflict within the Democratic Party during the 1968 election cycle?
civil rights and the economy
the Vietnam War and civil rights
the economy and Watergate
education and the Vietnam War
the Vietnam War and civil rights
Which of the following events (among others) engendered the political uncertainty of the 1970s and 1980s?
the Clinton-Lewinsky affair
the New Deal
the partisan entrenchment of the South
the Watergate scandal
the Watergate scandal
In the 21st century, Americans have increasingly come to identify with which of the following?
the Republican Party
no party
the Democratic Party
the Libertarian Party
no party
Which of the following BEST characterizes the relationship between the two major parties today?
Republican Party dominance
Democratic Party dominance
polarization
unity
polarization
What is a party platform?
a document that establishes official party values and policy positions
a list of political issues
a press release aimed at undecided voters
a designated area where party officials come to speak to supporters
a document that establishes official party values and policy positions
What is the purpose of a party platform?
It articulates party positions in the hopes of both pleasing party members and attracting voters.
It caters solely to the big donors in the party.
It establishes a contract that a candidate must accept to become th
It articulates party positions in the hopes of both pleasing party members and attracting voters.
Where are party platforms written and published?
in city council meetings
at national conventions
in closed primaries
at state caucuses
at national conventions
When are differences between the two major party platforms likely to be the greatest?
when the nominees are very popular
when differences in the electorate are the greatest
during an off-year election
during the first presidential election of a new decade
when differences in the electorate are the greatest
Based on the excerpts from the Republican platform provided above, how does the party characterize climate change?
as the biggest challenge facing the next generation
as an issue championed by extremists
as a problem beyond the scientific and technologica
as an issue championed by extremists
Based on the excerpts from the Democratic platform provided above, how does the party characterize climate change?
as a scientifically interesting development with little impact on real-world politics
as an issue championed by extremists who are indiffere
as a serious threat that requires both national mobilization and global coordination
What is one way in which Republicans plan to tackle the issue of immigration?
by building a wall along the northern border of the United States
by creating a faster, less bureaucratic path to citizenship
by building a wall along the southern border of the
by building a wall along the southern border of the United States
What is one way in which Democrats plan to tackle the issue of immigration?
by building a wall along the northern border of the United States
by building a wall along the southern border of the United States
by increasing the amount of scrutiny on immigra
by ending raids and roundups of children and families
Considering the issue of education, which of the following statements BEST characterizes the positions taken by the two parties?
Democrats encourage Bible study, while Republicans see household incomes as tied to educational opportunity for children.
Demo
Republicans focus on parental rights in education, while Democrats focus on eliminating opportunity gaps.
Considering the issue of guns, which of the following statements BEST characterizes the position taken by either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?
Democrats support constitutional carry.
Republicans oppose all background checks.
Democrats oppo
Republicans support constitutional carry.
What is one way that the two parties differ on the issue of health care?
Democrats believe that abortion is part of health care, while Republicans believe that abortion is not part of health care.
Democrats believe that Obamacare must be replaced by socia
Democrats believe that abortion is part of health care, while Republicans believe that abortion is not part of health care.
What problem do both Republicans and Democrats say they will address when managing government spending?
economic inequality
waste
privatization
surpluses
waste
How do the parties differ on the issue of government spending?
Democrats want to increase taxes on the poor, while Republicans want to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
Democrats support mass privatization of government programs, including Socia
Democrats want to increase taxes on corporations, while Republicans want to enforce a balanced budget.