Combined Linkage Institutions, Congress, and Presidency TEST

1. All of the following typically apply to American interest groups EXCEPT:

A) They run candidates for office.

B) They frequently look to the bureaucracy or the judiciary to achieve their policy goals

C) Most have a handful of key policies to push and are policy experts in those areas

D) They provide information and election support to members of Congress

E) Unlike political parties, they are not faced with the constraint of trying to appeal to everyone.

2. A media event is…

A) staged by a politician primarily for the purpose of being covered by the press.

B) any newsworthy occurrence covered by reporters.

C) a news event deemed of such importance to break into regular programming

D) a gathering of people working in the media industry, often to discuss matters of their profession

E) a setup by the media to ambush or embarrass a prominent person.

3. It is illegal for lobbyists to

A) help elected officials reach their legislative goals.

B) provide campaign strategy and organizational help.

C) suggest frameworks and potential outcomes for pending legislation.

D) put elected officials in contact with experts and leaders friendly to the lobby’s cause on television or radio

E) provide money to legislators to directly help pass or defeat particular legislation.

4. Today the overall relationship between the media and politicians can be characterized as:

A) cozy, the media always portray politicians in the best possible manner.

B) openly hostile, the media seeks every opportunity to smear politicians.

C) symbiotic, both sides need each other to be successful.

D) non-existent, the media does not view politicians as an important news source.

E) protective, the media works to cover up wrongdoings by politicians.

5. In Federalist #10, James Madison states that factions

A) filter and refine the will of the people.

B) usually form around a charismatic leader.

C) are self-interested groups adverse to the interests of the community.

D) decrease the power of the common man and increase the power of the elite.

E) promote irresponsible government as they fail to mobilize popular support.

6. Which of the following best describes grassroots lobbying?

A) A PAC makes a $5000 contribution to a political campaign.

B) The NAACP files a lawsuit against Cherry Creek High School for racial discrimination

C) The NRA meets Congressional leaders in an attempt to convince them to kill a bill outlawing assault weapons.

D) The AMA meets with a member of Senator Udall’s staff to help write new health care legislation.

E) Members of the AARP write letters to their Senators urging them to oppose legislature on Medicare cuts

7. The more highly educated the voter, the more likely he or she is to get his or her news from:

A) television.

B) radio.

C) internet blogs.

D) newsmagazines and journals.

E) viral videos and email updates.

8. When journalists select stories to cover, they tend to choose

A) stories that target specific audiences.

B) stories that will draw the largest audience.

C) international and foreign policy stories.

D) stories involving the most important policy issues of the day.

E) stories that cover political issues in depth..

9. As an agenda setter

A) the media have a bias in favor of the status quo.

B) the media influence individual’s vote choices.

C) the media cue individuals about what political issues are important.

D) the media have no bias.

E) the media have a liberal bias.

10. What do elite theorists believe about the influence of interest groups?

A) Each interest group has equal access to the government.

B) Interest groups counterbalance each other, creating a level playing field.

C) Interest groups with large memberships are more successful than those with small memberships.

D) Interest groups help create a more democratic government.

E) A few wealthy interest groups have the most influence.

11. Regarding the amount of news coverage each gets on the network news,

A) the Senate gets the most coverage, then the president, then the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court ranks fourth

B) the Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court receive equal coverage.

C) the 535 members of Congress receive one and a half times as much coverage as the president

D) Congress and the president get equal amounts of coverage.

E) the president receives twice as much coverage as Congress.

12. The watchdog role of the press helps to

A) maintain neutrality of the media.

B) publicize the beneficial activities of government.

C) assist politicians in leading the mass public.

D) act as a check on the activities of government.

E) increase confidence in government.

13. Powerful interest groups such as AARP and the NRA are most likely to use which of the following tactics?

I. Civil disobedience

II. Campaign contributions

III. Lobbying

IV. Litigation

A) IV only

B) I and II only

C) II and III only

D) I, II, III, and IV

E) I and IV only.

14. When the media helps to frame the issues to which voters pay attention and set the political agenda, it is acting in a/an

A) watchdog role.

B) gatekeeper role.

C) scorekeeper role.

D) liberal manner.

E) unconstitutional manner.

15. The most significant reason PAC money goes overwhelmingly to incumbents is because they

A) need more money due to the restraints of being in office.

B) usually win.

C) have already been “bought off” by interest groups.

D) need large amounts of money to maintain their seats.

E) have already become friends and supporters of lobbyists.

16. Americans have expressed a high level of distrust of the media in part because

A) of the lack of political coverage.

B) the perceived bias of various media outlets.

C) the exposure of various political scandals.

D) of the level of violence in newscasts.

E) the media rely more on Internet bloggers and leaked reports, rather than

credible sources

17. A political party is

A) an organization devoted to implementing policy in the public interest.

B) a well-organized national machine with strong party discipline.

C) a team of men and women seeking to control the government by gaining office in elections.

D) less interested in winning elections than in particular public policy.

E) a group of people with narrow policy focus who seek to control government.

18. Which of the following statements about political parties in the United States is true?

A) Parties issue membership cards to all members.

B) To be a member of a party, all you have to do is register as a member.

C) Party membership can be revoked.

D) Parties require dues.

E) They are more powerful than their European counterparts.

19. Which of the following functions do third parties serve in American politics?

I. They act as a safety valve for discontent with the two major parties.

II. They are crucial in policy implementation at all levels of government.

III. They serve as an important training ground for future leaders of the two major parties.

IV. At times they force the two parties to act on issues they might not do otherwise.

A) IV only

B) II and III only

C) I and IV only

D) I, II, III, and IV

E) I only

20. Almost all definitions of political parties have which of the following in common?

A) Parties are stronger at the local level.

B) Parties are always highly formal organizations.

C) Parties have limited policy agendas.

D) Parties have a mass following.

E) Parties try to win elections.

21. Political parties perform all of the following tasks EXCEPT

A) coordinate policymaking.

B) require politicians to adhere to their policy positions.

C) give cues to voters.

D) pick policymakers and run campaigns.

E) advocate public policies.

22. Linkage institutions

A) link political parties to the government.

B) link the president to members of his/her party in Congress, so they can coordinate their policies in government.

C) are used to implement public policies.

D) help link the three branches of government together to achieve coherent policies

E) link citizens with government.

23. American political parties tend to take middle-of-the-road stands on major issues

A) while the public tends to have stronger opinions.

B) because most of the American electorate is centrist.

C) because most of the American electorate does not have political opinions.

D) because the party’s candidates are so afraid of alienating those on different sides of issues.

E) in spite of evidence that more extreme positions generate more excitement and

coordinate their policies in government.

policies.

sides of issues.

likelihood for electoral victory.

24. Closed primaries

A) increase voter turnout.

B) depress voter turnout.

C) discourage party loyalty.

D) cost less than open primaries.

E) have fewer undercounts.

25. A critical election involves and accelerates a process called

A) partisan transformation.

B) proportional representation.

C) electoral examination.

D) democratic rejuvenation.

E) party realignment.

26. The policy positions stated in party platforms are

A) Important, because party leaders must follow them.

B) important because they may result in policy action when the party is in power.

C) intended to get a candidate elected, but not to be implemented.

D) not important because less than one-third of them result in policy action when the party is in power.

E) so generic that they are meaningless

27. The American two-party system

A) generally results in a runoff election.

B) provides clear-cut policy positions because each party is only concerned with maintaining party discipline

C) results in the creation of significant third party movements because most

D) has been in place since the Constitution was ratified.

E) results in the selection of leaders who enjoy broad-based support.

28. All of the following statements about third-parties are true EXCEPT

A) the major political parties usually absorb them over time.

B) they are usually organized around special interests.

C) they almost never win office.

D) their fundraising efforts are as successful as the two major parties..

E) they are often created by charismatic leaders.

29. Since the 1960s, the number of interest groups has

A) declined sharply.

B) risen rapidly.

C) remained constant.

D) declined slightly.

E) fluctuated dramatically.

30. The term interest group can be generally defined as

A) an organization sharing a common interest that run candidates in elections.

B) an organization that seeks a collective good.

C) an organization with similar policy goals that accesses the political process in multiple ways to achieve those goals.

D) a group that has a narrow interest, dislikes compromise, and single-mindedly pursues its goal.

E) all people who share some common interest regardless of whether they join an organization promoting that interest.

31. American political parties differ from interest groups in that parties

A) are policy-driven.

B) raise funds to support their political goals.

C) do not take positions on policy issues.

D) have a narrower scope than interest groups.

E) are policy generalists.

32. Elitist theorists argue that

A) the larger the group, the further it will fall short of providing an optimal amount of a collective good.

B) groups weak in one resource can use another, and all legitimate groups have more power than others

C) the fact that there are numerous groups proves nothing, because some groups are able to affect public policy by one means or another.

D) the government has treated all interest group demands as legitimate.

E) governments should be controlled by a select group of well-educated, cultured, wealthy persons who understand the laws of economics and can run the most efficient government.

33. The free-rider problem refers to

A) unrelated amendments being added to a piece of legislation.

B) potential members of a group who do not join the actual group because they know they will receive the same benefits regardless of membership

C) welfare fraud and the costs it imposes on government and taxpayers.

D) legislators who face no election opponents, and thus are automatically reelected

E) mass transit scofflaws who endanger government aid to subways, buses, and commuter trains by not being officially counted.

34. One of the problems with large groups is that

A) potential group size does not have any measurable affect on the willingness of

B) the larger the potential group, the less likely the group is to achieve its goals.

C) the smaller the group the fewer resources it is likely to have.

D) an actual group and a potential group are virtually the same when it comes to potential members to contribute effectiveness

E) the larger the potential group, the more likely potential members are to contribute.

35. Which of the following groups has the largest potential membership?

A) National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

B) American Political Science Association

C) American Medical Association

D) Air Transport Association of America

E) National Organization for Women

36. Single-issue groups

A) are more effective at the national level than at the state level.

B) mainly focus on the issue of abortion.

C) have had little effect on the outcomes of elections.

D) tend to focus on specific economic issues rather than on social issues.

E) often include members with narrow, uncompromising interests.

37. Interest groups can donate money to candidates through

A) lobbying.

B) electioneering.

C) subgovernments.

D) 527 organizations

E) Political Action Committees.

38. Right-to-work laws are most strongly supported by

A) union officials.

B) unemployed citizens.

C) the feminist and civil rights movements.

D) illegal immigrants.

E) business groups.

39. What is the major difference between an interest group and a PAC?

A) PAC donations are limited while interest group donations may be unlimited.

B) Interest groups must register with the FEC while PACs need not register.

C) PACs hire lobbyists while interests groups do not hire lobbyists.

D) PACs exist only to donate money to political campaigns while interest groups

E) PACs may form interest groups but interest groups may not form PACs.participate in a variety of political activities.

40. What is an iron triangle?

A) The power of interest groups in determining government policies.

B) The proliferation of specialized local governments with taxing authority.

C) The conflict of interest created when government agencies promote PACs.

D) The use of paid lobbyists by congressional committees and subcommittees to further their committee’s agenda.

E) The mutually beneficial relationship between interest groups, government agencies, and members of congressional subcommittees.

41.The principal reason that presidents have trouble getting things done is thatA) the presidency is mostly a ceremonial job and the president is not

expected to do much.B) most are weak and indecisive and do not try to do much.C) they are frequently overruled by the Supreme Court.D) they are often upstaged or undermined by their own vice presidents.E) other policymakers with whom they deal have their own agendas,

interests, and sources of power.

42.The Twenty-second Amendment, passed in 1951,F) limited presidents to two terms of office.G) granted 18-year-olds the right to vote.H) gave impeachment powers to Congress.

I) provided for the presidential and vice presidential candidates to run as a team.

J) provided for the direct election of the president by the people.

43. In order to impeach a president, it takesa. a two-thirds vote in the Senate.b. a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives.c. a majority vote in the Senate.d. a unanimous vote of the Supreme Court.e. a majority vote in the House of Representatives.

44. The Twenty-fifth Amendment, ratified in 1967,a. created a means for selecting a new vice president when the office

became vacant.b. granted 18-year-olds the right to vote.c. specifically forced Richard Nixon from office.d. provided for the direct election of the president by the people.e. limited the president to two terms in office.

45. All of the following are formal constitutional powers of the president EXCEPTa. appoint federal judges with the advice and consent of majority of the

Senateb. sign or veto legislation passed by Congressc. issue an executive orderd. serve as Commander in Chief of the armed forcese. pardon those convicted of crimes

46. The presidential cabineta. is given tremendous power under the Constitution.b. is the electronically locked vault where the president keeps his top

secret papers.c. includes, by law, a minimum of two sitting members of Congress at all

times.d. consists of the head of each executive department, plus any additional

government officials the president designates.e. can veto actions by the president.

47. The Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisors are

a. advisory bodies of the Department of State.b. members of the White House staff.c. the key liaison agencies between the president and Congress.d. part of the president’s cabinet.e. policymaking bodies of the Executive Office of the President.

48. John F. Kennedy’s “wheel-and-spokes” system of management was characterized by

a. a hierarchical organization with a chief of staff at the top.b. the president’s involvement in every administrative detail.c. many aides with equal status balanced against one another in the

decision-making process.d. a streamlined, fast-paced, and efficient decision-making style.e. a closed, small network of computers that directly linked the

president to his closest advisors through e-mail messages.

49. A presidential veto of legislation passed by Congressa. can be overturned only by majority vote of the Supreme Court.b. can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of either the House or the

Senate to override the veto.c. cannot be overturned.d. can be overturned by a two-thirds vote of both the House and the

Senate to override the veto.e. can be overturned by a majority vote of both the House and the Senate

to override the veto.

50. The Constitution gives the president the power to influence the legislative process through his responsibility to

a. report on the state of the union and veto acts of Congress.b. recommend legislation and make appointments to the cabinet.c. manage the economy, lead the party, and deal with national crises.d. make laws by decree without the consent of Congress in some

situations.e. direct the business of Congress and initiate impeachment.

51. All of the following statements about the presidential veto are true EXCEPTa. The president, unlike most governors, cannot use a line-item veto.b. Almost half of all vetoed bills have been overridden by Congress.c. Even the threat of a presidential veto can be an effective tool for

persuading Congress to give more weight to presidents’ views.d. The presidential veto is an inherently negative resource.e. Presidents can not veto only parts of a bill.

52. Presidential coattails refers toa. the tendency for the president’s party to lose congressional seats in

midterm elections.b. voters who support the president casting their ballots for

congressional candidates of the president’s party.c. fund-raising parties the president hosts to raise money for

congressional candidates.

d. the president’s power to appoint members of his own political party to cabinet posts and a personal advisors.

e. members of Congress voting according to the wishes of the president.

53. Recent election studies showa. that many congressional races are determined by presidential

coattails.b. a diminishing connection between voters’ presidential and

congressional voting.c. that the party of the winning presidential candidate has been gaining

an increasing number of seats in congress.d. that presidential coattails no longer exist.e. the president’s party usually gains seats in Congress in mid-term

elections.

54. A mid-term election isa. a presidential election that occurs during a session of Congress.b. one in which the incumbent is running for reelection.c. a special election that may remove an official from office in the middle

of the term.d. held every two years.e. a congressional election that is not accompanied by a presidential

election.

55. The impact of public approval or disapproval of the president on the support that the president receives in Congress is

a. the support for the president in Congress can be measured by plus or minus three percent.

b. not too important, though it occasionally has a minor effect.c. irrelevant.d. important, but it is not usually the deciding factor determining

whether or not legislation will be passed.e. extremely important, and sways nearly all members of Congress on

every vote.

56. Electoral mandatesa. are the constitutional requirements that federal elections be held on

the second Tuesday of November of even numbered years.b. are the procedures used by the electoral college to tally the

presidential electoral votes.c. occur most often in mid-term elections.d. consist of the perception that the voters strongly support the winner’s

positions.e. have no real effect on how Congress supports the president.

57. All of the following are part of the president’s powers as the nation’s chief diplomat EXCEPT

a. negotiating treaties with other nationsb. negotiating executive agreements which do not require congressional

approvalc. extending diplomatic recognition to a nationd. mediating disputes between nations other than the United Statese. declaring war against an adversary

58. The War Powers Resolutiona. established the code protocols that launch nuclear missiles in order to

prevent accidental or unauthorized missile launches.b. prohibited the president power from committing American troops

without congressional approval.c. gave the president the formal power to declare war in the case of

nuclear attack.d. established the chain of command of the armed forces in the event the

president is incapacitated.e. mandated the withdrawal of forces after sixty days unless Congress

declared war or granted an extension.

59. In the United States showdown with Saddam Hussein in January 1991,a. Congress passed a resolution authorizing the president to use military

force against Iraq.b. Congress declared war on Iraq.c. after granting President Bush a thirty-day extension, Congress

invoked the War Powers Resolution and effectively placed a ninety-day limit on combat.

d. Congress did not vote on declaring war or authorizing military force, preferring to let the president act alone.

e. Congress voted against using force against Iraq, but President Bush used force anyway.

60. All of the following statements about crises are true EXCEPTa. It is easier for an individual president to manage crises than it is for

congressional leaders to do so.b. The president has become more prominent in handling crises than

other branches of government.c. Most crises occur in the realm of foreign policy.d. Crises are rarely the president’s doing.e. There were more immediate crises early in American history than

there are today.