PSCI 2305 Final Exam Questions and
Answers
A single-event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what? -
Answer -A critical election
Which of the following activities would be considered a conventional form of
participation? - Answer -voting
Which of the following offers the best definition of political participation according to the
text? - Answer -any action that seeks to change or support a government official or
policy
If you decide to vote for a candidate because you like what she has promised to do
once in office, you are engaging in what type of voting? - Answer -prospective
A voter who makes a ballot choice based on how candidates have performed during
past terms in office is engaging in what kind of voting? - Answer -retrospective
What term is used to describe the phenomenon that occurs when Americans begin to
lose interest in politics because there are so many elections to follow? - Answer -voter
fatigue
Undecided voters are likely to vote for the candidate they think is most likely to win.
What is this phenomenon called? - Answer -being influenced by the bandwagon effect
What is the difference between an open primary and a closed primary? - Answer -An
open primary does not require voters to declare the party with which they are affiliated,
while a closed primary does.
If the name on your identification does not match the name on the official voter rolls,
what happens? - Answer -You may cast a provisional ballot
What distinguishes interest groups from political parties? - Answer -their narrow set of
issue concerns
What is one way a lobbyist could influence the judicial branch? - Answer -file an amicus
brief
, Interest groups that observe and report on governmental activities are known as what? -
Answer -Blue Dogs
A person who enjoys the benefits of collective action without contributing to their
attainment are known as what? - Answer -Free riders
If an interest group provides someone with a sense of community, it can be said to be
providing what kind of benefit? - Answer -solidarity
How can interest groups overcome the collective action problem? - Answer -require
beneficiaries of group efforts to also be registered members
What is the purpose of a "candidate scorecard"? - Answer -to show how two candidates
compare in their support of issues that matter to an interest group
What are the two major American political parties? - Answer -Democratic and
Republican
What is the ultimate purpose of a political party? - Answer -to influence public policy
According to Duverger's Law, a two-party system will occur under what circumstances?
- Answer -when plurality voting occurs in single-member districts
A party's official positions on major policy issues are organized into what document? -
Answer -the party platform
Who makes up the party in the electorate? - Answer -citizens
Which political party dominates Texas politics today? - Answer -Republican Party
A candidate who has won using a plurality voting rule has accomplished which feat? -
Answer -He or she collected more votes than any other candidate
To become president, which of the following must happen? - Answer -You must win a
majority of the Electoral College votes
Which of the following represents an accurate distinction between primaries and
caucuses? - Answer -Primaries are much more common than caucuses
Why would a state chose to move its primary election to an earlier date? - Answer -
States want to maximize their influence on the candidate selection process
The first caucus is held in what state? - Answer -Iowa
What happens if no presidential candidate gets a majority of the Electoral College
votes? - Answer -The House of Representatives selects a president
Answers
A single-event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what? -
Answer -A critical election
Which of the following activities would be considered a conventional form of
participation? - Answer -voting
Which of the following offers the best definition of political participation according to the
text? - Answer -any action that seeks to change or support a government official or
policy
If you decide to vote for a candidate because you like what she has promised to do
once in office, you are engaging in what type of voting? - Answer -prospective
A voter who makes a ballot choice based on how candidates have performed during
past terms in office is engaging in what kind of voting? - Answer -retrospective
What term is used to describe the phenomenon that occurs when Americans begin to
lose interest in politics because there are so many elections to follow? - Answer -voter
fatigue
Undecided voters are likely to vote for the candidate they think is most likely to win.
What is this phenomenon called? - Answer -being influenced by the bandwagon effect
What is the difference between an open primary and a closed primary? - Answer -An
open primary does not require voters to declare the party with which they are affiliated,
while a closed primary does.
If the name on your identification does not match the name on the official voter rolls,
what happens? - Answer -You may cast a provisional ballot
What distinguishes interest groups from political parties? - Answer -their narrow set of
issue concerns
What is one way a lobbyist could influence the judicial branch? - Answer -file an amicus
brief
, Interest groups that observe and report on governmental activities are known as what? -
Answer -Blue Dogs
A person who enjoys the benefits of collective action without contributing to their
attainment are known as what? - Answer -Free riders
If an interest group provides someone with a sense of community, it can be said to be
providing what kind of benefit? - Answer -solidarity
How can interest groups overcome the collective action problem? - Answer -require
beneficiaries of group efforts to also be registered members
What is the purpose of a "candidate scorecard"? - Answer -to show how two candidates
compare in their support of issues that matter to an interest group
What are the two major American political parties? - Answer -Democratic and
Republican
What is the ultimate purpose of a political party? - Answer -to influence public policy
According to Duverger's Law, a two-party system will occur under what circumstances?
- Answer -when plurality voting occurs in single-member districts
A party's official positions on major policy issues are organized into what document? -
Answer -the party platform
Who makes up the party in the electorate? - Answer -citizens
Which political party dominates Texas politics today? - Answer -Republican Party
A candidate who has won using a plurality voting rule has accomplished which feat? -
Answer -He or she collected more votes than any other candidate
To become president, which of the following must happen? - Answer -You must win a
majority of the Electoral College votes
Which of the following represents an accurate distinction between primaries and
caucuses? - Answer -Primaries are much more common than caucuses
Why would a state chose to move its primary election to an earlier date? - Answer -
States want to maximize their influence on the candidate selection process
The first caucus is held in what state? - Answer -Iowa
What happens if no presidential candidate gets a majority of the Electoral College
votes? - Answer -The House of Representatives selects a president
