Lesson 8.01 Party Politics

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Review Game

1. The country’s Founding Fathers hoped to avoid the creation of ___________.

   1. legislative bodies
   2. states
   3. political parties
   4. a constitution

   Answer: c. political parties

2. Formal membership in a political party is obtained when:
   1. a person registers to vote for that party.
   2. a person pays $250 for a membership card.
   3. a person is issued a driver’s license.
   4. a person reaches 18 years of age if he or she is an American citizen.

   Answer: a. a person registers to vote for that party.

3. In Alabama, one does not have to be a declared member of a political party to vote in the State’s primary. That indicates that Alabama holds a(an) __________.
   1. general election
   2. open primary
   3. closed primary
   4. run-off primary

   Answer: b. open primary

4. The _________ party was founded in 1854 and became a major party when Abraham Lincoln was elected as President in 1860.
   1. Democratic
   2. Republican
   3. Whig
   4. Federalist

   Answer: b. Republican

5. The primary purpose of the national convention held by each of the major parties is to:
   1. gain the support of independent voters.
   2. argue for more money from the presidential election campaign fund.
   3. nominate a candidate.
   4. discuss the issues.

   Answer: c. nominate a candidate

6. The oldest political party still in existence in the United States today is the_________.
   1. Democratic Party
   2. Whig Party
   3. Federalist Party
   4. Republican Party

   Answer: a. Democratic Party

7. Voters who do not support one of the two major parties are referred to as ___________.
   1. independent voters
   2. disinterested voters
   3. disillusioned voters
   4. illegal voters

   Answer: a. independent voters

8. Independent voters:
   1. are decreasing in number.
   2. are growing in number.
   3. are not allowed to vote in the general election.
   4. may only vote for third party candidates in the general election.

   Answer: b. are growing in number.

9. Which of these harm the existence of third parties in the United States?
   1. the publicity the nightly news offers candidates
   2. the proportional system in the Electoral College
   3. the publicity the internet offers candidates
   4. the winner-take-all provision of the single-member system in the Electoral College

   Answer: d. the winner-take-all provision of the single-member system in the Electoral College

10. Which of the following is one of the major impacts third parties may have on American politics?
    1. Third parties can easily win the Electoral College.
    2. Third parties can easily raise money and gain the support of a wide range of voters.
    3. Third parties can draw votes away from one of the major candidates allowing the other to win the election.
    4. Third parties can easily gain a portion of the presidential election campaign fund.

    Answer: c. Third parties can draw votes away from one of the major candidates allowing the other to win the election.

11. Party machines were used to:
    1. Build support for political reform.
    2. Get voters to support a party.

    Answer: b. Get voters to support a party.

12. All of the following are true concerning party machines and district, ward, and precinct captains EXCEPT
    1. Party machines provided jobs and other favors to party loyalists (voters) in order to get their votes and financial support for the party.
    2. Party machines were never allowed to control politics in America.
    3. Ward, district, and precinct captains had tremendous power over voters.
    4. The political boss headed the party machine.

    Answer: b. Party machines were never allowed to control politics in America.