American Government Institutions and Policies 13th Edition Wilson Test Bank

American Government Institutions and
Policies 13th Edition Wilson Test Bank

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CHAPTER 10: Elections and Campaigns
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Originally, presidential candidates were chosen by

a. lottery.
b. conventions.
c. congressional caucus.
d. state legislatures.
e. governors.
ANS: C REF: 234 NOT: F
2. When Hubert Humphrey won the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1968, he did so
a. without spending money on advertising.
b. with considerable assistance from Republican voters.
c. without raising money.
d. in spite of opposition from party bosses.
e. without competing in a single state primary.
ANS: E REF: 234 NOT: F
3. Most of the money that individual candidates spend during the course of a campaign is directed toward
a. media-related activities.
b. campaign staff and advisors.
c. travel-related expenses.
d. campaign literature.
e. the national convention.
ANS: A REF: 234 NOT: F
4. A study of political ads broadcast from 1999 to 2004 found that the largest number emphasized
a. stirring positive emotions.
b. voters’ fears.
c. civic duty.
d. nonpartisan cooperation.
e. candidates’ personal qualities.
ANS: B REF: 237 NOT: F
5. A study of political ads broadcast from 1999 to 2004 found that ads that appealed to the emotions had
the greatest impact on voters
a. with the most information about government.
b. who were participating in elections for the first time.
c. who considered themselves independents.
d. who were the least educated.
e. who knew the least about each particular candidate.
6. In 2006, John McCain’s choice of campaign political consultants was somewhat unusual because they
a. were strong supporters of the death penalty.
b. were relatively young and inexperienced.
c. had worked with him in all of his previous campaigns.
d. previously worked directly against him, and for his opponents.
e. refused to use focus groups.
ANS: D REF: 237 NOT: F
7. The text suggests that the term campaigning has become a synonym for
a. calculating.
b. mobilizing.
c. communicating.
d. reflecting.
e. fundraising.
8. Which of the following statements about the nomination process in the United States is correct?
a. Parties play a minor role compared with those in Europe.
b. Parties play a larger role today than at the turn of the twentieth century.
c. In the United States, nomination is usually tantamount to election.
d. The nomination process in the United States is more of an organizational effort than in
Europe.
e. The nomination is less influenced by organized interests than in Europe.
ANS: A REF: 238 NOT: C
9. A major difference between presidential campaigns and congressional campaigns is that

a. fewer people vote in presidential elections.
b. presidential incumbents can better serve their constituents.
c. presidential incumbents can more easily avoid responsibility.
d. presidential races are generally more competitive.
e. congressional incumbents are more likely to be defeated.
ANS: D REF: 238 NOT: C
10. The elections that produce the largest voter turnout are the
a. local elections.
b. judicial elections.
c. senatorial elections.
d. House elections.
e. presidential elections.
11. Which of the following statements best summarizes the value of presidential coattails to congressional
candidates of the same party?
a. They have never been a significant factor.
b. They remain a significant factor today.
c. They are increasingly significant for the Republicans.
d. They are becoming more significant today.
e. They are becoming much less significant today.
12. The first goal of an individual planning to run for office is to

a. hire a paid staff of advisers.
b. get mentioned as a possible candidate.
c. develop a strategy for the campaign.
d. raise money from individuals and political action committees (PACs).
e. replace party leaders with avid supporters.
13. Ronald Reagan made a dozen speeches a day to audiences all over the country while
a. his acting career was in full swing.
b. working for General Electric.
c. running for president in 1980.
d. running for president in 1984.
e. campaigning for George Bush.
14. Voters tend to prefer a presidential candidate with experience as a

a. governor.
b. member of the House of Representatives.
c. military leader.
d. member of the Senate.
e. both A and C.
15. Most “position papers” are rarely, if ever, used, but they are still important because they
a. show important interest groups a candidate’s positions.
b. prepare candidates to answer tough questions.
c. allow journalists to look up a candidate’s views.
d. sway voters in key states.
e. Options A, B, and C.
16. In 1980, Ronald Reagan chose ________ as a theme for his campaign.
a. the need for change
b. trust
c. compassionate conservatism
d. competence
e. strength
17. In 2000, George Bush chose __________ as a theme for his campaign.
a. the need for change
b. trust
c. compassionate conservatism
d. competence
e. strength
ANS: C REF: 240-241 NOT: F
18. Since 1962, over ____ percent of House incumbents who sought reelection have won it.
a. 60
b. 65
c. 75
d. 80
e. 90
19. Who decides how many representatives there are in the House?
a. Congress
b. The Supreme Court
c. The President
d. State legislatures
e. Party leaders
20. When a district is so unequal that the votes of citizens are significantly diluted, it is
a. malapportioned.
b. reapportioned.
c. regressed.
d. gerrymandered.
e. disbarred.
21. When a district is drawn in a bizarre or unusual shape to assist a candidate, it is

a. malapportioned.
b. reapportioned.
c. regressed.
d. gerrymandered.
e. disbarred.
22. In 1911, Congress decided that the House had become large enough and voted to fix its size at
a. 100.
b. 435.
c. 535.
d. 537.
e. 600.
23. The Constitution calls for reapportionment

a. every five years.
b. every ten years.
c. every twenty years.
d. every fifty years.
e. every one hundred years.
24. The problems related to malapportionment and gerrymandering were eventually addressed by
a. the president.
b. political parties.
c. the Supreme Court.
d. a Senate committee.
e. a House committee.
25. After the last two census adjustments, which state has benefited the most by gaining the highest
number of seats in the House?
a. California
b. New York
c. Florida
d. Texas
e. Illinois
26. All of the following states gained seats in the House after the 2000 census except
a. California.
b. North Carolina.
c. Georgia.
d. Illinois.
e. Arizona.
27. The increase in voter support that a member of the House receives in his or her first bid for reelection
is referred to as the
a. no-brainer march.
b. post-office bounce.
c. two-time round-up.
d. second-wind surprise.
e. sophomore surge.
28. Most newly elected members of the House can expect an increase of _________ percent more votes
when they run for reelection.
a. 1 to 2
b. 3 to 4
c. 5 to 7
d. 8 to 10
e. 15 to 20
29. The text suggests members of Congress often

a. “run for Congress by running alongside it.”
b. “run for Congress by running with the president.”
c. “run for Congress by clinging to it.”
d. “run for Congress by running against it.”
e. “run for Congress by defending it.”
30. The way people get elected to Congress ensures that

a. legislators are closely tied to local concerns.
b. the news media will pay little attention to incumbents.
c. communication with interest groups will be difficult, frustrating.
d. party leaders will have relatively weak influence over them.
e. Both A and D.
ANS: E REF: 243 NOT: C
31. Who said, “All politics is local”?

a. Will Rodgers
b. William Jennings Bryan
c. Henry Lodge
d. Huey Long
e. “Tip” O'Neill
32. One reason that the approach used by a candidate in a general election may not work in a primary is
that a primary candidate must
a. take a more mainstream view of key issues.
b. be more aware of the “clothespin” vote.
c. play to the ideology of political activists.
d. take greater caution to avoid slips of the tongue.
e. avoid media scrutiny at all costs.
ANS: C REF: 243 NOT: C
33. To win the presidential nomination as opposed to the general election, candidates generally present
themselves as
a. more conservative.
b. more liberal.
c. more liberal if Republican, more conservative if Democratic.
d. more liberal if Democratic, more conservative if Republican.
e. moderate.
34. The first real test of a candidate vying for the nomination comes in
a. Florida.
b. California.
c. Pennsylvania.
d. Rhode Island.
e. Iowa.
35. John Kerry’s famous “flip-flop” position from the primary season to the general election campaign
concerned
a. the invasion of Iraq.
b. taxes.
c. the death penalty.
d. Social Security.
e. Medicare.
36. A _________ issue is one in which the rival candidates have opposing views on a question that also
divides the voters.
a. valence
b. primary
c. secondary
d. residual
e. position
37. In the 2008 election, John McCain wanted to let people put some of their Social Security money into
private savings accounts; Barack Obama opposed this. This is an example of a ________ issue.
a. valence
b. primary
c. secondary
d. position
e. residual
38. In the 1980 presidential election, many people voted for Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter as a vote
against Carter, not out of loyalty to Reagan. Such a vote is referred to as a(n)
a. spin vote.
b. “clothespin” vote.
c. prospective vote.
d. informed vote.
e. inclined vote.
ANS: B REF: 244 NOT: C
39. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a. Representatives must be twenty years of age.
b. Senators must be thirty years of age.
c. Representatives must have been citizens of the United States for seven years.
d. Senators must have been citizens of the United States for nine years.
e. Representatives and senators must live in the state in which they are elected.
40. Disputed congressional elections are decided by

a. the Supreme Court.
b. the state supreme courts.
c. Congress.
d. the state legislatures.
e. state governors.
41. Members of the House and Senate can remove fellow members by a _______ vote.
a. plurality
b. majority
c. two-thirds
d. three-fourths
e. unanimous
42. Members of the House and Senate can say or write anything they like, without fear of being sued or
prosecuted, so long as what they say is
a. approved by party leaders.
b. approved by a U.S. district court.
c. printed with their own personal money.
d. related to the legislative process.
e. consistent with state law.
43. Nearly everyone is in agreement over a _________ issue, and the candidate fully supports the public’s
view.
a. valence
b. primary
c. secondary
d. position
e. residual
44. An example of a ________ issue occurred when Jimmy Carter seemed more likely to favor honesty in
government than did his opponent in 1976.
a. residual
b. primary
c. secondary
d. position
e. valence
45. Which of the following topics would probably play out as a valence issue?
a. Honesty in government
b. A strong economy
c. Patriotism
d. Anti-crime measures
e. All of the above.
46. _________ issues have increased in importance in campaigns in recent years.

a. Valence
b. Primary
c. Secondary
d. Position
e. Residual
47. The kind of campaign activity most notably on the increase in recent elections is
a. appearances at malls.
b. large parades and rallies.
c. whistlestop train tours.
d. appearances at factories.
e. broadcasting.
48. The impact of television advertising is probably

a. greater for clarifying issues than for projecting an image.
b. more pronounced in congressional than in presidential races.
c. greater in primary elections than in general elections.
d. greater in general elections than in primary elections.
e. greater on strong partisans.
49. You must declare in advance that you are a registered member of a political party in a(n) ________
primary.
a. blanket
b. open
c. closed
d. runoff
e. static
50. Compared with paid television advertising, television visuals such as an appearance by a candidate on
the nightly news are probably
a. more expensive.
b. less credible with voters.
c. more informative.
d. less influential on election outcomes.
e. less informative.
51. In a(n) ______ primary, you decide when you enter the voting booth which party’s primary you wish
to participate in.
a. blanket
b. open
c. closed
d. runoff
e. static
ANS: B REF: 246-247 NOT: C
52. In a(n) _____ primary, you can vote for candidates of either party.
a. blanket
b. open
c. closed
d. runoff
e. static
53. In a(n) _______ primary, the top two candidates run head to head for a majority of the vote.
a. blanket
b. open
c. closed
d. runoff
e. static
54. The blanket primary is also called a(n) _______ primary.

a. open
b. nonpartisan
c. flat-line
d. free-love
e. revolving
55. It was somewhat unusual for Richard Nixon to agree to debate John Kennedy in 1960 because
a. the setting and guiding rules gave a strong advantage to Kennedy.
b. the number of viewers was almost certain to be low.
c. the Republican Party objected to the debates.
d. polls indicated Nixon was well ahead of Kennedy.
e. Kennedy was less well known than Nixon.
56. There were no presidential debates at all in

a. 1964.
b. 1968.
c. 1972.
d. 1976.
e. options A, B, and C.
57. The drawback to candidates of television visuals and debates is

a. their time limitations.
b. the risk of verbal slips.
c. their expense.
d. audience passivity.
e. the inability to control background images.
58. One way for a candidate to avoid embarrassing slips of the tongue during campaigning is to
a. engage in televised debates.
b. avoid paid advertising.
c. participate in town meetings.
d. control the timing of visuals.
e. rely on stock speeches.
59. The acronym BOMFOG refers to

a. the committee that monitors advertising strategies in presidential campaigns.
b. a debate strategy employed by Republican presidential candidates.
c. a repetitive phrase used by a presidential candidate throughout a campaign.
d. any campaign strategy based on focus group polling.
e. the use of public opinion data when candidates are uncertain about their own position on
an issue.
60. One effect of candidates’ fear of a slip during campaigning is that, increasingly, candidates are
a. relying on television debates to clarify their views.
b. selling an image rather than their ideas.
c. avoiding stock speeches in favor of impromptu briefings.
d. avoiding television exposure altogether.
e. concentrating heavily on substance and ideas.
ANS: B REF: 248 NOT: C
61. The potentially useful effect of television is best illustrated by the 1992 campaign of
a. Bill Clinton.
b. George Bush.
c. Ross Perot.
d. all of the candidates.
e. none of the candidates.
62. An advantage of direct-mail appeals is that they

a. cost very little.
b. can be directed at specific subgroups of the population.
c. can blanket the entire electorate.
d. reach only the literate.
e. can convince strong partisans to change their perspectives.
63. Unlike congressional campaigns, presidential campaigns are funded by

a. private sources only.
b. public sources only.
c. both private and public sources.
d. federal matching grants only.
e. private sources during the primaries and public sources after the nominations are made.
64. Funding of congressional elections comes from

a. public sources only.
b. private sources only.
c. party sources only.
d. a combination of public, party, and private sources.
e. the parties and public sources.
65. The campaign finance law created in the 1970s was the direct by product of
a. the Watergate scandal.
b. the passage of the Twenty-Six Amendment.
c. decreasing vote turnout.
d. wage and price controls.
e. riots in Chicago.
66. A PAC must have ____ members.

a. 2
b. 8
c. 50
d. 100
e. 120
67. Most of the money for congressional candidates comes from

a. PACs.
b. major corporations.
c. small businesses.
d. multinational corporations.
e. individuals.
68. The way that federal matching funds are made available to candidates for presidential campaigns
a. gives candidates an incentive to raise money from small donors.
b. encourages candidates to use more of their own financing.
c. strengthens the role that the party plays in raising campaign funds.
d. increases the chances of an ideologically oriented candidate’s winning the election.
e. encourages a large number of third-party candidates to run.
69. Soft money is money that is obtained by

a. political parties.
b. incumbents.
c. challengers.
d. party leaders.
e. party leaders’ PACs.
70. The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 raised the individual limit on contributions to
_________ per candidate per election.
a. $1,000
b. $2,000
c. $5,000
d. $10,000
e. $15,000
71. The top PAC contributor in the 2007–2008 campaign cycle was associated with
a. firefighters.
b. credit unions.
c. airline pilots.
d. beer wholesalers.
e. realtors.
72. The experience with 527 organizations in the 2004 elections suggests that campaign finance laws
a. are an effective way to minimize interest group participation.
b. are an effective way to reduce campaign spending.
c. facilitate coordination of efforts between candidates and groups.
d. are not likely to take money out of politics.
e. have restricted speech considerably.
73. History suggests that ___ percent of the presidential vote will go to the candidates of the two main
parties.
a. 60
b. 70
c. 80
d. 90
e. 99
74. Which of the following does the text suggest is a critical factor in presidential elections?
a. The vice-presidential nominee
b. Political reporting
c. The religion of the candidates
d. The candidates’ positions on abortion
e. None of the above
75. One advantage that incumbents always have over challengers is

a. their larger share of federal campaign monies.
b. the political advantage of riding the president’s coattails.
c. their use of free mailings, or franks.
d. their freedom from FEC regulations.
e. both B and D.
76. Many scholars argue that the foremost factor in determining how people vote is
a. debate performance.
b. perception of the best candidate.
c. campaign spending.
d. a candidate’s image.
e. party identification.
77. Democrats could be predicted to win every presidential election if the only factor were
a. candidate appeal.
b. campaign issues.
c. debate performance.
d. money spent.
e. party identification.
78. Barack Obama won the 2008 election with ___ percent of the popular vote.
a. 39
b. 45
c. 52
d. 60
e. 62
79. Which party tends to be more loyal to its candidate in presidential elections?
a. Democratic
b. Republican
c. Independent
d. A and C
e. No clear-cut difference exists among the parties.
80. Self-described strong Republicans have voted in greater proportion than strong Democrats in
a. relatively few presidential races.
b. every presidential race in the past thirty years.
c. years when there was a Republican incumbent.
d. years when there was a Democratic incumbent.
e. elections when the economy was strong.
81. When a voter votes for the candidate whom he or she considers more likely to do a better job in office,
that voting is referred to as
a. “clothespin” voting.
b. ideological voting.
c. prospective voting.
d. retrospective voting.
e. sociotropic voting.
82. Which type of voting requires a lot of information about candidates and issues?
a. Issueless voting
b. Ideological voting
c. Prospective voting
d. Retrospective voting
e. Sociotropic voting
83. The text suggests that political junkies are more likely to engage in ________ voting.
a. issueless
b. ideological
c. prospective
d. retrospective
e. sociotropic
84. The text suggests that elections are decided by ___________ voters.
a. “clothespin”
b. ideological
c. prospective
d. retrospective
e. sociotropic
85. According to the text, campaigns do make a difference because they
a. emphasize details and issues over themes and perceptions.
b. give voters a chance to see how candidates handle pressure.
c. reduce the influence of single-issue groups.
d. counteract the effects of party loyalty and national economic conditions.
e. neutralize the impact of the media on voters’ decisions.
86. Several factors have contributed to the emphasis on themes over details in recent elections. One of
these factors is the
a. growing strength of political parties.
b. rise in prospective voting.
c. increase in the number of televised debates and visuals.
d. campaign finance reforms of 1974.
e. desire of voters to discern candidate character.
87. Although campaigns in the United States have historically emphasized broad themes over specific
details, what has emerged in recent years is the
a. power of political parties.
b. influence of political fat cats.
c. importance of primary elections.
d. impact of major political realignments.
e. influence of lawyers in the selection of candidates.
88. The Democrats appear to have lost their once-strong hold on which of the following groups?
a. Catholics
b. Southerners
c. Union members
d. Blacks
e. Options A, B, and C
89. Union leaders, in making demands on Democratic leaders and candidates, usually emphasize
a. the loyalty of their followers to the party.
b. labor’s willingness to form a factional party if necessary.
c. the contributions of labor to the New Deal.
d. the contributions of labor to the Great Wars effort.
e. the large number of union voters.
90. The Republican Party was clearly the dominant party in American politics from
a. 1896 to 1932.
b. 1916 to 1948.
c. 1932 to 1960.
d. 1948 to 1968.
e. 1972 to 1996.
91. Great Britain’s parliamentary system seems to produce at relatively regular intervals
a. a deadlock of legislative and executive powers.
b. elections that effect major policy changes.
c. disputed elections to be decided in court.
d. a government unable to act at all.
e. partisan gridlock and scandals among leadership.
92. The text argues that the U.S. constitutional system was designed to make the adoption of radical
departures in policy
a. efficient.
b. easy.
c. impossible.
d. unnecessary.
e. difficult.
93. The election of _____ brought about wide-scale adoption of social assistance programs.
a. 1956
b. 1964
c. 1972
d. 1980
e. 1992
94. The election of _____ brought about a significant reduction in taxes, spending, and regulatory
practices.
a. 1956
b. 1964
c. 1976
d. 1980
e. 1992
95. One study of some fourteen hundred promises made in political parties’ platforms between 1944 and
1964 found that about ________ percent of those promises were kept.
a. 12
b. 37
c. 52
d. 72
e. 93
96. Which of the following statements is true about most presidential elections?
a. They do not provide the winner with a clear mandate.
b. They produce a major party realignment.
c. They are decided by prospective voting patterns.
d. They are fought over a dominant issue.
e. They are immune to economic swings.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The media play an increasingly important role in campaigns and elections.
ANS: T REF: 234
2. Recent presidential and congressional elections featured an unprecedented amount of spending by

candidates.
ANS: T REF: 235
3. Presidential campaign fundraising and expenditures more than doubled between 2004 and 2008.
ANS: T REF: 235-236
4. Most of the money that candidates spend today is media related.
ANS: T REF: 236
5. Research suggests that highly emotional ads have little impact on those who are interested in politics
and are well informed.
ANS: F REF: 236
6. Information about consumer and recreational habits are employed in the process of micro-targeting.
ANS: T REF: 237
7. In 2006, John McCain hired political consultants he had once condemned for dishonest and harsh
campaign ads.
ANS: T REF: 237
8. In this country, running for Congress involves mostly an individual decision and effort, whereas in
most European nations the decision and effort are primarily organizational.
ANS: T REF: 238
9. In Israel and the Netherlands, the names of candidates for the legislature do not even appear on the
ballot.
ANS: T REF: 238
10. Presidential races tend to be more competitive than congressional races.
ANS: T REF: 238
11. Congressional races tend to draw a heavier voter turnout than presidential races.
ANS: F REF: 238

12. Turnout in the typical congressional election is around 15 percent.
ANS: F REF: 238
13. To a substantial degree, congressional elections have become independent of presidential ones.
ANS: T REF: 239
14. Bradley of New Jersey and Gephardt of Missouri shared the advantage of having their names attached
to major pieces of legislation.
ANS: T REF: 239
15. The text suggests that Ronald Reagan spent the better part of six years running for president.
ANS: T REF: 239
16. In presidential elections, voters appear to prefer candidates who are governors over members of
Congress.
ANS: T REF: 239
17. Military leaders and war heroes have not generally been successful in bids for the presidency.
ANS: F REF: 239
18. Presidential candidates’ position papers on major issues are meant for interest groups rather than for
the electorate at large.
ANS: T REF: 240
19. The authors suggest that the four Ts of developing a campaign strategy are tone, theme, timing, and
targets.
ANS: T REF: 240
20. Barack Obama ran his 2008 campaign on the theme of “change you can believe in.”
ANS: T REF: 240
21. Members of Congress may run for and be elected to as many terms in office as they please.
ANS: T REF: 241
22. If you run for a seat in the House against the incumbent, the odds are very much against you.
ANS: T REF: 241
23. The Constitution says nothing about congressional districts.
ANS: T REF: 241
24. Malapportionment and gerrymandering have been conspicuous features of congressional politics.
ANS: T REF: 241
25. The current size of the House at 435 members was set in the year 1911.
ANS: T REF: 241
26. The Constitution requires reapportionment every twenty years.
ANS: F REF: 242
27. In recent decades, Florida and California have picked up seats in the House of Representatives.
ANS: T REF: 242
28. States were generally aggressive about malapportionment until courts restricted their ability to address
the problem.
ANS: F REF: 242
29. New members of Congress can expect to pick up 8 to 10 percent more of the vote when they run for
reelection.
ANS: T REF: 243
30. The text suggests that members of Congress run for Congress by running against it.
ANS: T REF: 243
31. The way members of Congress are elected ensures that party leaders will have exceptional influence
over them.
ANS: F REF: 243
32. Members who see themselves as delegates seek out committee assignments that will produce benefits
for their districts.
ANS: T REF: 243
33. Democratic primary voters generally tend to be more liberal than other Democrats.
ANS: T REF: 244
34. Iowa caucus voters tend to be more ideologically polarized than typical Iowa voters.
ANS: T REF: 244
35. Members of the U.S. Senate must have been U.S. citizens for at least nine years.
ANS: T REF: 245
36. Early in the 2004 presidential primaries and caucuses, John Kerry claimed that he was an opponent of
the American invasion of Iraq.
ANS: T REF: 244

37. Richard Nixon defeated George McGovern by taking more centrist positions on issues.
ANS: T REF: 244
38. A position issue is an issue that does not divide voters.
ANS: F REF: 244
39. Since 1860, many of the great party realignments have been based on differing position issues.
ANS: T REF: 244
40. Bill Clinton's theme for the 1992 election was “compassionate conservatism.”
ANS: F REF: 245-246
41. In the 2008 election, the call to reform health care and make the system more affordable was a valence
issue.
ANS: T REF: 246
42. In the 2008 election, John McCain and Barack Obama discussed taxes in such a way that they became
an example of a position issue.
ANS: T REF: 246
43. Position issues have increased in importance in recent years.
ANS: F REF: 246
44. Valence issues have increased in importance in recent years.
ANS: T REF: 246
45. Candidates today increasingly emphasize electronic broadcasting in their campaigns.
ANS: T REF: 246
46. Paid advertising seems to have more of an effect on general elections than on primaries.
ANS: F REF: 246
47. The effect of paid advertising on the outcome of most general elections seems to be slight, or quite
difficult to detect.
ANS: T REF: 246
48. Television spots are more expensive than visuals.
ANS: T REF: 246
49. Visuals seem to have lower credibility with voters than paid television advertising.
ANS: F REF: 246
50. In an open primary, only voters who have registered as a member of a party may vote for the
candidates of that party.
ANS: F REF: 246-247
51. The type of primary that allows a voter the greatest freedom to vote for candidates of different parties
is the blanket primary.
ANS: T REF: 247
52. The 2008 presidential debates dramatically affected the outcome of the election.
ANS: F REF: 248
53. Candidates fear both visuals and debates because of the risk of verbal slips.
ANS: T REF: 248
54. In 1980, Ronald Reagan said that trees cause pollution.
ANS: T REF: 248
55. The 1992 candidacy of Ross Perot owed its viability to his frequent use of television.
ANS: T REF: 248
56. In 1996 the major television networks agreed to make some free time available to all presidential
candidates.
ANS: F REF: 249
57. In the 2004 election, the results of Howard Dean’s attempt to raise funds via the Internet were, at best,
quite modest.
ANS: F REF: 249
58. Direct-mail campaigning is generally geared to a broader audience than television campaigning.
ANS: F REF: 249
59. In most campaigns today, political consultants, not party leaders, assume responsibility for getting a
candidate elected.
ANS: T REF: 249
60. Congressional elections are funded in part by public funds.
ANS: F REF: 249
61. Matching funds are available to presidential candidates who can raise at least $5,000 in each of twenty
states in increments of $500 or less.
ANS: F REF: 249
62. A PAC must have at least one hundred members.
ANS: F REF: 250
63. Contrary to what many people think, most of the money in congressional races comes from individual
donors.
ANS: T REF: 250
64. No minor party won more than 5 percent of the popular vote in either 2004 or 2008.
ANS: T REF: 252
65. The campaign finance reform laws of the 1970s made it more difficult for wealthy candidates to run.
ANS: F REF: 252
66. The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 banned “soft money” contributions to the
national political parties.
ANS: T REF: 252
67. The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 increased the limit on individual contributions
to $3,000 per campaign.
ANS: F REF: 252
68. The constitutionality of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 was instantly
challenged.
ANS: T REF: 252
69. Barack Obama received 62 percent of the popular vote.
ANS: F REF: 253
70. Pro-life PACs tend to favor Republican candidates.
ANS: T REF: 255
71. Trade and corporate PACs tend to follow power.
ANS: T REF: 255
72. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act had the effect of discouraging people from looking for other
ways to spend political money.
ANS: F REF: 255
73. 527 organizations cannot coordinate with candidates.
ANS: T REF: 256

74. 527 organizations can lobby directly for a person.
ANS: F REF: 256
75. In the general election for president, money does not make much difference because both major-party
candidates have the same amount.
ANS: T REF: 256
76. In good economic times, the party holding the White House generally does well.
ANS: T REF: 256
77. However difficult to define, voters care about the character of candidates.
ANS: T REF: 256
78. The choice of a vice-presidential candidate is usually critical to the outcome of an election.
ANS: F REF: 256
79. In general, money makes a difference in the outcome of congressional races.
ANS: T REF: 256
80. Money that is spent for purposes of enhancing name recognition is probably better spent by
incumbents than challengers.
ANS: F REF: 257
81. John McCain won the vote of self-described independents.
ANS: F REF: 258
82. In the last dozen presidential elections, Republicans have won the vote of self-described independents
just a few times more than Democrats.
ANS: T REF: 259
83. A higher percentage of Democrats than Republicans vote in elections.
ANS: F REF: 259
84. Representative democracy does not require that voters be well informed on the issues.
ANS: T REF: 259
85. Prospective voting is more common among rank-and-file voters.
ANS: F REF: 259
86. Retrospective voting does not require voters to have a large amount of information.
ANS: T REF: 259
87. The text suggests elections are decided by prospective voters.
ANS: F REF: 259
88. Incumbents who lose do so largely as a result of retrospective voting.
ANS: T REF: 260
89. Election forecasting remains an inexact science.
ANS: T REF: 260
90. Careful statistical studies suggest “negative” ads work, by stimulating voter turnout.
ANS: T REF: 260
91. Campaigns tend to emphasize specific details over broad themes.
ANS: F REF: 261
92. Single-issue groups exert less influence in primaries today than they did twenty years ago.
ANS: F REF: 261
93. The importance of a voting coalition to a candidate depends on both its loyalty and its size.
ANS: T REF: 261-262
94. For Democrats, blacks are the most loyal voters.
ANS: T REF: 262
95. Because their voter turnout has been high, the political power of Hispanics is generally equivalent to
their numbers.
ANS: F REF: 262
96. Business and professional people tend to support Republican candidates.
ANS: T REF: 263
97. Evidence indicates that many U.S. elections do make a difference in government policy.
ANS: T REF: 264
98. Parties tend to forsake their platforms once they are in office.
ANS: F REF: 266
ESSAY
1. Compare and contrast presidential and congressional campaigns.
ANS:
a. Presidential races are more competitive
b. Vote turnout tends to be higher when there is a presidential election (contra mid-term election).
c. Members of Congress can serve constituents and claim credit in ways that presidential candidates
cannot.
d. Congressional candidates can separate themselves from the messes in Washington (they run for
Congress by running against Congress).
REF: 238
2. Explain the restrictions that federal law places on contributions to candidates by individuals and PACs
and the rules of eligibility for federal matching grants.
ANS:
a. Individuals can contribute up to $2,000 to candidates in each election.
b. PACs can contribute up to $5,000 to candidates in each election.
c. For matching funds, a candidate must raise $5,000 in each of 20 states, by amounts of $250 or less.
REF: 240
3. Explain what the sophomore surge refers to and discuss the explanations that the author offers for this
aspect of elections.
ANS:
a. It refers to the difference in the votes that sophomores get in reelection compared to when they were
originally elected.
b. The difference is usually 8 to 10 percent greater.
c. This is especially true for members of the House of Representatives.
d. Explanation: Members run personal campaigns, make use of free mail, trips home, radio and
television and constituency service.
REF: 242-243
4. Explain the difference between position issues and valence issues. Summarize what the text has to say
about trends regarding each in recent elections.
ANS:
a. Position issues: Candidates have opposing issues on a question that also divides the voters.
b. Valence issues: Candidates try to mirror public opinion on questions about which nearly everyone
agrees.
c. Campaigns often involve both, but the importance of valence issues has increased in recent
campaigns.
REF: 244-246
5. Summarize the qualifications for members of the House and Senate.
ANS:
a. House: Must be 25 years of age, must be a citizen of the United States for seven years, and must live
in the state from which elected.
b. Senate: Must be 30 years of age, must be a citizen of the United States for nine years, and must live
in the state from which elected.
REF: 245
6. Identify and explain four types of primary elections.
ANS:
a. Closed: Must declare party membership well in advance.
b. Open: Voters decide when they enter the booth which party they intend to vote for.
c. Blanket (or free love): Ballots contain candidates from all parties.
d. Runoff: Held if no candidate gets a majority of the votes.
REF: 247
7. If voting were only a matter of party identification, the Democrats would just about always win
presidential elections. Why hasn’t this been the case?
ANS:
a. Democrats are less firmly wed to their party, support it less enthusiastically.
b. Republicans have often done better with self-described independent voters.
c. Republicans are more likely to turn out to vote.
REF: 258-259
8. What are three ways that campaigns matter, and can make a difference in how voters decide?
ANS:
a. They reawaken partisan loyalties of voters.
b. They give voters a chance to see how candidates handle pressure.
c. They allow voters to judge the character and core values of candidates.
REF: 260-261

American Government Institutions and Policies 13th Edition Wilson Test Bank

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American Government Institutions and Policies 13th Edition Wilson Test Bank

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American Government Institutions and

Policies 13th Edition Wilson Test Bank

1. Originally, presidential candidates were chosen by

9. A major difference between presidential campaigns and congressional campaigns is that

12. The first goal of an individual planning to run for office is to

14. Voters tend to prefer a presidential candidate with experience as a

21. When a district is drawn in a bizarre or unusual shape to assist a candidate, it is

23. The Constitution calls for reapportionment

29. The text suggests members of Congress often

30. The way people get elected to Congress ensures that

31. Who said, “All politics is local”?

39. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

40. Disputed congressional elections are decided by

46. _________ issues have increased in importance in campaigns in recent years.

48. The impact of television advertising is probably

54. The blanket primary is also called a(n) _______ primary.

56. There were no presidential debates at all in

57. The drawback to candidates of television visuals and debates is

59. The acronym BOMFOG refers to

62. An advantage of direct-mail appeals is that they

63. Unlike congressional campaigns, presidential campaigns are funded by

64. Funding of congressional elections comes from

66. A PAC must have ____ members.

67. Most of the money for congressional candidates comes from

69. Soft money is money that is obtained by

75. One advantage that incumbents always have over challengers is

1. The media play an increasingly important role in campaigns and elections.

ANS: T REF: 234

2. Recent presidential and congressional elections featured an unprecedented amount of spending by

ANS: T REF: 235

ANS: T REF: 235-236

4. Most of the money that candidates spend today is media related.

ANS: T REF: 236

ANS: F REF: 236

ANS: T REF: 237

ANS: T REF: 237

ANS: T REF: 238

ANS: T REF: 238

10. Presidential races tend to be more competitive than congressional races.

ANS: T REF: 238

ANS: F REF: 238

ANS: F REF: 238

ANS: T REF: 239

ANS: T REF: 239

ANS: T REF: 239

ANS: T REF: 239

ANS: F REF: 239

ANS: T REF: 240

ANS: T REF: 240

ANS: T REF: 240

ANS: T REF: 241

ANS: T REF: 241

23. The Constitution says nothing about congressional districts.

ANS: T REF: 241

ANS: T REF: 241

26. The Constitution requires reapportionment every twenty years.

ANS: F REF: 242

ANS: T REF: 242

ANS: F REF: 242

ANS: T REF: 243

ANS: T REF: 243

ANS: F REF: 243

ANS: T REF: 243