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CHAPTER 9 Political Parties

Main Heads

What Are Political Parties?

Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections

Parties as Organizations

Parties in Government

Party Identification

Party Systems

Learning Objectives

Define political parties and their functions in politics

Explain the roles that parties play in elections

Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels

Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy

Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification

Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today
MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A political party is an organization


a. that falls under section 501(c)(4) of the U.S. tax code.
b. established by the Constitution to nominate candidates.
c. that tries to influence the government by getting its members elected to office.
d. that collects fees from its members in order to pay the salaries of government officials.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

2. ________ warned Americans against the dangers of political parties in his farewell address.
a. George Washington c. James Madison
b. Thomas Jefferson d. James Monroe
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

3. Political scientists have found that on economic issues, both the Democratic and Republican
parties are
a. more responsive to the preferences of the upper and middle classes than the lower class.
b. more responsive to the preferences of the lower and middle classes than the upper class.
c. more responsive to the preferences of the lower and upper classes than the middle class.
d. equally responsive to the preferences of the different classes.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

4. The idea of “unequal democracy” refers to the fact that


a. women were not allowed to vote in the United States until 1920.
b. lower-income citizens have little representation by either party, except when their opinions overlap
with more-affluent citizens.
c. women and African Americans are underrepresented in elected offices at the state and federal
levels.
d. the electoral college gives more weight to small states than large states in selecting the president.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

5. Internal mobilization occurs when


a. conflicts within the government create divided factions that try to mobilize popular support.
b. party leaders try to rally support for their platforms once they are in the government.
c. citizens deemed to be undesirable outsiders are excluded from the party.
d. a group of politicians outside government organizes popular support to win governmental power.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

6. The ________ Party originated from internal mobilization.


a. Jeffersonian c. Reform
b. Green d. Republican
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

7. External mobilization occurs when


a. conflicts within the government create divided factions that try to mobilize popular support.
b. party leaders try to rally support for their platforms once they are in the government.
c. citizens deemed to be undesirable outsiders are excluded from the party.
d. a group of politicians outside government organizes popular support to win governmental power.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering
8. Which of the following groups is MOST likely to affiliate with the Republican Party?
a. young Asian American voters c. African American voters
b. old white voters d. Latino voters
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

9. At any given time in American politics, how many parties have tended to dominate politics?
a. one c. three
b. two d. four
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

10. Emerging in the late 1780s, America’s first two political parties were the
a. Federalists and the Washingtonian Democrats.
b. Whigs and the Antifederalists.
c. Federalists and the Whigs.
d. Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

11. America’s ________ developed during the early eighteenth century.


a. single-party mandate c. multiparty system
b. two-party system d. 527 committees
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

12. During the early nineteenth century, the Jeffersonian Party’s main base of strength was in
a. the South. c. New England.
b. the West. d. the western territories.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

13. In a proportional representation electoral system


a. seats in the legislature are allocated to political parties based on their share of the total vote cast in
the election.
b. each political party receives an equal number of seats in the legislature.
c. every candidate that receives above a certain percentage of the vote (usually set at 20 percent) is
awarded a seat in the legislature.
d. candidates can only win elections if they receive a majority of the overall votes.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Remembering

14. One important cause of the two-party system in the United States is
a. the Constitution’s requirement for bipartisanship in Congress.
b. single-member, winner-take-all electoral districts.
c. multimember electoral districts.
d. proportional representation.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

15. Third-party candidates are better off under


a. the majority system. c. proportional representation.
b. the plurality system. d. the spoils system.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding
16. The American system for electing members of Congress is often referred to as “first past the post” because
a. a candidate can win an election only if he or she wins a majority of the popular vote.
b. a candidate must win both a primary election and a general election before taking office.
c. seats in the House of Representatives and Senate are allocated to political parties based on their
share of the total vote cast in the election.
d. the candidate with the most votes wins, even if he or she did not win a majority of the popular vote.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

17. The American system for electing members of Congress is often referred to as “winner take all” because
a. there are very few constraints on the kinds of laws that a member of Congress can propose once
elected.
b. there are no term limits that prevent long-serving representatives from remaining in office.
c. runners-up do not gain seats in government.
d. whichever political party receives the most votes in the country overall is guaranteed a majority in
the House and the Senate.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

18. The establishment of the Republican Party is a good example of


a. external mobilization. c. elite bargaining.
b. internal mobilization. d. proportional representation.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Applying

19. The number of political parties there are in a country is determined primarily by
a. the political opinions of the country’s citizens.
b. whether election campaigns are publicly or privately financed.
c. the country’s electoral system and rules.
d. whether the country’s media outlets are publicly or privately owned.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

20. If a voter preferred Jill Stein (the Green Party candidate for president in 2016) to Hillary
Clinton but voted for Clinton instead of Stein because Stein had little chance of winning, it
would be an example of ________ voting.
a. strategic c. retrospective
b. ranked choice d. prospective
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Applying

21. According to political scientist John Aldrich, which of the following problems found in
democratic governments do political parties help solve?
a. how to create economic growth, how to protect freedom of speech, and how to achieve equal
treatment under the law
b. how to incorporate young people into the political system, how to convince citizens to trust the
government, and how to minimize fiscal shortfalls
c. how to regulate the number of people seeking public office, how to mobilize voters, and how to
achieve the majorities needed to accomplish legislative goals once in office
d. how to increase the number of people seeking office, how to generate widespread consensus about
political problems, and how to limit corruption in government
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?
OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

22. What is the ultimate goal of a political party?


a. raising the most money c. winning elections
b. creating the party platform d. nominating candidates
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Understanding

23. A ________ is a meeting of a political group’s members who gather to determine strategy
and select candidates.
a. convention c. party
b. caucus d. primary
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

24. A serious candidate for a U.S. House of Representatives race must raise at least several
________ dollars, while a serious candidate for a U.S. Senate race must raise at least
several ________ dollars.
a. thousand; hundred thousand c. hundred thousand; million
b. hundred thousand; thousand d. million; hundred thousand
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

25. Political party leaders are


a. usually willing to provide financial backing to all candidates running for their party, regardless of
whether the candidate has raised funds on their own.
b. not willing to provide financial backing to candidates who are unable to raise substantial funds on
their own.
c. prevented by federal campaign contribution laws from providing financial backing to any
candidate.
d. only allowed to provide financial backing for candidates that have served at least two terms in
elected office.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

26. Political parties hold primary elections or caucuses in order to


a. take nominations for leadership positions within the party.
b. vote on the party’s platform.
c. select a single candidate to represent the party in the general election.
d. raise money to spend on the party’s preselected candidate for the general election.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Understanding

27. Which statement best characterizes the influence average citizens and party elites have over the nomination process in the United
States?
a. Although average citizens have some influence in the nominations process, party elites play an
outsized role in selecting the candidates who will compete in the general election.
b. Although party elites have some influence in the nominations process, average citizens play an
outsized role in selecting the candidates who will compete in the general election.
c. Party leaders and average citizens play roughly equal roles in selecting the candidates who will
compete in the general election.
d. Party leaders are legally prohibited from playing any role in the nominations process.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Understanding

28. Which of the following statements best describes endorsements during the 2016 Republican Party presidential primary campaign?
a. Trump won the party’s nomination because nearly every Republican member of Congress endorsed
him for president.
b. Trump won the party’s nomination despite the fact that he was endorsed by only half of the
Republican members of Congress.
c. Trump won the party’s nomination despite the fact that only a small handful of Republican
members of Congress endorsed him for president.
d. Trump won the party’s nomination despite the fact that he received zero endorsements from
Republican members of Congress.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

29. One of the earliest activities in which party workers engage once the general election campaign for Congress begins is
a. redrawing each congressional district’s lines.
b. forming a committee within Congress to determine campaign strategy.
c. recruiting additional candidates to run for office.
d. ensuring that citizens are registered to vote.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

30. ________ is the practice of tailoring campaign messages to individuals in small, homogenous groups.
a. Micro-targeting c. Message bundling
b. Winnowing d. Redlining
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Remembering

31. An advertisement emailed only to evangelical Christian voters about a Democratic candidate’s
support for abortion would be an example of
a. winnowing. c. redlining.
b. micro-targeting. d. message bundling.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties, Voter Mobilization, and Elections
OBJ: Explain the roles that parties play in elections MSC: Applying

32. National party conventions are held every


a. year and attended by delegates from all 50 states.
b. four years and attended by delegates from all 50 states.
c. four years and attended only by delegates from states that voted for the party’s candidate in the last
presidential election.
d. two years and only attended by delegates from states that voted for the party’s candidate in the last
presidential election.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

33. The three most important tasks accomplished at a party’s national convention are nominating the party’s
a. Senate and House candidates, selecting the party’s vice-presidential candidate, and writing state-
level ballot initiatives.
b. presidential and vice-presidential candidates, drafting the party’s campaign platform, and writing
state-level ballot initiatives.
c. presidential and vice-presidential candidates, drafting the party’s campaign platform, and approving
changes in the rules governing party procedures.
d. Senate and House candidates, drafting the party’s campaign platform, and approving changes in the
rules governing party procedures.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

34. Which of the following statements best describes how national party conventions have changed over time?
a. Though national conventions prior to World War II were primarily devoted to debating and
negotiating about who the party’s nominee would be, today’s conventions serve mostly as media
events to promote the candidate the party has already selected.
b. Although national conventions prior to World War II were primarily media events to promote the
candidate the party had already selected, today’s conventions are devoted mostly to debating and
negotiating about who the party’s nominee will be.
c. There has been very little change in national party conventions over time, as they have always
served mostly as media events to promote the candidate the party has already selected.
d. There has been very little change in national party conventions over time, as they have always been
primarily devoted to debating and negotiating about who the party’s nominee will be.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Understanding

35. If a political party wanted to change the rules that governed its selection of delegates, it would likely make this change through a(n)
a. ballot initiative presented to voters in all 50 states.
b. meeting at the party’s national convention.
c. law passed by Congress and signed by the president.
d. order issued by the chairperson of the national party committee.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Applying

36. A party’s ________ contains its philosophy, principles, and policy positions.
a. caucus c. platform
b. convention d. machine
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

37. Soft money was


a. money that was illegally given by an interest group to an elected official in return for a political
favor.
b. money contributed directly to political parties and other organizations at the state and local levels
for political activities that were not regulated by federal campaign spending laws.
c. nonmonetary donations made to a party in exchange for privileges that were not officially
considered income, such as airplanes and hotel rooms.
d. money that was contributed by a candidate to a political party in order to receive the party’s support
in an upcoming election.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

38. Soft money was made illegal as a result of the


a. 1965 Voting Rights Act.
b. Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
c. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
d. Supreme Court’s decision in Buckley v. Valeo.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

39. ________ are independent, nonprofit groups that receive and distribute funds to influence the nomination, election, and/or defeat of a
candidate.
a. Corporate interests c. Political caucuses
b. 527 committees d. Party machines
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

40. During the nineteenth century, party machines depended heavily on ________ in order to reward
loyal party supporters.
a. 527 committees c. soft money
b. patronage d. caucuses
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

41. What were the MOST common favors political bosses distributed to loyal party members
during the era of political machines?
a. money c. tariffs
b. jobs d. tax cuts
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

42. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, strong and often corrupt urban political
party organizations were called
a. gangs. c. machines.
b. juntas. d. corporations.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

43. The Progressive movement of the early 1900s was motivated, in large part, by the
a. disenfranchisement of women.
b. excessive power, corruption, and abuses of party machines and their bosses.
c. growing levels of air pollution produced from rapid industrialization.
d. system of legal segregation in southern states.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Remembering

44. There are very few party machines left today because
a. local, state, and the federal governments have decreased in size to the point that almost no jobs are
available to distribute as patronage.
b. the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 that party machines cannot qualify as tax-exempt organizations.
c. civil service reform and the institution of the merit system mean that party leaders can no longer
control who is appointed to government jobs.
d. so many Americans identify as so-called independents rather than as members of one of the
political parties.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Understanding

45. A party’s platform is best understood as a


a. negotiated agreement among the various factions in the party.
b. public relations program designed for media consumption.
c. clear statement of the principles to which each party candidate will be committed.
d. set of rules for determining who can and who cannot become a member of the party.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Understanding

46. 527 committees are an important part of the American political system because they
a. operate the caucuses of each of the two main political parties.
b. work closely with political parties to coordinate election campaign strategies and fund-raising
efforts.
c. are charged with enforcing the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
d. are able to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money as long as they do not coordinate their
activities with a political party.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Understanding
47. All of the following are responsibilities of a party’s national committee EXCEPT
a. minimizing disputes within various parts of the party.
b. enhancing the party’s media image.
c. determining committee assignments for members of Congress.
d. raising campaign funds for party candidates.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations
OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Applying

48. Which list of issue positions is MOST likely to be supported by the national leadership of the Republican Party?
a. maintaining high levels of military spending, instituting tax relief for upper-income voters, and
reducing corporate taxes
b. expanding funding for education, increasing public spending for infrastructure, and raising taxes on
the wealthy and corporations
c. banning abortion, eliminating military spending, and raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations
d. ending enforcement of all immigration laws, banning abortion, and eliminating income taxes
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Applying

49. Which list of issue positions is MOST likely to be supported by the national leadership of the Democratic Party?
a. maintaining high levels of military spending, tax relief for upper-income voters, and reducing
corporate taxes
b. expanding funding for education, public spending for infrastructure, and raising taxes on the
wealthy and corporations
c. banning abortion, eliminating military spending, and raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations
d. ending enforcement of all immigration laws, banning abortion, and eliminating income taxes
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Applying

50. ________ referred to himself as a “New Democrat” in the 1990s.


a. John McCain c. George W. Bush
b. Bill Clinton d. Al Gore
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Remembering

51. An individual who identifies a problem as a political issue and brings a policy proposal into
the political agenda is referred to as a(n)
a. venue shopper. c. policy entrepreneur.
b. idea capitalist. d. whip.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Remembering

52. Passing the federal budget often requires cooperation between Democrats and Republicans in Congress because the
a. House of Representatives must approve the budget with a unanimous vote (435 out of 435 votes),
and rarely does one party hold all 435 seats.
b. House of Representatives must approve the budget with a supermajority vote (335 out of 435
votes), and rarely does one party hold 335 seats.
c. Senate must approve the budget with a unanimous vote (100 out of 100 votes), and rarely does one
party hold all 100 seats.
d. Senate must approve the budget with a supermajority vote (60 out of 100 votes), and rarely does
one party hold 60 seats.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Understanding

53. In 2018, the federal government was shut down over disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of
a. the Affordable Care Act. c. the national debt.
b. immigration. d. Russian interference in the 2016 election.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Remembering

54. The Republican Party is currently MOST internally divided over the issues of
a. abortion and same-sex marriage. c. immigration.
b. government health care. d. tax policy and government spending.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Remembering

55. Which of the following statements about parties in Congress is true?


a. Committee appointments of individual members are determined by a vote of the House and Senate.
b. All members are allowed to take part in the election of the Speaker of the House.
c. Granting permission to transfer to another committee is a decision of the Speaker of the House.
d. Advancement up the committee ladder toward chair is a decision made by the Speaker of the
House.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: CH09—Parties in Government
OBJ: Explain how parties organize legislative business and influence policy
MSC: Applying

56. An individual’s psychological attachment to one party or another is called a party


a. ideology. c. identification.
b. opinion. d. tradition.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

57. Which statement about party identification in the United States is MOST accurate?
a. The number of people identifying as Republicans has outnumbered Democratic identifiers for a
long time.
b. The number of people identifying as Democrats has outnumbered Republican identifiers for a long
time.
c. The number of people identifying as Democrats outnumbered Republican identifiers between 1960
and 2008, but more people have identified as Republicans than Democrats since 2008.
d. The number of people identifying as Republicans outnumbered Democratic identifiers between
1960 and 2008, but more people have identified as Democrats than Republicans since 2008.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

58. At the national level, the Democratic Party currently attempts to appeal to ________, while
the Republican Party currently attempts to appeal to ________.
a. educated upper-middle-class professionals; white working-class voters
b. white working-class voters; educated upper-middle-class professionals
c. white working-class voters; racial minorities
d. racial minorities; government workers
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

59. A party activist is an individual who


a. attends every social function that a political party stages.
b. writes favorable news reports for the national media.
c. commits acts of civil disobedience when asked to by a political party.
d. not only votes but also contributes time, energy, effort, and financial resources to party affairs.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

60. Since the 1930s, most African Americans have identified as


a. Republicans. c. libertarians.
b. Democrats. d. independents.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

61. In 2016, about ________ percent of Latino Americans voted for Hillary Clinton.
a. 20 c. 65
b. 33 d. 95
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

62. Women in the United States are ________ the ________ Party.
a. overwhelmingly committed to; Republican
b. somewhat more likely to support; Republican
c. overwhelmingly committed to; Democratic
d. somewhat more likely to support; Democratic
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

63. Men in the United States are ________ the ________ Party.
a. overwhelmingly committed to; Republican
b. somewhat more likely to support; Republican
c. overwhelmingly committed to; Democratic
d. somewhat more likely to support; Democratic
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

64. Between the Civil War and the 1960s, the ________ was a Democratic stronghold.
a. Midwest c. South
b. West d. Southwest
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

65. Which statement about education and voting in 2016 is MOST accurate?
a. There were no differences in the voting behavior of those with and those without a college degree
in 2016.
b. College graduates voted for third-party candidates by a large margin, while those without a college
degree backed Clinton by a large margin.
c. Those without a college degree backed Clinton by a large margin, while college graduates backed
Trump by a large margin.
d. College graduates backed Clinton by a large margin, while those without a college degree backed
Trump by a large margin.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

66. Dealignment refers to


a. the decline of partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the number of voters
identifying themselves as independents, and the rise of split-ticket voting.
b. the point in history where a new party becomes the dominant political force by supplanting the
ruling party.
c. conflicts within the government that create divided factions, each of which tries to mobilize popular
support.
d. attempts by politicians outside of government to mobilize popular support in order to win
governmental power.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

67. Solid support for the Republican Party currently comes from the
a. South and Mountain West. c. Northeast, Midwest, and West.
b. South, Northeast, and Midwest. d. Northeast and South.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

68. Party activists are ________ likely to contribute time to party affairs and ________ likely to
hold more extreme views than the party’s rank-and-file voters.
a. less; less c. more; more
b. less; more d. more; less
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Understanding

69. Historically, electoral realignments occur


a. when new issues combine with economic or political crises to mobilize new voters and persuade
large numbers of voters to reexamine their traditional partisan loyalties.
b. when Congress approves of them.
c. after midterm congressional elections but not after presidential elections.
d. only when the Constitution is amended.
ANS: A DIF: Easy REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

70. The United States has had ________ party systems since 1789.
a. 2 c. 9
b. 6 d. 12
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

71. The first party system was characterized by conflict between the ________ and the ________.
a. Federalists; Jeffersonian Republicans c. Whigs; Jeffersonian Republicans
b. Whigs; Democrats d. Whigs; Federalists
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

72. The Jeffersonian Republicans were best known for their support of
a. a weak national government, with the states retaining most powers.
b. a strong national government, with little role for state governments.
c. women’s suffrage.
d. abolishing slavery.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

73. The Alien and Sedition Acts


a. were struck down by the Supreme Court in 1801.
b. were enacted by the Jeffersonian Republicans in the late 1790s.
c. made it illegal to criticize the government.
d. allowed the Whigs to expand their political power in the 1830s.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

74. The Federalist Party disappeared, in part, as a result of


a. Lincoln’s election in 1860.
b. the War of 1812.
c. Alexander Hamilton being killed by Aaron Burr.
d. the Civil War.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

75. Between 1812 and 1830, the United States had


a. three political parties: the Federalists, the Jeffersonian Republicans, and the Whigs.
b. two political parties: the Federalists and the Jeffersonian Republicans.
c. one political party: the Jeffersonian Republicans.
d. one political party: the Federalists.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

76. The two major parties in the United States during the 1830s and 1840s were the ________ and
the ________.
a. Federalists; Jeffersonians c. Democrats; Whigs
b. Federalists; Whigs d. Democrats; Republicans
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

77. What issue led to the demise of the Whig Party?


a. slavery
b. the admission of California into the Union
c. the death of Andrew Jackson
d. industrialization
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

78. During the late 1840s and early 1850s, both the Democratic and Whig parties were divided by
a. conflicts over slavery.
b. fiscal policies imposed during the tariff crisis.
c. the westward expansion of the United States.
d. the appropriate amount of government regulation of the economy.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering
79. From the end of the Civil War to the 1890s, the ________ Party was the party of the North, while the ________ Party was the party of
the South.
a. Democratic; Republican c. Federalist; Whig
b. Republican; Democratic d. Whig; Federalist
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

80. Reconstruction after the Civil War was led by the ________ Party.
a. Democratic c. Whig
b. Republican d. Free Soil
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

81. The Populist Party appealed to which of the following groups?


a. western mining interests, small farmers, and urban workers
b. eastern bankers, southern planters, and wealthy merchants
c. northern bankers, landowners, and factory workers
d. eastern mining interests, southern merchants, and small farmers
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

82. From 1896 to 1932, the ________ Party was the nation’s majority party.
a. Republican c. Populist
b. Democratic d. Whig
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

83. Which of the following groups was NOT part of the New Deal coalition?
a. Jews c. Asian Americans
b. Catholics d. African Americans
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

84. “Me too” Republicanism refers to


a. the tendency of Republican politicians during the New Deal to support popular programs such as
Social Security rather than advocate alternative policies.
b. the tendency of southern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws
apply equally to the northern and southern states.
c. the tendency of northern Republican politicians after the Civil War to demand that all federal laws
favor the northern states over the southern states.
d. an ideology that argues a strong federal government should promote economic equality.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

85. In 1964, Republican Party presidential nominee ________ was in favor of less taxation and less government regulation of the
economy—two ideas that became major themes for the modern Republican Party.
a. Richard Nixon c. Ronald Reagan
b. Barry Goldwater d. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

86. During the 1980s, the Republicans added ________ to their coalition.
a. religious conservatives and working-class whites
b. African Americans and upper-class intellectuals
c. Latinos and the business community
d. Jews and unionized workers
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

87. When Richard Nixon employed his “southern strategy,” he


a. used the FBI to help collect secrets and blackmail southern Democratic leaders.
b. ignored the southern states in favor of voters in the Midwest and Northeast.
c. appealed to disaffected white voters in the South.
d. appealed to black southerners who had recently mobilized for civil rights.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

88. In 1994
a. the Republican Party won control of both houses of Congress for the first time since the 1950s.
b. the Republican Party lost control of the Senate for the first time in 20 years.
c. Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole and won his second term in office.
d. House Speaker Newt Gingrich resigned his seat after the Republican Party suffered severe losses.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

89. Which of the following occurs when one party replaces another party that has dominated national politics for a lengthy period of time?
a. electoral realignment c. divided-party government
b. proportional representation d. external mobilization
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

90. ________ occurs when one party controls the presidency while another party controls one or both houses of Congress.
a. Electoral realignment c. Internal mobilization
b. Divided government d. External mobilization
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

91. In which of the following years was there an electoral realignment?


a. 1864 c. 1942
b. 1896 d. 1976
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

92. The division between the two major parties on most policy issues, with members of each party unified around their party’s positions
with little crossover, is called
a. party polarization. c. unified government.
b. divided government. d. party unity voting.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering
93. The average winning margin in House elections is ________ percent.
a. 5 c. 25
b. 10 d. 40
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

94. “Self-sorting” refers to the


a. increasing numbers of young people who think of themselves as independents rather than as
Democrats or Republicans.
b. recent growth in party-line voting within Congress.
c. fact that people will vote for candidates who share their partisanship even if they know nothing
about them.
d. tendency of individuals to segregate themselves by choosing to live in liberal or conservative
geographic areas.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

95. As a third-party candidate, Ross Perot captured approximately ________ percent of the popular
vote in the 1992 presidential election.
a. 10 c. 30
b. 20 d. 40
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

96. In 2015, Republican ________ resigned from his position as Speaker of the House.
a. Paul Ryan c. Mitch McConnell
b. John Boehner d. John McCain
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

97. Voters who prefer third-party candidates but vote for the major-party candidate whom they
regard as the “lesser of two evils” are engaged in
a. logrolling. c. “vote swapping.”
b. strategic voting. d. prospective voting.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

98. Issues such as the environment, health care, retirement benefits, and taxation are on the political agenda in the United States because
a. these are the only issues that are important to all Americans.
b. these are the only problems that have yet to be solved by the free market.
c. contemporary political parties mainly compete for the support of middle-class Americans, and these
issues are important to the middle class.
d. the Constitution limits the federal government’s powers to legislate on these issues.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

99. The New Deal coalition was severely strained and ultimately broken apart by the
a. popularity of Dwight Eisenhower.
b. end of the Great Depression.
c. political views of Ronald Reagan.
d. Vietnam War and the issue of civil rights.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

100. A major cause of political polarization in Congress is


a. the electoral college. c. term limits.
b. gerrymandering. d. the line-item veto.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

101. John Boehner resigned from his position as Speaker of the House in 2015 because of
a. an ethics investigation into his use of “dark money” from 501(c)(4) organizations in the 2014
midterm elections.
b. his desire to seek the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
c. the opposition he faced from Tea Party activists who wanted him to take a harder line against
President Obama and the Democrats.
d. ongoing corruption and bribery charges.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

102. Under federal election law, only


a. the Democratic and Republican parties are entitled to federal election funds.
b. parties that receive more than 5 percent of the national presidential vote are entitled to federal
election funds.
c. parties that receive more than 15 percent of the national presidential vote are entitled to federal
election funds.
d. parties that receive more than 25 percent of the national presidential vote are entitled to federal
election funds.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

103. State ballot access laws, such as registration fees and petition requirements, have the effect of
a. increasing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates.
b. reducing the number of people who are willing to vote for third-party candidates.
c. reducing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office.
d. increasing the number of third-party and independent candidates who can run for office.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

104. Third parties in the United States typically represent


a. extremist religious groups.
b. recent immigrants.
c. the political interests of America’s allies, who attempt to influence the American decision-making
process because U.S. policies can affect their futures.
d. social and economic interests that are disregarded by the two major parties for certain reasons.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Applying

105. A system that allows voters to rank candidates from the most preferred to the least preferred
on the ballot is called
a. strategic voting. c. first-past-the-post voting.
b. ranked-choice voting. d. top-to-bottom voting.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Remembering

106. Under a system of ranked-choice voting


a. a candidate is declared the winner if he or she wins a majority of first-place votes.
b. there are always at least two separate rounds of voting.
c. there are always at least three separate rounds of voting.
d. a new election is conducted if no candidate receives a majority of first-place votes.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Identification
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Understanding

107. A major benefit of ranked-choice voting is that it


a. disposes of the need for campaign money.
b. reduces the power of political parties.
c. eliminates the “spoiler” effect that occurs when votes for a third-party or minor candidate are
discarded.
d. ensures that more moderate candidates will win election.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

108. Which of the following statements about ranked-choice voting is MOST accurate?
a. Ranked-choice voting has never been implemented in the United States or any other democracy.
b. Ranked-choice voting has been implemented in some countries (such as Australia) but has never
been tried in the United States.
c. A handful of American states and cities have implemented ranked-choice voting, but it has never
been tried in any other democracy.
d. Ranked-choice voting has been implemented in some countries (such as Australia) and in a handful
of American states and cities.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Remembering

109. Which of the following statements concerning third parties is true?


a. Third parties are often long-lived.
b. Third parties often have their programs adopted by one of the two major parties.
c. The earliest third parties in the United States arose as a result of the Great Depression.
d. Third parties almost always win at the national level.
ANS: B DIF: Difficult REF: CH09—Party Systems
OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Understanding

ESSAY

1. Explore the role of political parties in American politics. In what ways do political parties differ from interest groups? How do parties
contribute to democratic government? Why is it important to have “competitive” and “responsible” political parties?

ANS:
There are three components to this question:
a. Differences between political parties and interest groups: Political parties, like interest groups, are organizations that seek
influence over government. They can generally be distinguished from interest groups on the basis of their orientation. A party
seeks to control the government by nominating candidates and electing its members to office. Interest groups do not control
the operation of government and its personnel but rather try to influence government policies, often through lobbying elected
officials.
b. Parties shape and aid in policy making: Parties mobilize citizens in the electorate to vote, they offer choices to voters in
elections, and they provide officeholders with organization for running government once elected to office. As political
scientist John Aldrich argues in Why Parties?, parties solve three fundamental problems of democracy: how to regulate the
number of people seeking public office, how to mobilize voters, and how to achieve and maintain the majorities needed to
accomplish legislative goals once in office.
c. “Competitive” and “responsible” parties: It is not enough to simply have political parties: parties must be “competitive” and
“responsible.” When political parties compete with one another to win elections, they have incentives to continually expand
public debates to include nonvoting members of the electorate in order to gain a majority of voters and win the election.
Political parties must also act “responsibly” by continually informing the public of current political issues that are in their
best interests. Once in power, political parties must enact policies that represent their members’ interests.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—What Are Political Parties?


OBJ: Define political parties and their functions in politics MSC: Understanding

2. Describe the organizational structure of political parties. What are some of the functions of parties in the electoral arena?

ANS:
There are two components to this question:
a. Organizational structure: At the national level, the party’s most important institution is the national convention. Delegates
from each of the 50 states attend the convention, which is held every four years. As a group, they nominate the party’s
presidential and vice-presidential candidates, draft the party’s campaign platform for the presidential race, and approve
changes in the rules and regulations governing party procedures. Between conventions, a national committee heads each
national political party. For the Democrats and Republicans, these are called the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and
the Republican National Committee (RNC), respectively. Each party also forms House and Senate campaign committees,
whose efforts may or may not be coordinated with the activities of the national committees. Each of the two major parties has
a central committee in each state. The parties traditionally also have county committees and, in some instances, state Senate
district committees, judicial district committees, and, in the case of larger cities, citywide party committees and local
assembly district “ward” committees.
b. Electoral functions: Parties have always been central to the electoral process, and in recent years, they have taken on a
renewed role in recruiting candidates, coordinating campaigns, mobilizing voters, and raising money.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Parties as Organizations


OBJ: Describe how the major American parties are structured at the national, state, and local levels
MSC: Analyzing

3. The proportion of independents, Democrats, and Republicans in the American public has changed significantly during the last five
decades. Describe these changes and discuss why they may have occurred. Is there evidence that a party dealignment is occurring in
the United States? Explain.

ANS:
There are three components to this question:
a. Changes in partisanship: The number of people identifying as Democrats has outnumbered Republican identifiers for a long
time. Today, party loyalties in America are in a state of flux. On the one hand, the percentage of voters who declare no party
loyalty remains at an all-time high. The number of individuals identifying as independents has grown to roughly 40 percent
of Americans. On the other hand, party identification among a large number of the most active voters has grown stronger and
independents often lean toward one of the two parties and vote for the Republicans or Democrats in national elections.
b. Reasons behind changing partisanship: Individuals from the same age cohort are likely to have experienced a similar set of
events during the period when their party loyalties were formed. Thus, Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 came of
political age during the Cold War, Vietnam, and civil rights eras. Voters whose initial perceptions of politics were shaped
during this period responded more favorably to the role played by the Democrats, who were antiwar and pro–civil rights, than
to the actions of the Republicans. The growing number of independents is often seen as a product of growing social diversity
and educational attainment, which make voters less reliant on parties to guide their political decision-making. The growth of
the mass media, particularly television, also seemed to reduce the role of parties in elections, as television tends to focus on
the personality of individual candidates rather than the “institution” of the party.
c. Dealignment: Dealignment refers to a movement away from the major political parties, a decline in partisan attachment.
Trends such as a decline in partisan attachment within the electorate, the growth in the numbers of voters identifying as
independents, and a rise in so-called split-ticket voting suggest that dealignment may be occurring.

DIF: Difficult REF: CH09—Party Identification


OBJ: Identify the reasons for and sources of party identification
MSC: Evaluating
4. Analyze the development of political parties in the United States since the Founding by discussing each of the five distinctive party
systems prior to the current one in American history. In your essay, be sure to highlight the origins of today’s two major political
parties.

ANS:
There are five components to this question:
a. The first party system—Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans: The first party system emerged in the 1790s and pitted the
Federalists, who favored a strong national government, against the Jeffersonian Republicans, who favored a weak national
government. The Federalists disappeared after the War of 1812 led to charges of treason against the party. From this point
until the 1830s, America had only one political party, the Jeffersonian Republicans, who came to be known as the Democrats.
b. The second party system—Democrats and Whigs: During the 1830s, groups opposing Andrew Jackson united to form the
Whig Party, giving rise to the second American party system. By 1856, the Whig Party had all but disintegrated under the
strain of slavery, and many Whig politicians and voters, along with antislavery Democrats, joined the new Republican Party,
which pledged to ban slavery from the western territories.
c. The Civil War and post–Civil War party system—Republicans and Democrats: After the Civil War, some congressional
Republicans sought to convert the South into a Republican bastion through a program of Reconstruction that granted the right
to vote to newly freed slaves. This Reconstruction program collapsed in the 1870s. With the end of Reconstruction, the
former Confederate states regained control of their internal affairs. Throughout the South, African Americans were deprived
of the right to vote. From the end of the Civil War to the 1890s, the Republican Party remained the party of the North, with
strong business and middle-class support, while the Democrats were the party of the South, with support also from working-
class and immigrant groups.
d. The system of 1896—Republicans and Democrats: During the 1890s, profound and rapid social and economic changes led to
the emergence of a variety of protest parties, including the Populist Party. In 1896, the Populist Party effectively merged with
the Democrats, but the Republicans still won a resounding electoral victory. For the next 36 years, the Republicans were the
nation’s majority party.
e. The New Deal party system—reversal of fortune: From the perspective of millions of Americans, the Republican Party did
not do enough to promote economic recovery during the Great Depression. In 1932, Americans elected Franklin Roosevelt
and a Democratic Congress. Roosevelt revitalized the Democratic Party around a nucleus of unionized workers, upper-
middle-class intellectuals and professionals, southern farmers, Jews, Catholics, and African Americans—the so-called New
Deal coalition that made the Democrats the nation’s majority party for the next 36 years. The New Deal coalition was
strained during the 1960s by conflicts over civil rights and the Vietnam War. These schisms provided an opportunity for the
Grand Old Party (GOP, or Republican Party), which returned to power in 1968.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems


OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Analyzing

5. Analyze the role of third parties in the American political system. Your essay should consider the reasons that third parties arise, the
reasons why a three-party system has not emerged in the United States, and what impact, if any, third parties have had on American
politics.

ANS:
There are three components to this question:
a. The reasons that third parties arise: Typically, third parties in the United States have represented social and economic
interests that for one reason or another were not given voice by the two major parties.
b. Why there is not a three-party system in the United States: Third-party prospects are hampered by America’s single-member
district system for allocating seats. The plurality, or winner-take-all, system of voting discussed previously in this chapter,
also discourages many minor parties in the United States. Under federal election law, only parties that receive more than 5
percent of the national presidential vote are entitled to federal funds. State ballot access laws are another major impediment
for third parties. Third parties often fail to meet criteria to get on the ballot, such as registration fees or petition requirements
in which a certain number of voters must sign a petition in order for the third-party or independent candidate to gain ballot
access.
c. Impact of third parties: Third parties often are sources of new ideas and party realignment. The Democratic Party, for
example, adopted many socialist and Progressive Party reforms in the early twentieth century, including unemployment
compensation and laws guaranteeing workers the right to organize into unions. Third parties can also profoundly affect
American elections, taking votes from one of the major parties and enabling the other to win. In the extremely close 2000
presidential election, for example, third-party candidate Ralph Nader won just 3 percent of the popular vote, but that split the
Democratic vote enough to swing the election in favor of Republican George W. Bush. Some observers suggest that third
parties were one reason Clinton lost key battleground states and thus the election in 2016.

DIF: Moderate REF: CH09—Party Systems


OBJ: Describe how the party system in the United States has changed over time and its main features today MSC:
Analyzing
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AU DELA DU MUR

Sous la pioche des maçons le pan de mur tomba avec un grand


bruit et dans un flot de poussière. Irma, qui lavait la vaisselle du
déjeuner pendant que sa mère travaillait dans l’autre pièce, se
précipita à la fenêtre de la cuisine.
Devant la petite fille, dans la haute muraille crasseuse qui,
habituellement, ensevelissait d’ombre l’étroite cour moisie, il y avait
une brèche par où s’apercevait un horizon inattendu. Autant la
maison d’Irma était sordide, autant la maison qu’elle voyait très près,
de l’autre côté du mur, lui semblait d’une somptuosité
impressionnante.
Toutes les fenêtres étaient closes mais l’une d’elles, la plus
proche, s’ouvrit. Un enfant parut, un enfant au joli visage régulier,
délicat et pâle, qu’encadraient de longs cheveux bruns bouclés
retombant jusqu’au col blanc rabattu sur le vêtement de velours noir.
Sur la pénombre de l’intérieur où s’entrevoyaient des tapisseries
sombres et de lourds meubles solennels, l’enfant, dans le cadre de
la fenêtre, parut à Irma comme un portrait et elle pensa qu’elle
n’avait jamais rien vu d’aussi joli. Cependant, mue par une impulsion
inexplicable, elle convulsa en une grimace affreuse sa petite face
criblée de taches de rousseur, et qui n’avait pas besoin de cela pour
être laide avec son nez en trompette et ses minces yeux de travers,
et elle tira la langue à la petite apparition. Celle-ci eut un léger
mouvement de recul et ferma la fenêtre. Irma, irritée contre elle-
même, retourna à sa pierre à évier.
Un grincement la rappela à la fenêtre. En face la tête d’enfant
était réapparue. Une faible voix posée traversa l’espace étroit.
— Pourquoi m’avez-vous tiré la langue ?
Irma, embarrassée, dit la vérité :
— Je ne sais pas.
Il y eut un moment d’inspection mutuelle.
— Comment vous appelez-vous ?
— Irma. C’est vilain, pas ? Et vous ?
— Édouard.
— Édouard !
Irma avait eu un mouvement de surprise.
« Vous n’êtes donc pas une fille ?
— Non ! répondit sèchement l’enfant, qui parut offensé.
Mais bientôt il dit qu’il avait neuf ans, apprit qu’Irma en avait onze
et lui demanda ce qu’elle faisait.
— Pour le moment je finis la vaisselle, dit-elle avec simplicité. Ce
tantôt je vais avec maman reporter son ouvrage. Et vous, ajouta-t-
elle pour qu’il y eût réciprocité de confidence, qu’est-ce que vous
faites ?
— Je m’ennuie. Je ne peux pas lire parce que j’ai mal à la tête et
je ne peux pas courir parce que j’ai mal au dos. Quelquefois je me
promène en voiture avec grand’mère ou ma gouvernante, mais cela
ne m’amuse pas…
— Faut que je m’en aille, interrompit Irma, voilà maman qui
m’appelle…
Le lendemain les maçons n’avaient pas reparu et les deux
enfants se revirent à travers la brèche.
— Bonjour… dit Irma la première.
— Bonjour, Irma. C’est exprès pour vous voir que j’ai ouvert la
fenêtre, vous savez. On me permet d’ouvrir les autres qui donnent
sur le jardin, mais celle-là c’est défendu.
Il garda le silence un instant, et de sa petite voix tranquille, reprit :
« La pièce où je suis, c’est le grand salon. C’est là où je joue.
Grand’mère reste toujours dans son petit salon, à l’autre bout de la
maison. Ici, les domestiques me laissent tranquille…
— Vous n’avez donc pas de parents ? demanda Irma.
Il secoua la tête de son air las et mélancolique.
— Je n’ai plus que grand’mère… Personne ne vient jamais la voir
que des vieux, vieux… Et vous ?
— J’ai maman. Et puis j’ai Jacquot qui a six ans et Nana qui a
quatre ans ; c’est mes frère et sœur. Et puis papa est soldat dans
l’artillerie lourde. Et faut même que je me dépêche à mon ouvrage
parce qu’on va lui porter son paquet à l’expédition. C’est le jour. Et
maman a dû veiller ces derniers soirs pour avoir de quoi acheter les
choses…
Le petit garçon eut une minute de réflexion et déclara :
— C’est vrai qu’elle a l’air bien sale, votre maison…
— Pas plus sale que la vôtre ! répliqua Irma vexée. Et, avec
irritation, elle retourna tremper ses petites mains gercées dans l’eau
grasse de la vaisselle.
Le lendemain elle fut la première à ouvrir sa fenêtre et, après
quelques instants de conversation, demanda brusquement :
— N’est-ce pas que je suis très laide ?
Elle l’était, en effet, d’autant plus qu’elle était devenue très rouge
sous ses taches de rousseur.
— Non, je ne trouve pas, dit Édouard en hésitant.
— Si ! si ! Je suis laide ! Et puis mal mise ! Et puis pauvre ! Mais
ça m’est égal ! cria Irma en tapant du pied.
Le jour suivant, pourtant, elle apparut avec une tentative de
frange sur son petit front bombé et elle avait mis son corsage des
dimanches. Édouard ne s’en aperçut pas. Il semblait animé.
— J’ai eu une idée, expliqua-t-il. Je vais demander à grand’mère
de donner de l’argent à votre mère pour que vous veniez jouer avec
moi…
Il s’interrompit. Irma, pourpre et les larmes aux yeux, s’était
retirée de la fenêtre. Elle était blessée profondément sans bien
savoir pourquoi. Pourtant elle ne put longtemps se défendre de
reprendre cette conversation qui était devenue tout l’intérêt de sa
misérable petite vie et qui se poursuivit tout un mois encore. Irma
racontait ses occupations domestiques, ses courses dans les rues et
les spectacles qu’elle y voyait. Édouard s’y intéressait vivement. Il
n’avait, lui, rien à raconter, malgré les questions de la petite fille,
mais il répétait qu’il s’ennuyait.
Un jour, de sa faible voix qui était résignée, il se plaignit :
— J’ai mal à la tête, Irma. J’ai plus mal que de coutume… Alors
le médecin va venir… Je ne l’aime pas…
Plus pâle que d’ordinaire, il s’était accoudé à la barre d’appui.
— Vous n’allez pas être malade ? cria Irma bouleversée…
Mais le petit, appelé sans doute, quitta la fenêtre en la fermant.
Il ne parut pas le lendemain, non plus que le jour suivant. Irma,
pleine d’angoisse, observait sans cesse les hautes fenêtres
impénétrables.
Le troisième jour elle dut aller reporter de l’ouvrage. Quand elle
revint, à la fin de l’après-midi, elle resta suffoquée. Les maçons, en
son absence, avaient repris leur besogne et cela avec tant de
diligence qu’un pan de mur neuf obstruait la brèche, séparant Irma
de la belle maison, dont elle ignorait l’adresse, et de l’enfant aux
longs cheveux, dont elle ne saurait plus jamais rien. Et elle resta à
pleurer en regardant les ouvriers poser les dernières pierres.
QUELQUES MÉNAGES

LE PROBLÈME

Les Joudas — le père, fonctionnaire plaintif, mal résigné, à


cinquante-cinq ans, à n’avoir pas d’avenir, la mère, dame
despotique, jamais en repos, et les deux files, qui auraient voulu être
mariées — habitaient, au bout de la ville, une piètre petite maison
dénuée de confort. Ils achevaient de déjeuner quand le facteur
sonna. La servante étant à la cave, M. Joudas alla lui-même à la
porte.
Deux minutes après, il revint dans la salle à manger ; la stupeur
était peinte sur son visage ; il avait une lettre à la main.
— C’est d’Alfred, bégaya M. Joudas. Il est rentré en France. Il
m’écrit de Paris. Il va venir ici…
Mme Joudas avait tressailli et s’était dressée pendant que ses
deux filles levaient la tête, très intéressées elles aussi.
— Hein ? Alfred ? ton frère ?… Comment cela ?… T’expliqueras-
tu, Octave ?…
A travers la table, M. Joudas lui tendit la lettre. Il y avait deux
lignes. M. Alfred Joudas disait qu’il allait venir. C’était tout.
Mme Joudas ayant lu renvoya ses filles.
— Que comptes-tu faire ? demanda-t-elle sèchement à son mari
lorsqu’ils furent seuls.
— Mais je ne sais pas… dit M. Joudas encore ahuri.
— Tu ne sais pas !… naturellement !… tu ne sais jamais rien !…
Je suis là, heureusement. Examinons la situation, elle en vaut la
peine, je pense ! Depuis combien de temps exactement ton frère est-
il parti pour l’Amérique ?
— Je ne sais pas au juste… trente ans au moins…
— Combien de fois t’a-t-il écrit depuis ?
— Une dizaine de fois environ.
— Et chaque fois deux lignes pour dire qu’il allait bien… Et sans
donner aucun détail sur ce qu’il faisait, sur sa vie, sur sa position…
Le mystère est complet ! — dit Mme Joudas, tragique. — Maintenant
il revient. Une question se pose : Est-il riche ?
M. Joudas eut un geste des bras pour dire qu’il ne pouvait pas
savoir, mais Mme Joudas, de son poing robuste ébranla la table.
— J’ai beaucoup de patience, cria-t-elle, mais il ne faut pas qu’on
m’en fasse trop ! Je ne tolérerai pas tes airs d’indifférence ! Tu as
des devoirs envers ta famille, je pense ? envers moi qui méritais un
peu mieux que d’être, toute ma vie, la femme d’un rond-de-cuir sans
avenir ! envers tes filles qui n’ont pas un sou de dot ! Ton frère rentre,
c’est notre seul espoir de ne plus croupir dans la misère, mais toi tu
t’en moques !
— Je ne m’en moque pas, dit M. Joudas, abattu.
Et il ajouta :
« Alfred m’a assez négligé, en somme, et je ne tiens pas à
l’accueillir…
— Tu es fou !
Mme Joudas avait bondi.
« Pour nous rendre odieux aux yeux de toute la ville ! Pour
détruire notre unique espérance ! Ah ! par exemple !…
— Mais s’il tombe ici pour s’y installer et qu’il soit sans le sou !
gémit M. Joudas. Je ne peux pas le prendre à ma charge ! La vie est
déjà si dure !… Et comment fera-t-on pour le renvoyer plus tard si on
le reçoit trop bien ?… Il nous croira riches…
Mme Joudas d’un geste lui imposa le silence. Elle réfléchissait.
— On n’a pas idée d’avoir un frère comme ça ! dit-elle enfin à son
mari avec irritation. Allons, voilà l’heure de ton bureau, file ! On a
encore le temps d’y penser. Il ne va pas arriver ce soir…
Elle se trompait, car le soir même, lorsque M. Joudas rentra, il vit,
qu’à sa porte, d’une voiture, on déchargeait une malle.
Mme Joudas saisit son mari dans le vestibule.
— Il est là, souffla-t-elle. Il n’a pas été à l’hôtel, il est descendu
tout droit ici… Je lui ai donné la chambre de Pauline qui couchera
avec sa sœur. J’ai fait un rôti pour le dîner. On doit être beau
joueur… Nous l’interrogerons adroitement. Il n’a qu’une seule malle,
mais… Chut… le voilà.
M. Alfred Joudas descendait l’escalier. C’était un homme de
haute taille, aux cheveux argentés, au visage glabre, énergique et
fatigué. Il était vêtu d’un complet gris assez usé. Il embrassa M.
Octave Joudas, en disant qu’il était heureux de le voir. Il semblait
aussi à l’aise que s’il les avait quittés le mois d’avant ; il rappelait à
son frère leurs souvenirs d’enfance ; il plaisantait gaiement avec ses
nièces. Il ne parut pas s’apercevoir de la mesquinerie de
l’installation, et mangea copieusement au dîner qu’il déclara
excellent. Du reste, il ne donna sur lui-même pas le moindre détail et
éluda, sans avoir l’air de les comprendre, les questions détournées
qui lui furent posées.
Ce n’est qu’après le repas, lorsque M. et Mme Joudas, afin de
voir ses bagages, l’eurent conduit dans la chambre qui lui était
destinée, qu’il eut un moment d’abandon.
— Je vous remercie, ma belle-sœur, dit-il à Mme Joudas, je serai
très bien ici. J’ai eu des logis de toute sorte, je vous assure, et
souvent moins confortables que cette jolie chambre. Dans la vie, il y
a des hauts et des bas…
Il s’approcha de son frère :
« Tu as pris la meilleure part, vois-tu, mon vieux… Rester
tranquille chez soi, dans sa petite ville, à se laisser vivre avec un
petit travail de tout repos, sans mécomptes et sans déboires… J’en
suis à me demander si ce n’est pas la vraie sagesse… »
Il semblait sombre et on crut l’entendre soupirer. Il leur dit
bonsoir, M. et Mme Joudas redescendirent.
— Il est sans le sou ! cria M. Joudas lorsqu’ils furent seuls dans
leur morne petit salon. J’en étais sûr, il est sans le sou ! Tu as vu son
avidité au dîner ? Tu as vu ses bagages ? Trois méchants complets
usagés et quelques chemises. Tu as entendu ce qu’il dit des
mécomptes et des déboires ?… Il est venu pour vivre à nos
crochets !… à mes crochets à moi, la bête de somme ! continua-t-il
en s’animant. — Je ne peux pas ! Je n’y suffis pas ! C’est trop ! J’ai
un frère en Amérique ! Il revient ! Il est sans le sou…
— En es-tu sûr ?
Mme Joudas, d’une main vigoureuse, avait saisi le bras de son
mari ; elle fixait sur lui des yeux étincelants.
« En es-tu sûr ? répéta-t-elle d’une voix basse et vibrante. Cela
n’est jamais arrivé, n’est-ce pas, que des millionnaires reviennent en
jouant la comédie de la pauvreté pour éprouver l’affection de leur
famille ?… Je vois plus loin que toi, moi ! Mais l’égoïsme
t’aveugle !…
— C’est un problème affolant, gémit M. Joudas.
Et tous deux restèrent muets, absorbés, angoissés, écoutant le
bruit des pas, là-haut, dans la chambre du problème…

II

C’était un matin, une semaine plus tard. Après avoir, dès son
lever et comme de coutume, parcouru la maison pour réveiller ses
filles et houspiller la servante, Mme Joudas, en tenue d’intérieur,
peignoir vert et pas de faux cheveux, revint dans la chambre à
coucher où son mari, M. Octave Joudas, achevait de s’habiller.
Maigre et blafard, en bras de chemise et un peu grelottant, ses
rares mèches grises encore ébouriffées, M. Joudas offrait un triste
spectacle ; il tourna les yeux vers sa femme. Elle prit un temps et
parla :
— Il faut en finir. Ce mystère me tue. Depuis que ton frère est
tombé chez nous…
— Chut… prends garde qu’il n’entende…
— Il dort, je viens de m’arrêter à sa porte…
Mme Joudas avait pourtant baissé la voix. Elle continua :
« Cette situation ne peut se prolonger. Nous ne sommes pas plus
avancés qu’au premier jour. Il est impossible de rien deviner… Mais
l’argent file, file… c’en est fou… Nous dépensons le double pour les
repas depuis qu’il est là. Ça ne peut pas durer. Nous sommes
pauvres. Notre droit est de savoir à quoi nous en tenir… Si ton frère
est sans le sou, nous ne pouvons l’héberger plus longtemps…
— C’est ce que j’ai toujours dit…
— Mais s’il est riche, on ne peut risquer de le mécontenter, de
paraître durs, indifférents… Pourtant, il faut en finir. D’autant plus
que, dans la ville, la nouvelle s’est répandue…
— Tout le monde est au courant, dit M. Joudas. Au bureau, mes
collègues m’en ont parlé. Ils ont même organisé des paris… Duport
tient ce qu’on veut contre l’hypothèse de mon frère millionnaire…
— C’est insultant…
— Non, au contraire, on nous montre plus de considération. Mon
chef de bureau m’a dit de te rappeler le jour de sa femme…
— A t’entendre, on va demander la main de mes filles, à cause
de la fortune supposée de leur oncle, ricana Mme Joudas. — Non, il
faut en finir ! Voici mon plan : Paule et Christiane dînent ce soir chez
leur ancienne maîtresse de pension… Profitons-en, faisons faire à
ton frère Arthur un bon dîner avec du bon vin qu’on ne ménagera
pas… et tu pourras adroitement le faire parler… Oh ! pas de
grimaces !… j’ai autant de délicatesse que toi, j’imagine !… Il nous
faut la vérité !

M. Octave Joudas souffrait du foie et de l’estomac, et depuis


longtemps, autant par régime que par économie, il avait renoncé au
vin. Afin de donner l’exemple à son frère Arthur, il dut cependant se
résigner à en boire ce soir-là, et, au bout de quelques verres, ce fut
sans répugnance, bien au contraire. Inexplicablement, il se sentit
gai, animé, et il se dit, à part lui, que la vie n’était pas si mauvaise
qu’il le croyait. Sur sa femme et sur son frère il posa un regard plein
de tendresse.
M. Alfred Joudas, qu’un si passionnant mystère enveloppait, était
visiblement de plus en plus heureux de se trouver en famille. Il
mangeait bien, causait et buvait gaiement, mais, pour lui, cela ne
semblait pas être un excès, et il restait parfaitement discret et maître
de lui.
Quant à Mme Joudas, elle dînait avec dignité et trempait ses
lèvres dans de l’eau rougie. Un souci cependant plissait son front
majestueux : le repas s’avançait et son mari n’avait fait encore
aucune tentative pour provoquer les confidences de son frère ;
aussi, au regard d’affection émue que lui lança M. Octave Joudas
répondit-elle par un coup d’œil impératif. Il ne comprit pas ou feignit
de ne pas comprendre. Il prit une nouvelle bouteille, servit Alfred et
se servit.
Exaspérée, Mme Joudas, pour le rappeler au sentiment de la
situation, lui lança un coup de pied sous la table. Le coup fut vif, M.
Octave Joudas le reçut sur la cheville.
— Oh ! la ! la ! cria-t-il en se dressant.
Il s’appuya d’une main à la table, désigna, de l’autre main, sa
femme et dit à son frère :
« Elle m’a fichu un coup de pied !
— Comment cela ? demanda Alfred, étonné.
— Octave !… cria d’une voix tragique Mme Joudas, qui venait de
s’apercevoir que l’état de son mari n’était pas normal.
— Un coup de pied ! continua M. Joudas qui semblait joyeux. Un
coup de pied qui te concerne, Alfred !
— Octave ! cria encore Mme Joudas.
— Oui, sois tranquille, j’y viens, il va parler ! N’est-ce pas, Alfred,
que tu vas parler ? Tu étais gentil pour moi dans le temps, quand on
était gamins tous deux… Alors, voilà, vaut mieux s’expliquer
franchement : Depuis une semaine que tu es là, on ne vit plus. Ça
ne peut pas durer… A moins d’être aveugle, tu dois avoir vu que
nous sommes dans la misère. C’est une misère bien ; on garde le
décorum ; on a une bonne, elle change souvent parce qu’il y a trop à
faire et pas assez à manger, mais le principe y est ; on donne des
thés avec des petits gâteaux ; oui ; et on a des filles qui ont suivi des
cours payants. Bref, on tient son rang… Alors on a un frère qui
revient d’Amérique : une question se pose, comme dit Mme Joudas :
« A-t-il fait fortune ? » Dame, un frère sans le sou, qui ne s’est pas
inquiété de vous pendant trente ans, on n’a qu’à le prier de s’en
aller. S’il est riche, c’est une autre paire de manches… Tu saisis ?…
Alors faut-il te choyer ou te prier de t’en aller ? Dis si tu es riche !
Il s’arrêta tout souriant. Mme Joudas, qui avait compris
l’impossibilité de le faire taire restait immobile sur sa chaise, les yeux
fixés droit devant elle.
M. Alfred Joudas n’avait pas bougé. D’abord son visage avait
exprimé la surprise et un peu de colère ; puis du mépris railleur.
Maintenant il regardait son frère avec une commisération profonde.
— Si je suis venu ici, dit-il enfin lentement, c’est avec l’intention
de m’y établir… Je suis en pourparlers pour acheter un domaine, la
Verdière.
— Mais c’est princier ! cria Mme Joudas, bondissant tout à coup.
— Alors, tu es riche ! cria en même temps M. Octave Joudas,
exultant.
Tous deux tendaient vers Alfred Joudas des faces ardentes que
la même espérance transfigurait. Il regretta d’avoir choisi ce pays
pour y finir sa vie et continua :
— Je suis riche, oui. Je croyais vous l’avoir écrit. Mais mon
existence a été si occupée… Enfin, pour la Verdière, je voulais que
ce soit pour vous une surprise. Mon intention était de ne vous
prévenir que lorsque nous y serions tous installés… Je dis nous,
reprit-il doucement, parce que — je croyais aussi vous l’avoir
annoncé, — parce que je suis marié… Ma femme est à Paris avec
nos quatre enfants…
Il y eut un silence pesant. M. Octave Joudas était devenu gris de
cendre. Mme Joudas, atterrée, vit l’avenir pour elle et pour ses filles.
— Ça, murmura-t-elle, c’est pire que tout… Nous serons les
parents pauvres…
L’ENFANT TROUVÉ

Dans une petite rue tranquille de la rive gauche, M. et Mme


Peluche, depuis cinq ans qu’ils étaient mariés, tenaient un petit
commerce de papeterie, auquel était annexé un cabinet de lecture,
composé de quelques centaines de romans surannés que se
repassait inlassablement une clientèle de vieilles demoiselles.
M. Peluche était un timide petit homme empressé et soumis, dont
les joues étaient roses, la chevelure blonde, la moustache incolore
et les yeux faibles. Mme Peluche était une jolie petite femme brune,
délicate et vive, romanesque à force d’avoir lu les livres qu’elle
louait ; M. Peluche ne ressemblait en rien aux personnages
séduisants et aventureux qui s’y trouvaient décrits, mais, tel qu’il
était, il était à elle et elle faisait peser sur lui le joug d’une tendresse
jalouse. Ils vivaient heureux et la papeterie marchait très bien.
Un soir, comme M. Peluche, pour mettre les volets de la
devanture, ouvrait la porte de la rue, dont un rideau d’images cachait
les vitres, il s’arrêta, étonné. Au seuil, dans le retrait formé par la
porte, était posé un vaste panier ovale, à anse, et tout rempli par un
paquet enveloppé de sombre.
— Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça ? se dit M. Peluche, qui, dans
l’ombre, distinguait mal.
Il poussa du pied le panier. Un vagissement s’éleva. M. Peluche
sauta en arrière, resta un moment ahuri, puis se tourna vers le fond
de la boutique, où était Mme Peluche.
— Amélie ! Amélie ! viens voir ! Il y a un panier à la porte. Ça crie !
Mme Peluche accourut, regarda le panier, le saisit, l’entra dans la
boutique et en retira le paquet, qu’elle défit. Sous une toile noire, il y
avait, roulé dans une couverture grise, un tout petit enfant qui criait.
— Mon Dieu, qu’est-ce que c’est que ça ? dit M. Peluche.
— Un enfant, tu le vois bien ! Un enfant qu’on a abandonné à
notre porte… Et pas depuis longtemps, puisqu’une cliente est venue
il y a dix minutes à peine.
— Par exemple !… En voilà une histoire… Qu’est-ce qu’on va
faire ?…
— Commence par fermer la devanture. Ce n’est pas une raison
pour laisser tout ouvert.
M. Peluche obéit, mais l’événement l’avait ému et il faillit casser
une vitre.
Quand il rentra, Mme Peluche avait posé sur un comptoir, en
l’étayant avec deux coussins, l’enfant qui ne criait plus, et, la mine
grave, les sourcils froncés, elle tenait les yeux fixés sur lui. Elle
tourna la tête vers son mari lorsqu’elle l’entendit.
— J’ai regardé ses langes, déclara-t-elle, il n’y a aucune marque,
aucun papier comme on en trouve souvent sur les enfants
abandonnés : « Prenez soin de lui », ou bien : « Je le confie à la
Providence » ou quelque chose de ce genre… C’est bien singulier
qu’on ait choisi notre porte pour y laisser cet enfant… Tu trouves pas
ça singulier, toi ?
— Si… Non… C’est le hasard…
— Le hasard, c’est bientôt dit…
Elle eut un rire sec et, brusquement, éclata en sanglots.
« Oh ! misérable, misérable ! Et tu fais semblant de m’aimer !…
Oui, oui, ne prends pas l’air ahuri ! Tu ne me donneras pas le
change ! Je sais à quoi m’en tenir ! Je ne suis pas idiote ! Tu veux
que je te le dise pourquoi on a apporté ici cet enfant ? C’est parce
qu’il est à toi ! Oui, à toi ! Oui, à toi ! Tu m’as trompée ! Tu m’as
trompée depuis longtemps, puisque l’enfant a près d’un an ! Tu m’as
trompée depuis tout le temps, probablement ! Non, non, ne nie pas,
ce n’est pas la peine ! Je sais ce que je dis ! Pourquoi l’aurait-on
apporté ici, cet enfant, s’il n’était pas à toi ? Sans doute tu viens de
quitter la mère pour une autre, alors, elle se venge ! Oh ! quelle
honte ! quelle honte ! Du reste, tu t’es trahi toi-même, j’ai bien vu ton
émotion quand tu as trouvé le panier ! Et, après, tu tremblais
tellement que tu as failli enfoncer la devanture avec le volet !… Oh !
Julien, Julien, moi qui t’aimais tant !… »
Les larmes la suffoquèrent un moment. M. Peluche, béant, offrait
l’image de la stupidité. L’enfant n’était pas de lui. Il ignorait
entièrement qui l’avait apporté à son seuil. Il n’avait jamais trompé
sa femme et n’avait jamais eu l’idée, même lointaine, qu’il pût jamais
la tromper. Il était complètement innocent, mais cette innocence,
c’est en vain qu’il cherchait un moyen de la prouver, à l’instant
même, d’une façon éclatante. Il ne trouvait pas et s’affolait.
— Tu as raison de ne rien dire, reprit Mme Peluche. Je ne croirais
pas à tes mensonges…
— Mais c’est de la démence ! Amélie, je te jure !…
Un vagissement désespéré de l’enfant interrompit M. Peluche.
— On ne peut pas le laisser mourir, prononça Mme Peluche. Je
vais lui donner le lait que j’avais acheté pour toi, parce que tu es
enrhumé.
Tragiquement, elle s’éloigna vers la cuisine. M. Peluche demeura
accablé.
Le ménage ne dîna pas et la nuit fut dramatique. Après une
période de silence lugubre et de désespoir contenu, Mme Peluche,
soudainement, vers onze heures, eut une crise effrayante. Elle
sanglota, cria, trépigna, se tordit les bras, se roula, réclama le
divorce et la mort. M. Peluche, qui d’abord s’était répandu en
protestations éperdues, dut lutter avec elle pour lui arracher un
flacon de pharmacie qu’elle avait saisi au hasard, afin de
s’empoisonner. Enfin, à trois heures du matin, elle s’apaisa et, toute
vêtue, se jeta sur son lit, non pour dormir, dit-elle, mais pour
réfléchir.
M. Peluche, dans un fauteuil, ne goûta qu’un assoupissement
précaire, coupé d’affreux cauchemars.
Au matin, emporté par l’habitude commerciale, il alla ouvrir la
boutique, et, tout grelottant, la tête dans ses mains, s’assit à la
caisse.
Mme Peluche parut devant lui. Son visage était pâle, mais
empreint d’une résolution énergique.
— J’ai réfléchi, Julien, dit-elle d’une voix grave. Je te connais
maintenant : tu es de ces hommes qui font souffrir celle qui les
aime… Hélas ! je souffrirai donc… Mais l’innocent ne doit pas être
frappé. Une victime suffit… Nous garderons ton fils. Je l’élèverai
moi-même…
— Mais c’est fou ! gémit M. Peluche atterré, puisque je te jure…
— Ne mens plus, Julien. Avoue la vérité et je te pardonnerai…
Mais tu me ferais horreur si, à ton tour, tu songeais à abandonner…
La porte de la boutique, ouverte violemment, lui coupa la parole.
— Mon enfant ! mon enfant ! cria une jeune femme nu-tête, qui fit
irruption, le visage bouleversé. Je l’ai laissé à votre porte, hier !…
J’étais folle !… Ah ! le voilà !
Elle s’élança sur l’enfant qui, au fond, dormait encore sur des
coussins, et le serra contre elle avec emportement.
— Je n’ai plus que lui ! Le père m’a quittée hier, après une scène
affreuse… J’étais folle, désespérée !… J’ai abandonné le petit…
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, comment ai-je pu faire ça ?… Je voulais me
noyer !… Je ne sais plus… Et puis, je me suis calmée… Je suis
revenue en courant pour le reprendre… mais toutes les boutiques
étaient fermées et je n’ai pas reconnu la porte ! Toute la nuit je suis
restée dans la rue en attendant que vous ouvriez… Je n’ai plus que
lui, maintenant… Je reviendrai, monsieur et madame. Je reviendrai
vous remercier… Je n’oublierai jamais !…
Elle s’enfuit, son enfant dans les bras. Le ménage Peluche resta
abasourdi.
— Eh bien, Amélie, tu vois ?… dit enfin M. Peluche.
— C’est vrai… Mon pauvre ami… Comment ai-je pu croire ça de
toi ?… lui répondit-elle doucement.
Et il y avait dans sa voix un mépris si évident que M. Peluche en
resta saisi.
MATHILDE

Mme Aubil avait été attendre son mari à la gare et, pendant les
premiers moments, elle fut tout à la joie de le revoir. Ils regagnèrent
en voiture leur confortable appartement des Ternes et le déjeuner fut
gai et sans nuages.
M. Aubil parla de ses affaires. La maison de commerce où il était
associé fonctionnait à souhait et le poste qu’il occupait depuis la
guerre, dans l’administration militaire d’une grande ville du centre, lui
laissait assez de loisirs pour qu’il puisse surveiller ses intérêts. Il
manifesta l’intention d’expédier, dès l’après-midi même, quelques
courses urgentes, afin de pouvoir, le lendemain, sortir librement avec
sa femme.
— A propos, dit soudain Mme Aubil, tu sais que je me suis
brouillée avec les cousins Dertal…
M. Aubil eut un léger mouvement.
— Non, dit-il, je ne savais pas…
— Ah ! je croyais te l’avoir écrit. C’est à propos de mon œuvre. La
cousine Dertal s’est fait nommer vice-présidente sans m’en parler,
acheva-t-elle, les yeux étincelants de courroux.
M. Aubil, quadragénaire placide, d’esprit fin et de tempérament
nonchalant, ne put s’empêcher de sourire tant il la trouvait jolie et
tant, après six années de mariage, il était encore émerveillé de
l’extraordinaire désaccord qui existait entre la beauté délicate, frêle
et vaporeusement blonde de Mme Aubil et son caractère irascible
dont l’agressive susceptibilité était sans bornes.
« Et je me suis brouillée aussi, continua-t-elle, avec la tante
Blaise parce qu’elle n’a pas rompu avec eux en même temps que
moi. Elle voulait les ménager parce qu’elle y dîne le dimanche…
Alors, tu comprends, il a fallu qu’elle choisisse : eux ou moi. Ce
serait trop commode d’être bien avec tout le monde.
— Avec la tante Blaise aussi… répéta M. Aubil. — Mais alors il
ne reste que l’oncle Armand ?…
— Oui, il ne reste que l’oncle Armand… Pourquoi hausses-tu les
épaules d’un air malheureux ? Pourquoi fouilles-tu dans ta poche ?…
— Pour prendre des notes, dit M. Aubil, résigné. Je m’y perds…
Notre famille est très nombreuse et tes rapports avec ses divers
membres sont un peu variables.
— Ce n’est pas de ma faute si j’ai le sentiment de de la famille
très développé, interrompit Mme Aubil frémissante. Je ressens très
vivement ce qu’on me fait… Certes, si c’étaient des indifférents je ne
m’en inquiéterais guère…
— Sans doute, sans doute, dit M. Aubil, qui consultait son carnet.
Il reprit :
« Ma petite Mathilde, au moment où la guerre a commencé tu
t’es réconciliée avec tous ceux de nos parents qui étaient mal avec
toi. Quelque temps après, exactement au mois de janvier 1915, tu
m’as écrit de ne plus envoyer de cartes postales à ta belle-sœur
Madeleine parce que tu ne la voyais plus…
— Je m’en souviens très bien, elle avait dit, dans son salon, que
je passais mes journées dans les magasins ou dans des thés, au
lieu de tricoter, ce qui était un mensonge.
— Peu après, poursuivit M. Aubil, première brouille avec la tante
Blaise…
— Elle avait dit, selon ce qu’on m’avait raconté, que tu occupais
un poste où tu n’étais pas exposé…
— Mais c’est vrai que mon poste n’est pas exposé, et il est vrai
aussi que j’y suis à ma place…
— Du reste, la tante Blaise ne l’avait pas dit. C’était une invention
de cette petite peste de Germaine…
— Avec qui tu te brouilles aussitôt, sans pour cela te réconcilier
avec la tante Blaise. Puis tu m’interdis une première fois d’écrire aux
Dertal. Puis, à ma première permission, tu t’es remise avec
Madeleine et tu as rompu avec sa sœur. Puis je reviens à Paris, tu
vois de nouveau les Dertal… Puis…
— Assez ! interrompit Mme Aubil. Assez ! tu t’amuses à
m’exaspérer, moi qui étais si heureuse de te revoir ! Tu sais aussi
bien que moi que tout ce qui est arrivé c’est par la faute des autres !
Tu ne vas pas leur donner raison contre moi, je présume !…
Elle avait rougi, ses grands yeux bleus flambaient. M. Aubil
l’admira et tenta de l’apaiser.
— Tu as des délicatesses que tout le monde ne comprend pas,
ma chérie, explique-t-il avec douceur, et on te blesse parfois sans le
vouloir. Mais je vais les voir et en s’expliquant…
— Les voir ! Aller les voir ! Tu n’y penses pas ! Des insolents que
je ne salue plus, des pintades hypocrites et envieuses ! Je te le
défends bien, par exemple !
— C’est que je n’étais pas au courant, n’est-ce pas ! Je leur ai
écrit pour annoncer mon arrivée ; alors ce sera une grossièreté qui
aggravera la brouille… remarqua M. Aubil ennuyé.
Mathilde eut un rire sec.
— Justement, comme cela ils comprendront mieux. J’en ai assez
d’être leur victime… Va voir l’oncle Armand. C’est un brave homme,
lui. Il ne fait pas de cancans, et il est fidèle à ses affections. Il est le
seul de tous qui nous ait toujours aimés et qui n’ait jamais dit de mal
de nous… Va le voir dès aujourd’hui… C’est le seul parent qui nous
reste, acheva-t-elle gravement.
— En effet, en effet, constata M. Aubil, un peu ahuri de cette
brusque abolition de toute une famille qui était abondante.
Afin d’en conserver au moins le dernier vestige, et pour obéir à
sa femme, il alla le même jour rendre visite à l’oncle Armand.
Dans une rue triste, à l’entresol d’une maison sombre, une
servante très âgée précéda M. Aubil à travers des pièces délabrées

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