Question

1) Match the statements with the political party functions. Answers may be used more than once.

propose a candidate for office
organize rallies, conventions, and media events
oppose policies and behavior of party in power
campaign for candidates
educate the public on important issues
recruit nominees to run for public office
hold elected officials accountable to the people they represent
connect the people with their elected leaders
pressure lawmakers to support party platform


2) Select THREE ways a two-party system reflects a democratic society.

Political parties link the people to the government by giving people a voice.

The foundations for political parties are described in the U.S. Constitution.

Political parties give each voter an equal voice.

Political parties have a constitutional basis for representing the people’s views.

Political parties convert public opinion into public policy by representing the voters’ political beliefs.

People have an opportunity to participate in the direction of the government and its policies.

3) Check all that apply.

According to the Lesson, select THREE typical reasons why a voter may choose to affiliate with a particular party.

based on one’s income level

based on the level of political participation

based on one’s work environment

based on the ideology of interest groups

based on one’s national origin

based on one’s educational level

4) Select THREE ways third parties influence elections.

They provide a venue for dissatisfied voters to vote against “politics as usual.”

They force majority parties to share their budgets for campaign support.

They encourage voter turnout at the polls.

They bring new ideas into the White House by electing candidates who support controversial issues.

They bring attention to issues that majority parties may not want to address.

5) Match the descriptions with the words.

practiced by members from differing political parties who agree to work together on specific issues or positions
the set of beliefs that guide individuals or groups
varied and diverse
practiced by those who profess to work for what they feel is best and do not declare a party affiliation
practiced by those who support a party’s policies without any consideration of other ideologies
a political party’s statement of goals and values
voters


6) Select FOUR responsibilities of national committees.

write bills for party legislators to introduce in Congress

write the parties’ platforms

form interest groups to pursue blocs of voters

coordinate fundraising

plot election strategies

campaign for candidates

choose state candidates

prepare budgets for state organizations

7) Select the FOUR organizational elements of national parties.

the national convention

the national committee

the judiciary committee

the national chairperson

congressional campaign committees

the coalition of governors

presidential oversight committee

the court of platform consideration

8) Select the TWO people/groups that direct state party organizations.

central committee

committee of county judges

the governor

state chairperson

9) Select the best answer.

The goal of state party organizations is to ___.

simply monitor the local organizations where the real work takes place

elect candidates to state offices

set policy for the state governments

elect candidates to national offices

Answer 1

1) Match statements with party functions
- propose a candidate for office — Nominating candidates
- organize rallies, conventions, and media events — Organizing events / Running campaigns
- oppose policies and behavior of party in power — Watchdog / Opposition function
- campaign for candidates — Campaigning / Electing candidates
- educate the public on important issues — Informing / Educating the electorate
- recruit nominees to run for public office — Recruiting candidates
- hold elected officials accountable to the people they represent — Bonding / Accountability function
- connect the people with their elected leaders — Linkage function
- pressure lawmakers to support party platform — Influence policy / Lobbying

2) Select THREE ways a two-party system reflects a democratic society
- Political parties link the people to the government by giving people a voice.
- Political parties convert public opinion into public policy by representing the voters’ political beliefs.
- People have an opportunity to participate in the direction of the government and its policies.

3) Typical reasons a voter may affiliate with a particular party (select THREE)
- based on one’s income level
- based on one’s work environment
- based on one’s educational level

4) Select THREE ways third parties influence elections
- They provide a venue for dissatisfied voters to vote against “politics as usual.”
- They encourage voter turnout at the polls.
- They bring attention to issues that majority parties may not want to address.

5) Match descriptions with the words
- practiced by members from differing political parties who agree to work together on specific issues or positions — Bipartisan
- the set of beliefs that guide individuals or groups — Ideology
- varied and diverse — Pluralistic
- practiced by those who profess to work for what they feel is best and do not declare a party affiliation — Nonpartisan (or Independent)
- practiced by those who support a party’s policies without any consideration of other ideologies — Partisan
- a political party’s statement of goals and values — Platform
- voters — Electorate

6) Select FOUR responsibilities of national committees
- write the parties’ platforms
- coordinate fundraising
- plot election strategies
- campaign for candidates

7) Select the FOUR organizational elements of national parties
- the national convention
- the national committee
- the national chairperson
- congressional campaign committees

8) Select the TWO people/groups that direct state party organizations
- central committee
- state chairperson

9) Best answer
- The goal of state party organizations is to elect candidates to state offices.