What effect do first-past-the-post elections have on American politics?

Question 1 options:

	a) They make it unlikely for third parties to win elections.
	b) They allow for many minor parties to compete successfully in elections.
	c) They make it likely that the popular vote winner will lose elections.
	d) They ensure that no party will get higher than 50% of the vote.

Question 2 (5 points)

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Which of the following stances is likely to be held by the Republican Party?

Question 2 options:

	a) Higher taxes
	b) Less regulation on businesses
	c) More regulation on businesses
	d) Pro-choice on the abortion issue

Question 3 (5 points)

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Women gained the right to vote during what political era?

Question 3 options:

	a) The Era of Divided Government
	b) The Era of Good Feelings
	c) The Era of Republicans
	d) The Era of the New Deal

Question 4 (5 points)

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When it comes to public opinion, how does the United States differ from many other nations?

Question 4 options:

	a) Groups tend to be crosscutting.
	b) Groups tend to be homogeneous.
	c) Americans tend to work fewer hours.
	d) American politics has splintered into party politics.

Question 5 (5 points)

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What issue do Republicans tend to see as a top priority for government?

Question 5 options:

	a) Strengthening the military
	b) Regulating businesses
	c) Assisting the poor
	d) Climate change

Question 6 (5 points)

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Which of the following statements accurately reflects the current state of money in American politics?

Question 6 options:

	a) Political campaign spending is banned by US law.
	b) Political campaigns have become increasingly expensive.
	c) Only individuals are allowed to donate money to political campaigns.
	d) Political campaigns have become cheaper to run in recent years.

Question 7 (5 points)

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Why have the two major political parties become more ideologically extreme in recent years?

Question 7 options:

	a) Voters have always been ideologically extreme.
	b) Many districts and states are lopsidedly Republican or Democratic.
	c) The voters are more moderate than ever before.
	d) The international situation has forced more extreme views.

Question 8 (5 points)

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What was the triggering issue in the most recent political realignment of America?

Question 8 options:

	a) The Civil War
	b) Civil rights
	c) The Great Depression
	d) The Iraq War

Question 9 (5 points)

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What might be the strongest reason for a political party to nominate a qualified candidate to run for office?

Question 9 options:

	a) A qualified candidate would have a better chance of winning the office.
	b) A qualified candidate is required by law for most offices.
	c) The voters would never vote for an unqualified candidate.
	d) Party rules require qualified candidates.

Question 10 (5 points)

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What term is given to a situation in which a federal agency sides with the industry they’re supposed to regulate rather than the public good?

Question 10 options:

	a) Agency direction
	b) Governmental corruption
	c) Agency discretion
	d) Agency capture

Question 11 (5 points)

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What term is given to the right to vote?

Question 11 options:

	a) Suffrage
	b) Balloting
	c) Freedom
	d) Canvassing

Question 12 (5 points)

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Why do Americans not hold lawmakers accountable for disregarding public opinion in policy?

Question 12 options:

	a) American voters like it when their elected officials go against popular opinion.
	b) Few Americans pay attention to government enough to know if public opinion is being followed.
	c) All measurements of popular opinion are typically wrong.
	d) Public opinion typically aligns with the desires of interest groups.

Question 13 (5 points)

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Voting alone isn’t enough to be considered engaging in good citizenship—voters must also

Question 13 options:

	a) vote in a way that their families have always voted.
	b) vote in every election.
	c) be informed on political issues.
	d) pick a party to be loyal to.

Question 14 (5 points)

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How did conservatives react to Johnson’s Great Society?

Question 14 options:

	a) They felt that too much was being spent on war.
	b) They felt the national government should handle social programs.
	c) They thought more spending was required.
	d) They thought it increased spending too much.

Question 15 (5 points)

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What was the Era of Good Feelings?

Question 15 options:

	a) The time during the Constitutional Convention when an agreement was finally reached
	b) A time where there was relatively little political competition in the early 1800s
	c) A time after World War II when Americans came to support their government
	d) The time after the Civil War when the country came back together

Question 16 (5 points)

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Who of the following is most likely to vote Democratic?

Question 16 options:

	a) Person in a higher income bracket
	b) Person older than 50
	c) African American
	d) Hispanic

Question 17 (5 points)

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Americans who believe government should stay out of regulating businesses and let the free market work on its own can be described as

Question 17 options:

	a) cultural conservatives.
	b) economic conservatives.
	c) economic liberals.
	d) cultural liberals.

Question 18 (5 points)

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With regard to political socialization, what would be an example of a primary agent of socialization?

Question 18 options:

	a) A parent
	b) A college friend
	c) A co-worker
	d) A fellow member of an adult social club

Question 19 (5 points)

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What type of interaction tends to build social capital?

Question 19 options:

	a) Watching the news on TV
	b) Joining community groups
	c) Posting on social media
	d) Donating to a political campaign

Question 20 (5 points)

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What’s a factor that challenges the accuracy of telephone polls?

Question 20 options:

	a) Internet polls are more accurate.
	b) Not all Americans are willing to participate.
	c) Neutral questions can’t be asked over the phone.
	d) It’s difficult to train phone pollsters.