Which items in the list are methods a political party might use to influence public opinion

1.
Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the national, state, and local levels of political parties?
- A.
  Major political parties ensure that party organizations at the state and local levels collaborate closely.
- B.
  National party committees have no real power over organizations at the state and local levels.
- C.
  Most political parties encourage grassroots activity by putting local organizations in charge.
- D.
  State party organizations are required to align their goals with the party's national platform.
2.
Which activity is a primary responsibility of political parties at the state level?
- A.
  Raising funds for candidates for local offices, such as sheriff and county commissioner
- B.
  Discussing local issues with the national party committee
- C.
  Organizing conventions that bring together party leaders from each state
- D.
  Understanding state regulations governing political parties
3.
Read this list of activities:
1. Giving journalists access to research data supporting a party position
2. Investigating potential candidates who could represent the party in important districts
3. Creating a website listing the accomplishments of party candidates up for reelection
Which items in the list are methods a political party might use to influence public opinion?
- A.
  B and C only
- B.
  A and B only
- C.
  A, B, and C
- D.
  A and C only
4.
Read this passage:The Democratic Party in Bolsa County is working hard to get a local candidate elected to the state legislature. The leaders of the Bolsa County Democrats plan her campaign and raise money on her behalf, while local citizens go door to door to explain her policies to their neighbors. On Election Day, many Democrats turn out to vote for the candidate. She is elected and heads to the state capitol to start her new job.Which groups that make up political parties are represented in the passage?
- A.
  Party organizers, volunteers, voters, and elected officials
- B.
  Democrats, Republicans, third-party members, and nonvoters
- C.
  Campaign managers, citizens, representatives, and county councils
- D.
  Electors, petitioners, defendants, and the media
5.
Read these statements: Speaker 1: Overall, I agree with the Democratic Party's goals. If the Democrats can get control of Congress, we'll be able to make some real change.Speaker 2: I'm a longtime Republican, but I feel like the party is changing and leaving me behind. And the Democratic platform doesn't speak to the issues I'm concerned about.Speaker 3: I'm a member of a third party that really addresses the issues I care about most. None of our candidates have been elected to office, but they're saying the right things.Speaker 4: I think that most politicians don't really care about what average citizens want. The only system that works is direct democracy in small countries.Which speaker is most likely to feel represented in the U.S. government?
- A.
  Speaker 3
- B.
  Speaker 2
- C.
  Speaker 1
- D.
  
  Speaker 4
6.
Which statement describes a primary role of political parties in helping citizens engage with the U.S. government?
- A.
  Polling citizens to assess their opinions
- B.
  Funding citizens' trips to Washington, D.C.
- C.
  Motivating citizens to take action on political issues
- D.
  Encouraging citizens to work with members of other parties to create change
7.
Which option best completes the diagram?
- A.
  During the debate over ratification of the Constitution, two opposing groups form
- B.
  James Madison argues that the Constitution should be amended to include parties
- C.
  The Federalists and Anti-Federalists agree on how powerful the government should be
- D.
  A nationwide vote reveals that American citizens support parties
8.
Read the following passage:Personally, I think a lot of people won't support third-party candidates because they might not be effective. If a third-party candidate gets into office, he or she will have a hard time accomplishing anything, since members of the two major parties vote together and control most things.Which factor supporting the two-party system does the passage describe?
- A.
  Winner-takes-all elections
- B.
  Majority rule
- C.
  Voter loyalty
- D.
  Campaign laws
9.
Which statement most accurately describes presidential elections?
- A.
  They are often close contests between candidates from the Democratic and Republican parties.
- B.
  They are often landslides in favor of candidates from third parties.
- C.
  They are generally won by candidates from the Republican Party.
- D.
  The Democratic candidate usually wins the presidency, and the Republican candidate becomes vice president.
10.
Which activity is not one of the primary ways political parties shape public policy?
- A.
  Building connections between party members in office to help them be more effective
- B.
  Building and maintaining public support
- C.
  Encouraging voter registration at the local level
- D.
  
  Supporting party candidates who seek elective office
11.
Which description best illustrates an interest group's use of public pressure to indirectly influence policy?
- A.
  Filing a lawsuit against corporations that are major polluters and contribute to climate change
- B.
  Encouraging people to send letters and email to the president about climate change
- C.
  Lobbying officials in the executive and legislative branches who have expressed doubt that climate change exists
- D.
  Forming a political action committee to support candidates who believe climate change is real
12.
Read these statements: Speaker 1: Stunt performers are the unsung heroes of movies, but few of them can afford health insurance.Speaker 2: We need to create tougher laws to protect same-sex couples from discrimination.Speaker 3: New zoning laws are making it difficult for building contractors to make a living.Speaker 4: The warning labels on medications are too hard to read, even for people with good vision.Which speaker most likely represents a public interest group?
- A.
  Speaker 4
- B.
  Speaker 3
- C.
  Speaker 2
- D.
  Speaker 1
13.

Which option best completes the diagram?
- A.
  New regulations in the 1970s and 1980s made it easier for citizens to communicate with government officials
- B.
  The prosperity of the 1960s made people look more closely at how their government could serve them
- C.
  The government's quick response to the needs of movements in the 1960s inspired other groups to make their needs known
- D.
  Groups fighting for equal rights and other causes felt that political parties were not meeting their needs
14.
What is one way the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act affects lobbying in the United States?
- A.
  It prohibits lobbyists from giving gifts to legislators.
- B.
  It limits the number of public interest groups each lobbyist can represent
- C.
  It allows experienced lobbyists to avoid reporting their activities, pay, and expenses to Congress
- D.
  It shortens the time former members of Congress must wait before becoming lobbyists
15.
Which statement about lobbyists is most accurate?
- A.
  Lobbyists focus on regulating the activities of the judicial branch
- B.
  Lobbyists represent individuals and organizations on issues that major political parties might not address
- C.
  Lobbyists represent the concerns of individual citizens at the federal level only
- D.
  
  Lobbyists avoid building close relationships with lawmakers
16.
What is one example of how interest groups often work to shape policy through the courts?
- A.
  Paying legal fees for people who file lawsuits that align with the group's goals
- B.
  Lobbying judges while a case is being heard
- C.
  Bribing lawyers to represent one side less effectively
- D.
  Ensuring that decisions cannot be appealed to the Supreme Court
17.
Read this scenario:A group of immigrant farmworkers forms an interest group to argue for workers' rights in their state. They cannot afford an experienced lobbyist, however, and are unable to secure meetings with important lawmakers.Which negative aspect of interest groups does the scenario illustrate?
- A.
  Resorting to unethical tactics
- B.
  Focusing only on group members' goals
- C.
  Supporting candidates who may not be the best choice for a position
- D.
  Lacking power without funding
18.
Which statement about political action committees (PACs) is true?
- A.
  PACs raise money to provide services like health care for an interest group's members
- B.
  Most PACs associated with interest groups can only collect funds from group members
- C.
  PACs are not permitted to finance media campaigns
- D.
  PACs must donate at least $5,000 to a candidate they want to support
19.
What is the primary goal of interest groups?
- A.
  Developing new methods of charging interest
- B.
  Ensuring that the group's beliefs are represented in public policy
- C.
  Encouraging the regulation of political action committees
- D.
  Informing the American public about candidates for office
20.
Read this scenario:An interest group has gathered a number of local bicyclists, many of whom have never bothered to vote before. By working together, they are able to lobby the city government to add more bike lanes to downtown streets.Which positive function of interest groups does the scenario describe?
- A.
  Serving as watchdogs to prevent government corruption
- B.
  Inspiring political participation
- C.
  Informing the general public about issues
- D.
  Raising money to support candidates
21.
A news website decides it will not cover a candidate's charitable work, instead reporting on his recent votes to cut funding for education. What method of shaping public opinion does this represent?
- A.
  Direct argument
- B.
  Focus
- C.
  Word choice
- D.
  Imagery
22.
Which scenario is an example of social media influencing mainstream media content?
- A.
  A teacher calls a television station to tell its reporters about a protest at the capitol against low wages; the event receives widespread television coverage
- B.
  A restaurant server uses Twitter to promote safer shoes for food service workers; the hazard she points out is later covered on the nightly news
- C.
  A woman uses Twitter to start a conversation about the best restaurants in town, and later adds the information to a guide she's writing
- D.
  A man uses a popular photo-sharing site to display his images of a polluted river, which he photographed after he read a newspaper article on the pollution
23.
Which statement about opinion polls is most accurate?
- A.
  Public opinion polls usually focus on issues rather than on candidates
- B.
  Opinion polls do not provide additional material for election coverage
- C.
  Opinion polls can influence how citizens vote
- D.
  Opinion polls are rarely conducted about political topics
24.
Which statement about how mass media have changed over time is most accurate?
- A.
  The popularity of the web has reduced the readership of print media
- B.
  Print media remain the most relevant source of political information
- C.
  Mass media have historically allowed all citizens to express their opinions about politics
- D.
  Radio has expanded over time to reach a very large audience
25.
Features of _____ AdvantagesDisadvantages
- Is visually engaging
- Plays a major role in political conversation
- Influences the public agenda
- Is controlled by media executives
- Allows little participation by everyday citizens
Which kind of media best completes the title of the graphic?
- A.
  Online media
- B.
  Print media
- C.
  Television
- D.
  Radio

Why are political parties needed in a democracy?

Parties form and run governments 5. Shape public opinions 6. Access to government machinery and welfare schemes. Necessity: We can't think of democracy without political parties and their roles – Elected representatives are responsible, accountable, and legitimate to the needs of the people.

Is Australia a two party system?

Technically, Australia does not have a two-party system as there are currently 3 major parties involved in government and opposition. One is a coalition (partnership) of the Liberal Party of Australia and The Nationals and the other is Australian Labor Party.