Unit 3 Study Guide Answers American Government Unit 3 Study Guide Answers

Questions to Consider What are the major functions of political parties? Political Parties are a vital link between people and their government. Nominating candidates, selecting candidates, presenting them to voters, helping the candidates win elections 2. What are the two major parties in the US today? Democratic Party and Republican Party 3. How do parties out of power act as a watchdog? What does that mean? They watch what the other party does and criticize it. Watchdog means that the party that is out of power observes the party that is in power.

Questions to Consider Cont. 4. What are the four types of minor parties in the US? Describe and give and example of each. (pp. 455-456) (Unit 3, Notes 2) Single-issue party – focuses exclusively on one major social, economic, or moral issue. Ex. Liberty and Free Soil Party Ideological party – focuses on overall change in society rather than on an issue. Ex. Socialist Labor Party and the Communist Party USA Splinter Party – splits away from one of the major parties because of some sort of disagreement. Ex. Progressive or Bull Moose Party Economic Protest Party - tend to form in periods of economic problems. No clear-cut political ideology, usually angry at present situation. Ex. Populist Party 5. Describe the Federalist Party. Who were the Jeffersonians and what did they believe in? Federalist – first to appear, formed around Alexander Hamilton, supported Constitution, wanted stronger national government, liberal (loose) interpretation of Constitution. Jeffersonians - (Anti-Feds) led by Thomas Jefferson, wanted very limited role of gov., congress should dominate gov., favored “common man”, strict interpretation Constitution.

Questions to Consider Cont. 6. Why are minor parties important? What purpose do they serve? Many times a 3rd party (minor) in elections plays role of “spoiler”. It pulls votes away from one of the major parties – Green Party in 2000. Not afraid to take controversial stands on issues, bring many important points to light – women’s suffrage 7. What is a splinter party? (p455) A party that splits away from one of the major parties because of some sort of disagreement. Most notable was the Progressive or Bull Moose Party in 1912.

Questions to Consider Cont. 8. What are the five stages of expanding suffrage to American citizens? Describe and have examples of each. What amendments were involved in these changes? (notes 3) 1) Early 1800s ended any religious test to vote Had been in place during colonial days After that, states began eliminating qualifications property ownership, and tax payment 2) 15th Amendment allowed African American to vote Said no citizen can be denied right to vote because of race or color Still prevented from voting by individual state laws created to get around this 3) 19th Amendment – can not be prevented from voting because of sex 4) Voting Rights Act of 1965 – African Americans allowed to vote a. 23rd Amendment – gave D.C. votes in Presidential electorate b. 24th Amendment – eliminated poll tax 5) 26th Amendment – no state can set minimum voting age at more than 18. a. States still allowed power to set voter qualifications

Questions to Consider Cont. 9. Why were literacy tests required of some to vote? What was a grandfather clause? Was used to make sure voter could cast informed ballots Used unfairly to keep African Americans and Native Americans from voting Many white people asked to “understand” short passages from constitution African Americans given long, highly complex passages The grandfather clause stated that a man or his male descendants who had voted before 15th Amendment could legally vote without passing literacy test   10. What was the Voting Rights Act of 1965? Why did it finally make the 15th Amendment effective? Finally made 15th Amendment actually effective Applied to all elections, federal, state, local Only for 5 years but congress had extended it each time No more use of literacy test or similar device Gave federal officers right to oversee voting in some areas

Questions to Consider Cont. 11. What is gerrymandering? drawing electoral district line to limit voting strength of particular party 12. In what election years do most people vote? Why? Presidential elections. They believe that their vote will matter more in these elections rather than in congressional elections, and the people simply care more about these elections. 13. What is ballot fatigue? As a general rule, the farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast

Questions to Consider Cont. 14. Explain the different type of voters. Non-voting voters, Can not voters, etc. Non-voting voters – Persons who voted in last presidential election could also have voted for a congressional candidate but they did not choose to Can not voters – Persons who are regularly defined as nonvoters. They don’t vote, but they actually cannot do so Some of these people are resident aliens They are barred from the polls in every state Others may be sick or disabled Other reasons include mental condition, prison or religious beliefs

Questions to Consider Cont. 15. What characteristics are usually found in voters? Non-voters? Voters – most likely to vote display characteristics as higher levels of income, education and occupational status. They tend to be long-time residents who are active in or comfortable with their surroundings. They are also more likely to have strong sense of party identification and believe that voting is an important act Non-voters - Nonvoters likely to be younger than 35, unmarried, unskilled. They are more in the South and rural areas.

Questions to Consider Cont. 16. What characteristics are usually found in Democrats? Republicans? Democrats –voters in lower income brackets. Women. Younger voters. Catholic, Jewish, African Americans, and Latinos. Republican – voters in higher income brackets. Professional and business people. Men, and Protestants. 17. What do most children pick up from their parents regarding politics? Public opinions, political socializations, attitudes toward government, race, and religion. 18. What are the four major types of mass media? How do they rank in terms of importance? Television Newspaper Radio Magazines

Questions to Consider Cont. 19. Know characteristics of each type of mass media. 20. Who was that first to use the radio for political purposes? FDR – Franklin Delano Roosevelt 21. In what two areas does the media influence politics? How? Sets the public agenda – as they report and talk the media determines what issues people will think and talk about. - can focus the public attention on certain issues. 2.) Electoral Policies – candidates are less dependent on their party to get their word out. - with TV, candidates can appeal directly to the people - politicians are very aware of the image the media presents - candidates plan things around TV exposure (Ex: timing, location, what they wear)