GOVT 2301
Summer 2003
Study Guide – Exam #4
ESSAY QUESTIONS. Answer the following questions in a thorough essay (separate
essay for each question). Organize your essay(s) around a thesis statement. Include
an introduction, separate paragraphs developing your supporting arguments, and a
conclusion. A complete answer is one that addresses all parts of the question. Write
complete sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do
NOT assume that “the instructor will know what you mean.”
1. Discuss the process of political socialization. In your discussion, define political
socialization and distinguish the two “levels” of socialization (“macro” and “micro”).
What are the major agents of political socialization in American society? Discuss
how each works to shape political knowledge and values. What does “direct value
transfer” mean? What does “indirect value transfer” mean? What are some
examples of each?
2. Discuss four trends in public opinion that have been revealed by public opinion
research over the last 40 years or so. What contradictions, if any, exist among these
trends?
3. Discuss the role of political parties in modern democracies. What are the basic goals
or purposes of political parties? What are the four major premises of the model of
“responsible party government?” Does the model accurately describe the realities of
the American party system? Explain.
4. Discuss the “direct primary” as a means for nominating candidates for public office.
What are the three types of primaries? Why did primaries become the prominent
method of nominating party candidates? What is a caucus? What are the threats of
the direct primary to party organizations?
5. Why did the framers of the Constitution establish the Electoral College? What two
mistakes did the framers make? Explain. Discuss the constitutional requirements to
be elected president. What is the significance of the 12th Amendment? What is the
‘unit rule?’ Why is the ‘unit rule’ important? Identify two common criticisms of the
Electoral College. Identify arguments in defense. Are these criticisms valid?
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS. Answer the following questions in a paragraph (a
separate paragraph for each question). Do NOT answer specific parts as separate
items. Integrate your responses into a well-organized, well-constructed paragraph.
A complete answer is one that addresses all parts of the question. Write complete
sentences and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and word choice. Do NOT assume
that “the instructor will know what you mean.”
1. What is “diffuse support?” How might a political system generate diffuse support? Provide
examples to illustrate your points.
2. Distinguish between hegemonic and systems theories of value transfer.
3. Define public opinion. Why is it important be use a very precise definition of public opinion?
4. Identify the three distinct publics that are apparent on any given issue. Which of these is most
important in understanding the relationship between public opinion and public policy?
5. What specific types of mobilizible publics are active in American politics? Define and give
examples of each.
6. Identify and discuss the several characteristics of public opinion that may influence a response
of government.
7. List and discuss the traditional functions of the two major parties in the United States.
8. Discuss four explanations for two-partyism in the United States.
9. Identify factors that have contributed to the decline of the American party system.
10. Describe the election of the president, from the nomination process to the general election.
11. How is the number of total electoral votes determined? How is the number of electoral votes
awarded to each state determined?
12. What is a PAC (political action committee)? What role do PACs play in the political process?
How have PACs contributed to the decline of the political parties?
13. What is an “independent” PAC? Why have independent PACs become so significant in
political campaigns?
14. What is “public financing?” The advocates of public financing view this reform as a
constitutional way to fix what they view as an ethical problem with current campaign finance
practices: why? How likely is “public financing” for congressional elections to be enacted by
Congress? Why?
15. In recent years, the increasing and extensive use of “soft money” to fund elections has been
widely criticized as a “corrupting” influence in the election process. How can “soft money”
contributions be defended? Explain.
16. What is the significance of Buckley v Valeo (1976)? Which provision of the Constitution did
the Supreme Court believe the law violated? Briefly explain the Court’s reasoning. How
might the Court’s decision in Buckley v Valeo give an advantage to independently wealthy
candidates?
IDENTIFICATION ITEMS. Define and identify the importance of the following
items. These items can generally be answered in two or three sentences.
Students should go beyond simple definitions of the terms or concepts to say why
each is important. It is possible that two terms may be paired in identification
items. Your answer should be written to demonstrate your familiarity with and
understanding of both terms or concepts in each pair. In this case, you should
explain why the two are juxtaposed.
[These columns are not necessarily intended to represent pairs of terms that might be
juxtaposed on the exam.]
-diffuse support
-systems theory
-direct value transfer
-primacy principle
-apathetic public
-mobilizible public
-organizational public
-distribution
-stability
-salience
-political efficacy
-divided party government
-“umbrella parties”
-Federalist Party
-Democratic-Republican Party
-Whig Party
-Republican Party
-proportional representation
-plurality elections
-split-ticket voter
-prospective voting
-realignment
-closed primary
-blanket primary
-pluralism
-12th Amendment
-PAC
-“soft money”
-public financing
-hegemonic theory
-political socialization
-indirect value transfer
-structuring principle
-attentive public
-single-issue public
-ideological public
-intensity
-latency
-valence issues
-political trust
-critical election
-party “bosses”
-Jeffersonian Republicans
-National-Republican Party
-Democratic Party
-parliamentary system
-single-member districts
-maverick
-independent voter
-retrospective voting
-dealignment
-open primary
-platform
-unit rule
-“faithless elector”
-independent PAC
-independent expenditure
-BUCKLEY V VALEO