Unit 3 Study Guide
  1. List the times when the two major parties realigned due to division. (Hint: there are 4 times)

  1. Why did African American voters support Republicans prior to 1932?

  1. How are the voter bases for Republicans and Democrats different today?

  1. What is the role of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

  1. What is a splinter party? Give some examples.

  1. What is the Democrat Party platform?

  1. What is the Republican Party platform?

  1. What is the role of local party organizations?

  1. Why do third parties do poorly in American national elections?

  1. What are superdelegates? When did they come about?

  1. What is an open primary? What is a closed primary?

  1. What is the first primary election that takes place in the United States during presidential elections?

  1. What is the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act?

  1. Explain how a debate can affect a candidate positively. Negatively.

  1. What is the most expensive type of campaign strategy in the United States?

  1. What are incumbents? What is the advantage of being an incumbent?

  1. How does a candidate win the presidential election? Hint: What political body is involved in the presidential election?

  1. What is front-loading in regards to elections?

  1. What type of interest groups do most Political Actions Committees (PACs) represent?

  1. How are interest groups regulated?

  1. Which interest group has the most influence? Which has the most members?

  1. What are purposive incentives? Material incentives?

  1. What is an amicus curiae brief? What is their purpose?

  1. What is grassroot lobbying?

  1. Name the reasons that interests groups have grown during the 20th century.

  1. What did Ralph Nader advocate regarding interest groups?

  1. What is access in regards to interest groups?

  1. Who influenced the first generation of newspapers in the United States?

  1. What was the significance of New York Times v United States?

  1. What is the role of media as a scorekeeper, watchdog, and gatekeeper?

  1. What are shield laws in regards to the press?

  1. What media entities are funded by Congress?

  1. What is yellow journalism?

  1. How has the media been criticized in the last 10 years?

  1. What is the significance of New York Times v Sullivan?

  1. What are linkage institutions?