Study Guide for Exam 2-three pages long
44 multiple choice questions worth 1 point each and probably a couple of extra
credit problems.
Bring a pencil with you to the exam.
MATERIAL ON THE TEST
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
Harward book, The 2012 Election
SIMULATIONS 11, 14, 13
CHAPTER 6
* Know all terms on p. 211 (terms and corresponding page numbers listed). These
are the key terms that are defined in the margins of the chapter pages.
* General questions:
1. How do pollsters try to achieve accuracy in polls? Why did the Literary Digest poll
mis-predict the 1936 election? (pp. 192-193)
2. What are some criticisms of polls? Do politicians pander to the results of polls
(follow them, rather than leading)? (pp. 193-194)
3. Do Americans think in ideological terms? 4. What do the authors have to say
about public attitudes toward the scope of government? (pp. 201-202, 208)
CHAPTER 9
* Know all terms on p. 309 (terms and corresponding page numbers listed)
* General questions:
1. What are some criticisms, presented by the authors, that are made with regard to
primaries and caucuses? (pp. 280-282)
2. What are the main loopholes that exist with regard to campaign donations? (By
this I mean how do individuals manage to make donations to groups that go far
beyond the numerical limits of the Federal Election Campaign Act)? I won’t ask you
the difference between a 527 group and a 501© group, but you should know what
these groups do and that they are not subject to contribution limits. And while I
won’t ask you to identify the Citizens United court case by name, you should know
what the Court decided in this case. (pp. 289-290).
3. What is the impact of campaigns on voters, according to the authors? (p. 292).
4. Why is turnout in the U.S. lower than other countries? (page 295).
5. How do different personal characteristics such as education, age, race and
ethnicity, etc., affect whether people turn out to vote? (pp. 296-298)
6. How easy is it nowadays for voters to engage in “policy voting” today? (p. 300)
7. How do campaigns affect the “scope of government”? (p. 307)
CHAPTER 8
* Know all terms on p. 270 (terms and corresponding page numbers listed)
* General questions
1. What does Downs (the “Downs model” in Figure 8.1 on page 249) say political
parties will do to win office? (pp. 248-250)
2. You should know the five “party eras” discussed by the authors- who was in
power during each era and what interests/constituents they represented (i.e. who
was in their “coalitions”). For example, during the first party system, the Federalists
were more the party of the “capitalists” while the Democratic-Republicans
represented agrarian interests. The New Deal coalition included labor unions,
Catholics, Jews, Southerners, etc.
3. Today, which groups are more likely to support the Democrats and which are
more likely to support the Republicans? (p. 260, Figure 8.3).
4. How does the structure of American political parties affect the “scope of
government” in America? (pp. 267-268)
CHAPTER 10
* Know all terms on p. 337 (terms and corresponding page numbers listed)
*General questions:
1. How do lobbyists help members of Congress? Can lobbying persuade legislators
to support or oppose certain policies? (pp. 323-325)
2. How do interest groups affect the “scope of government”? (p. 335).
CHAPTER 11
* Know all terms on p. 373 (terms and corresponding page numbers listed)
* General questions:
1. What are the advantages of incumbency? (pp. 346-349)
2. What are some limits on Congressional oversight (why is it not as effective as it
might be?). (pp. 357-358)
3. What trend can be observed in polarization in Congress in recent decades? And
why do the authors suggest this occurred? (pp. 365-366)
4. How does Congress affect the scope of government?
Questions on Harward book and Simulations –go to next page
HARWARD BOOK (THE 2012 ELECTION)
What were the foreign policy successes of Obama that factored into his successful
campaign for reelection? (p. 7)
What is the invisible primary? (know the definition and why the author thinks it
matters). p. 10
How did Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan help him, according to the author? P. 15
What advantages did Obama campaign have during the general election campaign in
the battleground states? Which groups did Obama succeed in reaching out to that
don’t typically turn out at high rates? P. 18-19
What does the author say were the effects of the debates, particularly the first one?
P. 20-22.
What advantages did Obama have going into the general election with regard to
“political conditions” and how did organizing efforts and demographics matter? (pp,
24-28).
SIMULATIONS
Simulation 11 – Poling Consultant
What are some factors that contribute to making a poll accurate? What can
contribute to making it inaccurate? (page 2 of simulation, where it says “Scientific
Survey”).
Simulation 14 – Voting Registration Volunteer
How do various factors such as level of education and gender affect turnout? (page 2
of simulation)
What are some changes that might be made to increase turnout in the U.S., making it
closer to the levels in other countries? (page 13 of simulation)
Simulation 13 – Campaign Strategist
What are some incumbent advantages? (page 2 of simulation)
Should the candidate run a negative ad? (page 9 of simulation).