1. AP Government Review Unit 3: Linkage Institutions
Chapters: “Elections and Campaigns”, “Political Parties”, “Interest Groups” and “Mass Media”
AP Government Review Unit 3: Linkage Institutions

2. Sample Questions
Presidential and congressional races differ in all of the following ways EXCEPT
Presidential races are more competitive than races for the House of Representatives
A much smaller proportion of people vote in congressional races in nonpresidential election years
Members of Congress can get credit for the constituent service they provide
Candidates for Congress can disassociate themselves from what is going on in Washington D.C.
Congressional elections receive more national funding than Presidential elections

3. Sample Questions
How does federal law restrict fund-raising for presidential campaigns? (Pick all that apply)
Individual contributions are limited to $2,000
PAC contributions are limited to $5,000
Federal matching funds are available to candidates who raise $5,000, in individual contributions of $250 or less, in twenty states
Candidates are limited to $2,000 spending in their own personal funds

4. Sample Questions
Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the impact of party identification on voting behavior?
Party identification is only one factor in choosing a candidate
Only a third of the electorate identifies with one of the major parties
Party identification plays a key role in voting choices
Party identification plays a key role in deciding whether or not to vote
Independent voters are more likely to strongly favor one candidate over another

5. Sample Questions
Which of the following best describes those who vote in primary elections?
Voters from both parties who tend to be moderate in their beliefs
Democrats who tend to be more conservative in their beliefs
Republicans who tend to be more liberal in their beliefs
Voters in both parties who tend to be more active in party politics
Those who vote in primaries suffer from voter fatigue and are less likely to vote in the general election.

6. Sample Questions
Which of the following is the best example of gerrymandering?
Drawing a congressional district boundary down a narrow strip of highway no wider than six blocks
Drawing boundaries so that districts are of very unequal size
Drawing boundaries to allow fair and equal representation of voters
Crating a new district to reapportion seats following a census
Eliminating an existing district to reapportion seats following a census

7. Sample Questions
How do American political parties compare with political parties in Europe?
American parties are stronger and have more loyal members
American parties are more centralized, with more control by the national party organizations
Because of federalism, American political parties are decentralized with significant power at the state and local levels
For the past three decades, the party that controls Congress has usually controlled the Presidency
National law regulates European parties heavily

8. Sample Questions
All of the following characterize a period of critical realignment EXCEPT
A sharp and lasting shift in the coalitions supporting the political parties
A series of crises, resulting in a reaction against the two major parties
The major defeat of a party, with another party taking its place
When a new issue of importance to voters cuts across existing party divisions
When voters become apathetic and turnout falls below 50 percent

9. Sample Questions
The proportion of people identifying themselves with a political party declined between 1960 and One of the reasons for this is
Decentralization of the party organizations
Split-ticket voting
Less media coverage of elections and campaigns
The realignment of coalitions
A decrease in the number of people identifying themselves as independents

10. Sample Questions
Which of the following features have encouraged the development of a two party system in the United States (pick all that apply)
The plurality system of voting, where a candidate need not win a majority of votes to win an elections
The winner-take-all feature of the electoral college
The numerous state and local elections because of federalism
The fact that the House of Representatives is based upon a state’s population

11. Sample Questions
All of the following statements accurately describe American political parties EXCEPT
They sponsor candidates for political office
They influence the actions of government officials
They designate people to represent the organization
They link people with government
They adopt very similar policies in their platforms

12. Sample Questions
All of the following explain the proliferation of interest groups EXCEPT
America is diverse, with countless immigrants, races, and religions
Because of its federal system, there are multiple points of access to government
Political authority is shared by several branches of government, each of which might be targeted by interest groups
Interest groups often run candidates for office to give their supporters a voice in government
Political parties are relatively weak, which helps explain the strength and number of interest groups

13. Sample Questions
Why are lobbyists useful to members of Congress in considering legislation?
Because most lobbyists are lawyers and can draft bills using technical legal language
Because lobbyists have bigger research staffs than members of Congress
Because lobbyists are policy generalists who have knowledge about a broad range of topics
Because members of Congress must listen to lobbyists in order to get electoral support
Because members of Congress are policy generalists and lobbyists are policy specialists with expert knowledge in their area

14. Sample Questions
An interest group would use grassroots lobbying on all of the following EXCEPT
Abortion
Medicare
Social Security
Complex corporate tax legislation
Affirmative action

15. Sample Questions Interest groups do all of the following EXCEPT
Hire lobbyists to represent them in talking with members of Congress
Attempt to influence the government to enact policies they favor
Run candidates for state and federal office
Educate the public about issues
Monitor the activities of government

16. Sample Questions
All of the following statements about political action committees are true EXCEPT
They are formed by groups of like-minded people
They must have at least 50 individual members
They can give an unlimited amount of soft money to political parties
PAC contributions to individual candidates are limited to $5,000
Labor PACs give most of their money to democrats

17. Sample Questions
All of the following are examples of horse-race journalism EXCEPT
Which candidate is ahead in the polls
Which candidate is raising the most money
Which candidate opposed off-shore drilling
Which candidate had the most TV ads
Which candidate received a celebrity endorsement

18. Sample Questions
The internet has affected politics in all of the following ways EXCEPT
It makes it easier to raise money in small donations
It makes it easier to organize people to attend meetings
It makes it easier for campaigns to identify the names of people they should contact
It makes it easier for a candidate to disseminate negative information about an opponent
It contains less biased and more detailed information than the newspapers

19. Sample Questions
How does the American media differ from media in most other countries?
Almost all American radio and television stations are privately owned
The United States government has little power to regulate broadcasters
The United States has very strict libel laws, and untruths about public officials usually result in fines
Most other countries have a Freedom of Information Act
Because of federal grants and special funding, the media in the United States do not have to worry about making a profit

20. Sample Questions
When Gary Hart was caught in a sex scandal in the 1987 Presidential race that is an example of the media’s role as
A gatekeeper
A scorekeeper
A reporter who covers important facts in an unbiased manner
A referee who balances coverage of all candidates
A watchdog

21. Key Vocabulary 527 organizations Caucus Federal Election Commission
General election
Gerrymandering
Incumbency
Independent expenditures
Malapportionment
Party relaignmnet

22. Key Vocabulary Political Action Committees (PACs) Position issues
Primary election
Soft money
Spots
Party coalitions
Valence issues
Visuals
Divided government

23. Key Vocabulary Economic-protest party Factional party
Ideological party
Jacksonian Democrats
Minor party
Nominating convention
One-issue party
Plurality system
Political machines

24. Key Vocabulary Political party Republicans Solidarity party
Split ticket
Sponsored party
Superdelegates
Third party
Two-party system
Winner-take-all system

25. Key Vocabulary Direct mail Grassroots lobbying Institutional interests
Interest groups
Lobbyist
Membership interests
Social movement
Unions
Adversarial press

26. Key Vocabulary Attack journalism Feature stories
Federal Communications Commission
Insider stories
National media
Party press
Popular press
Sound bite
Trial balloon