GOVT 2301 Exam 3 Review

Fall 2010

The exam will consist of 55 multiple choice questions. Keep in mind that you will have only 50
minutes to complete it. Therefore, be on time to class—we will start as soon as the clock strikes
11:30. The questions are distributed evenly across the assigned chapters and lectures and
include questions based on readings from Readings in American Politics (RAP on the syllabus).
To give you some sense of the types of questions I will ask there are examples listed below based
on the type of question. In this exam I will focus more on factual question than I have in past
exams.

Michelle will hold an on-line review session, which you can access via the eLearning chat tab, on
Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. where she will be available to answer questions you have
about the material as well as provide you with additional example questions.

Below is some summary information on the various party systems in the U.S. and the
information about them that I would like you to focus on:

First Federalist Jeffersonian-Republicans

Mercantilism, tariffs, assumption of
agrarian interests, free trade, alliance
1790-1830s Rev. War debts, creation of national
with France
bank, resumption oties with England
Associated Politicians Adams, Hamilton Jefferson, Jackson
Second Whigs Democrats
favored merchants, popular in
1830s-1860 agrarian interests, popular in South
Northeast
Associated Politicians None None
Third Republicans Democrats

abolition of slavery, free trade, maintenance of slave sysem, tariffs to

1860-1896 protect agriculture; support mainly in
support primarily in North
South
Associated Politicians Lincoln None
Fourth Republicans Democrats

business interests (particularly

power only in the South and West,
corporate and railroad), want
1896-1932 favor agrarian interests; minority party
minimal gov. reg of business and low
status
taxes; Republicans are dominant

Associated Politicians Theodore Roosevelt

Fifth Republicans Democrats

New Deal policies to recover from

offer little effective opposition; hold Great Depression (heavy gov.
1932-1968 almost no sway in national politics intervention in economy); rely heavily
until 1968 on union members and religious and
racial minorities for support
 Associated Politicians Franklin Roosevelt
Sixth Republicans Democrats
split Dem coalition on racial issues;
favor fewer rights for political struggle to hold Southern voters in
1968-present (?) minorities; smaller government and coalition; favor some continuation of
reduced taxation; religious voters New Deal policies
added by Reagan
Associated Politicians Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon

The above chart is meant only as a guide. I expect you to be familiar with the issue in each party
system, regardless of whether I have listed them here or not.

Factual

Public opinion
a. sets the standard by which governmental conduct is measured.
b. judges the value of public policies.
c. measures the virtue of political figures.
d. all of the above.
Answer: D

Applied

The main problem with voting as a form of political participation is

a. that citizens cannot communicate very much information by only casting a ballot.
b. that the electoral system is rigged to favor the status quo.
c. that voting is a form of political participation that requires the most time and
commitment.
d. all of the above.
Answer: A

Conceptual

Which statement is correct?

a. National news reporters, as opposed to local reporters with less access, are
generally more favorable toward politicians.
b. More local news broadcasters than national reporters are usually critical of
politicians.
c. More local news reporters than national reporters are inclined to give politicians
positive coverage.
d. Studies have indicated that in the past decade there is little difference in coverage
provided by both local and national reporters.
Answer: C