PSC 101 Exam 3 Questions With All
Correct & Verified Answers
margin of error Correct answer-a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll
random selection Correct answer-A way of ensuring that a sample of people is representative of a
population by giving everyone in the population an equal chance of being selected for the sample
interest group Correct answer-a group of people with common goals who organize to influence
government
inside lobbying Correct answer-Direct communication between organized interests and
policymakers, which is based on the assumed value of close ("inside") contacts with policymakers.
outside lobbying Correct answer-the act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization's message
to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the
public will then put pressure on lawmakers
Pluralism Correct answer-A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing
groups can check the asserted power by any one group.
selective incentives Correct answer-Benefits that can motivate participation in a group effort
because they are available only to those who participate, such as member services offered by
interest groups.
social movement Correct answer-A movement that represents the demands of a large segment of
the public for political, economic, or social change.
Duverger's Law Correct answer-Law of politics, formalized by Maurice Duverger, stating that
plurality-rule electoral systems will tend to have two political parties
party identification Correct answer-a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
political machine Correct answer-A party organization that recruits voter loyalty with tangible
incentives and is characterized by a high degree of control over member activity
political party Correct answer-a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office
smoke-filled room Correct answer-a situation in which party elites make important decisions away
from the scrutiny or influence of party membership
primary election Correct answer-an election held to choose candidates for office
mass media Correct answer-Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other
means of popular communication.
infortainment Correct answer-The blurred line between news and entertainment
responsible parties Correct answer-parties that take responsibility for offering the electorate a
distinct range of policies and programs, thus providing a clear choice
, party amateur Correct answer-an issue activist who is mostly interested in specific policy areas and
works for the party, or for the specific politicians within the party, to advance these goals
Parties as Institutions Correct answer--parties comprise networks of politicians, activists, interest
groups, donors, consultants, and voters
-parties recruit candidates to run for office and organize caucuses, primary elections, and
conventions to select a candidate to compete against the other party's candidate
-parties raise money and perform other activities on behalf of their members in congress and in state
legislatures
party image Correct answer-what voters know or think they know about what each party stands
for.
issue ownership Correct answer-The theory that voters associate certain issues or issue positions
with certain parties (like Democrats and support for government-provided health insurance).
The party national committees Correct answer-keep party operating between conventions
national party convention Correct answer-A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries,
caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for
president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.
thrid parties Correct answer-have never won a presidental elections but they can influence the out
come
mass associations Correct answer-interest groups that have a large number of due-paying
individuals as members
open primary Correct answer-Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.
closed primary Correct answer-a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered
party members
Non-attitudes Correct answer-a lack of opinion on an issue, or an opinion so weakly held that it
does not enter into a person's calculations about voting or taking some other political action, even
though the person may express an opinion to a pollster
Media Correct answer-various methods for communicating information
Population Correct answer-A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the
same area
public opinion Correct answer-how people think or feel about particular things
predisposition Correct answer-tendency, inclination
public-interst lobby Correct answer-a political organization whose goals will principally benefit
nonmembers
Correct & Verified Answers
margin of error Correct answer-a measure of the accuracy of a public opinion poll
random selection Correct answer-A way of ensuring that a sample of people is representative of a
population by giving everyone in the population an equal chance of being selected for the sample
interest group Correct answer-a group of people with common goals who organize to influence
government
inside lobbying Correct answer-Direct communication between organized interests and
policymakers, which is based on the assumed value of close ("inside") contacts with policymakers.
outside lobbying Correct answer-the act of lobbying indirectly by taking the organization's message
to the public, often through the use of the media and/or by issue press releases, in hopes that the
public will then put pressure on lawmakers
Pluralism Correct answer-A theory of government that holds that open, multiple, and competing
groups can check the asserted power by any one group.
selective incentives Correct answer-Benefits that can motivate participation in a group effort
because they are available only to those who participate, such as member services offered by
interest groups.
social movement Correct answer-A movement that represents the demands of a large segment of
the public for political, economic, or social change.
Duverger's Law Correct answer-Law of politics, formalized by Maurice Duverger, stating that
plurality-rule electoral systems will tend to have two political parties
party identification Correct answer-a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
political machine Correct answer-A party organization that recruits voter loyalty with tangible
incentives and is characterized by a high degree of control over member activity
political party Correct answer-a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office
smoke-filled room Correct answer-a situation in which party elites make important decisions away
from the scrutiny or influence of party membership
primary election Correct answer-an election held to choose candidates for office
mass media Correct answer-Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other
means of popular communication.
infortainment Correct answer-The blurred line between news and entertainment
responsible parties Correct answer-parties that take responsibility for offering the electorate a
distinct range of policies and programs, thus providing a clear choice
, party amateur Correct answer-an issue activist who is mostly interested in specific policy areas and
works for the party, or for the specific politicians within the party, to advance these goals
Parties as Institutions Correct answer--parties comprise networks of politicians, activists, interest
groups, donors, consultants, and voters
-parties recruit candidates to run for office and organize caucuses, primary elections, and
conventions to select a candidate to compete against the other party's candidate
-parties raise money and perform other activities on behalf of their members in congress and in state
legislatures
party image Correct answer-what voters know or think they know about what each party stands
for.
issue ownership Correct answer-The theory that voters associate certain issues or issue positions
with certain parties (like Democrats and support for government-provided health insurance).
The party national committees Correct answer-keep party operating between conventions
national party convention Correct answer-A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries,
caucuses, or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for
president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, and adopt rules.
thrid parties Correct answer-have never won a presidental elections but they can influence the out
come
mass associations Correct answer-interest groups that have a large number of due-paying
individuals as members
open primary Correct answer-Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.
closed primary Correct answer-a primary election in which voting is limited to already registered
party members
Non-attitudes Correct answer-a lack of opinion on an issue, or an opinion so weakly held that it
does not enter into a person's calculations about voting or taking some other political action, even
though the person may express an opinion to a pollster
Media Correct answer-various methods for communicating information
Population Correct answer-A group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the
same area
public opinion Correct answer-how people think or feel about particular things
predisposition Correct answer-tendency, inclination
public-interst lobby Correct answer-a political organization whose goals will principally benefit
nonmembers
