Political Science

Test 2

Question 1• What is the primary impact upon

democratic institutions and elected officials of the political culture’s fixation with polls and polling?

It has made these American counterparts more like unstable parliamentary

institutions in that the elected officials are not free to decide what to do and

eventually held accountable.

Question 2• Definition: A president’s standing with

the public, indicated by the percentage of Americans who tell survey interviewers that they approve a president’s “handling of his job.”

presidential approval rating

Question 3• What was different about journalist’s

relationship with the military in Vietnam?

They were independent and allowed to view battles first-

hand and photograph it.

Question 4• What primary role does the media

serve in a democratic republic like ours?

Their duty is to inform the people so they can make

informed democratic decisions.

Question 5• What was unique about the War in

Vietnam?

It was the first time that the American public saw war’s carnage on a daily basis on

television.

Question 6• Definition: Sensational newspaper

stories with large headlines and, in some cases, color cartoons.

yellow journalism

Question 7• The First Amendment of the

Constitution says what about the press (that is, journalism)?

Gives broad protection from any form of government

interference with the press.

Question 8• According to the text, Struggle for

Democracy, studies show that what appears in the media has what impact upon the general population which comprise the electorate?

Profoundly influences how people think about politics

Question 9• Definition: Political attitudes and

beliefs expressed by ordinary citizens.

public opinion

Question 10• Definition: The selection of survey

respondents by chance, with equal probability, to ensure their representativeness of the whole population.

random sampling

Question 11• According to the authors of Struggle

for Democracy, the most important factor in constructing an accurate poll or survey is that....

the sample of people interviewed must be representative of the population being measured

Question 12

• Definition: A system of interrelated attitudes and beliefs.

ideology

Question 13• Definition: The stance toward foreign

policy that suggest that the United States should “go it alone,” pursuing its national interests without seeking the cooperation of other nations or multilateral institutions.

unilateralist

Question 14• What error in calculation did General

MacArthur in his dealings with President Truman?

He believed that Truman would be intimidated by the General’s

stature as war hero.

Question 15

• What was the most televised war in American history?

Vietnam War

Question 16

• Definition: The role of the media in scrutinizing the actions of government officials.

watchdog

Question 17• What has been the impact of the

sound byte on journalism?

It creates a dependency on catch phrases which simplify

complex issues and distort positions.

Question 18

• The two Washington Post reporters who made American journalism history by their reporting the Watergate scandal were;

Woodward & Bernstein

Question 19

• According to the text, Struggle for Democracy, the representation of business and the professions via interest groups is;

increasing

Question 20• What was the significance of The

Pentagon Papers with regards the Supreme Courts ruling on the First Amendment ?

The Court ruled that prior restraint (censorship) was not valid (invalid)

when a top secret document should not have been so declared.

Question 21• Upton Sinclair’s exposé about the

horrible conditions in the meat packing industry which was an early example of investigative journalism was entitled what?

The Jungle

Question 22• Definition: Non profit organizations

that do research on public policy issues and distribute their findings through a variety of outlets. Although formally nonpartisan, most have an identifiable ideological stance.

think tanks

Question 23• 24) What was the press’s reaction to

the paralysis of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)?

They protected his image and neither photographed him

being carried nor reported on it.

Question 24• What is the most notable negative

impact of interest groups on the political process?

Along with information they offer large campaign contributions

which have obligations attached.

Question 25• Those Americans during the 19th

Century who vigorously opposed slavery for religious and humanitarian reasons were:

Abolitionists

Question 26• What has the Supreme Court said about

campaign contributions by interest groups, corporations and other large donors?

Campaign contributions are a form of free speech and are protected

by the First Amendment.

Question 27• What was the opinions of the

Founders (the writers of the Constitution) regarding social movements?

They did not anticipate social movements because they were

ignorant about democracy’s impact

Question 28• An example of a negative social

movement, that is, a social movement whose unintended impact proved to be largely negative, would be,

Prohibition

Question 29• Definition: The government’s power to

prevent publication, as opposed to punishment afterwards.

prior restraint

Question 30• The 40 hour week, overtime pay,

minimum wage, the end of child employment, safe working conditions, worker’s benefits and unemployment insurance are all examples of what?

Examples of success by a social movement (labor) advocating the

rights of working people.

Question 31• Definition: A private organization

whose purpose is to raise and distribute funds to candidates in political campaigns.

political action committees (pacs)

Question 32• From the Lanahan Readings, Number

55, “Gay and Lesbian Issues in the Congressional Arena” by Colton Campbell and Roger Davidson, the article discusses the Gay Rights movement beginning at what event?

1969 Stonewall Riot in New York City’s Greenwich Village

Question 33• From the Lanahan Readings,

Reading Number 64, Democracy in America by Alexis De Tocqueville.-- What is significant about De Tocqueville’s work?

His insight into America’s character was profound

Question 34• From the Lanahan Readings, Reading

Number 65, “The Semisovereign People” by E.E. Schattschneider.-- According to the author what kind of interest groups are most easily formed?

special interest groups

Question 35• From the Lanahan Readings,

Reading Number 68, “Who Will Tell The People” by William Greider, the article discusses a group of poor workers trying to organize in Washington, D.C. What form of work did those poor workers do?

janitors & custodial

Question 36• From the Lanahan Readings, Reading

Number 84, “A Change of Time,” by Harrison Salisbury, it describes a line of worker where the individual should be a “disturber of the peace.” What is that form of work?

Reporter

Question 37• From the Lanahan Readings,

Reading Number 87, “Spin Cycle” by Howard Kurtz.-- What does Howard Kurtz do for a living?

Washington Post Reporter & CNN Show Host

Question 38• From the Lanahan Readings, Reading

Number 86, “Feeding Frenzy” by Larry Sabato-- What does Dr. Sabato say is the impact of a press that focuses so much on scandal?

It will scare away otherwise talented people

Question 39• From the Lanahan Readings,

Reading Number 85, “Personal History” by Katherine Graham-- What was Katherine Graham’s position at the Washington Post?

publisher (and owner)

Question 40• From the video Reporting America at

War, who was Ernie Pyle?

• A popular journalist during World War II

Question 41

• From the video Reporting America at War, what famous American novelist wrote about the horrors of World War I?

• Ernest Hemingway

Question 42• From the video Reporting America at War,

what American journalistic icon was the first to report from London during World War II?

• Edward R. Murrow

Question 43• From the video Reporting America at War,

about what part of World War II combat did television journalist Andy Rooney report?

• Flew with a bomber

Question 44 • From Time, “Are the Immigration

Protests Creating a Backlash?” what two political leaders hold opposing views on the issue of immigration as to how to deal with illegal immigrants?

• President Bush vs. Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo

Question 45 • From Time, “Why Iraq's Police Are a

Menace?” Why are they a menace?

•They are really religious militants who are executing

innocent civilians.