Chapter 13 Self-test questions

. Which of the following criticisms of political parties are part of what Carothers calls 'the standard lament' about them?

Parties are corrupt and self-interested.

Parties are only active at election time when they want your vote.

Parties spend too much time squabbling.

All of the above.

. It can be argued that it is irrational to join a political party because ...

they don't have any principles.

the costs of active membership outweigh the likely benefits.

only middle-aged, middle-class men ever get elected.

parties only ever do anything at election time.

. Parties emerged within the US Congress because ...

the media wanted to simplify political coverage by grouping politicians under different labels.

congressmen lacked the moral courage to fight elections as independents.

it proved too time-consuming to have to build coalitions from scratch in order to support or oppose every piece of legislation.

socialist members of the working class established a party of their own to fight the power of the bourgeoisie.

. What are 'catch-all' parties?

Organizations which seek to establish one-party states.

Organizations which have no constructive policies and just try to catch out their opponents when they make mistakes.

Organizations which try to maximize support by offering policies which avoid ideological controversy and appeal to the 'median voter'.

All of the above.

. Recently there has been a trend for parties in long-established liberal democracies to ...

increase their rank and file membership.

prefer ideological purity to office-holding.

choose more mature, experienced leaders regardless of their media images.

become more 'professionalized' and 'candidate-centred'.

. According to Aldrich, which is the third dimension of party activity apart from party-in-government and party-in-the-electorate?

The party's external organization.

The party's internal organization.

Party-in-the-office.

Party bureaucracy.

. The party system in any state is usually affected by ...

the electoral system.

economic cleavages in society.

the constitution.

all of the above.

. According to Lipset and Rokkan, with what part of the world are 'frozen' party systems typically associated?

Scandinavia.

Western Europe.

Russia.

Asia.

. Where might you find a predominant party system?

Sweden.

Thailand.

Russia.

Australia.

. Which of the following is a key justification of state funding for political parties?

The party leaders deserve to live in guaranteed comfort.

It will ensure the survival of long-established parties.

It should reduce the dependence of parties on rich politicians with vested interests.

It should reduce the dependence of parties on rich donors with vested interests.

Chapter 13 Self-test questions

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