Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which of the following best describes a candidate-centered campaign? (A) A campaign that relies heavily on party support and resources. (B) A campaign that focuses on the candidate's personal qualities and qualifications. (C) A campaign that is primarily funded by special interest groups. (D) A campaign that emphasizes the party's platform and ideology.

2. How has the rise of candidate-centered campaigns affected political parties? (A) It has strengthened the role of parties in elections. (B) It has led to increased party unity and cohesion. (C) It has weakened parties as candidates become less dependent on their support. (D) It has had no significant impact on the role of political parties.

Free Response Question:

Explain how candidate-centered campaigns have changed the role of political parties in the United States. In your response, be sure to:

(a) Define candidate-centered campaigns. (b) Explain how they have altered the way candidates communicate with voters. (c) Discuss how they have impacted the power and influence of political parties.

Scoring Guidelines: (a) 1 point for defining candidate-centered campaigns as those that focus on the candidate's personal qualities, image, and qualifications rather than the party. (b) 1 point for explaining how they have enabled candidates to communicate directly through TV, social media, and the internet instead of relying on party communication. (c) 1 point for discussing how the rise of candidate-centered campaigns has weakened the power and influence of political parties as candidates rely less on party support.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the main goal of political parties when appealing to demographic coalitions? (A) To alienate their core supporters. (B) To add more groups within the party while maintaining their core supporters. (C) To focus solely on the needs of special interest groups. (D) To create a more homogenous voter base.

2. How do political parties use demographic research? (A) To ignore the issues and concerns of different groups. (B) To understand the key issues and concerns of different groups and develop strategies to appeal to them. (C) To create more divisive messaging. (D) To focus on a single demographic group.

Short Answer Question:

Explain how political parties attempt to appeal to different demographic coalitions. Provide one specific example of a strategy they might use.

Scoring Guidelines:

• 1 point for explaining that political parties conduct demographic research, modify policies, and adjust messaging to appeal to different groups.
• 1 point for providing a specific example, such as tailoring messaging to address specific concerns or choosing diverse speakers at national conventions.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is a critical election? (A) An election with low voter turnout. (B) An election that reveals major long-term changes in party loyalty. (C) An election where the winner is decided by a narrow margin. (D) An election that is primarily influenced by special interest groups.

2. Which of the following is an example of a critical election that led to a party realignment? (A) The 2016 presidential election. (B) The 1980 presidential election. (C) The 1932 presidential election of FDR. (D) The 2000 presidential election.

Free Response Question:

Explain the concept of party realignment and how it relates to critical elections. Provide one specific example of a critical election that led to a party realignment.

Scoring Guidelines:

• 1 point for explaining that party realignment is a large-scale shift in voter allegiance from one party to another.
• 1 point for explaining that critical elections reveal major long-term changes in party loyalty, often leading to realignments.
• 1 point for providing a specific example, such as the 1932 election of FDR and the New Deal Coalition.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How has campaign finance law impacted political parties? (A) It has increased the amount of money parties can spend. (B) It has reduced the influence of special interest groups. (C) It has forced parties to look for alternative sources of funding. (D) It has made it easier for parties to coordinate spending with candidates.

2. What does campaign finance law require in terms of transparency? (A) It requires parties to keep their funding sources secret. (B) It requires disclosure of contributions to political parties and candidates. (C) It has no impact on the transparency of political funding. (D) It requires parties to disclose only large contributions.

Short Answer Question:

Briefly describe two ways that campaign finance law has impacted the structure of political parties in the United States.

Scoring Guidelines:

• 1 point for describing one impact of campaign finance law, such as limitations on contributions or increased transparency.
• 1 point for describing a second impact, such as restrictions on coordinated spending or the influence of special interests.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How do political parties use communication and data-management technology? (A) To limit their engagement with voters. (B) To create more generic campaign messages. (C) To target advertising to specific demographic groups. (D) To ignore voter data and rely on traditional methods.

2. What is the purpose of voter data management systems? (A) To limit the amount of information parties have about voters. (B) To collect, analyze, and use information about voters to enhance outreach efforts. (C) To create more generic campaign messages. (D) To prevent parties from communicating with voters.

Free Response Question:

Explain how changes in communication and data-management technology have impacted the way political parties campaign. Provide two specific examples of how these technologies are used.

Scoring Guidelines:

• 1 point for explaining that parties now use smartphones, social media, and the internet to reach voters and invest in data management software.
• 1 point for providing one specific example, such as targeted advertising or social media engagement.
• 1 point for providing a second specific example, such as email marketing or voter data management.