Critical elections reflect: Critical elections occur: Short-term shifts in voter attitudes. Every two years. Long-term changes in allegiances. Relatively frequently. The decline of political parties. Relatively infrequently. The rise of the imperial presidency. Every eight years. Reading 37: B. R. Berelson, et al., Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION What are the classical requirements for the democratic citizen, as outlined by Berelson? How do the requirements for the system differ from the requirements for the individual in the democratic process? MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS In the selection by Berelson, et al., titled Practice and Democratic “Democratic Theory,” the authors argue that: Which of the following statements is Political apathy does not incorrect? Some political apathy is desirable in the The democratic citizen is expected to be democratic process. interested and to participate in political Voters are rational. affairs. Attempts should be made to increase The democratic citizen is expected to be the rationality of political campaigns. well informed about political affairs. The democratic citizen is supposed to Berelson, et al., conclude that an effective cast his or her vote on the basis of democratic system requires that: principle, not fortuitously or frivolously All voters be members of political or impulsively or habitually, but with parties. reference to standards not only of his or All voters be rational. her own interest but of the common Some voters be rational while others good as well. are apathetic. In democratic theory, rationality is not a Political parties be disciplined. requirement for the democratic citizen. Reading 35: David R. Mayhew, Divided We Govern QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION If Mayhew is correct to that divided government seems to have little effect on the outcome of policymaking, why do so many critics of the system hold to the idea as the root of governmental gridlock?
Critical elections reflect: Short-term shifts in voter attitudes. Long-term changes in allegiances. The decline of political parties. The rise of the imperial presidency. Critical elections occur: Every two years. Relatively frequently. Relatively infrequently. Every eight years. Reading 37: B. R. Berelson, et al., Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION What are the classical requirements for the democratic citizen, as outlined by Berelson? How do the requirements for the system differ from the requirements for the individual in the democratic process? MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS In the selection by Berelson, et al., titled “Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory,” the authors argue that: Political apathy does not Some political apathy is desirable in the democratic process. Voters are rational. Attempts should be made to increase the rationality of political campaigns. Berelson, et al., conclude that an effective democratic system requires that: All voters be members of political parties. All voters be rational. Some voters be rational while others are apathetic. Political parties be disciplined. Which of the following statements is incorrect? The democratic citizen is expected to be interested and to participate in political affairs. The democratic citizen is expected to be well informed about political affairs. The democratic citizen is supposed to cast his or her vote on the basis of principle, not fortuitously or frivolously or impulsively or habitually, but with reference to standards not only of his or her own interest but of the common good as well. In democratic theory, rationality is not a requirement for the democratic citizen. Reading 35: David R. Mayhew, Divided We Govern QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION If Mayhew is correct to that divided government seems to have little effect on the outcome of policymaking, why do so many critics of the system hold to the idea as the root of governmental gridlock?