AP US Government : Campaigning and Elections in the Media

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Campaigning And Elections In The Media

An Issue Advocacy Ad is unique because it __________.

Possible Answers:

is provided free by certain media sources

does not encourage support for any candidate

is funded by the government

considers issues that would otherwise be ignored

is only found in print media

Correct answer:

does not encourage support for any candidate

Explanation:

An Issue Advocacy Ad is an advertisement that generally airs during an election campaign, but does not focus on encouraging support for one candidate over another. Instead, it seeks to gain awareness for the issues and encourage voters to consider the issue as a whole as more relevant than they might otherwise.

Example Question #1 : Campaigning And Elections In The Media

The equal-time rule states that __________.

Possible Answers:

men and women should be paid equally for the time they put into their work

campaign ads are illegal during the week immediately leading up the general election

broadcast stations must sell commercial time to all political parties equally

ethnic minorities ought to be granted certain advantages during the college admissions process

during a presidential debate, each candidate must be given the same amount of time to speak

Correct answer:

broadcast stations must sell commercial time to all political parties equally

Explanation:

The equal-time rule establishes that all broadcast stations must allow equal opportunity to all political parties to air campaign advertisements. The rule first appeared in the Radio Broadcast Act of 1927.

Example Question #2 : Campaigning And Elections In The Media

Which is not a way that the internet has affected politics since the year 2000?

Possible Answers:

The internet has made it easier for politicians to raise money in small donation

The internet has made it easier to disseminate criticism of opponents, often in real time

The internet has made it easier to target people who are likely to support the candidate

The internet has made it easier to take accurate opinion polls

The internet has made it easier to take instant opinion polls

Correct answer:

The internet has made it easier to take accurate opinion polls

Explanation:

While the internet makes it easier to take quick opinion polls, these polls are often highly unreliable because the pollsters are not able to take good samples, and the samples are self-selecting in that they consist of people who use the internet, navigate to the particular site, are willing to spend time to take the poll, etc. While the internet has provided many avenues for exploring public opinion, most of these are related to the collection of hard data (like internet usage), as opposed to effective or accurate opinion polling.

Example Question #3 : Campaigning And Elections In The Media

A local broadcast station in a very conservative area of the country refuses to sell advertising time to a liberal candidate because it strongly opposes the candidate's viewpoints on several key issues, including gun control and abortion. Under what rule can the liberal candidate complain to the Federal Communications Commission?

Possible Answers:

The Equal Time Rule

The Fair Elections Rule

The Anti-Discrimination in Broadcasting Act

The Fairness Doctrine

The Broadcast Neutrality Rule

Correct answer:

The Equal Time Rule

Explanation:

The Equal Time Rule holds that all publicly broadcast news stations that sell advertising to to one political candidate must sell equal time to that person's opponents.

Example Question #21 : Media Influence

Which of the following is not a true statement about the relationship between the national media and politicians?

Possible Answers:

All secrets become public knowledge eventually

The rosier the news, the higher-ranking the official who announces it

Always release bad news on Saturday night

It is important to have a positive relationship with the press

The press and politicians often work together to advance a shared agenda

Correct answer:

The press and politicians often work together to advance a shared agenda

Explanation:

Having an adversarial press in America means that, at least on a national level, the press is suspicious of public officials and will happily break embarrassing stories about them. The press' main interest is in writing stories that will allow them to sell newspapers, advertising, etc, rather than in promoting specific agenda items.

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