Pols Test 3 Quiz Questions

Referendum and initiative are forms of direct democracy used by the states. T or F

True

The reason delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention moved to a federalist system is they recognized the system of government established by the Articles of Confederation was failing. T or F

True

What does a candidate need to win the presidency? a. A majority of electoral votes b. A plurality of electoral votes c. A plurality of the national popular vote d. A majority of the national popular vote

a. A majority of electoral votes

Considering the most important variables that lead to electoral participation, which statement below summarizes voter participation in Texas? a. Because a large portion of the Texas population lives in poverty, they are less likely to vote. b. Because most Texans have strong religious backgrounds, they are less likely to vote. c. Because most people in Texas over the age of 25 have a college degree, they are more likely to vote. d. Because most Texans adhere to a moralistic culture, they are more likely to vote.

a. Because a large portion of the Texas population lives in poverty, they are less likely to vote.

Which state has the most electoral votes? a. California b. Florida c. Oklahoma d. Texas

a. California

What powers belong to both the federal and state governments? a. Concurrent b. Reserved c. Police d. Enumerated

a. Concurrent

Which Supreme Court case ruled that the federal government had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories? a. Dred Scott v. Sandford b. Brown v. Board of Education c. Miranda v. Arizona d. Gibbons v. Ogden

a. Dred Scott v. Sandford

Which person would be considered a crossover voter? a. Evan, a Democrat, votes for a moderate candidate in the Republican primary. b. Srishti specifies on election day that she identifies as a Republican. c. Rich, a Republican, changes his party affiliation to Democrat 30 days before voting in the presidential election. d. Bekah self-identifies as an Independent, but in order to cast a vote in the Democratic primary, she claims to be a Democrat.

a. Evan, a Democrat, votes for a moderate candidate in the Republican primary.

What law makes an act illegal after the fact? a. Ex post facto b. Habeas corpus c. Amicus curiae d. De facto

a. Ex post facto

Which amendment extended voting rights to African American males? a. Fifteenth b. Twelfth c. Eleventh d. Nineteenth

a. Fifteenth

How many times in history has an individual NOT gained the popular vote and still become president? a. Five b. One c. Fifteen d. Ten

a. Five

In 2011, the Texas legislature enacted one of the strictest voter ID laws in the nation that was eventually struck down by the courts. The Texas legislature responded by passing a new law allowing individuals to vote based on what condition? a. Individuals must sign an affidavit swearing that they had a reasonable impediment to obtaining a standard ID and then they must show alternate proof of identity. b. Individuals have to show only two forms of identification, none of which were issued less than 60 days prior to the election. c. Only individuals who request an absentee ballot, or plan to vote early must show an additional form of identification prior to voting. d. Individuals only have to show one form of identification, but it must be either a Texas driver's license or a Texas ID card.

a. Individuals must sign an affidavit swearing that they had a reasonable impediment to obtaining a standard ID and then they must show alternate proof of identity.

Who participated in the first televised presidential debate? a. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon b. Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon c. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan d. Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson

a. John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon

Which candidate is using the strategy known as negative campaigning? a. Lester is running for a position with the Texas legislature. Rather than tout his own accomplishments, Lester attacks the character of his opponent to make voters think his opponent is untrustworthy. b. Pauline is running for mayor. She takes out a full-page newspaper advertisement refuting every negative claim that has been made against her. c. Sharon is running for a U.S. Senate seat. On the campaign trail, she clearly states her position on the issues and challenges her opponent to a debate in front of a live audience. d. Maurice is running for the U.S. House of Representatives. He knows that many Americans have a negative view of immigrants, so he holds meet-and-greet events in diverse neighborhoods to change people's opinions.

a. Lester is running for a position with the Texas legislature. Rather than tout his own accomplishments, Lester attacks the character of his opponent to make voters think his opponent is untrustworthy.

To assess their educational skills, potential voters in 1960s Alabama were required to answer questions like these: Whose duty is it to keep Congress informed of the state of the union? In which document or writing is the "Bill of Rights" found? How many states were required to approve the original Constitution in order for it to be in effect? In what type of assessment are these potential votes participating? a. Literacy tests b. Grandfather clauses c. White primaries d. Jim Crow laws

a. Literacy tests

Leroy grew up in a household with parents who voted in every election, national and local. Now as an adult, Leroy votes similarly, and when people ask him about his loyalty to the process, he simply tells them, "It is my duty to vote." Which model of voting does Leroy exemplify? a. Psychological b. Genetic c. Institutional d. Economic

a. Psychological

Which Supreme Court case outlawed the practice of the white primary? a. Smith v. Allwright b. Griswold v. Connecticut c. California Democratic Party v. Jones d. Marbury v. Madison

a. Smith v. Allwright

Ironically, which state elected Joseph Rainey, the first African American member of the House of Representatives? a. South Carolina b. Virginia c. North Carolina d. West Virginia

a. South Carolina

Which clause makes the Constitution more powerful than state law? a. Supremacy clause b. Full faith and credit clause c. Equal protection clause d. Necessary and proper clause

a. Supremacy clause

Which political movement began with protests against the nearly $800 billion stimulus package, which Congress passed in 2009 in the hopes of ending the financial crisis that began in 2008? a. Tea Party b. Civil Rights c. March for Our Lives d. Women's Rights

a. Tea Party

If a county decides to use a decentralized system for administering general elections, which person has the most responsibility? a. The county clerk b. The county commissioner c. The secretary of state d. The county tax assessor-collector

a. The county clerk

Which statement describes the relationship between income and voting? a. The higher one's income, the more likely one is to vote. b. Those who represent the annual median family income in the U.S. are most likely to vote. c. Those with a high income and those with a low income are equally likely to vote. d. The lower one's income, the more likely one is to vote.

a. The higher one's income, the more likely one is to vote.

The number of electoral votes a state receives corresponds to what? a. The number of senators and members of the House of Representatives for the state b. The popularity of the state's major political players c. The state's area d. The number of major cities in the state

a. The number of senators and members of the House of Representatives for the state

What is it called when a popular president running for reelection brings additional party candidates into office? a. The presidential coattails effect b. The strategic politician effect c. Microtargeting d. The midterm election effect

a. The presidential coattails effect

Which amendment prohibited slavery throughout the nation? a. Thirteenth b. Eighth c. Fourth d. First

a. Thirteenth

In Texas, voters can choose on election day in which primary they will participate. a. True b. False

a. True

How many terms do members of the House of Representatives serve? a. Two b. Six c. One d. Four

a. Two

A trend in which older voters who die are replaced in the electorate by less reliable young voters is known as a. generational replacement. b. the grandfather clause. c. the voting-eligible population. d. graveyard voting.

a. generational replacement.

The November presidential election is coming up and the current president is running for re-election. Elise is a concerned citizen who believes that the current president is spending too much time working toward reelection and not enough time governing. This change in the president's focus demonstrates the concept of the a. permanent campaign. b. patronage game. c. invisible primary. d. vanishing margin.

a. permanent campaign.

When state legislatures redraw district lines to try to keep districts equal in terms of population, it is called a. redistricting. b. microtargeting. c. gerrymandering. d. pork-barreling.

a. redistricting.

A party must hold a primary if it receives a. 5 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the prior election. b. 20 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the prior election. c. 35 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the prior election. d. 50 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the prior election.

b. 20 percent of the gubernatorial vote in the prior election.

To win a general election in Texas, how many votes must a candidate receive? a. Two-thirds of the votes b. A plurality c. An absolute majority d. A simple majority Hide Feedback

b. A plurality

Which plan did President Reagan favor for giving money to the states? a. General revenue sharing b. Block grants c. Loans d. Categorical grants

b. Block grants

Which historical protest involved the dumping of tea in opposition to the British government-backed monopoly? a. Tea Party Rally b. Boston Tea Party c. Shays's Rebellion d. Watts Riots

b. Boston Tea Party

In which type of voting system (like Australia's) are citizens required by law to vote? a. Proxy voting b. Compulsory voting c. Preferential voting d. Plurality voting

b. Compulsory voting

In which model do citizens consider the costs and benefits of voting—i.e., when the benefits exceed the costs, they turn out to vote? a. Psychological b. Economic c. Institutional d. Genetic

b. Economic

Which person exemplifies the participation paradox? a. The only reason Marybeth votes is to keep elected officials from doing whatever they want. b. Even though Ben knows his vote probably won't change the outcome of an election, he votes anyway. c. In his lifetime, Herbert has seen many close elections; he votes because every vote counts. d. Kylie doesn't vote because she doesn't think her vote will have any effect on the election results.

b. Even though Ben knows his vote probably won't change the outcome of an election, he votes anyway.

In Texas, all candidates—whether a party nominee, an independent, or a member of a minor party—are automatically placed on the general election ballot. a. True b. False

b. False

Which statement describes spending on presidential elections from 2000 to 2016? a. It has declined slowly. b. It has risen sharply. c. It has been relatively stable. d. It has fluctuated.

b. It has risen sharply.

Which two U.S. states can split their electoral votes, as opposed to winner-take-all? a. Florida and Georgia b. Nebraska and Maine c. Oklahoma and Texas d. Alabama and Arkansas

b. Nebraska and Maine

Which women's suffrage advocate was arrested after her attempt to vote in 1872? a. Eleanor Roosevelt b. Susan B. Anthony c. Victoria Claflin Woodhull d. Elizabeth Cady Stanton

b. Susan B. Anthony

Several Midwest states—Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan—are not considered strictly pro-Republican (like Tennessee) or pro-Democrat (like Massachusetts). What are these states, which are usually of vital interest to presidential candidates, called? a. Valence b. Swing c. Invisible d. Retrospective

b. Swing

How does competition between political parties affect voter turnout in Texas? a. Texas has a history of close political races, which have increased voter interest and turnout. b. Texas's history as a one-party state has taken away from the competitiveness of elections and reduced voter interest and turnout. c. The races between the two major political parties in Texas are the most competitive in the country, leading to an increase in voter interest and turnout. d. Neither political party has a stronghold in Texas, so many Texans claim to be independent voters; this has dampened voter interest and turnout.

b. Texas's history as a one-party state has taken away from the competitiveness of elections and reduced voter interest and turnout.

Which of the following powers is granted to governors in all fifty states? a. The authority to veto language in appropriation bills b. The authority to veto laws subject to override by the state legislatures c. The ability to veto certain parts of a spending bill without vetoing the entire bill d. Special budgetary authority to limit spending

b. The authority to veto laws subject to override by the state legislatures

During which event does the party name their presidential and vice presidential candidates and lay out the party's plan for government? a. The Iowa caucus b. The national convention c. The invisible primary d. The first primary

b. The national convention

In the earliest presidential elections, how did electors vote for president and vice president? a. Those voting within the District of Columbia were allowed to break any ties. b. They cast ballots for their top two choices; the winner became president, and the second-place finisher became vice president. c. They rallied behind and voted for a party candidate, no matter his ideology. d. They selected the most popular (as opposed to qualified) candidate.

b. They cast ballots for their top two choices; the winner became president, and the second-place finisher became vice president.

In recent years, what has been the most common nonvoting form of political participation in the United States? a. Working for a party or candidate b. Trying to influence others' votes c. Attending political meetings d. Giving money to campaigns

b. Trying to influence others' votes

Beginning with the 2020 election, how will voting ballots be different in Texas? a. Voters will be able to select all candidates of a particular party by checking only one box. b. Voters who want to vote a straight ticket will have to make a separate mark for each candidate they wish to choose. c. Texas will begin using an office block ballot in order to eliminate straight ticket voting. d. Voters will no longer have the option of straight ticket voting.

b. Voters who want to vote a straight ticket will have to make a separate mark for each candidate they wish to choose.

What is the most common form of political participation in the U.S.? a. Working for a party or candidate b. Voting c. Making financial donations to campaigns d. Attending a political meeting

b. Voting

Why has Oregon recently had such a high rate of voting (i.e., 70 percent in 2008 and 68 percent in 2016)? a. Internet ballots b. Voting by mail c. Early voting d. Extended voting hours

b. Voting by mail

The National Voter Registration Act requires states to a. remove ineligible voters from their rolls. b. allow voters to register when they apply for or renew their driver's licenses. c. allow absentee ballots so voters can vote by mail. d. register all eligible voters, though the states can define "eligible."

b. allow voters to register when they apply for or renew their driver's licenses.

When comparing local elections to statewide elections, the candidate pool in local elections tends to be more a. conservative. b. diverse. c. liberal. d. homogenous.

b. diverse.

The MOST important demographic variables that influence whether or not a person votes are a. political ideology, income, and occupation. b. education, income, and age. c. age, political party affiliation, and income. d. education, interest in politics, and occupation.

b. education, income, and age.

U.S. senators serve a staggered term of a. four years. b. six years. c. two years. d. one year.

b. six years.

The period before the primaries during which candidates attempt to capture party support and media coverage is called a. the beauty contest primary. b. the invisible primary. c. the permanent primary. d. open primaries.

b. the invisible primary.

Noncontroversial issues that are not likely to differ between candidates—such as "keeping America safe" and "providing good education for children"—are called a. retrospective issues. b. valence issues. c. position issues. d. wedge issues.

b. valence issues.

The Australian ballot, adopted by Texas in 1892, allowed people to a. vote for a third party candidate not listed on the ballot. b. vote in secret. c. mail in their votes. d. vote prior to election day.

b. vote in secret.

Controversial and divisive topics like gun control, abortion, and race that are often used in campaigns to break up an opponent's coalitions are referred to as a. position issues. b. wedge issues. c. valence issues. d. retrospective voting strategies.

b. wedge issues.

Texas has fairly specific laws about recounts. Identify one of these laws. a. Recounts are paid for through the state treasury. b. The use of an electronic recount is preferred over the use of a manual recount. c. A candidate can request a recount if he or she loses by less than 10 percent. d. Recounts are automatic if a candidate loses by less than 5 percent.

c. A candidate can request a recount if he or she loses by less than 10 percent.

Nearly three-fourths of which group of people vote in elections? a. The 1 percent b. Grade-school educated c. College-educated d. Latinos

c. College-educated

As of 2018, a number of states have legalized marijuana for medicinal or recreational use. Which system allows for this variation? a. Unitary b. Commerce c. Federalism d. Confederal

c. Federalism

What plan favored by President Richard Nixon gave the states the greatest amount of leeway in spending money from the national government? a. Categorical grants b. Block grants c. General revenue-sharing d. Loans

c. General revenue-sharing

In 1991, a redistricting in North Carolina was designed to create a district with African Americans in the majority. Later, federal courts ruled that the state had to revise those district lines so that the congressional district was more compact. What is this politicization of drawing district boundaries called? a. Staggering b. Microtargeting c. Gerrymandering d. Pork-barreling

c. Gerrymandering

How did Alexander Hamilton's and Thomas Jefferson's preferred governments differ? a. Hamilton favored region-centered government, and Jefferson favored local-centered. b. Hamilton favored local-centered government, and Jefferson favored region-centered. c. Hamilton favored nation-centered government, and Jefferson favored state-centered. d. Hamilton favored state-centered government, and Jefferson favored nation-centered.

c. Hamilton favored nation-centered government, and Jefferson favored state-centered.

In which model of voting is the voting process shaped by the rules of the system, political party behavior, the ways candidates run their campaigns, and the context of the election? a. Psychological b. Economic c. Institutional d. Genetic

c. Institutional

Most governors have the power to veto certain parts of a bill. What is this called? a. Full veto b. Partial veto c. Line-item veto d. Pocket veto

c. Line-item veto

Which Supreme Court case resolved the debate over the national authority to establish a bank? a. Brown v. Board of Education b. Mapp v. Ohio c. McCulloch v. Maryland d. Loving v. Virginia

c. McCulloch v. Maryland

What are elections called that occur in between the four-year presidential election cycles? a. General b. Advisory c. Midterm d. Primary

c. Midterm

In which plan for selecting state judges does a board of experts recommend candidates to the governor, who then selects judges from the list? a. Virginia Plan b. Court-Packing Plan c. Missouri Plan d. Judicial Appointment Plan

c. Missouri Plan

Which level of government has the most power in a unitary system? a. County b. Legislative c. National d. State

c. National

What usually happens to total seats in the House of Representatives at the midterm elections? a. The president's party gains about the same number of seats as it loses. b. The president's party usually gains seats. c. The president's party usually loses seats. d. The present's party gains seats about half the time and loses seats the other half.

c. The president's party usually loses seats.

Historically, how does the voter turnout in Texas compare to voter turnout nationwide? a. The voter turnout in Texas has been almost identical to the nationwide turnout. b. The voter turnout in Texas has been consistently higher that the turnout nationwide. c. The voter turnout in Texas has been consistently lower than the turnout nationwide. d. The voter turnout in Texas is never consistent; it is higher in some years and lower in other years.

c. The voter turnout in Texas has been consistently lower than the turnout nationwide.

Suppose one of the U.S. senators from the state of Texas suddenly resigns, leaving another year to be served of his or her term. How will the remainder of this person's term be filled? a. Through a general election b. Through appointment by the governor c. Through a special election d. Through appointment and majority vote of the Texas General Assembly

c. Through a special election

Texas required individuals to pay a poll tax to vote in state elections until it was declared unconstitutional by the a. Supreme Court in Smith v. Allwright. b. Supreme Court in United States v. Texas. c. Twenty-Fourth Amendment. d. Nineteenth Amendment.

c. Twenty-Fourth Amendment.

Which amendment set the voting age at 18? a. Second b. First c. Twenty-Sixth d. Nineteenth

c. Twenty-Sixth

The voting-age population measure has been in error because it has not considered increases in the number of immigrants and convicted felons who are ineligible to vote. What new measure corrects for these trends? a. Legal voter b. Adjusted voter c. Voting-eligible population d. Available voter

c. Voting-eligible population

Speaking to the U.S. Senate in 1850, Daniel Webster proclaims, "Peaceable secession! Sir, your eyes and mine are never destined to see that miracle. There can be no such thing as a peaceable secession. Peaceable secession is an utter impossibility." Which political action is Webster opposing here? a. Restricting states from disregarding the national government b. Protecting people from a tyrannical national government c. Wanting to withdraw from a nation-state d. Making criticism of the government illegal

c. Wanting to withdraw from a nation-state

When did women in Texas receive full suffrage? a. When the efforts of the legislature to prevent women from voting was overturned in Smith v. Allwright in 1944 b. When the U.S. Supreme Court voided the Texas constitutional exclusion of women in Carrington v. Rash in 1931 c. When the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920 d. When the Texas state constitution was amended in 1915

c. When the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920

In counties with a 5 percent or greater language minority, Texas requires a. citizens vote early to allow ample time for ballot translation. b. the option for oral voting to be made available at polling sites. c. ballots and election materials be printed in other languages in addition to English. d. translators to be present at polling sites.

c. ballots and election materials be printed in other languages in addition to English

Texas political parties select their nominees for the general election through the use of a. party conventions. b. party caucuses. c. direct primaries. d. focus groups.

c. direct primaries.

In December 2013, with President Barack Obama's popularity sagging and a struggling economy, many quality Democratic candidates decided not to run in the 2014 elections. This demonstrates a. retrospective voting. b. the permanent campaign. c. the strategic politician hypothesis. d. vanishing marginals

c. the strategic politician hypothesis.

Around what age does voter turnout peak in the United States? a. 30 b. 45 c. 25 d. 60

d. 60

Which form of political participation continues to rise dramatically, especially in the last decade? a. Attending political meetings b. Working for a political candidate c. Recruiting for a political party d. Communicating directly with members of Congress

d. Communicating directly with members of Congress

In which system of government does ultimate authority rest with regional governments (e.g., state governments) and hardly any power is granted to the national government? a. Republic b. Federal c. Unitary d. Confederal

d. Confederal

In the 1967 case Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court declared that under the Constitution "the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State." Which amendment is violated when a state like Virginia denies people the freedom to marry on the basis of racial classifications? a. Eighth b. First c. Fourth d. Fourteenth

d. Fourteenth

Whose New Deal and Great Society programs expanded federal authority? a. John F. Kennedy; Lyndon Johnson's b. Lyndon Johnson's; Franklin Roosevelt's c. Lyndon Johnson's; John F. Kennedy's d. Franklin Roosevelt's; Lyndon Johnson's

d. Franklin Roosevelt's; Lyndon Johnson's

Individuals who currently hold the contested office but who run again are called what? a. Veterans b. Diplomats c. Justices d. Incumbents

d. Incumbents

How does the average rate of voter turnout in the U.S. compare to that of other democracies? a. It is slightly higher. b. It is about the same. c. It is much higher. d. It is lower.

d. It is lower.

Franco believes that equality and citizen participation are important political values. He believes that the more people are allowed to vote, the better the government can respond to people's interests. Franco believes in which model of voting? a. Hamiltonian model b. Psychological model c. Economic model d. Jeffersonian model

d. Jeffersonian model

What two factors dominate election outcomes in state elections? a. Incumbency and fundraising b. Party identification and fundraising c. Party identification and the issues d. Party identification and incumbency

d. Party identification and incumbency

While waiting for the commuter train, a woman with a clipboard and pen approaches you. She asks you to sign a petition that would potentially remove a candidate from office before his term expires. You listen to her argument and then sign the list. In what procedure are you participating? a. Referendum b. Initiative c. Review d. Recall

d. Recall

Which level of government has the most power in a confederation? a. National b. Executive c. County d. State

d. State

What groups can raise and give an unlimited amount of money to political candidates? a. 501(c)(3) organizations b. PACs c. Interest groups d. Super PACs

d. Super PACs

Which amendment declares "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people"? a. Thirteenth b. Fourteenth c. Fifth d. Tenth

d. Tenth

Which statement accurately describes the aim of the Constitution and the states in regard to elections? a. The Constitution divides the responsibility for holding elections equally between the federal government and the states b. The Constitution is specific about the dominant role of the federal government in holding elections, and the states play a limited role. c. The Constitution includes guidelines for all state and national elections, and it requires the national government to establish eligibility requirements for the states. d. The Constitution is silent on the rules about voting in elections, leaving such choices to states.

d. The Constitution is silent on the rules about voting in elections, leaving such choices to states.

The fact that a same-sex marriage performed in Massachusetts is valid in any other state is based on what constitutional clause? a. The supremacy clause b. The necessary and proper clause c. The commerce clause d. The full faith and credit clause

d. The full faith and credit clause

Which clause requires that states treat people from other states equally to their own residents? a. The commerce clause b. The full faith and credit clause c. The supremacy clause d. The privileges and immunities clause

d. The privileges and immunities clause

In Texas, if no candidate receives a majority of votes cast for a particular office in the first primary, a. the legislative leadership selects the candidate. b. the head of each major party selects the candidate. c. the two candidates with the highest number of votes are both placed on the ballot. d. a second runoff primary is required between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes.

d. a second runoff primary is required between the two candidates who received the highest number of votes.

Money spent by political parties for activities such as get-out-the-vote drives is known as a. independent expenditures. b. targeted money. c. secondary funds. d. soft money.

d. soft money.

Since the 1960s, competitiveness in congressional elections has been declining. This trend is referred to as a. presidential coattails. b. safe seats. c. term limits. d. vanishing marginals.

d. vanishing marginals.