Gov Ch. 7 Questions

Which of the following countries has mandatory voting but does not enforce it?

France has an unenforced policy of mandatory voting.

Roughly what percentage of Americans talked to others about their voting preferences before the 2012 election?

About 37 percent of Americans talked to others about their voting preferences before the 2012 election.

According to political scientist Robert Putnam, how did the political environment of the 1950s and 1960s differ from that of the present?

According to Robert Putnam, social capital and civic engagement were higher in the 1950s and '60s than they are today.

What differences help to explain the voting patterns of regular voters and intermittent voters?

According to the Pew study, intermittent voters are more mistrustful of people, less angry with government, and less likely to be married than regular voters.

According to the text, what personal characteristics of presidents like Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy helped them to connect with American voters?

According to the text, the speechmaking abilities of presidents like Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy helped them to connect with American voters.

In which of the following would Americans be LEAST likely to participate?

Americans would be least likely to work for a party or candidate.

In which of the following forms of protest would Americans be MOST likely to participate?

Americans would be most likely to participate in signing petitions.

Which of the following aspects of the U.S. electoral system can affect voter turnout?

Ballot length can affect voter turnout, as longer ballots tend to dissuade Americans from voting.

Which two critical characteristics are shared by both intermittent voters and regular voters?

Both intermittent voters and regular voters feel guilt over not voting and are less likely to believe that voting doesn't change anything.

Which of the following forms of unconventional participation was MOST effective in bringing about legislative policy change?

Civil rights activism resulted in major legislative policy change at the federal level.

Which of the following considerations tend to diminish differences in voter turnout due to race?

Differences in voter turnout due to race tend to diminish when socioeconomic factors are considered.

Distrust in the government is LEAST likely to have resulted from which of the following?

Distrust in government did not result from the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18.

In 2010, what percentage of voters identified themselves as pure independents?

In 2010, 16 percent of voters identified themselves as pure independents.

In prospective voting, which of the following would be the MOST likely to be taken into consideration?

In prospective voting, campaign promises would most likely be taken into consideration.

In the 2012 presidential election, roughly what percentage of Democrats and Republicans alike voted for their own party's nominee?

In the 2012 election, 92 percent of Democrats voted for Barack Obama (the Democratic nominee) and 93 percent of Republicans voted for Mitt Romney (the Republican nominee).

Why do intermittent voters have the greatest impact on elections?

Intermittent voters are considered the "swing" vote by the two major parties because their actual level of participation on Election Day can determine the outcome.

Who are intermittent voters?

Intermittent voters are registered to vote but do not always make it to the polls on Election Day.

What explanations discussed in the study account for the voting behavior of intermittent voters?

Intermittent voters lack information about political candidates and issues and they are bored with the political process.

Which of the following was the civil rights movement known for?

The civil rights movement was known for using unconventional forms of participation like sit-ins and marches.

People would be more likely to participate in the political process in which of the following cases?

People are more likely to participate in the political process when someone asks them to get involved.

What probably hurt Senator John Kerry's election chances the MOST in the 2004 presidential race?

Senator John Kerry's reputation as a flip-flopper probably hurt his election chances the most in the 2004 presidential race.

Single-member districts contribute to which of the following?

Single-member districts contribute to voters' resistance to "wasting" votes.

What might supporters of mandatory voting argue?

Supporters of mandatory voting might argue that voting is a civic duty.

How did the 26th Amendment affect voter turnout?

The 26th Amendment expanded the franchise to include the age groups least likely to vote, which may have contributed to lower levels of voter turnout overall.

What does the Consumer Confidence Index use to predict presidential election results?

The Consumer Confidence Index uses voters' views on the economy to predict presidential election results.

Why did the McCain campaign select Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008?

The McCain campaign selected Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008 for a number of reasons, including the fact that she balanced the ticket, represented a "Washington outsider," and reached out to female voters.

Which of the following countries had the lowest voter turnout between 1960 and 2000?

The United States had the lowest voter turnout between 1960 and 2000.

In which of the following ways is the United States attempting to make it easier for people to participate in elections?

The United States is attempting to make it easier for people to participate in elections by offering convenience voting.

Which of the following political systems comes closest to that of a true democracy?

The political system of ancient Greece comes closest to that of a true democracy.

Which of the following might be considered a disadvantage of mandatory voting?

The possibility of uninformed voters skewing election results might be considered a disadvantage of mandatory voting.

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the strength of partisan loyalty?

The strength of partisan loyalty is such that only major events or issues cause voters to reevaluate their partisan loyalties.

Which of the following groups reported the highest levels of voter registration and turnout in 2012?

The wealthiest category of voters—people with annual incomes of $150,000 and above—reported the highest levels of registration and turnout in the 2012 election.

Voter support for incumbents is strongly related to which of the following?

Voter support for incumbents is strongly related to their own financial security.

Which of the following BEST describes voter turnout trends since the 1960s?

Voter turnout trends since the 1960s show decreased turnout in both presidential and congressional elections.

Which of the following would be considered a form of conventional political participation?

Voting would be considered a form of conventional political participation.

Younger voters are more likely to take part in which of the following?

Younger voters are more likely to take part in unconventional forms of participation such as protests.