AP Gov Quiz

Which of the following demographic groups has voted most consistently for the Democratic Party in national elections over the last three decades? * (A) African Americans (B) Hispanics (C) Protestants (D) Wealthy White males (E) Southern White males

(A) African Americans

Which of the following best explains how parties link citizens to the electoral process? (A) Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters. (B) Parties recruit candidates to run for election. (C) Parties research how best to frame issues in campaigns. (D) Parties determine the leadership of congressional committees. (E) None of these

(A) Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters.

Which of the following best explains how parties link citizens to the electoral process? * (A) Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters. (B) Parties recruit candidates to run for election. (C) Parties research how best to frame issues in campaigns. (D) Parties determine the leadership of congressional committees.

(A) Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters.

Which of the following is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections? * (A) Partisan identification (B) Party platform adopted at the national convention (C) Vice-presidential running mate (D) Endorsement by political incumbents (E) Appeal of the candidates' spouses

(A) Partisan identification

Senator Hoffman is campaigning for reelection in her state. Her campaign message emphasizes how the policies she has supported have benefited her constituents. She has spotlighted job creation and an overall improvement in the standard of living in the state in the past six years. Senator Hoffman is hoping to appeal to which of the following voting behavior models? (A) Retrospective voting (B) Prospective voting (C) Party-line voting (D) Rational-choice voting (E) None of these

(A) Retrospective voting

The main intent of "motor voter" laws is to (A) increase voter registration (B) increase voter turnout by providing transportation to polls for people without cars (C) increase the rate at which incumbents are reelected to office (D) prevent states from using literacy requirements for voting (E) allow sixteen year olds to vote if they have a valid driver's license

(A) increase voter registration

All of the following are examples of a linkage institution influencing the policy process EXCEPT * (A) the president delivering the State of the Union speech (B) the Sierra Club lobbying the Environmental Protection Agency (C) the outcome of a congressional election (D) an exposé by the national media on the housing crisis (E) the Republican Party pursuing a balanced budget amendment

(A) the president delivering the State of the Union speech

Which of the following scenarios explains how demographic factors affect voter participation in elections? (A)Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates. (B)Individuals who belong to marginalized groups are likely to participate in elections because their issues are often highlighted by political party leaders. (C)Political action committees (PACs) raise money from their donors, which they use to run television advertisements during campaigns. (D)Gerrymandered districts are likely to produce competitive districts, which leads to lower turnout rates in elections

(A)Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates.

Which of the following is most likely an effect of the data reported in the chart? * (A) Younger voters were more likely to vote in the 2016 presidential election. (B) The California state government is more likely to address issues that affect older voters. (C) Political parties will work to recruit more younger candidates to run for office. (D) The media will likely be skeptical of the general election results.

(B) The California state government is more likely to address issues that affect older voters.

Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the United States? * (A) Primary elections tend to elicit a higher voter turnout than do general elections. (B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections. (C) Voter turnout plays an insignificant role in election outcomes. (D) Adult citizens under the age of 30 tend to have the highest rate of voter turnout. (E) Voters with strong party identification vote less regularly than do independents.

(B) The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections.

A political science professor is researching the effects that the Fifteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments have had on the American political system. Which of the following is the most likely reason the professor is researching these amendments? (A) To study the expansion of the right to equal protection under the law (B) To study the expansion of voting rights (C) To study the expansion of due process rights (D) To study the expansion of federal authority over states (E) None of these

(B) To study the expansion of voting rights

In the United States, which of the following is a rule on voting found in the Constitution or its amendments? (A) No person may be denied the right to vote merely for lack of either state or federal citizenship. (B) You cannot make someone pay a tax so that they can vote. (C) No person may be denied the right to vote merely because he or she has previously served a prison sentence (D) A state may not establish a residency requirement for voting. (E) A state may require a person to pay a poll tax in order to register to vote

(B) You cannot make someone pay a tax so that they can vote.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison between the relative functions and electoral success of the two major political parties (Democratic and Republican) and third parties? * (A)Major Parties are an important electoral function of the major parties is to sponsor primaries and caucuses during the nomination process. Third parties Third parties frequently displace one of the major parties in presidential elections and become a major party themselves. (B)Major Parties The rules of the electoral college favor the major-party candidates in presidential elections. Third Parties - Winner-take-all voting districts hinder the electoral success of third-party candidates. (C)Major Parties sometimes incorporate the issues promoted by third parties into the major-party platforms. Third parties usually receive public funding to finance their campaigns during presidential elections. (D)Presidential nominees of the major parties often choose a third-party member as a running mate to balance the ticket. Third-party candidates seldom experience electoral success, in part because voters do not believe they have a chance to win. (E)None of these statements are true

(B)Major Parties The rules of the electoral college favor the major-party candidates in presidential elections. Third Parties - Winner-take-all voting districts hinder the electoral success of third-party candidates.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about political parties in the United States? * (A)Parties increasingly identify themselves with coherent ideologies to attract large blocs of voters (B)The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's (C)National party organizations are generally the strongest party organizations. (D)It is increasingly difficult for third parties to gain more than two percent of the popular vote. (E)Most candidates prefer to run as independents rather than as Democrats or Republicans.

(B)The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's

Which of the following scenarios is most related to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment? * (A) A primary election is held to determine the candidate who will run as the Republican for the United States Senate. (B) An interest group purchases a television ad prior to an election. (C) An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election. (D) A woman votes in a local election.

(C) An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election.

Of the following, which is the most important reason that voter turnout is lower in the United States than in most other industrial democracies. * (A) American citizens are more apathetic than are citizens in other democracies. (B) There are fewer elections in the United States than in other democracies. (C) It has traditionally been more difficult to register to vote in the United States than in most other industrial democracies. (D) United States elections receive less media attention than do elections in other democracies. (E) Unlike other industrial democracies, the United States has a two-party system.

(C) It has traditionally been more difficult to register to vote in the United States than in most other industrial democracies.

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the voter turnout rate in the United States? * (A) It is high because of the large numbers of elective offices. (B) It is significantly higher among men than among women. (C) It is lower than in most other Western democracies. (D) It increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote. (E) It has been steady over the last 30 years.

(C) It is lower than in most other Western democracies.

Which of the following is a likely effect of the trend depicted in the bar graph on voting and elections? * (A) There will be fewer restrictions placed on voting. (B) Voter turnout is likely to increase among non-Whites. (C) The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends. (D) There will be more retrospective voting among young voters.

(C) The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends.

Which of the following statements about the bar graph on voter turnout in the 2014 California general election is correct?* 1/1 (A) Each age group voted at a higher rate than all of the younger age groups below it. (B) The majority of voters ages 25-34 voted in the election. (C) The age group that voted at a rate closest to the average is 45-54. (D) Voters ages 35-44 voted at a rate higher than average.

(C) The age group that voted at a rate closest to the average is 45-54.

The primary reason for the current existence of only two major political parties in the United States is that * (A) the Constitution puts severe restrictions on other parties (B) third parties are usually far to the right or left, and Americans are moderates (C) a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive (D) voters naturally think of themselves as either liberals or conservatives (E) presidential electors can vote for only two candidates

(C) a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

Explanations for low voter turnout include all of the following EXCEPT * (A) registration requirements (B) weak party affiliation (C) laws protecting voting rights for minorities (D) weekday elections (E) frequency of elections at the state and local level

(C) laws protecting voting rights for minorities

Interest groups and political parties both promote United States democracy by (A) expressing detailed, ideologically distinct programs (B) centralizing public authority (C) linking citizens to the political process (D) increasing domination of the political process by elites (E) lobbying members of Congress

(C) linking citizens to the political process

A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that * (A) interest groups typically shift their positions on issues over time, while political parties tend to keep the same position on issues over time (B) interest groups usually recruit candidates for office, while political parties usually limit themselves to making campaign contributions to candidates (C) political parties seek to gain control of government, while interest groups seek to influence public policy (D) political parties tend to have narrow coalitions of support, and interest groups tend to have broad coalitions of support (E) political parties usually focus on one issue, while interest groups focus mainly on many issues

(C) political parties seek to gain control of government, while interest groups seek to influence public policy

One reason for the persistence of a two-party system in the United States is * (A) the lack of divisive issues in United States politics (B) the separation of powers (C) the single-member district electoral system (D) the lack of a strong labor movement (E) low voter turnout in most elections

(C) the single-member district electoral system

The most widely performed act of political participation in the United States is * (A) writing letters to public officials (B) voting in local elections (C) voting in presidential elections (D) contributing money to political candidates (E) attending local party meetings

(C) voting in presidential elections

Political parties serve which of the following functions in the United States? ------------ I. Informing the public about political issues ------------ II. Mobilizing voters and getting them to the polls ------------ III. Organizing diverse interests within society ------------ IV. Establishing the rules governing financial contributions to political candidates (A) II only (B) I and II only (C) III and IV only (D) I, II, and III only (E) I, III, and IV only

(D) I, II, and III only

Which of the following describes the Twenty-Fourth Amendment? * (A) It desegregated places of public accommodation. (B) It required elections for the United States Senate. (C) It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender. (D) It eliminated poll taxes.

(D) It eliminated poll taxes.

Which of the following best describes the concept of political efficacy? * (A) It is the belief that the average citizen can make little or no difference in an election. (B) It is the belief that an intelligent voting decision cannot be made without information. (C) It is the belief that the media must provide unbiased information for citizens to be able to make well-informed decisions (D) It is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically. (E) It is the belief that politicians must keep the electorate well-informed if they are to govern efficiently

(D) It is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically.

Based on the data in the chart, which of the following strategies would best help third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Gary Johnson increase their chances of winning elected office?* 1/1 (A) Allowing third-party candidates to create political action groups to raise money when campaigning in swing states (B) Employing campaign managers to develop get-out-the-vote strategies for campaigns in swing states (C) Developing strong party platforms that would attract independent and undecided voters in swing states (D) Lobbying state legislatures to shift from a winner-take-all system to a proportional voting system

(D) Lobbying state legislatures to shift from a winner-take-all system to a proportional voting system

In which of the following ways do political parties primarily rely on to finance their election activities? * (A) Parties rely primarily on tax revenue. (B) By winning elections, parties are able to fund government programs they care about. (C) Parties sell posters, stickers, buttons, and other products. (D) Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

(D) Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

Citizens who believe that their votes will have no effect on the outcome of an election have a 1/1 (A) high level of trust in elected officials (B) high level of political participation (C) high level of political interest (D) low level of political efficacy (E) low level of political cynicism

(D) low level of political efficacy

Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years? (A) National parties have become too closely identified with controversial issues. (B) Court decisions have restricted the political parties' abilities to recruit new-members. (C) It is less expensive to join an interest group than to join a political party. (D) Interest groups have been more successful in avoiding negative press coverage than have political parties (E) Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties.

(E) Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties.

Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true? (A) According to the Constitution, only two major political parties may exist at any time. (B) The Constitution requires political parties to be restricted by both federal and state law. (C) The Constitution indicates that political party leaders at the national level be elected by political party leaders at the state level. (D) The Constitution specifies that political party leaders must be native-born United States citizens. (E) The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.

(E) The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.

Compared to voters in a general election, voters in presidential primary elections are (A) less likely to be members of political parties (B) less likely to be well educated (C) likely to be a larger percentage of the voting-age population (D) more likely to be members of ethnic or racial minority groups (E) more likely to be affluent

(E) more likely to be affluent

Which of the following represents a barrier to third parties participating in elections (A)Each state determines its criteria for who is on the ballot (B)The electoral college (C)Single-member districts (D)Winner-take-all systems (E)All of these

(E)All of these

The Constitution, as it was originally made in the late 1700s, (A)set the standards for how political parties should form and get members on ballots for elections (B)had an established criteria for who gets to vote (C)established that there would be a vote for members of the House and Senate as well as the President (D)established that the popular vote would determine the President of the United States (E)none of these

(E)none of these

Which of the following statements about voting behavior in the United States is correct? (A) College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma. (B) Voters under the age of 25 are more likely to vote than are those in any other age group. (C) Registration requirements have no significant effect on voter turnout. (D) Since 1920, the proportion of women who have voted is approximately the same as the proportion of men who have voted. (E) During the twentieth century, the proportion of African Americans who voted was approximately the same as the proportion of White Americans who voted.

A) College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma.