Ch. 9 and 10 Quest
seeking reelection
Incumbents are people who are __________. retiring from office seeking their first election seeking reelection challenging the current office holder. entering politics for the first time
name recognition
Incumbents begin a campaign with greater ___________ than their challengers. name recognition voter support political power political mobilization voter turnout
Independent expenditures
_____________ are expenditures completely separate from the candidate's campaign. Independent expenditures Coordinated expenditures Incumbent expenditures None of these
Coordinated expenditures
______________ are expenditures on behalf of candidates. Incumbent expenditures Coordinated expenditures None of these Independent expenditures
Open primary
A(n) __________ allows any person, regardless of party affiliation, to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice. Open primary Closed primary Convention Delegation Caucus
Closed Primary
A(n) __________ allows only registered party members to cast a ballot for the candidate of their choice. Convention Caucus Delegation Closed Primary Open Primary
That's true, but he must also accept spending limits if he does
A President can "opt-in" and use taxpayer money to fund his campaign. Possible Answers: That's not true; a President must raise his own money. That's true. That's true, but he must also accept spending limits if he does. That's not true; a President has to use his own money.
Primary
A ____________ is a secret-ballot voting procedure—not unlike a regular election—whereby participants use ballots to determine their choice for presidential nominees. Caucus Convention None of the answers are correct Delegation Primary
support
A black, female, PhD candidate is likely to __________ decreased abortion regulations. have a neutral opinion on support oppose None of these answers. These demographic categories (race, education, gender) have no documented affect on voter behavior.
caucus
A meeting of local party members in order to decide which issues to focus on and to select candidates for elections is called a __________. lobby college secondary primary caucus
ensuring that the election process is fair and involves no chicanery
A poll watcher is tasked with __________. determining the results of exit polls for the media ensuring that the election process is fair and involves no chicanery ensuring that campaign finances are kept within legal limits counting the votes manually in the event of a miscount or misconduct in the electoral proceedings projecting the results of a campaign in the months leading up to an election
False, for much of US history women and less than half of the free adult male population could vote
America has always had free and open elections in which everyone could vote. True, for most of US history universal suffrage has been in place None of these False, for much of US history women and less than half of the free adult male population could vote False, universal suffrage was not passed in the US until the 1950s
less likely
An 18 year old is __________ to vote as a 65 year old. more likely None of these answers. This demographic category (age) has no bearing on voter behavior. just as likely less likely
literacy tests
During the late 19th century and into the 20th century, a common form of voter discrimination of African Americans was _______________. Possible Answers: property requirements poll taxes literacy tests citizenship test white primaries
A process of selecting the President and Vice President based on the electoral votes of the people of each state
Every four years the American people vote for a President and Vice President but the actual election of the Executive is by the vote of the Electoral College. What is the Electoral College? Possible Answers: A group of college deans selected to oversee the election to avoid voter fraud An oversight board appointed by Congress to verify the election A committee of the House of Representatives that validates the election A committee composed of the governors of each state that counts the votes in their state then submits the votes to the President of the Senate A process of selecting the President and Vice President based on the electoral votes of the people of each state
actually caused a decrease in measured voter turnout
Extending the franchise to 18-year olds has ______________. actually caused a decrease in measured voter turnout caused a significant increase in measured voter turnout not altered voter turnout at all caused a minor increase in measured vote turnout
white male property owners
Generally, the Founders believed the only group with a sufficient stake in society to exercise their vote responsibly were _______________. Possible Answers: white men and women everyone only the educated white and black men white male property owners
a campaign initiated by the common person to affect government policy
Grassroots is best described as __________. Possible Answers: a collaboration between special interest groups and congressional committees designed to enact specific legislation a judicial decision designed to further extend civil rights to disenfranchised groups a judicial decision designed to increase the power of the Federal government a campaign initiated by the common person to affect government policy an impeachment movement that begins in a localized political center
Hard money is given directly to the candidate, whereas soft money is given to the party.
How does a soft-money campaign contribution differ from a hard money campaign contribution? Hard money is generally considered equivalent to a bribe, whereas soft money is more like a donation. Hard money is given to the party, whereas soft money is given directly to the candidate. Hard money is approved only for the purposes of campaign logistics, whereas soft money can be used for any purpose. Hard money is illegal in contemporary times, whereas soft money remains legal. Hard money is given directly to the candidate, whereas soft money is given to the party.
270
How many electoral votes are needed for a candidate to earn an absolute majority in the Electoral College and be elected President of the United States? 270 51 101 150 210
None of the answers are correct
How much of the popular vote must a presidential candidate receive, constitutionally speaking, to win the election? Supermajority Majority None of the answers are correct Plurality 3/4 ths majority
Twenty-five in the House; thirty in the Senate.
How old do you have to be to serve office in the House of Representatives and in the Senate? Twenty-three in the House; thirty-five in the Senate. Thirty in the House; thirty-five in the Senate. Twenty-five in the Senate; thirty in the House. Twenty-five in the House; thirty in the Senate. Thirty-five in the Senate; forty in the House.
Republican Party
If a voter is a white, male, college graduate, which party is he MOST LIKELY to vote for? Green Party Libertarian Party Republican Party Democratic Party
The House of Representatives
If neither presidential candidate in a general election receives the necessary number of votes in the electoral college, then the new president is selected by The Popular Vote The House of Representatives State Legislatures The Supreme Court The Senate
only party members may vote
In a closed primary, __________. party members and independent voters may vote the incumbent is automatically reelected the representative is decided by officials within the party voting is extended to all eligible voters only party members may vote
workers must be union members throughout their employment.
In a closed-shop company __________ Possible Answers: workers must be union members throughout their employment. workers cannot join or start a union throughout their employment. The United States government provides funding to support the company. every decision taken by the company has to be ratified by the shareholders. shareholders have little to no say in the running of the company.
there is no incumbent candidate
In an open-seat election __________. the media controls who will get elected the President is able to choose his favored candidate for election there is an opportunity for an independent candidate to gain a seat there is no incumbent candidate there is an equal split among the eligible voters for both parties
political party identification
In order to be qualified to vote in the United States, one must have all of the following except _____________. None of these answers is correct. U.S. citizenship or proof of residency identification showing them to be at least 18 years of age voter registration in their state political party identification
women and minorities
In the 1992 elections, the membership of Congress was dramatically altered by an increase in the number of __________. Possible Answers: independents and environmentalists women and minorities conservative Democrats moderate Republicans liberal Republicans
Threats of Violence
In the latter half of the nineteenth century, many states imposed Jim Crow laws, including electoral restrictions in an effort to prevent non-white citizens from voting. Which of the following was NOT a voter suppression tactic enacted by municipal and state governments? Evidence of Residency Records Literacy Tests Poll Taxes Grandfather Clauses Threats of Violence
mobilize those that already support a candidate
In their impact, campaigns act less to inform all voters than to ______________. Possible Answers: sway undecided voters defeat opponents discredit the opposition mobilize those that already support a candidate indoctrinate voters
The 1968 election
In what election did a third-party last win at least one state? The 1964 election The 1976 election The 1992 election The 1968 election The 1980 election
All of the answers are correct
Incumbents benefit from a variety of different advantages, such as ___________. Possible Answers: All of the answers are correct "war chest" financing the franking privilege name recognition
White Protestants
Liberal voting patterns are least likely to be followed by which of these social or ethnic groups? African-Americans White atheists White Catholics White Protestants Hispanic-Americans
Voting Age Population . . . Voting Eligible Population
Measuring turnout by __________ tends to yield a far smaller percentage than measuring turnout by ___________. Voting Age Population . . . population Voting Eligible Population . . . Voting Age Population Voting Age Population . . . Voting Eligible Population None of the above
six years.
Members of the United States Senate are elected to terms which last three years. two years. four years. five years. six years.
at higher rate rates
More educated people tend to vote __________ less educated people. at a lower rate than at higher rate rates at a substantially lower rate than at the exact same rate as
Two of these answers are correct.
Negative campaigning __________. works—people pay attention to them is not effective Two of these answers are correct. focuses on attacking a candidate's opponent rather than highlighting how the candidate is fit for the job
Martin Luther King Jr.
Non-violent civil disobedience is most closely associated with which American reformer? Possible Answers: Ralph Nader William Jennings Bryan Susan B. Anthony Martin Luther King Jr. Theodore Roosevelt
increased military spending
Someone who describes themselves as "liberal" would be least likely to vote for __________. increased military spending an increase in gay rights and marriage equality higher tax rates for the wealthy increased government spending on education W=women's rights to contraception and abortion
15th . . . 1965 Voting Rights Act
Suffrage for black men was not technically achieved until the passage of the __________ amendment, however, suffrage for all blacks was not truly achieved until the passage of the __________. 14th . . . Plessy v. Ferguson 15th . . . 1965 Voting Rights Act 14th . . . Brown v. Board of Education 15th . . . Civil Rights Act of 1964
reduce the impact of bribery and intimidation by ensuring voter privacy
The Australian Ballot was primarily established to ____________. reduce the impact of bribery and intimidation by ensuring voter privacy simplify the voting process by highlighting with which party a candidate was affiliated prevent African Americans in the South from voting during the Reconstruction Era increase the number of women voting encourage a higher political turnout among the poor and working class
Registered voters
The President of the United States is elected through an institution called the Electoral College. The amount of votes in the Electoral College correspond to all of the following, except __________. Electors from the District of Columbia House of Representatives None of the other answers is correct. Senators Registered voters
poorer areas support the Republican Party and wealthier areas support the Democratic Party
The Reverse-Income Effect refers to the fact that __________. as immigration rates increase the average income of the immigrant population tends to decline since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the income equality in the United States has expanded dramatically as taxation is raised on the wealthiest in society the economy tends to perform worse poorer areas support the Republican Party and wealthier areas support the Democratic Party Americans believe in keeping taxes low for the wealthiest in society because they might one day be wealthy and would not want to pay high taxes
straight-ticket voting
The action of voting exclusively for members of one political party on an election ballot is called __________. dependent voting line-item voting straight-ticket voting swing voting reserved voting
the state legislature
The boundaries of congressional districts are decided by __________. the governor's office the state legislature The Supreme Court of The United States The Department of the Interior the lower courts of the Judicial Branch
been extended both by natural extension and also by Constitutional amendment
The franchise has ___________. been extended both by natural extension and also by Constitutional amendment never been extended by Constitutional amendment None of these answers are true, franchise rights are not affected or governed by the Constitution. only ever been extended by Constitutional amendment
I and II
The general public directly elects I) the Senate. II) the House of Representatives. III) Supreme Court Justices. IV) the President. V) the Vice-President. Possible Answers: I and II IV and V I, II, III, and V I, II, III, IV, and V I, II, and V
limit the power of labor unions
The intention of the Taft-Hartley Act (1947) was to __________. Possible Answers: limit the power of labor unions support the growth of labor unions support the growth of affirmative action programs support the extension of higher education to a greater number of Americans limit the power of affirmative action programs
the number of members of Congress plus three electors representing the District of Columbia.
The number of members of the Electoral College is determined by the number of members of Congress. an equal number of electors for each state. previous presidential election results. the number of members of Congress plus three electors representing the District of Columbia. the full population of the United States.
Retiring and defeated legislators may propose and vote on laws
The period of time from Election Day to the date new legislators are sworn into office is called the "lame duck" period. During the "lame duck" period, which of the following can occur? Retiring and defeated legislators may propose and vote on laws The President issues Executive Orders which become law automatically without review by the state legislatures No laws are passed Newly elected legislators can propose and vote on laws The Supreme Court passes the laws
maintaining a strong economy and Prohibition.
The primary issues of the 1928 election were __________ preventing the Great Depression from spiralling out of control and Prohibition. maintaining a strong economy and Prohibition. World War Two and preventing the Great Depression from worsening. World War Two and anti-Catholic sentiment. Prohibition and anti-Catholic sentiment.
the Consumer Price Index
The primary measure of inflation is referred to as __________. Possible Answers: the national debt the Consumer Price Index the import-export margin deficit spending the Gross Domestic Product
States moving their primaries earlier and earlier to have more influence on the outcome
The term "frontloading" refers to which of the following? The allocation of the most funds to the states that joined the Union first States moving their primaries earlier and earlier to have more influence on the outcome More voters showing up for presidential elections than midterm elections Writing the most important items into the beginning of pieces of legislation The President passing as many laws as he can in the first 100 days of his term
incumbents
The vast majority of congressional elections are won by __________. incumbents Republicans Independents Democrats newcomers
Money, media attention, and momentum
What are the three most crucial factors that a candidate needs to successfully win their party's nomination? Possible Answers: A campaign manager, a press secretary, and pollsters Integrity, reliability, and decisiveness Money, media attention, and momentum Money, insider party knowledge, and good press coverage
steadily declined
Voter turnout has generally __________ throughout American history? stayed about the same sharply increased steadily increased sharply declined steadily declined
actual voters in relation to the number of people eligible to register and vote
Voter turnout is best defined as the number of ________________. Possible Answers: people who cast a ballot in any given election people registered to vote in relation to the number of actual voters actual voters in relation to the number of people eligible to register and vote non-voters in relation to the number of people eligible and able to vote people eligible to register and vote in relation to the number of actual voters
Do I vote? And if yes, how?
What are the two most basic choices which every voter must make at election time? Possible Answers: Do I like any of the candidates? Do I hate any of the candidates? Do I vote? And if yes, how? Is voting going to change my life in any meaningful way? Am I happy or am I dissatisfied with the current direction in which I perceive my nation to be heading? Do any of the current campaign issues affect my personal life and/or status? Is the polling place easy to access?
The top three contenders get tossed into the House of Representatives
What happens if no presidential candidate wins an absolute majority in the Electoral College? The top three contenders get tossed into the House of Representatives None of the answers are correct The governors all band together and decide The old president keeps serving until the states sort it out Everyone votes again
The politically-charged process by which state legislatures use redistricting to draw district lines in ways that favor the party in power.
What is gerrymandering? Possible Answers: The politically-charged process by which the state legislatures use redistricting to draw district lines to favor the election of US Senators within the state The politically-charged process by which state legislatures use redistricting to draw district lines in ways that favor the party in power. None of the answers are correct A non-controversial process by which the states use reapportionment to change the number of electors each state has The politically-charged process by which the federal legislature uses redistricting to draw district lines in ways that favor the party in power
A plurality vote means simply getting the highest percentage of the vote, whereas a majority vote means must be greater than 50%
What is the difference between a plurality vote and a majority vote? A plurality means getting at least 23 of the vote, whereas a majority means getting the highest percentage of the votes All of the answers are correct A plurality can elect the President, but only a majority can elect a Supreme Court justice A plurality vote means simply getting the highest percentage of the vote, whereas a majority vote means must be greater than 50% A plurality means greater than 1% and less than 10%, whereas a majority means anything over 50%
Reapportionment is the process by which House members are apportioned among the states according to population/redistricting is the process by which states redraw district lines
What is the difference between reapportionment and redistricting? Reapportionment is named after Elbridge Gerry/redistricting is named after John Marshall Reapportionment is the process by which House members are apportioned among the states according to population/redistricting is the process by which states redraw district lines None of the answers are correct Reapportionment is the process by which states redraw district lines/redistricting is the process by which House members are apportioned among the states according to population Reapportionment happens once every two censuses/redistricting rarely ever happens
3
What is the very lowest number of electors a state can possibly have? 5 2 3 4 1
Political maneuvering by Henry Clay and J.Q. Adams through which J.Q. Adams became president
What was the "corrupt bargain" of 1824? Possible Answers: None of the answers are correct Political maneuvering by Henry Clay and J.Q. Adams through which J.Q. Adams became president Political maneuvering by Henry Clay and J.Q. Adams through which Henry Clay became president The reason that William H. Crawford became president Political maneuvering by Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay through which Andrew Jackson became president
A diverse group of interests, including southerners and northerners, Catholics and Baptists, and union members and farmers, woven together by FDR during the New Deal
What was the New Deal coalition? A diverse group of interests, including southerners and northerners, Catholics and Baptists, and union members and farmers, woven together by FDR during the New Deal The Republican party during the New Deal A coalition of mainly businesspeople that banded together to support the New Deal None of the answers are correct A diverse group of interests, including northerners, businesspeople, Protestants and others that supported FDR's impeachment
engaging in negative campaigning
When candidates exploit their opponents' weaknesses, they are ______________. Possible Answers: using issue ads engaging in informative ads franking doing market research engaging in negative campaigning
1876
Which Presidential election has had the highest voter turnout, by percentage of total eligible voters, in United States history? 2008 1930 1964 1876 1980
The Legislative Branch
Which branch of government contains two different bodies of representatives who create bills and other pieces of legislation? Possible Answers: The Legislative Branch The President and their Cabinet The House of Representatives The Executive Branch The Judicial Branch
The 26th amendment
Which constitutional amendment gave 18-year-olds the right to vote? The 25th amendment The 23rd amendment The 24th Amendment The 22nd amendment The 26th amendment
Both media personalities and judges
Which of the following categories of people are not included in the iron triangle? Possible Answers: Both media personalities and judges Bureaucrats Judges Lobbyists Media personalities
Less educated Americans
Which of the following groups is more typically a non-voting group? Possible Answers: Most educated Americans Low-income Americans Less educated Americans High-income Americans Middle-income Americans
Party identification
Which of the following is most often the best predictor of an individual's voting behavior? Possible Answers: Individual evaluations made of each candidate Socioeconomic status Party identification Religious affiliation
soft money
Which of the following is not a currently legally allowable method of campaign financing? 527 groups Political Action Committees 501(c) groups Soft money
Candidates were banned from accepting donations from any large corporations or union sponsorships
Which of the following is not one of the outcomes of the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act? Strict limitations were placed on individual monetary contributions to both presidential and congressional campaigns Partial public financing and matching funds were provided for presidential primaries Full disclosure of campaign expenditures to the Federal Election Commission became mandatory for all candidates Candidates were banned from accepting donations from any large corporations or union sponsorships
Policy issues which divide the allegiances of a party's membership and/or voters
Which of the following is the best definition of so-called "wedge issues?" Policy issues which one party uses to attack the credibility and/or voting record of the opposition Policy issues which are deemed too controversial for either parties' nominees to willingly discuss Parts of a party platform which the presidential nominee supports but their corresponding party leadership does not Policy issues which divide the allegiances of a party's membership and/or voters
Age, gender, and education level
Which of the following options list some of the most crucial demographic factors related to voter turnout? Possible Answers: Geographic location, party affiliation, and civic involvement Religious affiliation, immediate familial size, and military status Age, gender, and education level Economic position and parental/familial status
If no candidate receives an Electoral College majority, the election is thrown to the Supreme Court for the final decision.
Which of the following statements about the Electoral College is false? The winner-take-all nature of the Electoral College forces candidates to focus on winning those states where polls indicate a close contest is taking place among voters. The Electoral College vote usually, but not always, reflects the current popular majority vote. If no candidate receives an Electoral College majority, the election is thrown to the Supreme Court for the final decision. The less populated states are overrepresented due to a Constitutional provision granting each state two electors (regardless of population).
The mass media's focus on the so-called "horse race" of campaigns is very helpful to voters who engage in policy voting.
Which of the following statements is false? Possible Answers: The electoral process now provides increased incentive for candidates to clearly state their differences of opinion when contrasted to their opponents. Candidates are usually able to get away with clouding their statements on policy positions. The mass media's focus on the so-called "horse race" of campaigns is very helpful to voters who engage in policy voting. Since the 1960s, it has gradually become easier for voters to vote according to policies.
The New Hampshire state primary tends to place importance on the effectiveness of each candidate's image, while the Iowa caucus focuses on vote-getting ability.
Which of the following statements is true? Caucuses tend to attract slightly more voter participation than primaries. Frontloading of primaries has been recently outlawed by Congress in an attempt to stop states from trying to outmaneuver each other and to keep candidates from being rendered obsolete by the year's midway point. The New Hampshire state primary tends to place importance on the effectiveness of each candidate's image, while the Iowa caucus focuses on vote-getting ability. Superdelegates wield great political influence and often prove decisive when it comes to choosing final party nominees for the presidency, even sometimes overturning the people's choices.
Blanket primary
Which of the following types of elections can be described as "an election before the general election in which voters choose the top two candidates regardless of their political parties"? General election Closed primary Open primary Blanket primary Referendum
Party leadership was no longer allowed exist and was entirely dismantled
Which of the following was not one of the historic party-convention-reforming outcomes of the 1968 McGovern-Fraser Commission? States were required to select delegates based on either the primary or caucus methods Party conventions became more open to mass public influence and more equitable in representation Convention delegates were no longer allowed to be chosen in secrecy Party leadership was no longer allowed exist and was entirely dismantled
balancing the ticket and appealing to a wider spectrum of voters
Which of these concerns primarily determines the person a Presidential candidate chooses as his Vice-Presidential running mate? choosing a candidate devoted to the party and who is exceedingly loyal appealing to young people finding an individual who has a great deal of experience in Congress appealing to the staunchest supporters of the Presidential candidate's party base balancing the ticket and appealing to a wider spectrum of voters
Renters
Which of these demographic groups is least likely to vote in an election? Religious people Wealthy people University-educated people Homeowners Renters
Ohio
Which of these is a contemporary swing state? New York Ohio California Idaho Wisconsin
A rise in the number of votes for an independent candidate
Which of these is most likely to be the result of a dealignment election? The President is replaced after his first term A divided government A fall in the number of votes for an independent candidate A dramatic decline of the percentage of the population who participates in the election A rise in the number of votes for an independent candidate
People with a higher income are more likely to vote in an election.
Which of these statements about political participation is true? Minorities are more likely to vote Republican. Women are less likely to vote Democrat. Evangelical Christians are less likely to vote in an election. People with a higher income are more likely to vote in an election. Well-educated people are less likely to vote in an election.
Younger people are more likely to vote than older people
Which of these statements about the likelihood of various groups voting is not true? Married people are more likely to vote than single people. Wealthy people are more likely to vote than poor people. Well-educated people are more likely to vote than those with no higher education. Younger people are more likely to vote than older people.
U.S. Representative
Which office can a candidate run for even if the candidate does not live within that district? National Postal Advisory Board Member Federal Election Commission District Representative U.S. Representative U.S. Senate
President
Which position requires that the holder be a natural born citizen of the United States of America? Speaker of the House President Secretary of State Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Nebraska and Maine
Which two states do not employ a winner-takes-all approach to their representation in presidential elections? Maine and California Wyoming and Tennessee Texas and California Nebraska and Maine Texas and Nebraska
Presidential Electors
Who elects the President of the United States? Presidential Electors American Citizens The U.S. Congress All residents of the United States
George W. Bush in 2000
Who was the last President to get elected without winning the popular vote? Bill Clinton in 1992 George W. Bush in 2000 George W. Bush in 2004 Barack Obama in 2008 Barack Obama in 2012
It is each and every American citizen's duty to vote and engage in the political process.
he phrase, "Civic Duty," refers to the idea that __________. It is the duty of every representative to act in the best interests of the district which elects him or her. It is every American citizen's duty to pick a candidate who will serve the greatest good of the nation. It is each and every American citizen's duty to vote and engage in the political process. The media has a duty to report responsibly on the armed forces whenever America is engaged in a state of war. The media has a responsibility to report on elections with equal and fair treatment.
