get the gist 9-12
In which two years did a presidential candidate win the Electoral College vote but not the popular vote?
2000 & 2016
What percentage of the vote did Anna end up winning?
57%
How many volunteers did Deidre DeJear have working on her campaign?
700
On average, what percentage of the voting-age population turns out to vote in Sweden?
82%
Roughly what percentage of incumbents win reelection in any given election cycle?
90 percent
Why was protest size more meaningful before the age of social media?
A large protest signified a complex organization capable of months of planning and preparation.
According to the author, how should we measure the significance or success of a protest?
A successful protest is one that serves as the initial spark of future action, whereas an unsuccessful protest is one that signifies the end point of a movement.
What racial/ethnic group has shown the greatest increase in voter participation rates in presidential elections?
African Americans
Which statement BEST describes how the candidates felt about their experience running for office?
All four candidates felt that it was a positive experience and they will continue to advocate for their interests.
Which of the following political systems comes closest to that of a true democracy?
Ancient Greece
What racial/ethnic group consistently turns out to vote at the highest rate in presidential elections?
Anglos
What country has the highest overall level of voter participation among these four countries?
Belgium
In 2000, how was George W. Bush able to win a majority in the Electoral College when Al Gore won the national popular vote?
Bush was able to win a majority in enough states to reach the required number of electoral votes to win, but he won by small margins in those states.
Imagine that you're a presidential candidate from the Republican Party and have to choose one state on which to focus your campaign energy during the last week leading up to the election. Of the following states, which would be the BEST choice if your goal is to have the biggest impact on the outcome of the election?
Florida (29 electoral votes, went Republican in three of the last five elections and Democratic in the other two)
What is one difficulty Pearl Kim faced in her campaign?
Her district was solidly Democratic.
Among which racial group was turnout lowest in the 2016 presidential election?
Hispanic Americans
What distinguishes a closed primary system from an open primary system?
In a closed primary, voters may only vote on the ballot for the party with which they are registered.
Which of the following statements BEST describes the difference in the average amounts raised by incumbents and challengers in 2018 House races?
Incumbents raised about four times as much as challengers did.
Why is it important to seek out more information when voting on initiatives than when voting for officeholders?
Initiatives do not have partisan cues, which can provide a shortcut for decision making.
What impact does winning early primary elections have on candidates?
It builds momentum and excitement among candidates' followers.
According to Christian Ziegler, U.S. senators and representatives cannot be electors. Why does he say this is significant?
It demonstrates that ordinary citizens have a say.
Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president?
It makes it possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote, but still win the presidency.
Which of the following is considered an advantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president?
It preserves federalism as the Founders envisioned it.
Why is voter participation in elections at all levels of government in the United States important?
It promotes the stability of our democracy, it is an opportunity to vote one's preferences, and it is a measure of the accountability of elected representatives.
Supporters of the Electoral College would MOST likely argue which of the following about the Electoral College?
It supports the design of our federal system.
What two racial/ethnic groups are consistently most similar in their rates of voter participation across elections between 1996 and 2016?
Latinos and Asian Americans
Which of the following states does not use a winner-take-all system to determine which party's slate of electors will participate in the Electoral College?
Maine
Which statement BEST compares Morgan Zegers's and Anna Eskamani's views of the 2016 election?
Morgan felt strongly about voting against Hillary Clinton, whereas Anna was more concerned about Donald Trump's divisiveness.
Imagine that Florida held its 2012 presidential primary election on February 15, and North Carolina held its 2012 presidential primary election on February 1. For 2016, Florida moves its primary to January 31, and North Carolina moves its primary to January 25. Is Florida better off?
No, earlier primary elections only matter if they are earlier relative to other states.
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the strength of partisan loyalty?
Only major events or issues cause voters to reevaluate their partisan loyalties.
Based on the data in the Cost of Voting Index, which state has the "easiest" voting system?
Oregon
Which of the following accurately describes the role of modern parties in political campaigns?
Parties exercise less control over electoral politics than in the past.
Which of the following statements about caucuses is true?
Party members attending caucuses often will hear speeches and engage in discussions and negotiations.
What is Deidre's position on voter ID laws?
She isn't necessarily against voter ID laws, but wants the state to consider ways to include people who might be disenfranchised by them.
Which of the following statements represents the views of those who support voter identification laws?
Showing a valid form of identification to vote increases public trust in election outcomes.
According to political scientist Robert Putnam, how did the political environment of the 1950s and 1960s differ from that of the present?
Social capital and civic engagement were higher than they are today.
Which of the following currently pertains to the use of "soft money" in campaigns?
The BCRA banned unregulated soft money donations to political parties.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
The Court ruled that political advertising by corporations could not be restricted by the government.
What was the result of Elizabeth Dole's negative ad about Kay Hagan?
The ad prompted a backlash against Dole by people who thought she'd gone too far.
If a presidential candidate is receiving public funding during the primary and caucus season, that candidate will lose federal funding in which of the following scenarios?
The candidate receives less than 10 percent of the vote in two consecutive primaries.
Which of the following is a method used by parties to select presidential nominees?
The caucus system
Which of the following statements best describes the changes in presidential election turnout expressed in Figure 2?
The highest rate of increase in turnout was between the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
A supporter of the initiative is MOST likely to make which of the following arguments?
The immediate economic impact does not outweigh the potential long-term environmental hazards.
Why does a presidential candidate need 270 votes in order to win an election?
The minimum number required to win a simple majority of the votes in the Electoral College is 270.
Opponents of the Electoral College could use which of the following claims to support their stance?
The president should always be chosen by the popular vote.
Why does the author suggest that President Bush was right to ignore the antiwar protests that occurred before the U.S. invasion of Iraq?
The protestors were unable to translate their movement into success at the ballot box.
In addition to greater fundraising prowess, what else contributes to the electoral advantage enjoyed by incumbents?
Their work in Congress enables them to build name recognition and a good reputation among their constituents.
Which of the following statements BEST describes historical trends in voter turnout?
There has been a general decrease in turnout in U.S. elections, with a few exceptions (such as the 2018 midterms).
Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College?
There is one elector for each of the 435 members of the House and 100 members of the Senate, along with three more for the District of Columbia's congressional delegation.
What characteristics do the Florida electors share?
They are all major players in the state Republican Party.
How do most states currently select their presidential nominees?
They are elected by voters in direct primaries.
How do protestors typically measure effectiveness?
They believe that attention from the media and the public are good measures of effectiveness.
Which of the following is true about positive campaign ads?
They can help candidates solidify their own voting base by making them seem approachable and upstanding.
How do core members use messaging to benefit a protest movement?
They can use messaging to persuade others to join the movement.
What do all of the groups mentioned in this essay have in common?
They cannot coordinate with a candidate's campaign.
Which of the following might be considered a disadvantage of mandatory voting?
Uninformed voters could skew election results.
Battleground states in the 2016 presidential election included which of the following?
Virginia
What might supporters of mandatory voting argue?
Voting is a civic duty.
In general, where does voter participation in U.S. elections rank in comparison with voter participation in Belgium, France, and the UK?
among the lowest percentages
Which of the following candidates would be the MOST likely to encourage the public to engage in retrospective voting?
an incumbent up for reelection when unemployment is low
Which of the following would be considered a basic campaign strategy?
an issue-oriented strategy
What's the difference between the turnout from the voting-age population and the turnout from registered voters in the United States?
around 31%
How many Electoral College votes must a candidate secure in order to win the presidency?
at least 270
Where did the Florida electors meet on December 19, 2016?
at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee
How may a congressional candidate qualify for the state ballot? Choose the BEST answer.
by gathering enough petition signatures to run autonomously of a party
In prospective voting, which of the following would be the MOST likely to be taken into consideration?
campaign promises
Which campaign tactic has been on the decline since the rise of new media?
canvassing voters door-to-door
Which option BEST describes eligible voters?
citizens over 18 years old who are not felons
Individuals and groups have found ways to inject more money into political activity thanks to which of the following?
decisions of the Supreme Court
What change did the researchers suggest would help increase voter turnout the MOST?
easing the burden of voter registration
Which of the following demographic groups exhibits the highest rate of participation in U.S. elections?
elderly voters
The Founders designed the electoral process to do which of the following?
ensure that the government has political legitimacy
How often does the Constitution require elections to be held?
every two years
What is the main goal of frontloading in the electoral process?
exerting more influence over the selection of party presidential nominees
Voter support for incumbents is strongly related to which of the following?
financial security
According to media accounts in the video, why did a record number of women run for office in 2018?
frustration with the White House and desire to make a change
What components of a democratic government do elections serve?
legitimacy and accountability
Electoral reforms of the late 19th century did which of the following?
lessened party control over ballot design
Voter participation rates in the United States are lowest in what type of election?
local elections
Which of the following groups is most affected by voter identification laws?
lower-income, young, and minority voters
What are the three factors that the article cites as determining the success of a protest?
messaging, nonviolence, and organization
What did former House Speaker Tip O'Neill claim was the key to carrying out a successful campaign strategy?
money
In addition to increasing voter turnout, what is another benefit of automatic voter registration?
more accurate and cheaper voting systems
In the 2016 presidential election, roughly what percentage of Democrats and Republicans alike voted for their own party's nominee?
more than 85 percent
In which of the following ways is the United States attempting to make it easier for people to participate in elections?
offering convenience voting
When are the 29 Florida electors officially chosen?
on Election Day
How much of the Senate goes up for reelection every two years?
one-third
If you decide to vote for a candidate because you like what she has promised to do once in office, you are engaging in what type of voting?
prospective
According to the text, what is a potential environmental hazard of fracking?
reduced air quality
The national parties can penalize state parties for ignoring national party rules regarding timing of primaries by doing which of the following?
reducing the number of convention delegates the state receives
What office did Pearl Kim run for?
representative for the Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania
What campaign approach did Morgan Zegers think would help her win over constituents?
running from door to door to meet likely voters
Which of the following would be an example of an extreme protest method?
setting a car on fire
In which of the following forms of protest would Americans be MOST likely to participate?
signing petitions
Which of the following contributed to the shift to candidate-centered campaigns?
technological advancements
What did researchers conclude?
that each factor that restricts access to voting would cause turnout to decline by 3.3 percent
Which constitutional amendment did unconventional participation contribute to the passage of?
the 26th amendment
Campaign financing for federal elections is currently regulated by which of the following?
the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
What inspired Pearl to run for office?
the Me Too movement
What country has experienced the largest overall decline in voter participation rates?
the United Kingdom
Which of the following countries had the lowest voter turnout between 1960 and 2000?
the United States
Which of the following protest movements does the article describe as having a strong organization and a commitment to nonviolence?
the Women's March
In Florida, whom do the electors usually vote for?
the candidate who won the popular vote
A party-centered strategy would be more useful in which of the following?
the general election
What determines the number of electors each state receives?
the number of U.S. senators and representatives from the state
What determines the number of electors that each state receives?
the number of members of Congress the state has, which is partially based on its population
According to the text, what personal characteristics of presidents like Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy helped them to connect with American voters?
their speechmaking abilities
The lowest turnout rate, by education level, in the 2016 election was among which group of Americans?
those who did not complete high school
Which factors are MOST likely to increase the chances that a citizen will participate in politics?
time and money
Why did the McCain campaign select Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008?
to balance the ticket
Why do the parties hold national conventions during presidential election years? Choose the BEST answer.
to establish a party platform and attract media attention to the party and its candidates
Which of the following was the civil rights movement known for?
unconventional forms of participation like sit-ins and marches
What does Shankar Vedantam say is the dilemma facing protestors?
visibility vs. effectiveness
According to the article, which factor has the GREATEST impact on voter turnout?
voter access laws
Which of the following aspects of the U.S. electoral system can affect voter turnout?
voter fatigue
Single-member districts contribute to which of the following?
voters' resistance to "wasting" votes
What does the Consumer Confidence Index use to predict presidential election results?
voters' views on the economy
Which of the following would be considered a form of conventional political participation?
voting
People would be more likely to participate in the political process in which of the following cases?
when someone asks them to get involved
Under what circumstances are congressional elections most competitive?
when there is an open seat
What is the first step in winning the presidency?
winning the most party delegates to support your nomination
Which of the following activities would Americans be LEAST likely to participate in?
working for a campaign
What group of voters saw the largest increase in voter turnout in 2008?
young African Americans
How did the 26th Amendment affect voter turnout?
It expanded the right to vote to include those least likely to exercise it.
According to the electors in the video, what are the benefits of having the Electoral College, instead of the popular vote, determine the presidency?
It forces presidential candidates to run a national campaign.
Which two states traditionally hold the first caucus and primary of the presidential nomination season?
Iowa and New Hampshire
Why are nonviolent protests more effective than violent protests?
Violent protests reduce voter turnout; nonviolent protests do not.
Which of the following statements best describes the data presented in Figure 2?
Voter turnout in U.S. midterm elections was consistent until the last election.
What do the bar graphs in Figure 4 reveal?
Voter turnout is typically highest among citizens 60 and older.
According to Clint Pate, why does the popular vote still count?
Whichever presidential candidate wins the popular vote in the state receives its electoral votes.
What is the Cost of Voting Index?
a collection of data that helps determine the time and effort it takes to vote in each state
Which of the following is the event at which the national party nominees for president are chosen?
a convention
What is the electoral college?
a group of people appointed by each state who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States
What concern from a constituent did Morgan have to address during the debate shown in the video clip?
her lack of experience
In addition to her gender, what factor does Pearl Kim imply to be an issue she must confront during her campaign?
her race
What probably hurt Senator John Kerry's election chances the MOST in the 2004 presidential race?
his reputation as a flip-flopper
According to the text, what is the main qualification party members consider when nominating congressional candidates?
ideological fidelity
Which of the following represented the largest source of funding for the Obama campaign in 2008?
individual donations
Based on the above map of partisan consistency from 2000 to 2016, which of the following might be considered a swing state?
pennslyvaia
Which of the following groups reported the highest levels of voter registration and turnout in 2016?
people with annual incomes of $150,000 and above
Which of the following represents a new way of reaching voters that has become increasingly popular in recent years?
social networking sites
Which of the following considerations tend to diminish differences in voter turnout due to race?
socioeconomic factors
Why was the Tea Party movement effective, according to the article?
It had a strong organization, and its name and message resonated with the American public.
How much did participation in U.S. presidential elections among voters aged 18 to 29 change between 2012 and 2016?
It increased by 1 percent.
Historically, what has been the benefit of local protests?
Local protests have influenced members of Congress.
Overall, how do the four candidates in the videos feel about fundraising?
They dislike it.
Why do many presidential candidates want to win states like Texas, Florida, and New York?
They have large numbers of electoral votes and thus a greater effect on the outcome of an election compared with other states.
What do the states with the highest voter turnout rates have in common?
They have same-day registration.
What was the MOST common reason people give for not registering to vote?
They haven't gotten around to it.
According to Zeynep Tufekci, why is the size of a protest no longer a good measure of a political movement's success?
Today's digital technology makes it far easier to get people together.
What was the average amount spent by candidates who won Senate seats in 2018?
$16 million
How much money had Morgan raised for her campaign at the time of the video?
$37,000
In 2010, what percentage of voters identified themselves as pure independents?
16 percent
Which statement MOST accurately describes voter turnout in Oregon during the 2016 election?
About 37 percent of new voters who were automatically registered to vote were under the age of 30.
How does the automatic voter registration system work in Oregon?
Anyone who interacts with the DMV is automatically added to the state's voter roll and then given a chance to opt out through the mail.
The Electoral College was established in which of the following?
Article II, section 1 of the Constitution
Why, according to the report, do extreme methods make protest movements less effective?
Extreme methods can cause a backlash by making it harder for observers or bystanders to identify with the protestors.
Which of the following countries has mandatory voting but does not enforce it?
France
Which state had the LOWEST voter turnout in 2016?
Hawaii
What was the purpose of the Motor Voter Act?
to make it easier to re-register to vote
