Question 1

Why are elections in the United States called "first past the post"?

Accepted Answer

A)  It means that the person with the most votes, not necessarily a majority, wins the election. 
B)  It means that elections in the United States are hard to predict, like horseracing. 
C)  It means that the person with the majority of votes wins, unless it is the presidential election. 
D)  It means that the post (the electoral college) is the only determinant for elections in the United States. 
E)  It means that, like horseracing, elections take place quickly in the United States as opposed to other democratic nations. 
A)  It means that the person with the most votes, not necessarily a majority, wins the election. 
B)  It means that elections in the United States are hard to predict, like horseracing. 
C)  It means that the person with the majority of votes wins, unless it is the presidential election. 
D)  It means that the post (the electoral college) is the only determinant for elections in the United States. 
E)  It means that, like horseracing, elections take place quickly in the United States as opposed to other democratic nations.

Question 2

Name some significant expansions of the franchise in American politics and when they occurred.

Accepted Answer

In the 1820s and 1830s, most property an

Question 3

There is a ________ bias in both political participation and voting in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is a ________ bias in both...

Question 4

The Seventeenth Amendment

Accepted Answer

A)  gave women the right to vote. 
B)  repealed prohibition. 
C)  gave minorities the right to vote. 
D)  ended slavery. 
E)  gave people the power to directly elect US Senators. 
A)  gave women the right to vote. 
B)  repealed prohibition. 
C)  gave minorities the right to vote. 
D)  ended slavery. 
E)  gave people the power to directly elect US Senators.

Question 5

Which of the following is an assumption of the electoral reward and punishment voting model?

Accepted Answer

A)  Politicians who want to stay in office have strong incentives to bring about peace and prosperity. 
B)  Each of the parties is cohesive and unified. 
C)  Citizens vote on the basis of how well they like the party's candidates. 
D)  Parties may or may not do what they say they will do. 
E)  Both parties distrust the other. 
A)  Politicians who want to stay in office have strong incentives to bring about peace and prosperity. 
B)  Each of the parties is cohesive and unified. 
C)  Citizens vote on the basis of how well they like the party's candidates. 
D)  Parties may or may not do what they say they will do. 
E)  Both parties distrust the other.

Question 6

How are election rules different in the U.S. than those of other democratic nations?

Accepted Answer

Election rules in the United States diff

Question 7

Which of the following is a factor that distinguishes U.S. elections from those of other countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  Other countries designate election days as holidays to encourage voter participation. 
B)  In the United States, the election to fill each office is separate and independent from elections for other offices. 
C)  Elected officials for government positions have fixed terms of office. 
D)  The United States has more elections than any other democratic country. 
E)  All of the above are true 
A)  Other countries designate election days as holidays to encourage voter participation. 
B)  In the United States, the election to fill each office is separate and independent from elections for other offices. 
C)  Elected officials for government positions have fixed terms of office. 
D)  The United States has more elections than any other democratic country. 
E)  All of the above are true

Question 8

If electoral competition drives parties together towards the median of public opinion, then, in theory, it should not matter which party wins because the winner will enact the policies that most voters want.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The United States has higher voter turnout rates than any European country.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What is the system for selecting delegates to the national party conventions characterized by neighborhood and area-wide meetings of party supporters and activists known as?

Accepted Answer

A)  the caucus nominating system 
B)  a primary election 
C)  unconventional participation 
D)  the franchise system 
E)  the median voting system 
A)  the caucus nominating system 
B)  a primary election 
C)  unconventional participation 
D)  the franchise system 
E)  the median voting system

Question 11

Voting turnout in the United States is exceptionally ________ compared with other modern industrialized nations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Voting turnout in the United States is...

Question 12

The highest voter turnout rate in American history was achieved in 1960.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Demonstrations, boycotts, and the like are called ________ political participation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Demonstrations, boycotts, and the like are called...

Question 14

In recent years, presidents have been elected largely from the ranks of ________, vice-presidents, and senators.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In recent years, presidents have been elected...

Question 15

A normal vote refers to the proportion of the votes that each party would win if party were the only factor that affected voting decisions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Highly educated people are more confident in their ability to affect political life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The theory of electoral reward and punishment predicts that in elections,

Accepted Answer

A)  political parties will take similar positions. 
B)  political parties will take clear, unambiguous positions. 
C)  voters will vote based on how well the incumbent party satisfied them. 
D)  voters will vote mostly according to party identification. 
E)  political parties will act responsibly. 
A)  political parties will take similar positions. 
B)  political parties will take clear, unambiguous positions. 
C)  voters will vote based on how well the incumbent party satisfied them. 
D)  voters will vote mostly according to party identification. 
E)  political parties will act responsibly.

Question 18

It is possible that because voters differ substantially from nonvoters that

Accepted Answer

A)  mobilizing nonvoters should produce different policies. 
B)  having nonvoters vote would not have much effect on policies because they would cancel out the influence of regular voters. 
C)  it really does not matter who participates because voting does not have any real influence on policymakers. 
D)  elections should be held more frequently so that nonvoters would be encouraged to participate. 
E)  elections are not truly democratic unless all participate. 
A)  mobilizing nonvoters should produce different policies. 
B)  having nonvoters vote would not have much effect on policies because they would cancel out the influence of regular voters. 
C)  it really does not matter who participates because voting does not have any real influence on policymakers. 
D)  elections should be held more frequently so that nonvoters would be encouraged to participate. 
E)  elections are not truly democratic unless all participate.

Question 19

Elections are important controlling mechanisms in ________ like the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  representative democracies 
B)  direct democracies 
C)  managerial regimes 
D)  multiparty systems 
E)  governing democracies 
A)  representative democracies 
B)  direct democracies 
C)  managerial regimes 
D)  multiparty systems 
E)  governing democracies

Question 20

Where is party loyalty the greatest predictor of how a person will vote?

Accepted Answer

A)  in state and local races 
B)  in Senate races 
C)  in presidential races 
D)  in presidential primaries 
E)  in electoral college races 
A)  in state and local races 
B)  in Senate races 
C)  in presidential races 
D)  in presidential primaries 
E)  in electoral college races

Why are elections in the United States called "first past the post"?

Name some significant expansions of the franchise in American politics and when they occurred.

There is a ________ bias in both political participation and voting in the United States.

The Seventeenth Amendment

Which of the following is an assumption of the electoral reward and punishment voting model?

How are election rules different in the U.S. than those of other democratic nations?

Which of the following is a factor that distinguishes U.S. elections from those of other countries?

If electoral competition drives parties together towards the median of public opinion, then, in theory, it should not matter which party wins because the winner will enact the policies that most voters want.

The United States has higher voter turnout rates than any European country.

What is the system for selecting delegates to the national party conventions characterized by neighborhood and area-wide meetings of party supporters and activists known as?

Voting turnout in the United States is exceptionally ________ compared with other modern industrialized nations.

The highest voter turnout rate in American history was achieved in 1960.

Demonstrations, boycotts, and the like are called ________ political participation.

In recent years, presidents have been elected largely from the ranks of ________, vice-presidents, and senators.

A normal vote refers to the proportion of the votes that each party would win if party were the only factor that affected voting decisions.

Highly educated people are more confident in their ability to affect political life.

The theory of electoral reward and punishment predicts that in elections,

It is possible that because voters differ substantially from nonvoters that

Elections are important controlling mechanisms in ________ like the United States.

Where is party loyalty the greatest predictor of how a person will vote?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 10: Participation Voting, and Elections

Why are elections in the United States called "first past the post"?

Name some significant expansions of the franchise in American politics and when they occurred.

There is a ________ bias in both political participation and voting in the United States.

The Seventeenth Amendment

Which of the following is an assumption of the electoral reward and punishment voting model?

How are election rules different in the U.S. than those of other democratic nations?

Which of the following is a factor that distinguishes U.S. elections from those of other countries?

If electoral competition drives parties together towards the median of public opinion, then, in theory, it should not matter which party wins because the winner will enact the policies that most voters want.

The United States has higher voter turnout rates than any European country.

What is the system for selecting delegates to the national party conventions characterized by neighborhood and area-wide meetings of party supporters and activists known as?

Voting turnout in the United States is exceptionally ________ compared with other modern industrialized nations.

The highest voter turnout rate in American history was achieved in 1960.

Demonstrations, boycotts, and the like are called ________ political participation.

In recent years, presidents have been elected largely from the ranks of ________, vice-presidents, and senators.

A normal vote refers to the proportion of the votes that each party would win if party were the only factor that affected voting decisions.

Highly educated people are more confident in their ability to affect political life.

The theory of electoral reward and punishment predicts that in elections,

It is possible that because voters differ substantially from nonvoters that

Elections are important controlling mechanisms in ________ like the United States.

Where is party loyalty the greatest predictor of how a person will vote?

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Social Safety Nets

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters