Question 1

A ______ is a media format in which candidates meet with ordinary citizens, without the input of journalists or commentators.

Accepted Answer

A)  town hall meeting 
B)  spot ad 
C)  infomercial 
D)  photo op 
E)  caucus 
A)  town hall meeting 
B)  spot ad 
C)  infomercial 
D)  photo op 
E)  caucus

Question 2

For the presidential primaries, most but not all state parties use what type of election?

Accepted Answer

A)  winner-take-all 
B)  proportional representation 
C)  majority rules 
D)  the unitary system 
E)  plurality 
A)  winner-take-all 
B)  proportional representation 
C)  majority rules 
D)  the unitary system 
E)  plurality

Question 3

Which party has reserved slots at the national convention for elected superdelegates?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Republicans 
B)  the Democrats 
C)  the Greens 
D)  the Reform Party 
E)  the Independents 
A)  the Republicans 
B)  the Democrats 
C)  the Greens 
D)  the Reform Party 
E)  the Independents

Question 4

When the Supreme Court announced the principle of "one person, one vote," what did it mean?

Accepted Answer

A)  Voters may only vote once in an election. 
B)  Within a state, electoral districts must have roughly equal populations. 
C)  No one could be denied suffrage on the basis of race or gender. 
D)  Voting was an individual right, not a group right. 
E)  Compulsory voting is constitutional. 
A)  Voters may only vote once in an election. 
B)  Within a state, electoral districts must have roughly equal populations. 
C)  No one could be denied suffrage on the basis of race or gender. 
D)  Voting was an individual right, not a group right. 
E)  Compulsory voting is constitutional.

Question 5

How many times in American history has the presidential candidate who won the most popular votes not been selected by the electoral college?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  3 
C)  5 
D)  8 
E)  10 
A)  0 
B)  3 
C)  5 
D)  8 
E)  10

Question 6

During the earliest years of the United States, who nominated the candidates for president?

Accepted Answer

A)  The incumbent president chose both candidates. 
B)  Members of the major political parties chose their own nominees. 
C)  Nominations were controlled by each party's congressional caucus. 
D)  Political machine bosses controlled the entire nominating process. 
E)  State legislatures selected one candidate from each party. 
A)  The incumbent president chose both candidates. 
B)  Members of the major political parties chose their own nominees. 
C)  Nominations were controlled by each party's congressional caucus. 
D)  Political machine bosses controlled the entire nominating process. 
E)  State legislatures selected one candidate from each party.

Question 7

The boundaries of legislative districts in the United States are to be redrawn every ______ years.

Accepted Answer

A)  two 
B)  four 
C)  six 
D)  ten 
E)  twelve 
A)  two 
B)  four 
C)  six 
D)  ten 
E)  twelve

Question 8

Private groups that raise and distribute funds for election campaigns are called

Accepted Answer

A)  corporations. 
B)  political parties. 
C)  political action committees (PACs). 
D)  political consulting firms. 
E)  executive agencies. 
A)  corporations. 
B)  political parties. 
C)  political action committees (PACs). 
D)  political consulting firms. 
E)  executive agencies.

Question 9

The electoral college is a form of indirect voting.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

PACs can make larger campaign contributions than individuals are legally allowed to make.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Why did many members of Congress vote to ban advocacy groups from running ads that mention a candidate's name within thirty days of a primary election and sixty days of a general election?

Accepted Answer

A)  They thought that the ban would eliminate the importance of money in politics. 
B)  They thought that the ban would make the system of American elections more consistent with the campaign requirements specified in the Constitution. 
C)  They thought that the ban would make it less likely for wealthy advocacy groups to flood the media with ads and unfairly influence the outcome of elections. 
D)  They thought that the ban would make it more difficult for opponents to defeat incumbents. 
E)  They thought that the ban would increase the number of people who vote in elections. 
A)  They thought that the ban would eliminate the importance of money in politics. 
B)  They thought that the ban would make the system of American elections more consistent with the campaign requirements specified in the Constitution. 
C)  They thought that the ban would make it less likely for wealthy advocacy groups to flood the media with ads and unfairly influence the outcome of elections. 
D)  They thought that the ban would make it more difficult for opponents to defeat incumbents. 
E)  They thought that the ban would increase the number of people who vote in elections.

Question 12

What is a referendum?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the congressional election held between presidential elections. 
B)  It is the right and power to vote. 
C)  It is the practice of voting directly for proposed laws. 
D)  It is the process by which a party selects its candidates for the general election. 
E)  It is the process by which voters are allowed to remove state officials from office before their term expires. 
A)  It is the congressional election held between presidential elections. 
B)  It is the right and power to vote. 
C)  It is the practice of voting directly for proposed laws. 
D)  It is the process by which a party selects its candidates for the general election. 
E)  It is the process by which voters are allowed to remove state officials from office before their term expires.

Question 13

Who is the incumbent?

Accepted Answer

A)  the current officeholder, running for re-election 
B)  the candidate who raises the most money during the campaign 
C)  the official candidate for a political party, running in the general elections 
D)  the label for whoever is leading in the polls on the day of the election 
E)  the name given to a candidate who is running against a current officeholder in an election 
A)  the current officeholder, running for re-election 
B)  the candidate who raises the most money during the campaign 
C)  the official candidate for a political party, running in the general elections 
D)  the label for whoever is leading in the polls on the day of the election 
E)  the name given to a candidate who is running against a current officeholder in an election

Question 14

Approximately how much money does it take for a candidate to have a reasonable chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

A)  $50,000 
B)  $100,000 
C)  $500,000 
D)  $5,000,000 
E)  $10,000,000 
A)  $50,000 
B)  $100,000 
C)  $500,000 
D)  $5,000,000 
E)  $10,000,000

Question 15

The effort by political candidates and their staff to win backing and support by voters in the quest for political office is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  incumbency. 
B)  campaign. 
C)  caucus. 
D)  platform. 
E)  national convention. 
A)  incumbency. 
B)  campaign. 
C)  caucus. 
D)  platform. 
E)  national convention.

Question 16

Before the post-World War II era, dark-horse candidates were most likely to arise at a national convention when

Accepted Answer

A)  deadlocks between major factions developed. 
B)  no other candidate wanted the nomination. 
C)  charismatic leaders dominated the proceedings. 
D)  economic conditions were extremely poor. 
E)  an incumbent president was running for re-election. 
A)  deadlocks between major factions developed. 
B)  no other candidate wanted the nomination. 
C)  charismatic leaders dominated the proceedings. 
D)  economic conditions were extremely poor. 
E)  an incumbent president was running for re-election.

Question 17

The introduction of primary elections was meant to weaken the power of party leaders.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Primary elections were introduced by the ______ in order to weaken the power of party leaders.

Accepted Answer

A)  Democrats 
B)  Republicans 
C)  Whigs 
D)  Progressives 
E)  Federalists 
A)  Democrats 
B)  Republicans 
C)  Whigs 
D)  Progressives 
E)  Federalists

Question 19

Smaller and weaker parties are most likely to have electoral success under which system of elections?

Accepted Answer

A)  the proportional representation system 
B)  the majority system 
C)  the plurality system 
D)  the unitary system 
E)  the referendum system 
A)  the proportional representation system 
B)  the majority system 
C)  the plurality system 
D)  the unitary system 
E)  the referendum system

Question 20

Politicians attempt to "balance the ticket" with members of many important groups because

Accepted Answer

A)  interest groups frequently engage in direct lobbying to enhance diversity in campaigns. 
B)  affirmative action legislation from the 1960s requires proportional representation in all elections. 
C)  federal campaign finance laws provide higher spending limits for more "balanced" tickets. 
D)  voters tend to prefer candidates who are closer to themselves in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, geography, and social background. 
E)  the Constitution requires at least minimal levels of representativeness in election campaigns. 
A)  interest groups frequently engage in direct lobbying to enhance diversity in campaigns. 
B)  affirmative action legislation from the 1960s requires proportional representation in all elections. 
C)  federal campaign finance laws provide higher spending limits for more "balanced" tickets. 
D)  voters tend to prefer candidates who are closer to themselves in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, geography, and social background. 
E)  the Constitution requires at least minimal levels of representativeness in election campaigns.

Exam 10: Campaigns and Elections

A ______ is a media format in which candidates meet with ordinary citizens, without the input of journalists or commentators.

For the presidential primaries, most but not all state parties use what type of election?

Which party has reserved slots at the national convention for elected superdelegates?

When the Supreme Court announced the principle of "one person, one vote," what did it mean?

How many times in American history has the presidential candidate who won the most popular votes not been selected by the electoral college?

During the earliest years of the United States, who nominated the candidates for president?

The boundaries of legislative districts in the United States are to be redrawn every ______ years.

Private groups that raise and distribute funds for election campaigns are called

The electoral college is a form of indirect voting.

PACs can make larger campaign contributions than individuals are legally allowed to make.

Why did many members of Congress vote to ban advocacy groups from running ads that mention a candidate's name within thirty days of a primary election and sixty days of a general election?

What is a referendum?

Who is the incumbent?

Approximately how much money does it take for a candidate to have a reasonable chance of winning a seat in the House of Representatives?

The effort by political candidates and their staff to win backing and support by voters in the quest for political office is known as a(n)

Before the post-World War II era, dark-horse candidates were most likely to arise at a national convention when

The introduction of primary elections was meant to weaken the power of party leaders.

Primary elections were introduced by the ______ in order to weaken the power of party leaders.

Smaller and weaker parties are most likely to have electoral success under which system of elections?

Politicians attempt to "balance the ticket" with members of many important groups because

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