Question 1

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)  whoever is leading in the polls on the day of the election 
E)  a candidate who is running against a current officeholder in an election

Question 2

Elections are ultimately about the choices that citizens make in a democracy. Describe some of the factors that influence voters' decisions. What are some of the considerations that voters utilize when they make their choices? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Elections are ultimately about the choices that...

Question 3

Which states do not distribute electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis?

Accepted Answer

A)  Maine and Nebraska 
B)  Delaware and New Hampshire 
C)  Connecticut and Utah 
D)  Illinois and South Dakota 
E)  Mississippi and New Mexico

Question 4

When did national conventions begin in American politics?

Accepted Answer

A)  1780s 
B)  1830s 
C)  1870s 
D)  1910s 
E)  1940s

Question 5

A major factor in John Kennedy's 1960 presidential victory over Richard Nixon was

Accepted Answer

A)  the fact that, unlike Nixon, Kennedy had hired a professional political consultant. 
B)  that Kennedy had a much stronger performance than Nixon during televised debates. 
C)  Nixon's failure to develop infomercials. 
D)  Kennedy's aggressive use of push polls, especially in the Northeast. 
E)  Kennedy's strategic use of "soft money" and 527 committees.

Question 6

If Barack Obama won the plurality of votes in California during the 2012 election, and California had 53 representatives in the House of Representatives, how many electoral votes from California did Obama win?

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  53 
C)  55 
D)  62 
E)  77

Question 7

Which of the following statements about campaign spending in Senate elections is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Incumbents generally spend less money than challengers in Senate campaigns. 
B)  Incumbents and challengers generally spend the same amount of money in Senate campaigns. 
C)  Incumbents generally spend more money than challengers in Senate campaigns. 
D)  Incumbents and challengers in Senate campaigns are legally limited to spending only $2 million. 
E)  Incumbents and challengers in Senate campaigns are legally limited to spending only $5 million.

Question 8

If the winner of an election is whoever receives the most votes, regardless of the percentage of votes received, the candidates are running under a ________ system.

Accepted Answer

A)  majority 
B)  plurality 
C)  proportionality 
D)  unitary 
E)  primary

Question 9

Plurality and majority systems tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the number of political parties. 
B)  decrease the number of political parties. 
C)  evolve into single-party systems. 
D)  devolve into anarchy. 
E)  make political parties illegal.

Question 10

A ________ is an effort by political candidates and their staffs to win backing and support by voters in the quest for political office.

Accepted Answer

A)  gerrymander 
B)  campaign 
C)  caucus 
D)  platform 
E)  national convention

Question 11

Describe the steps involved in running a campaign for political office. How is support for a candidate organized? What roles are played by campaign managers, media consultants, and pollsters? How does a candidate win a party's nomination?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the steps involved in running a...

Question 12

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

Question 13

________ occurs when state legislators concentrate the members of one party in as few districts as possible in order to ensure that their opponents will elect as few representatives as possible.

Accepted Answer

A)  A referendum 
B)  Lobbying 
C)  Packing 
D)  Redlining 
E)  Caucusing

Question 14

Which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Benjamin Harrison won the presidency in 1888 despite losing the popular vote. 
B)  Rutherford B. Hayes won the presidency in 1876 despite losing the popular vote. 
C)  All states distribute electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis. 
D)  George W. Bush won the presidency in 2000 despite losing the popular vote. 
E)  none of the above

Question 15

The practice of ________ means that district boundaries have been purposefully drawn to unfairly advantage one group or party.

Accepted Answer

A)  proportional representation 
B)  gerrymandering 
C)  balloting 
D)  incumbency 
E)  recall

Question 16

Which of the following is the best example of direct democracy in practice in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  gerrymandering 
B)  retrospective voting 
C)  prospective voting 
D)  referendum 
E)  issue advocacy

Question 17

Presidential elections are a unique phenomenon in American politics. Describe these election campaigns. How has the nominating process changed over the course of American history? Explain the function of modern conventions. How has the role of political parties during presidential campaigns changed?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Presidential elections are a unique phenomenon in...

Question 18

Modern political campaigns do NOT depend on ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  broadcast media 
B)  direct mailings 
C)  a large army of volunteers from the party 
D)  phone banks 
E)  public-opinion polling

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, election campaigns tended to be ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  capital intensive 
B)  labor intensive 
C)  media driven 
D)  guided by campaign consultants 
E)  short and peaceful

Exam 10: Campaigns and Elections