Question 1

The Citizens United decision allows super PACs to spend unlimited amounts of money whether or not they are connected or coordinating with a candidate's campaign.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Citizens United decision allows super PACs...

Question 2

Rules that are established at the federal and state levels in order to govern who can vote and how, when, and where they vote are categorized as ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rules that are established at the federal...

Question 3

National political and congressional elections are, by tradition, held on the ______.

Accepted Answer

National political and congressional elections in the United States are traditionally held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

Question 4

Independent voters are more likely to split a ticket than people who are partisans.

Accepted Answer

Independent voters do not feel as strong of a loyalty to one particular party, so they are more likely to vote for candidates from different parties in the same election. Partisans, on the other hand, tend to stay within their party and vote for candidates solely from that party. Therefore, independent voters are more likely to split a ticket.

Question 5

The Democratic and Republican parties have both worked to encourage the growth of third parties.

Accepted Answer

Both major parties have historically taken actions to prevent the rise of third parties, such as introducing strict ballot access requirements and limiting debate participation.

Question 6

Superdelegates are Republican office holders voting in the final nomination process who are not tied to the outcomes of any state election results.

Accepted Answer

Superdelegates are actually a feature of the Democratic Party nomination process and not the Republican Party.

Question 7

Since the election of President Obama, the Democratic Party's power has been long lived.

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party's power has not been long lived since the election of President Obama. In fact, the party lost control of the House of Representatives in 2010 and the Senate in 2014. As of 2021, the party holds a narrow majority in the House and an evenly divided Senate.

Question 8

Which of the following can be considered a form of nontraditional political participation?

Accepted Answer

Protesting at a rally is a form of nontraditional political participation as it involves direct action to express political views, unlike more conventional methods like voting or contacting representatives.

Question 9

The national law that allows someone to register to vote while getting or renewing their driver's license has been nicknamed the ______ law.

Accepted Answer

The national law that allows someone to register to vote while getting or renewing their driver's license is commonly known as the "motor-voter" law.

Question 10

Votes completed and submitted by a voter prior to the day of an election are best described as ______ ballots.

Accepted Answer

Absentee ballots are completed and submitted prior to the day of the election. Preferential ballots allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Emergency ballots are used in case of a malfunctioning machine or other unforeseen circumstances. Provisional ballots are used when a voter's eligibility is in question, and can be counted later if the eligibility is confirmed.

Question 11

In order to lessen the "cost" of voting, some reformers have recommended holding national elections ______.

Accepted Answer

Holding national elections on weekends or declaring Election Day a national holiday would lessen the cost of voting for many people by allowing them time off from work to cast their ballot. This would particularly benefit those who work long hours or have inflexible schedules, making it difficult to take time off during the week.

Question 12

According to data presented in your textbook, voter turnout is likely to be highest for ______.

Accepted Answer

According to data presented in the textbook, voter turnout is likely to be highest for presidential elections. This is because presidential elections are considered to be the most important and widely covered elections, with a larger media presence and a more engaged public. Additionally, presidential elections typically have higher stakes and more significant consequences, further motivating individuals to participate in the electoral process.

Question 13

Open primaries allow registered voters' participation based on their party affiliation.

Accepted Answer

Open primaries allow registered voters of any party or no party affiliation to participate.

Question 14

Super PACs were created by the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United.

Accepted Answer

Super PACs were indeed created as a result of the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC in 2010. This decision allowed for unlimited spending by corporations, unions, and individuals in support of political candidates as long as the spending is done independently of the candidate's campaign. Super PACs are independent expenditure-only committees that can spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Question 15

The decline of young-adult voting can best be attributed to ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The decline of young-adult voting can best...

Question 16

A party platform is a set of positions and policy objectives introduced at the quadrennial convention by the party's presidential nominee.

Accepted Answer

Although the presidential nominee may have input on the party platform, it is ultimately decided by a committee of party officials and delegates at the convention.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the primary cause of ballot roll-off?

Accepted Answer

Ballot roll-off occurs when voters choose not to cast a vote for a particular contest on the ballot. Incomplete knowledge of candidates is the primary cause of ballot roll-off because voters may be hesitant to cast a vote if they are unsure of the candidate or their platform. This is especially true in down-ballot races where voters may not be as familiar with the candidates running.

Question 18

Campaign costs have gone down recently due to laws that restrict campaign contributions and spending.

Accepted Answer

Campaign costs have actually gone up in recent years despite some restrictions on contributions and spending. Factors like increased advertising costs and the need for more advanced technology in campaigning have contributed to this rise in expenses.

Question 19

Political scientist John Geer has argued that negative campaign ads may actually increase the quality of information available to voters as they make choices in elections.

Accepted Answer

According to political scientist John Geer, negative campaign ads can increase the quality of information available to voters because they are more likely to focus on substantive policy differences and highlight important issues. This can prompt voters to pay closer attention to the election and make more informed choices.

Question 20

Retrospective voting means people evaluate their party's issue positions and make their voting decisions based on them.

Accepted Answer

Retrospective voting refers to voters making decisions based on the past performance of a party or candidate, rather than their specific issue positions.

Quiz 7: Parties, Elections, and Participation: the Insurgents Versus the Establishment