Question 1

What effect have televised presidential debates had on election outcomes?

Accepted Answer

While debates are a widely watched and highly publicized event in presidential elections, research on their impact on election outcomes is mixed and often inconclusive.

Question 2

Based on the current number of electoral college votes, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to win the presidency?

Accepted Answer

According to the United States Constitution, a candidate must receive a majority of the electoral college votes to win the presidency. This means at least 270 out of the total 538 electoral college votes must be won by a candidate to become President. Therefore, the correct answer is C, 270.

Question 3

In the presidential election process, what is meant by the so-called unit rule?​

Accepted Answer

The so-called unit rule, also known as "winner-takes-all," means that the candidate who receives the most popular votes in a state will receive all of that state's electoral votes. This is how the vast majority of states allocate their electoral votes in presidential elections.

Question 4

According to public opinion polls, what is public sentiment regarding the manner in which the president is elected?​

Accepted Answer

According to several polls conducted over the years, the majority of public opinion favors selecting the president through a national popular vote rather than through the electoral college.

Question 5

How can the number of electoral votes in a state be changed?

Accepted Answer

The number of electoral votes in a state can be changed due to reapportionment, which occurs every 10 years after the census. As populations shift, some states may gain or lose electoral votes. This process is outlined in the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment. Option A is incorrect because the Constitution does not specify a fixed number of electoral votes for each state, but it does outline the method for determining the number of electors for each state. Option B is incorrect as it is not within states' power to change their electoral votes only, as it requires constitutional amendments. Option D is incorrect since a constitutional amendment is required only to add or remove the electoral college, but it is not required for reapportionment. Option E is incorrect because although electoral votes are proportional to states' populations, shifts in population can lead to reapportionment, which results in changes in the number of electoral votes for each state.

Question 6

Which of the following has been a result of the population shift over the last 60 years, with the southern and western states gaining population and most of the northeastern and midwestern states losing population?​

Accepted Answer

The population shift has resulted in many southern and southwestern states gaining population and becoming more influential in the presidential election process. This is because electoral votes are based on population, so states with more residents have more weight in the electoral college system. As a result, presidential candidates are more likely to campaign in these states and focus their policies on issues that are important to their residents.

Question 7

Midterm congressional elections _______________________________.

Accepted Answer

Midterm congressional elections occur every two years, halfway through a president's four-year term, and involve all House seats and one-third of Senate seats, not due to presidential actions like dissolving Congress or losing a vote of confidence.

Question 8

Retrospective voting posits that______________________________________.

Accepted Answer

Retrospective voting theory suggests that voters evaluate an incumbent's past performance in office and use it as a cue to decide whether to vote for that candidate. This means that voters consider the incumbent's record and achievements before casting their vote.

Question 9

In presidential elections the winner is often a strong enough candidate that his success has positive results for his party all the way to the various state and local races. This phenomenon is called the _______________.

Accepted Answer

The correct term for this phenomenon is the "coattail effect," in which the popularity and success of a presidential candidate "pulls up" other candidates from their party who may be running for state or local offices. This is due to the increased turnout of voters who are motivated to support the presidential candidate and then also vote down the party ticket.

Question 10

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), and its subsequent amendments, did all of the following except _______________________________________________.

Accepted Answer

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and its amendments did not remove all campaign finance restrictions and did not allow candidates to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. The act imposed legal limits on campaign contributions by individuals, required accurate disclosure of campaign contributions, documentation of campaign expenditures, and an outright ban on certain contributions by corporations, unions, national banks, and foreign nationals. Therefore, option B is incorrect as it goes against the purpose and provisions of FECA.

Question 11

What is meant by the term, midterm congressional elections?

Accepted Answer

Midterm congressional elections are elections held midway between presidential elections, in which voters choose all House seats and one-third of the Senate seats. The term "midterm" refers to their occurrence during the middle of a presidential term. Unlike presidential elections, the midterm elections do not involve the election of the President and Vice President.

Question 12

Which of the following is not true of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?

Accepted Answer

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 did not prohibit all spending by political parties to support candidates during election years. It did place limitations on such spending but did not prohibit it completely.

Question 13

What is the significance of the Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo (1976)?

Accepted Answer

The significance of the Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo is that it established the constitutionality of limiting campaign contributions as consistent with the First Amendment, while also affirming the First Amendment protection of campaign spending as a form of political expression. This decision has guided much of the campaign finance legislation and legal challenges related to campaign finance in the United States.

Question 14

There are no longer limits on certain corporate and union funding of broadcast ads right before an election, as a result of ______________________.

Accepted Answer

The Court's ruling in Citizens United v. F.E.C. (2010) removed limits on certain corporate and union funding of broadcast ads right before an election. This decision allowed the creation of super PACs, which can accept unlimited donations from corporations, unions, and individuals and use those funds to influence elections through advertising.

Question 15

Which of the following is not a major source of campaign funding?

Accepted Answer

Foreign investors are not allowed to contribute to U.S. political campaigns under campaign finance laws. Therefore, they are not a major source of campaign funding.

Question 16

If an interest group would like to contribute money to a candidate's campaign __________________________.

Accepted Answer

Interest groups are not allowed to contribute directly to a candidate's campaign. Instead, they must make the contribution through a political action committee (PAC) that is registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The PAC is required to follow certain contribution limits and disclosure rules.

Question 17

What is the minimum number of electoral votes possible for any one state?

Accepted Answer

Each state has a minimum of two Senators and at least one Representative, totaling a minimum of three electoral votes.

Question 18

A(n) __________ is a congressional seat from a district that includes a high percentage of voters from one of the major parties.

Accepted Answer

A safe seat is a congressional seat from a district where one of the major parties holds a significant advantage in voter support, making it highly unlikely for a candidate from the opposing party to win. This means that the incumbent or the favored candidate of the dominant party can count on winning the election, making the seat a "safe" bet for the party. Safe seats are often the result of gerrymandering or demographic clustering, and they can contribute to the polarization and gridlock in Congress, as the representative has little incentive to appeal to voters outside of their ideological base.

Question 19

Which of the following is not considered a "determinant of vote choice"?

Accepted Answer

The candidate's religion is not considered a determinant of vote choice as it is not a factor that voters typically prioritize or consider when deciding who to vote for. Factors such as familiarity with the candidate, party identification, the candidate's stance on particular issues, and their image and personal traits are more commonly considered when making a voting decision.

Question 20

The unit rule is used by all states except _________________.

Accepted Answer

Maine and Nebraska do not use the unit rule; instead, they use a proportional system to allocate their electoral votes.

Quiz 14: Campaigns and Elections

What effect have televised presidential debates had on election outcomes?

Based on the current number of electoral college votes, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to win the presidency?

In the presidential election process, what is meant by the so-called unit rule?

According to public opinion polls, what is public sentiment regarding the manner in which the president is elected?

How can the number of electoral votes in a state be changed?

Which of the following has been a result of the population shift over the last 60 years, with the southern and western states gaining population and most of the northeastern and midwestern states losing population?

Midterm congressional elections _______________________________.

Retrospective voting posits that______________________________________.

In presidential elections the winner is often a strong enough candidate that his success has positive results for his party all the way to the various state and local races. This phenomenon is called the _______________.

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) , and its subsequent amendments, did all of the following except _______________________________________________.

What is meant by the term, midterm congressional elections?

Which of the following is not true of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?

What is the significance of the Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) ?

There are no longer limits on certain corporate and union funding of broadcast ads right before an election, as a result of ______________________.

Which of the following is not a major source of campaign funding?

If an interest group would like to contribute money to a candidate's campaign __________________________.

What is the minimum number of electoral votes possible for any one state?

A(n) __________ is a congressional seat from a district that includes a high percentage of voters from one of the major parties.

Which of the following is not considered a "determinant of vote choice"?

The unit rule is used by all states except _________________.

Quiz 14: Campaigns and Elections

What effect have televised presidential debates had on election outcomes?

Based on the current number of electoral college votes, how many votes must a candidate receive in order to win the presidency?

In the presidential election process, what is meant by the so-called unit rule?​

According to public opinion polls, what is public sentiment regarding the manner in which the president is elected?​

How can the number of electoral votes in a state be changed?

Which of the following has been a result of the population shift over the last 60 years, with the southern and western states gaining population and most of the northeastern and midwestern states losing population?​

Midterm congressional elections _______________________________.

Retrospective voting posits that______________________________________.

In presidential elections the winner is often a strong enough candidate that his success has positive results for his party all the way to the various state and local races. This phenomenon is called the _______________.

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) , and its subsequent amendments, did all of the following except _______________________________________________.

What is meant by the term, midterm congressional elections?

Which of the following is not true of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?

What is the significance of the Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) ?

There are no longer limits on certain corporate and union funding of broadcast ads right before an election, as a result of ______________________.

Which of the following is not a major source of campaign funding?

If an interest group would like to contribute money to a candidate's campaign __________________________.

What is the minimum number of electoral votes possible for any one state?

A(n) __________ is a congressional seat from a district that includes a high percentage of voters from one of the major parties.

Which of the following is not considered a "determinant of vote choice"?

The unit rule is used by all states except _________________.

In the presidential election process, what is meant by the so-called unit rule?

According to public opinion polls, what is public sentiment regarding the manner in which the president is elected?

Which of the following has been a result of the population shift over the last 60 years, with the southern and western states gaining population and most of the northeastern and midwestern states losing population?