Question 1

Who is responsible for regulating the financing of campaigns?

Accepted Answer

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is responsible for regulating the financing of campaigns in the United States. It oversees the disclosure of campaign finance information, enforces limits and prohibitions on contributions, and enforces public financing laws for presidential elections.

Question 2

How might a candidate's issue positions in the primaries differ from the general election?

Accepted Answer

During primaries, candidates are often competing against others in their own party and need to appeal to the ideologically extreme members of their party base in order to secure the nomination. This may lead them to take more extreme positions on issues than they would in the general election, where they have to appeal to a broader range of voters.

Question 3

In 2012, Mitt Romney said that if elected he would work to ensure no tax increases. President Barack Obama said that if he were reelected he would support marriage equality for same-sex couples. These are examples of the candidates':

Accepted Answer

These statements made by the candidates illustrate their political platforms, which are the set of policies and principles they intend to implement if elected. Platforms often focus on key issues that are important to voters and help to differentiate the candidates from one another.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a consequence of being exposed to television advertising in political campaigns?

Accepted Answer

While television advertising in political campaigns can have many effects on viewers, research shows that it is not a strong predictor of changing someone's pre-existing political beliefs or party affiliations. Therefore, D ("People become likely to change their minds") is not a consequence of being exposed to such advertising.

Question 5

Rory and Amelia are running against each other for a seat in the Senate. Rory's campaign calls voters under the guise of doing a poll and asks "would you be more or less likely to vote for Amelia for Senate if you knew that she took campaign funds from terrorists?" This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of a push poll, where a political campaign tries to influence voters by pretending to be conducting a poll, but actually asking leading questions designed to sway the opinion of the respondent. In this case, the question is framing Amelia in a negative light by suggesting a connection to terrorism, without any evidence to back up the claim.

Question 6

The main way that American candidates reach the electorate is through:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The main way that American candidates reach...

Question 7

In an effort to raise doubts about their opponents, almost all candidates use ________ as a key part of their campaign strategy.

Accepted Answer

Opposition research, also known as "oppo research," involves digging up information and often negative information about one's opponents in order to potentially weaken their campaign and sway voters. It has become a common practice in political campaigns. Hard money and soft money refer to different types of campaign donations, push polls refer to a specific type of polling strategy, and voting cues are methods used to prompt people to vote in a certain way.

Question 8

Which of the following groups is most likely to run positive campaign advertisements?

Accepted Answer

Candidates are most likely to run positive campaign advertisements as they want to appeal to the voters and create a positive image of themselves. Political parties, interest groups, political action committees, and 527 groups may also run positive ads, but they are more likely to also run negative ads targeting their opponents.

Question 9

The amount of money raised during the 2012 election totaled more than:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The amount of money raised during the...

Question 10

Jaime votes for a Democrat for president but a Republican for Senate. This is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

This is an example of split ticket voting, where the voter chooses candidates from different parties for different offices.

Question 11

Jennifer wonders whether or not to vote because the chances of her vote being the decisive one is so small. What does Jennifer's consideration exemplify?

Accepted Answer

Jennifer's consideration exemplifies the paradox of voting, which suggests that an individual's vote has very little impact on the outcome of an election, making it seem not worth the effort to vote.

Question 12

Candidates who are behind in election polls often use ________ as a way to gain momentum and make the race competitive.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Candidates who are behind in election polls...

Question 13

Lyndon Johnson's "Daisy Girl" was an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

The "Daisy Girl" ad was a notorious attack ad used by Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign in 1964. It depicted a young girl picking petals off a daisy while a countdown to a nuclear explosion played in the background, implying that if Johnson's opponent Barry Goldwater were elected, he would start a nuclear war. The ad was widely criticized but also effective in contributing to Johnson's landslide victory.

Question 14

Which of the following is a limitation on soft money?

Accepted Answer

Soft money cannot be used to elect or defeat a specific candidate. It can only be used for general party-building activities and issue advocacy.

Question 15

A 527 organization can accept unlimited amounts of ________ but cannot use that money on behalf of a specific ________.

Accepted Answer

A 527 organization can accept unlimited amounts of soft money, which is money donated for issue advocacy rather than directly supporting a candidate. However, they cannot use that money on behalf of a specific candidate, as that would violate campaign finance laws.

Question 16

What are independent expenditures?

Accepted Answer

Independent expenditures are funds that are not controlled, directed, or approved by any candidate's campaign. These funds can be spent on advertising or other campaign activities to support or oppose a candidate, but they cannot be coordinated with the candidate's campaign.

Question 17

What is the link between campaign donations and influence with elected officials?

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that campaign donations might give a donor access to an elected official, but it does not necessarily guarantee any specific policy outcome or vote. The idea that money can directly buy votes is generally considered unethical and illegal. However, access and influence through donations can still be a concern, as donors may have the opportunity to express their views and potentially sway an elected official's decision-making.

Question 18

What kind of campaign funds are subject to clear limits on how much can be raised but not on how much is spent?

Accepted Answer

Hard money refers to campaign funds that are subject to clear limits on how much can be raised but not on how much is spent. This includes contributions from individuals, political parties, and political action committees (PACs) that are made directly to a candidate's campaign.

Question 19

A candidate's platform is important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The answer of A candidate's platform is important for all...

Question 20

What is the ground game?

Accepted Answer

The ground game refers to a candidate's effort to get out the vote on Election Day. This includes activities such as voter outreach, door-to-door canvassing, and phone banking to ensure that supporters actually show up to the polls. While the other options may be important components of a campaign, they do not specifically refer to the ground game.

Quiz 9: Elections