Question 1

With increased use of the Internet, citizen-to-citizen political participation has taken on new importance.

Accepted Answer

The increased use of the Internet has provided new opportunities for citizen engagement and political participation, including online petitions, social media campaigns, and virtual town hall meetings.

Question 2

A major factor shaping public opinion in the United States is partisanship.

Accepted Answer

Partisanship refers to the strong loyalty and support towards a political party and its ideologies. This loyalty often influences an individual's beliefs and opinions on various issues, including those related to public policy and government actions. Studies have shown that partisanship plays a significant role in shaping public opinion in the United States. People often evaluate information and events through the lens of their partisan affiliation, leading to different interpretations and perceptions of the same issue.

Question 3

Voters tend NOT to hold the president accountable for national economic problems.

Accepted Answer

Voters often hold the president accountable for the state of the national economy, attributing economic successes or failures to the president's policies and leadership.

Question 4

Compared to most other democracies, turnout in American elections is lower.

Accepted Answer

According to data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the United States has lower voter turnout than most other democracies, with an average turnout of around 56% in presidential elections and 41% in midterm elections.

Question 5

Voter turnout is usually higher in midterm elections than in presidential elections.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Voter turnout is typically higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

Question 6

State law primarily governs how votes are counted in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution gives states the power to determine the “times, places, and manner” of federal elections. As a result, state law plays a major role in how votes are counted in the United States.

Question 7

Voter turnout is usually measured as the proportion of the entire American population that votes.

Accepted Answer

Voter turnout is typically measured as the proportion of eligible voters (i.e. those who are registered and meet certain criteria, such as age and citizenship) who cast a ballot, rather than the entire American population.

Question 8

The technology used in voting is uniform throughout the nation.

Accepted Answer

The technology used in voting varies from state to state, and even from county to county within states in the U.S. There is no centralized system or standard technology for voting in the country.

Question 9

In most democracies around the world, voter registration is automatic.

Accepted Answer

In most democracies around the world, voter registration is automatic, meaning that citizens are automatically registered to vote when they reach a certain age, typically 18 or 21.

Question 10

In the wake of the 2000 and 2004 elections, federal and state governments have invested billions of dollars in new voting technology, established new rules on provisional ballots, and modernized voting methods.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. After the 2000 and 2004 elections, significant efforts were made by federal and state governments to improve and modernize voting methods, including investing in new voting technology and establishing new rules on provisional ballots.

Question 11

Retrospective issue voting is voting based on what a candidate has done.

Accepted Answer

Retrospective voting involves assessing a candidate's performance in the past and using that as a basis for voting, so the statement is true.

Question 12

Women were granted the right to vote with the adoption of the Twentieth Amendment in 1920.

Accepted Answer

The adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 granted women the right to vote, not the Twentieth Amendment. The Twentieth Amendment, also known as the "Lame Duck Amendment," changed the date on which the terms of the President and Congress end and begin.

Question 13

The United States holds more elections for more offices than any other democracy.

Accepted Answer

The United States holds elections for federal offices (President, Congress), state offices (Governor, Legislature), and local offices (Mayors, City Council members, School Board members, etc.), making it one of the countries with the most elections for various offices. This is because the United States has a federal system of government with separate state and local levels, each with its own elected officials.

Question 14

Government by the people is most frequently exercised by voting.

Accepted Answer

Voting is a fundamental way in which citizens participate in government by electing officials and making important decisions on issues that affect their communities.

Question 15

Education seems to be the strongest predictor of whether or not people vote.

Accepted Answer

According to multiple studies, individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to vote than those with lower levels of education. This trend has been consistent across different demographic groups and election cycles.

Quiz 8: Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting