Deck 7: Elections

Question 1

Voters hold incumbents accountable by:

A) talking to neighbors, friends, and coworkers about the incumbent
B) speculating about the incumbent's future performance
C) considering the incumbent's past performance
D) refusing to contribute money to the incumbent's political campaign
E) deciding not to vote in the election

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Candidates usually appeal to voters by trying to educate the public and by making complex promises about public policies.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The electoral college accords each state a number of electoral votes,which are equal to the state's representation in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

In a representative democracy,citizens can indirectly influence government policy by voting in elections.

Question 5

An independent candidate with no affiliation to a party secures a place on the general election ballot by first winning a primary contest that involves at least two other independent candidates.

Question 6

An election in which any registered voter can participate in selecting a party nominee is called a(n):

A) open primary
B) blanket primary
C) general election
D) closed primary
E) runoff election

Question 7

Citizens vote directly for presidential candidates.

Question 8

Elections are important in a representative democracy because they allow citizens the opportunity to reward and punish officeholders seeking reelection.

Question 9

In a typical election,there is an incumbent and a:

A) challenger
B) runoff candidate
C) minor-party candidate
D) primary candidate
E) candidate with no previous political experience

Question 10

The use of proportional allocation for convention delegates can cause the primary season to be more competitive and last longer.

Question 11

A candidate for the U.S.House or U.S.Senate secures the nomination of the Democratic Party by winning the Democratic Party's primary election.

Question 12

The process of campaigning for legislative office begins immediately after the most recent election ends.

Question 13

Because of high turnout in presidential election years,coattail effects from presidential candidates are usually very powerful factors in determining election outcomes for candidates running for congressional,state,or local office.

Question 14

The main reason for the expense of American political campaigns is the increased use of television advertising.

Question 15

An election in which only registered members of a particular party can vote is called a(n):

A) open primary
B) blanket primary
C) general election
D) closed primary
E) runoff election

Question 16

Which of the following restrictions on voter eligibility is true for all Americans?

A) must be eighteen years old or older
B) cannot be mentally incompetent
C) must swear an oath to the Constitution
D) cannot be a convicted felon
E) cannot be in jail on Election Day

Question 17

The authors of the text conclude that individual vote decisions in presidential and congressional elections are typically made independent of each other.

Question 18

Which of the following is a recent trend in American general elections?

A) frontloading
B) early voting
C) absentee balloting
D) regional elections
E) blanket primaries

Question 19

A runoff election guarantees that the winning candidate has secured a majority of the vote.

Question 20

Soft money contributions are donations that are used to help elect or defeat a particular candidate.

Question 21

After one election cycle ends,potential challengers for office in the next cycle immediately start thinking about which of the following things?

A) which seats look vulnerable
B) how the economy affects them
C) how to get a poll in the field quickly to judge their name recognition
D) how to establish a permanent campaign
E) what their first campaign ad will be about

Question 22

Under what conditions are particular rules most likely to influence election results?

A) close races
B) open seat races
C) situations in which optical scan ballots are used
D) primary elections
E) general elections

Question 23

Swing states are important to a presidential candidate's general election strategy because:

A) they favor one party's candidate over another, which saves the favored candidate money to campaign elsewhere
B) they provide better opportunities for fund-raising
C) they can be ignored
D) they can potentially be won by either major-party candidate
E) they are always small states, so they do not provide that many electoral college votes

Question 24

The actions officeholders take throughout the election cycle to build support for their reelection is called:

A) the political business cycle
B) the talent primary
C) the permanent campaign
D) the money primary
E) frontloading

Question 25

A runoff election always involves:

A) the incumbent and the challenger
B) only two candidates who are the nominees of the two major parties
C) only two candidates who are the top two finishers in the previous election
D) multiple candidates with the winners determined through a proportional allocation process
E) the winners of the party primaries and any independent candidates who meet the state's ballot requirements

Question 26

Vote recounts typically occur when:

A) a major-party candidate requests it
B) a sufficient number of citizens sign a petition requesting one
C) the margin of victory for the winning candidate is within five percent or less
D) the margin of victory for the winning candidate is within one percent or less
E) a polling place has a shortage of voting supplies and voters leave the polling station before voting

Question 27

Election rules and how they are implemented by officials matter because:

A) there is no legal way to challenge the outcome of an election
B) in close races, small changes to rules can change electoral outcomes
C) an election must be held a second time if the rules are not followed
D) there are different rules that must be used if voter turnout is higher than expected
E) there are different rules that must be used if voter turnout is lower than expected

Question 28

What happens if no candidate receives a majority of the electoral college votes?

A) The winner is then determined by the candidate who received the most popular votes.
B) The votes are recalculated after dropping out candidates with less than 1 percent of the vote; this repeats until someone has a majority.
C) The House of Representatives decides who wins, with each state getting one vote, and voting continues until someone gets a majority of the votes.
D) The Senate decides who wins, with each state getting one vote, and voting continues until someone gets a majority of the votes.
E) Both the House and the Senate decide who wins with a simple majority vote.

Question 29

Undervotes occur when:

A) a voter casts an unmarked ballot
B) a voter decides to cast a vote using an absentee ballot
C) a registered voter fails to vote in the election
D) a voting machine erroneously fails to count votes due to a software or mechanical problem
E) a polling place has a shortage of voting supplies and voters leave the polling station before voting

Question 30

Traditionally,the first caucus in the nation is in:

A) New Hampshire
B) Iowa
C) Ohio
D) Nevada
E) South Carolina

Question 31

A district with no sitting legislator who runs for reelection is called:

A) an open seat
B) a closed seat
C) a party seat
D) a safe seat
E) a contested seat

Question 32

Which states do NOT allocate all of their electoral college votes to the winner of the state's popular vote?

A) Montana and Maine
B) Oregon and Montana
C) Nebraska and Oregon
D) Maine and Rhode Island
E) Nebraska and Maine

Question 33

Any voting system in which the candidate with the most votes wins is called:

A) proportional voting
B) majority voting
C) plurality voting
D) democratic
E) republican

Question 34

Traditionally,the first primary in the nation is in:

A) New Hampshire
B) Iowa
C) South Carolina
D) Nevada
E) California

Question 35

In a typical election for the U.S.House or U.S.Senate,officeholders are elected:

A) in multimember districts by a plurality of the vote
B) in single-member districts by a plurality of the vote
C) in multimember districts by a majority of the vote
D) in single-member districts by a majority of the vote
E) in various different ways and formats that are determined by laws in each of the fifty states

Question 36

While the ________ use(s)proportional allocation rules in all primaries and caucuses,the ________ uses a combination of proportional allocation and winner-take-all to determine convention delegates.

A) Democratic Party; Republican Party
B) Republican Party; Democratic Party
C) states; electoral college
D) United States; European Union
E) European Union; United States

Question 37

Although touch-screen voting machines are becoming increasingly popular,these machines are controversial for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A) the costs of the machines
B) the potential for delays on Election Day
C) voter difficulties that often come with new technologies
D) concerns that the machines could be manipulated to change election outcomes
E) concerns that the machines could make it more difficult for the visually impaired to vote

Question 38

Voters who are unable to go to the polls on Election Day:

A) give up their right to cast a vote in that election
B) give up their right to cast a vote in some states, but not in others
C) may cast a vote late, but not beyond one week after the election
D) may cast a vote early through an absentee ballot, even without an excuse in some states
E) may cast a vote through an absentee ballot, but there must be a valid excuse and the ballot must be received by the Elections Board no later than one week after the election

Question 39

Under the rules of proportional allocation,a candidate who received 40 percent of the vote in a state with 50 delegates at stake would get roughly ________ delegates.

A) 0
B) 10
C) 20
D) 40
E) 50

Question 40

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the national conventions?

A) attracting attention for the party's electoral goals
B) developing a party platform
C) selecting the party's presidential nominee
D) nominating state-level candidates
E) selecting the party's vice-presidential nominee

Question 41

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

A) attack ads
B) the invisible primary
C) trackers
D) mobilization
E) opposition research

Question 42

Internet and social media sites play an important role in campaigns for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

A) informing supporters of a candidate's issue positions
B) providing the candidate with accurate political information and poll results
C) helping to recruit new supporters
D) informing supporters of a candidate's upcoming event or appearance
E) organizing large numbers of volunteers

Question 43

All of the following are an important part of campaign strategy EXCEPT:

A) building name recognition
B) staying "above the fray" by not dignifying an opponent's false attack with a response
C) building a campaign platform with issue priorities
D) demonstrating an understanding of citizens' concerns
E) voter mobilization

Question 44

Of the many billions of dollars spent during each election cycle for federal office,most of the money goes to:

A) thirty-second television ads
B) sixty-second television ads
C) pay for polls and voter data
D) GOTV drives
E) fund-raising operations and activities

Question 45

Because many voters know fairly little about congressional candidates,a common campaign strategy is to:

A) improve the candidate's name recognition among likely voters
B) educate voters about the important issues facing the district and nation
C) hold multiple press conferences each day to generate media attention
D) have the candidate write an autobiography for voters to learn more about the candidate's life
E) have friends and family make public comments to help spread the word about the candidate

Question 46

During a campaign,a Democratic candidate should:

A) keep a low profile to avoid being attacked by conservative radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh
B) take liberal issue positions in the primary and more centrist issue positions in the general election
C) provide detailed policy solutions because Democratic and independent voters appreciate thoughtful solutions to big problems
D) ignore the Republican opponent and focus on himself or herself because voters like and reward positive campaigns
E) attack opponents rather than provide the candidate's own views on the issues because negativity is the only approach that usually wins for a Democrat

Question 47

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

A) People become more interested in the campaign.
B) People become aware of differences between candidates.
C) People know more about the candidates.
D) People become likely to change their minds.
E) People are sometimes mobilized to vote.

Question 48

Incumbent officeholders have various reasons for raising significant sums of money.One common reason is that:

A) incumbent officeholders often face primary challengers and need money for two elections
B) high-quality potential challengers are less likely to run against the incumbent
C) outside interest groups will not contribute money to incumbents who lack significant sums of money
D) incumbent officeholders can use any leftover campaign funds for personal use once they retire
E) incumbent officeholders can transfer the money to lobbying firms, which in turn can repay this favor later by hiring the incumbent officeholder when he or she retires from office

Question 49

Recent evidence shows that attack ads:

A) lower voter turnout, but conversely increase public interest in the election
B) do not lower voter turnout and sometimes increase voters' knowledge of the candidates
C) decrease voter turnout and decrease public interest in the election
D) decrease voter turnout and decrease voters' knowledge of politics
E) have no effect at all on voters because people do not trust information they receive on television

Question 50

An important activity of any campaign is ________,which most directly involves ________.

A) mobilizing supporters; the ground game
B) converting opponents into supporters; the ground game
C) mobilizing supporters; name recognition
D) converting opponents into supporters; campaign platforms
E) name recognition; campaign platforms

Question 51

During the early years of television,many campaign ads consisted of:

A) live press conferences
B) biographical summaries of the candidate's life and political accomplishments
C) speeches by candidates that lasted for several minutes
D) endorsement messages from top party leaders
E) party-driven messages that supported the party machine

Question 52

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

A) to mobilize supporters
B) to gain interest group endorsements
C) to attract campaign volunteers
D) to raise campaign funds
E) to gain ballot access

Question 53

Which of the following groups is responsible for regulating the financing of campaigns?

A) political action committees
B) Federal Election Commission
C) Electoral Assistance Commission
D) the political parties
E) Federal Communications Commission

Question 54

In an effort to raise doubts about their opponents as much as they draw attention to their own records,candidates almost all use ________ as a key part of their campaign strategy.

A) press leaks
B) opposition research
C) push polls
D) trackers
E) voting cues

Question 55

During a campaign,a Republican candidate should:

A) keep a low profile to avoid being attacked by liberal journalists in the mainstream media
B) take conservative issue positions in the primary and more centrist issue positions in the general election
C) provide detailed policy solutions because Republican and independent voters appreciate thoughtful solutions to big problems
D) ignore the Democratic opponent and focus on himself or herself because voters like and reward positive campaigns
E) attack opponents rather than provide the candidate's own views on the issues because negativity is the only approach that usually wins for a Republican

Question 56

Professional consultants are important in providing all of the following services to a candidate running for office EXCEPT:

A) consultants help develop and execute campaign strategies
B) consultants manage and run public opinion polls
C) consultants coordinate campaign activities with Super PACs
D) consultants assemble ads and buy television time for the candidate
E) consultants handle media relations and talk with members of the media

Question 57

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act was modified significantly by:

A) President George W. Bush and Republicans in the 109th Congress
B) House Republicans and Senate Democrats in the 112th Congress
C) President Obama's decision not to accept public funds in the 2008 presidential election
D) the Supreme Court's ruling in Buckley v. Valeo
E) the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Question 58

A tracker is:

A) technology for watching voter reaction to candidate speeches, debates, and advertisements
B) a poll that is continuously in the field to determine trends in support for a candidate
C) a campaign staff member who follows an opponent in order to record his or her slipups and embarrassments
D) a press term for reporters who are part of a candidate's traveling press
E) a device to count hits on the candidate's Web page

Question 59

A candidate's ground game is:

A) the campaign platform
B) the candidate's effectiveness at giving a speech
C) the candidate's ability to raise money
D) the campaign's emphasis on retail politics
E) the campaign's effort to get out the vote on Election Day

Question 60

GOTV is an acronym for:

A) Ground Operation to Victory
B) Ground Operation to Turnout Voters
C) Ground or Television campaign activities
D) Great Opportunity to Vote
E) Get Out the Vote

Question 61

Turnout among registered voters in presidential elections is generally between:

A) 75 and 80 percent
B) 65 and 70 percent
C) 55 and 60 percent
D) 45 and 50 percent
E) 35 and 40 percent

Question 62

Independent expenditures:

A) are considered hard money contributions
B) spent on advertising must be approved by the candidate
C) cannot be used to attack a candidate
D) cannot pay for campaign advertising
E) must not be controlled, directed, or approved by any candidate's campaign

Question 63

For presidential campaigns,the federal government provides matching funds during the primary process to candidates who raise at least $5,000 in each of at least ________ states in contributions of ________ or less.

A) 10; $100
B) 20; $250
C) 26; $1,000
D) 38; $1,250
E) 40; $2,250

Question 64

A straight-ticket voter is someone who:

A) selects candidates from more than one party
B) selects candidates from only one party
C) votes in every election
D) considers economic conditions when voting
E) always votes for incumbents

Question 65

A major difference between a 527 organization and a 501(c)(4)is that:

A) 501(c)(4) groups, unlike 527 groups, are allowed to make coordinated expenditures
B) 527 groups, unlike 501(c)(4) groups, can give unlimited amounts of money to candidates directly
C) 501(c)(4) groups, unlike 527 groups, do not have to disclose the names of their donors
D) 527 groups, unlike 501(c)(4) groups, disproportionately support incumbents over challengers
E) 501(c)(4) groups, unlike 527 groups, disproportionately support Democrats over Republicans

Question 66

A voter who uses a personal vote cue supports a candidate because the candidate:

A) captures the voter's own anger against the incumbent party
B) shares a personality characteristic with the voter
C) is similar to the voter in some way, such as in age, appearance, gender, or race
D) has provided the voter with assistance in the past
E) is an incumbent

Question 67

A ballot on which a voter selects candidates from more than one political party is called:

A) a blanket primary
B) an open primary
C) coattails
D) straight-ticket voting
E) split-ticket voting

Question 68

Soft money cannot be used to:

A) mobilize voters
B) promote a policy proposal
C) promote a point of view
D) elect or defeat a specific candidate
E) fund 527 organizations

Question 69

Campaign funds that are subject to clear limits on how much can be raised are called:

A) hard money
B) 527 funds
C) 501(c)(3) funds
D) 501(c)(4) funds
E) electioneering funds

Question 70

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

A) soft money; candidate
B) soft money; issue
C) hard money; candidate
D) hard money; issue
E) soft money; party platform

Question 71

Campaign finance regulations seek to balance the conflict between:

A) the First Amendment and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
B) the values of capitalism and the values of democracy
C) the freedom to spend money as one pleases and the potential for political corruption
D) the rights of political organizations to say what they want and the rights of political candidates to control the terms of the campaign agenda
E) the First Amendment and the public interest served by restricting wealthy interests from dominating what voters hear during the election

Question 72

Which of the following describes a situation in which people do not go to the polls on Election Day to cast votes,even when they have a strong candidate preference?

A) the paradox of voting
B) turnout
C) reasonable voting
D) alienation
E) apathy

Question 73

Typically,members of which of the following groups do not turn out in large numbers to vote?

A) whites
B) men
C) people without a high school education or less
D) middle-aged people
E) women

Question 74

Under federal law,party committees are ________ in the amount of money they can use on behalf of the candidate through ________.

A) not limited; coordinated expenditures
B) limited; independent expenditures
C) not limited; direct campaign contributions
D) limited; coordinated expenditures
E) not limited; in-kind contributions

Question 75

Because concerns such as economic worries cause voters to lower their evaluations of incumbent politicians,those concerns:

A) lead to retrospective voting and create conditions for nationalized elections
B) create conditions for a normal election
C) create instability in party control of the legislature
D) cause incumbents to spend more money on advertising
E) decrease the chance of the incumbent facing a strong challenger

Question 76

For the general election contest for president,the federal government offers public funds to the two major-party nominees and any minor-party candidates who belong to a party that received at least ________ of the vote in the previous election.

A) 5 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 15 percent
D) 20 percent
E) 25 percent

Question 77

In a normal election,voters typically focus on all of the following factors to make a decision EXCEPT:

A) incumbency
B) partisanship
C) personal connection
D) retrospective evaluations
E) fund-raising ability

Question 78

When someone votes against an incumbent House member or senator because of a failure to provide federal funds to the district,it is an example of using ________ to make a voting decision.

A) partisanship
B) personal characteristics
C) a retrospective evaluation
D) incumbency
E) a personal vote

Question 79

Which of the following terms describes a situation in which a popular president generates additional support for legislative candidates and helps them gain office?

A) The president encouraged straight-ticket voting.
B) The president has coattails.
C) The president caused split-ticket voting.
D) The president provided voting cues.
E) The president caused retrospective voting.

Question 80

Citizens United v.Federal Election Commission:

A) removes all campaign finance limits for corporations
B) led to the creation of 501(c)(4) and 527 organizations
C) allows donors to make anonymous contributions to candidates
D) allows corporations to contribute unlimited amounts of money to candidates directly
E) removes restrictions on the funds that corporations and labor unions can use for independent expenditures