Deck 4: Citizen Participation and Elections

Question 1

The suffragists scored the ultimate victory in their quest for the enfranchisement of women when

A) the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed, which granted universal suffrage to everyone.
B) the Twentieth Amendment was passed in 1920, giving women the right to vote in all states.
C) the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that women had the right to vote in Smith v. Allwright.
D) the Nineteenth Amendment was passed in 1920, forbidding the states to deny women the right to vote on the basis of gender.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which region was quite open, both procedurally and socially, to the early adoption of direct democracy?

A) northeastern states
B) western states
C) southern states
D) midwestern states

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to the text, which of the following institutional factors may suppress voter participation?

A) the use of partisan elections by local governments
B) local government's tendency to schedule city council meetings on evenings and weekends
C) online contact forms in which citizens can contact public officials
D) the use of nonpartisan elections by local governments

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Most states schedule gubernatorial elections in years when there is NOT a presidential election to

A) focus greater attention on state issues and minimize the coattail effect.
B) take advantage of the popular support of a newly elected presidential candidate.
C) ensure that the state can follow the lead in party campaign promises set in the previous national election.
D) ensure financial help from the party in power in Washington.

Question 5

In 2012, the highest voter turnout rates were recorded in which state?

A) Oregon
B) Illinois
C) Minnesota
D) Maine

Question 6

Nonpartisan elections, often used at the local level, remove the political party identification of the candidates and are intended to

A) depoliticize government positions that are considered nonideological.
B) increase representation in government among lower socioeconomic groups.
C) increase citizen participation in elections.
D) bring about greater cooperation where politicized city council elections had previously been in use.

Question 7

Of the following, which type of individual would generally be the LEAST likely to vote?

A) A 21-year-old male living in large city
B) A 65-year-old male living in a small town
C) A 65-year-old male living in a large city
D) A 21-year-old male living in a small town

Question 8

In 2013, the preclearance requirement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required counties covered under the act to submit any change in election laws to the U.S. Department of Justice was eliminated. These counties are located mainly in

A) southern states.
B) northern states.
C) midwestern states.
D) western states.

Question 9

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 enabled individuals to register to vote in all of the following scenarios EXCEPT

A) when applying for unemployment compensation.
B) when applying for welfare benefits.
C) when applying for a driver's license or registering their cars.
D) on the day of the actual election.

Question 10

Over the years, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been modified to

A) ensure physical intimidation is not allowed.
B) limit the use of white primaries.
C) make illegal any government action that discourages minority voting.
D) extend the vote to illegal immigrants.

Question 11

In terms of voter turnout, states with moralistic political culture typically experience

A) lower voter turnout than states with traditionalistic political culture.
B) the same voter turnout as states with traditionalistic political culture.
C) higher voter turnout than states with traditionalistic political culture.
D) less political participation than states with any other type of political culture.

Question 12

Although political parties have traditionally been active in general elections, mobilizing voters in support of their candidates, their role has decreased over time because

A) state parties are no longer allowed to raise funds from individuals.
B) general-election campaigns have become more candidate-centered and geared to a candidate's own organization.
C) candidates refuse to run for office with a party endorsement and thus most candidates are technically independent candidates.
D) legislative caucuses that provide funds to candidates are not affiliated with a particular party.

Question 13

What is the name of a primary system, used in states like Louisiana and California, where candidates, regardless of party affiliation, appear on the same ballot and subsequently the two candidates with the most votes in the primary then appear on the ballot in the general election?

A) Open primary
B) Top-two primary
C) Closed primary
D) Modified semi-closed primary

Question 14

A closed primary is a primary in which

A) registered voters with party affiliation may vote in either primary, but the election is closed to independents.
B) voters may choose either party ballot in secret.
C) registered voters may vote in either party primary, but the primary is closed to those not registered.
D) voters must be registered with their party affiliation indicated in order to vote in their party primary.

Question 15

Voter turnout tends to be highest in which of the following elections?

A) primary elections held in off years
B) nonpartisan state-wide elections
C) in presidential election years
D) local elections where nonincumbents face each other

Question 16

The most common form of citizen participation in a representative democracy is

A) letter writing to officials.
B) running for public office.
C) serving on an advisory committee.
D) voting.

Question 17

The two states that have implemented a vote-by-mail system are

A) Washington and Massachusetts.
B) Massachusetts and Colorado.
C) Texas and Iowa.
D) Oregon and Washington.

Question 18

At the heart of the Progressive effort regarding initiatives, popular referenda, and recall mechanisms was a

A) basic trust of political party mechanisms.
B) faith in the institutions of government and the wisdom of partisan politics.
C) desire to silence interest groups and restore true democracy
D) belief in the capacity of individual citizens and in restricting the powers of institutions, such as legislatures.

Question 19

To circumvent the right to vote given to African Americans under the Fifteenth Amendment (1870), southern states employed various tactics including the white primary, poll taxes, and literacy tests. In Smith v. Allwright (1944), the Supreme Court held that

A) primaries based on race were illegal.
B) poll taxes and literacy tests were unconstitutional.
C) primaries were a matter for party control and could not be regulated by government.
D) poll watchers and registrars must be dispatched by the U.S. Justice Department to nine southern states and parts of seven others.

Question 20

A constructive response to dissatisfaction over a community policy may involve both a passive and an active component. An example would be

A) voting against a policy and then, if it is approved, organizing demonstrations against it.
B) concluding that "you can't fight city hall," and moving to another community.
C) leaving the jurisdiction and doing campaign work in your new jurisdiction.
D) abstaining from voting and opting for a privatized alternative to government service.

Question 21

E-government is seen as beneficial in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A) it is an efficient way for government to gauge public opinion and preferences.
B) citizens can easily download reports and forms.
C) people can "click" on a government's homepage and find information and resources.
D) it leaves the "technology have-nots" behind.

Question 22

The increased popularity of initiatives can be explained by the fact that

A) interest groups are unable to participate in initiatives, resulting in a more democratic policy process
B) voters with frequent exposure to ballot questions are more likely to vote and feel more politically effective.
C) wavering public confidence in government has led citizens to take matters into their own hands.
D) lawmakers prefer that the public deal with controversial issues, such as abortion and school prayer

Question 23

Voting is an example of loyalty, a passive but constructive response to government action.

Question 24

A dense network of reciprocal social relations that promotes greater civic engagement is known as

A) social capital.
B) plurality.
C) the status quo.
D) the coattail effect.

Question 25

Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote in 1869.

Question 26

Participation refers to actions through which ordinary members of a political system attempt to influence political outcomes.

Question 27

In contemporary America, there is persistent evidence that citizens are very interested in political participation.

Question 28

Citizens who are unhappy with a public policy have four potential responses: loyalty, voice, exit, and neglect.

Question 29

Statewide initiatives are allowed in

A) twenty-four states.
B) all fifty states.
C) only three states: Florida, Washington, and Colorado.
D) all states where advance notice of meetings is required and minutes must be taken.

Question 30

The petition signature requirement for initiatives varies by state but usually falls between _______ percent of the number of votes cast in the preceding statewide election.

A) 40 and 50
B) 5 and 10
C) 20 and 30
D) 1 and 2

Question 31

Which of the following statements about citizen advisory committees is true?

A) They are used exclusively as a vehicle to ensure citizen participation in government.
B) They are merely tools for manipulation by politicians.
C) They provide a way to circumvent state legislatures and city councils in developing public policy.
D) They provide a formal structure for citizen input.

Question 32

The recall mechanism for state officials is available in

A) all but two states
B) nineteen states
C) twenty-six states
D) all fifty states

Question 33

People in small communities (less than 5,000 inhabitants) are less likely to participate in various civic activities, including contacting local officials, attending community meetings, and voting in local elections, as compared to big-city dwellers (those who live in places with a population of 1 million or more).

Question 34

Colorado's "backseat budgeter" is an example of e-government that provides which of the following benefits?

A) allows citizens to personally interact with the policymakers who create the budget
B) acquaints citizens with the budgeting process and policymakers with the public's preferences
C) allows citizens to formally vote in a binding election on specific budget issues
D) allows citizens to veto budget decisions made by the legislature

Question 35

In the United States, younger people participate in elections less than middle-aged individuals.

Question 36

In his influential book, Bowling Alone, political scientist Robert Putnam documented the gradual disengagement of people from all sorts of community activities and organizations.

Question 37

The state that most recently adopted the initiative is

A) Mississippi.
B) California.
C) Utah.
D) Florida.

Question 38

White-collar workers and professionals participate in politics at about the same rate as unskilled workers and blue-collar workers.

Question 39

One of the most influential modern initiatives was California's Proposition 13, which sought to

A) give citizens tax relief by lowering property tax rates.
B) strengthen affirmative action programs in the state.
C) make marijuana legal for medical uses.
D) dismantle affirmative action programs in the state.

Question 40

Wealthier, more educated individuals tend to participate in politics less than individuals with lower levels of income and education.

Question 41

Nonpartisan elections are likely to be found in municipalities and in school districts.

Question 42

Presidential elections usually attract the highest proportion of eligible voters.

Question 43

A referendum is a procedure where a government body submits proposed laws, constitutional amendments, or bond issues to the voters for ratification.

Question 44

Only nineteen states provide for recall of state officials.

Question 45

The Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (ratified in 1920) forbids states from denying the right to vote on account of race.

Question 46

North Dakota is the only state that does not require voter registration.

Question 47

Statewide initiatives are legal in most states.

Question 48

The coattail effect is the tendency of state candidates to influence the election prospects of a presidential candidate.

Question 49

Recall is a procedure that allows citizens to vote an elected official out of office before his or her term has expired.

Question 50

The Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1870) extended the right to vote to African Americans, but Congress had to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to get defiant southern states to allow blacks to vote.

Question 51

Most states hold their general elections during November in even-numbered years.

Question 52

Women gained universal suffrage in the United States with passage of the Twentieth Amendment in 1901.

Question 53

Participation is believed to be necessary and good for democracy. However, there are positive and negative aspects associated with increased participation. Evaluate some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with increased citizen participation.

Question 54

Open meeting laws make the meetings of government bodies open to the public and are present in all 50 states.

Question 55

Passage of the National Voter Registration Act in 1993 means that individuals can now register to vote at any U.S. Post Office.

Question 56

To ensure public access to the rulemaking process, states have adopted administrative procedure acts, which require public notice of the proposed rule and an opportunity for citizen comment.

Question 57

In an open primary, only those registered with the political party are allowed to vote.

Question 58

The first step in the initiative process is the petition.

Question 59

Nonpartisan elections remove the party identification from candidates in an effort to depoliticize the campaign.

Question 60

California approved a constitutional amendment in 2010 adopting the top-two primary system similar to the one used in Louisiana, where the top-two vote getters in the primary become the general election candidates regardless of party affiliation.

Question 61

In general, how do the Internet, social medial, and e-government connect the public with government? In your discussion, make sure to illustrate your points with specific examples and comment on some of the limitations of this new type of interaction between the public and governments.

Question 62

Are initiatives good for democracy? Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages associated with initiatives.

Question 63

Why do people participate in the political process? In your discussion, be sure to include a description of the various potential responses to dissatisfaction in the community and the general demographic and contextual factors that have been linked to participation. Given your discussion, what might governments do to increase citizen participation?

Question 64

What are the recent trends in the electoral processes used by state and local governments? Do you believe that they affect voting patterns?