Question 1

Today's voters are as loyal to their professed party identification as they have ever been.

Accepted Answer

Voter loyalty to party identification has remained strong, with many voters consistently supporting their party across elections, influenced by factors like polarization and party alignment on key issues.

Question 2

Most people who claim to be independent are "closet" partisans who lean toward one party and share most of the attitudes and behaviors of partisans.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that many self-identified independents actually have a partisan leaning and exhibit similar political behaviors and attitudes to those who openly identify with a political party.

Question 3

Old-fashioned campaigns based on armies of volunteers canvassing door-to-door can be effective in contests.

Accepted Answer

Door-to-door canvassing allows for personal interaction, which can be persuasive and increase voter turnout, making it an effective campaign strategy.

Question 4

Challengers typically raise more money in congressional races than do incumbents.

Accepted Answer

Incumbents usually have an advantage in fundraising due to established connections, name recognition, and access to party resources, leading them to typically raise more money than challengers.

Question 5

Candidates are required by law to spend all campaign funds raised in a given electoral cycle on their own campaigns.

Accepted Answer

Candidates are not legally required to spend all campaign funds on their own campaigns; they can save funds for future campaigns or donate to other political entities, subject to legal restrictions.

Question 6

Political science research shows that negative campaign ads are ineffective, despite their popularity.

Accepted Answer

Research in political science indicates that negative campaign ads can be effective in influencing voter perceptions and behavior, despite their controversial nature.

Question 7

Face-to-face campaign strategies are more effective than television ads.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Face-to-face campaign strategies are more effective than...

Question 8

More people vote in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

Accepted Answer

Presidential elections typically have higher voter turnout compared to midterm elections, as they attract more public interest and media coverage.

Question 9

Presidential "coattails" describe the idea that fund-raising tends to be lower in presidential election years.

Accepted Answer

Presidential "coattails" refer to the phenomenon where a popular presidential candidate helps boost the electoral success of other candidates from the same party in down-ballot races, not to fund-raising trends.

Question 10

Ticket-splitting has plummeted to less than 10 percent in the last six presidential elections.

Accepted Answer

Ticket-splitting, where voters choose candidates from different parties for different offices, has significantly decreased in recent elections, with less than 10 percent of voters engaging in this practice in the last six presidential elections.

Question 11

How do incumbent and challenger strategies differ in congressional campaigns?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do incumbent and challenger strategies differ...

Question 12

Why do incumbents have an advantage in congressional elections?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do incumbents have an advantage in...

Question 13

What are the advantages of close-contact campaign strategies compared to mass media appeals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the advantages of close-contact campaign...

Question 14

What is "outside money" and how does it differ from other campaign spending?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is "outside money" and how does...

Question 15

What impact has Citizens United had on independent expenditures in congressional campaigns?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What impact has Citizens United had on...

Question 16

Why does it tend to be easier for incumbents to raise money for their campaigns, as opposed to challengers?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does it tend to be easier...

Question 17

Is fund-raising related to electoral success in congressional campaigns?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is fund-raising related to electoral success in...

Question 18

Compare the benefits and disadvantages of the major campaign strategies. Suppose you are an incumbent House member in a small, rural district that leans slightly toward the opposite party. Which strategies would you invest in and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare the benefits and disadvantages of the...

Question 19

Political scientists have identified several reasons for low voting participation in the United States. Outline their major theories and explain which you find most convincing and why.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Political scientists have identified several reasons for...

Question 20

What explains the pattern of midterm loss? Be sure to discuss the three major political science theories and consider their strengths and weaknesses in making your argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What explains the pattern of midterm loss?...

Quiz 4: Making It: the Electoral Game