Question 1

Which amendment of the U.S.Constitution requires that U.S.senators be chosen directly by a state's voters rather than its legislatures?

Accepted Answer

The Seventeenth Amendment, ratified in 1913, requires that U.S. senators be chosen by direct election of the people, rather than by state legislatures.

Question 2

According to the U.S.Constitution, which of following entities creates or regulates the laws regarding national elections?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Which of the following is true of the constitutional roles of state and federal governments in regulating elections?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution leaves the regulation of elections primarily up to the states, with Article 1, Section 4 specifying that states shall have the power to prescribe the times, places, and manner of holding elections. However, federal laws and court rulings have placed some restrictions on state electoral practices, such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder (2013). In addition, certain federal offices such as the presidency and the U.S. Senate are elected on a national basis, while House of Representatives elections are conducted at the state level.

Question 4

Janice Strong is the current governor of the state of California.Her performance has been extremely dismal and the state has fallen behind the country on almost every single socio-economic indicator.Which of the following political procedures can the people of California turn to, in order to remove Janice from office early?

Accepted Answer

The people of California can turn to a recall election to remove the current governor from office early. This process allows voters to petition for a vote to remove an elected official before their term has ended. If enough signatures are collected, a special recall election is held to determine if the governor should be removed from office. Other options listed, such as general and special elections, are scheduled at set intervals and do not allow for the early removal of an elected official. Referendums and initiatives are also not applicable, as they are used to propose and vote on specific legislation or policy changes, not for the removal of an elected official.

Question 5

Which of the following brought about the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, which gave women the right to vote?

Accepted Answer

The answer is E because women were already voting at the subnational level in some states before the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. This proved that women were capable of voting responsibly, which put pressure on the federal government to pass the amendment.

Question 6

Which of the following is true of the Fifteenth amendment of the provisions of the U.S.Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The Fifteenth amendment specifies that state governments cannot deny franchise based on "race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

Question 7

________ refer to procedures whereby a certain number of voters may, by petition, propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.

Accepted Answer

Initiatives refer to procedures whereby a certain number of voters may propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters. This is different from a referendum where the legislature proposes a law or amendment and submits it to the voters for approval or rejection. General elections and special elections refer to the regular and special elections where voters choose their representatives. Recall elections refer to special elections where voters have the opportunity to remove an elected official from office before the end of their term.

Question 8

________ refer to procedures for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.

Accepted Answer

Recall elections refer to procedures for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term. General elections are regularly scheduled elections for selecting officials. Special elections are typically held to fill a vacancy or address a specific issue. Referendums and initiatives are procedures for proposing and voting on laws or amendments, but they do not necessarily relate to the removal of officials.

Question 9

________ refer to procedures for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.

Accepted Answer

Referendums refer to procedures for submitting measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution to popular vote. General and special elections refer to the process of electing officials, while recall elections refer to procedures for removing elected officials from office. Initiatives refer to procedures for citizens to propose laws or amendments to the state constitution directly.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of the nature of control over the vast electoral process in the United States in its rules and administration?

Accepted Answer

The US electoral process is governed by a combination of federal laws and state laws, with each state having its own rules and procedures for conducting elections. This means that the control over the electoral process is decentralized, with each state responsible for the administration of its own elections. While the federal government plays some role in setting standards and providing funding for elections, the primary responsibility for conducting elections rests with the individual states.

Question 11

"Marriage for All", a gay-rights group based in the state of Colorado, have petitioned the government to propose a law allowing same-sex marriages to be voted on in the upcoming elections.This is an example of a ________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a public initiative, where citizens propose legislation or constitutional amendments to be voted on by the electorate.

Question 12

Which amendment of the constitution prohibits states from requiring voters to pay a poll tax?

Accepted Answer

The Twenty-Fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964, prohibits both Congress and the states from imposing a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting in federal elections. This amendment was enacted to eliminate a practice that prevented many poor and minority citizens from exercising their right to vote.

Question 13

The state of Connecticut has passed regulations making it legal to prescribe marijuana for medical purposes.However, several religious groups are opposed to the legislation and have petitioned the government to allow a ________ to be held to determine the public's wishes with regard to the bill.

Accepted Answer

A public referendum is a direct vote by the public on a proposed law or decision. It allows the public to have a say in the matter and would be the appropriate choice for determining the public's wishes on the legalization of medical marijuana. A general election is typically for choosing government officials, a special election is called for a specific issue or candidate, a recall election is to remove an elected official from office, and a public initiative is a process for citizens to propose new laws or changes to existing laws.

Question 14

________ refer to elections used to determine who will run in the general elections under the party labels.

Accepted Answer

Primary elections determine who will run in the general elections under the party labels. General elections are the final vote to determine who will hold the office. Special elections, recall elections, and referendums serve different purposes.

Question 15

________ refer to elections in which voters elect officeholders.

Accepted Answer

General elections are the type of elections where voters elect officeholders for a certain period of time. This includes elections for Presidents, Senators, Representatives, and Governors among others. Special elections are called for specific purposes, while recall elections are held to remove an elected official from office. Referendums and initiatives are ballot measures that allow voters to directly vote on laws or policies.

Question 16

Which of the following is true regarding the constitutional roles of state and federal governments in regulating elections?

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Constitution, the regulation of elections for national offices such as the President, Vice President, and members of Congress falls within the purview of the state governments. Therefore, all elections for national offices are held by and within the states. While the federal government can provide oversight and support for elections through laws such as the Voting Rights Act, the primary responsibility for conducting free and fair elections lies with state and local officials.

Question 17

________ refer to elections in which voters decide on ballot initiatives, vote on statewide constitutional changes or new constitutions, or elect a senator or representative to replace one who has died or resigned.

Accepted Answer

Special elections are called for specific purposes such as ballot initiatives, constitutional changes, or to replace an elected official who has left office before their term is up. General elections typically occur on a regular, scheduled basis to elect officials to office, whereas special elections are called as needed. Recall elections are also called for specific purposes, but to remove an official from office before their term is up, rather than replace one who has left office. Referendums and initiatives are types of ballot measures that can be included in special or general elections, but are not elections themselves.

Question 18

Which amendment of the U.S.Constitution guarantees women the right to vote?

Accepted Answer

The Nineteenth Amendment, ratified in 1920, guarantees the right to vote to all citizens regardless of sex, which includes women.

Question 19

According to Article I, Section 4 of the U.S.Constitution, the U.S.Congress may not alter regulations regarding the ________.

Accepted Answer

Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution allows Congress to alter regulations regarding the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, except for the places of choosing Senators.

Question 20

Which of the following is true of the provisions of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment of the U.S.Constitution?

Accepted Answer

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment was ratified in 1971 and it lowered the voting age for all federal, state, and local elections to 18. Thus, it prevents states from denying the vote to otherwise qualified persons aged 18 or older.

Quiz 4: Parties and Elections in the States