Question 1

Since 1911,the size of the House of Representatives has been fixed at __________ members.

Accepted Answer

The size of the House of Representatives has been fixed at 435 members since 1911. This number is set by the Apportionment Act of 1911, which established the current method for allocating the number of members to each state based on population. The number has been unchanged since then, except for a temporary increase to 437 members from 1959 to 1962 to accommodate Alaska and Hawaii as new states.

Question 2

By the time the 2016 presidential election was completed,the presidential campaigns had raised and spent approximately

Accepted Answer

The total raised and spent by presidential campaigns in the 2016 election was approximately $1.5 billion. This includes spending by the campaigns themselves as well as spending by outside groups supporting or opposing the candidates.

Question 3

A candidate who wins an upset victory in an early primary often tends to do better than expected in future contests.This is known as the _____ effect.

Accepted Answer

The described pattern is known as the bandwagon effect, where voters tend to support a candidate who appears to be winning or popular.

Question 4

The biggest challenge in the presidential primary for most candidates is

Accepted Answer

Most candidates in the presidential primary are not well-known to the general public, making it challenging to gain recognition and support.

Question 5

When Hubert Humphrey won the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1968,he did so

Accepted Answer

Humphrey was selected as the Democratic nominee at the party's convention in Chicago, without participating in any primary elections. His nomination was highly controversial, as it was perceived by many as being the result of backroom deals by party leaders, rather than true popular support.

Question 6

Since the mid-1960s,the incumbent reelection rate has never dropped below __________ percent in the Senate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Since the mid-1960s,the incumbent reelection rate has...

Question 7

A major difference between presidential campaigns and congressional campaigns is that

Accepted Answer

Presidential races are generally more competitive than congressional races, as they receive more media attention and funding. Additionally, presidential campaigns are often characterized by intense debates and scrutiny of the candidates' policy positions and personal backgrounds. Congressional campaigns, on the other hand, tend to focus more on local issues and may be less visible to the national media.

Question 8

A comprehensive study on political advertisements found that the plurality emphasized

Accepted Answer

The question asks for the plurality, meaning the most commonly emphasized theme in political advertisements. According to the passage, the comprehensive study found that political advertisements emphasized voters' fears. Option A, stirring positive emotions, may be used in some advertisements, but it was not the most commonly used theme. Option C, civic duty, and option D, nonpartisan cooperation, are unlikely to be emphasized in political advertisements, which are typically partisan and focused on promoting one candidate over another. Similarly, option E, candidates' personal qualities, may be used in some advertisements, but it was not the most commonly used theme.

Question 9

Originally,presidential candidates were chosen by

Accepted Answer

In the early days of American politics, presidential candidates were chosen through a process called the congressional caucus. This involved members of Congress from the same political party gathering to nominate a presidential candidate. The caucus system was eventually replaced by the convention system, where delegates from each state gather to nominate a candidate.

Question 10

Congressional incumbents often beat their challengers because they

Accepted Answer

It is a combination of all the factors listed. Incumbents generally have higher name recognition, can take credit for positive developments in their district, often provide services to their constituents, and have a fundraising advantage. These factors together make it difficult for challengers to gain an edge in congressional elections.

Question 11

Since the mid-1960s,the incumbent reelection percentage in the House has never dropped below

Accepted Answer

Since the mid-1960s, the incumbent reelection percentage in the House has never dropped below 80 percent.

Question 12

The quintessential summary of retrospective voting,according to Ronald Reagan,was,

Accepted Answer

The quote "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" is a classic example of retrospective voting. This question asks individuals to reflect on their personal and economic circumstances and determine whether there has been improvement or decline since the previous election cycle. It is a simple and straightforward way for voters to determine whether the incumbent party or candidate deserves another term in office. The quote is often attributed to Ronald Reagan, although it has been used by other politicians as well.

Question 13

Media's influence on voters is greatest when

Accepted Answer

The answer of  Media's influence on voters is greatest when  
...

Question 14

Electoral coattails refers to

Accepted Answer

Electoral coattails refer to how a winning presidential candidate's positive effect on congressional elections, where voters may be influenced by their support of the presidential candidate to also support down-ballot candidates in the same party. This phenomenon is known as the "coattail effect" because the winning presidential candidate's success appears to extend to other candidates on the same party's "coattails."

Question 15

The most important factor in winning the Presidency is

Accepted Answer

Partisanship is the most important factor in winning the Presidency because the United States' political landscape is highly polarized, with the majority of voters consistently supporting their party's candidate. This loyalty significantly influences election outcomes.

Question 16

After party caucuses were replaced by national nominating conventions,the real power in selecting presidential nominees was wielded by

Accepted Answer

After party caucuses were replaced by national nominating conventions, local party leaders, often referred to as party bosses or the party elite, held significant influence in selecting presidential nominees. This system allowed these leaders to exert control over the nomination process, often deciding behind closed doors which candidates would be supported at the national conventions.

Question 17

In 2016,Republican leaders voted to frontload the primary process and make it easier for a candidate to capture the nomination early on.This move ultimately

Accepted Answer

The decision to frontload the primary process in 2016 helped Donald Trump secure an early lead and maintain momentum throughout the primaries, aiding in his eventual nomination by the Republican Party.

Question 18

An important part of presidential campaigning is activating voters' latent partisanship.This entails

Accepted Answer

Activating voters' latent partisanship involves reminding party members why they are party members, and why their party's values and policies align with their own beliefs and interests. This is typically achieved through highlighting the party's successes and achievements, and emphasizing the differences between the two parties. While demonizing the other party's nominees or assigning blame for recent failures may be part of campaigning, they are not the primary focus of activating voters' latent partisanship.

Question 19

When a district is drawn in a bizarre or unusual shape to assist a candidate,it is

Accepted Answer

Gerrymandering refers to the process of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral district to favor a particular political party or candidate. This often involves drawing bizarre or unusual district shapes to concentrate the opposing party's voters in a few districts while spreading out the favored party's voters across many districts.

Question 20

Concerned about the shortened length of campaigns,parties have begun to

Accepted Answer

By reducing the frontloading of primary elections and delegate allocation from early states, parties can give more time for candidates to campaign in other states and have a less compressed primary season overall.

Quiz 10: Elections and Campaigns Elections and Campaigns