12: Campaigns, Elections and Voting

Question 1

Some states allow for a(n) ____________________ when none of the candidates secures a majority of votes in the initial primary.

runoff election

caucus election

referendum

initiative

Answer 1

runoff election

Question 2

What is the term used for the process by which citizens propose legislation or state constitutional amendments and submit them to the electorate for popular vote?

amendment

mandate

initiative

recast

Answer 2

initiative

Question 3

What is the purpose of primary elections?

They determine who will become the officeholder.

They allow every party member to agree on one candidate.

They allow each party to select a candidate to represent it in the general election.

They ensure that a party’s candidates have similar policy positions.

Answer 3

They allow each party to select a candidate to represent it in the general election.

Question 4

When election winners claim they have overwhelming voter support for their policies and programs, they are claiming to have a(n) _______.

referendum

initiative

epiphany

mandate

Answer 4

mandate

Question 5

What is a referendum?

when a ballot measure is pulled from the ballot

when state officials challenge the legitimacy of election results

when a state legislature submits proposed legislation to voters to approve through the election process

when citizens’ groups challenge the outcome of election results

Answer 5

when a state legislature submits proposed legislation to voters to approve through the election process

Question 6

Which of the following assesses the needs of a campaign and seeks outside assistance to achieve specialized tasks?

press secretary

polls manager

campaign manager

finance chair

Answer 6

campaign manager

Question 7

Which part of a campaign involves online communication, outreach, and fundraising, as well as candidates’ social media?

Digital team

Campaign manager

Press secretary

Finance chair

Answer 7

Digital team

Question 8

To improve electability, a candidate might contract with an outside __________, who brings technologies, strategies, and services to the campaign.

press secretary

campaign consultant

financial advisor

campaign manager

Answer 8

campaign consultant

Question 9

Why might traditional media coverage be frustrating to candidates?

Traditional media outlets are seldom interested in covering political campaigns.

Traditional media outlets are mostly interested in covering a campaign’s policy positions.

The candidate is generally unable to avoid coverage by traditional media outlets.

The candidate cannot control the content of the coverage.

Answer 9

The candidate cannot control the content of the coverage.

Question 10

What is the main purpose of the Federal Election Commission?

to conduct research on election-related issues

to enforce the nation’s election laws

to encourage people to run for office

to overhaul federal campaign finance laws

Answer 10

to enforce the nation’s election laws

Question 11

Why are 527 and 501(c) political committees usually established?

to increase the soft money spending limits

to increase transparency in the campaign process

to limit overall campaign spending

to pump private money into campaigns with little government oversight

Answer 11

to pump private money into campaigns with little government oversight

Question 12

The current campaign contribution limits allow individuals to give no more than __________ to each candidate or candidate committee per election.

$2,700

$45,400

$250

$5,000

Answer 12

$2,700

Question 13

Most candidates receive a majority of all funds directly from __________.

individuals

interest groups

political parties

political action committees

Answer 13

individuals

Question 14

Which factor is the most powerful predictor of vote choice?

Income

Age

Level of education

Party identification

Answer 14

Party identification

Question 15

The gender gap suggests that _________________________.

women are significantly more likely to support Democratic candidates compared to their male counterparts

women are significantly more likely to support Independent candidates compared to their male counterparts

men are significantly more likely to support Green candidates compared to their female counterparts

men are significantly more likely to support Democratic candidates compared to their female counterparts

Answer 15

women are significantly more likely to support Democratic candidates compared to their male counterparts

Question 16

Members of which of the following groups tend to identify as Republican?

Protestants

Hispanics

Women

Jews

Answer 16

Protestants

Question 17

Voters exercise retrospective judgment when they cast a ballot based on ______.

what the candidate has pledged to do

statistical probabilities of success

expectations of future outcomes

a candidate’s or party’s past performance in office

Answer 17

a candidate’s or party’s past performance in office

Question 18

The proportion of voting-age public that actually casts a ballot is referred to as ________.

participation

mandating

logrolling

turnout

Answer 18

turnout

Question 19

What is front-loading?

the tendency of states to schedule primaries for early dates in the nomination process

when a candidate surges ahead in the polls

the voting process in states that allow early voting

the tendency for presidential candidates to start campaigning earlier and earlier

Answer 19

the tendency of states to schedule primaries for early dates in the nomination process

Question 20

Which of the following is a major reason for low levels of voter participation in the United States?

increased voter intimidation efforts by interest groups

the existence of strong political parties with close ties to the electorate

Barriers to voter registration

the paucity of elections

Answer 20

Barriers to voter registration

Question 21

Which of the following would be most likely to increase voter turnout?

requiring photo identification to vote

early voting

elimination of absentee ballots for those without a valid excuse

further weakening of political parties

Answer 21

early voting

Question 22

Which of the following is a result of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)?

The party affiliation of all candidates must be indicated on the ballot.

Many citizens register to vote when they get their driver’s license or use other government services.

Many states have dropped the requirement that citizens must register in order to vote.

There is an increase in the use of newer technologies for casting and/or counting votes.

Answer 22

There is an increase in the use of newer technologies for casting and/or counting votes.

Question 23

Which of the following statements about voter turnout is accurate?

Voter turnout is higher in caucuses than in primaries.

Voter turnout is higher in local elections than in national elections.

Voter turnout is higher in the South than in the Northeast.

Voter turnout is higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

Answer 23

Voter turnout is higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections.

Question 24

Already holding an office.

Answer 24

incumbency

Question 25

A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected.

Answer 25

prospective judgment

Question 26

An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to the electorate for popular vote.

Answer 26

initiative

Question 27

Participation in the primary election of a party with which the voter is not affiliated.

Answer 27

crossover voting

Question 28

Longest serving independent in the United States Congress. Ran against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary; senator from Vermont since 2007; first elected to the House of Representatives in 1991.

Answer 28

Bernie Sanders

Question 29

A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary.

Answer 29

runoff primary

Question 30

The individual who travels with the candidate and coordinates the campaign.

Answer 30

campaign manager

Question 31

Activism that attempts to influence the political process through commonly accepted forms of persuasion such as voting or letter writing.

Answer 31

conventional political participation

Question 32

A federal law passed in 2002 that addresses issues of voting systems and voter access that were identified following the 2000 election. It established minimum election administration standards for states and units of local government with responsibility for the administration of federal elections and for other purposes related to the bill.

Answer 32

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

Question 33

Representatives of each state who cast the final ballots that actually elect a president.

Answer 33

Electoral College

Question 34

Advertising that attempts to counteract an anticipated attack from the opposition before the attack is launched.

Answer 34

inoculation ad

Question 35

A push at the end of a political campaign to encourage supporters to go to the polls.

Answer 35

get-out-the-vote (GOTV)

Question 36

A voter’s evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue.

Answer 36

retrospective judgment

Question 37

The citizens eligible to vote.

Answer 37

electorate

Question 38

Ad that compares the records and proposals of the candidates, with a bias toward the candidate sponsoring the ad.

Answer 38

contrast ad

Question 39

The tendency of states to choose an early date on the nomination calendar.

Answer 39

front-loading

Question 40

An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election.

Answer 40

recall

Question 41

Activism that attempts to influence the political process through unusual or extreme measures, such as protests, boycotts, and picketing.

Answer 41

unconventional political participation

Question 42

Officially recognized fundraising organizations that represent interest groups and are allowed by federal law to make contributions directly to candidates’ campaigns.

Answer 42

political action committee (PAC)

Question 43

A command, indicated by an electorate’s votes, for the elected officials to carry out a party platform or policy agenda.

Answer 43

mandate

Question 44

A private-sector professional who sells to a candidate the technologies, services, and strategies required to get that candidate elected.

Answer 44

campaign consultant

Question 45

Advertising on behalf of a candidate that stresses the candidate’s qualifications, family, and issue positions, with no direct reference to the opponent.

Answer 45

positive ad

Question 46

The reallocation of the number of seats in the House of Representatives after each decennial census.

Answer 46

reapportionment

Question 47

Political action committees established to make independent expenditures.

Answer 47

super PAC

Question 48

Advertising on behalf of a candidate that attacks the opponent’s character or platform.

Answer 48

negative ad

Question 49

Donations from general tax revenues to the campaigns of qualifying presidential candidates.

Answer 49

public funds

Question 50

The proportion of the voting-age public that casts a ballot.

Answer 50

turnout

Question 51

The person who develops the overall media strategy for the candidate.

Answer 51

communications director

Question 52

Principle drafter of the Declaration of Independence; second vice president of the United States; third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. Co-founder of the Democratic-Republican Party created to oppose Federalists.

Answer 52

Thomas Jefferson

Question 53

The 2014 Supreme Court ruling that declared Section 441 of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) unconstitutional. Section 441 imposed limits on any individual’s total political contributions (to federal candidates, parties, or political action committees) in a two-year period.

Answer 53

McCutcheon v. FEC

Question 54

An independent regulatory agency founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States.

Answer 54

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Question 55

A primary election in which only a party’s registered voters are eligible to cast a ballot.

Answer 55

closed primary

Question 56

The individual who coordinates the financial business of the campaign.

Answer 56

finance chair

Question 57

Organizations created with the primary purpose of influencing electoral outcomes; the term is typically applied only to freestanding interest groups that do not explicitly advocate for the election of a candidate.

Answer 57

political committee

Question 58

Election in which voters decide which candidates will actually fill elective public offices.

Answer 58

general election

Question 59

Election in which voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election.

Answer 59

primary election

Question 60

Member of the Electoral College.

Answer 60

elector

Question 61

A primary election in which party members, independents, and sometimes members of the other party are allowed to participate.

Answer 61

open primary

Question 62

A campaign consultant who conducts public opinion surveys.

Answer 62

pollster

Question 63

The individual charged with interacting and communicating with journalists on a daily basis.

Answer 63

press secretary

Question 64

Donations to presidential campaigns whereby every dollar raised from individuals in amounts less than $251 is matched by the federal treasury.

Answer 64

matching funds

Question 65

When successful presidential candidates carry into office congressional candidates of the same party in the year of their election.

Answer 65

presidential coattails

Question 66

Passed in 2002, this act amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 with several provisions designed to end the use of nonfederal, or “soft money” (money raised outside the limits and prohibitions of federal campaign finance law) for activity affecting federal elections.

Answer 66

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

Question 67

An election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term.

Answer 67

mid-term election

Question 68

The process by which a campaign reaches individual voters, either by door-to-door solicitation or by telephone.

Answer 68

voter canvass

Question 69

Passed in 1971, this is the primary law that regulates political campaign spending and fundraising. The law originally focused on increased disclosure of contributions for federal campaigns.

Answer 69

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

Question 70

Interest groups whose primary purpose is not electoral politics.

Answer 70

501(c) group

Question 71

An election whereby the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval.

Answer 71

referendum

Question 72

Spending for campaign activity that is not coordinated with a candidate’s campaign.

Question 73

Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, __________ have not played as central of a role in funding congressional campaigns as Super PACs.

corporations

political action committees

public funds

foreign citizens

Answer 73

political action committees

Question 74

Which reforms may increase voter turnout?

requiring photo identification to vote

strengthened partisanship

requesting absentee ballots in person

requiring all states to use paper ballots

Answer 74

strengthened partisanship

Question 75

Which of the following would be most likely to increase voter turnout in the United States?

stricter voter identification requirements

a larger number of independents

absentee voting rules

more elections

Answer 75

absentee voting rules

Question 76

Which of the following dramatically increased voter turnout among African Americans?

the Voting Rights Act

the Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA)

the increased use of literacy tests

the election of George W. Bush

Answer 76

the Voting Rights Act

Question 77

Which of the following is a reason given by some scholars for why voters with more education are more likely to turnout?

The rise of partisan politics has made education a greater predictor of vote choice.

Candidates target their campaign messages to more educated voters.

People with more education tend to learn more about politics and have greater sense of political efficacy.

Voters with less education have easier access to ways to register to vote.

Answer 77

People with more education tend to learn more about politics and have greater sense of political efficacy.

Question 78

Robo-calls are remarkably efficient because they can___.

be used to spread positive information about the opponent via positive ads

reach up to 2,500 telephones per minute at only pennies per call

raise unlimited funds from political action committees

eliminate any door-to-door vote canvassing

Answer 78

reach up to 2,500 telephones per minute at only pennies per call

Question 79

In a(n) ___________ election, an incumbent is removed from office.

referendum

impeachment

initiative

recall

Answer 79

recall

Question 80

Which of the following contributes to low voter turnout in the United States?

the reluctance to believe in democratic principles

the generally low levels of education

the existence of voter registration laws

laws that enfranchise convicted felons

Answer 80

the existence of voter registration laws

Question 81

What is the gender gap?

the fact that women are more likely than men to vote

the fact that women are more likely to support female candidates and men are more likely to support male candidates

the fact that women are more likely to support Democratic candidates and men are more likely to support Republican candidates

the fact that female candidates need to raise more money to be competitive than do men

Answer 81

the fact that women are more likely to support Democratic candidates and men are more likely to support Republican candidates

Question 82

Interest groups whose primary purpose is something other than electoral politics are called __________.

Super PACs

501(c) groups

527 committees

PACs

Answer 82

501(c) groups

Question 83

When are members of Congress from the president’s party especially vulnerable to electoral defeat?

Primary elections

Recall elections

Presidential election years

Mid-term elections

Answer 83

Mid-term elections

Question 84

In what ways does an open primary differ from a closed primary?

Any candidate can run in an open primary; candidates must be chosen by their party to run in a closed primary.

Any registered voter can vote in an open primary; only a voter registered with a party can vote for that party’s candidates in a closed primary.

An open primary occurs over multiple days, allowing more discussion and debate; a closed primary occurs over a single day.

Any American citizen can vote in an open primary; only registered voters can vote in a closed primary.

Answer 84

Any registered voter can vote in an open primary; only a voter registered with a party can vote for that party’s candidates in a closed primary.

Question 85

Which of the following best explains why minorities tend to have lower voter turnout rates than do white voters?

Whites are more invested in public policy issues than are minorities.

Minorities have greater barriers to voting because they tend to have lower incomes and have less formal education.

Minorities do not affiliate with traditional parties.

Whites tend to intimidate minorities into not voting.

Answer 85

Minorities have greater barriers to voting because they tend to have lower incomes and have less formal education.

Question 86

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution __________.

outlawed poll taxes

lowered the voting age to 18

gave women the right to vote

allowed residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections

Answer 86

lowered the voting age to 18

Question 87

If a candidate is not strong in answering candid questions from reporters, he or she might decide to __________.

arrange for an appearance on a Sunday morning news program

hold a press conference

appear on a talk show

be interviewed for a local evening news program

Answer 87

appear on a talk show