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Political Science > 12: Campaigns, Elections and Voting > Flashcards

12: Campaigns, Elections and Voting Flashcards

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1
Q

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

A

runoff election

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2
Q

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

A

initiative

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3
Q

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.

A

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

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4
Q

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

A

mandate

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5
Q

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

A

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

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6
Q

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

A

campaign manager

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7
Q

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

A

Digital team

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8
Q

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

A

campaign consultant

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9
Q

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.

A

The candidate cannot control the content of the coverage.

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10
Q

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

A

to enforce the nation’s election laws

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11
Q

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

A

to pump private money into campaigns with little government oversight

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12
Q

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

A

$2,700

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13
Q

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

individuals

interest groups

political parties

political action committees

A

individuals

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14
Q

Which factor is the most powerful predictor of vote choice?

Income

Age

Level of education

Party identification

A

Party identification

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15
Q

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

A

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

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16
Q

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

Protestants

Hispanics

Women

Jews

A

Protestants

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17
Q

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

A

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

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18
Q

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

participation

mandating

logrolling

turnout

A

turnout

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19
Q

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

A

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

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20
Q

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

A

Barriers to voter registration

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21
Q

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

A

early voting

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22
Q

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.

A

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

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23
Q

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.

A

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

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24
Q

Already holding an office.

A

incumbency

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25
Q

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

A

prospective judgment

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26
Q

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

A

initiative

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27
Q

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

A

crossover voting

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28
Q

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.

A

Bernie Sanders

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29
Q

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

A

runoff primary

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30
Q

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

A

campaign manager

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31
Q

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

A

conventional political participation

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32
Q

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.

A

Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

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33
Q

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

A

Electoral College

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34
Q

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

A

inoculation ad

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35
Q

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

A

get-out-the-vote (GOTV)

36
Q

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

A

retrospective judgment

37
Q

The citizens eligible to vote.

A

electorate

38
Q

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

A

contrast ad

39
Q

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

A

front-loading

40
Q

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

A

recall

41
Q

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

A

unconventional political participation

42
Q

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

A

political action committee (PAC)

43
Q

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

A

mandate

44
Q

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

A

campaign consultant

45
Q

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

A

positive ad

46
Q

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

A

reapportionment

47
Q

Political action committees established to make independent expenditures.

A

super PAC

48
Q

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

A

negative ad

49
Q

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

A

public funds

50
Q

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

A

turnout

51
Q

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

A

communications director

52
Q

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.

A

Thomas Jefferson

53
Q

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.

A

McCutcheon v. FEC

54
Q

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

A

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

55
Q

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

A

closed primary

56
Q

The individual who coordinates the financial business of the campaign.

A

finance chair

57
Q

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.

A

political committee

58
Q

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

A

general election

59
Q

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

A

primary election

60
Q

Member of the Electoral College.

A

elector

61
Q

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

A

open primary

62
Q

A campaign consultant who conducts public opinion surveys.

A

pollster

63
Q

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

A

press secretary

64
Q

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

A

matching funds

65
Q

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

A

presidential coattails

66
Q

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.

A

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA)

67
Q

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

A

mid-term election

68
Q

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

A

voter canvass

69
Q

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.

A

Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

70
Q

Interest groups whose primary purpose is not electoral politics.

A

501(c) group

71
Q

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

A

referendum

72
Q

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

A
73
Q

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

A

political action committees

74
Q

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

A

strengthened partisanship

75
Q

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

A

absentee voting rules

76
Q

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

A

the Voting Rights Act

77
Q

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.

A

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

78
Q

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

A

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

79
Q

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

referendum

impeachment

initiative

recall

A

recall

80
Q

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

A

the existence of voter registration laws

81
Q

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

A

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

82
Q

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

Super PACs

501(c) groups

527 committees

PACs

A

501(c) groups

83
Q

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

A

Mid-term elections

84
Q

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.

A

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.

85
Q

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.

A

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

86
Q

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

A

lowered the voting age to 18

87
Q

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

A

appear on a talk show

Political Science (9 decks)

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