Chapter 10 Test Flashcards
General Election (When?)
party nominee winners’ final race
first Tuesday after the first Monday in Nov
Crucial Aspects of a successful campaign
well-laid strategy, address public-minded issues
What is one of the American citizens’ most important privileges?
voting
What are Exit Polls used for?
news media to predict outcome
What is one of the most neglected civic rights?
voting
Christians have a responsibility to love their neighbors by voting for leaders who will govern with wisdom.
(T/F)
True
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 established what structure? Their intentions?
Electoral College; fair representation for smaller states
In most states, the winner of the popular vote wins all the states’ electoral votes.
True
If no candidate wins a majority, who chooses the president from among the three leading candidates, with each state casting one vote?
House of Representatitves
What determines the number of electoral votes a state receives? Why does this number change?
the total number of the state’s House and Senate members; state populations
What is the Purpose of the electoral college?
a check on pure democratic rule
What is the minimum number of electoral votes needed for a candidate to win the presidency?
270
Which presidential election had the first televised debate?
1960
How many times has the House of Representatives had to decide the winner in a
presidential election?
two
Qualifications for a president
natural-born citizen, thirty-five yrs, 14 yrs citizen
What are the two most common paths to the presidential office?
successful military career and climb through lower-level politics
Modern-day presidential candidates who receive the most electoral votes become president, and the runner-up becomes vice. (T/F)
false, in the early days
direct primaries
preliminary nominating elections held to select candidates or delegates to party conventions
What do candidates do to win delegate and voter support?
campaign
What are delegates
party representatives who pledge to support the candidate’s nomination at the national party convention
Caucus
states that do not hold primaries use a form of district and state conventions
Purpose of Presidential primaries
open field to more candidates, make delegate selection more democratic
Closed Primaries
members of one particular party that can only vote for that party
Open Primaries
voters’ party is unstated and can vote for either party
Crossover Voting
voters of a party vote for the opposing party’s candidates to encourage their downfall
Primaries traditionally begin when/where?
January and February with the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary
Democratic Party activists tend to support more liberal candidates in these early primaries. (T/F)
true
National party conventions began in the ______ and continue to be the means of formally nominating ____________ candidates and regulating party organization.
1830s; presidential
What are national conventions used for?
raising support for party nominees
What is important when planning a national convention?
location
Party Platform
formal statement of a party’s position on current issues;
superdelegates
party leaders and officeholders
The last day of a convention usually consists of routine organizational procedures. (T/F)
false, first
The highlight of the first day of the convention is…
Keynote address
Keynote address
a speech made by a leading party member
throughout these days of party work, inspirational speeches are given to help keep the enthusiasm alive (T/F)
true
the convention’s premier event:
the nomination of its presidential candidate
Although first-ballot nominations are now normal, failure to give one candidate a majority vote on the first roll call remains a possibility. (T/F)
true
A convention that requires lengthy balloting and an eventual settlement by bargaining and compromise
brokered convention
The final item of business is…
nominating a vice-presidential candidate
In the past, party leaders made the choice, but now the decision is usually left to your mom. (T/F)
false, the presidential nominee.
The choice generally centers on two considerations:
geography and ideology
balance the ticket
a presidential nominee chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected due to specific ideology, geography, ethnicity, gender, or other characteristics
What two forms of delegate selection are used in the presidential nominating process?
primaries and caucuses
In recent years, what changes have taken place in the composition of national convention delegates?
There is a greater number of women, young people, and minorities and a greater percentage of superdelegates.
inaugural address
a special speech after the first swearing-in
__________ was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
jefferson
residential directives or actions that have the effect and force of law.
Executive orders
The president may also issue your mom. (T/F)
false, pardons
Congress passed the Presidential Transition Act in _____
1963
When a new administration transitions into power, almost _______________ non-civil-service jobs are opened up in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government
ten thousand
The Founding Fathers designed the first presidential inauguration to take place on March 4, 1789, which was also __________________________________
the same day the Constitution went into effect
What did the twentieth amendment do?
inauguration date to January 20th…granted people quick action from president and congress
Most inaugurations take place in Washington. (T/F)
false
- What is the most visible symbol of a presidential transition?
the presidential inauguration
Why was the presidential transition fund established?
Congress thought that the presidential transition is so important and had such an effect on the government that it should be paid for by the government rather than by the president-elect’s party.
a preliminary nominating election held to select candidates or delegates (or both) to party conventions
direct primary
Historically, a small meeting of a political party’s top leaders and legislators in Congress to select party nominees.
A form of district and state conventions used to nominate candidates in areas that do not hold primaries.
A meeting of all members of a party in the House or Senate, also called a conference by Republicans.
caucus
brokered convention
a convention that requires lengthy balloting and an eventual settlement by bargaining and compromise
A type of election used to fill an elective office; allows the winners of the respective party primaries to face one another; at the national level, it is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
general election
executive orders
presidential directives or actions that have the effect
and force of law
the president’s power to completely forgive a crime and remove its consequent punishment, thereby releasing a convicted person from the remainder of his sentence
pardon
Who is the most powerful man in the country?
president
Today, the cities that parties choose for their national nominating conventions are
chosen in an effort to win the state’s votes in November. (T/F)
false
As the major parties have become more democratized, the traditional party
organizational mechanism has gotten stronger and stronger. (T/F)
false
Most recent presidential inaugurations have taken place on the West Front side of
the Capitol. (T/F)
True
Presidential candidates win most of their delegates in the primaries long before the
conventions are held. (T/F)
True
What method was proposed to give the people a stronger voice in choosing the parties’
candidates to run for the presidency?
Direct Primaries
Which was the first state to hold a direct primary?
Wisconsin
Which of the following was not catapulted to the White House by a successful military
career?
Lincoln
Who was the only president to take the oath of office in an airplane?
Lyndon Johnson
Which president started the tradition of the inaugural parade?
Jefferson
Steps to the Presidency
Announce a desire to run.
Campaign in the states that have primaries and caucuses.
Win caucuses and primary elections to gain delegates.
Seek the nomination at the national convention.
Campaign for the general election in all of the states (multiple times in the key states).
Win 270 or more votes in the Electoral College.
Be inaugurated president on January 20.
