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POLS 1120-501 American National Government > Chapter 7: Voting and Elections > Flashcards

Chapter 7: Voting and Elections Flashcards

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1
Q

The results when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot

A

Ballot fatigue

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2
Q

A form of candidate nomination that occurs in an own-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections

A

Caucus

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3
Q

Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because of the Electoral College system distribution in their state

A

Chronic minority

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4
Q

An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party’s candidates

A

Closed primary

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5
Q

The results when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from his or her party win their own elections

A

Coattail effect

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6
Q

Party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state or national level nominating convention

A

Delegates

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7
Q

The means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state

A

District system

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8
Q

An accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day

A

Early voting

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9
Q

The constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president

A

Electoral College

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10
Q

The advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection

A

Incumbency advantage

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11
Q

The current holder of a political office

A

Incumbent

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12
Q

Law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition

A

Initiative

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13
Q

The congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term

A

Midterm elections

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14
Q

An election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus

A

Open primary

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15
Q

The set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates

A

Platform

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16
Q

Organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics

A

Political Action Committees (PACs)

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17
Q

The removal of a politician or government official by the voters

A

Recall

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18
Q

A yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government

A

Referendum

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19
Q

The stipulation that citizen must live in a state for a determined period of a time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state

A

Residency requirement

20
Q

A campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate

A

Show campaign

21
Q

The practice of voting only for candidates from the same party

A

Straight-ticket voting

22
Q

Officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign

A

Super PACs

23
Q

A primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of a party, become the nominees for the general election

A

Top-two primary

24
Q

The result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls

A

Voter fatigue

25
Q

The number of citizens over eighteen

A

Voting-age population

26
Q

The number of citizens eligible to vote

A

Voting-eligible population

27
Q

All electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state

A

Winner-take-all system

28
Q

CC

Which of the following are some of the main factors that influence how a person will vote?

A

Party loyalty
The issues involved
Characteristics of the candidates

29
Q

CC

________ is the single largest predictor of how an American will vote.

A

Party loyalty

30
Q

CC

__________ is voting based on a candidate’s past performance, __________ is voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate.

A

Retrospective, prospective

31
Q

CC

Most of the people currently in office are similar to the majority of Americans in terms of wealth and level of education.

A

False

32
Q

CC

Most election guidelines are set at the ____ level.

A

State

33
Q

CC

Which of the following statements best describes the plurality rule?

A

Candidates with the most votes win, even if they do not have a majority of all votes.

34
Q

CC

The plurality rules helps to

A

Reinforce the 2 party system.

35
Q

CC

Runoff elections are used by every state to ensure a majority outcome.

A

False

36
Q

CC

Districts help to shape the outcome of elections

A

True

37
Q

CC

How often is the census taken?

A

Every 10 years

38
Q

CC

Which of the following are true about districts?

A

They must be contiguous
They must all contain approximately the same number of people

39
Q

CC

A __________ district is one where the majority of members in that district are minorities.

A

Majority-minority

40
Q

CC

What is the term used to describe the idea that a person’s vote should count no matter where they live?

A

One person, one vote

41
Q

CC

_______ and ________ are two characteristics of American campaigns that are somewhat unique.

A

Length, expense

42
Q

CC

What do the party national committees do?

A

Coordinate all national-level campaigns for that party

43
Q

CC

The Citizens United case determined that

A

Political spending is equivalent to political speech, and is therefore protected

44
Q

CC

The State of the Union address…

A

Can be used by the current president to clarify their position on important issues

45
Q

T

When and where do the Electoral College Electors vote?

A

In the state capitol, in December

46
Q

T

In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects

A

Presidential

47
Q

T

Why do Belgium and Australia have higher voter turnouts than the US?

A

Compulsory voting laws

POLS 1120-501 American National Government (14 decks)

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