Elections and voting

Question 1

How often do presidential elections occur?

Answer 1

Presidential elections occur every four years, on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Question 2

When did the last presidential election occur, and who won?

Answer 2

The last presidential election occurred in 2012, and was won by Barack Obama (Democrat).

Question 3

What are the three constitutional requirements to be president? (Article II)

Answer 3

1 - They must be a natural-born US citizen.
2 - They must be at least 35 years of age.
3 - They must have been resident in the USA for at least 14 years.

Question 4

What does Amendment XXII state about the number of terms a president may serve?

Answer 4

A president can serve no more than two terms.

Question 5

Who is the only US president to have served more than two terms?

Answer 5

Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) served four terms, winning the elections in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944.

Question 6

What are the four main stages of a presidential election?

Answer 6

1 - Primaries and caucuses.
2 - National Party Conventions,
3 - General election campaign.
4 - Election day.

Question 7

What is the purpose of primaries and caucuses?

Answer 7

1 - Show popularity of candidates.

2 - Choose delegates to attend the National Party Conventions.

Question 8

When do the primaries and caucuses occur?

Answer 8

January, February, March, April, May, June.

Question 9

What is the purpose of National Party Conventions?

Answer 9

1 - Choose the presidential candidate.
2 - Choose the vice-presidential candidate.
3 - Decide the party platform.

Question 10

When do the National Party Conventions occur?

Answer 10

July, August, early September. (Each party’s convention lasts for 4 days)

Question 11

What is the purpose of the general election campaign?

Answer 11

Promote presidential candidates and to try and achieve the support of the public.

Question 12

When does the general election campaign occur?

Answer 12

September, October and the first week in November.

Question 13

What is the purpose of the election day?

Answer 13

Elect the president and vice-president through the Electoral College.

Question 14

When does the election day and the Electoral College votes occur?

Answer 14

Election Day: Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

Electoral College votes: Monday after the second Wednesday in December.

Question 15

Why is voting behaviour important?

Answer 15

The subject of voting behaviour looks at the factors that explain the outcomes of recent presidential elections and answer certain questions about why people vote as they do:
1 - How important is party affiliation?
2 - Are there differences in the voting habits of men and women?
3 - How important is race in voting?
4 - What about religious groups?
5 - What about the voting habits of the poor as opposed to the better-off?
6 - Does geographic region have anything to tell us?
7 - What role do policies play?

Question 16

How did party affiliation affect the 2008 election?

Answer 16

Despite all we say about political parties not being all that important in US politics, party affiliation seems to be an important ingredient in determining voting. In the 2008 presidential election:
1 - 71% of voters identified with one of the two major parties: 39% called themselves Democrats, 32% called themselves Republicans.
2 - 89% of the Democrats voted for Obama.
3 - 90% of the Republicans voted for McCain.