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National American Government > Final Exam > Flashcards

Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Among the methods by which voters help select the major parties’ nominees, which of the following attracts the most participants?

A. Referenda

B. Caucuses

C. Initiatives

D. Primaries

E. Madison Square Gardon

A

D. Primaries

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2
Q

True or False: For voters, primaries tend to be more deliberative and time consuming than caucuses.

A

False

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3
Q

The type of primary that allows only registered party members to vote is called a(n)

A. Open Primary

B. Closed Primary

C. Blanket Primary

D. Party Primary

A

B. Closed Primary

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4
Q

An initiative

A. allows citizens to propose and vote on issues, bypassing the legislature.

B. is a procedure by which citizens ratify decisions of the legislature.

C. makes it possible for citizens to remove office holders.

D. is how candidates get on the ballot.

A

A. allows citizens to propose and vote on issues, bypassing the legislature.

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5
Q

In the electoral college, each state is represented by

A. an equal number of electors.

B. a number of electors exactly proportional to their population.

C. ten electors.

D. the same number of electors as they have U.S. representatives.

A

D. the same number of electors as they have U.S. representatives.

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6
Q

The first political party that formed after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution was

A. the Republican Party

B. the Grand Old Party (GOP)

C. the Federalist Party

D. the Whig Party

E. the Pity Party

A

C. the Federalist Party

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7
Q

The first presidential primary is traditionally held in

A. New Hampshire

B. Iowa

C. California

D. the District of Columbia

E. Ontario

A

A. New Hampshire

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8
Q

The first presidential caucus is traditionally held in

A. New Hampshirt

B. Iowa

C. California

D. the District of Columbia

E. Ontario

A

B. Iowa

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9
Q

Of Massachusetts’ eleven electoral votes, a presidential candidate receiving 60% or the popular vote on Election Day would thus win

A. 6.6 electoral votes

B. 7 electoral votes

C. 6 electoral votes

D. 11 electoral votes

E. 0 electoral votes

A

D. 11 electoral votes

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10
Q

The minimum number of electoral votes needed to win a presidential election is

A. 270

B. 435

C. 235

D. 538

A

A. 270

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11
Q

The number of amendments to the U.S. Constitution stands at

A. ten

B. thirty-two

C. twenty-seven

D. fourteen

A

C. twenty-seven

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12
Q

According to the American model of political parties, a party’s principal mission is to

A. promote a particular ideology, no matter what the political cost.

B. raise money for campaigns.

C. win elections for its candidates.

D. sponsor political ads for its candidates

A

C. win elections for its candidates

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13
Q

The Republican Party can trace its history back to

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. Franklin Roosevelt

C. James Madison

D. Abraham Lincoln

E. Mark Messier

A

D. Abraham Lincoln

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14
Q

“Third parties” tend to disappear in the American political system for all of the following reasons, except

A. lack of media attention

B. their automatic placement on the ballot

C. difficult fundraising

D. issue absorption by the major parties

A

B. their automatic placement on the ballot

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15
Q

The “golden age” of political parties occurred

A. from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries

B. mainly in the American midwest

C. during the early 1800s

D. due to the New Deal Coalition

E. when the NY Rangers won the Stanley Cup

A

A. from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries

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16
Q

Who was the first U.S. president elected in the twentieth century?

A

Teddy Roosevelt

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17
Q

In the U.S. constitution, what is Article VII about?

A

how the constitution should be ratified

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18
Q

Among incumbent Congressmen seeking reelection to the House of Representatives,

A. about 60% of them win reelections

B. greater than 90% of them win reelection

C. their incumbency acts as a substantial disadvantage for them

D. at least half of them are running for vacant seats

E. about one-quarter of them tend to be Canadian

A

B. greater than 90% of them win reelection

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19
Q

The constitutional requirements for Senate membership include

A. 18 years old, 5 years a citizen, and an inhabitant of the state he/she is representing

B. 25 years old, 7 years a citizen, and an inhabitant of the state he/she is representing

C. 30 years old, 9 years a citizen, and an inhabitant of the state he/she is representing

D. 35 years old and natural born citizenship

E. 40 years old and a citizen of Canada

A

C. 30 years old, 9 years a citizen, and an inhabitant of the state he/she is representing

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20
Q

Since 1929 to the present, the size of the House of Representatives has remained at

A. 100 members

B. 200 members

C. 435 members

D. 535 members

A

C. 435 members

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21
Q

The process of drawing new district maps after each census, “redistricting,” is accomplished by

A. Congress

B. the executive branch and the courts

C. the Senate

D. State Legislature

E. the NHL Board of Governors

A

D. State Legislature

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22
Q

When reapportionment, or redistricting, is accomplished with a distinct political purpose (i.e. Republican or Democratic control of certain districts), it is called

A. maldistricting

B. strict reapportionment

C. forechecking

D. Meandering

E. Gerrymandering

A

E. Gerrymandering

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23
Q

Many congressional powers are shared between the two houses but some are the sole province of the Senate, including

A. the introduction of revenue bills

B. choosing of the Speaker

C. approval of presidential appointments and treaty ratification

D. impeachment

A

C. approval of presidential appointments and treaty ratification

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24
Q

How many presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives?

A. One

B. Two

C. Three

D. Four

E. Forty-Four

A

B. Two

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25
Q

The only officer of the House of Representatives mentioned in the Constitution is

A. the Speaker

B. there sergeant at arms

C. the whip

D. the President Pro Tempore

E. the President of the Senate

A

A. the Speaker

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26
Q

How is a tie broken in the Senate?

A. A tie is broken by drawing lots.

B. The president pro tempore breaks the tie

C. The Vice President of the United States breaks a tie.

D. There is no way to break a tie. The measure does not pass.

A

C. The Vice President of the United States breaks a tie.

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27
Q

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution grants the following powers to Congress, except

A. the power to coin money

B. the power to regulate interstate commerce

C. the power to declare a national religion

D. the power to declare war

A

C. the power to declare a national religion

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28
Q

True or False: Presidential appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court require the approval of both houses of Congress.

A

False

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29
Q

In mid-term elections, the party of the president typically

A. loses congressional seats

B. increases its seats in Congress

C. is neither harmed nor helped in Congress

D. gains congressional seats, but only in odd-numbered years

A

A. loses congressional seats

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30
Q

A “Congress” is also a period of time representing

A. one year

B. one decade

C. two years

D. three years

E. four years

A

C. two years

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31
Q

If Puerto Rico were to become the fifty-first state, the total number of U.S. senators would

A. remain the same

B. rise to 102

C. increase to 101

D. rise to 439, based on Puerto Rico’s current population

A

B. rise to 102

32
Q

Who is the current Speaker of the House of Representatives? What state is he from?

A

Ryan, Wisconsin

33
Q

Burkean Model of Political Parties

A
  • Party A would stay put, not change its views
  • Political party that believes in their own ideas/opinions and to persuade voters/people to stay with their ideas
  • Political party that stands with their principles
34
Q

American Model of Political Parties

A
  • Political party changes their views to win elections and get power
  • Political party will change their view to where the voters are
  • A two party system creates flexibility for power
  • The “Office-Seekers”
35
Q

Political Party

A
  • an organized group that attempts to influence government by electing its members to office
36
Q

Governmental Party

A
  • Contains people elected, people running in election, and people in office/Congress
  • Example: Bernie Sanders being a Senator running for President
37
Q

Organizational Party

A
  • Contains people who work for the party (political), people who get paid by the political party
  • Usually state-based more than federal-based
38
Q

Party-in-the-Electorate Party

A
  • considered the largest party
  • contains all of the registered voters
  • If someone is registered as Independent – they are not a member of either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party
  • do the least amount of work
39
Q

What kind of functions do parties perform?

A
  • Recruiting candidates
  • Nominating candidates
    • nominate by convention or primary election
  • Go getting out the vote
  • Facilitating electoral choice
  • Influencing National Government
40
Q

What were the first two parties?

A

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

41
Q

Democratic-Republican Party

A
  • was known as the Jeffersonian Party

- Jefferson, Madison, and Long

42
Q

What party evolved from the Federalist Party?

A

Whig Party Evolved from Federalist Party (dissolved by 1820s)

43
Q

What did the Democratic-Republicans shorten their name to? And who was elected at this time (1828)?

A

Democratic-Republicans Shortened Name to Democratic Party and Elected Andrew Jackson to Presidency (1828)

44
Q

What doomed the Whigs? And who was elected in 1860?

A

Divisions over Slavery Issue Doomed the Whigs; Replaced by Republicans Who Elected Abraham Lincoln to Presidency (1860)

45
Q

“Golden Age” (1870s – 1920s): Rise of the Big-City Party Machines

A
  • Political parties became very powerful

- Location = East Coast, major cities

46
Q

Definition of Party Machine

A
  • Immigrants came to the East Coast of U.S., and received help/services
  • Greeted and helped by Democratic Party
  • Democratic Party were called “Bosses”
  • Democratic Party gave immigrants services like homes, jobs, garbage disposal
  • Democratic Party helped immigrants, immigrants vote for Democratic Party, Democratic Party has more power, able to give more services to the immigrants
  • But the cycle became corrupt, so the Democratic Party were not elected anymore
47
Q

President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Coalition (1930s into the 1960s)

A
  • Needed to get money moving/cycling
  • Brought good economy, labor laws, safety laws
  • Overall, needed people to spend a lot of money because everyone was saving rather than spending
48
Q

No Clear Dominance Since 1970

A
  • Democratic Party held White House for the next 28 out of the 36 years
49
Q

Third Parties

A
  • Created to disagree with the two major parties
  • Some parties are dedicated to personal issues (pro-life, gun safety)
    • Attracts single issue voters/political parties
  • Created because someone wants to be elected but does not want to represent one of the two major parties because they are either ego-driven, money-driven, or issue-driven
50
Q

6 Reasons Why Third Parties Tend Not to Survive in the American Political System

A
  • Lack of Money and Other Resources
  • Lack of Media Attention: no one knows about the party
  • Ballot Laws: laws on the determination of who is listed on the ballot – favors the two major parties, puts a lot of money on bonds, and signatures are needed of supporters
  • Issue Absorption: major parties will absorb the central issue, which will cause third parties to disappear
  • Wasted Vote: voters feel their vote will be wasted because it will cause a close race between the two major parties
  • Voter Inertia: people always vote for a certain party
51
Q

Definition of Primary Election

A
  • Election within a party to determine whose party’s candidate will run in the general elections
52
Q

Which state is the first primary election state?

A

New Hampshire

53
Q

Definition of Closed Primary State

A
  • Can not vote for or in both primaries (Democrat/Republican)
  • Independent voters can not vote in closed Primary States
54
Q

Definition of Open Primary State

A
  • People are allowed to vote in the state no matter what you are registered as
  • Can vote in either political party
  • Not many people vote in primaries except for those who are extremely left or right
55
Q

Definition of Caucus

A
  • Almost full-day events
  • Some states will use caucus elections to replace primary elections
  • People from same political party will attend a gathering that will discuss the election
  • A political party will try to get people to join and vote for their candidate
  • Will try to recruit supporters
  • If candidates get 40% of caucus or primary election – candidates gets 40% of delegates
56
Q

Which state is the first caucus state?

A

Iowa (will go before New Hampshire)

57
Q

Delegates

A

Primary Election and Caucus Election

58
Q

General Election

A
  • Two political parties compete against each other to take office
  • Time General Elections take place is the first Tuesday of November
  • Incumbent = person currently president
59
Q

Generally, what are Initiative and Referendum Elections?

A
  • Questions brought upon on voters
  • Not an election with candidates involved
  • Proposition
60
Q

Initiative Election

A
  • Started by people in means of petition

- If state only allows it and legislature is not doing it, a citizen can start a petition to have the question

61
Q

Referendum Election

A
  • Started by the Legislature
  • Legislature passed bill calling for referendum
  • Question on ballot, but it is not started by the people
  • Can never tell difference on ballot between the two elections
62
Q

Recall Election

A
  • Not all states allow it
  • Not allowed to occur in federal elections
  • Have enough signatures to have a recall on the ballot/petition
  • Shall Governor ____ be removed from office? yes or no question
  • California = most common to have recall
  • In middle of a term of office (two elections at the same time)
    - “If Governor ____ is recalled, who should replace
    him?”
63
Q

National Party Conventions

A
  • Usually held in Summer (second for party currently holding presidency)
  • Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates Selected by Parties’ Delegates
  • Since 1960 (or so) Lost Their Drama Regarding Nominations (due to the primary system producing committed delegates well in advance of the conventions)
64
Q

Electoral College

A
  • Each State’s Electoral Votes Equal to Number of Congressional Districts Plus Two Senate Seats
  • Fifty-One Separate Elections, Almost All Winner-Take-All
  • The Twelfth Amendment – Method by Which the Electoral College Works
  • 538 electoral votes in U.S.
  • 270 is the magic number to be President
65
Q

Potential problems with Electoral College

A
  • Candidate with Fewer Popular Votes Winning the Electoral Vote
  • Renegade (or Faithless) Electors
66
Q

Possible reforms of Electoral College

A
  • Eliminate Winner-Take-All Elections

- Replace Electoral College with National Direct Election

67
Q

Patterns of Presidential Elections

A
  • Party Realignment and Critical Elections (like 1800, 1860, and 1932)
  • Secular Realignment
  • Dealignment
68
Q

Party Realignment

A

When majority vote tends to switch from one party to another

69
Q

Secular Realignment

A
  • Demographic changes (change in people’s personality/location)
  • Immigration
  • Slower, evolutionary (takes years)
  • Younger population replaces older population
  • Younger population are more democratic, think that republicans will either adapt change or will disappear in next few decades
70
Q

Dealignment

A
  • More people are going as registered Independent (not towards certain party)
  • Not going to care which party is/is not in control
  • Vote on person rather than voting on a party
71
Q

Incumbency Factor

A
  • More accurate in discovering patterns
  • Incumbent = already in office
  • Incumbent status = get some media, have offices and staff that are paid by tax dollars
  • 90-95% of winning re-election
  • Less strong for senators = 70% or more
  • Senators get more free media because they are by state, while House of Representatives are by districts within a state
72
Q

Midterm Elections

A
  • Middle of President’s term
  • Congressional Election
  • Entire House, third of Senate
  • President’s Party tends to lose seats
  • Coat-tail = President “drags” along all of the House/Senate who like him while running as President
  • Considered a whole different population because fewer people vote
  • Angry people vote
73
Q

Redistricting/Reappointment

A
  • When = after census (every ten years)
  • States have districts/redrawing of lines for districts
  • Made by state legislatures
  • Congressmen become friendlier with State Legislatures when census is coming up
  • Incumbents fear redistricting
  • Redirecting by population (must be equal)
  • Gerrymandering = redirect
  • Cracking = give all votes to one party over another
74
Q

Reasons Why Voter Turnout Is So Low in the U.S.

A
  • Low Political Efficacy
  • Apathy
  • Registration and Absentee Ballot Procedures
  • Lack of Quality Candidates
  • Weakness of Parties
  • Negative Campaigning
  • Polls
  • Lack of Time
75
Q

a. Article I Section 8 Powers

A

i. Declare War
ii. Raise an Army and Navy
iii. Coin Money
iv. Create Federal Courts (below the Supreme Court)
v. Regulate Interstate and Foreign Commerce
vi. Necessary and Proper Clause
vii. And other powers

76
Q

Powers Exclusive to Senate

A

i. Consent to Presidential Appointments (including federal judges) by majority vote
ii. Ratify Treaties by two-thirds vote
iii. Conduct Trial of Impeachment, Two-Thirds Vote Necessary for Removal

77
Q

Powers Exclusive to House

A

i. Revenue (including tax) Bills Must Originate in House

ii. Impeachment, Majority Vote Necessary

National American Government (1 decks)

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