Module 6 Lesson 14 Flashcards
What is gerrymandering? Select the one correct answer.
A. Gerrymandering is an effort to suppress the vote for the opposition party by limiting voting hours.
B. Gerrymandering is a term used for falsifying vote totals to ensure the election of a party or candidate.
C. Gerrymandering means drawing electoral boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
D. Gerrymandering means targeting election advertisements for a particular area of a district or state.
C. Gerrymandering means drawing electoral boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
What is the Constitutional importance of the census for Congress? Select the one correct answer.
A. The census provides population figures for the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.
B. The census identifies areas likely to vote Democratic or Republican.
C, The census is used to calculate the number of registered voters for purposes of legislative representation.
D. The census provides useful information on which areas of the country need which kinds of programs.
A. The census provides population figures for the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives.
How has reapportionment after the census affected the makeup of the House of Representatives? Select the one correct answer.
A. Reapportionment permits state legislatures to redraw boundaries to favor the majority party leading to changes in the makeup of the House of Representatives.
B. Reapportionment has had virtually no effect on the makeup of House of Representatives.
C. Reapportionment has favored states with more registered voters giving greater representation to wealthier portions of the population.
D. Reapportionment has permitted national parties to exert more control over members of the House of Representatives.
A. Reapportionment permits state legislatures to redraw boundaries to favor the majority party leading to changes in the makeup of the House of Representatives.
Which of these statements best describes the ruling of the Supreme Court on the issue of statistical sampling during a census? Select the one correct answer.
A. The Supreme Court permitted statistical sampling as long as the government presented evidence that certain identifiable groups were under-counted.
B. The Supreme Court permitted statistical sampling, noting the difficulties of counting over 300 million people.
C. The Supreme Court disallowed statistical sampling, saying that the Constitution requires an “actual enumeration.”
D. The Supreme Court ruled that census procedures were up to the individual states, not the federal government.
C. The Supreme Court disallowed statistical sampling, saying that the Constitution requires an “actual enumeration.”
Which of these statements is most accurate about the creation of majority-minority districts? Select the one correct answer.
A. Majority-minority districts are required by the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
B. Majority-minority districts are unconstitutional because race cannot be taken into account in redistricting.
C. Majority-minority districts always benefit minority voters since it allows them to choose a minority representative.
D. Majority-minority districts can lead to the election of minority candidates in some districts, but often this is at the expense of diluting minority-vote strength in other districts.
D. Majority-minority districts can lead to the election of minority candidates in some districts, but often this is at the expense of diluting minority-vote strength in other districts.
What was the ruling in the Supreme Court case Miller v. Johnson? Select the one correct answer.
A. The ruling was that race may not be taken into account in redistricting.
B. The ruling was that race may not be the “dominant and controlling” motivation in redistricting.
C. The ruling was that the 1965 Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional.
D. The ruling was that deliberate creation of majority-minority districts is unconstitutional.
B. The ruling was that race may not be the “dominant and controlling” motivation in redistricting.
Which of these correctly describes the process of redistricting? Select the one correct answer.
A. Redistricting is a straightforward process that has engendered little controversy.
B. Redistricting is a complex process that is subject to constitutional restraints.
C. Redistricting is the sole responsibility of the U.S. Congress.
D. Redistricting is completely in the hands of individual state legislatures, who may draw lines however they please.
B. Redistricting is a complex process that is subject to constitutional restraints.
Why is the census an important factor in American politics? Select the one correct answer.
A. The census gives the Census Bureau a chance to refine and improve its “sampling” techniques, to get a more accurate count of the actual population.
B. The census determines how many seats each state will get in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
C. Under the Constitution, the income tax must be “apportioned,” or distributed proportionally, among the states, based on the census.
D. The census determines how many seats each state will get in the House of Representatives, and consequently, how many votes each state will get in the Electoral College.
D. The census determines how many seats each state will get in the House of Representatives, and consequently, how many votes each state will get in the Electoral College.
For what reason were majority-minority districts created? Select the one correct answer.
A. Majority-minority districts were created to avoid gerrymanders that diluted the voting power of minorities.
B. Majority-minority districts were created to make districts as representative as possible.
C. Majority-minority districts were created to guarantee representation for the minority party.
D. Majority-minority districts were created to dilute the voting power of minorities.
A. Majority-minority districts were created to avoid gerrymanders that diluted the voting power of minorities.
What is one goal for the use of gerrymanders? Select the one correct answer.
A. Gerrymanders give effective vetoes to the minority party in state legislatures.
B. Gerrymanders ensure equal representation for parties.
C. Gerrymanders dilute the power of the minority party by concentrating supporters in one or a few districts.
D. Gerrymandering is a technique used only by the Democratic Party.
C. Gerrymanders dilute the power of the minority party by concentrating supporters in one or a few districts.
What determines the number of members in the House of Representatives? Select the one correct answer.
A. The number is determined by the census.
B. The number is determined by the Constitution.
C. The number is determined by Presidential executive order.
D. The number is determined by law.
D. The number is determined by law.
How does the census affect the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives? Select the one correct answer.
A. It has no effect since the census is designed only to provide facts for government programs.
B. It means that the number of citizens determines the number of Representatives.
C. Due to changes in population, some states gain seats and other states lose seats.
D. It has no effect since Congress has increased the seats to maintain its states’ number of Representatives.
C. Due to changes in population, some states gain seats and other states lose seats.
Which statement is the most accurate concerning the need for states to draw new district boundaries after each census? Select the one correct answer.
A. States control how members of the House of Representatives are elected independently of court decisions or the national government.
B. Almost all states have to redraw boundaries since each Congressional district must have approximately an equal number of people.
C. Only states that gain or lose in terms of the number of representatives have to draw new boundaries to accommodate the change.
D. States may draw new boundaries, but they are not required to do so.
B. Almost all states have to redraw boundaries since each Congressional district must have approximately an equal number of people.
