Test

Question 1

Precinct

Answer 1

a geographic area that contains a specific number of voters

Question 2

Plank

Answer 2

each individual part of a political party’s platform

Question 3

National Committee

Answer 3

representatives from the 50 state party organizations who run a political party

Question 4

Direct Primary

Answer 4

an election in which voters choose candidates to represent each party in a general election

Question 5

Grassroots

Answer 5

these are depended on to build the party at a neighborhood level

Question 6

Third Party

Answer 6

a party that challenges the two major parties

Question 7

Political Party

Answer 7

an association of voters with broad common interest who want to influence or control decision making in government by electing the party’s candidates to public office

Question 8

Watchdog

Answer 8

someone that watches over something for mistakes

Question 9

Petition

Answer 9

a process by which candidates who are not affiliated with one of the two major parties can get on the ballot for the general election in most states

Question 10

Candidate

Answer 10

is a person running for something

Question 11

Political machine

Answer 11

a strong party organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes

Question 12

Open Primary

Answer 12

an election in which voters need not declare their party preference

Question 13

Closed Primary

Answer 13

only the declared members of a party are allowed to vote for that party’s nominees.

Question 14

Ward

Answer 14

several adjoining precincts making up a larger election unit

Question 15

Two-Party system

Answer 15

a system of government in which two parties compete for power

Question 16

Platform

Answer 16

a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues

Question 17

Caucus

Answer 17

a meeting of political party members to conduct party business

Question 18

Electoral College

Answer 18

a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Question 19

Primary Election

Answer 19

nomination of candidates

Question 20

Private funding

Answer 20

is more like a gift or donation

Question 21

Straight- ticket voting

Answer 21

voting for all the candidates in one political party

Question 22

split ticket voting

Answer 22

choose some candidates from one party and some from another

Question 23

Canvassing

Answer 23

when candidates or campaign workers travel through neighborhoods asking for votes or taking public opinion polls

Question 24

referendum

Answer 24

a way for citizens to vote on state or local laws

Question 25

Endorsement

Answer 25

when a famous and popular person supports or campaigns for a candidate

Question 26

Political action committee (PAC)

Answer 26

political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special- interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money

Question 27

Winner take all

Answer 27

a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the states electoral votes

Question 28

Polling Place

Answer 28

the location where voting is carried out

Question 29

Absentee ballot

Answer 29

one that allows a person to vote without going to the polls on Election day

Question 30

Electorate

Answer 30

all the people who are eligible to vote

Question 31

General Election

Answer 31

the voters choose candidates for various offices

Question 32

Electors

Answer 32

person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates

Question 33

Public Opinion

Answer 33

the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues

Question 34

Interest Group

Answer 34

a group of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs

Question 35

Public opinion poll

Answer 35

a survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person

Question 36

Pollster

Answer 36

a specialist whose job is to conduct polls

Question 37

Print media

Answer 37

newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books

Question 38

Electronic media

Answer 38

radio, television, and the Internet

Question 39

public agenda

Answer 39

issues considered most significant by government officials

Question 40

nonpartisan

Answer 40

free from party ties or bias

Question 41

lobbyist

Answer 41

representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making

Question 42

mass media

Answer 42

a mechanism of mass communication, including television, radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, the Internet, and books

Question 43

leak

Answer 43

the release of secret government information by anonymous government officials to the media

Question 44

libel

Answer 44

written untruths that are harmful to someone's reputation

Question 45

malice

Answer 45

evil intent

Question 46

prior restraint

Answer 46

government censorship of material before it is published

Question 47

Prohibitionist party

Answer 47

single issue party, banning alcohol

Question 48

Democratic party

Answer 48

political party tending to favor more government

Question 49

Republican Party

Answer 49

political party tending to favor less government

Question 50

Presidential election campaign fund

Answer 50

designate $3 from your taxes

Question 51

The voters information bulletin

Answer 51

useful information about politics

Question 52

McCain- Feingold Act

Answer 52

prohibits the amount of soft money donations

Question 53

National Voter Registration Act

Answer 53

register to vote when you renew your drivers license

Question 54

McConnell v. federal election commission

Answer 54

supreme court case, apeled constitutionality of the McCain- Feingold Act

Question 55

Buckley v. valeo

Answer 55

supreme court case, government could limit campaign contributions

Question 56

Which leader warned americans that political parties may have harmful effects?

Answer 56

George Washington

Question 57

Federalists believed that the best way to protect individual rights was to have a strong

Answer 57

National government

Question 58

What kind of political party system do most democracies have?

Answer 58

Multi party system

Question 59

Who writes a party’s platform at its national convention?

Answer 59

Delegates

Question 60

What is the main event at a national convention?

Answer 60

Nominating the candidate for president

Question 61

What is the role of a party committee at the county level?

Answer 61

Support local, federal, and state officials

Question 62

How does a candidate who is not a Democrat or a Republican get their name on the ballot for a general election?

Answer 62

submit a petition

Question 63

Thomas Jefferson believed that strong state governments would protect individual rights better than a strong national government because state are

Answer 63

closer to the citizens

Question 64

A breakaway group of Democrats and Whigs formed the Republican Party in 1854 because they tended to oppose

Answer 64

slavery

Question 65

The purpose of congressional campaign committees is to

Answer 65

help elect their party members

Question 66

To win a primary election in most states, a candidate must receive a

Answer 66

plurality of the votes

Question 67

What are the requirements for voting in the U.S.?

Answer 67

18, registered to vote, and a citizen

Question 68

What are the characteristics of voters in the U.S.?

Answer 68

usually educated, middle aged, positive attitudes towards government

Question 69

What is the purpose of a runoff election?

Answer 69

No one has received the majority and the top two continue

Question 70

What has been the main function of political parties’ national conventions in recent years?

Answer 70

To kick off the campaign

Question 71

Who do PACs give most of their money to?

Answer 71

incumbents

Question 72

What is the difference between soft money and hard money?

Answer 72

Soft money more unlimited because it goes the party, hard money limited and is going directly to a specific person

Question 73

What is the purpose of recent campaign reform legislation?

Answer 73

Putting limitations and focus on many small donations

Question 74

What component of public opinion can be expressed as positive or negative?

Answer 74

Direction

Question 75

What is random sampling?

Answer 75

Attempts to contribute to accuracy

Question 76

What are media shield laws?

Answer 76

Protects them so the do not have to reveal their sources

Question 77

Why would politicians leak information?

Answer 77

Test reactions