Deck 14: Campaigns and Elections

Question 1

Which factor had the greatest impact in altering the original structure for selecting a president?

A) the growing American population
B) the growing number of states
C) the emergence of political parties
D) the introduction of the Electoral College

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How did the Founders intend for the president to be selected?

A) by electors in the Electoral College
B) by the people directly
C) by Congress
D) through a rigorous application process

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Suppose it is 1830s and the Jacksonian era is in full swing in the United States. Who would have likely seen their voting rights expanded during this time?

A) a white male who did not own property
B) a married white woman
C) a former African American slave
D) a wealthy, property-owning white man

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In 2019, there were more than 20 candidates who voiced intentions of running for president against Donald Trump in 2020. By August 2019, several candidates had announced that they were dropping out of the race due to low polling numbers. This is indicative of which phase of the presidential selection process?

A) the nomination campaign
B) the primary elections
C) the prenomination campaign
D) the Iowa and New Hampshire contests

Question 5

During which phase of the presidential selection process do political parties select people to run for president and vice president?

A) the primary phase
B) the application phase
C) the general election phase
D) the nomination phase

Question 6

Which state was the first to hold a direct primary for a presidential election?

A) Illinois
B) New York
C) California
D) Florida

Question 7

Which constitutional amendment was ratified with the goal of reforming the Electoral College to better accommodate the emergence of political parties?

A) the Tenth Amendment
B) the Twelfth Amendment
C) the Nineteenth Amendment
D) the Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Question 8

What impact did the Jacksonian era have on American politics?

A) It was during this era that suffrage was granted to white women from property-owning families.
B) It expanded the role Americans played in politics and the selection of candidates for president.
C) It increased the importance of the popular vote over the Electoral College outcome in elections.
D) It marked the beginning of a more conservative and restrictive federal government.

Question 9

What was the significance of the 1824 election?

A) It was the first election in which candidates for president were divided between two parties.
B) The flaws in the Electoral College system were made apparent, prompting a restructuring.
C) There was a split in one of the major parties, leading to the founding of a new party.
D) It was the only election in United States history that resulted in a tie between candidates.

Question 10

The competition between candidates to be the frontrunner for their party's nomination is part of the ______.

A) primary
B) invisible primary
C) general election
D) caucus

Question 11

A president may not seek more than two four-year terms in office due to the ratification of which amendment?

A) the Twelfth Amendment
B) the Nineteenth Amendment
C) the Twenty-Second Amendment
D) the Twenty-Third Amendment

Question 12

In 2019, upwards of 20 Democratic candidates announced their intentions to run for president in 2020 against Donald Trump. The consistent frontrunners for the Democratic nomination included Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren. If Elizabeth Warren wants to secure the Democratic Party nomination and become the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, what must she do?

A) outperform Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders during the debate process.
B) win a majority of the delegates chosen by voters in state primaries and caucuses.
C) receive more donations than Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.
D) submit a formal request and complete a series of interviews with the Democratic Party.

Question 13

What was the significance of the presidential election of 1800?

A) The outcome highlighted the need for a reform of the Electoral College system.
B) The election ended in a tie, which the Electoral College was unprepared for.
C) The outcome showed that the Democratic-Republican Party had fractured.
D) The election resulted in the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Question 14

The Progressive Era led to ______ in the presidential election process.

A) a sharp decline in the power of political elites
B) a less complex political process
C) a more prominent role for everyday citizens
D) the elimination of the prior caucus system

Question 15

Who had the most influence over the selection of a party's presidential nominee up through the 1960s?

A) the political elite within a party
B) white American men
C) wealthy businessmen
D) the parties' most recent presidents

Question 16

Under the initial structure of the Electoral College, who was responsible for settling a tie between presidential candidates?

A) the existing president
B) the Senate
C) the House of Representatives
D) the American people

Question 17

Which two parties were involved in the first nomination phase of the presidential selection process in the United States?

A) Democrats and Republicans
B) Republicans and Federalists
C) Democratic-Republicans and Whigs
D) Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

Question 18

Why is the nomination phase of the presidential selection process not mentioned in the Constitution?

A) The Founders wanted presidential candidates to volunteer, not be nominated.
B) The Founders did not anticipate the impact political parties would have.
C) The Founders wanted the nomination of candidates to be secret.
D) The Founders did not mention the selection process in the Constitution.

Question 19

During which phase of the nomination campaign does a potential candidate seek support, line up a staff, and begin fundraising?

A) the nominating convention
B) the caucus
C) the presidential primary
D) the prenomination campaign

Question 20

John is an incumbent president who has just won re-election and has a high public approval rating among most Americans. He is relatively young and has been in good health throughout his administration. As such, the president petitions to run for a third term in office. This would be a violation of ______.

A) the Twenty-Third Amendment
B) Article II of the Constitution
C) precedent set by previous presidents
D) the Roosevelt Act of 1945

Question 21

What is the main function of the presidential primary?

A) to give the candidates an opportunity to voice their intentions, platform, and agenda
B) to give the national party an idea of whom the voters favor and would be likely to vote for
C) to weed out the presidential candidates who are not viable as the party's nominee
D) to allow voters some say as to who they want to see as their party's presidential nominee

Question 22

What do Iowa, Nevada, and Maine have in common?

A) These states do not hold any sort of primary election.
B) These states hold caucuses instead of primaries.
C) These states have greater influence over the nomination campaign.
D) These states are traditionally conservative states.

Question 23

How did the national party organizations change to avoid public displays of discord and conflict during national conventions?

A) They dissolved the party organization altogether and gave power back to the voters.
B) They prohibited the press from reporting on, filming, or photographing convention activities.
C) They eliminated the use of party conventions altogether and made the selection process secret.
D) They planned the party conventions to be more of an advertisement for the party ticket.

Question 24

How were the candidates for presidency selected for most of the United States' history?

A) by the wealthy elite who controlled the parties with money and prominent positions
B) by deals that were hashed out between delegates and party officials at the national level
C) by a process that involved primary and caucus results from the state party organizations
D) by a nationwide election for eligible voters to select their preferred candidate

Question 25

What is the main difference between an incumbent race and an open election?

A) In an incumbent race, only those who have voted before may vote, whereas anyone may cast a vote in an open election.
B) A sitting president is pitted against a challenger in an incumbent race, while both candidates are new in an open election.
C) An open election involves voters casting a non-secret ballot, whereas the ballot is kept secret during an incumbent race.
D) An open election happens during a midterm year, whereas an incumbent race happens during a presidential election.

Question 26

Modern nominating conventions differ from their predecessors in that ______.

A) the nominee is typically already known at that point
B) intraparty conflict is played up to attract viewers
C) the nominee's running mate is selected there
D) they are also used to kick of the nomination process

Question 27

Why do Iowa and New Hampshire have so much influence over the nomination process?

A) They have a significant number of delegates at stake.
B) They are swing states that candidates desire to win.
C) They tend to donate to campaigns in higher numbers.
D) They are the first two contests in the nomination campaign.

Question 28

Rodger wants to be more involved in the political process and decides to participate in his state's primary. He has been a registered Republican since he was eligible to vote and still identifies as such, which is a good thing for him since his state requires that he be registered for a party in order to participate in a primary. Which type of nomination contest does Rodger's state use?

A) an open primary
B) an invisible primary
C) a caucus
D) a closed primary

Question 29

Some states benefit by moving their primary or caucus contests to earlier in the year, a process that is known as ______.

A) frontloading
B) the invisible primary
C) prenomination
D) incumbency

Question 30

A political party wants to change the negative impression the media has given its presidential nominee and focus the public's attention on the candidate's record of achieving legislative victories, his family, and his philanthropic work. What is the best way for the party to do this?

A) Drop the candidate altogether and select a different one with less press attention.
B) Release a brief statement to the press outlining the candidate's past successes.
C) Highlight those achievements with videos and speeches during the national convention.
D) Run several television ads that showcase those characteristics and achievements.

Question 31

Which statement best describes how a presidential primary works?

A) Voters participate in an election to select delegates for a candidate to represent a state at the national convention.
B) An election is held nationwide to select a nominee, with the candidate who achieves a plurality winning the nomination.
C) The party organization at the national level holds a final debate where the attendees decide who will receive the nomination.
D) Delegates for a party meet in secret to review poll results, public opinion, debate outcomes, and fundraising to select a nominee.

Question 32

Why might parties most likely prefer a closed primary system as opposed to an open primary system?

A) They prevent those who are not serious about voting from choosing a candidate.
B) They ensure that delegates reflect the will and interests of party members.
C) They are more inclusive to voters with all political views and beliefs.
D) They keep non-registered voters from having a say in the political process.

Question 33

What is the primary difference between an open primary and a closed primary?

A) An open primary permits anyone to participate, while a closed primary requires participants to be eligible voters.
B) An open primary is conducted in public with the media present, while a closed primary is conducted in private.
C) An open primary allows anyone to participate regardless of party affiliation, while a closed primary requires party affiliation.
D) An open primary is free for eligible voters to participate in, while a closed primary charges a fee in order for voters to participate.

Question 34

States where both presidential candidates have a reasonable chance of winning are known as ______.

A) open states
B) coalition states
C) swing states
D) free states

Question 35

The 2020 election between Donald Trump and a Democratic opponent will be which type of race?

A) a battleground election
B) a partisan race
C) an incumbent race
D) a closed race

Question 36

Tamara is running as the Democratic nominee for president in 2032. While planning out her campaign strategy, she decides to focus her attention on several small and mid-sized states rather than those with the most electoral votes. What motive might she have to do this?

A) Those states hold the first primaries and caucuses.
B) Both she and her opponent have a chance of winning them.
C) Voters there have historically donated more money to campaigns.
D) They are the locations of her and her opponent's debates.

Question 37

Hector has decided to attend a local meeting of Republican party members who are deliberating over who the party's nominee should be. Hector's preferred candidate is ultimately selected, and Hector is selected by the other members to attend a regional meeting where the process will start all over again. Hector is partaking in a(n) ______.

A) invisible primary
B) open primary
C) caucus
D) closed primary

Question 38

Suppose it is 2020 and the Democratic Party has not been able to sufficiently narrow down a pool of candidates. There are still five possible candidates that enjoy a relatively equal amount of support, as reflected in the primary and caucus results. How will the Democratic Party go about selecting a candidate for the presidency?

A) They will dismiss the delegates and ask states to conduct additional primaries.
B) They will broker a deal between the delegates and party officials.
C) They will release delegates from their pledged candidate and hold a convention vote.
D) They will base their decision on the candidate with the most money raised.

Question 39

What is the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton an example of?

A) an open election
B) a corrupt election
C) an incumbent race
D) a closed primary

Question 40

When a sitting president runs for re-election against an opponent, it is called ______.

A) an open election
B) a closed race
C) an open primary
D) an incumbent race

Question 41

The branches of interest groups that focus primarily on raising money to donate to political candidates are known as ______.

A) political action committees
B) lobbying firms
C) donor groups
D) financial interest groups

Question 42

What role do political parties play in financing a campaign?

A) Parties utilize member dues to hire staff for a candidate's campaign.
B) Political parties raise money to help fund a candidate's campaign.
C) Parties raise money to pay for the nominating convention that kicks off a campaign.
D) Political parties focus on raising hard money funds due to FEC regulations.

Question 43

Which presidential debates were the first to gain a high level of interest and scrutiny among American voters?

A) those between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas
B) those between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon
C) those between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter
D) those between Al Gore and George W. Bush

Question 44

Why might individuals, companies, and other organizations be compelled to donate to a candidate's campaign?

A) Campaign finance laws permit each of those actors to donate unlimited amounts.
B) Each of those actors has may have a stake in the outcome of the election.
C) Donating to a campaign increases social clout and boosts a person or group's image.
D) When people or groups donate to a campaign, they receive certain benefits.

Question 45

What is one of the most effective ways for a candidate to gain voter support?

A) winning a debate
B) advertising on television
C) hosting fundraisers
D) posting to social media

Question 46

Aimee, a presidential candidate, has decided to add fixing the issue of illegal immigration to her agenda and wants to make it known to the American electorate where she stands on the issue and how she plans to fix it. What is the best way for her to reach a wide audience to get her message out there?

A) create a television advertisement that outlines her stance on the issue
B) host a fundraiser in several states and discuss the issue with attendees
C) do an interview with a print magazine about the campaign and her agenda
D) bring it up in the next televised debate against her opponent

Question 47

In 2019, one of the many candidates who announced a bid for the Democratic nomination for president was Mike Gravel, an 89-year-old former Alaska senator. Although Gravel was excluded from all debates and nearly every public opinion poll, and his campaign was run primarily by teenagers almost exclusively via Twitter, he was able to raise just over $200,000 before ending his campaign in August 2019. What is Gravel's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination an example of?

A) the ability of a candidate to successfully campaign exclusively on the Internet
B) the power of the Internet to raise money for a candidate's campaign
C) the influence of social media on a candidate's presidential campaign
D) the interest among Americans in fringe candidates during the nomination phase

Question 48

Martin wants to set up his own political action committee to raise money for and donate to liberal candidates who are passionate about aggressively pursuing gun control measures once in office. What is the first step Martin must take to establish his PAC?

A) select a candidate for fundraising and donation purposes
B) raise a minimum of $4,000 to pay mandatory fees
C) recruit people to meet the minimum membership requirement
D) register his PAC with the Federal Election Commission

Question 49

Which piece of legislation requires federal candidates to disclose campaign contributions and expenditures?

A) the Federal Election Campaign Act
B) the Federal Election Commission Establishment Act
C) the Citizen's United Act
D) the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act

Question 50

Why is it important for a presidential candidate to carefully plan out the states they will visit during their campaign?

A) Candidates must focus on swing states and states that will win them a majority of votes.
B) It is expected that the candidates will visit each of the 50 states, which takes a lot of time and organization.
C) Each state must be given the chance to speak with candidates about issues specific to that state.
D) Candidates have to prioritize more populous and party friendly states in order to win an election.

Question 51

Why would a presidential candidate opt to develop a television ad instead of a print, radio, or Internet ad?

A) Television ads have no regulations, so candidates can use them to convey any type of message.
B) Television ads have been proven to be the most effective means of boosting name recognition.
C) Television ads are the cheapest type of advertisement to produce and are therefore cost-effective.
D) Television ads reach a wider audience and can be placed during programs to reach undecided voters.

Question 52

Which statement best reflects the effect debates have on the outcome of the election?

A) Data suggests that there is no correlation between a debate and the outcome of the election.
B) Those who do poorly during debates usually make gains in other areas and win the election.
C) Candidates who perform better than their opponent in most of the debates tend to win the election.
D) The performance of a candidate in a debate is not a clear indicator of their electoral success.

Question 53

Suppose a candidate for president has won several states and, according to the most recent poll results, has 260 votes in the Electoral College. Which state does the candidate need to win in order to win the presidency?

A) Nevada, which has 6 electoral votes.
B) South Carolina, which has 9 electoral votes.
C) Wisconsin, which has 10 electoral votes.
D) Kentucky, which as 8 electoral votes.

Question 54

How is the number of electors a state has in the Electoral College determined?

A) Each state receives one vote for each representative and senator it has in Congress.
B) The number of votes a state receives in the Electoral College is based on population.
C) States are given an equal number of electors in the Electoral College.
D) Each state receives two electors for the president and one for the vice president.

Question 55

What incentive does a presidential candidate have to debate his or her opponent?

A) Engaging in debate generally leads to an increase in favorability for both candidates.
B) Debates have become expected of candidates, so not debating would break tradition.
C) The Constitution requires that presidential candidates debate one another publicly.
D) Refusing to debate might cause voters to view that candidate as weak and timid.

Question 56

Which factor is an indicator that the electorate is engaged in politics and wants to make a difference?

A) low participation in public opinion polls
B) a decline in the viewership of news programs
C) low voter turnout during a presidential election
D) individuals donating money to candidates

Question 57

What is the main function of a political action committee (PAC)?

A) supporting a candidate's campaign by coordinating volunteer and grassroots efforts
B) convincing legislators to support certain laws with financial incentives
C) raising and donating money to political candidates on behalf of an interest group
D) providing a financial incentive to people to run for political office

Question 58

Why did the Founders establish the Electoral College in the first place?

A) They were worried that a popular vote would lead to demands for voting rights from disenfranchised groups.
B) They did not think that the people would be satisfied with directly electing the House of Representatives.
C) They believed selecting the president should be left in the hands of elected federal officials.
D) They wanted to keep the selection of the president out of the direct hands of the people.

Question 59

What is one of the differences between presidential elections and elections for other public offices in the United States?

A) Presidential elections are held every other year, while other elections are held every four years.
B) Presidential elections receive far less media coverage than elections for other public offices.
C) Presidential elections are decided by the Electoral College, and not the popular vote like other elections.
D) Presidential elections require advanced voter registration, while other elections do not.

Question 60

Jun is running as a Democratic nominee for an open House seat in Oregon. Today, she is meeting with members of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party of Oregon. What is this meeting most likely about?

A) advising on policy proposals
B) determining campaign strategy
C) fundraising for her campaign
D) hiring her campaign staff

Question 61

Yael is an election analyst for CNN who is covering the 2022 midterm elections during a Democratic president's term. Which statement might Yael be expected to make during a segment?

A) "I would be surprised if the Democrats lost seats in Congress."
B) "The coattail effect will be in full force on Election Day."
C) "Expect turnout to be lower than it was two years ago."
D) "There will be very few safe seats this November."

Question 62

In 2018, with Donald Trump in the White House as the Republican president, the midterm congressional elections resulted in a shift from a Republican-majority House of Representatives to a Democratic-majority House of Representatives. As for the Senate, no considerable gain was made by the Republicans, although they did maintain a slight majority. What is this election an example of?

A) the ongoing battle for a majority in both houses of Congress to have greater influence over the policymaking agenda
B) the advantage that incumbent candidates have over inexperienced candidates running for a position in Congress
C) the observed trend that voters will vote for congressional candidates in the party opposite the president during midterm elections
D) the continued trend of lower voter turnout for midterm congressional elections than presidential elections

Question 63

During midterm congressional elections, how many Senate seats are contested?

A) one-third
B) one-quarter
C) half
D) two-thirds

Question 64

Why is voter turnout lower for midterm elections than it is for presidential elections?

A) Americans are not required to participate in midterm elections.
B) Voters are often unaware when midterm elections are held.
C) Excessive media coverage leads to voter exhaustion and ambivalence.
D) Interest and engagement in congressional elections is lower.

Question 65

What is required for the coattail effect to be the most apparent?

A) The results of the election for president must be closely contested.
B) The congressional candidate must be in the same party as the popular candidate.
C) The winner of the presidential election must have won in a landslide.
D) The candidate running for Congress must be an incumbent.

Question 66

What is the underlying idea behind the coattail effect?

A) Voters tend to support congressional candidates in the party opposite their selection for president.
B) Voters pay more attention to all aspects of an election when the president is on the ballot.
C) Voters will turnout in higher numbers, which boosts a congressional candidate's chances of election.
D) Voters will select congressional candidates based on who they selected for president.

Question 67

David is a wealthy businessman who wants to show his support for a candidate running for president. He has not established a political action committee but wants to donate to a candidate in his own name since he is passionate about the candidate. Since money is no object, David wants to contribute as much as he can and writes a check for $3,000. What is David in violation of?

A) the First Amendment
B) the Federal Election Campaign Act
C) Article II of the Constitution
D) the ruling in Citizens United v. FEC

Question 68

The idea that congressional candidates benefit from being on the ballot during a presidential election year is known as ______.

A) partisan benefit
B) the coattail effect
C) candidate efficacy
D) presidential advantage

Question 69

What is one trend that analysts have noticed about midterm elections?

A) Voter turnout tends to be higher in midterm elections than in presidential elections.
B) Voters tend to vote for congressional candidates in the party opposite the president.
C) Voters conduct Google searches about their congressional candidates at a higher rate.
D) Voters tune into local news programs more often leading up to the election.

Question 70

Which factor discussed in the text leads voters to elect congressional candidates in the party opposite the president during a midterm election?

A) lower voter turnout
B) the power of incumbency
C) a congressional candidate's franking privileges
D) the absence of the coattail effect

Question 71

What is the primary difference between hard money and soft money?

A) Hard money goes directly to candidates and their campaigns, while soft money is donated to advocacy groups and political parties.
B) Hard money refers to cash donations given by individuals, while soft money refers to volunteer hours worked and other resources.
C) Hard money means the contribution has been reported to the FEC, while soft money has not been disclosed.
D) Hard money refers to money raised by PACs, whereas soft money refers to money raised by individual contributions.

Question 72

Which group was established to enforce campaign finance laws and regulations?

A) the Buckley Commission
B) the Citizen's United Group
C) the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Committee
D) the Federal Election Commission

Question 73

When are all the seats in the House of Representatives up for re-election?

A) on odd-number years
B) during midterm election years
C) each year
D) the same time as all the Senate seats

Question 74

Money that is donated to a political party or an advocacy group that might support a candidate, but not directly to the candidate, is known as ______.

A) hard money
B) dark money
C) soft money
D) public money

Question 75

In the 2018 election, the House of Representatives flipped from being majority Republican to a majority Democrat, while the Senate maintained a majority in the Senate. What can likely be said about the 2018 election?

A) The 2018 election resulted in a realignment of the two main political parties.
B) The 2018 election followed a general historical trend in midterm elections.
C) The 2018 election led to the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.
D) The 2018 election increased the efficacy of American voters significantly.

Question 76

What is the significance of the Supreme Court's decision on Citizens United v. FEC?

A) The Court limited the interpretation of regulations limiting hard money contributions.
B) The Court expanded the opportunities for the influx of soft money into the political process.
C) The Court limited the opportunities for political access and influence for interest groups.
D) The decision set precedent permitting candidates to engage in questionable financial practices.

Question 77

What was the purpose of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002?

A) to place limits on and regulate soft money
B) to prohibit campaigns from producing negative ads
C) to lower the amount and individual may contribute
D) to ease existing campaign finance regulations

Question 78

The elections that occur midway between presidential elections are called ______.

A) open races
B) incumbency elections
C) House elections
D) midterm elections

Question 79

What is the main function of the Federal Election Campaign Act?

A) to prohibit individuals from donating to candidates
B) to establish a public campaign fund with taxpayer money
C) to remove all existing campaign finance laws
D) to ensure campaign funds are being raised and used appropriately

Question 80

What is one likely result of the trend that voters will elect candidates to Congress that are in the party opposite the president during midterm elections?

A) higher voter turnout in the next presidential election
B) increased gridlock in the lawmaking process
C) lower confidence among Americans in the election process
D) incumbent candidates returning to Congress at a lower rate