Deck 4: Parties and Elections in California

Question 1

Most of the money spent in the 2010 gubernatorial race was spent on

A) get-out-the-vote campaigns.
B) public opinion polling.
C) campaign workers' salaries.
D) TV and radio advertising.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The reforms of the Progressive movement had what effect on the power of political parties in California?

A) They increased party power.
B) They decreased party power.
C) They did not impact party power.
D) It is too soon to state what their effects have been on political parties.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The Citizens Redistricting Commission is responsible for redrawing the boundaries of the Senate and Assembly. What proposition expanded the Commission's power to determine congressional districts as well?

A) Proposition 14
B) Proposition 198
C) Proposition 55
D) Proposition 20

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Which of the following is a positive aspect of third parties in California?

A) Third parties rarely act as spoilers.
B) Third parties do not draw votes away from the two major parties.
C) Third parties help focus public attention on important political issues.
D) Third parties reduce voter turnout in close elections.

Question 5

In June 2010, voters passed Proposition 14, the "Open Primary" initiative. This primary system essentially is

A) a closed primary.
B) a blanket primary.
C) an absentee primary.
D) a nonpartisan primary.

Question 6

What proposition established a blanket primary and was eventually ruled to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court?

A) Proposition 11
B) Proposition 34
C) Proposition 198
D) Proposition 208

Question 7

Which of the following counties in California is considered to be the most conservative?

A) Los Angeles
B) San Francisco
C) San Diego
D) Santa Barbara

Question 8

What primary had one of the lowest turnout rates in California's history?

A) 1992
B) 1996
C) 2000
D) 2012

Question 9

Approximately how much money was spent on the Proposition 8 campaign in California?

A) $2 million
B) $40 million
C) $80 million
D) $150 million

Question 10

What two initiatives made major changes to the 2012 California elections?

A) Propositions 13 and 15
B) Propositions 7 and 19
C) Propositions 11 and 20
D) Propositions 141 and 198

Question 11

In California, approximately how many signatures are required for statutory initiatives to be on the ballot?

A) more than 250,000
B) more than 300,000
C) more than 400,000
D) more than 500,000

Question 12

One theory is that third parties in California act as

A) lobbyists.
B) spoilers.
C) a drain on public funding of campaigns.
D) issue "killers."

Question 13

In the November 2010 midterm election, the Democratic Party experienced an unprecedented loss of seats in Congress. Yet, in California all of the Democratic candidates running for statewide office won. An analysis of the vote concluded that a key factor in the Democratic success was

A) the large turnout by young voters.
B) a change in election laws.
C) the strength of the Latino vote.
D) campaign finance reform.

Question 14

How much money did Meg Whitman spend running for governor in 2010?

A) $60 million
B) $160 million
C) $180 million
D) $200 million

Question 15

What two reforms did the Progressive movement implement to reduce the power of political parties?

A) the line-item veto for the governor and Proposition 13
B) presidential primaries and partisan primaries
C) California History Month and the filibuster
D) campaign finance laws and elimination of the governor's power to appoint mayors and sheriffs

Question 16

In California, what are the two ways political parties can qualify to get on the ballot?

A) television ads and newspaper ads
B) registration and newspaper ads
C) court rulings and public protests
D) registration and petition

Question 17

What group advocated for nonpartisan elections?

A) Democrats
B) Republicans
C) Progressives
D) Libertarians

Question 18

Which political party has the most combined registered voters in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego?

A) Republican
B) Libertarian
C) Green
D) Democratic

Question 19

In California, what proposition eliminated affirmative action programs?

A) Proposition 8
B) Proposition 13
C) Proposition 187
D) Proposition 209

Question 20

What major player provided nearly $2 million for the recall of Governor Gray Davis?

A) Darrell Issa
B) Arnold Schwarzenegger
C) Cruz Bustamante
D) Brian Cain

Question 21

What are some of the reasons that campaigns in California are expensive?

A) Propositions 11 and 34
B) limitations placed on campaign contributions, a multi-party system, and interest groups
C) a strong political party system, and the law that bans political advertisements during the months of October and November
D) media, political consultants, and weak political parties

Question 22

Discuss the roles played by third parties in California. How likely are they to attain political power in California?

Question 23

An absentee ballot is now available to any voter who

A) has filed the appropriate paperwork with the lieutenant governor's office.
B) paid the appropriate fees.
C) can show a valid California driver's license.
D) wants one.

Question 24

How has the initiative process fared in California, and what criticisms of it have been made?

Question 25

Professional campaign managers, pollsters, and media consultants are

A) rarely used in political campaigns in California.
B) never used at the statewide level of political campaigns.
C) used extensively in campaigns and cost a great deal of money.
D) illegal in California.

Question 26

What website is used to register to vote in California?

A) www.facebook.com
B) www.sos.ca.gov/election
C) www.gov.org
D) www.ca.com

Question 27

What groups comprise the California electorate, and which are most and least likely to vote?

Question 28

What methods did the Progressives utilize to weaken political parties in California? What was the ultimate impact on political parties in California?

Question 29

In California, Proposition 34, passed in 2000, established a law regarding

A) campaign finance reform.
B) property taxes.
C) blanket primaries.
D) education spending.

Question 30

Of California's nearly 39 million residents, approximately how many are eligible to vote?

A) 27 million
B) 24 million
C) 17 million
D) 12 million

Question 31

In order for a political party to qualify for the ballot in California, what procedures are available? Do the existing procedures require the expenditure of significant resources?