Question 1

Motor voter (the nickname for the National Voter Registration in 1993) allows citizens to register to vote while getting their driver's license.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Voter turnout is measured as the portion of ___.

Accepted Answer

A)   voting-eligible population that does not vote
B)   voting-eligible population that does vote
C)   voting-eligible population that is registered to vote
D)   None of the above B

Question 3

Discuss the Electoral College and assess whether it is a democratic device for presidential selection. Be sure to include commentary on its historical development in your answer.

Accepted Answer

The Electoral College is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President. It consists of 538 electors, with each state having a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress. When voters cast their ballots for President, they are actually voting for a slate of electors chosen by the political parties in each state. These electors then cast their votes for President and Vice President, with the candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) being elected to office.

The Electoral College has been a subject of debate and controversy since its inception. It was established by the framers of the Constitution as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election by popular vote. The framers were concerned about the potential for a "tyranny of the majority" and wanted to ensure that smaller states had a voice in the presidential election process.

However, critics argue that the Electoral College is undemocratic because it can result in a candidate winning the presidency without winning the popular vote. This has happened five times in U.S. history, most recently in the 2016 election. In these cases, the candidate who won the popular vote did not receive a majority of electoral votes, leading to questions about the legitimacy of the election outcome.

Proponents of the Electoral College argue that it helps to protect the interests of smaller states and prevents candidates from focusing solely on densely populated urban areas. They also point out that the Electoral College encourages candidates to build broad coalitions of support across different regions of the country.

In assessing whether the Electoral College is a democratic device for presidential selection, it is important to consider its historical development and the intentions of the framers. While the Electoral College was designed to balance the interests of different states and prevent the concentration of power in a few populous areas, its potential to override the popular vote raises concerns about its democratic legitimacy.

In conclusion, the Electoral College is a complex and controversial aspect of the U.S. presidential election process. While it has historical roots in the concerns of the framers about majority rule, its undemocratic implications have led to calls for reform or abolition. Ultimately, the question of whether the Electoral College is a democratic device for presidential selection is a matter of ongoing debate and discussion.

Question 4

Define micro targeting.

Accepted Answer

A)   Determining what issues, themes, and arguments are likely to turn away certain groups of voters from the other candidate
B)   Determining what issues, themes, and arguments are likely to move certain narrowly delineated groups of voters to support a candidate
C)   Emphasizing local conditions as a means to draw popular support for a candidate
D)   Emphasizing state/regional issues as a means to draw popular support for a candidate

Question 5

Which Supreme Court decision derailed much of the current campaign finance system for presidential elections as discussed in the Pro and Con section?

Accepted Answer

A)   Buckley v. Valeo (1976) 
B)   McConnell v. F.E.C. (2003) 
C)   F.E.C. v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. (2007) 
D)   None of the above

Question 6

Why do incumbents have an advantage over challengers in elections?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do incumbents have an advantage over...

Question 7

In recent presidential elections, which party tends to have the advantage among the electorate with regard to economic interests and the common person?

Accepted Answer

A)   Republicans
B)   Democrats
C)   Minor parties
D)   None of the above, because in fact no party has an advantage over the others with regard to economic interests and the common person

Question 8

How do those who do vote decide which of the parties and candidates to vote for?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How do those who do vote decide...

Question 9

During the 2020 presidential primaries, the Republican Party nomination was seriously in doubt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

What year was the last presidential election in which the outcome of the Electoral College differed from that of the popular vote?

Accepted Answer

A)   2012
B)   2016
C)   2020
D)   None of the above, since the outcomes of both the Electoral College and the popular vote have historically always been the same

Question 11

What did the FECA do?

Accepted Answer

A)   Provided for some public regulation of campaign fundraising in presidential elections
B)   Provided for increasing privatization of campaign fundraising regulation in presidential elections
C)   Provided for regulation of soft money's role in political campaigns
D)   None of the above

Question 12

In the presidential election of 2016, Hillary Clinton won the ___, and Donald Trump won the ___.

Accepted Answer

A)   popular vote
B)   strawpoll vote
C)   Electoral College vote
D)   absentee vote

Question 13

Independents have increased in numbers in recent decades. Can we then infer that partisanship is no longer much of a determinative factor in American elections?

Accepted Answer

A)   Yes we can but we do not know why
B)   No, because declining turnout and negative campaigning have actually increased the polarization of the partisans left in the electorate
C)   No, we cannot because declining turnout and negative campaigning have decreased the polarization of the partisans left in the electorate promoting opportunities for bipartisanship across the board
D)   The question cannot be evaluated on its own terms; therefore we cannot answer it

Question 14

Discuss the strategy behind frontloading in presidential primaries and caucuses. In the 2016 presidential election, which candidates were helped the most by this strategy and which ones were not? In general, what kinds of candidates appear to benefit most from frontloading?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the strategy behind frontloading in presidential...

Question 15

Discuss the most recent presidential campaign cycle, including commentary on the roles of money, primaries/caucuses, the national nominating convention, and of course the general election. Make sure that you employ evidence gathered from the text to support your positive and negative critiques of the last presidential election.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the most recent presidential campaign cycle,...

Question 16

What are the key milestones in the expansion of voting rights in the United States?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the key milestones in the...

Question 17

What kind of primary is associated with the phenomenon of frontloading?

Accepted Answer

A)   Direct primary
B)   Presidential primary
C)   Preference primary
D)   Run-off primary

Question 18

What is SES?

Accepted Answer

A)   A composite measure of education, income, and occupational status
B)   A composite measure of society, economy, and structure
C)   A technique for increasing the number of registered voters in the electorate
D)   Nothing

Question 19

Discuss the relationship between SES and voting and include which one is most important as a determinant in the likelihood of voting.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

How does the campaign for the presidency differ from campaigns for other offices that are less visible, powerful, and prestigious?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does the campaign for the presidency...

Exam 8: Voting, Campaigns, and Elections