The 2012 election was the first time that __________ voted at a higher rate rather than_________________.

African Americans, non-Hispanic whites

Why do presidential candidates tend to focus their efforts on battleground states?

The winner-take-all system makes battleground states more relevant to a campaign.

Battleground states have the most Electoral College votes.

Battleground states have more electors than they would deserve if electors were allocated by population.

Candidates focus on battleground states in order to increase their media exposure.

Which of the following is true about states with caucuses?

Voters attend open meetings where they express their presidential preferences.

The state legislature selects the state’s delegates to the national conventions.

Party officials select delegates according to their own preferences.

Candidates appoint supporters to serve as delegates who will attend the national convention

How did the McGovern–Fraser Commission make the delegate selection process of the Democratic Party more representative and open to input from the public?

by requiring delegate selection procedures to be open to all party members.

by increasing the number of delegates chosen

by weakening the power of registered party members to choose convention delegates

by encouraging the use of presidential caucuses rather than primaries

One impact of the Internet on political campaigns is that __________.

More people are making small political donations

Most people are using the Internet as their only source of campaign information

Most people are receiving direct mail from candidates

more people are becoming highly and accurately informed about the candidates

Which of the following was one of the requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act?

All candidates for federal office must disclose who contributed money to their campaigns.

All campaign funds must be spent within the state where the candidate is running for election (or in any state for presidential candidates).

Candidates for Congress must contribute at least 10 percent of their net worth to the campaign.

Congressional campaigns cannot accept contributions of more than $100 from individual citizens.

Donations to __________ do not have to be disclosed unless a donor gives money specifically for a political ad.

political action committees (PACs)

The Electoral College introduces a bias into the campaign and electoral process because __________.

less populated states are over-represented

all states get the same number of electoral votes

each state has as many electoral votes as it has representatives

more populous states are over-represented

Why do winning candidates claim a mandate even though political scientists generally discredit the mandate theory of elections?

Winning candidates want to justify their policy proposals by claiming that the public supports them.

Politicians think that political scientists do not understand how things actually work.

Voters do not necessarily prefer all of the winning candidate’s issue positions.

Winning candidates are not well versed in the political science literature.

Of the following, who would be most likely to vote?

someone with a high sense of political efficacy

someone who thinks that both candidates are moderate

someone who thinks that both candidates are very conservative

someone who sees few differences between the candidates

Which of the following makes it harder to vote?

Election Day voter registration laws

Which states tend to have higher voter turnout?

States with Election Day voter registration

States with a lot of low education level voters

States with a lot of young voters

Which of the following helps to explain why voter turnout is lower in the United States than in other democracies?

The United States hold elections midweek.

The United States hold fewer elections

The United States elects fewer officeholders.

The United States has a multiple partisan election system.

A floating voter is someone who __________.

votes based on the candidates and not party loyalty

is elated at the outcome of an election

registers to vote on Election Day

votes in presidential elections but not in midterm elections

Which of the following has made it easier for contemporary voters to choose the best person for the office, regardless of party?

advances in information technology

increased polarization in Congress

the media’s tendency to focus on policy issues

If you were running a campaign for a relatively unknown presidential candidate, you would want to allow plenty of time for your candidate to __________.

travel extensively in Iowa before the caucuses

visit major cities in California during the election campaign

meet the people in small towns in Texas

go door-to-door greeting voters

A serious presidential candidate must invest in __________.

staff to handle high-tech and computer technologies

newspaper ads aimed at the 55-65 age group

television ads aimed at the 18–29 age group

an international relations specialist to solicit campaign contributions from foreign nations and multinational corporations

Research suggests that political campaigns are most likely to successfully convert voters when they __________.

use “wedge” issues on which the other party is divided

make appeals based on party affiliation

buy radio and Internet advertisements

Which states should a presidential campaign focus on in the general election?

states with a higher percentage of registered voters

One of the downsides to the American system of presidential campaigns and elections is that __________.

a person who might be an excellent president could be discouraged from running because the process is so onerous

party leaders select a candidate in the smoke-filled room decision

the candidate who wins the popular vote is not always the candidate who received the most votes

winning candidates are legally required to keep their campaign promises or face a fine levied by the Federal Elections Commission according to the veracity of the violation

Which of the following would be the most likely to increase voter turnout in the United States?

making registration automatic for all citizens rather than compelling them to register

minimizing the differences between the parties

Which of the following statements indicates a high level of political efficacy?

“People like me can influence what the government does.”

“I should vote to honor those who sacrificed their lives to make America free.”

“Voting in the United States is so easy that there is no excuse for not voting.”

“Democracy is only democratic if citizens participate in the process.”

Which of the following is consistent with the mandate theory of elections?

Barack Obama’s claim that his victory in 2012 meant that the public wanted to raise taxes on the wealthy

the idea that voter turnout is higher when citizens are required to vote and are fined if they fail to do so

the belief that a functional democracy mandates electoral participation by a large number of voters

Mitt Romney’s claim that Obama won the 2012 presidential election because he had given gifts to various constituency groups

An examination of the number of campaign visits by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination contests suggests that __________.

states with early caucuses and primaries receive a disproportionate amount of attention from candidates during the nomination campaign

geographically larger states receive the most attention from the candidates during the nomination campaign

states with more electoral votes receive more attention from the candidates during the nomination campaign

Obama won the election because he visited more states than did Clinton

Thomas Patterson’s observation that “today’s presidential campaign is essentially a mass media campaign” suggests that __________.

voters have very little understanding of the campaign apart from what they see and hear in the media

the media exercise little influence over a vast number of citizens’ votes

campaigns are for the masses and are mediated by political elites

the media control electoral outcomes

How would switching to direct election of the president affect non-battleground states like Texas?

Texas would receive more attention from candidates trying to win votes in major population centers like Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Texas would receive less attention from candidates because it would no longer be a battleground state.

Texas would receive very little attention from candidates because it is currently a safe state.

Texas would become a safe state for the other party.

Why are people with higher-than-average education more likely to vote?

Education helps voters recognize differences between the candidates.

Education depresses political efficacy, which then encourages turnout.

Education increases intolerance, which then encourages turnout.

Education enables voters to calculate the probability that their vote will decide the election.

Why is it sometimes difficult for citizens to engage in policy voting?

Candidates are often intentionally vague about their issue stances.

Competing candidates usually have the same positions on issues.

The media tend to overwhelm voters with policy information.

Election officials prevent using policy-based voter guides in the voting booth.

How does party identification simplify the voting process?

It provides a cue as to which candidate a voter is more likely to prefer.

It enables voters to select from a wider array of candidates.

It eliminates the need to produce a photo ID in order to vote.

It reduces the policy differences between the candidates.

AP Government Chapter 9 Quiz

Authored by Vivian O.

Social Studies

12th Grade

Used 106+ times

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About

This quiz comprehensively covers American political campaigns and elections, focusing on the structures, processes, and behaviors that define how the United States selects its leaders. The content is appropriate for 12th grade students taking Advanced Placement Government and Politics, requiring mastery of complex political concepts including campaign finance regulations, Electoral College mechanics, voter behavior patterns, and comparative electoral systems. Students need a thorough understanding of federal election laws such as the McCain-Feingold Act and Federal Election Campaign Act, the distinction between hard and soft money contributions, and the roles of various political organizations including PACs and 527 groups. The quiz also demands knowledge of psychological concepts like selective perception and political efficacy, statistical awareness of voter turnout demographics, and analytical skills to evaluate the strategic implications of primary scheduling, battleground state targeting, and media influence on electoral outcomes. Created by Vivian O., a Social Studies teacher in the US who teaches grade 12. This quiz serves as an excellent assessment tool for students preparing for the AP Government exam, specifically targeting the campaigns and elections portion of the curriculum. Teachers can deploy this as a comprehensive unit review after covering Chapter 9 material, use individual questions as warm-up activities to reinforce previous lessons, or assign it as homework to gauge student readiness before a major test. The quiz works particularly well for formative assessment, allowing instructors to identify knowledge gaps in areas like campaign finance law, voter demographics, or Electoral College strategy before the AP exam. The question format mirrors AP-style multiple choice items, providing authentic practice that builds student confidence and test-taking skills. This assessment aligns with College Board standards for AP Government and Politics, particularly those addressing political participation, campaigns and elections, and the institutions of national government.

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47 questions

Show all answers

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

The Democratic and Republican candidates for president are formally nominated at the __________.

national party committees

presidential primaries and caucuses

electoral college

national party conventions

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

A campaign might use __________ to solicit campaign contributions from those who have supported candidates with similar views in the past.

soft money

caucuses

direct mailing

frontloading

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

In 2016, the amount an individual could legally contribute to a candidate’s campaign was __________.

$100

$1,000

$2,700

$25,000

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Prior to being banned in 2002 by the McCain-Feingold Act, unlimited monetary contributions that were earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising were known as __________.

hard money

soft money

matching funds

support funds

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

Researchers studying campaigns stress that campaigns can have what three effects on voters?

selection, application, and alteration

reinforcement, alteration, and adaptation

activation, fortification, and collection

reinforcement, activation, and conversion

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

45 sec • 1 pt

If no candidate receives an Electoral College majority, the election is decided in the __________.

Senate

House of Representatives

Elections and Campaigns Committee

Supreme Court

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

1 min • 1 pt

Because there is barely any time between the end of one campaign and the beginning of the next, some people have called the American electoral process __________.

“the endless commercial”

“the permanent campaign"

“the road to nowhere”

“quadruple overtime”

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AP Government Chapter 9 Quiz

The Democratic and Republican candidates for president are formally nominated at the __________.

A campaign might use __________ to solicit campaign contributions from those who have supported candidates with similar views in the past.

In 2016, the amount an individual could legally contribute to a candidate’s campaign was __________.

Prior to being banned in 2002 by the McCain-Feingold Act, unlimited monetary contributions that were earmarked for party-building expenses at the grassroots level or for generic party advertising were known as __________.

Researchers studying campaigns stress that campaigns can have what three effects on voters?

If no candidate receives an Electoral College majority, the election is decided in the __________.

Because there is barely any time between the end of one campaign and the beginning of the next, some people have called the American electoral process __________.

In which of the following countries is voter turnout lowest?

Which group is more likely to vote?

Which of the following is the cost of voting?

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