Executive branch quiz

"Two major political parties in the United States are the Democrats and the Republicans. There are always other candidates from smaller parties, but none has ever won the election. In the 2016 election, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ran as the Democratic candidate. The Republican candidate was Donald Trump. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein were also on the ballot in enough states to, in theory, win the vote."

The author of this passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements?

• Third party candidates provide a much-needed alternative to Democratic and Republican candidates

• It is unlikely that a third-party candidate would win a presidential election

• The 2016 presidential election was very different from previous elections in the United States

• Each election, third-party candidates come closer to winning the presidency.

"During primary elections, each party picks which candidate it will put on the ballot in the general election. For much of the 20th century, party bosses made these decisions. In the 1970s, parties made the process more democratic. Many states started using primaries. Now, the candidates send delegates to conventions. These are multi-day conferences where party members solidify their PLATFORM, defining the laws and issues they will fight for if they win. Conventions are also where parties formally nominate candidates for president."

What is the meaning of the word "platform" in the passage above?

• Stage

• High-heeled shoe

• Dock

• Plan

"In order to get votes in the primary elections, candidates campaign. During a campaign, they set themselves apart from the other candidates either parties. They also debate against other candidates in the party. This is a chance to showcase the differences in their approaches to current political issues. And, luckily for candidates, states stagger their primaries and caucuses so they do not fall on one single day."

According to this passage, debates

• all occur on the same day

• are where candidates differentiate themselves on political issues

• are opportunities for candidates to take a break from campaigning

• are sponsored by state party caucuses

"Primary elections NARROW the number of candidates to one per party. This is done so that in the general election in the fall, voters are choosing between candidates who have the support of their parties. In 2016, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders competed for the Democratic nomination, which Clinton ultimately won. There were many candidates for the Republican nomination, including Marco Rubio and ted Cruz. Donald Trump ultimately won the nomination."

What is the meaning of the word "Narrow" in the passage above?

• Rigid

• Cramped

• Limit

• Slender

"Leading up to the general election in November, there are debates throughout October. Typical, there are a few debates between the presidential candidates and one between the vice presidential candidates. Only candidates polling at 15% or above participate in the debates. The parties agree on the rules and format of the debates. During the actual debate, candidates have the opportunity to present their positions on different policies and sometimes answer questions from potential voters. recent debates have featured questions from Facebook, YouTube and Twitter."

Based on the passage, candidates cannot participate in a debate if they

• are polling at 35%

• have not chosen running mates

• are polling at 12%

• have previously run for president

"Campaigning is expensive, and candidates are constantly trying to raise more money. Fundraising can determine a candidate's success. Candidates are required to report their finances to the Federal Election Commission. Candidates receive funding from individuals and special interest groups. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that financial contributions made to campaigns by non-profit organizations, independent of the candidate, are free speech. This means that the government cannot limit those contributions. This created Super-PACSs, organizations that can raise unlimited amounts of money for a candidate or an issue. Individuals contributions, however, are still restricted. In the 2016 presidential election, individuals could not donate more that $2,700 in each election."

Based on this passage, campaign fundraising

• is mostly spent on advertisements

• does not take up a lot of candidate's time

• can impact a candidates victory or defeat

• is not regulated by the government

Candidates would campaign in all 50 states if a popular vote decided the presidency, but it does not. The United States actually uses a different method called the Electoral College. Votes in the Electoral College are divided up by the state. Each state gets a different number votes, based on its population. A candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes to win. If you win at least 270 electoral votes, you can win the election even if you don't win the popular vote. Sound wild? in the 2000 election, George W. Bush won the presidency despite Al Gore winning the popular vote. This was the first instance of the winning candidate losing the popular vote since the 1800s and only the fourth instance in US history."

Based on this passage, which of the following presidential candidates would definitely become the president?

• a candidate who wins 300 electoral votes

• a candidate who wins the popular vote

• a candidate who loses the popular vote

• a candidate who campaigned in all 50 states

"The popular vote does not decide the presidential election; the Electoral College does. The Electoral College is made up of 538 electors. They vote based on the outcome of the popular vote in their state. This is a controversial method. It makes it possible for the winner of the popular vote to lose the election, like Al Gore did in 2000. Supporters of the Electoral College argue that it is fairer. It makes sure politicians don't ignore smaller states and rural areas. Critics point out that the results of the electoral vote and the popular vote sometimes don't match up. They argue that candidates focus on swing states to win their electoral votes instead of addressing the majority of voters in the nation"

Which detail from the passage beset describes an argument against the Electoral College?

• "The Electoral college is made up of 538 electors"

• "It makes sure politicians don't ignore small states and rural areas"

• "They vote based on the outcome of the popular vote in their state."

• "...candidates focus on swing states... instead of addressing the majority of voters in the nation."

"According to the Twelfth Amendment, the House of Representatives votes for president if the electoral vote does not produce a majority. This has only happened twice, in 1801 and 1825. In 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied for president. The House of Representatives broke the tie, giving Jefferson the presidency and Burr the vice-presidency. At that time, the runner-up served as vice president. In 1825, no candidate had majority of votes. So the House again had to break the deadlock. The House voted for John Quincy Adams, even though Andrew Jackson won the popular vote. According the Twelfth Amendment, if the House is deadlocked, the outgoing vice president acts as president until they can reach a decision."

According to the passage, If no candidate receives 270 electoral votes,

• the vice-president immediately acts as president

• the House of Representatives passes a new amendment.

• The Electoral College votes again to produce a majority

• The House of Representatives votes for president.

"Until formally inaugurated on January 20, the winning candidate is not yet president. They are instead the president-elect, and the president who will step down is informally referred to as a "lame duck." On Inauguration Day, the president-elect and vice-president-elect are sworn in, taking the oath of office. This is text in the Constitution that is administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The president then gives their inaugural address."

According to the passage, on Inauguration Day

• the president becomes known as a "lame duck"

• the Chief Justice of the Supreme court gives their inaugural address

• the vice president explains the text of the Constitution

• the president-elect takes the oath of office