5.8 & 5.9 - Presidential and Congressional Elections

Which of the following would result from the direct election of presidential candidates?

• A national primary would be established.

• Party nominating conventions would be abolished.

• Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election.

• The electoral college would become more influential in the electoral process.

• Third-party candidates would have less chance of winning the election.

Which of the following took place after presidential candidates Truman in 1948, Nixon in 1968, and Clinton in 1992 won only pluralities of the popular vote?

• The election was formally decided in the House of Representatives.

• The election was formally decided in the Senate.

• The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast.

• The electoral college votes cast by independents were critical in determining the winner.

• The results of the popular vote necessitated a runoff.

Which of the following is true of the electoral college system?

• It encourages the emergence of third parties.

• It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states.

• It ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the President.

• It requires that a candidate win a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the college.

• It tends to make a presidential elections appear closer than they really are.

Which of the following is a type of primary election that requires registration as a party affiliate to vote?

• Blanket

• Closed

• General

• Open

• Plebiscite

Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades?

• Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party

• Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions

• A sharply declining role for political action committees (PAC's)

• Decreasing cost of campaigns

• Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes

Which of the following statements about incumbent senators running for reelection is correct?

• The senators with the best chances of reelection are those who have served the longest.

• The amount of money spent by a challenger has little bearing on an incumbent's reelection chances.

• Incumbent senators are less likely to be reelected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives.

• An incumbent senator is equally likely to be reelected or defeated.

• The most important factor influencing the reelection chances of senators is whether they belong to the President's party.

Which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a congressional election?

• Local performance of a candidate's party in the presidential race

• A candidate's incumbency status

• The amount of a candidate's campaign spending relative to that of his or her opponent

• The level of support from local party leaders

• The level of voter turnout

Which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary?

• Voters must pay a poll tax to vote in a closed primary, but not in an open primary.

• Voters are allowed to split their ticket in a closed primary but not in an open primary.

• Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party’s closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries.

• Open primaries require a run-off system, while closed primaries do not.

• Candidates must seek the approval of the party organization to run in a closed primary, but anyone may be a candidate in an open primary.

The franking privilege refers to the

• Federal Reserve Board’s control over interest rates

• practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees

• practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve

• right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee

• right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense

The advantages of incumbency in congressional elections include which of the following?

I. Incumbents receive more campaign contributions than do challengers.

II. Incumbents are able to provide important services for individual voters.

III. The government provides campaign funds for incumbents.

IV. The President usually endorses incumbents for reelection.

V. Most American voters believe Congress does a good job.

• I and II only

• III and IV only

• I, IV, and V only

• II, III, and V only

• III, IV, and V only