Political Parties and Citizen Participation

Which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution changed the way that U.S. Senators were elected?

• 10th Amendment
• 15th Amendment
• 13th Amendment
• 17th Amendment

The number of electoral votes a state gets depends on

• the number of registered voters in the state.
• the number of members in both houses of the state legislature.
• the number of votes cast in previous elections.
• the number of Senators and representatives the state has in Congress.

In the United States, not everyone in the electorate chooses to exercise his or her voting rights. What is the MAIN reason that some people choose not to vote?

• They do not want to pay the poll tax.
• They are apathetic, or lack interest.
• They are members of the military and are not allowed to.
• They feel that election dates are too hard to keep track of.

What is one role that third parties have played within the American political party system?

• spoiled the election for one of the two major parties
• prevented major parties from adopting the ideas of their supporters
• campaigned for and won two presidential elections in the 20th century
• overthrown the government and instituted a new regime

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay poll tax or other tax." 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution The excerpt from this Amendment was created primarily to ensure suffrage to

• women.
• Native Americans.
• immigrants
• poor people of all races.

If a state has 13 members of the House of Representatives, how many electoral votes will it have?

• 11
• 13
• 15
• 17

The purpose of a primary election is to

• choose party candidates for the general election.
• give the voters a chance to express their opinions on a specific issue.
• determine a winner when no candidate received a majority of the vote.
• decide among the candidates representing the different political parties.

Which is the BEST description of the difference between primary and general elections?

• Primary elections are used by the Democratic Party and general elections are used by the Republican Party.
• Primary elections are used to fill seats in the legislative branch while general elections are used to elect officeholders in the executive branch.
• Primary elections are held within a party to choose the party’s nominee and a general election allows voters to make the final choice from among the party nominees.
• Primary elections are used only at the state level and general elections are held only at the national level.

The purpose of a "general election" is to

• decide on a party nominee for office.
• approve military spending.
• place people in public office.
• remove public officials

What do "voting in elections" and "volunteering at a homeless shelter" have in common?

• They are examples of civic duties.
• They are specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.
• They are examples of civic responsibilities.
• They are specifically mentioned in the state constitutions.