Political Terms and Concepts Quiz

What is 'ballot fatigue'?

• When a voter is unable to vote due to illness

• When a voter votes only for presidential candidates

• When a voter votes for all candidates on a ballot

• When a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot

What is a 'caucus'?

• A secret meeting of party leaders

• An election where only party members can vote

• A public debate between candidates

• A form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format

Who are 'chronic minority' voters?

• Voters who always vote for the winning candidate

• Voters who do not participate in elections

• Voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections

• Voters who switch parties frequently

What is a 'closed primary'?

• A primary that is held in secret

• A primary where voting is done by mail only

• An election open to all registered voters

• An election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party's candidates

What is the 'coattail effect'?

• When a candidate changes party affiliation

• When a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from the same party win their own elections

• When a candidate wins by a large margin

• When a candidate loses due to association with an unpopular figure

What is the 'Electoral College'?

• The constitutionally created group of individuals responsible for formally selecting the next U.S. president

• A committee that oversees election processes

• A college where future politicians are trained

• A group of voters who directly elect the president

What is 'incumbency advantage'?

• The advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection

• The disadvantage of running against a popular opponent

• The disadvantage of being in office during a scandal

• The advantage of being a new candidate

What is an 'initiative'?

• A law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters

• A new policy introduced by the president

• A campaign strategy

• A type of primary election

What are 'midterm elections'?

• The congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years

• Elections held in the middle of the day

• Elections that occur every four years

• Elections for local government positions

What is an 'open primary'?

• A primary held outdoors

• An election in which any registered voter may vote in any party's primary or caucus

• A primary where only party members can vote

• A primary that is open to the public for observation