WorksheetsPolitical Parties, Voting & Elections (This One Counts!)
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 39mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton (presumptive nominees) will try to mobilize support (grouping of people of businesses or interest groups) - called ...?
a)
"coalitions"
b)
"categories"
c)
"groupings"
d)
"partisans"
2.
How have both the Republican Party and Democrat Party FAILED to achieve "moderation" in this years presidential election?
a)
Donald Trump & Bernie Sanders have not been willing to follow the advice of their party "establishments"
b)
Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton have refused to take any advice from their party "establishments"
c)
Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders decided on some OUTRAGEOUS policy positions
d)
John Katich and Hillary Clinton have concentrated ALL of their efforts on winning Ohio, and have ignored the rest of the states
3.
On which of the following issues do both Donald Trump and the Republican Party have the support of the majority of the American voters?
a)
defeating ISIS
b)
increasing the amount of social services (welfare)
c)
granting amnesty to all 12,000,000 illegal immigrants
d)
increasing taxes on the top 1%
4.
On which of the following issues do both Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party have the support of the majority of the American voters?
a)
continuing to provide welfare benefits to those who qualify (and making it easier to do so)
b)
completely destroying ISIS (with boots on the ground and full-blown air support)
c)
building a HUGE wall across the Mexican-American border
d)
lowering the capital gains taxes on the top 1%
5.
Which of the following gave a decided advantage to Barack Obama in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections?
a)
ACORN
b)
WALNUT
c)
OSHA
d)
NTSB
6.
The policy positions of each major political party are called ...?
a)
National Policy Guide
b)
National Party Platform
c)
National Convention PDF
d)
National Issues Forum
7.
Which of the following is ACCURATE as it relates to the national conventions?
a)
these take place every 2 years
b)
these are 8 day events
c)
these involve delegates voting for a nominee
d)
these include selection of candidates (to run in the primaries)
8.
Delegates at the national conventions ...?
a)
are chosen in both primaries and caucuses
b)
are chosen by party "establishments"
9.
Third party candidates are rarely successful - because ...?
a)
their views are often too extreme
b)
they have no ability to get their names on state ballots
c)
they know they won't win, and don't bother to show up for debates
d)
they have absolutely no money, and can't even travel around
10.
Teddy Roosevelt once ran as a third party candidate, and did quite well. The name of that party?
a)
Lame Duck Party
b)
Bull Moose Party
c)
Singing Horse Party
d)
Storming Rams Party
11.
In which type of primary do voters have to vote with their registered party (they can't cross-over)?
a)
open
b)
closed
c)
run-off
d)
non-partisan
12.
Which of the following allows ALL registered voters to participate (at a polling place)?
a)
primary
b)
caucus
13.
Which of the following takes place in Iowa (where only certain selected people from each community are allowed to vote for candidate)?
a)
primary
b)
caucus
14.
What is "Super Tuesday"?
a)
a day when one primary and once caucus take place at the same time
b)
a day when a large number of primaries take place all at the same time
c)
a day when only the biggest states participate in caucuses
d)
a day when 2 small states and 2 big states participate in a primary
15.
What does a candidate "win" in a primary election?
a)
the nomination
b)
delegates (who go to the national convention)
c)
"establishment" support
d)
most of the PAC money (for their campaign)
16.
In which type of election do we see only 2 candidates left sanding (1 Republican v. 1 Democrat)?
a)
General
b)
Special
c)
Nomination
d)
Proportional
17.
In which type of election do the voters come up with an idea, get it on the ballot, and then decide 'yes or 'no' (without input from the state legislature)?
a)
initiative
b)
referendum
c)
recall
d)
run-off
18.
In which type of election do we see the state legislature come up with an idea, but then leave to final decision on the matter up to the voters?
a)
initiative
b)
referendum
c)
recall
d)
run-off
19.
Which of the following governors was RECALLED from office in California (& replaced with the "Governator")?
a)
Gray Davis
b)
Lincoln Chaffin
c)
Jan Brewer
d)
Elliot Spitzer
20.
What was required from the voters in California to force a recall election of their governor?
a)
a certain number of signatures
b)
a state-wide protest
c)
$300 from each citizen
d)
a refusal to pay state taxes
21.
How many total electoral votes (in America)?
a)
135
b)
230
c)
458
d)
538
22.
How many total electoral votes do we have right here in North Carolina? (hint: house reps + senators =)
a)
7
b)
9
c)
13
d)
15
23.
How many total electoral votes are needed to win the White House?
a)
270
b)
112
c)
336
d)
410
24.
In which previous presidential election did George W. Bush edge out Al Gore (by just 1 single electoral vote)?
a)
1996
b)
2000
c)
1992
d)
2004
25.
George W. Bush edged out Al Gore by just 1single electoral vote, and it comedown to recounting ballots in THIS state? (hint" "dimpled chads")
a)
Ohio
b)
Florida
c)
Pennsylvania
d)
Oklahoma
26.
Which Supreme Court case essentially decided the election between George W. Bush and Al Gore?
a)
Bush v. Gore
b)
Engel v. Vitale
c)
Gideon v. Wainwright
d)
Brandenburg v. Ohio
27.
The total number of electoral votes is equal to ...?
a)
house reps + senators + 3 for DC
b)
state legislators + the governor + 3 for DC
c)
house reps + delegates + 3 for DC
d)
senators + governors + 3 for DC
28.
"Battleground" states often decide elections (where the vote is too close to call). An example being ...?
a)
West Virginia
b)
New Jersey
c)
Ohio
d)
Nebraska
29.
What is another name for "battleground" states?
a)
"toss-up" states
b)
"too close to call" states
c)
"primary" states
d)
"proportional" states
30.
The electoral college is a (n) ...?
a)
indirect method of electing the president
b)
direct method of electing the president
c)
optional method of electing the president
d)
alternate method of electing the president
31.
The person who wins the White House does so with the most number of popular votes.
a)
True
b)
False
32.
What has to happen for America to be in the midst (currently) of a "party realignment"?
a)
Hillary Clinton (Democrat) wins the presidency
b)
Donald Trump (Republican) wins the presidency
33.
A "party realignment" is preceded by ...?
a)
some "critical" issue
b)
a period of economic growth
c)
a world war
d)
a huge government scandal
34.
A "secular realignment" occurs ...?
a)
over a long period of time (40+ years)
b)
in a very short period of time (4-6 years)
c)
during a single presidency
d)
each century
35.
An example of where we've seen a "secular realignment"?
a)
the western states
b)
the southern states
c)
the east coast
d)
the northern states
36.
We are seeing a massive "party dealignment" (more and more Americans are abandoning the 2 major parties, and declaring themselves "independent"). The percentage who have done so?
a)
13%
b)
26%
c)
42%
d)
67%
37.
Why are so many Americans declaring themselves as "independent"?
a)
they are angry with the 2 major parties ( & their leadership)
b)
they don't know enough about either party (& took the easy way out)
c)
they don't want anyone to know their ideology (& they're hiding everything from their friends/family)
d)
they want to start a new political party (the "Independent Party")
38.
On Election 2016 night: States that the Republican nominee wins will light up _________.
a)
RED
b)
BLUE
c)
GREEN
d)
PURPLE
39.
On Election 2016 night: States the the Democrat nominee wins will light up ________.
a)
RED
b)
BLUE
c)
ORANGE
d)
YELLOW
40.
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY TO VOTE (regularly / every 4 years)?
a)
people with a higher level of education
b)
people with an income below the poverty line
c)
people who are single
d)
people who are on welfare
100 %
