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Worksheets

Political Parties and Elections

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

1. What are the two sides of the political spectrum?

a)

Republicans & Democrats

b)

Liberals & Conservatives

c)

Radicals & Revolutionaries

d)

Federalists and Republicans

2.

_____ is considered the father of the modern day Democratic Party because his creation of government sponsored social welfare programs, including Social Security.

a)

Reagan

b)

Truman

c)

FDR

d)

Jefferson

3.

1. The major function of political parties in America is:

a)

Educating the public

b)

Presenting solutions to problems

c)

Keeping the party in power responsible to the people

d)

Nominating candidates for public office and presenting them to voters.

4.

The first televised debate in this country was between which two candidates?

a. Nixon and LBJ

b. JFK and Nixon

c. George H.W. Bush and Reagan

d. Lincoln and Jefferson Davis

a)

Nixon and LBJ

b)

JFK and Nixon

c)

George H.W. Bush and Reagan

d)

Lincoln and Jefferson Davis

5.

Which of following parties is the MOST liberal:

a)

Democratic

b)

Libertarian

c)

Tea Party

d)

Republican

6.

1. When someone of a 3rd party pulls decisive votes away from one of the major party candidates it is known as

a)

Spoiler

b)

Innovator

c)

Watchdog

d)

Federalism

7.

The summation of all people in society’s views is also known as:

a)

Bias

b)

Public Opinion

c)

The Coattail Effect

d)

Tyranny of the Majority

8.

When Thomas Jefferson won the Election of 1800, this party took power for the 1st time

a)

Federalist

b)

Whig

c)

Democratic Republican

d)

Socialist

9.

1. When one major party is not in power, it can act as the _____ on the other party.


a)

Scorekeeper

b)

Gatekeeper

c)

Timekeeper

d)

Watchdog

10.

When Theodore Roosevelt broke from the Republican Party to create the Bull Moose Party, he created a -

a)

Ideological Party

b)

Single Issue Party

c)

Economic Protest Party

d)

Splinter Party

11.

How has the overall spending trends of presidential campaigns changed since the 1960’s?

a)

Gone down

b)

Stayed the same.

c)

Gone up slightly

d)

Gone up significantly

12.

Reasons most Third-Party’s in this country struggle are


a)

Lack of Money

b)

The United States has historically been a two-party system

c)

Our electoral system makes it difficult for Third Parties to compete

d)

All of the above

13.

When someone votes for candidates from different parties in the same election, it is known as -

a)

Radicalizing your vote.

b)

Hedging your bets.

c)

Split-ticket voting.

d)

Being partisan

14.

Which political party dominated American politics from the Civil War to Great Depression?


a)

Republican

b)

Democrat

c)

Green

d)

Constitution

15.

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election is known as the:

a)

electorate

b)

electoral college

c)

popular vote

d)

suffrage

16.

A bias is

a)

a skewed (slanted one way or another) point of view present in all of us

b)

Another term for “Public Opinion”

c)

A method of nominating a candidate for an election

d)

A preference or an inclination, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment.

17.

Which ideology does the comment below best fit?

“It is not fair that some people live in giant mansions while others are homeless. The government should fix this.”

a)

Liberal

b)

Conservative

18.

Which ideology does the comment below best fit?

“Marriage equality is important. Men and women should be able to marry anyone they choose.”

a)

Liberal

b)

Conservative

19.

Which ideology does the comment below best fit?

“If the government does not step in a take care of the environment, no one else will.”

a)

Liberal

b)

Conservative

20.

Which ideology does the comment below best fit?

“America must crack down on immigration, strengthen its border, and remove anyone who isn’t here legally.”

a)

Liberal

b)

Conservative

21.

Which event would come last?

a)

Nomination

b)

General Election

c)

Caucus

d)

Convention

22.

If a required majority is not met in a Direct Primary, the two people with the most votes participate in a:

a)

Closed Primary

b)

Open Primary

c)

Nonpartisan Primary

d)

Runoff Primary

23.

In closed primary:

a)

Anyone who is a registered voter can participate

b)

Only a small number of party officials have a say in who becomes a candidate.

c)

Only registered members of the party holding the primary can vote

d)

The curtains in the voting booth are shut.

24.

In an open primary:

a)

Anyone who is a registered voter can participate

b)

Only a small number of party officials have a say in who becomes a candidate.

c)

Only registered members of the party holding the primary can vote

d)

The curtains in the voting booth are open.

25.

How many electoral votes does a presidential candidate need to win?

a)

150

b)

200

c)

270

d)

350