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Worksheets

Political Parties, Voting, and Elections

Total questions: 70

Worksheet time: 1hrs 1mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is a Plank in relation to a Political Party Platform?

a)

A single issue found within a Political Party Platform.

b)

One of the key building blocks to various physical structures holding a party together.

c)

One of the unifying issues for a Political Party.

d)

A form of punishment for party members not towing the party line.

2.

What is a Political Party Platform?

a)

The various layers and levels of party leadership with the highest elected office holder at the top.

b)

The physical structures used by candidates in the various states when campaigning.

c)

The collection of a Party's values, ideologies, issues and possible actions to be supported by its members.

d)

The physical structures that bind the party together.

3.

The type of election in which candidates from opposing Political Parties challenge each other with the winner taking public office is .....

a)

A General Election

b)

Final Election

c)

Inter-Party Election

d)

A Primary Election

4.

The type of election in which members from the same Political Party challenge each other for their party's endorsement in the next election.

a)

General Election

b)

Intra-Party Election

c)

Semi-Final Election

d)

Primary Election

5.

What is the formula for determining the General Election?

a)

The Tuesday after all candidates have filed for office in November

b)

The first Tuesday in November

c)

Tuesday after the first Monday in November

d)

Two weeks after Halloween on Monday

6.

A precinct is....

a)

a single voting district for a city or county

b)

a satellite office/station for a major police department

c)

the physical facility in which one votes

d)

two or more wards combined

7.
Which function BEST describes the purpose of Presidential debates?
a)
educating the electorate (voters) about campaign issues
b)
recruiting and nominating candidates
c)
monitoring the actions of officeholders
d)
helping candidates learn what is important to the opposing party 
8.
America has  a ___________ _______________ political system. 
a)
three party
b)
one party
c)
two party
d)
four party
9.
Since 1860s the ____________________ and ____________________party have dominated American politics. 
a)
Green,  Libertarian 
b)
Communists, Socialists
c)
Anarchist, Theocracy 
d)
Democratic, Republican
10.
Presidential debates are an important part of the political process.  Which function best describes the purpose of these debates?
a)
Helping candidates learn what is important to the opposing party
b)
Recruiting and nominating candidates
c)
Monitoring the actions of officeholders
d)
Educating the electorate about campaign issues
11.

Which amendment set the voting age to 18?

a)

26th amendment

b)

24th amendment

c)

19th amendment

d)

23rd amendment

12.

Which amendment gave women the right to vote?

a)

13th amendment

b)

15th amendment

c)

19th amendment

d)

26th amendment

13.

Which of the following are reasons why people do not vote? (Select more than one answer.)

a)

not interested in issues or candidates

b)

failure to register

c)

bad weather

d)

wrong polling location

e)

believe their vote doesn't count

14.
What is a closed primary? 
a)
No matter your political party you can vote in the primary
b)
You must be registered in that political party to vote
c)
You do not need to be registered, but you just have to choose one
d)
You must be asked to participate
15.
What is an open primary?
a)
No matter your political party you can vote in the primary
b)
You must be registered in that political party to vote
c)
You do not need to be registered, but you just have to choose one
d)
You must be asked to participate
16.
What is the importance of caucuses and primaries? 
a)
They are when the actual nominee becomes the presidential nominee
b)
They are when people vote for a candidate who they believe should be the party's nominee
c)
They are when the delegates vote for whoever they want to be president
d)
They are when people describe the issues they want to be addressed
17.

Which statement regarding third parties is best is most accurate?

a)

Third party candidates are very competitive in elections.

b)

Third party candidates have as many financial resources as the two major political parties.

c)

Third party’s biggest obstacle is limiting how many candidates are on the election ballot.

d)

Third party election victories are often on the local and state level.

18.

Political parties serve an important role because they

a)

provide leadership in Congress

b)

select candidates.

c)

listen to citizen concerns

d)

all of the above

19.

Which ideology would favor change including more government

involvement?

a)

Conservative

b)

Liberal

20.

Which ideology goes with reducing government for more growth of businesses?

a)

Conservative

b)

Liberal

21.
Where along the political spectrum do both political parties try to win votes in the general election?
a)
extreme right
b)
in the middle
c)
extreme left
22.

The Democratic party logo is a

a)

Eagle

b)

Donkey

c)

Elephant

d)

Snake

23.

The Republican party logo is a

a)

Eagle

b)

Donkey

c)

Elephant

d)

Snake

24.

outgoing politician is an elected official whose replacement has already been elected or will be soon.

a)

lame duck

b)

dark horse

c)

liberal

d)

landslide

25.

When you vote with a split ticket, you

a)

give all your votes in one day

b)

share your votes among two or more parties

c)

vote for candidates all in the same party

26.

When you vote with a straight ticket, you

a)

give all your votes in one day

b)

share your votes among two or more parties

c)

vote for candidates all in the same party

27.

Which one of these associations is correct for the Democratic Party?

a)

Liberal = red = left

b)

Liberal = blue = left

c)

Moderate = red = right

d)

Conservative = red = right

28.

Which one of these associations is correct for the Republican Party?

a)

Conservative = blue = left

b)

Liberal = red = left

c)

Conservative = Blue = right

d)

Conservative = red = right

29.

No party affiliation; vote based on issues/ideas, not along party lines

a)

Democrats

b)

Independent (NPA)

c)

Republican

d)

Green

30.

When do midterm elections happen?

a)

Every year

b)

Midway through a president's four-year term

c)

Once a decade

d)

When voters grow dissatisfied with the direction of the country.

31.

The 2026 midterm elections are considered important because they will:

a)

change the composition of the Supreme Court

b)

decide whether President Trump will finish his full term in office

c)

determine the balance of power in Congress for the next two years

d)

increase the power of third-party candidates

32.

What are some things that parties do? Check all that apply.

a)

Nominate candidates

b)

Inform Supporters

c)

Run for Office

d)

Appoint Supreme Court Justices

e)

Impeach Public Officials

33.

Which of these are considered a 3rd parties in the US? Check all that apply.

a)

Green Party

b)

Republican Party

c)

Libertarian Party

d)

Progressive Party

e)

Independent Party

34.

What are the two political parties are considered the "major parties" in America today ?

a)

Communist and Whig

b)

Federalist and Anti-Federalist

c)

Republican and Democrat

d)

Libertarian and Socialist

35.

A word that means: right to vote?

a)

Electorate

b)

Incumbent

c)

Caucus

d)

Suffrage

36.

An election where the candidates are selected is known as

a)

Executive

b)

Primary

c)

General

d)

Bipartisanship

37.

An election where a final decision, such as who the next President will be in called a

a)

General

b)

Caucus

c)

National Convention

d)

Primary

38.

The President is selected by the

a)

Supreme Court

b)

Electoral College

c)

Caucus

d)

Popular Vote

39.

How many electoral votes must a candidate get to win the Presidency?

a)

538

b)

100

c)

The majority

d)

270

40.

Match the following

a)

15th

1.

Gave African Americans voting rights

b)

19th

2.

Gave women voting rights

c)

24th

3.

Outlawed Poll Taxes

d)

26th

4.

Lowered voting age from 21 to 18

41.

Match the following

a)

Radical

1.

Extreme Left- Wants New System- Communism

b)

Liberal

2.

Left leaning- Believes the govt needs to be in control

c)

Conservative

3.

Right leaning- Believes in less govt involvement

d)

Reactionary

4.

Extreme Right-Fascism- Wants to restore society to how it was before

42.

Match the following

a)

Initiative

1.

Allows citizens to propose legislation

b)

Referendum

2.

Proposed legislation submitted for the approval of the citizens

c)

Recall

3.

Voters can remove incumbant

43.
To belong to a political party in America, you
a)
must take a test
b)
register with the party
c)
just believe!
d)
swear an oath
44.
The practice of ticket-splitting is more common in 
a)
Republicans
b)
Democrats
c)
Libertarians
d)
Independents
45.

Attempt to promote a person or idea.

a)

Mass Media

b)

Negative Advertising

c)

Propaganda

d)

Tricked Advertising

46.

Based on the cartoon above, what is a major impact of political parties in the government?

a)

The two party system allows for third parties to have a larger say in government decisions.

b)

The two party system allows for all citizens' ideas to be represented.

c)

The two party system makes it difficult to compromise.

d)

The two party system makes it easy to pass legislation.

47.

What are some factors that influence how someone votes? Check all that apply.

a)

Gender and Age

b)

Geography

c)

Religious Background

d)

Income and Occupation

e)

Familiy

48.

Why should citizens vote?

a)

have their voice heard & register their opinion

b)

voting is good but not necessary

c)

it helps everyone see what kind of citizen you are

d)

it ensures that all voters get exactly the person they want in office

49.

How are the U.S. presidential elections different from congressional elections?

a)

Political parties influence the selection of the candidate

b)

. Political parties base campaigns on data from public polls.

c)

Candidates can win the electoral vote without winning the popular vote.

d)

Candidates attempt to appeal to undecided voters in rural areas

50.

What would best replace the question mark in this web?

a)

Analyzing election results

b)

Holding debates

c)

Conducting voter surveys

d)

Recognizing bias

51.

After African Americans Were Given the Right to Vote, How Did Some States Prohibit African Americans From Voting

(a)  

52.

Which Act Banned the Use of Literacy Tests as a Means to Determine Voter Eligibility?

a)

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

b)

The Equal Opportunity Act of 1968

c)

The Minority Voting Act of 1962

d)

The Civil Rights Act of 1965

53.

In 1971 the 26 amendment change the age to vote from...

a)

18 to 21

b)

21 to 18

c)

30 to 18

d)

10 to 100

54.

What amendment provided that Washington, DC be allowed representatives in the Electoral College?

a)

24th Amendment

b)

21st Amendment

c)

23rd Amendment

d)

26th Amendment

55.

Which of the following responses best supports the 15th Amendment of the Constitution?

a)

A person cannot be denied the right to vote based on gender.

b)

A person cannot be denied the right to vote based on race.

c)

A person cannot be denied the right to vote based on age.

d)

No one can be denied the right to vote.

56.

Sienna stands in line at her polling place to vote in the election. She is happy that women were granted the right to vote so she can voice her opinion!

a)

15th Amendment

b)

19th Amendment

c)

24th Amendment

d)

26th Amendment

57.

Ken is struggling to pay his bills since he got hurt at work. He is thankful that when he goes to vote this November, he doesn’t have to pay a poll tax.

a)

15th Amendment

b)

19th Amendment

c)

23rd Amendment

d)

24th Amendment

58.

Damian just turned 18 years old in May. He can’t wait to cast his vote for the first time in the election this year.

a)

15th Amendment

b)

19th Amendment

c)

24th Amendment

d)

26th Amendment

59.

Political Parties nominate candidates to run in the general election primarily through which method?

a)

Bed Sheet Ballot

b)

Runoff

c)

Direct Primary

d)

Caucus

60.

The single greatest influence on an individual’s first party identification is

a)

Income

b)

Parents

c)

Gender

d)

Age

61.

Election Day is usually held in which month of the year?

a)

September

b)

October

c)

November

d)

December

62.

If a voter cannot be present on Election Day, they can apply for a (an) _________________________ in advance and mail them before election day.

a)

Deferment

b)

Abstention

c)

Absentee Ballot

d)

Veto

63.

Hard money is a campaign contribution that is given directly to a candidate and is regulated by the federal government.

a)

True

b)

False

64.

Soft money is money that is donated to political party for the purpose of directly financing a specific candidate's campaign and is essentially unregulated.

a)

True

b)

False

65.

Most campaign financing for elections comes in the form of

a)

small contributions from individuals

b)

large contributions from individuals

c)

political action commitees

d)

self financing

66.

Election Day for federal elections is set by the federal government as

a)

the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November

b)

the first Tuesday of November

c)

the first Monday after the first Tuesday of November

d)

the first Monday of November

67.

Absentee balloting can be best described as

a)

voting by an individual ahead of an election where they are unable to vote at their polling place.

b)

a form of voting where you must make arrangements with your local election board to obtain a ballot before the election.

c)

voting that is becoming more common in many areas of the United States.

d)

all of the above.

68.

An election in which only registered party members may participate is the

a)

open primary

b)

runoff primary

c)

closed primary

d)

blanket primary

69.
What determines the number of electoral votes held by a state?
a)
The number of Senators the state has
b)
The number of members the state has in the House of Representatives
c)
The size of the state's TOTAL Congressional representation (Reps + Senators)
d)
The number of square miles in a state
70.
Which series shows the correct sequence of steps to becoming President of the United States?
a)
Convention, Primary, General Election, Inauguration
b)
Primary, Convention, General Election, Electoral College Vote
c)
Primary, Electoral College Vote, General Election, Convention
d)
Primary, General Election, Inauguration, Electoral College Vote