WorksheetsPLS 135 Midterm Fall 2024
Total questions: 36
Worksheet time: 18mins
Interest Groups tend to?
Have many issues
Run people for office
Not have leaders
Have one issue/focus
What is the last step to become president of the USA?
Nomination
Election
Electoral College
Campaign
All of the following are steps to Win the White House, EXCEPT?
write your name on the ballot
win the Party’s nomination
campaign
win the primary vote/election
When a politician gives the same three to eight second answer to all questions?
Press conference
Leak
Trial balloon
Sound bite
The first state to vote in the Nomination process?
Virginia
New Hampshire
Iowa
South Carolina
When district lines are drawn to favor politicians already in office?
Credit claiming
Gerrymandering
Position taking
Constituency service
Most voters in the U.S. do not like the Electoral College because?
Members (Electors) can vote against the will of the people
Most states are “winner take all,” candidates strategize to win the electoral votes of battleground states, not all of the people’s vote
Big states have more Electoral votes & get more attention from candidates
All the above
Why are there more regulations on presidential campaign fundraising compared to campaigns prior to 1972?
Richard Nixon cheated to be re-elected
to keep contributions from being directly given to the candidate
because campaigns are expensive
a & b
When an interest group offers you stuff to join (e.g., magazines, discounts, etc.), the incentive for joining is referred to as a/an?
Material benefit
Solidarity
Expressive
Free rider
In the U.S. the individual most likely to win an election is the:
incumbent
candidate who raised the most $
candidate with most recognized name
all of these
All of the following are jobs of a political party EXCEPT:
organize party officials
Electioneering
nominate candidates & create party platform
focus on one major issue
In the U.S., how are third/minor political parties at a disadvantage in a Presidential election?
election/campaign rules
generally just one candidate & one issue
cannot participate in televised debates
All of the above
To win the presidency the first two states in the primaries are important, why?
Winners get free TV time
More money comes in
The staff stays
All the above
When district lines are drawn to favor politicians already in office?
Credit claiming
Gerrymandering
Position taking
Constituency service
In raising funds for election, today there are Super PACs, the rules for them are?
solicit unlimited contributions
cannot directly contribute to candidate
accept unlimited contributions
all of these
According to Ghosh, Campaign Legal Center (2022), Super PACs at times have seemed as a way for the wealthy and special interest groups to fund a candidate’s campaign, raising concerns regarding corruption and illegal coordination with both Democrat & Republican candidates. This is due to the lack of investigation and enforcement by the _____________.
ADA
Congress
FEC
SCOTUS
Which landmark SCOTUS case established the precedent “One [Person]-One Vote?”
Marbury v. Madison
Baker v. Carr
Shaw v. Reno
Bush v. Gore
The event/scandal that ultimately led to the end of Nixon’s presidency?
Vietnam
Watergate
Whitewater
CREEP
A poll that talks to people who just voted?
Exit
Tracking
Focus group
Sampling error
In which landmark case did the SCOTUS define federalism by interpreting the Necessary & Proper Clause as well as the National Supremacy Clause?
McCulloch v. Maryland
U.S. v. Lopez
Gibbons v. Ogden
Citizens United v. F.E.C.
When the National Government orders a state to do something and provides NO money?
Unfunded mandate
Grant-in-Aid
Block Grant
Federal redistricting
What are some problems with Federalism?
Confusing, laws change by state
States vary in quality
People move between states to hide from the law
All of the above
Amendment ______________ provides that ALL rights not given to the National Government belong to the States.
one
five
seventh
10
According to the ____________________________________________, although the states regulate elections and voter registration, the U.S. Government can oversee ALL elections to ensure they are conducted fairly and free of corruption. The FBI may oversee elections in question and can order a "recall," or a “re-do” of an entire election.
U.S. Constitution
Declaration of Independence
Bill of Rights
Federal Election Commission
________________________________________ is the population’s beliefs about politics and policy.
Public opinion
Political ideology
Government policy
Economic theory
In general, on average, only 50% of the American population votes, which is significantly lower when compared to other Democratic Nations. Nevertheless, more American citizens/registered voters exercise their right to vote when there is a _____________________________ election.
Presidential
Local
State
Midterm
Each generation has different views and expectations for the government. Nevertheless, how is political socialization learned and influenced? In America, who participates in politics the most?
a. Through family and education; Older adults
b. Through media and peers; Young adults
c. Through religion and community; Middle-aged adults
d. Through work and social groups; Teenagers
270 electoral votes are needed to win the Presidency. However, if neither candidate wins this number, or there is a tie, how is the President “elect” determined?
Majority Vote of both Chambers in Congress decide
Majority Vote in the House of Representatives decides
The Supreme Court decides
The Senate decides
What was significant about the state of Florida in the 2000 Presidential election? What was the SCOTUS decision in Bush v. Gore (2000) and what impact did this decision have on the 2000 election?
Florida's votes were crucial in determining the winner of the election, and the SCOTUS decision to stop the recount ultimately awarded the presidency to George W. Bush.
Florida was the first state to use electronic voting machines, and the SCOTUS decision mandated a nationwide recount.
The state of Florida had the highest voter turnout, and the SCOTUS decision led to a new election being held.
Florida's election results were invalidated, and the SCOTUS decision resulted in Al Gore becoming president.
What does the acronym CREEP stand for?
Committee to Re-Elect the President
Council for Renewable Energy and Environmental Protection
Center for Research in Environmental Economics and Policy
Coalition for Reform and Economic Empowerment
Why do some Americans not vote? Be specific.
Lack of interest in politics
Difficulty in accessing polling stations
Belief that their vote does not matter
All of the above
Which of the following methods would NOT increase voter turnout?
early voting options
limit time the voting polls are open
online voting
less rigid mail-in & absentee ballot options
Identify the six media corporations that control 90% of all media today.
Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Time Warner, Viacom, CBS
Disney, Comcast, Sony, Time Warner, Viacom, CBS
Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Sony, Viacom, CBS
Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Time Warner, Sony, CBS
Which state does not require its residents to register to vote?
California
North Dakota
Texas
New York
Which state(s) divide their electoral votes? How many states are “winner take all?”
Maine and Nebraska; 48 states are winner take all
California and Texas; 50 states are winner take all
Florida and New York; 45 states are winner take all
Ohio and Illinois; 47 states are winner take all
In the 2024 Presidential Election, which of the following is NOT a “swing” state?
Florida
Georgia
Nevada
Wisconsin
