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PLS 135 Midterm Fall 2024

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Interest Groups tend to?

a)

Have many issues

b)

Run people for office

c)

Not have leaders

d)

Have one issue/focus

2.

What is the last step to become president of the USA?

a)

Nomination

b)

Election

c)

Electoral College

d)

Campaign

3.

All of the following are steps to Win the White House, EXCEPT?

a)

write your name on the ballot

b)

win the Party’s nomination

c)

campaign

d)

win the primary vote/election

4.

When a politician gives the same three to eight second answer to all questions?

a)

Press conference

b)

Leak

c)

Trial balloon

d)

Sound bite

5.

The first state to vote in the Nomination process?

a)

Virginia

b)

New Hampshire

c)

Iowa

d)

South Carolina

6.

When district lines are drawn to favor politicians already in office?

a)

Credit claiming

b)

Gerrymandering

c)

Position taking

d)

Constituency service

7.

Most voters in the U.S. do not like the Electoral College because?

a)

Members (Electors) can vote against the will of the people

b)

Most states are “winner take all,” candidates strategize to win the electoral votes of battleground states, not all of the people’s vote

c)

Big states have more Electoral votes & get more attention from candidates

d)

All the above

8.

Why are there more regulations on presidential campaign fundraising compared to campaigns prior to 1972?

a)

Richard Nixon cheated to be re-elected

b)

to keep contributions from being directly given to the candidate

c)

because campaigns are expensive

d)

a & b

9.

When an interest group offers you stuff to join (e.g., magazines, discounts, etc.), the incentive for joining is referred to as a/an?

a)

Material benefit

b)

Solidarity

c)

Expressive

d)

Free rider

10.

In the U.S. the individual most likely to win an election is the:

a)

incumbent

b)

candidate who raised the most $

c)

candidate with most recognized name

d)

all of these

11.

All of the following are jobs of a political party EXCEPT:

a)

organize party officials

b)

Electioneering

c)

nominate candidates & create party platform

d)

focus on one major issue

12.

In the U.S., how are third/minor political parties at a disadvantage in a Presidential election?

a)

election/campaign rules

b)

generally just one candidate & one issue

c)

cannot participate in televised debates

d)

All of the above

13.

To win the presidency the first two states in the primaries are important, why?

a)

Winners get free TV time

b)

More money comes in

c)

The staff stays

d)

All the above

14.

When district lines are drawn to favor politicians already in office?

a)

Credit claiming

b)

Gerrymandering

c)

Position taking

d)

Constituency service

15.

In raising funds for election, today there are Super PACs, the rules for them are?

a)

solicit unlimited contributions

b)

cannot directly contribute to candidate

c)

accept unlimited contributions

d)

all of these

16.

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 _____________.

a)

ADA

b)

Congress

c)

FEC

d)

SCOTUS

17.

Which landmark SCOTUS case established the precedent “One [Person]-One Vote?”

a)

Marbury v. Madison

b)

Baker v. Carr

c)

Shaw v. Reno

d)

Bush v. Gore

18.

The event/scandal that ultimately led to the end of Nixon’s presidency?

a)

Vietnam

b)

Watergate

c)

Whitewater

d)

CREEP

19.

A poll that talks to people who just voted?

a)

Exit

b)

Tracking

c)

Focus group

d)

Sampling error

20.

In which landmark case did the SCOTUS define federalism by interpreting the Necessary & Proper Clause as well as the National Supremacy Clause?

a)

McCulloch v. Maryland

b)

U.S. v. Lopez

c)

Gibbons v. Ogden

d)

Citizens United v. F.E.C.

21.

When the National Government orders a state to do something and provides NO money?

a)

Unfunded mandate

b)

Grant-in-Aid

c)

Block Grant

d)

Federal redistricting

22.

What are some problems with Federalism?

a)

Confusing, laws change by state

b)

States vary in quality

c)

People move between states to hide from the law

d)

All of the above

23.

Amendment ______________ provides that ALL rights not given to the National Government belong to the States.

a)

one

b)

five

c)

seventh

d)

10

24.

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.

a)

U.S. Constitution

b)

Declaration of Independence

c)

Bill of Rights

d)

Federal Election Commission

25.

________________________________________ is the population’s beliefs about politics and policy.

a)

Public opinion

b)

Political ideology

c)

Government policy

d)

Economic theory

26.

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.

a)

Presidential

b)

Local

c)

State

d)

Midterm

27.

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)

a. Through family and education; Older adults

b)

b. Through media and peers; Young adults

c)

c. Through religion and community; Middle-aged adults

d)

d. Through work and social groups; Teenagers

28.

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?

a)

Majority Vote of both Chambers in Congress decide

b)

Majority Vote in the House of Representatives decides

c)

The Supreme Court decides

d)

The Senate decides

29.

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?

a)

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.

b)

Florida was the first state to use electronic voting machines, and the SCOTUS decision mandated a nationwide recount.

c)

The state of Florida had the highest voter turnout, and the SCOTUS decision led to a new election being held.

d)

Florida's election results were invalidated, and the SCOTUS decision resulted in Al Gore becoming president.

30.

What does the acronym CREEP stand for?

a)

Committee to Re-Elect the President

b)

Council for Renewable Energy and Environmental Protection

c)

Center for Research in Environmental Economics and Policy

d)

Coalition for Reform and Economic Empowerment

31.

Why do some Americans not vote? Be specific.

a)

Lack of interest in politics

b)

Difficulty in accessing polling stations

c)

Belief that their vote does not matter

d)

All of the above

32.

Which of the following methods would NOT increase voter turnout?

a)

early voting options

b)

limit time the voting polls are open

c)

online voting

d)

less rigid mail-in & absentee ballot options

33.

Identify the six media corporations that control 90% of all media today.

a)

Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Time Warner, Viacom, CBS

b)

Disney, Comcast, Sony, Time Warner, Viacom, CBS

c)

Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Sony, Viacom, CBS

d)

Disney, Comcast, News Corp, Time Warner, Sony, CBS

34.

Which state does not require its residents to register to vote?

a)

California

b)

North Dakota

c)

Texas

d)

New York

35.

Which state(s) divide their electoral votes? How many states are “winner take all?”

a)

Maine and Nebraska; 48 states are winner take all

b)

California and Texas; 50 states are winner take all

c)

Florida and New York; 45 states are winner take all

d)

Ohio and Illinois; 47 states are winner take all

36.

In the 2024 Presidential Election, which of the following is NOT a “swing” state?

a)

Florida

b)

Georgia

c)

Nevada

d)

Wisconsin