Chapter 12

Question 1

What is a Open Primary?

Answer 1

Anyone can participate. Crossover voting occurs frequently, though we don’t have much evidence of raiding.

Question 2

What is a Closed Primary?

Answer 2

Only the party’s registered voters can participate. Considered “healthier” for the party.

Question 3

What is a Blanket Primary?

Answer 3

You can vote in both primaries in a blanket primary.

Question 4

What is a Runoff primary?

Answer 4

Top 2 with most support run again.

Question 5

What is a Nonpartisan Primary?

Answer 5

In Louisiana and Nebraska you select candidates without regard to party affiliation.

Question 6

What are General Elections?

Answer 6

Determines who will actually serve.

Question 7

What are Initiative elections?

Answer 7

People introduce legislation to be voted on (state/local level only, must attain signatures).

Question 8

What are Referendum elections?

Answer 8

Legislatures allow electorate to vote on legislation.

Question 9

What are recall elections?

Answer 9

Removal of an incumbent by popular vote.

Question 10

What is a Caucus?

Answer 10

Traditionally a closed meeting of party activists who would discuss and choose the candidate.

Question 11

What is the argument against Caucuses?

Answer 11

They are elitist and primaries are more democratic because the people are the ones voting and making decisions.

Question 12

What is the argument for Caucuses?

Answer 12

It provides quality over quantity.

Question 13

Who hosts the first primary every year?

Answer 13

New Hampshire. Critics argue its a small, heavily white and conservative, and excessive coverage skews info.

Question 14

Who hosts the first caucus?

Answer 14

Iowa.

Question 15

What is First-loading?

Answer 15

States choosing early dates on the primary calendar. They favor whichever candidate can raise the most money before the nomination begins.

Question 16

Who are delegates?

Answer 16

Representatives of the party. They attend National Convention, Formally choose the candidate, and help in platform adoption.

Question 17

What has weakened parties?

Answer 17

Changes in delegate selection.

Question 18

Delegates used to be what?

Answer 18

Uncommitted to any particular candidate. Now we use primaries and caucuses and choose delegates who are already committed to a winning candidate.

Question 19

What kind of representation are our delegates now?

Answer 19

Proportional Representation.

Question 20

What are superdelegates?

Answer 20

Delegates that Democrats use that have the ability to choose whoever they want. However, they require a certain amount of minority representation.

Question 21

What is the electoral college?

Answer 21

The body of people who actually select the president and vice president.

Question 22

Why does the electoral college exist?

Answer 22

Framers thought average Americans were not well enough informed to choose wisely.

Question 23

How is number of electors given to each state calculated?

Answer 23

Number of representatives plus number of senators. There is a minimum of three.

Question 24

What is the total number of electorates?

Answer 24

538. 269 is a tie and 270 is needed to win.

Question 25

What does the 23rd amendment grant?

Answer 25

Washington DC is granted 3 Electorates.

Question 26

What two states split their votes?

Answer 26

Maine and Nebraska.

Question 27

What did the 15th, 17th, 19th, and 26th amendment provide?

Answer 27

Expansion of opportunities for political participation.

Question 28

What is the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

Answer 28

It allowed the federal government to enforce voting rights in states which had a history of voting discrimination.

Question 29

What did the Voting Rights Act dramatically increase?

Answer 29

Black registration rates.

Question 30

What are the four political models?

Answer 30

Rational choice, Retrospective voting, Prospective voting, Party-line voting.

Question 30

What are the four political models?

Answer 30

Rational choice, Retrospective voting, Prospective voting, Party-line voting.

Question 31

What is Rational Choice voting?

Answer 31

Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest.

Question 32

What is retrospective voting?

Answer 32

Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be reelected based on the recent past.

Question 33

What is Prospective voting?

Answer 33

Voting based on predictions on how a party or candidate will perform in the future.

Question 34

What is party-line voting?

Answer 34

Supporting a part by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices at the same level of government.

Question 35

What factors influence voter choice?

Answer 35

Party identification, ideological orientation, candidates characteristics, contemporary political issues, religious beliefs or affiliation, gender, race, and ethnicity.

Question 36

What does PAC stand for?

Answer 36

Political Action Committee.

Question 37

What do PACs do?

Answer 37

They influence elections and policy-making through fundraising and spending.

Question 38

How can you have political efficacy?

Answer 38

Voting in elections, learning and understanding political knowledge, having political discussions, attending political meetings, forming interest groups, contacting public officials, campaigning for a candidate, political party, ballot issue.

Question 39

What are special elections?

Answer 39

Voters must decide on an issue or a candidate in special circumstances not related to a primary or general election. They are only held at the state or local level.

Question 40

What are the three types of special elections?

Answer 40

Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

Question 41

What is an Initiative Election?

Answer 41

Citizens propose a new law with enough signatures.

Question 42

What is a Referendum election?

Answer 42

Legislatures refer a law to be voted by the people.

Question 43

What is a recall vote?

Answer 43

Citizens petition to hold an election to choose to remove a public official.

Question 44

What is the incumbency effect?

Answer 44

Generally win elections due to low voter turn out, success campaigning.

Question 45

What is the franking privlege?

Answer 45

Free mailing to constituents.

Question 46

What is the Coattail effect?

Answer 46

Weak or less known candidates win based on success of popular candidates through party affiliation.

Question 47

What are Majority-Minority districts?

Answer 47

A congressional district in which a racial minority group or groups comprise of a majority of the district's population.

Question 48

What are the phases of presidential candidacy?

Answer 48

1. Exploration 2. Announcement 3. Primaries and Caucuses 4. Nominating Conventions 5. General Election Campaign 6. Electoral College.

Question 49

What is Hard Money?

Answer 49

Financial contribution is directly given to the candidate. (doner information must be disclosed.)

Question 50

What are matching funds?

Answer 50

Federal funds matching presidential candidate contributions.