goverment test

Question 1

What is the term for the requirement that a person must pay before they can vote?

Answer 1

Poll Tax

Poll taxes were historically used to restrict voting rights, particularly among low-income individuals.

Question 2

What does gerrymandering refer to?

Answer 2

Changing voting district borders to help one political party

Gerrymandering can manipulate electoral boundaries to favor a particular party or group.

Question 3

What is an injunction in the context of voting?

Answer 3

A court order that makes someone stop doing something

Injunctions can be used to prevent actions that would infringe on voting rights.

Question 4

What is preclearance?

Answer 4

Transferring approval from government before making changes

Preclearance was a requirement under the Voting Rights Act for certain jurisdictions to obtain federal approval before changing voting laws.

Question 5

What does it mean to register to vote?

Answer 5

Signing up to vote

Registration is a crucial step in the electoral process, allowing eligible citizens to participate in elections.

Question 6

What is purging in the context of voter registration?

Answer 6

Moving outdated or ineligible names from electoral rolls

Purging is necessary to maintain accurate and current voter registration lists.

Question 7

What are poll books?

Answer 7

Lists of registered voters used during elections

Poll books help election officials verify voter eligibility on election day.

Question 8

What does literacy refer to in the context of voting rights?

Answer 8

The ability to read and write

Literacy tests were historically used to disenfranchise voters, particularly African Americans.

Question 9

What are off-year elections?

Answer 9

Elections that occur in years without a presidential election

Off-year elections can include local, state, and congressional races.

Question 10

What is ballot fatigue?

Answer 10

Voters get tired and don’t complete the ballot

Ballot fatigue can occur in long ballots with many candidates or issues.

Question 11

What is political efficacy?

Answer 11

The belief that one’s vote makes a difference

Political efficacy can influence voter turnout and engagement.

Question 12

What does political socialization refer to?

Answer 12

The process of developing one’s own beliefs

Factors such as family, education, and media play a significant role in political socialization.

Question 13

What is the gender gap in voting?

Answer 13

The difference in voting behavior between men and women

The gender gap can manifest in varying support for candidates and issues.

Question 14

What does party identification mean?

Answer 14

The political party you support

Party identification can influence voting behavior and political attitudes.

Question 15

What is straight-ticket voting?

Answer 15

Voting for all candidates of one party

Straight-ticket voting can simplify the voting process for individuals who strongly identify with a party.

Question 16

What is split-ticket voting?

Answer 16

Voting for more than one party on a ballot

Split-ticket voting reflects more nuanced political preferences among voters.

Question 17

Who are independents in the context of voting?

Answer 17

Voters who do not align with a single party

Independents can play a crucial role in elections, often swaying results.

Question 18

What right did the 15th Amendment grant?

Answer 18

Granted African American men the right to vote

The 15th Amendment was ratified in 1870, prohibiting voting discrimination based on race.

Question 19

List the 5 expansion eras of voting rights.

Answer 19

• Religious qualifications eliminated(Banned poll taxes, which were fees charged to vote, mainly used to stop poor people, especially African Americans, from voting.)
• 15th Amendment prohibits denying the right to vote based on color
• 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote
• Voting Rights Act makes the 15th Amendment effective
• 26th Amendment lowers voting age to 18

Each of these eras represents a significant change in the accessibility of voting rights in the United States.

Question 20

What are the three universal criteria for being able to vote in the US?

Answer 20

1. Must be a citizen to vote.
2. 18 years old.
3. Live in your state for a certain amount of time before voting.

Question 21

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1957 accomplish?

Answer 21

Made it easier for black people to vote by setting up a commission.

Question 22

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1960 add?

Answer 22

Added penalties for blocking people from voting and required records to be kept.

Overall, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 aimed to make it harder for local officials to discriminate against voters, especially African Americans, and it supported the federal government’s role in enforcing fair voting practices.

Question 23

What did the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ban?

Answer 23

Banned literacy tests and provided federal officials to help with voting.

aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting, particularly in the Southern United States.

hugely successful in increasing African American voter registration and participation

Question 24

How does income and occupation impact voting?

Answer 24

It influences what political issues people care about; wealthier individuals may prioritize different issues.

Question 25

How does education influence voting?

Answer 25

People with higher education levels tend to know and understand more about political issues.

Question 26

How do gender and age affect voting?

Answer 26

Men and women have different political concerns and old people, focus, moron, issues like healthcare rather than a young adult

Question 27

What role does religion play in voting?

Answer 27

Religious beliefs can impact views on issues like healthcare, abortion, marriage, and family.

Question 28

How does ethnic background influence voting?

Answer 28

Values and community concerns about immigration and rights can shape voting behavior.

Question 29

What are the 5 things interest groups try to do?

Answer 29

Influence government, influence public policy, support specific candidates, concentrate on important issues, and represent private organizations.

Question 30

What are 2 Pros of Interest Groups?

Answer 30

1. Raise awareness. 2. Provide data to government. ## Footnote Example: Interest groups often campaign for social issues to inform the public.

Question 31

What are 2 Cons of Interest Groups?

Answer 31

1. Can push too hard by using unethical tactics 2. Can misrepresent the people/size

Question 32

What are the 4 steps of Lobbying in Action?

Answer 32

1. Research data. 2. Building relationships. 3. Communicate with lawmakers. 4. Track lawmakers' progress.

Question 33

What parties dominate American politics?

Answer 33

Republican and Democrat.

Question 34

What are 5 types of minor parties?

Answer 34

1. Ideological. 2. Single-Issue Parties 3. Economic Protest Parties 4. Splinter Parties 5. Nationalist Parties

Question 35

What are 5 ways Candidates can get elected?

Answer 35

1. Campaigning. 2. Fundraising. 3. Endorsements. 4. Media outreach. 5. Debates.

Question 36

What are primaries?

Answer 36

Primaries are elections to determine a party's candidate. ## Footnote Open primaries allow independent members to vote, while closed primaries restrict voting to registered party members.

Question 37

How many electors are there in total? How many electoral votes do you need to win?

Answer 37

There are 538 electors in total. You need 270 electoral votes to win.

Question 38

What is an Incumbent?

Answer 38

An incumbent is a person currently in office running for reelection.

Question 39

What is the number one reason people in the United States don't vote?

Answer 39

They think their vote doesn't matter

Question 40

Who is the electorate?

Answer 40

The person who is voting

Question 41

What happens during a recall?

Answer 41

Voters can remove an elected official from office before their term ends

Question 42

Who can vote in a closed primary?

Answer 42

Only declared party members

Question 43

Explain crossover voting.

Answer 43

Voting for a different party than the one you are registered with

Question 44

What is the 15th amendment?

Answer 44

The 15th amendment prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude.'

Question 45

What is the 19th amendment?

Answer 45

The 19th amendment grants women the right to vote, prohibiting any U.S. citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of sex.

Question 46

What did the Voting Rights Act aim to address?

Answer 46

The Voting Rights Act aimed to eliminate various forms of voting discrimination, particularly against African Americans.

Question 47

What is the 24th amendment?

Answer 47

The 24th amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections.

Question 48

What is the 26th amendment?

Answer 48

The 26th amendment lowers the voting age to 18 years, ensuring that citizens who are 18 years or older cannot be denied the right to vote based on age.