Test #5 // Homework

Question 1

What is the date that electors meet at the state capitals in order to vote for President and Vice President?

Answer 1

Monday after the second Wednesday in December

Question 2

The Congress counts the Electoral College votes on ______.

Answer 2

January 6th

Question 3

List the election years in which there were disputes with votes.

Answer 3

1976, 2004

Question 4

George W Bush defeated Al Gore by ____ Electoral College votes.

Answer 4

5

Question 5

Why is there criticism about awarding all the states electoral votes to the individual who won the most votes?

Answer 5

Because you can still win the popular vote but lose the election.

Question 6

Prove that the election of 1960 could have been a victory for Nixon rather than Kennedy.

Answer 6

Had Nixon won the extra 1% of votes from Texas and Illinois, he could have won the election by winning the popular vote rather than electoral.

Question 7

What must take place prior to a 3rd party candidate’s ability to bargain for electoral votes?

Answer 7

Win enough electoral votes to prevent either major candidate from receiving majority of votes.

Question 8

What is the minimum number of votes a candidate needs via the House?

Answer 8

26

Question 9

List three problems that may take place if an election must be held in the White House.

Answer 9

(1) All states have the same weight
(2) If majority of a state’s representative cannot agree on a candidate, the state loses its vote
(3) Hard to get 26 votes needed if House member favours a third party candidate

Question 10

Explain the reform for the Electoral College based on the use of congressional districts.

Answer 10

Each state would have 2 electoral votes, plus one vote for each congressional district in state.

Question 11

What is the title of the individual who won the popular and electoral votes?

Answer 11

President - elect

Question 12

What large states did Obama carry in 2008?

Answer 12

California, New York, Florida, etc.

Question 13

Until the year ____ the inauguration was held in the month ___.

Answer 13

1933, March

Question 14

What are the famous inaugural speech lines from President Franklin Roosevelt and Kennedy?

Answer 14

FDR: “ The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
JFK: “ Ask not what you’re country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.”

Question 15

What is the percentage needed for the Senate to remove an individual from office?

Answer 15

2/3 of votes (66%)

Question 16

Which executive branch officials were impeached since 1789?

Answer 16

Federal judges, a supreme court justice, a cabinet secretary and two presidents

Question 17

Name the reporters who published stories about the Watergate break-in.

Answer 17

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Question 18

List one charge against the President.

Answer 18

Perjury and obstruction of justice (Bill Clinton)

Question 19

What term was used to describe the Nixon House strength?

Answer 19

Too “imperial”

Question 20

The main purpose of the case was to make it clear that _____.

Answer 20

The president is not above the law.

Question 21

What was the charge against Nixon?

Answer 21

Obstruction of Justice

Question 22

Which article to the Constitution did Nixon use to “retain confidentiality”?

Answer 22

Article ll

Question 23

What was the decision of the Supreme Court on the Nixon case?

Answer 23

Disagreed and held that only those presidential conversations and communications that relate to performing the duties of the office of president are confidential and protected from a judicial order of disclosure.

Question 24

Why might the results of scientific polls not be accurate?

Answer 24

People may not tell the truth

Question 25

What are the plus and minuses of the opinion of interest groups?

Answer 25

(+): Provide elected officials with an easy way to find out about the opinions of interested citizens. (-): Often represent the attitudes of vocal minority , not a good measure of broader public opinion.

Question 26

Mass media is a source for information for politicians. However, there is one negative view the politician must consider. What is it?

Answer 26

May give a distorted view of public opinion.

Question 27

What is the significance of biased sample?

Answer 27

A group that does not accurately represent the larger population.

Question 28

What is the significance of universe?

Answer 28

Group of people who are studied.

Question 29

What is the significance of sampling error?

Answer 29

A measurement of how much the sample results may differ from the sample universe.

Question 30

What is the significance of cluster sample?

Answer 30

A polling method that groups people by geographical divisions.

Question 31

List the states that had over 20 electoral college votes as of 2000.

Answer 31

California, New York, Florida and Texas

Question 32

List two states that had a minimum of 3 electoral college votes.

Answer 32

Delaware and Wyoming

Question 33

What is the minimum percentage a state needs of the public's vote in order for a candidate to gain all the electoral college votes?

Answer 33

51%

Question 34

What is the weakness of the electoral college results if a 3rd party candidate got a significant number of national votes?

Answer 34

Weakens the expression of alternative positions in our democracy.

Question 35

How does the "no" position make the case that candidates will campaign in smaller states?

Answer 35

It does what the founders intended. It balances the interest of different regions and prevents a few large states or urban areas from choosing the president.