Campaigns And Elections Test Questions & Answers Ch.10

Chapter 10: Campaigns and Elections

Test Bank

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 01

1) Which of the following candidates in 2016 broke all the rules?

Feedback: factual

a. Donald Trump

b. Ted Cruz

c. Hillary Clinton

d. Marco Rubio

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 02

2) The first presidential caucus is held in

Feedback: factual

a. New Hampshire.

b. New York.

c. Iowa.

d. Nebraska.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 03

3) The first presidential primary is held in

Feedback: factual

a. New York.

b. Iowa.

c. Nebraska.

d. New Hampshire.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 04

4) How many people filed to run for president in 2020?

Feedback: factual

a. 1,920

b. 1,156

c. 18

d. 542

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 05

5) Americans vote more often and for more offices _______ than the people of almost any other nation.

Feedback: factual

a. at the local level of government

b. at every level of government

c. at the national level of government

d. at the state level of government

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 06

6) What percentage of the U.S. population is white, as of 2019?

Feedback: factual

a. 39 percent

b. 57.5 percent

c. 60.4 percent

d. 90.2 percent

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 07

7) What percentages of Iowa’s and New Hampshire’s populations are white?

Feedback: factual

a. 65.0 percent, 89.3 percent

b. 90 percent, 93 percent

c. 38.5 percent, 49.0 percent

d. 18.1 percent, 79.8 percent

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 08

8) What was the first year when women in all states could vote?

Feedback: factual

a. 1920

b. 1821

c. 1929

d. 1963

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 09

9) What was the first state to allow women to vote?

Feedback: factual

a. Virginia

b. Wyoming

c. North Carolina

d. New Jersey

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 10

10) How many Americans did not vote in the 2020 presidential race?

Feedback: factual

a. 100 million

b. 50 million

c. 25 million

d. 300,000

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 11

11) How many “serious” Democratic candidates filed to run for president?

Feedback: factual

a. 28

b. 12

c. 7

d. 2

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 12

12) The number of Americans who voted in the 2020 presidential race was

Feedback: factual

a. 100 million.

b. 128.7 million.

c. 67 million.

d. 89 million.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 13

13) What would be a reason for a special election?

Feedback: factual

a. Office holder dies

b. President does not like an office holder

c. Voters ask for one

d. Governor asks for one

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 14

14) What percentage of the House is elected every two years?

Feedback: factual

a. 33 percent

b. 50 percent

c. 75 percent

d. 100 percent

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 15

15) How often is the president elected?

Feedback: factual

a. Every four years

b. Every six years

c. Every eight years

d. Every two years

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 16

16) Why do Iowa and New Hampshire get the first crack at deciding each party’s presidential nominee?

Feedback: factual

a. State officials are empowered to decide their own election calendars, with the consent of the two parties.

b. Congress established this order in 1792.

c. The citizens of these two states voted this order into law.

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 17

17) The state governs the _______, _______, and _______ of elections.

Feedback: conceptual

a. “time”; “place”; “manner”

b. “time”; “day”; “year”

c. “candidates”; “parties”; “practice”

d. “beginning”; “end”; “frequency”

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 18

18) The date of the primary is set by the

Feedback: factual

a. state.

b. political party.

c. president.

d. Congress.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 19

19) When was the date of elections set?

Feedback: factual

a. 1845

b. 1951

c. 1917

d. 1983

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 20

20) In parliamentary democracies, what is the usual time period during which an election must be held?

Feedback: factual

a. At least every three years

b. At least every four years

c. At least every five years

d. At least every six years

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 21

21) In what month are Senate elections held?

Feedback: factual

a. March

b. November

c. January

d. September

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 22

22) On what day of the week do Americans vote for House members?

Feedback: factual

a. Saturday

b. Friday

c. Wednesday

d. Tuesday

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 23

23) In what years are House elections held?

Feedback: factual

a. Even-numbered years

b. Years divisible by three

c. Years divisible by five

d. Odd-numbered years

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 24

24) When is Election Day for House members?

Feedback: conceptual

a. First Tuesday after first Monday in November of every even-numbered year

b. First Wednesday after first Monday in November of every even-numbered year

c. First Tuesday after first Thursday in November of every even-numbered year

d. First Tuesday after first Monday in November of every odd-numbered year

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 25

25) How much of the Senate is elected every two years?

Feedback: factual

a. 100%

b. Half

c. One-fourth

d. One-third

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 26

26) A U.S. senator’s term is _______ years; that’s one of the _______ elected terms in the world.

Feedback: factual

a. two, shortest

b. four, shortest

c. six, longest

d. four, longest

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 27

27) U.S. national elections are held on a fixed cycle (except when an officeholder resigns or dies). Which of the following dire situations would affect this schedule?

Feedback: applied

a. War

b. Economic collapse

c. Terrorist attacks

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 28

28) A prime minister once remarked, “In your system, you guys campaign for 24 hours a day, every day for two years. You know, politics is one thing, but we have to run a government.” Which country was this politician from?

Feedback: factual

a. Belgium

b. France

c. Canada

d. Great Britain

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 29

29) The United States was the _______ nation to choose its chief executive by popular election.

Feedback: factual

a. first

b. second

c. twentieth

d. fourth

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 30

30) The United States was the _______ nation in which judges were elected by voters.

Feedback: applied

a. first

b. fifth

c. twenty-third

d. fourth

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 31

31) Today, how many states elect judges?

Feedback: factual

a. Twenty

b. Thirty-nine

c. Fifty

d. Ten

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 32

32) Candidates for national office (presidency and Congress) spent more than _______ on their campaigns in 2016.

Feedback: factual

a. $1.5 billion

b. $7 billion

c. $18 billion

d. $100 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 33

33) How much did Linda McMahon spend on her failed Senate races?

Feedback: factual

a. $13 million

b. $434 million

c. $1 billion

d. $100 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 34

34) In 2020, corporations gave _______ to Democrats and _______ to Republicans.

Feedback: conceptual

a. $1 billion; $1 billion

b. $1.8 million; $2.5 billion

c. $2.05 billion; $1.95 billion

d. $2.1 million; $1.9 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 35

35) The U.S. system sets strict limits on individual donations: no one may contribute more than _______ to any individual candidate.

Feedback: factual

a. $2,800

b. $3.5 million

c. $45,000

d. $5,000

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 36

36) How much can a PAC contribute to a candidate for the general election?

Feedback: factual

a. $2,700

b. $3,000

c. $5,000

d. Unlimited

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 37

37) Onetime candidate Morris “Mo” Udall said, afterward, “You have to be a little crazy to run for president.” In what year did he vie for the presidency?

Feedback: factual

a. 1875

b. 1976

c. 1997

d. 1796

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 38

38) Candidates nominated by their parties to run for president generally have held which office?

Feedback: applied

a. Attorney general

b. Secretary of state

c. Governor

d. Member of the House of Representatives

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 39

39) The last president to come directly out of the House of Representatives was James Garfield, back in what year?

Feedback: factual

a. 1806

b. 1857

c. 1880

d. 1959

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 40

40) On which date on the primary calendar do the most states hold primaries and caucuses?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Super Tuesday

b. Super Election Day

c. Super Primaries and Caucuses Day

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 41

41) How many delegates must a Republican candidate win to obtain the nomination?

Feedback: applied

a. 1,237

b. 2,382

c. 270

d. 228

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 42

42) How many delegates must a Democrat candidate win to obtain the nomination?

Feedback: factual

a. 1,237

b. 2,382

c. 270

d. 228

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 43

43) _______ refers to the spike in the polls that follows an event such as a party convention.

Feedback: factual

a. Polls bounce

b. Electoral bounce

c. Voters bounce

d. Publicity bounce

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 44

44) Which event normally has the effect of creating an increase in the poll numbers for a presidential candidate?

Feedback: factual

a. Political party convention

b. Rock concert

c. Graduation ceremony

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 45

45) In a _______ system, the winning candidate receives all the delegates for that state.

Feedback: conceptual

a. winner-take-all

b. proportional representation

c. demographic

d. democratic

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 46

46) In a _______ system, delegates are apportioned based on the proportion of the vote a candidate wins.

Feedback: conceptual

a. winner-take-all

b. demographic

c. proportional representation

d. democratic

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 47

47) Traditionally, which party has used the winner-take-all system?

Feedback: factual

a. Republican

b. Democratic

c. Green

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 48

48) Traditionally, which party has used the proportional representation system?

Feedback: factual

a. Republican

b. Libertarian

c. Democratic

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 49

49) In 2016, _______ primaries shifted to proportional representation before mid-March.

Feedback: conceptual

a. Republican

b. Democratic

c. Green Party

d. Social Party

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 50

50) In 2016, the GOP allowed states to determine how to allocate their delegates after mid-March. What was the reasoning?

Feedback: factual

a. The states requested it.

b. The candidates requested it.

c. The party did not want the candidate chosen too early.

d. The party did not want the candidate chosen too late.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 51

51) During the primary season, candidates must

Feedback: factual

a. raise as much money as possible.

b. visit as many states as possible.

c. make a strong first impression.

d. avoid television commercials.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 52

52) The headquarters of which presidential candidate in 1992 featured a whiteboard reminding campaign staffers, “It’s the Economy, Stupid”?

Feedback: factual

a. George H. W. Bush

b. George W. Bush

c. Bill Clinton

d. Ronald Reagan

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 53

53) When members of a political party get together before a general election to choose delegates to the convention, they are attending a

Feedback: factual

a. primary.

b. general election meeting.

c. caucus.

d. convention planning meeting.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 54

54) A primary in which only party members can cast a vote is known as

Feedback: applied

a. a caucus.

b. an open primary.

c. a closed primary.

d. a private vote.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 55

55) A primary in which any eligible voter can cast a vote is known as

Feedback: applied

a. a caucus.

b. a closed primary.

c. a public vote.

d. an open primary.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 56

56) Party officials hope to have a candidate by

Feedback: factual

a. Labor Day.

b. Super Tuesday.

c. Fourth of July.

d. Memorial Day.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 57

57) Voters who turn out for primary elections tend to be

Feedback: factual

a. ideologically driven.

b. older.

c. younger.

d. female.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 58

58) How much was spent on the 2020 election?

Feedback: factual

a. $7 billion

b. $10 billion

c. $7 million

d. $10 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 59

59) Why is name recognition important?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Build crowds, more media airtime

b. Voters know who they are voting for

c. Voters generally vote for a name they recognize

d. Attract more fundraising dollars

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 60

60) Candidates running in the primary are talking to more_______ voters, and candidates in the general election are talking to more _______ voters.

Feedback: applied

a. centrist, ideologically driven

b. ideologically driven, centrist

c. liberal, conservative

d. conservative, liberal

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 61

61) Which term refers to the tendency for members of Congress to win reelection in overwhelming numbers?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Nepotism advantage

b. Incumbency advantage

c. Insider advantage

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 62

62) Congressional members are skilled at running _______.

Feedback: factual

a. money campaigns.

b. positive campaigns.

c. against the president.

d. against Congress.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 63

63) What are midterm elections?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Elections held in the middle of the year

b. Elections held in the middle of each term

c. Elections held in a nonpresidential election year

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 64

64) In 2018, the Supreme Court majority held that, when redistricting occurs, that courts should presume states are _______.

Feedback: factual

a. acting in good faith.

b. acting dishonestly.

c. favoring Republicans.

d. favoring rich voters.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 65

65) In 2020, the Supreme Court heard a case regarding minority representation in districts involving which state?

Feedback: factual

a. California

b. Texas

c. North Carolina

d. Georgia

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 66

66) How often is redistricting done?

Feedback: factual

a. Every 5 years

b. Every 8 years

c. Every 4 years

d. Every 10 years

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 67

67) In which type of election system do individual candidates make their own decision to run, raise their own money, and design their own strategy?

Feedback: factual

a. Independent-centered

b. Candidate-centered

c. Individual-centered

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 68

68) _______ focus on the person running for office, not the party to which the person belongs.

Feedback: conceptual

a. Candidate-centered elections

b. Party-centered elections

c. Platform-centered elections

d. Issue-centered elections

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 69

69) What decade saw the spread of primaries?

Feedback: factual

a. 1970s

b. 1950s

c. 1930s

d. 1820s

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 70

70) In most advanced democracies, how are elections financed?

Feedback: factual

a. Publicly funded

b. Party funded

c. Candidate funded

d. Special election tax

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 71

71) In the last forty midterm elections, the president’s party picked up seats in Congress how many time(s)?

Feedback: factual

a. One

b. Three

c. Five

d. Seven

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 72

72) In the last forty midterm elections, how many times did the president’s party lose House seats?

Feedback: factual

a. Eight

b. Ten

c. Twelve

d. Fourteen

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 73

73) Who usually wins during midterm congressional elections following a war’s outbreak?

Feedback: factual

a. Democrats

b. Republicans

c. The opposition party

d. No difference

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 74

74) Which factor contributes to winning a congressional election?

Feedback: applied

a. Money

b. Organization

c. Strategy and message

d. All of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 75

75) Typically, how much money is needed to mount a legitimate challenge in a House district?

Feedback: factual

a. Up to $100,000

b. Up to $300,000

c. Up to $500,000

d. Up to $2 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 76

76) How much money would a candidate need to run for Senate?

Feedback: factual

a. $6–8 million

b. $8–10 million

c. $10–12 million

d. $12–14 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 77

77) Where does all the money spent in a campaign go?

Feedback: factual

a. Media and direct mailing

b. Database and demographic data

c. Phone banks

d. All of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 78

78) A _______ is a long list of potential donors that candidates must phone.

Feedback: conceptual

a. donor list

b. green list

c. potential hit list

d. call list

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 79

79) The term _______ refers to a congressional seat without an incumbent running for reelection.

Feedback: conceptual

a. vacancy seat

b. open seat

c. incumbent opening seat

d. electoral seat

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 80

80) Which term refers to an automated phone call used to contact thousands of voters simultaneously? The call may feature a recorded message by the candidate or a popular party leader or an attack on the opponent.

Feedback: conceptual

a. Robocall

b. Automated call

c. Voter call

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 81

81) Which type of campaign staffers arrive at major event sites—for example, the site of an announcement speech—a day or more ahead of time to organize the site and build crowds?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Campaign staffer team

b. Motivational team

c. Advance team

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 82

82) Which unpopular but effective tactic involves running for office by attacking the opponent?

Feedback: conceptual

a. Negative campaigning

b. Trash talking

c. Tactical campaigning

d. None of the above

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 83

83) The term _______ refers to attracting supporters or votes one by one through door-to-door visits or small meetings.

Feedback: factual

a. individual campaigning

b. door-to-door campaigning

c. retail campaigning

d. supporter campaigning

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 84

84) The term _______ refers to the use of text messages to donate funds to a campaign.

Feedback: conceptual

a. text-to-donate

b. text campaigning

c. text-to-fund

d. dial-to-cash

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 85

85) A common rookie mistake is

Feedback: factual

a. not collecting enough money.

b. hiring too many people.

c. hiring too few people.

d. not having a campaign strategy.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 86

86) A central fact of every election is

Feedback: factual

a. high voter turnout.

b. low voter turnout.

c. certainty.

d. uncertainty.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 87

87) An element of a successful campaign strategy is

Feedback: factual

a. building a coalition of supporters.

b. running lots of television commercials.

c. using phone banks.

d. collecting good demographic information.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 88

88) An element of a successful campaign strategy is

Feedback: factual

a. using phone banks.

b. connecting with voters.

c. collecting demographic data.

d. using direct mailings.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 89

89) The primary way candidates reach voters is through

Feedback: factual

a. party meetings.

b. debates.

c. media.

d. churches.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 90

90) Old-fashioned politicking such as _______ is still the best way to win votes.

Feedback: factual

a. running television ads

b. writing letters to the editor

c. participating in debates

d. knocking on people’s doors

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 91

91) A good campaign message will

Feedback: applied

a. give people a good reason to vote for the candidate.

b. show how the candidate feels about government.

c. give good biographical information about the candidate.

d. show the opposition that the candidate is serious.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 92

92) When a candidate needs to win a simple majority, it is referred to as

Feedback: factual

a. proportional representation.

b. first-past-the-post.

c. a mandate.

d. a caucus.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 93

93) When should new members of Congress start planning their reelection campaigns?

Feedback: factual

a. Six months after the election

b. The following year

c. Eighteen months after the election

d. Immediately

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 94

94) Why does the United States hold frequent elections?

Feedback: applied

a. To change government officials frequently

b. To switch control from party to party

c. To hold public officials accountable

d. To keep public officials busy

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 95

95) How many states require a photo ID to vote?

Feedback: factual

a. Eighteen

b. Ten

c. Twelve

d. Fourteen

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 96

96) How many states allow same-day voter registration?

Feedback: factual

a. Twelve

b. Twenty-one

c. Sixteen

d. Eighteen

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 97

97) Americans _______ the rising tide of campaign cash, and the issue is a _______ priority.

Feedback: conceptual

a. favor, low

b. favor, high

c. oppose, low

d. oppose, high

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 98

98) Why are American electoral systems unique?

Discuss number of elected offices.

Discuss frequency of elections.

Mention that there is no year without an election.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 99

99) Discuss why there is never a year in the United States without major elections.

Talk about how many elections there are in the United States.

Mention how often various offices are elected.

Mention state and local elections as well as national elections.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 100

100) What is a PAC? How do PACs affect elections?

Define Political Action Committee.

Identify the amount that can be donated and what it can be used for.

Mention Super PACs.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 101

101) What is a Super PAC? What court case led to their development?

Originated in 2010 after Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.

Identify how much can be raised and from what sources.

Mention spending regulations.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 102

102) Explain what a caucus is, and describe the Iowa caucuses.

Define a caucus as a small local meeting at which registered members of a political party meet to select delegates representing presidential candidates.

Mention how Iowans gather together in local caucuses to nominate presidential candidates each year.

In these gatherings, Iowans select delegates to a state convention. Those delegates, in turn, elect the delegates to the national convention, who will then vote for the party’s nominee.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 103

103) Discuss the difference between a closed primary and an open primary.

Define both terms.

Give examples of states with each.

Discuss effects on candidates.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 104

104) What are the drawbacks to the U.S. practice of holding frequent elections?

Discuss politicians’ constant preoccupation with elections.

Discuss how all the campaigning consumes a great deal of public officials’ time, as well as scarce resources.

Discusses how frequent elections make it more difficult to focus on policy making.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 105

105) Describe the concept of bundling, and explain why you support or disapprove of this process.

Define bundling as shorthand for the process of convincing dozens of colleagues and friends to donate at or near the maximum amount and then delivering all the checks.

Explain how some wealthy donors—often Washington lobbyists—are legally able to deliver unlimited amounts of money to a presidential or congressional candidate they support.

Provide an opinion on whether this process is ethical, referring to the discussion in this chapter.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 106

106) Explain “527 groups,” and describe how they have affected elections.

Define 527 groups as organizations named for Section 527 of the federal tax code, which governs their operation.

Explain how the organizations are allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts for “issue advocacy” but are forbidden to coordinate their efforts with any candidate or campaign or to mention a candidate, favorably or unfavorably, in their ads.

Discuss how presidential and congressional campaigns have been affected by 527 involvement. “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,” for example, spent over $22 million in the 2004 election and managed to redefine Democratic senator John Kerry from a war hero to a traitor—a brutally effective advertising campaign that helped defeat Kerry.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 107

107) Analyze why the presidency is the greatest electoral prize.

Explain how presidential candidates receive massive media and public attention.

Describe how front-runners attract large audiences wherever they go.

Discuss how candidates become instant campaign case studies if they win their party’s nomination.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 108

108) In the last half century, both parties have nominated only candidates with one of three offices on their résumés—vice president, governor, or senator. What can be said about each of these prior offices relating to a presidential candidacy?

Senators usually lose (except when two senators run against each other, such as McCain and Obama).

Vice presidents are seen as most prepared, since they are a heartbeat away from the presidency; thus, they have the highest success rate.

Governors have run most often since 1976 (Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush).

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 109

109) Describe the three distinct stages of presidential campaigns.

Describe the nominating process, in which political parties select their candidates for president through primaries and caucuses.

Describe party conventions, in which the parties officially accept and present their candidates to the American public for the general election.

Describe the general election, in which the candidates vie for electoral votes in fifty state elections in November.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 110

110) Traditionally, Republicans used a winner-take-all system in assigning delegates. Explain what this process entails. In 2012, Republicans in some states began using the proportional representation system, though many retained the winner-take-all system. Provide a recent example in which the winner-take-all system produced favorable results for the Republican nominee.

Define the winner-take-all system: the candidate receiving a simple majority (or, among multiple candidates, a plurality) in a state receives all the delegates’ votes in the nominating convention. Sometimes, this type of system is called "first-past-the-post.”

Define the proportional representation system, in which the delegates are allocated to the candidates according to the proportion of the vote (in a primary) or support (in the caucuses) received.

Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 by winning in the Electoral College. Because in a winner-take-all system, the winner in a state receives all of the state’s electoral votes, the system gives the winning candidate an advantage in the Electoral College vote.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 111

111) Democrats have generally employed a system of proportional representation rather than the winner-take-all system. Compare the two systems.

Define the proportional representation system, in which the delegates are allocated to the candidates according to the proportion of the vote (in a primary) or support (in the caucuses) received.

Define the winner-take-all system: the candidate receiving a simple majority (or, among multiple candidates, a plurality) of a state receives all the delegates’ votes in the nominating convention. Sometimes, this type of system is called "first-past-the-post.”

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 112

112) Far fewer Americans turn out for primaries than for general elections, and those who do vote in primaries tend to be more ideologically driven than the more middle-of-the-road fall electorate. Discuss what primary candidates must do to sway the primary vote in their favor, and how they change when they campaign in a general election.

Explain how candidates running in the primaries must take a more extreme position—farther left for Democrats, farther right for Republicans.

Discuss how, once they have captured the nomination, the candidates move back closer to the middle for the fall election.

Describe how the end of primary season generally enables both nominees to reintroduce themselves—while, at the same time, each nominee tries to define the other in a negative way (a job that is much easier with relatively unknown candidates).

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 113

113) There is no fail-safe recipe for winning a presidential election. However, social scientists have developed sophisticated prediction models. Highlight some of the factors they look at in determining who the next president is likely to be.

Explain how the models generally look at the economy as the most important factor in a candidate’s chances.

Discuss how they also look at the popularity of the current president.

Describe how they look at the length of time the current party has held the White House (one party has controlled the White House for more than two successive terms just once in the past sixty years).

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 114

114) Discuss how often the United States has congressional campaigns and Senate campaigns. Are there limits on who can run? If so, what are they? Can a convicted felon run for Congress or the Senate?

Present the fact that, every two years, all 435 House districts hold an election, with an additional 33 or 34 Senate seats in play as well (one-third of the Senate).

Explain how almost anyone can seek a seat in Congress if he or she meets the citizenship requirement, residency requirement (lives in the district or state), and age requirement (twenty-five for the House, and thirty for the Senate).

Convicted felons, although prohibited from voting in many states, can still run for Congress—and occasionally win.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 115

115) Discuss the requirements for running for Congress.

Age requirement: House candidates must be at least twenty-five years old to take office; senators must be at least thirty.

Citizenship requirement: House candidates must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years; Senate candidates, for nine years.

Residency requirement: candidates must live in the state. House candidates generally must live in the district, though not necessarily (depends on state law).

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 116

116) Discuss candidate-centered elections.

Define candidate-centered.

Explain the difference between this system and a system focusing on party-chosen candidates.

Mention difference in who is believed to run the country.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 117

117) Discuss the importance of the political convention.

Discuss the purpose of the convention.

Describe how the convention helps the nominee.

Discuss how the convention gets party members together.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 118

118) Discuss instances in which war and foreign policy were prominent in voters’ minds.

9/11.

Benghazi, Libya.

War in Iraq.

World Wars I and II.

Vietnam.

Gulf War.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 119

119) Discuss how California changed the way the state draws congressional districts and the results of the change.

Discuss the “Citizens’ Redistricting Commission.”

Discuss the new districts.

Discuss how the changes affected politicians.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 120

120) Discuss the tools needed to run for Congress.

Money.

Organization.

Strategy.

Message.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 121

121) Why is money important to a campaign?

Many things could be discussed, including the following. Look for logical arguments.

Huge amounts of money needed.

Media and mailings.

Technology.

Organization.

Office.

Signs.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 122

122) Discuss “Dial for Dollars.”

Discuss call lists.

Discuss the need for funds.

Discuss need to call for funds.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 123

123) Discuss the benefits of running for an open seat.

Define an open seat as one in which no incumbent is running.

Incumbent likely to have more money.

Incumbent more likely to get reelected.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 124

124) What is involved in getting organized for an election? What are the benefits of a good organization?

Mention that at least three people are needed on the organization team.

Mention name recognition.

Discuss how getting an organization together is a sign of a competitive campaign, and explain why this is important.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 125

125) Discuss gerrymandering. How did it start, and where did the word come from? Why does it occur?

Discuss how state governments redraw the lines for congressional districts after the census occurs every ten years to reflect population changes.

Discuss how gerrymandering goes back to 1812, when Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill that redrew the districts to help his party.

Explain that the word came from a joke about how one of Gerry’s new districts looked like a salamander, which at that time was seen as a sort of mythical dragon: “Gerry” + “salamander” = “gerrymander.”

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 126

126) Discuss reapportionment.

Define reapportionment.

Mention its relationship to the census, which occurs every ten years.

Mention gerrymandering.

Mention the goal of having roughly equal numbers of constituents among districts; may have actual numbers.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 127

127) Discuss possible reforms for American elections. Do you think reform is possible? What reforms would you choose?

Discuss the following: (a) gerrymandering, (b) money, (c) term limits, and (d) the Electoral College.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 128

128) The Constitution leaves most election details to the states. Elaborate on some examples. Why does this matter?

The “time, place, and manner” clause in the Constitution delegates control of elections to the state governments.

The state governments set the date for the elections of governor, mayors, and other offices, as well as primary elections for Congress and president.

Examples of differences in elections by state: some states allowed women to vote much earlier than other states (Wyoming refused to accept statehood unless women voted in 1890, while in New York, women could not vote for another thirty years); Ohio starts presidential election voting in early October; and Oregon conducts all elections by mail.

These differences matter because they produce fifty slightly different election systems.

Significantly different results can occur based on how candidates harness these systems to their advantage.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 129

129) One way to hold public officials accountable to the people is to require them to face the public frequently. The United States holds elections for national office more often than most other democratic countries. Provide some examples illustrating this difference in the frequency of elections. What is the impact of frequent elections in the United States? Should they be held less frequently?

Discuss the frequency of elections in the United States—two years for the House of Representatives, four years for the presidency, six years for the Senate.

Provide examples of election frequency in other countries: three years for the House of Representatives in New Zealand, three years for the House of Representatives in El Salvador, five years for the South Korean president, eight years for the Brazilian Senate, eight years for the Chilean Senate.

Explain how more frequent elections means that candidates spend more time on fundraising.

Explain how more frequent elections can mean that officials spend more time on preparing for the next election than on governing.

Discuss whether elections should be held less frequently.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 130

130) From Anchorage, Alaska, to Zapata, Texas, there are over 520,000 elective offices at the local, state, and national level. That’s roughly one office for every 420 Americans eligible to vote. That number is one measure of democracy in action. Do you think this measure means that we have too much democracy or not enough?

Analyze why there are so many elective offices in the United States.

Discuss the significance, to the operation of America, of having so many government offices.

Address the political science ideas discussed in this chapter.

Provide an opinion on whether this is too much democracy. For example: (a) Yes, the public is asked to vote too often. Few voters can learn about so many races. The United States should appoint more experts to handle the technical aspects of government. (b) No, we need to encourage people to vote more often. Voting permits the people to hold their public officials directly to account.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 131

131) Both in overall cost and in per-candidate expense, American federal campaigns are by far the world’s most expensive. Do we spend too much? Elaborate on this issue.

Provide an opinion on whether too much money is spent on elections.

Address the political science ideas discussed in this chapter.

Point out that 82,000 people provided more than two-thirds of the total funds raised by candidates. Figures like this demonstrate that a handful of wealthy people wield outsized influence in politics through their financial contributions.

Mention the huge amounts of money spent on elections—the total amount spent on all congressional races (435 House and 34 Senate) in 2010 was around $3.6 billion.

Highlight how nonprofit organizations like Democracy 21 and the Sunlight Foundation devote their energies to reducing the costs of campaigns, asserting that the ever-rising price tag violates norms of equal influence.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 132

132) Describe the functions of Political Action Committees (PACs). Do you believe that their influence and impact on elections is ethical?

Explain how many corporations and advocacy groups form political action committees (PACs) to make legal donations to candidates.

Explain how PACs, which by law must comprise fifty or more contributors, may legally contribute higher dollar amounts than many individuals.

Point out how, in 2012, the limit on a PAC donation was $5,000 per candidate in a given election cycle.

Explain how candidates can actually collect up to two times the limit from an individual or PAC, since each candidate typically runs twice: in a primary and a general election.

Offer an opinion on the integrity of this process.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 133

133) Describe the functions of super PACs.

New to presidential politics in 2012 were the so-called super PACs, formally known as “independent expenditure-only committees.”

Created in 2010 after a federal court ruling, super PACs are allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money from virtually any source—business firms, unions, or individuals—and spend as much as they like to support or oppose candidates.

Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs cannot donate money directly to political candidates or coordinate with their campaigns.

Super PACs seemed to have considerable influence in the 2012 campaign.

Although over 500 super PACs were registered in 2012, a handful—especially the Romney-supporting “Restore Our Future” and Obama-backing “Priorities USA Action”—contributed much of the $500 million spent on the campaign.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 134

134) By tradition, Iowa’s caucuses and New Hampshire’s primary are the first two presidential contests held every four years—giving them an outsized influence in the presidential selection process. Explain the significance of campaigning in these two states. Also, considering that the demographic makeup of these states is not representative of America as a whole, do you believe that they should continue to have such an important say in choosing a president?

Discuss the fact that if a candidate wins, or performs better than expected, in one or both of these states, the candidate is launched toward the nomination.

Discuss the fact that, if a candidate does badly in both, the campaign is in trouble.

Explain how these states are less populated and less diverse than the country as a whole and thus are not highly representative. Iowa ranks thirtieth in population and is 91% white. New Hampshire is forty-second in population and 98% white.

Give an opinion on whether these two states should have such an important say in selecting a president based on the discussion presented in this chapter.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 135

135) Analyze the pros and cons of the winner-take-all versus the proportional representation system. Which system do you favor? Provide evidence to back up your argument.

Describe the differences between the winner-take-all and proportional representation systems.

Demonstrate each system’s effects on the outcomes of presidential races.

Provide examples of the winner-take-all system, which is more common in the Republican Party’s nominating process.

Provide examples of the proportional representation system, which is more common in the Democratic Party’s nominating process.

Provide an opinion on which system is better, and state a reason why.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 136

136) Discuss what a primary candidate must do to be a successful contender for the office of president.

Make a strong first impression.

Compete well in state after state.

Avoid errors or outrageous statements in debates.

Manage a campaign team that, as the contests continue, can swell to thousands of people.

Carefully calibrate his or her issue positions.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 137

137) Discuss the various significant aspects of political party conventions, and provide an example of a recent convention that helped boost a candidate’s position in the polls.

Explain the purpose of political party conventions—showcasing the party’s presidential nominee on a national stage.

Discuss how party conventions gather party insiders from across the United States for several days of meetings and celebration.

Note how advocacy groups and corporate interests flock to the convention: everyone jockeys to be noticed by a potential future president and his or her closest advisers.

Discusses how, when a convention works well, it can provide the nominee with an electoral bounce—a boost in the polls that lasts from a few days to several weeks.

Provide an example of a recent political convention and its impact on the candidate’s fortunes in the election (2012 conventions with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, for example).

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 138

138) Discuss the importance of Iowa and New Hampshire. Are there problems with the role they play in the primary process?

Describe Iowa and New Hampshire as first primaries.

Discuss early primaries as tests of candidates’ campaign abilities

Explain how early primaries can give candidates a boost in fundraising.

Mention that the populations of Iowa and New Hampshire are not representative of the nation as a whole.

Mention that many candidates are eliminated before most of the country has a chance to voice an opinion.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 139

139) What is unique about American elections?

Discuss state involvement in the election process, including “time, place and manner.”

Discuss frequent and fixed elections, more elections than most other democratic countries.

Discuss number of elected officials, over 520,000, including chief executive and judges.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 140

140) What is a reason to hold frequent elections? Why are election dates fixed? Do you think this is a good system, or should it be changed? Explain your reasoning.

Explain that frequent elections hold public officials accountable.

Mention that House members are chosen every two years, presidents every four years, and senators every six; state and local officials are chosen as often.

Discuss how fixed elections take away from politicians the ability to hold elections only when times are good.

State an opinion on keeping the system or changing it.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 141

141) Discuss why House members are always running for reelection. Is this good for American politics?

Point out that House members run for election every two years.

Discuss the length of time a campaign can last, from the decision to run to election day.

Mention the amount of money needed for the campaign and need to raise money as quickly as possible.

Mention how difficult it can be to get work done while continually campaigning.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 142

142) Should judges be elected? Defend your answer.

Answers will vary based on opinion, but the following should be mentioned, depending on opinion.

a) Judges should be above politics.

b) Fundraising can compromise the impartiality of state judges.

c) Elected judges are accountable to the voters.

d) Bad judges can be removed.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 143

143) Discuss barriers to voting and some ways in which states make voting easier.

Discuss registration requirements, which vary by state.

Mention some states’ requirement of a photo ID.

Mention voting restrictions, such as restrictions on voting by felons.

Discuss limited numbers of polling places and long lines.

Discuss same-day registration, voting by mail, and early voting.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 144

144) Discuss the role of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission in election campaign support.

Discuss Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.

Mention how this case changed campaign funding.

Discuss how campaign support can be considered a form of free speech.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 145

145) What are some ways to get money for a campaign?

Call lists.

PACs.

Super PACs.

Bundling.

527s.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 146

146) Discuss running for president. What are the steps? What experience do most candidates have?

Discuss winning the nomination, the party convention, and the general election.

Discuss primaries.

Discuss the importance of money.

Discuss why most candidates have previous political experience, often as governor or in Congress.

Mention the exception to the previous experience statistic, Donald Trump.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 10 Question 147

147) What are the various factors contributing to winning presidential elections?

Discuss the importance of the nation's economic performance in determining an election’s outcome.

Discuss how war and peace contribute to determining an election's outcome.

Discuss how advisers and candidates’ organizations contribute to determining an election’s outcome.

Discuss how coalitions of supporters affect an election’s outcome.

Discusses how the candidate’s own personality and performance contribute to determining an election’s outcome.