Which of the following is a method used by parties to select presidential nominees?
the caucus system
The Founders designed the electoral process to do which of the following?
ensure that the government has political legitimacy
How often does the Constitution require elections to be held?
The Constitution requires elections to be held every two years. General--every four years.
How do most states currently select their presidential nominees?
They are elected by voters in direct primaries.
How much of the Senate goes up for reelection every two years?
one-third
How may a congressional candidate qualify for the state ballot? Choose the BEST answer.
Gathering enough petition signatures to run autonomously of a party (or by winning the nomination of a party).
According to the text, what is the main qualification party members consider when nominating congressional candidates?
whether the candidate can be trusted to reflect the preferences of party members (i.e., ideological fidelity)
Which of the following BEST describes the average spending difference between incumbents and challengers in House races in 2012?
In 2012 House races, incumbents spent an average of $1,656,257�roughly three times as much as the average amount spent by challengers ($587,177).
In addition to greater fundraising prowess, what else contributes to the electoral advantage enjoyed by incumbents?
Their work in Congress enables them to build name recognition and a good reputation among their constituents.
Roughly what percentage of incumbents win reelection in any given election cycle?
85-90%
Under what circumstances are congressional elections most competitive?
Congressional elections are most competitive when the incumbent has retired, leaving an open seat.
What is the first step in winning the presidency?
The first step in winning the presidency is winning the most party delegates from around the United States to support your nomination.
What distinguishes a closed primary system from an open primary system?
In a closed primary, voters may only vote on the ballot for the party with which they are registered.
Which of the following statements about caucuses is true?
Party members attending caucuses often will hear speeches and engage in discussions and negotiations.
What is the main goal of frontloading in the electoral process?
exerting more influence over the selection of party presidential nominees
Which two states traditionally hold the first caucus and primary of the presidential nomination season?
The Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary, both held in early January, are traditionally the first two nominating events of each presidential election year.
What is the PRIMARY purpose of the national party conventions held in late summer?
to establish a party platform and attract media attention to the party and its candidates
The Electoral College was established in which of the following?
Article II, section 1 of the Constitution
What determines the number of electors each state receives?
The number of U.S. senators and representatives from the state determines the number of electors each state receives.
Which of the following states does not use a winner-take-all system to determine which party's slate of electors will participate in the Electoral College?
Nebraska and Maine allocates electoral votes by congressional district.
What is the Electoral College?
a group of people appointed by each state who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States.
Which of the following explains why there are 538 members of the Electoral College?
There is one elector for each of the 435 members of the House, one elector for each of the 100 members of the Senate, and one elector for each of three House delegates for the District of Columbia, totaling 538 votes.
Why does a presidential candidate need 270 votes in order to win an election?
270 is the minimum number required to win a simple majority of the votes in the Electoral College.
What determines the number of electors that each state receives?
The number of electors each state receives is based on the number of members of Congress it has, which is partially based on the state's population.
Why do many presidential candidates want to win states like Texas, Florida, and New York?
Because they have large numbers of electoral votes and thus have a greater effect on the outcome of an election compared to other states
In 2000, how was George W. Bush able to win a majority in the Electoral College when Al Gore won the national popular vote?
In 2000, George W. Bush was able to win a majority in the Electoral College when Al Gore won the national popular vote because Bush was able to win a majority in enough states to gain the required number of electoral votes to win, but he won by small marg
Imagine that you're a presidential candidate from the Republican Party and have to choose one state on which to focus your campaign energy during the last week leading up to the election. Of the following five states, which would be the BEST choice if you
Of the five states, Florida would be the best choice because, as a swing state with a large number of electoral votes, it is most likely to have an impact on the outcome of the election.
When do electors cast their vote for president?
about a month after Election Day
How are the individual electors for the Electoral College chosen?
They are chosen by the political parties in each state.
Which of the following is considered an advantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president?
It preserves federalism as the Founders envisioned it.
How many Electoral College votes must a candidate secure in order to win the presidency?
at least 270
Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president?
It makes it possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote, but still win the presidency.
Which of the following would be considered a basic campaign strategy?
an issue-oriented strategy
A party-centered strategy would be more useful in which of the following?
the general election
Which of the following represents a new way of reaching voters that has become increasingly popular in recent years?
social networking sites
Which of the following represented the largest source of funding for the Obama campaign in 2008?
individual donations
What was the average amount spent by candidates who won Senate seats in 2012?
Successful candidates for the U.S. Senate spent an average of $10 million on their campaigns in 2012.
Campaign financing for federal elections is currently regulated by which of the following?
Campaign financing for federal elections is currently regulated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.
Which of the following currently pertains to the use of "soft money" in campaigns?
The BCRA banned unregulated soft money donations to political parties.
Which of the following BEST summarizes the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission?
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), the Supreme Court, citing First Amendment protections of freedom of speech, ruled that political advertising by corporations could not be restricted by the government.
Electoral reforms of the late 19th century did which of the following?
Electoral reforms of the late 19th century lessened party control over ballot design.
Which of the following contributed to the shift to candidate-centered campaigns?
technological advancements
Which of the following accurately describes the role of modern parties in political campaigns?
Today, parties exercise less control over electoral politics than they did in the past.