Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of the presidential primary system?
What is the main purpose of the presidential primary system?
The Democratic Party uses a winner-take-all system for its primaries.
The Democratic Party uses a winner-take-all system for its primaries.
False
Which state holds the first caucus in the presidential primary process?
Which state holds the first caucus in the presidential primary process?
Iowa
The _____ election occurs on the first Tuesday in November after the first Monday.
The _____ election occurs on the first Tuesday in November after the first Monday.
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Match the following aspects of the primary process to their corresponding parties:
Match the following aspects of the primary process to their corresponding parties:
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Which of the following measures was APPROVED in Colorado?
Which of the following measures was APPROVED in Colorado?
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All states that had measures regarding end-of-life options approved those measures.
All states that had measures regarding end-of-life options approved those measures.
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What is a caucus?
What is a caucus?
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Which state rejected the measure for background checks by licensed gun dealers?
Which state rejected the measure for background checks by licensed gun dealers?
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The majority in an election refers to receiving more than ______ of the votes.
The majority in an election refers to receiving more than ______ of the votes.
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Match the following types of primaries with their descriptions:
Match the following types of primaries with their descriptions:
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In a general election, candidates compete to win a seat against nominees from each party.
In a general election, candidates compete to win a seat against nominees from each party.
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When are general elections held?
When are general elections held?
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What is the total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College?
What is the total number of electoral votes in the Electoral College?
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A majority of 270 electoral votes is necessary to win the presidency.
A majority of 270 electoral votes is necessary to win the presidency.
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What was the significant Supreme Court case that determined that money is considered speech?
What was the significant Supreme Court case that determined that money is considered speech?
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The Federal Election Commission (FEC) was created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of ___ .
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) was created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of ___ .
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Which of the following is a proposed solution to the criticisms of the Electoral College?
Which of the following is a proposed solution to the criticisms of the Electoral College?
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Match the following electoral terms with their definitions:
Match the following electoral terms with their definitions:
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The McCain-Feingold Act allows unlimited contributions from corporations and unions.
The McCain-Feingold Act allows unlimited contributions from corporations and unions.
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In which year did Trump win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote?
In which year did Trump win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote?
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What is one argument against voter ID laws?
What is one argument against voter ID laws?
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Voter ID laws are said to result in higher voter turnout.
Voter ID laws are said to result in higher voter turnout.
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What percentage of the 18-24 age group voted in the 2020 election?
What percentage of the 18-24 age group voted in the 2020 election?
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Approximately _____% of Americans do not possess photo ID.
Approximately _____% of Americans do not possess photo ID.
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Match the voting demographics with their corresponding voter turnout percentages in 2020:
Match the voting demographics with their corresponding voter turnout percentages in 2020:
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What did the FEC – 2010 ruling determine regarding political communications and soft money?
What did the FEC – 2010 ruling determine regarding political communications and soft money?
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Super PACs can coordinate their spending with candidates.
Super PACs can coordinate their spending with candidates.
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What is the key difference between hard money and soft money?
What is the key difference between hard money and soft money?
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The 19th Amendment granted women the right to _____ .
The 19th Amendment granted women the right to _____ .
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Match the type of political contributions to their definitions:
Match the type of political contributions to their definitions:
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Which statement is true about voter ID laws?
Which statement is true about voter ID laws?
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Voter ID laws have been deemed unconstitutional in some states due to discriminatory practices.
Voter ID laws have been deemed unconstitutional in some states due to discriminatory practices.
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Name one of the amendments that expanded the right to vote.
Name one of the amendments that expanded the right to vote.
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In _____ States, voting is banned from prison.
In _____ States, voting is banned from prison.
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Which of the following is a component of the voting requirements today?
Which of the following is a component of the voting requirements today?
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Study Notes
2016 Ballot Measures
- Colorado, Maine, and Washington approved minimum wage increases.
- Colorado, Maine, and Nevada approved background checks for firearm transfers.
- Maine rejected background checks for firearm transfers.
- Colorado approved an end-of-life option law, similar to euthanasia.
- California, Colorado, and Indiana approved ballot measures for various issues.
- California approved a ban on plastic shopping bags.
- Nebraska and California rejected measures to ban the death penalty.
- Indiana approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to hunt and fish.
- New Jersey rejected a proposal to allow casinos in two additional counties.
- Colorado rejected a 10% payroll tax increase to fund universal healthcare.
Elections in the United States
-
Primary Elections:
- Used to nominate candidates for office.
- Held in September of the election year for offices except the President.
- Caucus: a gathering of party members to choose a nominee.
- Primary: an election where voters select a nominee from a list of candidates.
- Open Primary: Voters can nominate a candidate from either party, regardless of affiliation.
- Closed Primary: Voters can only nominate a candidate from their registered party.
-
General Elections:
- Held between nominees from each party to determine the winner of the office/seat.
- Held on Election Day, the first Tuesday in November after the 1st Monday of November.
- Majority (more than half the votes) vs. Plurality (the most votes, not necessarily more than half).
Presidential Election Process
- Announcement: 1-2 years before the election.
- Presidential Primaries & Caucuses: February - June, where each state holds either a primary or caucus to determine delegates.
- National Conventions: July/August/September, party faithful gather & choose the presidential/vice presidential nominee.
- General Election: First Tuesday in November after the 1st Monday of November.
Presidential Primary Trail
- Each state votes on a given day between February and June.
- Candidates earn delegates to the convention, and the candidate with a majority of delegates wins their party's nomination.
- The primary system aims to help voters get to know the candidates and fairly nominate candidates.
- Democrats: Proportional elections and super delegates (4765/714).
- Republicans: Winner-take-all (after March 15) (2550/110).
- Key early states: Iowa (first caucus), New Hampshire (first primary), South Carolina, and Nevada.
- Super Tuesday: 14 states hold primaries on the same day, accounting for roughly 1/3 of total delegates.
- Importance of momentum and expectations in the election race.
Criticisms of the Primary System
- Importance of early states: undue weight on early states due to media attention and candidate focus.
- Time and Money: Costly and time-consuming process.
- Low voter turnout: Limited voter participation in early primaries.
- Media Influence: Media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion about candidates.
National Convention
- A week-long event for the party and its presidential candidate, typically in August/September.
- Purpose: To reward party faithful, energize the base, and showcase the candidate.
- Key elements: choosing a location, setting the party platform, officially nominating the presidential and vice presidential candidates, and acceptance speeches.
General Elections: Electoral College
- Electoral College: each state receives electoral votes equal to the number of senators and representatives in Congress.
- 538 total electoral votes (435 + 100 + 3).
- Winner-take-all in each state (except Maine and Nebraska).
- Majority (270 votes) needed to win.
Electoral College Criticisms
- Small states have disproportionate power: Concerns about "one man, one vote" principle.
- Focus on swing states: Candidates often focus on a few "battleground" states where they have an advantage.
- Presidents winning the electoral vote but losing the popular vote: Occurred in 1876, 1888, 2000, and 2016.
- 2016 Example: Trump (306) - 62,979,879 (46%), Clinton (232) - 65,844,954 (48%).
Proposed Solutions: Electoral College Issues
- District System: Allocate electoral votes based on congressional district winners.
- Popular Vote: Elect the president based on who wins the national popular vote.
Campaign Finance
- Cost of campaigns: skyrocketing, especially for House and Senate races (>5millionand5 million and 5millionand30 million respectively).
- 2020 election cycle: spending exceeded $14 billion.
- Key expenses: professional consultants (polling, fundraising, marketing, media).
Federal Election Campaign Act (1974)
- Created the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
- Limits campaign contributions, requires reporting of all contributions and expenditures, and monitors/publishes reports.
Buckley v. Valeo (1974)
- Ruled that money is speech, allowing limitations on contributions to prevent corruption, but not on expenditures.
McCain-Feingold Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)
- Banned soft money contributions to political parties.
- Prohibited electioneering within 60 days of elections by corporations, unions, interest groups, and PACs.
- Limited individual contributions (2300)andPACcontributions(2300) and PAC contributions (2300)andPACcontributions(5000).
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
- Ruled that restrictions on political communications by third parties violated freedom of speech.
- Lifted restrictions on the amount of soft money that PACs and corporations can contribute.
Results of Citizens United Decision
- Super PACs:
- Allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals, and associations.
- Cannot coordinate with candidates.
- Expenditures: 2012 - 1.03billion,2014−1.03 billion, 2014 - 1.03billion,2014−565 million, 2016 - 1.4billion,2018−1.4 billion, 2018 - 1.4billion,2018−1.1 billion, 2020 - $2.6 billion.
Hard Money vs. Soft Money vs. Dark Money
- Hard Money: Direct contributions to campaigns.
- Soft Money: Contributions to interest groups or parties.
- Dark Money: Political contributions to nonprofit groups and Super PACs with undisclosed donors.
- Growth of soft money and dark money contributions raise concerns about transparency and accountability.
- 2019 FEC investigation: uncovered foreign money, including Russian money, influencing the 2016 election.
Voting Qualifications and Registration
- Historically: Property-owning white males 21 and over.
- Amendments expanded the right to vote: 15th (race), 19th (gender), 24th (poll taxes), 26th (age).
- Current Requirements: To register, 18 years old, U.S. citizen, and resident.
- Restrictions: 48 states ban voting from prison, with varying degrees of restoring voting rights after release.
- Recent Voting Bill Trends:
- Expansive bills: Ease voter registration (online, same-day), improve mail voting, restore voting rights for ex-felons, establish early voting, expand acceptable IDs.
- Restrictive bills: Limit mail voting, voter ID laws, voter purges, restrict early voting, close polling places, limit voting hours.
Voter ID Laws
- 35 States require some form of identification for voting.
- 18 States require photo IDs, others require non-photo IDs.
- 11 states are strict, not allowing voting without ID.
- Increase in Voter ID laws since 2010, primarily proposed by the Republican Party.
- Several voter ID laws deemed discriminatory or an unjustified burden on voters, declared unconstitutional.
- Arguments: Pros and Cons of Voter ID Laws.
For Voter ID Laws
- Protects democracy's integrity, increases confidence, and provides security.
- Prevents election fraud: double voting, dead voters, fake names, illegal votes.
- Use photo IDs daily - it's common practice.
Against Voter ID Laws
- Discriminatory: Prevents minorities, elderly, and low-income voters from participating.
- Deprives Americans of their right to vote.
- 11% of Americans lack photo ID.
- ID costs: Photo IDs can range from 75to75 to 75to125.
- Lower voter turnout as a result.
- Travel burden: Some voters must travel long distances to obtain an ID.
- No concrete evidence of widespread election fraud.
Voting Behavior in the United States
- Presidential Election Turnout:
- 1996 - 51%, 2000 - 54%, 2004 – 60%, 2008 – 62%, 2012 – 58%, 2016 – 59%, 2020 – 67%.
- Midterm Election Turnout:
- 2006 - 41%, 2010 – 41%, 2014 – 36%, 2018 – 53%
Voting Behavior Demographics:
-
Age:
- 18-24: 49% (2008), 41% (2012), 44% (2016), 51% (2020).
- 25-34: 57% (2008), 57% (2012), 58% (2016), 63% (2020).
- Over 55: 71% (2008), 71% (2012), 71% (2016), 74% (2020).
-
Sex:
- Male: 62% (2008), 60% (2012), 59% (2016), 65% (2020).
- Female: 66% (2008), 64% (2012), 63% (2016), 68% (2020).
-
Income:
-
<$30,000: 52% (2008), 48% (2012), 49% (2016), 52% (2020).
-
$75,000: 79% (2008), 77% (2012), 79% (2016), 80% (2020).
-
-
Race:
- White: 66% (2008), 64% (2012), 65% (2016), 68% (2020).
- Black: 65% (2008), 66% (2012), 60% (2016), 63% (2020).
-
Education:
- (Data missing from provided text).
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Description
Test your knowledge of the significant ballot measures passed and rejected in the 2016 elections across various states in the U.S. This quiz covers topics including minimum wage increases, firearm background checks, and various state-specific laws. Challenge yourself to see how well you understand the political landscape of that election year.
