Questions and Answers
Winners of _ elections go on to face each other in the _ election.
primary, general
More stringent voter ID laws reduce overall turnout.
True
What is the key feature that makes American political parties different from interest groups?
They try to control the government by winning elections.
Traditional political participation includes which of the following?
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Digital political participation includes which of the following?
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Why can it be difficult to find quality candidates to run for office?
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Individuals rarely change their party identification.
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The United States uses a proportional representation system.
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Which two groups did the Republican Party add to its coalition during the 1980s?
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Which statements are best supported by voter behavior?
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Which statements regarding digital participation are correct?
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Which characterizations of turnout trends are correct?
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Why are third parties often short-lived?
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Which of the following is an example of external mobilization?
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To prevent having multiple candidates from the same party confusing voters in a general election, political parties take which action?
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Which of the following set groups such as 527s and 501(c)(4)s apart from traditional campaign finance groups?
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What is a ballot initiative?
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What is a referendum?
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What is the significance of Buckley v. Valeo?
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What was the ruling in Citizens United v. FEC?
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What was the significance of McCutcheon et al. v. FEC?
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Rank the following elections by voter turnout levels, from highest participation rate to lowest:
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When is party identification most likely to influence a person's vote choice?
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Study Notes
Elections and Political Parties
- Primary elections determine candidates for the general election, where winners face off.
- Stringent voter ID laws have a negative impact on overall voter turnout.
- American political parties differ from interest groups as they aim to control government through election victories.
Political Participation
- Traditional political participation includes voting, a practice rooted since the nation's founding.
- Digital political participation is rising, exemplified by online petitions.
- Young voters are more inclined to use social media for political engagement, and digital efforts can enhance offline participation.
Candidate Quality and Party Identification
- Candidates struggle to find quality candidates due to financial demands and potential scrutiny during campaigns.
- People rarely change their party affiliation, leading to a stable party identification among the electorate.
Party Coalitions and Third Parties
- In the 1980s, the Republican Party expanded its coalition by including working-class whites and religious conservatives.
- Third parties often do not last long as their ideas and programs tend to be absorbed by major parties.
Elections and Turnout Trends
- Voter turnout rates for presidential elections since 2012 have been comparable to those in the 1920s, while participation dipped during the 1960s and 1970s.
- Presidential elections generally yield higher voter turnout than midterm elections.
Political Organizations and Campaign Finance
- External mobilization involves non-governmental aspiring politicians forming party organizations.
- Political parties avoid confusion by holding primary elections to manage candidate selection.
- Groups like 527s and 501(c)(4)s differ from PACs, as they are not bound by spending limits set by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act and cannot coordinate with campaigns.
Direct Democracy Mechanisms
- Ballot initiatives allow citizens to propose laws directly for voting.
- Referendums involve state legislatures placing laws before voters for approval, utilized in all 50 states.
Landmark Supreme Court Cases
- Buckley v. Valeo established that campaign contributions are considered a form of free speech.
- Citizens United v. FEC ruled that the government cannot restrict independent spending by corporations.
- McCutcheon et al. v. FEC eliminated limits on the number of candidates or PACs an individual can financially support.
Voter Turnout Rankings
- Voter turnout ranks from highest to lowest participation as follows: presidential elections, midterm elections, and state/local elections.
Influence of Party Identification on Voting
- Party identification significantly influences vote choice, especially when voters are less informed or voting for state legislative candidates.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the essentials of political parties, voter participation, and election processes with these flashcards. This quiz covers key concepts and definitions from Chapter 7 of your government studies, offering a quick way to review important terms and ideas.