Government Chapter 7: Political Parties and Elections

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?

Voting Signup and view all the answers

Digital political participation includes which of the following?

Signing an online petition Signup and view all the answers

Why can it be difficult to find quality candidates to run for office?

Even running for a lower office requires raising large sums of money. Signup and view all the answers

Individuals rarely change their party identification.

True Signup and view all the answers

The United States uses a proportional representation system.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which two groups did the Republican Party add to its coalition during the 1980s?

Working Class Whites, Religious Conservatives Signup and view all the answers

Which statements are best supported by voter behavior?

Even unpopular candidates win the vast majority of their own party's voters. Signup and view all the answers

Which statements regarding digital participation are correct?

Digital participation has made political participation easier. Signup and view all the answers

Which characterizations of turnout trends are correct?

Turnout rates from 2012 on were similar to presidential turnout rates in the 1920s. Signup and view all the answers

Why are third parties often short-lived?

The major parties absorb their programs and their popular ideas. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of external mobilization?

Aspiring politicians from outside government creating party organizations Signup and view all the answers

To prevent having multiple candidates from the same party confusing voters in a general election, political parties take which action?

Hold primary elections. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following set groups such as 527s and 501(c)(4)s apart from traditional campaign finance groups?

These groups cannot coordinate directly with campaigns. Signup and view all the answers

What is a ballot initiative?

Allows citizens to place proposed law directly on ballot. Signup and view all the answers

What is a referendum?

State legislature refers laws to voters for popular vote. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Buckley v. Valeo?

Introduced the idea that campaign contributions count as speech. Signup and view all the answers

What was the ruling in Citizens United v. FEC?

Government could not restrict independent expenditures by corporations. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of McCutcheon et al. v. FEC?

Removed limits on how many PACs or candidates an individual can give to. Signup and view all the answers

Rank the following elections by voter turnout levels, from highest participation rate to lowest:

Presidential = Highest Midterm = Medium State and Local = Lowest Signup and view all the answers

When is party identification most likely to influence a person's vote choice?

When the person is voting on state legislative candidates. Signup and view all the answers

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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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.