9.2

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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of winner-take-all elections?

Voters can select multiple candidates.

The candidate must receive a majority of the votes.

Votes are required to be equally distributed among all candidates.

The candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of majority. (correct)

What effect does the winner-take-all system have on third-party candidates?

It increases their chances of winning elections.

It makes it easier to raise funds for campaigns.

It guarantees them a place in the Electoral College.

It complicates their ability to be taken seriously by voters. (correct)

What does plurality voting imply in the context of U.S. elections?

More than one candidate can be declared a winner.

The winner must have 51 percent of the votes.

The candidate with the most votes wins, even without a majority. (correct)

Voter turnout must exceed 60 percent for elections to be valid.

What is one potential drawback of winner-take-all elections concerning incumbents?

They discourage new candidates from entering the race. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of proportional representation in elections?

Smaller parties have a chance to be represented in government. Signup and view all the answers

How are legislative seats allocated in a proportional representation system?

According to the total share of votes received by parties. Signup and view all the answers

Which system did the United States' two-party system evolve from?

Historical ideological divisions between early parties. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason the U.S. has maintained a two-party system?

Historical and ideological divisions among voters. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge do small third parties face in the context of elections?

Difficulty in securing enough signatures Signup and view all the answers

How do political parties aim to influence public policy?

By forming coalitions across diverse voters Signup and view all the answers

What has historically been the tendency of the two major parties in the U.S.?

To target the moderate voter base Signup and view all the answers

What can be said about the stability of the U.S. party system?

It is a loose organization subject to considerable changes Signup and view all the answers

What role can third-party movements have in U.S. elections?

They can lead to a reallocation of voters among major parties Signup and view all the answers

What factors influence election outcomes in the U.S.?

The comparison of parties based on current events and electoral strategy Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Electoral College play in U.S. presidential elections?

It consists of electors who indirectly select the president. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following states does not follow the winner-take-all system in the Electoral College?

Maine Signup and view all the answers

What is a major factor preventing the formation of viable third parties in the United States?

The prosperity and unity of U.S. citizens. Signup and view all the answers

How do local election laws affect party success in the United States?

They are often more favorable to established parties. Signup and view all the answers

What requirement is commonly imposed on candidates who wish to run as independents in many states?

Gathering signatures from registered voters. Signup and view all the answers

Why are large dissenting groups less likely to form into political parties in the U.S.?

Absence of economic grievances on a large scale. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the winner-take-all system have on new political parties?

It can discourage regional support for third parties. Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of U.S. voting behavior that influences party outcomes?

Demobilization of ethnic groups. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Two-Party System

Citizens in a democracy need to influence government through voting.
A meaningful democracy provides clear choices for voters.
Two-party systems are common in the U.S. due to the single-seat-district structure.
Minor parties have little chance of winning, leading voters to support major parties.
Very few third-party candidates have won presidential elections.

Election Rules

Winner-take-all elections favor major parties.
In winner-take-all systems, the candidate with the most votes wins.
Plurality voting (first-past-the-post) is the norm in the U.S.
Plurality voting can result in a candidate winning without a majority of votes.
Proportional representation systems give seats in proportion to party support.

Effects and Alternatives

Third parties struggle to win because they can pull votes away from a major party candidate.
Majoritarian voting schemes award the majority winner an election.
Proportional representation systems can allow for more parties.
Allocating seats according to national level of support for a presidential candidate, rather than local results, is one way of implementing proportional representation.

Critical Elections and Realignment

Party systems evolve and realign over time.
Real alignments are periods where new parties emerge or major shifts in established party support occurs.
Different elections eras (1796-1824, 1828-1856, 1860-1892, 1896-1932, 1932-1964, and 1964–present) highlight shifting party alliances and dominance.
The 1932 election is a notable realignment, where significant shifts in voter allegiances occurred, due largely to the Great Depression.
The changing demographics and political priorities of voters, like religion, social justice and economic status, impact party dominance.

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Description

Explore the dynamics of the two-party system in American democracy. This quiz delves into how winner-take-all elections and plurality voting favor major parties, while third-party candidates struggle to gain traction. Understand the implications of election rules and alternatives available for a more representative political landscape.

9.2

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