Glendale Community College » Political Science » Political Science 101 - Introduction to Government » Winter 2022

Political Science 101 - Introduction to Government » Winter 2022 » Quiz 8 Voting, Campaigns, and Elections

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Question #1

Political actors in American government never see members of their own party as rivals for power and authority.

A. True

B. False

Question #2

Because of the principle of separation of powers, no one branch of American government has ever wielded more power than the other two.

A. True

B. False

Question #3

Safe districts only serve to benefit the Republican party.

A. False

B. True

Question #4

In the age of polarization, the rise of safe districts has caused campaigns and elections between the two parties to become far more competitive.

A. False

B. True

Question #5

Which statement about partisan redistricting (gerrymandering) is true?

A. Only Democrats have been guilty of gerrymandering.

B. Both Republicans and Democrats engage in gerrymandering.

C. Partisan gerrymandering has been ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

D. Only Republicans have been guilty of gerrymandering.

Question #6

For the purposes of reapportionment and redistricting, the U.S. Census is held every 10 years in order to count ______________________.

A. Only citizens of the United States.

B. All residents of the United States.

C. Only registered voters.

D. Only Americans who have voted in an election.

E. Only those 18 years, or older.

Question #7

Which statement about the linkage between voter turnout and household income is correct?

A. The lower one's income, the greater their dependence on public services and, therefore, the higher the chances that they will vote.

B. The more one votes, the greater their wealth will become.

C. There is no meaningful correlation between household income and voting patterns.

D. The less one relies on public services, the more likely it is that they will vote.

Question #8

In the 21st century, which party has carried the popular vote for president 7 out of 8 times.

A. Republican Party

B. Democratic Party

Question #9

Since 1972, Republican presidential victories averaged significantly lower voter turnout (56%) than Democratic victories (60%).

A. True

B. False

Question #10

When voter turnout has reached 60%, Republicans have captured the presidency only once since 1972.

A. False

B. True

Question #11

To become president, a candidate must win a majority of the popular vote.

A. True

B. False

Question #12

In American history, a candidate has never lost the popular vote by more than two million votes and still become president.

A. True

B. False

Question #13

How would you best characterize the difference between the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns?

A. California nearly flipped to the Republican candidate in 2020.

B. The Republican candidate substantially underperformed their total vote count from 2016.

C. Voters with higher educational attainment turned in favor of the Republican candidate in 2020.

D. The Democratic candidate narrowly flipped the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Georgia--with the average margin of victory falling within 1-2% points.

Question #14

How does redistricting impact U.S. government at the federal level?

A. The shape of congressional districts alone may affect which party controls the House of Representatives and thus shapes policy.

B. Congressional districts play a crucial role in determining who gets elected president.

C. Redistricting allows non-citizens to vote on issues like healthcare, climate change, and gun control.

D. It all but ensures a liberal consensus in the House of Representatives.

E. The shape of congressional districts can affect which party controls the U.S. Senate and thus shapes policy.

Question #15

In the U.S. Electoral College and House of Representatives, the mechanism of apportionment is tied exclusively to the U.S. Census: The number of electors and representatives a state receives is solely based on its total population.

A. False

B. True

Question #16

The mechanism of redistricting directly impacts which branch of the federal government the most:

A. The Senate

B. The House of Representatives

C. The Supreme Court

D. The Prime Minister

E. The President

F. All of these.

Question #17

What has been one consequence of the rise in majority-minority districts?

A. More Democrats from surrounding districts are being elected to the House of Representatives.

B. More Republicans than Democrats are being elected from majority-minority districts.

C. Fewer Republicans from surrounding districts are being elected to the House of Representatives.

D. More Republicans have been elected President since the 1950s.

E. Fewer Democrats from surrounding districts are being elected to the House of Representatives.

Question #18

Safe-districts have been cited as contributing to the political polarization in American politics. Many of these districts do not have competitive elections and often fail to produce moderate candidates. More often, party primaries feature more competitive races than those between the two parties.

A. False

B. True

Question #19

What is one recent consequence of the persistence of the Electoral College in American politics?

A. Given that California and New York together contain 86 of the 270 votes necessary to win the presidency (over 30% of the number needed), to this date, no modern candidate has ever lost both of these states and been elected president.

B. It is mathematically impossible to lose the popular vote and still be elected president. The Electoral College ensures that the winner of the plurality of votes will be the next president.

C. None of these.

D. Large cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Philadelphia are playing an increasingly important role in the presidential election. More rural portions of the US and are becoming politically marginalized during the election cycle because their populations are decisively smaller.

E. States with the largest populations are becoming less important in national elections. New York and California have been relegated in the election cycle in favor of states with smaller populations, which are nonetheless more likely to 'swing' the election.

F. All of these.

Question #20

In recent American elections, turnout (by %) has been lowest among which group of voters?

A. The wealthiest 1%.

B. Those earning $150,000 or more per year.

C. Voter turnout cannot be measured/predicted by income.

D. Those earning between $50,000-74,999 per year.

E. Those earning less than $10,000 per year.

Question #21

Voter turnout tends to increase among citizens with higher MHI.

A. False

B. True

Question #22

Educational attainment continues to increase in the United States. How might this trend impact American politics, particularly voting behavior and elections?

A. Higher educational attainment among American voters has always benefitted the Democratic Party.

B. Today, Democrats enjoy a growing advantage over Republicans among voters with a college degree. Increasing educational attainment in the U.S. seems to favor the Democratic party.

C. There is identical incentive for both parties to promote higher educational attainment, particularly among minority groups.

D. Today, Republicans enjoy a growing advantage over Democrats among voters with a college degree. Increasing educational attainment in the U.S. seems to favor the Republican party.

E. Republican support among Americans with at least a college degree is growing. Promoting more educational opportunities in the rural south, as well as the Midwest, would benefit the Republican party and hurt Democrats.

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