Elections and Politics

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GED Social Studies › Elections and Politics

Questions 1 - 10
1

An election in which many voters switch their political party allegiance is called a                     .

a realignment election

a tipping point election

a dealignment election

a bemusing election

an irate election

Explanation

A realignment election takes place when many votes switch their political-party allegiance. Often, a realignment election sees the rise of a third party or a previously unknown party into the two-party system. Other times it sees voters switching which of the two major parties they support. A realignment election often reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with one or both of the two major parties.

2

An election in which many voters switch their political party allegiance is called a                     .

a realignment election

a tipping point election

a dealignment election

a bemusing election

an irate election

Explanation

A realignment election takes place when many votes switch their political-party allegiance. Often, a realignment election sees the rise of a third party or a previously unknown party into the two-party system. Other times it sees voters switching which of the two major parties they support. A realignment election often reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with one or both of the two major parties.

3

A presidential candidate must win a majority of                                      in order to become the next president.

The Electoral College

The Popular Vote

The Affection of Different States

None of these

Explanation

A presidential candidate must win a majority of the Electoral College in order to become the next President. This is a slightly tricky question. Many people are under the incorrect assumption that a candidate must win a majority of the popular vote in order to become President. In reality, becoming the President requires a majority of the Electoral College-- which does not necessarily require a majority of the popular vote (due to the way that we count votes).

4

A presidential candidate must win a majority of                                      in order to become the next president.

The Electoral College

The Popular Vote

The Affection of Different States

None of these

Explanation

A presidential candidate must win a majority of the Electoral College in order to become the next President. This is a slightly tricky question. Many people are under the incorrect assumption that a candidate must win a majority of the popular vote in order to become President. In reality, becoming the President requires a majority of the Electoral College-- which does not necessarily require a majority of the popular vote (due to the way that we count votes).

5

Which of these is a consequences of the American two-party system?

Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.

Politicians adopt narrow and specific opinions to ensure their policies stand out in an election cycle.

The media is generally unable to predict which of the two major parties will win an election.

Fundraising and campaign advertising plays a small role in determining the winner.

The American voting public has many options to choose from.

Explanation

In the American two-party system politicians often adopt broad opinions on a wide variety of issues to appeal to the largest number of people as possible. This generally ensures that both political parties are quite moderate when compared to the liberal or conservative parties in countries with a multi-party system.

6

Which of these is a consequences of the American two-party system?

Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.

Politicians adopt narrow and specific opinions to ensure their policies stand out in an election cycle.

The media is generally unable to predict which of the two major parties will win an election.

Fundraising and campaign advertising plays a small role in determining the winner.

The American voting public has many options to choose from.

Explanation

In the American two-party system politicians often adopt broad opinions on a wide variety of issues to appeal to the largest number of people as possible. This generally ensures that both political parties are quite moderate when compared to the liberal or conservative parties in countries with a multi-party system.

7

In return for providing financial assistance to the Senator during his congressional campaign a prominent business man is able to get his son a position within the Department of Education. This arrangement is known as                     .

political patronage

meritocracy

the Coattail Effect

the Reverse-Income Effect

None of these answers is correct.

Explanation

Political patronage is the term used to describe the granting of favors, passing favorable legislation, or making government appointments in exchange for financial support during a campaign. Meritocracy is fairly close to being the opposite, as it is a system whereby only the most qualified and skilled person is able to get a job.

8

In return for providing financial assistance to the Senator during his congressional campaign a prominent business man is able to get his son a position within the Department of Education. This arrangement is known as                     .

political patronage

meritocracy

the Coattail Effect

the Reverse-Income Effect

None of these answers is correct.

Explanation

Political patronage is the term used to describe the granting of favors, passing favorable legislation, or making government appointments in exchange for financial support during a campaign. Meritocracy is fairly close to being the opposite, as it is a system whereby only the most qualified and skilled person is able to get a job.

9

How many major parties are there in US politics?

2

3

4

1

Explanation

The correct answer is "2." Currently, those two parties are the Democrats and the Republicans (and have been since the Civil War). That's not to say that there are NO other parties in the US, simply that there are only two major parties. This is partially due to our electoral system (that is, the way that we vote).

10

Which of these political parties has never existed in United States history?

Liberal-Democrats

Democratic-Republicans

Whigs

Federalists

Progressive

Explanation

Of these answer choices, only the Liberal-Democrats (a British political party) have never existed in United States political history.

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