GOV TEST 2

Which of the following makes it easy for a citizen to register to vote?

National Voter Registration Act

Which of the following is a reason to make voter registration more difficult?

decrease election fraud

What unusual step did Oregon take to increase voter registration?

The state automatically registers all citizens over eighteen to vote.

What effect did the National Voter Registration Act have on voter registration?

Registration increased by 7%

What's a challenge that college students face with regard to voter registration?

They wonder whether to register at home or at college.

If you wanted to prove the United States is suffering from low voter turnout, a calculation based on which population would yield the lowest voter turnout rate?

voting-age population

What characterizes those most likely to vote in the next election?

over forty-five years old

Why do Belgium, Turkey, and Australia have higher voter turnout rates than the United States?

compulsory voting laws

Why does age affect whether a citizen will vote?

Older voters have more money, education, and job security.

If you were going to predict whether your classmates would vote in the next election, what questions would you ask them?

Their age, educational level, interest in politics, income level, and whether they voted in the last election.

A state might hold a primary instead of a caucus because a primary is ________.

faster and has higher turnout

Which of the following citizens is most likely to run for office?

Jeffrey Lyons, a 40-year-old lawyer and father of one

Where and when do Electoral College electors vote?

in their state capitol, in December

In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects?

presidential

What problems will candidates experience with frontloading?

Candidates would have less time to campaigns in each state.

Why have fewer moderates won primaries than they used to?

Primary voters are more ideologically motivated than voters in general elections.

Why do parties prefer closed primaries to open primaries?

Only party members get to decide who the candidate will be.

Susan is currently working two part-time jobs and is frustrated about the poor economy. On Election Day, she votes for every challenger on the ballot, because she feels the president and Congress are not doing enough to help her. What type of vote did she cast?

pocketbook

Which factor is most likely to lead to the incumbency advantage for a candidate?

gerrymandering of the candidate's district

Which of the following is not a step in the initiative process?

signature or veto by state governor

A referendum is not purely direct democracy because the ________.

government proposes something and the voters approve it

What problems would a voter face when trying to pass an initiative or recall?

The need to collect signatures, raise money, and choose the election in which their plan is most likely to pass.

Why do some argue that direct democracy is simply a way for the wealthy and businesses to get their own policies passed?

Organizing interest groups and proposing initiatives is easier when money is readily available.

Can you still vote in California if you aren't registered ahead of time?

Yes, your ballot is treated like any other ballot.

What advantage can registering for a political party allow in California?

Voting in the presidential primary

Do you still have to vote in your own precinct in VCA counties?

No, since the Voter's Choice Act you can vote anywhere in your county.

If external efficacy made the biggest difference in voter turnout, would people vote more in local, state, or national elections?

Local

How does internal efficacy explain why more older people vote?

Older people are more likely to feel confident in their abilities to understand and successfully engage in the voting process.

What factors limit external efficacy?

Large populations, concerns about fraud and corruption, and belonging to a minority party in a winner-take-all system can all limit eternal efficacy.

What measures has California implemented or encouraged to make voting more likely?

Voter information guide, sending absentee ballots to everyone, allowing voting anywhere in the county.

Which election had the most significant increase in voter turnout in 24 years?

2020

Why might liberal voters in California be more likely to vote than Conservative or Moderate voters?

They likely have a great sense of external efficacy due to the political environment.

What's one way to increase voter turnout?

Reduce gerrymandering so that any party is equally likely to win.

How was California impacted by the Voting Rights Act?

The Supreme Court required bilingual elections throughout the state.

How did the California Voting Rights Act of 2001 affect local representation?

More cities switched to district elections rather than city-wide elections.

A local station that broadcasts national network programming is called a(an) ________ station.

affiliate

Cable programming is often ________.

national

A conglomerate is a corporation that ________.

owns many businesses and media networks

When acting as an agenda setter, the media ________.

decides which issues deserve public attention

How can conglomerates censor information?

They set policies that affect all organizations and networks within the corporation, including policies not to use certain actors or discuss certain topics.

In what ways is media responsible for promoting the public good?

All of the answers are true.

Why is social media an effective way to spread news and information?

Social media can allow citizens and businesses to quickly forward information and news to large groups of friends and followers.

Newspapers during the Revolutionary War period tended to ________.

unite the colonists and provide information about the British

Muckraking occurs when newspapers ________.

investigate problems in government and business

Radio quiz shows and comedy shows were most popular in the ________.

1930s

Television news became a regular feature during ________ due to the public's demand for ________ to explain current events.

WWII; images and maps

Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats help the president enact his policies?

Roosevelt presented his ideas and reasons directly to the people in a personal, persuasive way.

In which circumstance would the courts find libel?

A reporter writes that local college students are drug dealers but has no sources.

The Supreme Court determined that the right of the press to print classified material ________.

is partial, and the press may print classified material only if it does not compromise troops or covert operatives

The Federal Communications Commission oversees the programming of which entities?

television, radio, satellite, and cable

Which of the following is a reasonable exception to the Freedom of Information Act?

medical records for government employees

Under what circumstances might a journalist be compelled to give up a source?

If there is a criminal trial and the source is needed for the trial

Which of the following is an example of episodic framing?

a story on drug abuse that interviews addicts and discusses reasons for addiction and government responses to help addicts

According to research, why might a woman decide not to run for office?

She fears the media will criticize her family.

Media coverage of a race tends to ________.

overrepresent African Americans as poor

How might framing or priming affect the way a reader or viewer thinks about an issue?

The media can pick information that makes us inclined to prejudge or believe something.

Which supporter of federalism warned people about the dangers of political parties?

George Washington

Which of the following was not a third-party challenger?

Whig Party

Why were the early U.S. political parties formed?

To win national elections by forming electoral coalitions in Congress

What techniques led the Democratic Party to national prominence in the 1830s through 1850s?

Focusing on "common people" and using personal politics

In which type of electoral system do voters select the party of their choice rather than an individual candidate?

proportional representation

Which of the following does not represent a major contributing factor in party realignment?

third parties

What impact, if any, do third parties typically have on U.S. elections?

They do both of these things (serve as spoilers & bring attention to important issues).

In what ways do political parties collude with state and local government to prevent the rise of new parties?

Parties make it harder to register nonpartisans and for independent candidates to get on the ballot.

Which level of party organization is most responsible for helping the party's nominee win the presidency?

national

What do members of the party organization do that party identifiers don't often do?

All of these things are true (Recruitment, Fundraising, Voter registration drives, GOTV).

What is the result of partisan polarization?

Both of these answers are true (provides clear choices & can lead to dysfunctional government/big policy swings).

What is the sorting thesis and what does it suggest about polarization?

Voters change party allegiance in response to shifts in party position, so polarization is a function of voters paying more attention to national politics and voting more consistently.

Does gerrymandering lead to increased polarization?

Yes, though it's not the only cause.

How does the number of Democrats among voters compare to the number of Democrats in the legislature?

There are more legislators than voters who are Democrats.

How does the number of Republicans among voters compare to the number of Republicans in the legislature?

There are more voters than legislators who are Republican.

Why are Republicans under-represented in the California legislature?

The way the districts are drawn favors Democratic candidates.

In what ways do Democrats dominate the legislature?

They control all leadership positions, what bills can be voted on, and what passes.

Is it possible for third/minor parties to get elected in California?

It's theoretically possible but incredibly unlikely.

What is an advantage of a blanket primary?

The most popular candidates are represented in the final ballot, regardless of party.

What parties have semi-closed primaries in California?

American Independent, Democratic, Libertarian

Which party wants more individual choice in economic activities, schools, and health care?

Republican

Which party wants more individual choice in reproductive health care and recreational drugs?

Democratic

What is the role of the party-in-the-electorate?

how parties mediate institutions between voters and government

What did the Progressives propose to reform party politics?

Primary elections, secret ballots, direct democracy and nonpartisan elections

Someone who lobbies on behalf of their employer as part of their job is ________.

an in-house lobbyist

How are collective goods different from private goods?

Collective goods offer broadly distributed benefits, while private goods offer particularized benefits.

Why might several competing corporations join together in an association?

all the above (common industry issues, governmental benefits, strength in numbers)

What type of incentives appeal to someone's concern about a cause?

purposive incentives

Which of the following is the best example of a solidary benefit?

joining a group to be with others like you

What are some ways to overcome collective action problems?

All of these answers are true (mobilizing events, solidary/purposive benefits, material benefits)

Why do some groups have an easier time overcoming collective action problems?

Smaller groups are easier to organize and wealthy groups can hire lobbying help and offer incentives

What changes have occurred in the lobbying environment over the past three or four decades?

all the above (more professional lobbying, interest fragmentation, lobbying both national & state levels)

Which of the following is an aspect of iron triangles?

a symbiotic relationship among Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups

What are benefits of group participation for citizens?

Interaction with other people with similar views and participation in group activities.

Why don't lower-income groups participate more in the interest group system?

Lower-income people may lack money for membership fees or free time.

How do skills affect interest group participation?

Knowing how to organize group action helps people feel welcome and useful participating in interest groups.

Which of the following is true of spending in politics?

The Supreme Court has opposed restrictions on spending on politics.

What is a difference between a PAC and a super PAC?

PACs can contribute directly to candidates, but super PACs cannot.

How do interest groups lobby the judicial branch?

They attempt to influence appointments and submit amicus briefs.

What are some things interest groups and their lobbyists look for when deciding which lawmakers to lobby?

All of these answers are true (legislative leaders, sympathetic lawmakers, committee members)

Revolving door laws are designed to do which of the following?

prevent lawmakers from utilizing their legislative relationships by becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office

In what ways are lobbyists regulated?

all the above (prohibited activities, cooling-off periods, contribution disclosures)

How might disclosure requirements affect lobbying?

Disclosure requirements may make lawmakers reluctant to accept gifts or contributions for controversial interests.

Which of the following are examples of interest group entrepreneurs?

Civil Rights and Women’s Suffrage are both examples.