American Government Final Exam Review

Front 1

What is the major irony involving voter turnout today?

Back 1

As franchise (right to vote) has expanded, the percentage of voters has declined

Front 2

What are the estimated reasons behind low voter turnout in the US?

Back 2

Progressive reforms, don't believe their vote counts, voter registration, polling hours, frequency and length of elections

Front 3

What are four progressive reforms that were introduced, what was their purpose, and what was the result?

Back 3

1. secret ballots
2. voter registration
3. primary election system
4. denial of voting rights for aliens
Purpose: Remove corruption from politics and to eliminate lower classes from voting
Result: Political parties were weakened and voting became more difficult

Front 4

what is the average voter turnout in off-year elections?

Back 4

34%

Front 5

Which states (region) have the highest voter turnout?

Back 5

Northern plains and mountain states

Front 6

Which states (region) have the lowest voter turn out?

Back 6

Southern states

Front 7

When do people vote?

Back 7

When they believe the benefit from voting is greater than the costs

Front 8

When is a rational person most likely to vote?

Back 8

In a close election.

Front 9

Why do some people always vote?

Back 9

Out of civic duty

Front 10

What 5 things do the 15 states do to help ease the burden of voter registration?

Back 10

1. registration up to election day
2. registration in precinct or neighborhood
3. registration by mail
4. registration offices open on weekends and evenings
5. no purging from voter registration for failure to vote

Front 11

what is the number one impediment to voting?

Back 11

Voter registration

Front 12

What are three options for changes to voter registration?

Back 12

1. Register on election day
2. Canadian plan- door-to-door registration
3. Motor-voter registration (we do have this)

Front 13

Who opposes same-day registration and why?

Back 13

Republicans because they fear fraud and don't want the marginally interested voting because the majority are democrats

Front 14

What are the problem with polling hours?

Back 14

elections are held on weekdays, the east and west cost vote at different hours (time zones)

Front 15

what are some characteristics of nonvoters?

Back 15

young people
Hispanics
manual laborers
those with little education and income
Middle age, middle class and above

Front 16

what are some characteristics of voters?

Back 16

Those with more education and income
College educated are 124 times more likely to vote
Republican more likely to vote

Front 17

What are some theories as to why college educated citizens are more likely to vote?

Back 17

College equips you to deal with the bureau
college may instill knowledge about government and effects of voting

Front 18

What is political efficacy?

Back 18

Belief that you can affect the government

Front 19

When was the idea of political campaigns introduced and by whom?

Back 19

William McKinley in 1896

Front 20

What 3 steps should you take to prepare for nomination?

Back 20

1. make decision to run about three years in advance
2. establish campaign organization
3. establish a committee to raise funds

Front 21

Where do candidates campaign the most and why?

Back 21

Candidates focus on the 11 biggest states so they can receive the majority of electoral college votes.

Front 22

How many votes are needed to win the presidency? And what happens if no candidate is able to obtain that amount?

Back 22

270-then the House of Representatives selects the president.

Front 23

Why do we keep the electoral college method of election? (4 reasons)

Back 23

1. turns a plurality into a majority
2. Gives small states a small advantage
3. Gives largest states big advantages
4. tradition

Front 24

What are the components to a good campaign strategy?

Back 24

1. Mobilize those within your party
2. Persuade independent voters (swing voters)
3. Work to convert the opposition
4. plan where to spend time and money

Front 25

Where do most people get their campaign information?

Back 25

From tv and free coverage

Front 26

How does the media portray the campaign?

Back 26

from a "horse race" aspect

Front 27

What are sound bites and how do candidates use them?

Back 27

Visuals representing a brief episode of the candidate doing something colorful and appealing.

Front 28

Which are more informative of the candidates' stance on issues: news channels or advertisements?

Back 28

usually advertisements

Front 29

what factors influence voting?

Back 29

Party loyalty, candidate evaluation, issues

Front 30

which voting factor is most important, but has weakened since the 1950s?

Back 30

party loyalty

Front 31

What has tv done to the ideal candidate?

Back 31

Requires his personality, style, character, and competence to become important factors.

Front 32

How do most voters view the issues?

Back 32

From a retrospective viewpoint, looking back at the state of the nation over the past four years, mostly at the economy.

Front 33

What are the different results of the election?

Back 33

1. Maintaining elections-most elections, party in power, stays in power
2. Devoting elections- temporary shift in popular support (minority party has popular candidate)
3. Realigning elections-permanent shift in popular support (majority and minority parties switch)

Front 34

What is dealignment?

Back 34

rather than support a new party, citizens chose to be independent

Front 35

Why do we use the two party system?

Back 35

1. Historic- dualism is part of US political conflict
2. Moderate (centrist) political views of the US public
3. Structure of the electoral system