Review For Quiz Tn 27-31 Elections And Campaigns

Front 1

Compare the roles political parties play in elections in Europe and the U.S.

Back 1

parties are weak in the U.S. and play a minor role, in Europe parties are strong

Front 2

Which elections are more competitive, congressional or presidential

Back 2

presidential

Front 3

What type of elections produce the largest voter turnout?

Back 3

presidential

Front 4

Define coattails? How much effect does it have in elections?

Back 4

the popularity of the president helps congressional candidates get elected, but it is becoming less important

Front 5

Define open primary?

Back 5

you decide when you enter the voting booth which party's primary you wish to participate in.

Front 6

Define blanket primary

Back 6

you can vote for candidates of either party.

Front 7

What is the difference between congressional and presidential campaigns in terms of government subsidies (funding)

Back 7

in congressional campaigns money comes from private sources only, presidential campaigns can get money from private and public sources.

Front 8

in order for presidential candidates to get federal matching funds they must?

Back 8

raise money from individual donors in 20 different states in donations of $250 or less

Front 9

Define soft money

Back 9

money that is obtained by political parties for party building purposes (voter registration)

Front 10

This law raised the limit of individual campaign contributions from $1000 to $2000 per candidate.

Back 10

BCRA or McCain-Feingold

Front 11

Define franking privilege? Why is this an advantage when campaigning?

Back 11

Free mail can be used to send campaign literature instead of using campaign money

Front 12

Why does a presidential candidate present themselves as more liberal or conservative in the primaries and more moderate in the general elections?

Back 12

In the primaries they are trying to get their political party nomination, in the general election they are trying to get the independent vote

Front 13

What is the greatest factor on the outcomes of congressional elections?

Back 13

incumbency

Front 14

Define U.S. v. Thornton

Back 14

overturned Term Limits

Front 15

How many electors does California have?

Back 15

55

Front 16

what is the total number of electoral votes available

Back 16

538

Front 17

What is the minimum number of electoral votes a state can have?

Back 17

3

Front 18

Define winner-take-all system

Back 18

The candidate with the most votes gets all of the Electoral votes in that state

Front 19

Where do electors meet to cast their votes for president?

Back 19

in their state legislatures

Front 20

How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?

Back 20

270

Front 21

What were 3 reasons that the Framers compromised when they decided to elect the president with an electoral college?

Back 21

1. compromise to keep the large states from dominating a popular election
2. poor communication
3. Desire to have the best people select the president

Front 22

How is a tie broken in the electoral college?

Back 22

House of Reps elects the president.

Front 23

An elector that doesn't vote for who they are supposed to is called?

Back 23

a faithless elector

Front 24

The presidential election is really not a national election. Why?

Back 24

It is really 50 state elections because of the Electoral college

Front 25

Why do presidential candidates visit some states and not others?

Back 25

Money, resources and polling determine the best use of their time.

Front 26

What does the electoral college force candidates to do?

Back 26

Campaign across the country

Front 27

List 3 positive aspects of the presidential nominating system?

Back 27

1 Desire to have the best people select the president
2 is highly representative
3 weeds out weaker candidates

Front 28

What are 3 negative aspects of the presidential nominating system?

Back 28

1. it's too long
2. it doesn't test candidates for qualities they need as President
3. Delegates at caucuses and conventions tend to be unrepresentative

Front 29

What are the criticisms of the electoral college?

Back 29

1faithless electors: there is no federal law that requires electors to vote how they're supposed to.
2.Possibility of a minority president: Win electoral vote but lose the popular vote

Front 30

What are some alternatives to the electoral college?

Back 30

1. Proportional system
2. Direct election by popular vote
3.

Front 31

The Federal Election Campaign Acts of 1971 and 1974 tried to regulate campaign finance in three areas:

Back 31

disclosure, limitation, subsidies

Front 32

What effect did Buckley v. Valeo have on campaign finance law?

Back 32

1st amendment protects congressional campaign limits on spending- can spend as much of your own money as you want

Front 33

What is the limitation on PACs when contributing money to a campaign?

Back 33

Can only donate $5000 per candidate

Front 34

What are 3 effects of the FECA and the McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform laws?

Back 34

1. No subsidies for congressional campaigns has caused a further incumbancy advantage
2. Lack of limits on independent expenditures and previous lack of limits on soft money have given rise to issue advocacy ads.
3. Minor presidential candidates cannot receive subsidies before the election unless their party earned at least 5% of the popular vote in the previous election. This discourages third party candidates.