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Unit Five: 5.9 Congressional elections (13)

Quiz by Carl Rudd

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13 questions
Show answers
  • Q1
    Which of the following is a consequence of frequent incumbent re-election in the House of Representatives?
    Elections are completely predictable in the House of Representatives and never see a major shift.
    Quality challengers choose not to run and wait until the seat is open.
    The majority of incumbents fail to face a challenger due to an understanding that they will win.
    Representatives in the House of Representatives don't feel the need to add pork to their legislation for their home districts.
    120s
  • Q2
    Despite barely defeating his opponent in an election two years earlier, a candidate running for re-election for the House of Representatives has found that he is receiving more donors, more support in polling, and more media coverage that he ever did in the last election. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this sudden increase in advantage over his challengers?
    Incumbency Effect
    Feeding Frenzy
    Bully Pulpit Effect
    Log-Rolling Effect
    120s
  • Q3
    In which of the following scenarios is the incumbency advantage likely to be most significant?
    At the end of his second full term, the president's approval rating is almost 60 percent.
    The current state legislator is involved in a highly publicized scandal involving misuse of public funds.
    The Senator from a state with a primarily agricultural economy serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
    The challenger for a seat in the House of Representatives has lived in the legislative district for 30 years.
    120s
  • Q4
    Which of the following describes a method by which state legislatures can affect presidential elections?
    State legislatures can change electoral rules that may affect voter turnout in presidential elections.
    State legislatures decide the number of electors that will represent their state in the electoral college.
    State legislatures determine the date on which the general election for president is held.
    State legislatures can limit the number of voters by increasing the voting age to 21.
    120s
  • Q5
    Congressman Jefferson Smith is a Republican running for re-election in a state traditionally controlled by his own party to serve a fourth consecutive term in Congress. However, he is running in a presidential election year where a very popular Democratic president is likely to be re-elected. Which of the following statements describes a prime factor behind the incumbency advantage Congress Smith is likely to enjoy in his re-election bid?
    Congressman Smith serves on some important congressional committees.
    Congressman Smith can use the franking privilege to cover the cost of mailing campaign literature to his constituents.
    Congressman Smith can "ride the coattails" of a popular incumbent president.
    Congressman Smith has a lengthy voting record to boast about.
    120s
  • Q6
    Which of the following best describes the impact of caucuses in the process of electing the president?
    Because they typically generate a greater turnout than primaries, caucuses are more influential in determining each party's nominee.
    The majority of delegates to each party's nominating convention comes from caucuses.
    Because the first event of the presidential election season is a caucus, it can create significant momentum for the winning candidate from each party.
    The relatively small number of caucuses that are held mean that they do not influence the choice of the presidential candidate.
    120s
  • Q7
    Residents of a South-west state vote in the presidential election where the Democratic candidate receives 48% of the popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 46%, and the Libertarian candidate receives 6%. Which of the following correctly describes how the electoral votes would be allocated as a result?
    The Democratic candidate will receive all of the states electoral votes.
    The Democratic and Republican candidates will receive electoral votes proportionate to the percentage of the popular vote each received while the Libertarian candidate will receive no votes because she received less than 10% of the popular vote.
    Each candidate will receive a number of the state's electoral votes proportionate to the percentage of the popular vote received.
    The state will hold a runoff election to determine which candidate receives its electoral votes since no candidate received a majority.
    120s
  • Q8
    Which of the following is a consequence of using a caucus as a primary?
    They typically occur at a specific date and time which may deter some attendance.
    Only those pre-registered to vote for a specific party are able to attend.
    All candidates are place on the same ballot and the top-two vote recipients move on to the general election.
    The winners tend to not win the general election.
    120s
  • Q9
    The Democratic Party of Wisconsin wants to focus on informing voters of the candidates in the upcoming presidential primaries. To do so, they are thinking of changing their primaries to one that would create a more informed voter. Which of the following types of primaries should the Democratic Party of Wisconsin push for with this goal in mind?
    Caucus
    Open Primary
    Closed Primary
    Jungle Primary
    120s
  • Q10
    You have become disenchanted with both mainstream parties and have registered as an Independent voter. During the primary season the Republican party has a candidate you want to vote for. Which type of primary election below would allow you to cast a ballot?
    Closed Primary
    Open Primary
    Independent Primary
    Republican Primary
    120s
  • Q11
    A party’s congressional campaign committee typically does all of the following except
    target potentially competitive seats for which party candidates may contend
    select the site of the party’s national convention
    raise funds on behalf of party candidates
    allocate how much financial support a candidate will receive
    120s
  • Q12
    Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the greatest advantage Congressional incumbents have seeking re-election?
    Incumbents receive public funds from the Federal Elections Commission which challengers are not eligible for.
    Incumbents receive more funds from Political Action Committees than their challengers.
    Incumbents have better name recognition and can remind voters of the things they have accomplished while in Washington, D.C.
    Super Pac spending always favors incumbents.
    120s
  • Q13
    In a political climate marred by gridlock and partisanship, you are a political consultant employed by a Republican challenger who wants to unseat the eight-term incumbent Republican U.S. Representative in the next general election. Which campaign strategy below would be the advice for your candidate?
    Run as a Libertarian touting your liberal economic platform of increasing taxes on the rich to fund social services.
    Present yourself as a moderate Republican who wants break the status quo and work with the Democrats to solve the problems of the nation and defeat the incumbent in the Republican primary or caucus of your state.
    Run as an Independent that wants to do what is best for America and work to end the gridlock and partisanship in Washington.
    Attack the infrastructure spending the representative has brought to your state as typical pork-barrel legislation or the Washington establishment.
    120s

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