Campaign Finance Rules
What is the purpose of the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
To regulate campaign finance laws and enforce disclosure rules.
What is the minimum voting age in the United States?
18
What are the two major political parties in the U.S.?
Democratic Party and Republican Party
How many total electoral votes are there?
538
In what month are presidential elections held?
November
What is the limit for an individual contribution to a candidate per election cycle?
$3,300 (as of 2023).
What is voter turnout?
The percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election.
What is a third party?
A political party other than the two major ones
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?
270
What is the purpose of a primary election?
To select a party’s nominee for the general election
What is a PAC?
Political Action Committee, which raises money to influence elections.
What is absentee voting?
Voting by mail for those unable to vote in person.
What is a party platform?
A set of principles and policies a party promotes during elections
What determines the number of electoral votes for each state?
The sum of its U.S. Senators and Representatives
What is a swing state?
A state where both parties have similar levels of support
What Supreme Court decision removed limits on independent spending by corporations in elections?
Citizens United v. FEC (2010).
What is the Motor Voter Act of 1993?
A law that allows people to register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license.
Which party was formed to oppose slavery before the Civil War?
Republican Party
Which two states do not use the winner-take-all system?
Maine and Nebraska
What was the first televised presidential debate?
Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960
What is "dark money"?
Political spending by groups that do not disclose their donors.
What is gerrymandering?
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.
What is a caucus?
A meeting of party members to choose candidates or decide policy
What happens if no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes?
The election is decided by the House of Representatives
What is the "October Surprise"?
A news event late in the campaign that influences the election outcomeA news event late in the campaign that influences the election outcome