Electing People
What is the difference between an open and closed primary?
Open = any voter can participate; Closed = only party members can vote.
What are midterm elections?
Elections held halfway through a president’s term.
What is suffrage?
The right to vote.
What is “packing” in gerrymandering?
Putting many of the same voters into one district.
What is political efficacy?
Belief that your vote matters.
Why is the Electoral College controversial today?
A candidate can win even if they lose the national popular vote.
Why does the president’s party often lose seats in midterms?
Voters react to how the president is doing.
What were poll taxes used for?
To stop poor and Black citizens from voting.
What is “cracking” in gerrymandering?
Splitting voters across districts to weaken their power.
What shapes a person’s political views over time?
Political socialization (family, media, school, etc.).
Why did the Framers create the Electoral College?
What is to prevent direct “mob rule” and balance state and popular power?
What is an off-year election?
An election with fewer major races, leading to lower turnout.
Why did voting expand slowly in U.S. history?
Early laws limited voting to certain groups.
What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 do?
Ended many barriers like literacy tests and protected minority voters.
What is the gender gap in voting?
Women and men tend to vote differently.
How is a caucus different from a primary?
A caucus is a meeting and discussion; a primary is a simple vote.
What is ballot fatigue?
Voters pay less attention to choices lower on the ballot.
What was the purpose of literacy tests?
To limit voting by making unfair reading requirements.
What is voter roll purging?
Removing inactive voters from voter lists.
What is straight-ticket voting?
Voting for one party for every office.
Why are Iowa caucuses important?
They happen first and can influence momentum for candidates.
Why does low turnout raise concerns?
It means the government may not fully represent all people.
What did the 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments do?
Expanded voting by race, gender, and lowering the voting age to 18.
What is an injunction?
A court order stopping unfair voting practices.
What is the coattail effect?
A popular candidate helps other candidates from their party win.