Primaries/Caucuses
Which nomination method involves voters casting a secret ballot throughout the day?
Primary Election
Which type of polling is conducted before an election to measure voter preferences?
Public Opinion Poll
What is campaign finance?
The raising and spending of money to support political campaigns.
How many votes are needed to win the electoral college?
270
Which Federalist Paper outlined the need for a strong, energetic executive?
Federalist 70
Which nomination method requires voters to gather at a specific time to publicly discuss and support candidates?
Caucuses
What is one advantage of incumbency during an election?
Greater name recognition and easier fundraising.
What is a Political Action Committee (PAC)?
An organization that raises and donates money to political candidates or causes.
How many votes are available in the entire Electoral College?
538
What are the 3 requirements to be President? Need all 3!
1. At least 35 years old
2. Natural Born Citizen
3. Resident of the US for at least 14 years
Why do caucuses generally have lower voter turnout than primaries?
Caucuses require a greater time commitement from voters as well as meeting at a specific time to discuss the issues publicly
What is the "bandwagon effect" in elections?
When voters support a candidate because they believe that candidate is likely to win.
How are Super PACs different from traditional PACs?
Super PACs can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money independently of candidates.
How are a state's electoral votes determined?
A state's number of Senators (2) + a state's number of federal House of Representative members
Which article of the Constitution outlined the roles and responsiblities of the presidency?
Article II
Who organizes and funds a caucus?
The Political Parties themselves
Which caucus traditionally begins the election season?
The Iowa Caucus
Which federal agency enforces campaign finance laws?
The Federal Election Commission (FEC)
What is a "faithless elector"?
An elector who votes for someone other than the candidate they were pledged to support.
Which constitutional amendment changed the process for electing the president and vice president after the election of 1800?
12th Amendment
What is an open primary?
A primary election where voters do not have to be registered with a party to vote. Voters can choose a ballot from either political party.
Which primary traditionally begins the election season?
New Hampshire Primary
What Supreme Court case ruled that independent political spending by corporations and unions is protected by the First Amendment?
Citizens United vs FEC
Which states award electoral votes proportionally instead of using the winner-take-all system? (Need 2)
Maine and Nebraska
How many DIFFERENT Presidents has the US had? Be careful
45