Elections and voting

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When do presidential elections occur?
Every 4 years, On the Tuesday after the first Monday in November
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What are the constitutional requirements to be president?
Natural born US citizen, at least 35, USA resident for at least 14 years
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What are the functions of the invisible primary?
Announce candidacy, increase name recognition, money raising, intra-party televised debates
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What are the functions of primaries and caucuses?
Show popularity of candidates, choose delegates to attend National Party Conventions
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What comes after the primaries and caucuses?
Presidential candidates announce choice of running-mate
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What are the functions of National Party Conventions?
Confirm presidential and VP candidates, approve party platform, acceptance speech
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What comes after the NPC?
The campaign between candidates of various parties
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What follows the campaigns?
Voters go to the polls
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What follows election day?
Electors vote in state capitals to choose president and VP
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What does the 22nd state about the number of terms a president can serve?
Presidents can only serve for 2 terms
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In 1960 how many days before the first primary did Kennedy announce his run for presidency?
66 days
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In 2008 how many days before the first primary did Obama announce his run for presidency?
332 days
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What are the 6 things about a primary that are decided by the state?
Whether its a primary or a caucus, when to hold it, how to conduct it, who can vote, who can be on the ballot, how to allocate the ballots
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What is front loading?
States put their primaries or caucuses earlier to try and increase its importance
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What is Super Tuesday?
A specific day when lots of states hold their primaries or caucuses
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What is a caucus?
A meeting to select a party's candidate for the presidency
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What is a presidential primaries?
An election to select a party's candidate for the presidency
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What are the advantages of primaries?
More participation (30% in 2008), Higher interest (D race in 2008), Increased choice of candidates (14 in 2008), Outsiders can enter (Trump 2016), removes power of party bosses, reduces chance of corruption, Removes people not up to the task
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What are the disadvantages of primaries?
Low turnout (28% 2016), voters are unrepresentative, process too long, too expensive, bitter personal battles, fails to test key presidential qualities, too much power given to ordinary voters
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What are the possible reforms available?
A national primary, a series of four regional primaries, further limits on money-raising, mini-convention to choose the list of candidates, states vote in order of size
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What are the 4 problems of the possible reforms?
The National Committees and Conventions of both parties have to agree, all 50 states have to agree, lots support the current system, further limits on spending likely to be called unconstitutional
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When was the last time the National Convention actually chosen the VP candidate?
1956
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What is a party platform?
The statement of a party's policies for an upcoming presidential election
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What are the informal functions of the conventions?
To promote party unity, enthuse the party faithful (delegates), enthuse the ordinary voters
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Why are modern-day Conventions less important?
Presidential candidates chosen at primaries, VP announced before convention, parties avoid controversy to look unified (scripted), less coverage given to the convention
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What were the problems with the 1970s campaign finance reforms?
'soft money' spent by political parties on 'party building', growth in 'issue advocacy' campaigning by union groups, weakening of parties as 'matching funds' go directly to the candidate organisations, Federal Election Commission have little powers
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What were the principals of the 2002 reforms?
National Parties Committees banned from 'soft money', groups can't directly fund issue advertisements, no union or corporate money to fund advertisement, no fundraising on federal property, more limits on contribution, no contributions from foreign
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When was the first televised debate?
1960
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Arguments that presidential debates are important?
Only time candidates can address voter unfiltered, Large audience, sound bites, important for challengers, can change the direction of the campaign (2012)
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Arguments that presidential debates are not important?
Rarely effect the outcome of the election, memorable points usually more trivia than substance, usually confirm the front-runner, often candidates giving pre-rehearsed answers
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How many ECVs are there?
538
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How many ECVs are needed to achieve an absolute majority?
270
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If there is a deadlock in ECVs who votes for the president?
House of Representatives
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If there is a deadlock in ECVs who votes for the VP?
Senate
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What are the strengths of the Electoral College system?
Preserves the voice of small-population states, promotes a two horse race (In 25/37 elections winner gained more than 50% of the vote)
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What are the weaknesses of the Electoral College system? (pt 1)
Small-population states over represented, can distort result (2008 Obama got 52% of the popular vote but 68% of the ECV), can win the popular vote but not the EC (2000), unfair to 3rd parties (1992 Perot got 19% but no ECVs),
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(pt 2)
Rogue electors can vote for candidates who did not win the popular vote, can result in president in one party and a VP in another
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What are possible reforms of the EC system?
Have a proportional system, pass state laws to prohibit rogue electors, decide on popular vote
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What are the factors that effect how people vote?
Party affiliation, race, gender, religion, wealth, geographic region, policies
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In 2012 how many Democrats voted for Obama?
92%
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In 2012 how many Republicans voted for Romney?
93%
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In 2012 what was the gender split for Romney?
Men - 52% Women - 45%
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In 2012 what was the gender split for Obama?
Men - 44% Women - 55%
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In 2012 what percentage of African Americans voted Obama?
93%
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In 2000 what percentage of voters who attended religious services weekly voted Republican?
63%
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In 2008 what percentage of poor people voted for Obama?
73%
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Which 3 Western states tend to support the Democrats?
California, Oregon and Washington
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When do congressional elections occur (all of the house and 1/3 of the senate)
Every 2 years
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What are the requirements to be a HofR?
At least 25, US citizen for at least 7 years, be a resident of the state
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What are the requirements to be a senator?
At least 30, US citizen for 9 years, resident of the state you represent
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Between 1992 and 2012 how many incumbent senators were defeated?
8
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What is a coat-tail effect?
A strong candidate helping congressional candidates getting elected at the same time
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In 2008 how many seats in the Senate did Obama help win?
8
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What is split-ticket voting?
Voting for candidates of two or more parties at the same election
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In 2012 how many districts did Obama win the presidential race but lost the house?
17
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Of the last 12 elections what are the re-election rates in the House on 9 of those occasions?
90%
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What is a competitive seat in House elections?
One that is won by an incumbent by less than 10 percentage
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In 1992 how many competitive seats were there?
111
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In 2004 how many competitive seats were there?
31
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In 96 years how many times has the president's party gained seats?
Twice
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In 2010 how many seats did Obama lose in the House and the Senate?
63 house 6 Senate
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What is a proposition?
A mechanism by which citizens of a state can place proposed laws, and in some states proposed constitutional amendments, on the state ballot
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What are the two types of proposition?
Direct and indirect
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Which state had a proposition banning same sex marriage in 2008?
California
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What are the advantages of propositions?
They are a way to reform issues too controversial for legislators, increase accountability of state legislatures, increase turnout, increase citizen interest in state issues
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What are the disadvantages of propositions?
Lack the flexibility of the legislative process, can be manipulated by special interests
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What is a referendum?
Where voters can effectively veto a bill passed by the state legislature
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What is a recall election?
Enables voters to remove an elected official from office
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Who was the Wisconsin governor that nearly got recalled in June 2012?
Scott Walker
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are the constitutional requirements to be president?

Back

Natural born US citizen, at least 35, USA resident for at least 14 years

Card 3

Front

What are the functions of the invisible primary?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What are the functions of primaries and caucuses?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What comes after the primaries and caucuses?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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