US Chapter 6 - Elections

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  • Created by: Sam456
  • Created on: 02-06-21 20:22
How often do presidential elections occur?
Every 4 years
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What are the three constitutional requirements to be able to run for President of the United States?
One must be a natural-born American citizen
One must be at least 35 years old
One must have lived in the US for 14 years
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What are some factors that help you become President of the United States?
Political experience
Major party endorsement
Personal characteristics
Ability to raise large sums of money
Effective organisation
Oratorical skills and being telegenic
Sound and relevant policies
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What is the invisible primary?
The period between candidates declaring an intention to run for the presidency and the first primaries and caucuses
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When do candidates announce their campaigns?
Over a year before the election
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Why was there not a Republican primary in 2020?
Donald Trump was already the nominee for the Presidential election
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Why is fundraising so important in primaries?
It means that you are able to campaign more than your opponents
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What is a front-runner?
The person leading in the polls during the primaries or invisible primary
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What is the difference between a primary and a caucus?
Primaries are state-based elections to choose a party's candidate. Caucuses are state-based meetings with few people.
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Which state has the first caucus and which state has the first primary?
Iowa
New Hampshire
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What is the difference between a closed and open primary?
A closed party is one where only party members can vote. An open primary is one where anyone can vote regardless of their party.
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What is Super Tuesday?
A day in early March where many states choose to have their primaries on the same day
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What is the difference between proportional and winner-take-all primaries?
In proportional primaries, the delegates are split between the proportion of vote the candidates have received. In winner-take-all primaries, the winner receives all the delegates.
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What are some factors affecting turnout in primaries?
Demography
Type of primary
How competitive the nomination race is
Whether the nomination has been decided or not
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What are some strengths of the new nomination process?
Increased participation
Increased choice
Open to outsiders
A gruelling race
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What are some weaknesses of the new nomination process?
Widespread voter apathy and boredom
Voters are unrepresentative of the voting-age population
Process is far too long
Process is very expensive
Process is too dominated by the media
Primaries can easily develop into bitter personal battles
Lack of peer rev
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What are some strategies for choosing a vice-presidential candidate?
Balanced ticket
Potential in government
Party unity
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What are some formal functions of the National Party Conventions?
Choosing the party's presidential candidate
Choosing the party's vice presidential candidate
Deciding the party platform
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What are some informal functions of the National Party Conventions?
Promoting party unity
Enthusing the party faithful
Enthusing the ordinary voters
Post-convention 'bounce'W
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What changes took effect after the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974?
The Federal Election Commission was created
Election finance was now regulated
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What big change took effect after the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002?
National party committees were banned from raising or spending soft money
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What is a PAC?
Political Action Committee
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What is a Super PAC?
Independent Expenditure-only Committee
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Where does money raised for a political candidate go to?
Organisation
Campaigning
Media
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How did Ronald Reagan turn voters against Jimmy Carter in the Presidential debate of 1980?
He asked them that when they voted, they would ask themselves if they were better off 4 years ago or not. He knew most of them would answer in the negative.
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What is an October surprise?
Something released a month before the election that could damage a candidate's chances at the presidency
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Why are incumbents at a disadvantage?
They have to defend their actions over the last 4 years
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What is the Electoral College?
The system put in place by the constitution to elect a president
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Which state has the most Electoral College votes?
California has 55 votes
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How many Electoral College votes are there in total?
538
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What are the strengths of the Electoral College?
It preserves the voice of the small-population states
It tends to promote a two-horse race
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What are the weaknesses of the Electoral College?
Small states are over-represented
Winner-take-all system distorts the result
Unfair to national third parties
Faithless Electors
Presidents and vice presidents of different parties
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What are some possible reforms of the Electoral College?
Direct election
Congressional district system
Proportional system
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What is split-ticket voting?
Voting one party for one election, and another party for another election
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What are some different types of direct democracy?
Propositions (Ballot Initiatives)
Referendums
Election Recalls
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are the three constitutional requirements to be able to run for President of the United States?

Back

One must be a natural-born American citizen
One must be at least 35 years old
One must have lived in the US for 14 years

Card 3

Front

What are some factors that help you become President of the United States?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the invisible primary?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

When do candidates announce their campaigns?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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