1. The National Voter Registration Act encouraged voting by A. Requiring states to allow election day registration B. Declaring election day a federal holiday C. Allowing voter registration at Department of Motor Vehicles offices D. Eliminating residency requirements for voting E. Imposing fines on eligible voters who do not register

2. C Allowing voter registration at Department of Motor Vehicles offices

3. Which of the following statements about voter turnout is valid? I. Income and education levels have no effect on minority voting. II. The gender gap refers to the fact that women are more likely to vote than men. III. The lowest voter turnout is among college-age Americans. IV. The most common reason given by Americans for not voting is that they were too busy. A. I only B. I and II only C. I, II, III only D. I and III only E. III and IV only

4. E III and IV only

5. One of the effects of winner-take-all primaries is that A. Candidates can get a majority of the delegates quickly B. The cost of the campaign is higher C. The media focuses on who is ahead D. Candidates stay in the race longer E. More candidates decide to enter the primaries

6. A.Candidates can get a majority of the delegates quickly

7. Today, the most important function of a party’s national convention is to A. Select the electors for the electoral college B. Develop the strategy for the general election C. Formally nominate the president and vice president D. Choose the party’s leaders for the House and the Senate E. Name a new chair for the national committee

8. C Formally nominate the president and vice president

9. An amendment to the Constitution that did NOT extend the right to vote to a particular group was the A. Fifteenth Amendment B. Nineteenth Amendment C. Twenty-six Amendment D. Twenty-fourth Amendment E. Twenty-third Amendment

10. D Twenty-fourth Amendment

11. A primary election in which a registered Democrat can ask for a Republican ballot is a A. Presidential primary B. Open primary C. Closed primary D. Blanket primary E. Proportional representation primary

12. B Open Primary

13. The Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo (1976) ruled that A. Limits on a candidate’s use of personal money was unconstitutional B. Limits on individual contributions violated the First Amendment C. Labor union contributions were protected under the right association D. Federal matching funds had to be made available for state races E. Contributions to political parties for voter registration drives were valid

14. Limits on a candidate’s use of personal money was unconstitutional

15. Lower voter turnout in the United States can be explained by all of the following EXCEPT: A. Weak political parties B. An aging electorate C. Difficulty in registering D. Difficulty in voting E. Frequency of voting

16. B An aging electorate

17. In recent years, the efforts at campaign finance reform have focused on A. Reducing the influence of political action committees B. Curbing spending on negative advertising C. Decreasing the cost of presidential elections D. Prohibiting the use of union dues for political campaigns E. Eliminating soft money available to political parties

18. E Eliminating soft money available to political parties

19. Over the last 30 years, most successful candidates for the presidency have served A. In the Cabinet B. As senators C. As business executive D. As governors E. In the House of Representatives

20. D As governors

21. During the general election, a candidate is likely to do which of the following? I. Moderate positions taken during the primaries to appeal to the electorate as a whole. II. Campaign vigorously in all 50 states. III. Participate in a series of televised debates with the other major party candidate. IV. Continue to actively raise money. A. I only B. I and II only C. I and III only D. II and IV only E. I, III, IV only

22. C I and III

23. Above all else, the results of the 2000 presidential election showed that A. The “solid South” remains a fact of American politics B. The winner of the popular vote always wins the electoral vote C. The vote of every person is important D. A balanced ticket is the key to victory E. The party that spends the most will win the presidency

24. C The vote of every person is important

25. A candidate who qualifies for federal matching funds A. Loses the money if contributions over $250 are accepted B. Must accept spending limits during the primaries C. Needs to finish in the top four in each primary entered D. Does not have to report contributions less than $250 to the FEC E. Receives a check from the Treasury for the total amount raised during the campaign

26. B Must accept spending limits during the primaries

27. The campaign staff a presidential candidate puts together includes all of the following EXCEPT: A. A pollster B. A media specialist C. A foreign policy consultant D. A domestic policy advisor E. A political action committee chair

28. E A political action committee chair

29. In comparing congressional and presidential elections, which of the following statements are NOT valid? I. The power of the incumbency is stronger in congressional races. II. Congressional candidates get not federal matching funds. III. Presidential campaigns are considerably longer. IV. The money spent on congressional and presidential campaigns remained stable. A. I only B. I and II only C. I, II, III only D. IV only E. II and IV only

30. D IV only The money spent on congressional and presidential campaigns remained stable.