POLS 207 - FINAL EXAM 2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BAND NEW VISION)
Reason why we have candidate centered models is because - ANS-crossing the isle
in the states is normalized (decline in party identification, increased focus on
candidate rather than party)
Rational choice theory - ANS--political scientist Anthony Downs model
-most voters are moderate (center of political spectrum)
-parties seek voter loyalty (position themselves to left/right of center)
The Down's Model - ANS-How rational parties position themselves near (but not at)
the center of public opinion
Political party functions - ANS--org elections and narrow the choices of political
office seekers confronting the voters
-guiding party & shaping its image
-org state legislatures
Filling - ANS-Candidates need to file paperwork to run, filling fee ($7500)
Endorsements - ANS-Looking for when you start running a campaign, media
attention, money, momentum to run a successful campaign
Open primary - ANS-you choose on primary election day which primary part you
vote for
primary election - ANS-an election held to choose which candidates will be running
for office
Closed primary - ANS-A primary in which only registered members of a particular
political party can vote
Conventions - ANS-used to nominate candidates, select delegates, org
Presidential Primaries - ANS-Elections in which a state's voters go to the polls to
express their preference for a party's nominee for president. Most delegates to
the national party conventions are chosen this way.
Caucus - ANS-A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or
candidates for public office and to decide the platform. (instead of primaries)
, Runoff primaries - ANS-used when no candidate receives majority (more than 50%)
of the vote
Crossover in voting - ANS-voting in another's party primary even though you
usually support a diff party
Temporary national party org - ANS-voters, precinct convention, state convention,
national convention
Permanent national pary org - ANS-voters, precinct chair, county committee, state
committee, national committee
Description of Self-Financing - ANS-no need to outspend opponent to win
Compaigns have advantages against weak challengers - ANS-More experience,
resources, and funds for media/publicity
money in campaigns - ANS-It's not a quantity challenge but a quality challenge
Making a state legislator - ANS-typically selected from the upper-middle class segments
of the population
Occupation (legislator) - ANS-with flexible work schedule or retired persons (lawyers,
business owners, physicians)
Education (legislator) - ANS-most are college educated
Age (legislator) - ANS-average is 56 yrs
Personal wealth (legislator) - ANS-Recruited from affluent families
Amateurs - ANS-most state legislatures are part-time bodies
Impact of reappointment - ANS--encourage officials to perform well but may also make
them more responsive to those who control reappointment than to the public
Districting - ANS-is the process of dividing a state into electoral districts
Partisan gerrymandering - ANS-District are drawn to favor one political party over
another
Incumbent gerrymandering - ANS-Districts are drawn to help current officeholders win
reelections
Affirmative Racial Gerrymandering - ANS-Districts are drawn to INCREASE voting
power of racial minority groups
AND CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BAND NEW VISION)
Reason why we have candidate centered models is because - ANS-crossing the isle
in the states is normalized (decline in party identification, increased focus on
candidate rather than party)
Rational choice theory - ANS--political scientist Anthony Downs model
-most voters are moderate (center of political spectrum)
-parties seek voter loyalty (position themselves to left/right of center)
The Down's Model - ANS-How rational parties position themselves near (but not at)
the center of public opinion
Political party functions - ANS--org elections and narrow the choices of political
office seekers confronting the voters
-guiding party & shaping its image
-org state legislatures
Filling - ANS-Candidates need to file paperwork to run, filling fee ($7500)
Endorsements - ANS-Looking for when you start running a campaign, media
attention, money, momentum to run a successful campaign
Open primary - ANS-you choose on primary election day which primary part you
vote for
primary election - ANS-an election held to choose which candidates will be running
for office
Closed primary - ANS-A primary in which only registered members of a particular
political party can vote
Conventions - ANS-used to nominate candidates, select delegates, org
Presidential Primaries - ANS-Elections in which a state's voters go to the polls to
express their preference for a party's nominee for president. Most delegates to
the national party conventions are chosen this way.
Caucus - ANS-A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or
candidates for public office and to decide the platform. (instead of primaries)
, Runoff primaries - ANS-used when no candidate receives majority (more than 50%)
of the vote
Crossover in voting - ANS-voting in another's party primary even though you
usually support a diff party
Temporary national party org - ANS-voters, precinct convention, state convention,
national convention
Permanent national pary org - ANS-voters, precinct chair, county committee, state
committee, national committee
Description of Self-Financing - ANS-no need to outspend opponent to win
Compaigns have advantages against weak challengers - ANS-More experience,
resources, and funds for media/publicity
money in campaigns - ANS-It's not a quantity challenge but a quality challenge
Making a state legislator - ANS-typically selected from the upper-middle class segments
of the population
Occupation (legislator) - ANS-with flexible work schedule or retired persons (lawyers,
business owners, physicians)
Education (legislator) - ANS-most are college educated
Age (legislator) - ANS-average is 56 yrs
Personal wealth (legislator) - ANS-Recruited from affluent families
Amateurs - ANS-most state legislatures are part-time bodies
Impact of reappointment - ANS--encourage officials to perform well but may also make
them more responsive to those who control reappointment than to the public
Districting - ANS-is the process of dividing a state into electoral districts
Partisan gerrymandering - ANS-District are drawn to favor one political party over
another
Incumbent gerrymandering - ANS-Districts are drawn to help current officeholders win
reelections
Affirmative Racial Gerrymandering - ANS-Districts are drawn to INCREASE voting
power of racial minority groups
