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POSC 1010 Final Exam Questions and
Answers
Does the Constitution say little about suffrage (the right to vote)?
Ans: Yes
Article 1, the Elections Clause, of the Constitution states that
Ans: "States regulate "the times, places, and manner of holding
elections", all of which is subject to congressional action
Voter eligibility is up to
Ans: States
Has the right to vote drastically changed throughout U.S history?
Ans: Yes
What have been types of voting restrictions, and how long ago did
they exist?
Ans: Religion, race, gender, wealth, and all the way back to the Colonial
Period
African American males were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: 15th amendment in 1870
Women were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: 19th amendment in 1920
African Americans were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: Voting Rights Act in 1965
When did the voting age change to 18?
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, 2 | Page
Ans: 26th amendment in 1971
Washington D.C residents couldn't vote until when?
Ans: 23rd amendment in 1961
Voting polls were outlawed when?
Ans: 24th amendment in 1964
When were Literacy tests outlawed?
Ans: Voting Rights Act in 1965
Do some states have different requirements to vote than other
states?
Ans: Yes, requirement of Photo ID's being one
How is Voter Turnout calculated?
Ans: Votes/Eligible Voters
What leads to lower voter turnout?
Ans: Lengthy registration, registration cost, time it takes to vote
What're the 2 stages of US election?
Ans: Nomination Campaign, and General Election Campaign
The Nomination Campaign determines-
Ans: Which candidate gets the party's nomination
The 2 forms of election for the Nomination Campaign are:
Ans: Ballots and Caucuses
Does the Nomination Campaign have a Historical Calendar?
Ans: Yes
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Does the Nomination Campaign have an invisible primary?
Ans: Yes
Formal start date of the Nomination Campaign:
Ans: Primaries and caucuses, then continues with National Convention
What does the National Convention do?
Ans: Formally selects presidential and VP candidates
What's the purpose of the General Election Campaign?
Ans: Determines who gets selected to serve in Office through
plurality/majority voting
Campaign financing does what?
Ans: Regulates money raised and spends it on influencing the election
Expression is protected by-
Ans: The First Amendment
What's the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign?
Ans: Sets donation limits to candidates, requires disclosure of
donations, and establishes the Federal Election Commission which
oversees Federal Elections
Bucky vs. Valeo (1976) determined what?
Ans: That limiting campaign donations IS constitutional
McCain-Feingold Act (2002) did what?
Ans: Expanded the donation limits, and regulates political advertising
Citizens United vs. FEC (2010) did what?
Ans: Struck down part of McCain-Feingold preventing corporate funding
of political ads
© 2025 All rights reserved
POSC 1010 Final Exam Questions and
Answers
Does the Constitution say little about suffrage (the right to vote)?
Ans: Yes
Article 1, the Elections Clause, of the Constitution states that
Ans: "States regulate "the times, places, and manner of holding
elections", all of which is subject to congressional action
Voter eligibility is up to
Ans: States
Has the right to vote drastically changed throughout U.S history?
Ans: Yes
What have been types of voting restrictions, and how long ago did
they exist?
Ans: Religion, race, gender, wealth, and all the way back to the Colonial
Period
African American males were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: 15th amendment in 1870
Women were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: 19th amendment in 1920
African Americans were restricted from voting until when?
Ans: Voting Rights Act in 1965
When did the voting age change to 18?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Ans: 26th amendment in 1971
Washington D.C residents couldn't vote until when?
Ans: 23rd amendment in 1961
Voting polls were outlawed when?
Ans: 24th amendment in 1964
When were Literacy tests outlawed?
Ans: Voting Rights Act in 1965
Do some states have different requirements to vote than other
states?
Ans: Yes, requirement of Photo ID's being one
How is Voter Turnout calculated?
Ans: Votes/Eligible Voters
What leads to lower voter turnout?
Ans: Lengthy registration, registration cost, time it takes to vote
What're the 2 stages of US election?
Ans: Nomination Campaign, and General Election Campaign
The Nomination Campaign determines-
Ans: Which candidate gets the party's nomination
The 2 forms of election for the Nomination Campaign are:
Ans: Ballots and Caucuses
Does the Nomination Campaign have a Historical Calendar?
Ans: Yes
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Does the Nomination Campaign have an invisible primary?
Ans: Yes
Formal start date of the Nomination Campaign:
Ans: Primaries and caucuses, then continues with National Convention
What does the National Convention do?
Ans: Formally selects presidential and VP candidates
What's the purpose of the General Election Campaign?
Ans: Determines who gets selected to serve in Office through
plurality/majority voting
Campaign financing does what?
Ans: Regulates money raised and spends it on influencing the election
Expression is protected by-
Ans: The First Amendment
What's the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign?
Ans: Sets donation limits to candidates, requires disclosure of
donations, and establishes the Federal Election Commission which
oversees Federal Elections
Bucky vs. Valeo (1976) determined what?
Ans: That limiting campaign donations IS constitutional
McCain-Feingold Act (2002) did what?
Ans: Expanded the donation limits, and regulates political advertising
Citizens United vs. FEC (2010) did what?
Ans: Struck down part of McCain-Feingold preventing corporate funding
of political ads
© 2025 All rights reserved
