Pols 102 SDSU Final Exam Questions
With 100% Solved Answers!!!
What is the difference between a primary election and a general election? CORRECT
ANSWERS In a general election, the parties' respective nominees run against each
other, and voters decide who should hold office, since the person with the most votes
wins. In a primary election, voters decide which nominees the political parties should
run in the general election. But which voters decide varies greatly from state to state.
When you vote in a presidential primary election, what are you actually voting for?
CORRECT ANSWERS In U.S. presidential primaries, voters do not vote directly for the
candidate whom they would like their party to nominate. Instead, the popular vote
determines which candidate's delegates will attend the party's nominating convention
and vote for that party's nominee.
When you vote in a presidential general election, what are you actually voting for?
CORRECT ANSWERS Electoral College
How did reforms to the political parties delegate selection and nominating process that
occurred after 1968 change the amount of influence that voters had on the nominating
process? CORRECT ANSWERS The reforms, many of which both the Democratic
Party and the Republican Party adopted, significantly increased the influence of party
voters.
What is the difference between an open, closed and semi-closed primary system at the
presidential level? What do we have in California and how does it work? CORRECT
ANSWERS In an open primary election, any registered voter can vote in any party's
primary, as can independent voters not registered with a party. In a closed primary
election, voting in a party's primary is limited to members of that party.
Presidential primary - semi-closed primary
California statewide primary - Top Two Candidate Open Primary system for state
offices. All candidates on a single ballot for primary. Top two advance to run-off. This
applies to US Senators, US Reps, State Senators, Assembly and Executive
What is a "decline to state" voter? CORRECT ANSWERS A voter who does not register
with a party affiliation
What is "front-loading" and why is it a problem? CORRECT ANSWERS States moving
their primaries earlier and earlier which ends up making candidate season very long
When, specifically, are all general elections held in the United States? CORRECT
ANSWERS Most general elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in November.
, What are the three elements of direct democracy and how do they work in California?
CORRECT ANSWERS A referendum is an election in which voters in a state can vote
for or against a measure proposed by the state legislature.
An initiative is a citizen-sponsored proposal that can result in new or amended
legislation or a state constitutional amendment.
A recall election allows voters to cut short an officeholder's term of office.
What is absentee voting and how does it work in California? What are some advantages
and disadvantages? CORRECT ANSWERS Traditionally, absentee voting, in which
voters cast their ballots in advance by mail, was allowed only when disability, illness,
school, work, service in the armed forces, or travel prevented voters from casting a
ballot in their voting precinct.
Discuss how formal and informal eligibility requirements for federal-level offices differ?
Which are more stringent? CORRECT ANSWERS (President: Natural born citizen, 35
years old, resident of US for 14 years
Vice president: Natural born citizen, 35 years old, must not be resident of same state as
president
U.S. senator: citizen of 9 years, 30 years old, resident of state
U.S. representative: citizen of 7 years, 25 years old, resident of state)
Voters expect candidates for the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the
presidency to have higher qualifications than candidates for state and local offices.
In races for the U.S. Senate and the presidency, the popular press examines the
minutest details of candidates' professional and educational background.
How have political campaigns changed since the 1990s? CORRECT ANSWERS
Campaigns today are different from the campaigns of the 1980s or even the early
1990s.
The main reasons for the changes are the professionalization of campaign staffs, the
dramatically expanded role of the media and the Internet, and the changing nature of
campaign finance.
What is the role of "loopholes" in understanding attempts to limit the role of money in
American elections through campaign finance restrictions? CORRECT ANSWERS
Regulating Federal Campaign Contributions (Overview)
a. Regulatory Loopholes: Soft Money, Independent Expenditures from sources such as
527s, 501(c)4s
b. The Growth of PACs
c. The Growth of Super PACs
d. Dark Money in American elections
Discuss the two major legislative efforts that have been made to impose limits on the
amount of money in American elections? When did they occur? Were these efforts
successful? CORRECT ANSWERS The Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925
With 100% Solved Answers!!!
What is the difference between a primary election and a general election? CORRECT
ANSWERS In a general election, the parties' respective nominees run against each
other, and voters decide who should hold office, since the person with the most votes
wins. In a primary election, voters decide which nominees the political parties should
run in the general election. But which voters decide varies greatly from state to state.
When you vote in a presidential primary election, what are you actually voting for?
CORRECT ANSWERS In U.S. presidential primaries, voters do not vote directly for the
candidate whom they would like their party to nominate. Instead, the popular vote
determines which candidate's delegates will attend the party's nominating convention
and vote for that party's nominee.
When you vote in a presidential general election, what are you actually voting for?
CORRECT ANSWERS Electoral College
How did reforms to the political parties delegate selection and nominating process that
occurred after 1968 change the amount of influence that voters had on the nominating
process? CORRECT ANSWERS The reforms, many of which both the Democratic
Party and the Republican Party adopted, significantly increased the influence of party
voters.
What is the difference between an open, closed and semi-closed primary system at the
presidential level? What do we have in California and how does it work? CORRECT
ANSWERS In an open primary election, any registered voter can vote in any party's
primary, as can independent voters not registered with a party. In a closed primary
election, voting in a party's primary is limited to members of that party.
Presidential primary - semi-closed primary
California statewide primary - Top Two Candidate Open Primary system for state
offices. All candidates on a single ballot for primary. Top two advance to run-off. This
applies to US Senators, US Reps, State Senators, Assembly and Executive
What is a "decline to state" voter? CORRECT ANSWERS A voter who does not register
with a party affiliation
What is "front-loading" and why is it a problem? CORRECT ANSWERS States moving
their primaries earlier and earlier which ends up making candidate season very long
When, specifically, are all general elections held in the United States? CORRECT
ANSWERS Most general elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in November.
, What are the three elements of direct democracy and how do they work in California?
CORRECT ANSWERS A referendum is an election in which voters in a state can vote
for or against a measure proposed by the state legislature.
An initiative is a citizen-sponsored proposal that can result in new or amended
legislation or a state constitutional amendment.
A recall election allows voters to cut short an officeholder's term of office.
What is absentee voting and how does it work in California? What are some advantages
and disadvantages? CORRECT ANSWERS Traditionally, absentee voting, in which
voters cast their ballots in advance by mail, was allowed only when disability, illness,
school, work, service in the armed forces, or travel prevented voters from casting a
ballot in their voting precinct.
Discuss how formal and informal eligibility requirements for federal-level offices differ?
Which are more stringent? CORRECT ANSWERS (President: Natural born citizen, 35
years old, resident of US for 14 years
Vice president: Natural born citizen, 35 years old, must not be resident of same state as
president
U.S. senator: citizen of 9 years, 30 years old, resident of state
U.S. representative: citizen of 7 years, 25 years old, resident of state)
Voters expect candidates for the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the
presidency to have higher qualifications than candidates for state and local offices.
In races for the U.S. Senate and the presidency, the popular press examines the
minutest details of candidates' professional and educational background.
How have political campaigns changed since the 1990s? CORRECT ANSWERS
Campaigns today are different from the campaigns of the 1980s or even the early
1990s.
The main reasons for the changes are the professionalization of campaign staffs, the
dramatically expanded role of the media and the Internet, and the changing nature of
campaign finance.
What is the role of "loopholes" in understanding attempts to limit the role of money in
American elections through campaign finance restrictions? CORRECT ANSWERS
Regulating Federal Campaign Contributions (Overview)
a. Regulatory Loopholes: Soft Money, Independent Expenditures from sources such as
527s, 501(c)4s
b. The Growth of PACs
c. The Growth of Super PACs
d. Dark Money in American elections
Discuss the two major legislative efforts that have been made to impose limits on the
amount of money in American elections? When did they occur? Were these efforts
successful? CORRECT ANSWERS The Federal Corrupt Practices Act of 1925
