POLS 207 DYER EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
/. Three types of political participation - Answer-✅Conventional
Unconventional
Illegal
/.Conventional participation - Answer-✅Voting, volunteering, campaign donations,
joining groups, running for office
/.Unconventional participation - Answer-✅Sit-ins, demonstrations, protests, boycotts
/.Illegal participation - Answer-✅Assassination, terrorism, sabotage
/.What are some ways in which participants in politics differ from the overall population?
- Answer-✅Older persons, Higher level of education, "more at stake", married couples,
high interest, greater political efficacy
swing state residents
/.Why would a person "rationally" choose to vote? - Answer-✅To receive direct
personal and tangible benefits from the election of one candidate versus another
/.What are some reasons people might still vote even if it seems 'irrational' to do so? -
Answer-✅Irrational voters vote out of a sense of civic duty and commitment to
democracy rather than a purely rational basis.
/.Which types of elections is voter turnout highest? - Answer-✅Presidential elections
and regular elections
/.Which types of elections is voter turnout lowest? - Answer-✅Odd year elections and
local elections
/.What are some factors that might explain state differences in voter turnout? - Answer-
✅- Political culture
- Socioeconomic factors
- Partisan competitiveness
- Media "calling" elections early
- Variation in state laws
, /.African Americans - Answer-✅Since 30s have favored democratic candidates
/.Hispanics - Answer-✅Diverse group with partisan differences in voting, this
demographic is the key to both parties' futures
/.Asians - Answer-✅More likely to register as independents
/.Women - Answer-✅Traditionally have not participated at same rate as men. This gap
is closing. Women in office comprise 1/4 of state legislators. Women are more likely to
vote democrat
/.How do the voting habits and choices of younger voters compare to those of older
voters? - Answer-✅- Younger voters fear being "frozen out" of college education and
home ownership
- Older voters have higher and more consistent turnout especially in state, local politics
and non-presidential election years
- 18-29 y/o more likely to vote democrat
- May agree on the "big problems" but not on priorities, causes, or cures
/.What are some 'unconventional forms of political participation? How do these try to
influence public officials and public policy? - Answer-✅Unconventional participation is
participation outside "the system". Increasingly common at city and state levels.
Examples: Protesting
1. Public activities that bring attention to issues
2. Draw large amounts of attention to influence decision makers
/.What kind of powers do states have over how elections are run? - Answer-✅- State
legislatures are in charge of drawing electoral districts
- States determine time, place, and manner of elections
/.What are some of the differences that can result between states in there elections? -
Answer-✅- Registration time frames
- Registration procedures
- Availability of early and absentee voting
- Polling locations
- Type of ballots and equipment
/.What are some of the barriers, both historic and contemporary, that states have put in
place to make it more difficult for people to vote? - Answer-✅- Barriers to registration
- Poll tax
- Literacy tests
- Good character reference
ANSWERS
/. Three types of political participation - Answer-✅Conventional
Unconventional
Illegal
/.Conventional participation - Answer-✅Voting, volunteering, campaign donations,
joining groups, running for office
/.Unconventional participation - Answer-✅Sit-ins, demonstrations, protests, boycotts
/.Illegal participation - Answer-✅Assassination, terrorism, sabotage
/.What are some ways in which participants in politics differ from the overall population?
- Answer-✅Older persons, Higher level of education, "more at stake", married couples,
high interest, greater political efficacy
swing state residents
/.Why would a person "rationally" choose to vote? - Answer-✅To receive direct
personal and tangible benefits from the election of one candidate versus another
/.What are some reasons people might still vote even if it seems 'irrational' to do so? -
Answer-✅Irrational voters vote out of a sense of civic duty and commitment to
democracy rather than a purely rational basis.
/.Which types of elections is voter turnout highest? - Answer-✅Presidential elections
and regular elections
/.Which types of elections is voter turnout lowest? - Answer-✅Odd year elections and
local elections
/.What are some factors that might explain state differences in voter turnout? - Answer-
✅- Political culture
- Socioeconomic factors
- Partisan competitiveness
- Media "calling" elections early
- Variation in state laws
, /.African Americans - Answer-✅Since 30s have favored democratic candidates
/.Hispanics - Answer-✅Diverse group with partisan differences in voting, this
demographic is the key to both parties' futures
/.Asians - Answer-✅More likely to register as independents
/.Women - Answer-✅Traditionally have not participated at same rate as men. This gap
is closing. Women in office comprise 1/4 of state legislators. Women are more likely to
vote democrat
/.How do the voting habits and choices of younger voters compare to those of older
voters? - Answer-✅- Younger voters fear being "frozen out" of college education and
home ownership
- Older voters have higher and more consistent turnout especially in state, local politics
and non-presidential election years
- 18-29 y/o more likely to vote democrat
- May agree on the "big problems" but not on priorities, causes, or cures
/.What are some 'unconventional forms of political participation? How do these try to
influence public officials and public policy? - Answer-✅Unconventional participation is
participation outside "the system". Increasingly common at city and state levels.
Examples: Protesting
1. Public activities that bring attention to issues
2. Draw large amounts of attention to influence decision makers
/.What kind of powers do states have over how elections are run? - Answer-✅- State
legislatures are in charge of drawing electoral districts
- States determine time, place, and manner of elections
/.What are some of the differences that can result between states in there elections? -
Answer-✅- Registration time frames
- Registration procedures
- Availability of early and absentee voting
- Polling locations
- Type of ballots and equipment
/.What are some of the barriers, both historic and contemporary, that states have put in
place to make it more difficult for people to vote? - Answer-✅- Barriers to registration
- Poll tax
- Literacy tests
- Good character reference
