Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer


1	One of the reasons why voter turnout is lower in the United States than in Western European countries is that:
		A)	Americans pay less attention to politics.
		B)	U.S. registration laws place a greater burden on the individual.
		C)	the U.S. population is not as well educated.
		D)	the U.S. spends less money on the electoral process.


2	Which one of the following would increase voter turnout the most:
		A)	sharp differences between major political parties.
		B)	alienation.
		C)	frequent elections.
		D)	an individualistic culture


3	The personal characteristic along which participation tends to vary the least is:
		A)	age.
		B)	gender.
		C)	race.
		D)	socioeconomic class.


4	A knowledge of candidates' issue positions and campaign promises would be most valuable for which type of voting?
		A)	prospective
		B)	retrospective
		C)	split-ticket
		D)	party line


5	What type of elections tend to draw the largest percentage of voters in the United States?
		A)	primary
		B)	mayoral
		C)	congressional
		D)	presidential


6	Social movements are a way for: those dissatisfied with government to get its attention. the politically weak to force government to be more responsive to their interests than it normally is. people to present their views through more dramatic means than conventional political activity allows. people to recruit candidates for office.
		A)	2 and 4.
		B)	2, 3, 4.
		C)	1, 2, 3.
		D)	only 4.
		E)	all the above.


7	When it comes to protest activities, a majority of Americans are:
		A)	actively involved at one time or another in their lives.
		B)	willing to contribute through financial support but not through direct participation in running for office or working for a campaign.
		C)	not highly supportive of such activities despite America's tradition of free expression.
		D)	actively involved only at a later stage of their lives when they feel more secure about their positions on issues.


8	All except for which one of the following are conventional forms of political participation in America:
		A)	voting.
		B)	campaign activities.
		C)	participation in social movements.
		D)	community activities.


9	In 1993 the U.S. motor voter law:
		A)	required states to register people to vote when they apply for driver's licenses.
		B)	discouraged people from driving and voting.
		C)	denied voting to people convicted of drunk driving.
		D)	denied voting to people on welfare.
		E)	employed government officials to go from house to house to register people to vote.


10	Which characteristic is most often associated with a frequent voter:
		A)	low income.
		B)	youth.
		C)	apathy.
		D)	a high level of education.


11	The overall pattern of individual political participation in the U.S.:
		A)	is almost opposite from the distribution of influence that prevails in the private sector.
		B)	parallels the distribution of influence that prevails in the private sector.
		C)	favors poorer citizens.
		D)	is increased by the American commitment to individualism.


12	When voters hold public officials responsible for past actions at election time, this is called what type of voting?
		A)	prospective
		B)	default
		C)	retrospective
		D)	mandate


13	Since the 1960s, voter turnout in presidential elections has fallen below ________percent.
		A)	20
		B)	25
		C)	35
		D)	40
		E)	60


14	The reason the text gives for the 1994 Republican party victories in congressional races is:
		A)	public disenchantment with Washington politics.
		B)	severe downturn in the nation's economy.
		C)	prospective voting.
		D)	the public's concern for local over national issues.
		E)	failure of voters to know their incumbent representative's name.


15	Political participation among Americans can best be described as favoring:
		A)	lower-income groups.
		B)	females over males.
		C)	non-white minorities.
		D)	the middle-class.
		E)	young over old.

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