Unit 2: Elections

Unit Study Guide

Study Questions: Answer these questions on your own. This will prepare you for tests!

  1. What roles/functions do political parties play in the American political process? MORE than one word!!
  1. How are the major political parties similar and how do they differ?

DeMOcratic Party SimilaritiesRepubLican Party

  1. How do third parties DIFR (differ) from the two major parties?

Do not usually ______(choose one: lose or win)

Introduce new ______

Focus on one ______

Revolve around ______such as Theodore Roosevelt

  1. How do citizens make informed choices to “deSIDE” in elections?
  2. Separating ______
  3. Identifying ______
  4. Detecting ______
  5. Evaluating ______
  1. Fill in the role/function of mass media in elections then match it to the example:

Use the above answers to match to the media examples below:

_____The Washington Post Headline: “Joe Biden Running for President”

_____Wall Street Journal Opinions Page: “Donald Trump: Make America Great Again”

_____CNN Broadcaster Quote: “Donald Trumpwants to build a wall around the southern border of the US.

Bernie Sanders thinks that’s a bad plan.”

_____Washington Times Article: “Problems brewing between Russia and the US”

  1. What is campaign finance?
  1. It’s expensive to run for elected positions. How has the high cost changed campaigning? (list 5)NOTES
  1. What reforms (changes) have been made to campaign finance laws to control the rising cost of campaigning?
  1. Interest groups help fund a candidates run for office by forming ______, which help raise large amounts of money for the candidates.
  1. What are thequalifications(requirements) for voter registration in Virginia? (list 3)
  1. HOWcan you register to vote in Virginia? (list 2)
  1. How far in advance do you have to register to vote?
  1. What factors predict which citizens will vote? (list 3) HINT: AEI
  1. Why do citizens fail to vote? (list 2)
  1. What is apathy?
  1. More people vote in ______elections than in ______and ______elections. NOTES
  1. Who/what elects the President and Vice-President?
  1. How many total votes are there in the Electoral College? How many votes does a candidate need to win?
  1. What is the winner-take-all system?
  1. What states are targeted for campaigning because of the winner-take-all system?
  1. The number of electors for each state is based on ______?
  1. In Virginia: ____ Representatives + _____ Senators = 13 electors.
  1. What type of political system does the Electoral College favor?
  1. What are the steps in the Electoral College process?USE YO NOTES

Make sure to include:

Popular vote

Electoral College

Winner-take-all

Congressional Representation