(2003)
Citizens often choose to participate in the political process in ways other than
voting.
a. Identify two forms of participation in the political process other than
voting.
b. Explain two advantages of each form of participation you identified in (a).
Despite the fact that voting remains the preeminent behavior in which American citizens choose to participate in politically, there are numerous options beyond the ballot box.
A1. One form of participation in the political process other than voting is through litigation. Litigation is described as bringing a case before the courts in order to affect a political change. Amicus curiae or “friend of the court” briefs are written by interest groups or the government on behalf of an individual or a group in order to change the status quo.
A2. One advantage to litigation as a form of political participation is that unlike voting, it doesn’t require a plurality or supermajority of voters to make change. A judge and jury create a much smaller pool of individuals for which to decide a case.
A3. Another advantage to litigation as a form of political participation is that court opinions are based upon judicial principals which are often more binding than simple opinion that can change with the tides of personal opinion (ie. A statewide referendum on gay marriage vs. a Supreme Court decision on the 14th Amendment concerning gay marriage). Court decisions often last longer as statutes and laws.
B1. Another form of participation in the political process other than voting is through participating in political protests. Whether one decides to boycott a local market due to unfair pricing or participate in a March on Washington for civil rights, political protest can have a very meaningful impact.
B2.. One advantage to participating in political protests as a form of political action is that the act is is highly visible and with the media’s help, can magnify public interest. Protests often draw attention from both potential allies as well as gawkers.
B3. Another advantage to participating in political protests as a form of political participation is its relative low cost. Unlike becoming a candidate for the presidency to affect political change which costs millions of dollars, boycotts or marches are far more cost effective. They require time, some paint, and a loud voice which is much more accessible and cheap.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
UNIT 2 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 2 (2003)
6 POINT RUBRIC
Part (a): 2 points
Part (b): 4 points
Part (a): 2 points
1 point for each of two identifications of a form of political participation other than voting. Two different forms of political participation must be stated for two points.
Part (b): 4 points
2 points for each explanation of a form of political participation other than voting that was identified in part (a).
Each explanation must be linked to the specific form of political participation identified in part (a).
Accepted examples of political participation other than voting include: Accepted examples of advantages for each identified form of political participation include:
Litigation=
Numerical majority unnecessary; appeal to principle/law as opposed to opinion
Protest=
Bring public attention; sympathy; low cost; immediate response; expression of alienation
Contacting (e.g. media, public officials)=
Direct access to leaders; magnify representation; specify policy area in expression
Campaign work/voter registration=
Contact with potential officials; multiply individual interest; trailing ground
Campaign contributions=
Access; multiply on political decision-making; set policy agenda
Running for political office / holding political office=
Direct influence on political decision-making; set policy agenda
Political discussion to persuade others toward action=
Bring others attention to issues
Membership in an overtly political organization=
Solidarity with others of like interests; magnifying effect (specific, obviously political or explained as political)
Score of zero (0) for attempted answer that earns no points
Score of dash (-) for blank or off-task answer
UNIT 2 SCORING GUIDELINES
Question 2 (2003)
6 POINT RUBRIC
Part (a): 2 points
Part (b): 4 points
Part (a): 2 points
1 point for each of two identifications of a form of political participation other than voting. Two different forms of political participation must be stated for two points.
Part (b): 4 points
2 points for each explanation of a form of political participation other than voting that was identified in part (a).
Each explanation must be linked to the specific form of political participation identified in part (a).
Accepted examples of political participation other than voting include: Accepted examples of advantages for each identified form of political participation include:
Litigation=
Numerical majority unnecessary; appeal to principle/law as opposed to opinion
Protest=
Bring public attention; sympathy; low cost; immediate response; expression of alienation
Contacting (e.g. media, public officials)=
Direct access to leaders; magnify representation; specify policy area in expression
Campaign work/voter registration=
Contact with potential officials; multiply individual interest; trailing ground
Campaign contributions=
Access; multiply on political decision-making; set policy agenda
Running for political office / holding political office=
Direct influence on political decision-making; set policy agenda
Political discussion to persuade others toward action=
Bring others attention to issues
Membership in an overtly political organization=
Solidarity with others of like interests; magnifying effect (specific, obviously political or explained as political)
Score of zero (0) for attempted answer that earns no points
Score of dash (-) for blank or off-task answer
13.3 Pages 478 to 485
1) The process that allows citizens to propose legislation and submit it to the electorate for
popular vote is called
A) referendum.
B) recall.
C) initiative.
D) plebiscite.
E) caucus.
2) Which of the following is the main benefit of ballot measures?
A) Voters can participate in public policy decisions.
B) Legislatures tackle contentious issues that are important to the state.
C) If enacted, ballot measures can never be repealed.
D) Ballot measures are always constitutional.
E) Ballot measures do not require additional funding.
3) Which of the following statements is true?
A) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and Supreme Court justices must be 40.
B) U.S. senators must be at least 25 years old; representatives must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and Supreme Court justices must be 40.
C) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and there is no age requirement for Supreme Court justices.
D) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; and there are no
age requirements for presidents or Supreme Court justices.
E) U.S. Senators and Representatives must be at least 30 years old; presidents and Supreme
Court justices must be 35.
4) All of the following are critiques of ballot measures EXCEPT
A) Voters are unable to deal with numerous and complex ballot measures.
B) Interest groups have too much influence over ballot measures.
C) The wording of a ballot measure can affect its probability of success.
D) Ballot measures are not subject to contribution limits.
E) Ballot measures are popular issues that entrenched politicians have resisted.
5) Which of the following governors has been recalled?
A) Grey Davis
B) Arnold Schwarzenegger
C) Christine Todd Whitman
D) Rudy Giuliani
E) Roy Romer
6) Which of the following trends most accurately captures the changing nature of presidential
elections?
A) Republicans have become more likely to use proportional representation primaries.
B) Democrats have become more likely to use winner-take-all primaries.
C) States are increasingly more likely to use primary elections rather than caucuses.
D) States are increasingly more likely to use caucuses rather than primary elections.
E) States are increasingly selecting later dates on the primary calendar.
7) The earliest primary usually takes place in
A) Wisconsin.
B) New Hampshire.
C) Delaware.
D) South Carolina.
E) Iowa.
8) How does front-loading affect the nomination process?
A) Voters tend to reject front-loaded candidates.
B) Front-loading tends to benefit the front-runner.
C) Front-loading makes the nomination process more representative.
D) Front-loading makes it easier for campaigns to raise money.
E) Front-loading gives voters and the media more time to scrutinize presidential
candidates.
9) In recent years, states have had a tendency to choose early dates for their presidential
primaries in order to gain influence in the process. This is called
A) influence peddling.
B) gerrymandering.
C) front loading.
D) fish mongering.
E) primary staging.
10) Delegate slots to the Democratic National Convention that are reserved for elected party
officials are called
A) units.
B) ombudsmen.
C) King Kongs.
D) superdelegates.
E) dark horses.
popular vote is called
A) referendum.
B) recall.
C) initiative.
D) plebiscite.
E) caucus.
2) Which of the following is the main benefit of ballot measures?
A) Voters can participate in public policy decisions.
B) Legislatures tackle contentious issues that are important to the state.
C) If enacted, ballot measures can never be repealed.
D) Ballot measures are always constitutional.
E) Ballot measures do not require additional funding.
3) Which of the following statements is true?
A) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and Supreme Court justices must be 40.
B) U.S. senators must be at least 25 years old; representatives must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and Supreme Court justices must be 40.
C) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; presidents must
be 35; and there is no age requirement for Supreme Court justices.
D) U.S. representatives must be at least 25 years old; senators must be 30; and there are no
age requirements for presidents or Supreme Court justices.
E) U.S. Senators and Representatives must be at least 30 years old; presidents and Supreme
Court justices must be 35.
4) All of the following are critiques of ballot measures EXCEPT
A) Voters are unable to deal with numerous and complex ballot measures.
B) Interest groups have too much influence over ballot measures.
C) The wording of a ballot measure can affect its probability of success.
D) Ballot measures are not subject to contribution limits.
E) Ballot measures are popular issues that entrenched politicians have resisted.
5) Which of the following governors has been recalled?
A) Grey Davis
B) Arnold Schwarzenegger
C) Christine Todd Whitman
D) Rudy Giuliani
E) Roy Romer
6) Which of the following trends most accurately captures the changing nature of presidential
elections?
A) Republicans have become more likely to use proportional representation primaries.
B) Democrats have become more likely to use winner-take-all primaries.
C) States are increasingly more likely to use primary elections rather than caucuses.
D) States are increasingly more likely to use caucuses rather than primary elections.
E) States are increasingly selecting later dates on the primary calendar.
7) The earliest primary usually takes place in
A) Wisconsin.
B) New Hampshire.
C) Delaware.
D) South Carolina.
E) Iowa.
8) How does front-loading affect the nomination process?
A) Voters tend to reject front-loaded candidates.
B) Front-loading tends to benefit the front-runner.
C) Front-loading makes the nomination process more representative.
D) Front-loading makes it easier for campaigns to raise money.
E) Front-loading gives voters and the media more time to scrutinize presidential
candidates.
9) In recent years, states have had a tendency to choose early dates for their presidential
primaries in order to gain influence in the process. This is called
A) influence peddling.
B) gerrymandering.
C) front loading.
D) fish mongering.
E) primary staging.
10) Delegate slots to the Democratic National Convention that are reserved for elected party
officials are called
A) units.
B) ombudsmen.
C) King Kongs.
D) superdelegates.
E) dark horses.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Chapter 13.2 Pages 470-78
1) Which of the following is least likely to be registered to vote?
A) an eighteen-year-old
B) an African American
C) an Hispanic
D) a man
E) a woman
2) What is voter turnout like in states with Election Day voter registration?
A) Turnout in these states is considerably lower.
B) Turnout in these states is slightly lower.
C) Turnout in these states is about equal to turnout in other states.
D) Turnout in these states is considerably higher.
E) There is no relationship between voter turnout and Election Day voter registration.
3) Which of the following best describes why voter turnout in Oregon has increased in recent
years?
A) The Dixie Chicks have visited several times, motivating Oregonians to vote.
B) Oregon recently switched to an all-mail balloting system.
C) Californians vote at very high rates and many Californians have moved to Oregon.
D) Out-of-work loggers are frustrated with politics and vote at high rates to express their
discontent.
E) Oregon has compulsory voting.
4) Some people argue that low voter turnout does not matter because
A) voters do not represent the interests of nonvoters.
B) nonvoters tend to be less well informed.
C) low voting rates perpetuate racial imbalances within government.
D) low voting rates delegitimize the political process.
E) nonvoters are different from voters.
5) What is ticket-splitting?
A) voting for independents
B) voting in some elections and not in others
C) tearing up your ballot in protest
D) refusing to register with a political party
E) voting for candidates from different parties in an election
6) Voters who support the party in government during good economic times and vote for the
other political party during economic downturns are exercising
A) ticket-splitting.
B) strategic voting.
C) florescent voting.
D) retrospective judgment.
E) prospective judgment.
7) Which of the following elections was most clearly a mandate?
A) the 1992 presidential election
B) the 1994 congressional elections
C) the 2000 presidential election
D) an election where the incumbent wins by a narrow margin
E) an election where the challenger wins by a narrow margin
8) A primary election in which only a partyʹs registered voters are eligible to participate is called
A) an open primary.
B) a blanket primary.
C) a closed primary.
D) a round robin primary.
E) instant runoff voting.
9) Which of the following is true about raiding?
A) It is very common.
B) It does not occur very frequently.
C) It is likely the reason George W. Bush beat John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina
primary.
D) It is likely the reason John Kerry beat Howard Dean in the 2004 Iowa caucus.
E) It is likely the reason George W. Bush beat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.
10) Which state has an unusual primary system where all candidates appear on the same ballot,
regardless of their party affiliations?
A) Colorado
B) Alaska
C) New Hampshire
D) Louisiana
E) Nevada
A) an eighteen-year-old
B) an African American
C) an Hispanic
D) a man
E) a woman
2) What is voter turnout like in states with Election Day voter registration?
A) Turnout in these states is considerably lower.
B) Turnout in these states is slightly lower.
C) Turnout in these states is about equal to turnout in other states.
D) Turnout in these states is considerably higher.
E) There is no relationship between voter turnout and Election Day voter registration.
3) Which of the following best describes why voter turnout in Oregon has increased in recent
years?
A) The Dixie Chicks have visited several times, motivating Oregonians to vote.
B) Oregon recently switched to an all-mail balloting system.
C) Californians vote at very high rates and many Californians have moved to Oregon.
D) Out-of-work loggers are frustrated with politics and vote at high rates to express their
discontent.
E) Oregon has compulsory voting.
4) Some people argue that low voter turnout does not matter because
A) voters do not represent the interests of nonvoters.
B) nonvoters tend to be less well informed.
C) low voting rates perpetuate racial imbalances within government.
D) low voting rates delegitimize the political process.
E) nonvoters are different from voters.
5) What is ticket-splitting?
A) voting for independents
B) voting in some elections and not in others
C) tearing up your ballot in protest
D) refusing to register with a political party
E) voting for candidates from different parties in an election
6) Voters who support the party in government during good economic times and vote for the
other political party during economic downturns are exercising
A) ticket-splitting.
B) strategic voting.
C) florescent voting.
D) retrospective judgment.
E) prospective judgment.
7) Which of the following elections was most clearly a mandate?
A) the 1992 presidential election
B) the 1994 congressional elections
C) the 2000 presidential election
D) an election where the incumbent wins by a narrow margin
E) an election where the challenger wins by a narrow margin
8) A primary election in which only a partyʹs registered voters are eligible to participate is called
A) an open primary.
B) a blanket primary.
C) a closed primary.
D) a round robin primary.
E) instant runoff voting.
9) Which of the following is true about raiding?
A) It is very common.
B) It does not occur very frequently.
C) It is likely the reason George W. Bush beat John McCain in the 2000 South Carolina
primary.
D) It is likely the reason John Kerry beat Howard Dean in the 2004 Iowa caucus.
E) It is likely the reason George W. Bush beat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election.
10) Which state has an unusual primary system where all candidates appear on the same ballot,
regardless of their party affiliations?
A) Colorado
B) Alaska
C) New Hampshire
D) Louisiana
E) Nevada
Sunday, August 28, 2011
For Monday's Homework; Read Sabato 470-78 AND Read Article Below and Post Your Answers in the Blog and turn in Word Copy for Packet
September 30, 2009-NY Times
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Where Did ‘We’ Go?
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
I hate to write about this, but I have actually been to this play before and it is really disturbing. (1)
I was in Israel interviewing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin just before he was assassinated in 1995. We had a beer in his office. He needed one. I remember the ugly mood in Israel then — a mood in which extreme right-wing settlers and politicians were doing all they could to delegitimize Rabin, who was committed to trading land for peace as part of the Oslo accords. They questioned his authority. They accused him of treason. They created pictures depicting him as a Nazi SS officer, and they shouted death threats at rallies. His political opponents winked at it all. (2)
And in so doing they created a poisonous political environment that was interpreted by one right-wing Jewish nationalist as a license to kill Rabin — he must have heard, “God will be on your side” — and so he did. (3)
Others have already remarked on this analogy, but I want to add my voice because the parallels to Israel then and America today turn my stomach: I have no problem with any of the substantive criticism of President Obama from the right or left. But something very dangerous is happening. Criticism from the far right has begun tipping over into delegitimation and creating the same kind of climate here that existed in Israel on the eve of the Rabin assassination. (4)
What kind of madness is it that someone would create a poll on Facebook asking respondents, “Should Obama be killed?” The choices were: “No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care.” The Secret Service is now investigating. I hope they put the jerk in jail and throw away the key because this is exactly what was being done to Rabin. Even if you are not worried that someone might draw from these vitriolic attacks a license to try to hurt the president, you have to be worried about what is happening to American politics more broadly. (5)
Our leaders, even the president, can no longer utter the word “we” with a straight face. There is no more “we” in American politics at a time when “we” have these huge problems — the deficit, the recession, health care, climate change and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — that “we” can only manage, let alone fix, if there is a collective “we” at work. (6)
Sometimes I wonder whether George H.W. Bush, president “41,” will be remembered as our last “legitimate” president. The right impeached Bill Clinton and hounded him from Day 1 with the bogus Whitewater “scandal.” George W. Bush was elected under a cloud because of the Florida voting mess, and his critics on the left never let him forget it. (7)
And Mr. Obama is now having his legitimacy attacked by a concerted campaign from the right fringe. They are using everything from smears that he is a closet “socialist” to calling him a “liar” in the middle of a joint session of Congress to fabricating doubts about his birth in America and whether he is even a citizen. And these attacks are not just coming from the fringe. Now they come from Lou Dobbs on CNN and from members of the House of Representatives. (8)
Again, hack away at the man’s policies and even his character all you want. I know politics is a tough business. But if we destroy the legitimacy of another president to lead or to pull the country together for what most Americans want most right now — nation-building at home — we are in serious trouble. We can’t go 24 years without a legitimate president — not without being swamped by the problems that we will end up postponing because we can’t address them rationally. (9)
The American political system was, as the saying goes, “designed by geniuses so it could be run by idiots.” But a cocktail of political and technological trends have converged in the last decade that are making it possible for the idiots of all political stripes to overwhelm and paralyze the genius of our system. (10)
Those factors are: the wild excess of money in politics; the gerrymandering of political districts, making them permanently Republican or Democratic and erasing the political middle; a 24/7 cable news cycle that makes all politics a daily battle of tactics that overwhelm strategic thinking; and a blogosphere that at its best enriches our debates, adding new checks on the establishment, and at its worst coarsens our debates to a whole new level, giving a new power to anonymous slanderers to send lies around the world. Finally, on top of it all, we now have a permanent presidential campaign that encourages all partisanship, all the time among our leading politicians. (11)
I would argue that together these changes add up to a difference of degree that is a difference in kind — a different kind of American political scene that makes me wonder whether we can seriously discuss serious issues any longer and make decisions on the basis of the national interest. (12)
We can’t change this overnight, but what we can change, and must change, is people crossing the line between criticizing the president and tacitly encouraging the unthinkable and the unforgivable. (13)
Questions
1. Describe what was going on in Israel with the Rabin Administration in 1995. What happened to Rabin? (1,2)
2. What is the author saying about what is happening to Obama? What does he mean by ‘delegitimation’? (4)
3. What was the poll question placed on Facebook?(5)
4. What does the author mean when he says “there is no more “we” in American politics?” (6)
5. What are the five problems with our system according to the author in paragraph 11?
6. Would you agree or disagree with the author’s contention that we live in a ‘different kind of political scene’?(12)
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Where Did ‘We’ Go?
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
I hate to write about this, but I have actually been to this play before and it is really disturbing. (1)
I was in Israel interviewing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin just before he was assassinated in 1995. We had a beer in his office. He needed one. I remember the ugly mood in Israel then — a mood in which extreme right-wing settlers and politicians were doing all they could to delegitimize Rabin, who was committed to trading land for peace as part of the Oslo accords. They questioned his authority. They accused him of treason. They created pictures depicting him as a Nazi SS officer, and they shouted death threats at rallies. His political opponents winked at it all. (2)
And in so doing they created a poisonous political environment that was interpreted by one right-wing Jewish nationalist as a license to kill Rabin — he must have heard, “God will be on your side” — and so he did. (3)
Others have already remarked on this analogy, but I want to add my voice because the parallels to Israel then and America today turn my stomach: I have no problem with any of the substantive criticism of President Obama from the right or left. But something very dangerous is happening. Criticism from the far right has begun tipping over into delegitimation and creating the same kind of climate here that existed in Israel on the eve of the Rabin assassination. (4)
What kind of madness is it that someone would create a poll on Facebook asking respondents, “Should Obama be killed?” The choices were: “No, Maybe, Yes, and Yes if he cuts my health care.” The Secret Service is now investigating. I hope they put the jerk in jail and throw away the key because this is exactly what was being done to Rabin. Even if you are not worried that someone might draw from these vitriolic attacks a license to try to hurt the president, you have to be worried about what is happening to American politics more broadly. (5)
Our leaders, even the president, can no longer utter the word “we” with a straight face. There is no more “we” in American politics at a time when “we” have these huge problems — the deficit, the recession, health care, climate change and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — that “we” can only manage, let alone fix, if there is a collective “we” at work. (6)
Sometimes I wonder whether George H.W. Bush, president “41,” will be remembered as our last “legitimate” president. The right impeached Bill Clinton and hounded him from Day 1 with the bogus Whitewater “scandal.” George W. Bush was elected under a cloud because of the Florida voting mess, and his critics on the left never let him forget it. (7)
And Mr. Obama is now having his legitimacy attacked by a concerted campaign from the right fringe. They are using everything from smears that he is a closet “socialist” to calling him a “liar” in the middle of a joint session of Congress to fabricating doubts about his birth in America and whether he is even a citizen. And these attacks are not just coming from the fringe. Now they come from Lou Dobbs on CNN and from members of the House of Representatives. (8)
Again, hack away at the man’s policies and even his character all you want. I know politics is a tough business. But if we destroy the legitimacy of another president to lead or to pull the country together for what most Americans want most right now — nation-building at home — we are in serious trouble. We can’t go 24 years without a legitimate president — not without being swamped by the problems that we will end up postponing because we can’t address them rationally. (9)
The American political system was, as the saying goes, “designed by geniuses so it could be run by idiots.” But a cocktail of political and technological trends have converged in the last decade that are making it possible for the idiots of all political stripes to overwhelm and paralyze the genius of our system. (10)
Those factors are: the wild excess of money in politics; the gerrymandering of political districts, making them permanently Republican or Democratic and erasing the political middle; a 24/7 cable news cycle that makes all politics a daily battle of tactics that overwhelm strategic thinking; and a blogosphere that at its best enriches our debates, adding new checks on the establishment, and at its worst coarsens our debates to a whole new level, giving a new power to anonymous slanderers to send lies around the world. Finally, on top of it all, we now have a permanent presidential campaign that encourages all partisanship, all the time among our leading politicians. (11)
I would argue that together these changes add up to a difference of degree that is a difference in kind — a different kind of American political scene that makes me wonder whether we can seriously discuss serious issues any longer and make decisions on the basis of the national interest. (12)
We can’t change this overnight, but what we can change, and must change, is people crossing the line between criticizing the president and tacitly encouraging the unthinkable and the unforgivable. (13)
Questions
1. Describe what was going on in Israel with the Rabin Administration in 1995. What happened to Rabin? (1,2)
2. What is the author saying about what is happening to Obama? What does he mean by ‘delegitimation’? (4)
3. What was the poll question placed on Facebook?(5)
4. What does the author mean when he says “there is no more “we” in American politics?” (6)
5. What are the five problems with our system according to the author in paragraph 11?
6. Would you agree or disagree with the author’s contention that we live in a ‘different kind of political scene’?(12)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
13.1 Multiple-Choice Questions: Pages 461-469
1) Which of the following states did John Kerry win in 2004?
A) Florida
B) Ohio
C) Pennsylvania
D) New Mexico
E) Iowa
2) Which of the following best summarizes the outcomes of the 2006 congressional elections?
A) Republicans won the House; Democrats won the Senate.
B) Republicans won the Senate; Democrats won the House.
C) Democrats won the House and the Senate.
D) Republicans won the House and the Senate.
E) Republicans won the House; the Senate was tied, with Dick Cheney casting the
tiebreaking vote for the Republicans.
3) What is the most common method of political participation in the United States?
A) making political contributions
B) writing letters to government officials
C) boycotts
D) protests
E) voting
4) Voter turnout is typically lowest in which of the following countries?
A) Italy
B) the Netherlands
C) Australia
D) Germany
E) the United States
5) Which of the following helps explain why wealthier citizens are more likely to vote?
A) Wealthy citizens are more likely to think that the system works for them.
B) Wealthy citizens are more likely to recognize the societal benefits of voting.
C) Wealthy citizens are more likely to feel alienated from politics.
D) Wealthy citizens are more likely to believe that the political party system needs to be
reformed.
E) Wealthy citizens are more likely to be working during the hours polls are open.
6) Which of the following best describes voter turnout among young voters in recent elections?
A) The number of young voters has been decreasing in recent years and turnout among the
young is considerably lower than among older voters.
B) The number of young voters has been decreasing in recent years, but turnout among the
young remains considerably higher than among older voters.
C) The number of young voters has been increasing in recent years, but turnout among the
young remains considerably lower than among older voters.
D) The number of young voters has been increasing in recent years and turnout among the
young is considerably higher than among older voters.
E) The difference in voter turnout between younger and older voters disappeared in 2004
and 2006.
7) Which of the following is the most helpful in understanding why fewer African Americans
turnout to vote?
A) African Americans are less patriotic.
B) African Americans lack a strong work ethic.
C) African Americans have lower incomes.
D) African Americans are better educated.
E) African Americans share a sense of ʺgroup consciousness.ʺ
8) Which of the following statements is accurate?
A) Hispanics vote more than African Americans; African Americans vote more than whites.
B) Hispanics vote more than whites; whites vote more than African Americans.
C) African Americans vote more than Hispanics; Hispanics vote more than whites.
D) Whites vote more than Hispanics; Hispanics vote more than African Americans.
E) Whites vote more than African Americans; African Americans vote more than Hispanics.
9) Which of the following reasons is most frequently given by registered nonvoters for why they
did not vote in 2004?
A) The weather was bad.
B) I was out of town.
C) My polling place was inconvenient.
D) I had transportation problems.
E) I was too busy.
10) Which of the following is a reason for the low U.S. voter registration rate?
A) Citizens are responsible for registering themselves; the government does not do it for
them.
B) The time and effort required to register to vote is relatively low.
C) Most states permit Election Day voter registration.
D) The Motor Voter act has made it more difficult to register.
E) Election Day is a national holiday in the United States.
A) Florida
B) Ohio
C) Pennsylvania
D) New Mexico
E) Iowa
2) Which of the following best summarizes the outcomes of the 2006 congressional elections?
A) Republicans won the House; Democrats won the Senate.
B) Republicans won the Senate; Democrats won the House.
C) Democrats won the House and the Senate.
D) Republicans won the House and the Senate.
E) Republicans won the House; the Senate was tied, with Dick Cheney casting the
tiebreaking vote for the Republicans.
3) What is the most common method of political participation in the United States?
A) making political contributions
B) writing letters to government officials
C) boycotts
D) protests
E) voting
4) Voter turnout is typically lowest in which of the following countries?
A) Italy
B) the Netherlands
C) Australia
D) Germany
E) the United States
5) Which of the following helps explain why wealthier citizens are more likely to vote?
A) Wealthy citizens are more likely to think that the system works for them.
B) Wealthy citizens are more likely to recognize the societal benefits of voting.
C) Wealthy citizens are more likely to feel alienated from politics.
D) Wealthy citizens are more likely to believe that the political party system needs to be
reformed.
E) Wealthy citizens are more likely to be working during the hours polls are open.
6) Which of the following best describes voter turnout among young voters in recent elections?
A) The number of young voters has been decreasing in recent years and turnout among the
young is considerably lower than among older voters.
B) The number of young voters has been decreasing in recent years, but turnout among the
young remains considerably higher than among older voters.
C) The number of young voters has been increasing in recent years, but turnout among the
young remains considerably lower than among older voters.
D) The number of young voters has been increasing in recent years and turnout among the
young is considerably higher than among older voters.
E) The difference in voter turnout between younger and older voters disappeared in 2004
and 2006.
7) Which of the following is the most helpful in understanding why fewer African Americans
turnout to vote?
A) African Americans are less patriotic.
B) African Americans lack a strong work ethic.
C) African Americans have lower incomes.
D) African Americans are better educated.
E) African Americans share a sense of ʺgroup consciousness.ʺ
8) Which of the following statements is accurate?
A) Hispanics vote more than African Americans; African Americans vote more than whites.
B) Hispanics vote more than whites; whites vote more than African Americans.
C) African Americans vote more than Hispanics; Hispanics vote more than whites.
D) Whites vote more than Hispanics; Hispanics vote more than African Americans.
E) Whites vote more than African Americans; African Americans vote more than Hispanics.
9) Which of the following reasons is most frequently given by registered nonvoters for why they
did not vote in 2004?
A) The weather was bad.
B) I was out of town.
C) My polling place was inconvenient.
D) I had transportation problems.
E) I was too busy.
10) Which of the following is a reason for the low U.S. voter registration rate?
A) Citizens are responsible for registering themselves; the government does not do it for
them.
B) The time and effort required to register to vote is relatively low.
C) Most states permit Election Day voter registration.
D) The Motor Voter act has made it more difficult to register.
E) Election Day is a national holiday in the United States.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Please Do Not Copy-for Reference
UNIT 2 AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS
Election turnout in the United States for presidential contests stands at about 50%, which is significantly lower than the 90% rate of turnout in other industrialized countries around the world. Our election turnout rate for congressional candidates is even lower at 30-40%.
A1. One demographic characteristic associated with nonvoting is race. African-Americans while largely supportive of the Democratic Party have very low rates of political participation. Largely due to past historical abuses, mainly Jim Crow and discrimination at the polls, African-Americans can be described as having low political efficacy or the feeling that their vote has not counted. This has led even today to their lack of participation at the polls.
A2. Another demographic characteristic associated with nonvoting is age. The voting rates for 18-24 year olds are also quite low. Young people provide a variety of reasons for non-voting including busy school schedules and difficulty making it to polling places, but low political efficacy can also describe this group. Many young people feel disconnected to the political process and have a generally skeptical view of politicians and interest groups. The 26th Amendment was designed in part to encourage more young people to come to the polls. It has not led to any substantial change in voting turnout for this group.
B1. One institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is the cumbersome registration process. The registration process is often described as confusing, multi-staged and discouraging for many Americans. Unlike other countries our process is two-staged: registration and then voting. Many Americans do not know where to go to register despite the Motor-Voter law allowing voters to register at their local DMV. Additionally, many prospective voters are confused about the rules such as whether or not they need to register as a Republican or Democrat for certain elections. This confusion and discouragement oftentimes leads to low voter turnout.
B2. Another institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is a factor known as “election fatigue”. The sheer number of elections in the United States (from political primaries, to mid-term congressional elections, from gubernatorial contests, to local ballot initiatives-leads many Americans to conclude that there are more elections than they are willing to participate in. This is perhaps why voter turnout for Congressional elections stands at 30-40%.
B3. Yet another institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is known as “ballot fatigue”. Anther form of fatigue that Americans complain about relates to the complexity of the average ballot one confronts—many of the initiatives placed on said ballot are long, redundant and at times made deliberatively confusing. Many Americans complain that so many issues are stuffed into the average ballot that the average person does not have the time to study it beforehand, let alone on Election Day. Ballot fatigue is another reason why many Americans stay away from the polls.
FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS
Election turnout in the United States for presidential contests stands at about 50%, which is significantly lower than the 90% rate of turnout in other industrialized countries around the world. Our election turnout rate for congressional candidates is even lower at 30-40%.
A1. One demographic characteristic associated with nonvoting is race. African-Americans while largely supportive of the Democratic Party have very low rates of political participation. Largely due to past historical abuses, mainly Jim Crow and discrimination at the polls, African-Americans can be described as having low political efficacy or the feeling that their vote has not counted. This has led even today to their lack of participation at the polls.
A2. Another demographic characteristic associated with nonvoting is age. The voting rates for 18-24 year olds are also quite low. Young people provide a variety of reasons for non-voting including busy school schedules and difficulty making it to polling places, but low political efficacy can also describe this group. Many young people feel disconnected to the political process and have a generally skeptical view of politicians and interest groups. The 26th Amendment was designed in part to encourage more young people to come to the polls. It has not led to any substantial change in voting turnout for this group.
B1. One institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is the cumbersome registration process. The registration process is often described as confusing, multi-staged and discouraging for many Americans. Unlike other countries our process is two-staged: registration and then voting. Many Americans do not know where to go to register despite the Motor-Voter law allowing voters to register at their local DMV. Additionally, many prospective voters are confused about the rules such as whether or not they need to register as a Republican or Democrat for certain elections. This confusion and discouragement oftentimes leads to low voter turnout.
B2. Another institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is a factor known as “election fatigue”. The sheer number of elections in the United States (from political primaries, to mid-term congressional elections, from gubernatorial contests, to local ballot initiatives-leads many Americans to conclude that there are more elections than they are willing to participate in. This is perhaps why voter turnout for Congressional elections stands at 30-40%.
B3. Yet another institutional obstacle associated with nonvoting is known as “ballot fatigue”. Anther form of fatigue that Americans complain about relates to the complexity of the average ballot one confronts—many of the initiatives placed on said ballot are long, redundant and at times made deliberatively confusing. Many Americans complain that so many issues are stuffed into the average ballot that the average person does not have the time to study it beforehand, let alone on Election Day. Ballot fatigue is another reason why many Americans stay away from the polls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)