Political Participation and Elections

What factors most determine whether or not people will vote?

• Age and education level

• Weather conditions

• Favorite color

• Pet ownership

How do most Americans participate in the political system?

• Voting in elections

• Running for office

• Participating in protests

• Joining political parties

What is the most important political act (in terms of participation)?

• Voting in elections

• Attending political rallies

• Joining a political party

• Participating in protests

What does the term “turnout” refer to?

• The number of people attending an event

• A type of clothing

• A style of dance

• A form of transportation

Understand how the top two primary works (like what we have in California).

• It allows the top two candidates from the primary election to advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

• It requires candidates to receive a majority of votes in the primary to advance to the general election.

• It limits the primary election to only two candidates per party.

• It eliminates the need for a general election if one candidate receives more than 50% of the votes in the primary.

Understand the difference between plurality and majority elections.

• Plurality elections require more than half the votes to win, while majority elections require the most votes.

• Plurality elections require the most votes to win, while majority elections require more than half the votes.

• Plurality and majority elections both require more than half the votes to win.

• Plurality and majority elections both require the most votes to win.

What roles do primary and general elections play?

• Primary elections select party nominees, while general elections determine the final winner.

• Primary elections determine the final winner, while general elections select party nominees.

• Both primary and general elections select party nominees.

• Both primary and general elections determine the final winner.

What does partisanship mean?

• Support for a particular party or cause

• Indifference to political parties

• Opposition to all political parties

• A political system without parties

How many dominant political parties usually exist in the US?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

What does “winner take all” mean for elections?

• The candidate with the most votes wins all the electoral votes or representation.

• The election is decided by a lottery among the candidates.

• All candidates share the votes equally.

• The candidate with the least votes wins.