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CHAPTER 8
Political Participation
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which is NOT an example of political participation?
a.
Voting
b.
Keeping informed about government.
c.
Giving money to a candidate.
d.
Attending a school board meeting.
e.
All of the above are true.
2. The ___________ to the U.S. Constitution ensured that the residents of the District of Columbia could
vote in presidential elections.
a.
Nineteenth Amendment
b.
Twentieth Amendment
c.
Twenty-First Amendment
d.
Twenty-Second Amendment
e.
Twenty-Third Amendment
3. In 1971, ratification of the __________ to the U.S. Constitution extended voter eligibility to all
persons age 18 or older.
a.
Twenty-Third Amendment
b.
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
c.
Twenty-Five Amendment
d.
Twenty-Sixth Amendment
e.
Twenty-Seventh Amendment
4. Voter turnout rates in America today are
a.
higher than they were for previous generations.
b.
lower than they were for previous generations.
c.
higher than most European democracies.
d.
about the same as previous generations.
e.
not recorded by scholars.
5. Which of the following statements is incorrect?
a.
No state may restrict voting based on discriminatory tests, taxes, or
residency requirements.
b.
People can register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license in half of the states.
c.
Most states allow absentee ballot voting prior to election day.
d.
Some states allow people to register on the same day that they vote.
e.
In areas where many non-English speakers live, election authorities must supply ballots
written in their own language.
6. Between 1860 and1900, the percentage of eligible voters participating in presidential elections
a.
was rarely above 30 percent.
b.
was rarely above 40 percent.
c.
was usually around 50 percent.
d.
was generally comparable to vote turnout today.
e.
ranged between 65 and 80 percent.
7. Today, voter turnout in midterm national elections has
a.
averaged below 50 percent.
b.
increased compared to the 1800s.
c.
stayed about the same as the mid-1900s.
d.
ranged between 65 percent and 80 percent.
e.
averaged below 25 percent.
8. VEP measures of turnout might be preferable to VAP measures because they
a.
usually render a lower, more conservative, estimate.
b.
round fractions up to the nearest tenth.
c.
are derived from representative samples in telephone interviews.
d.
are based on census data.
e.
remove ineligible voters from the equation.
9. In recent years, the gap between the VAP and VEP has
a.
increased.
b.
remained about the same.
c.
decreased somewhat.
d.
decreased considerably.
e.
varied in no consistent way.
10. __________ of registered voters has typically participated in presidential elections since 1968?
a.
Twenty-five percent
b.
Thirty-five percent
c.
Fifty percent
d.
Sixty percent
e.
Seventy percent
11. The nation with the highest voter turnout as percentage of voting-age population is
a.
Belgium
b.
Italy
c.
United States
d.
Sweden
e.
New Zealand
12. When it comes to voting, Americans ages 18 to 20 are
a.
less likely than older Americans (ages 65 and older) to register and vote.
b.
engaged in the political process more than middle age Americans.
c.
more likely than older Americans (ages 65 and older) to register but not more likely
to vote.
d.
less likely than older Americans (ages 65 and older) to register but more likely to vote.
e.
None of the above is true.
13. In most European countries, voter registration is
a.
complex.
b.
costly.
c.
automatic.
d.
as difficult as in the United States.
e.
not effective.
14. In 1993, Congress attempted to facilitate voter registration by linking it to processes related to
a.
health insurance.
b.
home mortgages.
c.
student loans.
d.
driver’s licenses.
e.
high school graduation.
15. With respect to impact of motor voter laws, the evidence suggests
a.
the number of registrants has not increased but voter turnout has increased slightly.
b.
the number of registrants has increased somewhat but voter turnout has not increased
significantly.
c.
vote turnout and registration has increased significantly.
d.
vote turnout and registration has not increased significantly.
e.
None of the above is true.
16. What method have all of the states used to try to improve voter turnout?
a.
Give voters the option to vote prior to election day via mail-in ballots.
b.
Institute election holidays.
c.
Conduct elections over the Internet.
d.
Schedule election day on Saturdays.
e.
Allow people to vote on numerous days.
17. When registered nonvoters are asked why they did not vote, the most common response that they give
refers to
a.
family obligations.
b.
scheduling conflicts or being “too busy.”
c.
the negative nature of campaigns and so-called attack ads.
d.
a sense that their vote would not matter.
e.
a loss of faith in the American system of government.
18. A 2008 study found get-out-the-vote drives have demonstrated statistically significant results when
they involved
a.
door-to-door canvassing and phone calls; although even most prospective voters touched
by these tactics did not turn out.
b.
leaflets and election day festivals.
c.
direct mail and phone calls.
d.
phone calls and social media.
e.
None of the above is true.
19. By the start of this president’s administration, suffrage had been extended to include virtually all white
males by the administration of
a.
John Adams.
b.
Thomas Jefferson.
c.
Andrew Jackson.
d.
James Monroe.
e.
James Madison.
20. In 1856, this state became the last one to require voters to own property to vote.
a.
South Carolina
b.
North Carolina
c.
New Hampshire
d.
Georgia
e.
Kentucky
21. By 1880, only an estimated __________ percent of all adult males in the United States could not vote;
while in England at the same time, about __________ percent of adult males were denied the right
to vote.
a.
14; 40
b.
25; 50
c.
55; 60
d.
10; 24
e.
18; 36
22. Which of the following was required by the U.S. Constitution?
a.
Adult free male suffrage
b.
Popularly elected presidential electors
c.
Nonpartisan election commissions
d.
Popularly elected senators
e.
Popularly elected House members
23. Presidential electors were at first picked by
a.
state legislatures rather than by the voters directly.
b.
the voters directly.
c.
federal judges.
d.
the U.S. Senate.
e.
the U.S. House.
24. In 1842, a federal law required that all House members be elected by
a.
popular vote.
b.
state legislators.
c.
congressional delegations.
d.
districts.
e.
at-large elections.
25. The __________ states that “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be abridged by
the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”?
a.
Twelfth Amendment
b.
Seventeenth Amendment
c.
Fifteenth Amendment
d.
Twenty-fifth Amendment
e.
None of the above is true.
26. Blacks first voted in large numbers in the South
a.
in the 1970s.
b.
after the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
c.
after World War II.
d.
early in the twentieth century.
e.
soon after the Civil War.
27. Which of the following was NOT a device intended to prevent blacks from voting?
a.
The grandfather clause
b.
The poll tax
c.
The literacy test
d.
The Australian ballot
e.
The white primary
28. One way that whites prevented blacks from voting prior to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
was by requiring them to
a.
meet qualifications found in Article III of the Constitution.
b.
register six months in advance of an election.
c.
become U.S. citizens.
d.
memorize the Bill of Rights.
e.
pass a literacy test.
29. Until 1920, women were generally kept from voting by
a.
intimidation.
b.
social custom.
c.
their own choice.
d.
tradition.
e.
law.
30. Between 1915 and 1925, the size of the eligible voting population in the United States almost doubled.
The main reason for this was that
a.
the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified.
b.
women were given the right to vote.
c.
the grandfather clause, which denied voting to blacks, was ruled unconstitutional.
d.
literacy tests for blacks were ruled unconstitutional.
e.
voter-registration laws were abolished in seventeen states.
31. When Congress passed the Voting Rights Act of 1970 and lowered the voting age to eighteen,
a.
the president vetoed the act.
b.
the Fourteenth Amendment was overturned.
c.
the Supreme Court declared the adjustment unconstitutional.
d.
thirty-five state governors protested the change.
e.
the number of eligible voters instantly doubled.
32. The first presidential elections in which all persons between the ages of 18 and 21 were able to vote
were held in
a.
1944.
b.
1956.
c.
1972.
d.
1984.
e.
1985.
33. When those below the age of 21 were first allowed to vote in presidential elections, they
a.
flocked to the Republican candidates.
b.
flocked to the Democratic candidates.
c.
almost uniformly voted for Independent candidates.
d.
generally voted for Richard Nixon.
e.
did not flock to any particular party or candidate.
34. In the late 1800s, voter turnout in a typical presidential election has been estimated to be
a.
55 percent.
b.
60 percent.
c.
65 percent.
d.
70 percent.
e.
90 percent.
35. Which of the following statements about U.S. voter participation in presidential elections is correct?
a.
It increased sharply after the suffrage rights of women, blacks, and youths were protected.
b.
It has remained steady since at least the 1950s.
c.
It has declined since the latter part of the 1900s.
d.
It rose steadily throughout the first half of the 1900s but has recently declined.
e.
It has risen steadily since the campaign of Ralph Nader.
36. Those who see the decline of voter turnout as a function of party organization change believe all of the
following EXCEPT
a.
parties originally aimed to increase mass political participation.
b.
parties used caucuses and conventions and fought against legal barriers to voting to
increase participation.
c.
the nation was split by region in the late 1890s, and two-party competition decreased in
many places.
d.
both parties became more liberal.
e.
citizens lost interest in politics because the parties did not respond to their needs.
37. Which of the following statements regarding turnout of the youth vote (those under thirty) in 2008 is
correct?
a.
It was the highest in any election since 1972.
b.
It was the lowest in any election since 1972.
c.
It increased for the third consecutive election and was fairly high.
d.
It increased for the third consecutive election but remained fairly low.
e.
It remained about the same as it had over the last three elections.
38. The text suggests that calls for reform in voting were somewhat muted in the aftermath of the 2004
national elections because
a.
the states stop the discussion.
b.
George W. Bush won.
c.
the Democrats retained control of Congress.
d.
the Supreme Court would not entertain litigation on the topic.
e.
the popular vote for president was not close.
39. One explanation given by the text for the decline in U.S. voter participation in presidential elections
after 1900 is that
a.
parties began functioning to mobilize mass voter turnout.
b.
fewer citizens were directly affected by the outcome of presidential elections.
c.
other forms of political participation became more accessible to citizens.
d.
election fraud was rampant during the nineteenth century.
e.
the Republican Party began to attempt to mobilize individuals who were least likely
to vote.
40. During the nineteenth century, voting ballots were printed by
a.
the government.
b.
Congress.
c.
the courts.
d.
state legislatures.
e.
political parties.
41. During the nineteenth century, the term floaters referred to
a.
individuals who were undecided as election day approached.
b.
individuals who voted more than once.
c.
members of political parties who defected to the other side.
d.
voters who refused to support incumbents.
e.
voters who always supported incumbents.
42. The main goal of the Australian ballot was
a.
to decrease voter fraud by having a government-printed ballot of uniform size and shape
that was cast in secret.
b.
to give political parties more power of the balloting process.
c.
to decrease voter fraud by having individuals cast their vote in public.
d.
to completely stop voter fraud.
e.
to create a nationwide uniform voting system.
43. Which of the following statements regarding the Australian ballot is incorrect?
a.
It is printed by the government.
b.
It appeared first in the states.
c.
It appeared in the late 1800s.
d.
It is cast in secret.
e.
It eliminated vote fraud.
44. The steady decline in U.S. voter turnout appears to be the unintentional result of
a.
strict voter-registration procedures.
b.
the poll tax.
c.
the fraudulent reporting of election results.
d.
literacy testing.
e.
media campaigns.
45. Efforts to reform voting in the aftermath of the Florida vote-count controversy of 2000 might find
particular fault with Congress because it
a.
did not require states to develop systems for counting disputed votes.
b.
did not provide funds for upgrading voting equipment.
c.
stopped short of creating a uniform national voting system.
d.
did not provide funds for training election officials.
e.
did not investigate names that were not on official registration lists.
46. In the aftermath of the 2002 reforms, voters are to vote for president by
a.
paper ballots.
b.
lever machines.
c.
punch cards.
d.
optical scans.
e.
All of the above is true.
47. This presidential election year witnessed the lowest level of voter turnout since 1924.
a.
2008
b.
2012
c.
2004
d.
1996
e.
1992
48. The most common form of political participation is
a.
voting.
b.
contributing money.
c.
writing letters to newspapers.
d.
attending political rallies.
e.
joining political organizations.
49. Advocates of compulsory voting argue that the requirement would
a.
increase youth voting.
b.
increase youth volunteering and community service.
c.
increase our political system’s inclusiveness.
d.
decrease the disparities based on income, education, and age.
e.
All of the above are true.
50. It has long been argued that universal voter turnout would strongly benefit
a.
third party candidates.
b.
Republican candidates.
c.
Democratic candidates.
d.
Libertarian candidates.
e.
Conservative candidates.
51. Verba and Nie found that about _________ of the population was never active in politics in any way.
a.
one-tenth
b.
one-fifth
c.
one-half
d.
two-thirds
e.
one-third
52. Youth, low income, and minority status are associated with which of the following
participation groups?
a.
Inactives
b.
Parochial participants
c.
Communalists
d.
Campaigners
e.
Voting specialists
53. Compared with the rest of the population, voting specialists tend to be
a.
younger and more educated.
b.
younger and less educated.
c.
older and more educated.
d.
older and less educated.
e.
middle-aged and highly educated.
54. Campaigners are distinguished from the general population by their
a.
higher education levels and stronger opinions.
b.
lower education levels and stronger opinions.
c.
higher education levels and weaker opinions.
d.
lower education levels and weaker opinions.
e.
lack of party identification and distaste for conflict.
55. The willingness to engage in partisan competition separates which two of the participation groups
described by Verba and Nie?
a.
Campaigners from complete activists
b.
Inactives from campaigners
c.
Parochial participants from communalists
d.
Inactives from parochial participants
e.
Communalists from campaigners
56. Two of the participation groups that Verba and Nie describe, campaigners and communalists, differ
primarily in their
a.
taste for conflict.
b.
political ideology.
c.
socioeconomic status.
d.
general level of participation.
e.
intensity of religious sentiment.
57. Which of the following participation groups avoids both elections and community groups in its
political activity?
a.
Voting specialists
b.
Campaigners
c.
Communalists
d.
Parochial participants
e.
Inactives
58. Rates of political participation tend to be higher among those who
a.
are employed.
b.
have gone to college.
c.
are white.
d.
are black as opposed to being Hispanic.
e.
All of the above are true.
59. The text suggests there has been little decrease, and some increase, in the percentage of
Americans who
a.
campaign.
b.
contact government officials.
c.
volunteer.
d.
work on community issues.
e.
do all of the above.
60. Compared with voters in the United States, most European voters have the opportunity to cast ballots
a.
more frequently, for as many offices.
b.
less frequently, for as many offices.
c.
less frequently, for fewer offices.
d.
more frequently, for fewer offices.
e.
more frequently, for more offices.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Keeping informed about government and politics would be an example of political participation.
2. Writing a letter to the editor would be an example of political participation.
3. The rise of the Internet will have little effect on political participation.
4. In areas where many non-English speaking persons live, election authorities can supply ballots to
voters that are written in their own language.
5. The VAP is problematic as a baseline measure because some people in that figure are not actually
eligible to vote.
6. When VEP is used instead of VAP, estimates of voter turnout tend to decrease.
7. In European nations, voter registration is automatic.
8. The Motor Voter Law allows citizens in 25 states to register to vote when they obtain their
driver’s license.
9. The Motor Voter Law has clearly led to an increase in the number of registered voters and an increase
in voter turnout.
10. Poll taxes and literacy tests were methods used to keep blacks from voting.
11. Blacks did not begin to vote in large numbers until passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
12. Several states permitted women to vote prior to the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
13. When the voting age was lowered to eighteen, those eighteen to twenty-one years of age voted in
impressive numbers.
14. The 2008 presidential election featured a record level of voter turnout among young persons (below
thirty years of age).
15. One theory of why voter turnout started to decline in the early 1900s is that the legal barriers to
participation, such as complex registration procedures, started to increase.
16. Voter fraud today is more prevalent than in the nineteenth century and helps explain declining
voter turnout.
17. Strict voter registration requirements reduce fraud but also reduce voter turnout.
18. “Floaters” were good for political parties and democracy.
19. Americans typically have higher rates of political participation than citizens in other democracies.
20. In many European nations, voters get to vote just once every four or five years.
134 Chapter 8: Political Participation
ESSAY
1. Define political participation. Discuss the major forms of political participation in a democracy.
2. Explain the difference between voting age population (VAP) and voting eligible population (VEP) and
how making this distinction impacts our view of recent elections.
3. People state that the top barrier keeping them from voting is time constraints and scheduling. Discuss
reforms to help citizens overcome this barrier.
4. Compare the voting registration procedures of the United States with the procedures in other
democracies.
5. In the 2012 national election, in addition to voting in the ballot box, there were three other methods of
voting used in many states. Identify those methods.
6. Identify some of the ways that African-Americans were discouraged from participating in elections.
7. Identify the most important changes in elections and, where relevant, indicate associated constitutional
amendments.
8. Summarize what the text says about the youth vote in the historic 1972 election and in elections since
that time.
9. What view of history do scholars take that believe that there has been a real decline in voter turnout?
10. Identify and describe the six different kinds of U.S. citizens characterized in the classic study by Verba
and Nie.
