POLS 207 EXAM 2 TAMU SMITH QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
/. 1) How do most people participate in the political system - Answer-✅Political
participation includes voting, running for office, participating in marches or
demonstrations, giving money, attending rallies, writing letter or emails, or discussing
issues with friends
/.2) What is a rational voter - Answer-✅one who will vote only if the personal benefits
outweigh the costs
/.3) Know who votes and who does not - Answer-✅Women are more likely to vote than
men, Socioeconomic: High education/income means more likely to vote.
Partisan competition related explanations: High turnout in swing states
Media predicting winners early explanation: Discourages later voters
/.4) Why do some states have higher voter turnout? - Answer-✅Voter registration differs
significantly across states, same day registration (also election day registation) vs. 15-
30 days in advance, Online, mail, ID, location, race, political ideology, Voter turnout
rates are higher in "swing" or "battleground" states (their vote "counts" more)
/.5) How could voter turnout be increased? - Answer-✅-Secure convenient locations
-Secure larger venues
-More voting machines (lines will be shorter), Better, more efficient workers, Shorter &
better designed ballots
/.6) Who or what determines voter qualifications? - Answer-✅-State determines voter
qualifications. Generally includes voter eligibility and verification (IDs), voting locations
and ease of voting, online Internet registration, ballot requests and voting.
/.7) Know the amendments to the U.S. Constitution that concern voting - Answer-✅-
Elimination of property qualifications
-15th amendment: blacks are citizens and therefore can vote
-19th amendment: women can vote
-24th amendment: eliminates poll tax
-Civil rights act of 1964 : banned unequal voting standards
-Voting rights act of 1965 : eliminated discrimination in voting
-26th: prevents states from denying the vote to otherwise qualified persons aged 18 or
older
, /.Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Answer-✅outlawed discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin -- banned unequal voting standards
/.Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answer-✅a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting
for those suffering discrimination.
/.15th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅The rights for citizens to vote
regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, and the Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
/.19th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Gave women the right to vote
/.26th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
/.24th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Abolishes poll taxes
/.8) Know the responsible party model - Answer-✅1. Develop and clarify alternative
policy positions for the voters
2. Educate the people about the issues and simplify choices for them
3. Recruit candidates for public office who agree with the parties' policy positions
4. Organize and direct their candidates' campaigns to win office
5. Hold their elected officials responsible for enacting the parties' policy positions after
they are elected
6. Organize legislatures to ensure party control of policymaking.
/.9) Know the different types of primaries - Answer-✅Primary Election- Selection of
nominees by parties (republican or democrat) for presidential election
- Caucuses generally start in January to select the republican and democratic
nomination
- Texas holds theirs in March of even numbered years
- Majority Primary: a candidate must receive the majority (50% + 1 vote) of the votes to
be selected
Run-off Primary- If one candidate doesn't get a majority, the top two candidates run
again and there's another vote
Closed Primary- Only voters registered in a party may vote in that party's primary
Open Primary- Any voter can participate in any parties primary
/.primary election - Answer-✅Nominating election held to choose party candidates who
will run in the general election
ANSWERS
/. 1) How do most people participate in the political system - Answer-✅Political
participation includes voting, running for office, participating in marches or
demonstrations, giving money, attending rallies, writing letter or emails, or discussing
issues with friends
/.2) What is a rational voter - Answer-✅one who will vote only if the personal benefits
outweigh the costs
/.3) Know who votes and who does not - Answer-✅Women are more likely to vote than
men, Socioeconomic: High education/income means more likely to vote.
Partisan competition related explanations: High turnout in swing states
Media predicting winners early explanation: Discourages later voters
/.4) Why do some states have higher voter turnout? - Answer-✅Voter registration differs
significantly across states, same day registration (also election day registation) vs. 15-
30 days in advance, Online, mail, ID, location, race, political ideology, Voter turnout
rates are higher in "swing" or "battleground" states (their vote "counts" more)
/.5) How could voter turnout be increased? - Answer-✅-Secure convenient locations
-Secure larger venues
-More voting machines (lines will be shorter), Better, more efficient workers, Shorter &
better designed ballots
/.6) Who or what determines voter qualifications? - Answer-✅-State determines voter
qualifications. Generally includes voter eligibility and verification (IDs), voting locations
and ease of voting, online Internet registration, ballot requests and voting.
/.7) Know the amendments to the U.S. Constitution that concern voting - Answer-✅-
Elimination of property qualifications
-15th amendment: blacks are citizens and therefore can vote
-19th amendment: women can vote
-24th amendment: eliminates poll tax
-Civil rights act of 1964 : banned unequal voting standards
-Voting rights act of 1965 : eliminated discrimination in voting
-26th: prevents states from denying the vote to otherwise qualified persons aged 18 or
older
, /.Civil Rights Act of 1964 - Answer-✅outlawed discrimination based on race, color,
religion, sex, or national origin -- banned unequal voting standards
/.Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answer-✅a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting
for those suffering discrimination.
/.15th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅The rights for citizens to vote
regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, and the Congress shall
have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
/.19th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Gave women the right to vote
/.26th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
/.24th Amendment to the Constitution - Answer-✅Abolishes poll taxes
/.8) Know the responsible party model - Answer-✅1. Develop and clarify alternative
policy positions for the voters
2. Educate the people about the issues and simplify choices for them
3. Recruit candidates for public office who agree with the parties' policy positions
4. Organize and direct their candidates' campaigns to win office
5. Hold their elected officials responsible for enacting the parties' policy positions after
they are elected
6. Organize legislatures to ensure party control of policymaking.
/.9) Know the different types of primaries - Answer-✅Primary Election- Selection of
nominees by parties (republican or democrat) for presidential election
- Caucuses generally start in January to select the republican and democratic
nomination
- Texas holds theirs in March of even numbered years
- Majority Primary: a candidate must receive the majority (50% + 1 vote) of the votes to
be selected
Run-off Primary- If one candidate doesn't get a majority, the top two candidates run
again and there's another vote
Closed Primary- Only voters registered in a party may vote in that party's primary
Open Primary- Any voter can participate in any parties primary
/.primary election - Answer-✅Nominating election held to choose party candidates who
will run in the general election
