Study Guide 3:  Elections and Media Influence                                    Name ______________________________

 

  1. The United States holds Presidential elections every ______ years. 

 

  1. A U.S. President may only serve _______ full terms.

 

  1. What is a “running mate”?  Who was Bush’s running mate?  Who was Kerry’s?

 

 

 

  1. Although a third party has NEVER won a Presidential election, third party candidates often run campaigns.  Why would a third party candidate run for President, even if they knew that they had no chance of winning?

 

 

  1. Which level of government runs elections?

 

  1. The 26th amendment sets the minimum voting age at ______ years old.

 

  1. How long before Election Day must you register to vote in VA?

 

  1. Where can you register to vote in Virginia (give at least 3 answers)?

 

 

 

 

  1. Why are you required to register to vote instead of simply showing up on Election Day?

 

 

  1. State 3 qualifications (requirements) to vote in Virginia.

 

 

 

  1. What has happened to the percentage of voter turnout in recent years?

 

 

  1. How does voter turnout in Presidential elections compare with the turnout in smaller elections?

 

 

  1. Name 3 factors that help predict whether someone will vote.

 

 

 

 

  1. Election Day is the first _____________ after the first ______________ in November.

 

  1. How is the number of electors for each state determined for Presidential elections?

 

 

  1. What is the difference between electoral votes and popular votes?

 

 

 

  1. How is it possible to win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote?

 

 

  1. Which type of states do candidates spend the most advertising money in?

 

 

  1. Which two political parties dominate our national elections?

 

  1. How many electoral votes does it take to win a majority in the Electoral College?

 

  1. If no candidate receives a majority in the Electoral College, who decides who will be the next President?

 

 

  1. List the steps of the Electoral College process in the correct order.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. When is Inauguration Day (when the new President takes over)?

 

  1. Name 3 reasons that people fail to vote.

 

 

 

  1. Define “bias”.

 

 

  1. Where would be a good place to find unbiased information about a political candidate?

 

 

  1. What is a candidate trying to do when he/she uses negative campaign strategies?

 

 

  1. Give an example of a candidate trying to relate to the voters.

 

 

  1. Which campaign strategy uses famous people or celebrities to try to convince people to vote for a candidate?

 

 

  1. List three results of rising campaign costs.

 

 

 

 

  1. What is propaganda?

 

 

  1. List three roles of the media during elections.

 

 

 

 

  1. What is the goal of campaign finance reform laws?

 

 

  1. Define suffrage.

 

 

  1. List three strategies for evaluating media sources.

 

 

 

  1. Describe how a candidate could “contrast” himself with his opponent in a commercial.