AP Gov – Elections and Campaigns Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What is the term for supporting a candidate directly rather than an issue?
• Define "cross-pressured voters."
• What term describes the overall system governing elections?
• How do third parties generally influence elections?
• What is a referendum?
• What do we call money spent specifically by a candidate's campaign organization subject to limits?
• Which political case was pivotal in shaping modern campaign finance laws in the United States?
• Why is redistricting a significant process in elections?
• How does media influence elections?
• What are open primaries?
• What is a likely consequence of high partisan identification among voters?
• What role do interest groups play in elections?
• Which of the following allows corporations to finance campaign ads without limit, provided they disclose contributions?
• Which statement accurately describes voter turnout in recent elections?
• What is the role of someone who assists at polling places during elections?
• Which case allowed states to redraw legislative district boundaries as long as each district contains approximately the same population?
• What major act established the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
• Voting for a candidate based on their promised actions is referred to as what?
• What does cross-over voting refer to?
• In what case did the Supreme Court address the issue of one person, one vote regarding legislative districts?
• During a primary, members of which party typically can only vote?
• How do state laws vary concerning mail-in voting?
• What primary change did the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 implement?
• What is the term for when candidates benefit from media coverage without having to pay for it?
• What does disenfranchisement mean in a political context?
• Which case ultimately led to the conclusion that the Supreme Court could decide on state election matters in the case of ballot disputes?
• What is the definition of voter turnout?
• Which case involved a Supreme Court ruling that effectively determined the outcome of the 2000 Presidential election?
• What is the primary function of political action committees (PACs)?
• Which type of primary specifically chooses presidential candidates for each political party?
• In what way can voter ID laws impact elections?
• What type of election occurs every four years to select a president?
• What is a caucus?
• What is a strategy often used by interest groups in elections?
• Which one of these amendments also pertains to suffrage?
• What does front-loading refer to in the context of primaries?
• What type of election is primarily used to choose a party's candidate?
• Which term refers to the overall impact of a candidate's success on their party during elections?
• Which case established that corporations have speech rights equivalent to those of individuals in political campaigning?
• What concept refers to voters choosing based on expected benefits?
• Voting for candidates solely from one political party is referred to as what?
• What is the concept of creating advertisements designed to appeal specifically to targeted demographic groups?
• What is the term for a small geographical area where all voters are assigned to the same voting site?
• What does "frontloading" refer to in presidential primaries?
• What term refers to the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party over another?
• What is the primary purpose of exit polls?
• What do we call a voting district where the majority of the population belongs to a minority group?
• What characterizes closed primaries?
• What is a mid-term election?
• Which act focuses on improving voting processes and accessibility for disabled individuals?
• What method allows interest groups and campaigns to raise contributions directly through mail?
• A call for action from voters that empowers an elected official to pass certain legislation is known as what?
• What type of primary is held if no candidate receives a majority of the vote?
• Why are battleground states crucial in elections?
• What is "voter suppression"?
• What legislation prohibited literacy tests for voting and aimed to ensure voting rights for all races?
• What are soft money contributions?
• Which organization is classified as non-political with unlimited finances but limited political activity?
• What is the maximum direct contribution a PAC can make to a candidate per election?
• What effect can debates have on undecided voters?
• What is the role of "swing voters" in an election?
• What is the term for an elected official who is currently in office?
• What does the term "campaign strategy" refer to?
• Which group is primarily associated with campaign finance reform through the BCRA?
• Which of the following best describes a consequence of primaries?
• What is a significant challenge for voter turnout in elections?
• Which term describes a voter who does not align with any political party?
• What is required for a candidate to win by majority vote?
• What does the term "direct mailing" most commonly refer to in political campaigning?
• In what way can social media impact elections?
• What is the role of social media in modern elections?
• What key factor do debates highlight during elections?
• How many electoral votes are required to win the presidency?
• What is meant by the term "voter suppression"?
• What term describes the group of citizens eligible to vote in an election?
• What independent regulatory agency is responsible for overseeing campaign finances and advertisements during elections?
• What is the term for funds raised and spent by political groups not directly dedicated to a specific candidate?
• Who are typically more numerous in the Democratic party's delegate structure?
• What is the main provision of the 26th Amendment?
• Who are delegates in the context of political conventions?
• What is raiding in the context of elections?
• What is the system in which a candidate receives a percentage of a state's delegates based on the percentage of votes they achieve?
• Which type of advocacy focuses on influencing issues rather than direct candidate support?
• What term describes the phenomenon where a successful candidate helps to boost the electoral success of other candidates from the same party?
• Which amendment provides for D.C. representation in the Electoral College?
• Which primary allows any voter to participate regardless of party affiliation?
• Which campaign activity involves personal outreach to voters?
• What type of ballot is filled out and mailed in by individuals unable to vote on election day?
• Which type of primary allows voters to decide the percentage of delegates awarded based on their vote share?
• What type of voting allows a candidate to win by securing the most votes, regardless of whether that is a majority?
• What does redistricting involve?
• In which electoral system does a candidate receive all delegates or electoral votes upon achieving a majority?
• What is the primary purpose of grassroots campaigning?
• Which type of advocacy group is largely focused on issues rather than individual candidates?
• Which term is used for a proposed change to existing legislation that appears on a ballot?
• How do presidential debates affect public opinion?
• Which voting strategy entails evaluating candidates based on their promises for future actions?
• How is campaign financing usually disclosed?
• Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished the poll tax in federal elections?
• How might interest groups measure their influence in an election?
• What is the primary purpose of elections in a democratic system?
• What is the main purpose of disclaimers in political advertising?
• What is the term for adjusting voting district boundary lines, often for political advantage?
• Which amendment allows for the availability of procedures for voter registration at public agencies?
• What is the practice of voting for candidates from different political parties on the same ballot called?
• What does political socialization refer to?
• What is a potential consequence of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes?
• What key principle was reinforced by the ruling in Baker v. Carr regarding electoral districts?
• What does electioneering communication specifically refer to?
• Which court case addressed the issue of campaign ads and required disclaimers for financing?
• In a winner-take-all system, what happens to the electoral votes if a candidate receives the majority?
• What is the practice that allows individuals to vote before the official election day at designated sites?
• What is the function of the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
• What factors contribute to a high voter turnout?
• What does the concept of mobilization entail in political campaigning?
• What aspect does partisan identification most influence?
• What typically influences an individual's political opinions?
• How has the Supreme Court influenced campaign finance?
• What defines a write-in candidate?
• What term describes grassroots activities such as door-to-door campaigning and phone banks?
• What type of calls are used to encourage voters to participate and provide information about a candidate?
• What is the role of super delegates in the Democratic convention?
• What term is used for redrawing district boundaries to ensure one party maintains or gains political power?
• Which of the following is an example of campaign finance regulation?
• What does the term "incumbent" refer to in elections?
• What ruling did McConell v. FEC (2003) primarily uphold?
• Which type of PAC is not allowed to coordinate with a political party?
• What day is known for many states conducting their primaries, leading candidates to drop out if they perform poorly?
• What did the Supreme Court determine in the context of campaign finance with the ruling in Citizen's United v. FEC?
• What defines a primary election?
• Which term encompasses broader communication methods like yard signs and TV advertisements?
• What was the outcome of Buckley v. Valeo?
• What does it mean to vote based on a candidate's previous performance?
• What is the term for the representation and distribution of representatives in Congress based on population changes?
• What is significant about midterm elections?
• What are funds spent by groups with no affiliation to parties called?
• How do incumbents typically fare in elections?
• What is a Leadership PAC primarily used for?
• Which case established that the redistricting of state legislative boundaries must adhere to population equality?
• What role do superdelegates play in the Democratic Party?
• Which of the following characterizes negative campaigning?
• In which primary can voters make choices from multiple parties simultaneously?
• Which election type allows voters to select candidates from different parties?
• Which act introduced provisional ballots?
• What term is used to describe the proportion of eligible voters who actually cast their ballots?
• What impact might endorsements from interest groups have on elections?
• What typically happens to candidates who do not perform well on Super Tuesday?
• What is a common result of political polarization?
• Which amendment granted women the right to vote?
• What term is used to indicate who has funded a political advertisement?
• What significant restriction was upheld in McConell v. FEC regarding campaign contributions?
• What does a voter ID law require?
• What does the 15th Amendment guarantee?
• What is meant by the term "battleground state"?
• What role do party platforms play in elections?
• What type of expenditure is characterized by direct support of candidates where limits are set?
• What is one major consequence of gerrymandering?
• What is meant by a "ticket" in the context of elections?
• What is the significance of voter registration processes?
• What role do political parties play in elections?
• Which process is used for the indirect election of the U.S. president?
• Which of the following refers to the process of enabling voter registration across various demographics to increase participation?
• Which of the following describes voting for candidates of one party on a ballot?
• What role do debates play in elections?
• How do political action committees (PACs) contribute to elections?
• What distinguishes 501(c) 4 organizations from traditional 501 organizations?
• Which of the following is an example of free media?
• What does the Motor Voter Act require?
• What is a provisional ballot used for?
• Why is partisan identification important for political parties?
• What is the primary function of a Super PAC?
• What does political polarization refer to?
• What is a blanket primary?
• What was the outcome of the Bush v. Gore case in 2000?
• What is the function of the Federal Election Commission?
• What is the key characteristic of a plurality vote?
• What is the electoral college?
• Which type of primary is characterized by voting restrictions to registered party members alone?
• Which term describes short, memorable phrases used in media coverage?
• What is a general election?
• In which type of primary can only a party's registered voters participate?
• What is the process called that involves redistributing House members based on the population count from the Census?
• What defines a "dark money" group?
• Which of the following best describes the practice of micro-targeting in political campaigns?
• Which amendment created the Electoral College and separated presidential from vice presidential elections?
• What type of group is a tax-exempt organization created to influence campaigns or candidates?
• What describes a primary where anyone can vote to choose a presidential candidate?
• What is it called when voters remove an incumbent from office before the end of their term?
• Which type of organization is allowed political activity as long as it is not the primary goal?
• What is meant by "critical election" in the context of American politics?
• Which ruling confirmed that corporations could donate unlimited amounts to nonprofit arms of PACs?
• What was the main goal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?
• What does the Bi-partisan Campaign Reform Act primarily regulate?
• When state legislatures present proposed legislation for voter approval, this is known as what?
• In which scenario would a state primarily be classified as a battleground state?
• What is the significance of the 22nd Amendment?
• What did the Supreme Court decide in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life?
• What characterizes "negative partisanship" in elections?
• What type of election indicates a significant shift in voter allegiance from one party to another?
• What is a political party's platform?
• Which term describes the efforts made by a campaign to boost voter participation?
• What does campaign finance refer to?
• Which decision is an example of how the Supreme Court has affected campaign finance?
• Which type of communications are considered to be made by organizations that are independent of the candidates?
• What does "partisan identification" refer to?
• What occurs during a run-off primary?
• What are Political Action Committees (PACs) primarily regulated by?
• Which of the following best describes a "swing state"?
• What is an election called where voters can select any candidate for an elected office?
• What is one primary goal of interest groups during elections?
• What is the process called when citizens propose legislation that will be on the ballot?
• What is the principal effect of a recall election?