338 Chapter 9 | Elections- “GOTV” and “ground game” refer to a candidate’s attempts
to.
a boost name recognition
b mobilize supporters
c increase fund-raising
d deter opposition
e win endorsements - Research shows that modern campaign ads are likely
to.
a change voters’ minds
b feature speeches by the candidate
c have beneficial effects, such as informing voters
d run several minutes in length
e increase turnout - What is soft money?
a money that can be given directly to a candidate
b money that is given by members of the opposing party
c money that can be spent to mobilize voters for a specific candidate
d money that candidates spend to boost the party’s reputation
e money that is not tied to a specific candidate
How do voters decide?
Explain the key factors that influence voters’ choices.
(Pages 326–330)Summary
Although politics is everywhere, ordinary voters don’t pay much
attention to politics. Turnout rates are modest, and people know
relatively little about the candidates and their positions. While some
voters are highly interested in politics and collect all the information
they can about the candidates, most voters make their decision based
on voting cues. Most elections are determined by local-level politics,
but occasionally national issues come to the fore.Practice Quiz Questions
- What is the paradox of voting?
a Voting is costly, and the chances of affecting the election outcome
are small.
b Voting is costly, and approval for government is high.
c Voting is easy, and the chances of affecting the election outcome
are large.
d Voting is easy, but informing yourself about the candidates
takes time.
e Approval for government is low, but voter turnout rates are high.
Key terms
paradox of voting (p. 326)
issue voters (p. 327)
voting cues (p. 327)coattails (p. 328)
split ticket (p. 328)
straight ticket (p. 328)- Voters who rely on voting cues to determine their voting
choice are.
a likely to cast a reasonable vote, regardless of their
information level
b unlikely to cast a reasonable vote, regardless of their
information level
c likely to cast a reasonable vote, and more so if they are informed
d unlikely to cast a reasonable vote, and less so if they are informed
e neither more nor less likely to cast a reasonable vote than voters
who ignore cues - Weak coattails and split tickets serve as indicators
that.
a most voters don’t know anything about the candidates
b most elections are determined by local issues
c most elections are determined by national issues
d most voters use political parties as their dominant voting cue
e most voters use incumbency as their dominant voting cue
Understanding the 2016 and
2018 elections
Analyze the issues and outcomes in the 2016 and 2018
elections. (Pages 331–336)Summary
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2016 elections, along with unified
Republican control of Congress, led to significant changes in
government policy during the first two years of Trump’s presidency.
However, Democrats regained control of the House in the 2018
midterms, giving them the power to block many additional changes,
as well as the ability to investigate Republican-led agencies and
Trump himself. The next two years are likely to continue to demonstrate
the conflictual nature of contemporary politics.Practice Quiz Questions
- What is the most accurate statement about the role of
presidential approval in the 2018 election?
a Looking across the entire nation, presidential approval shifted
votes to Trump.
b Economic factors played a much greater role in vote decisions.
c Republicans deserted Trump because of their disapproval of his
performance in office.
d Presidential approval did not matter because most Americans
based their vote on other issues.
e Evaluations of Trump played a significant role in vote and turnout
decisions.
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