Am Gov Unit 3 5/28/2016 pp. 1of 2
Name: _______________________________
MULITIPLE CHOICE: Select the best choice possible. (4 pts. each for 40 pts. total)
____ 1. The complex process by which one acquires political attitudes and beliefs is called
a. indoctrination
b. polling
c. hereditary influence
d. political socialization
____ 2. Most Americans characterize themselves as
a. conservatives
b. liberals
c. moderates
d. reactionaries
____ 3. which is generally LEAST important in determining a person’s political beliefs and attitudes
a. age
b. peers
c. media
d. family
____ 4. An important labor interest group is the
a. AFL-CIO
b. National Association of Manufacturers
c. NAACP
d. National Grange
____ 5. In reading a public opinion poll, one should
a. take into account who paid for the poll
b. determine if a random, representative sample was used
c. check whether the questions were worded to avoid bias
d. all of the above
____ 6. the place where people vote on election day is called a
a. ward
b. caucus
c. precinct
d. convention
____ 7. A political system in which more than two political parties compete for power and electoral office is called
a. an oligarchy
b. anarchy
c. a multiparty system
d. a parliamentary system
____ 8. In and election, a candidate who wins more votes than any other is said to have a
a. majority
b. plurality
c. recall
d. straw vote
____ 9. Which group is MORE likely to vote Republican?
a. union members
b. lower middle class
c. college graduate
d. people who receive welfare benefits
Am Gov Unit 3 5/28/2016 pp. 1of 2
Am Gov Unit 3 5/28/2016 pp. 1of 2
____ 10. African Americans received the right to vote in
a. the Civil War
b. the Dred Scott decision
c. the Thirteenth Amendment
d. the Fifteenth Amendment
TRUE OR FALSE: Place an X next to each of the following statements that are false. If a statement is True leave
the space next to it blank. (2 pts. each for 10 pts. total)
In order to join a political party in the United States, you must join and pay dues
A contribution to political parties instead of to particular candidates is known as soft money.
To be elected president, a person must receive at least a plurality of the popular vote.
Suffrage is the legal right to vote
Absentee ballots are meant to encourage voting in elections
ESSAYS: Answer in COMPLETE paragraphs. Use complete sentences and proper paragraph structure with
opening and closing sentences. Support your answers with material you learned in this unit. (25 pts. Each)
1. Should the United States replace the Electoral College system with a direct popular election of the presidents?
Explain your reasons.
2. A recent event in the news has been the first elections in Iraq. This has been described as true step toward
freedom and democracy. In order to ensure the right to vote, soldiers stood outside of polling booths with
weapons at the ready, willing to kill so that others would have this liberty. And with that risk, most of the nation
of Iraq did turn out to vote, including women (a social second class in that nation.)
In contrast, most Americans don’t vote, even when they can vote from home.
What is the difference? Why is voting held in such high esteem for Iraq, but in such low regard in the United
States? What does this say about the two nations? Could Iraq ever become unconcerned about voting? When?