Exam 2 Review Sheet Political Participation: What factors are included in the calculus of voting?

What factor in the calculus of voting tends to discourage people from showing up to the polls? What is a recent trend in voter turnout? What are the different ways of calculating voter turnout? Why do the differences matter? Compared to the rest of the world, where does the United States stand in terms of voter turnout rates? Undervotes Overvotes How do the laws surrounding voter registration play into voters decision to show up to the polls? How do they differ from other developed countries? What are some other potential reforms to elections that may encourage people to show up to the polls? Involve when elections are held Frequency of elections Restrictions on where one can vote What part do parties play in increasing voter turnout? Which groups in society are more inclined to vote? What are some explanations for why we have seen a major shift in voter turnout over time? Presidential Elections: What is the most popular way of selected party nominees for president (State-by-state)? What were some of the reforms in nomination rules in the Democratic party? What impact did it have? What are some potential criticisms of the primary system for electing presidents? How does the electoral college shape how candidates run their campaigns? What are some of the considerations voters make to choose between candidates? Recently, there was a major reform in the amount of money individual could contribute to party committee? What was it? What was this sort of money called? What is most campaign money spent on? Pledged delegates Superdelegates How do the Democratic and Republican parties differ in how they distribute delegates among party candidates? What are electors? What do they do? How can you calculate the number of electors for each state? What element of the electoral college and its place in presidential elections have gained a considerable amount of criticism? In most states, if a presidential candidate in the general election wins a majority of the votes, how many electoral votes does he/she receive?

Congressional Elections: Are members of Congress spending more or less time in their seats than in the past? What is reapportionment? How is it determined? What is redistricting? What is gerrymandering? What is an open seat? What impact might it have on congressional elections? What is a safe seat? What is an incumbent? What are some factors that contribute to the incumbency advantage? How do incumbents go about trying to secure their reelection in an upcoming election? What is their franking privilege? Why is it important? On average, do House or Senate elections tend to be more expensive? Which members of Congress have the highest reelection rates, the House or Senate? Why might they differ in their ability to get reelected? 4 major differences. Are national forces a stronger or weaker influence on congressional elections than they have been in the past? What are coattails? Why might national forces have grown in congressional elections?