U.S. Elections 2008 Quiz

October 2007

 

1.  Who is responsible for running U.S. presidential elections?
A.  The Federal Election Commission (FEC)
B.  The states
C.  Congress
D.  The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

 

2.  U.S. presidential elections are held once every _____ years.
A.  Two
B.  Five
C.  Eight
D.  Four

 

3.   What are the major political parties in the United States?
A.   Whig and Tory
B.   Democratic and Republican
C.   Conservative and Liberal
D.   Evangelical and Democratic

 

4.  Members of the House of Representatives are elected every _____ years.
A.  Two
B.  Five
C.  Eight
D.  Four

5.  How long are the terms served by U.S. Senators?
A.  Two years
B.  Four years
C.  Six years
D.  Eight years

 

6.  What will be unusual about the 2008 presidential election?
A.  There will be four major parties instead of two.
B.  It will be decided by popular vote instead of the Electoral College.
C.  Citizens will vote by Internet.
D.  There is no incumbent president or vice-president running.

 

7.  What is the maximum number of terms a U.S. president can serve?
A.  One
B.  Two
C.  Three
D.  Four

 

8.  When did women gain the right to vote throughout the United States?
A.  1789
B.  1865
C.  1920
D.  1946

 

9.  Which of the following words means “the right to vote?”
A.  Suffrage
B.  Canvas
C.  Ballot
D.  Naturalization

 

10.  In the early years of the United States, who had the right to vote?
A.   Everyone over the age of 21.
B.   Only male property owners.
C.   All men over 21, but no women.
D.   All men over the age of 30.

 

11.  General elections in the United States are usually held in which month?
A.   September
B.   October
C.   November
D.   March

 

12.  National elections in the United States are held on which day of the week?
A.   Sunday
B.   Monday
C.   Tuesday
D.   Saturday

 

13.  Under normal circumstances, the inauguration of the president takes place in which month?
A.   November
B.   December
C.   January
D.   March

 

14.  Which two states allow their electoral votes to be divided by proportions of the vote in that state?
A.  Maine and Nebraska
B.  California and New York
C.  California and Texas
D.  Colorado and Wyoming

 

15.  How many electoral votes are needed to be elected president?
A.  325
B.  50
C.  785
D.  270

 

16.  What is the fastest growing segment of American voters?
A.   Hispanics
B.   African Americans
C.   Women
D.   White men

 

17.  Which of the current U.S. presidential candidates is of Latino extraction?
A.   Hillary Clinton
B.   Barack Obama
C.   Rudy Giuliani
D.   Bill Richardson

 

18.  Which 2004 U.S. presidential candidate is remembered for his grassroots organization using the Internet?
A.   John Kerry
B.   George W. Bush
C.   Howard Dean
D.   Barack Obama

 

19.  How many electoral votes does the District of Columbia have?
A.   One
B.   Twelve
C.   Six
D.   Three

 

20.  What is the minimum voting age in U.S. elections?
A.   16
B.   18
C.   21
D.   35

 

21.  Which state holds the first primary?
A.   Iowa
B.   New Hampshire
C.   South Carolina
D.   California

 

22.  Which state is famous for its early caucuses?
A.   Iowa
B.   New Hampshire
C.   South Carolina
D.   California

 

23.  When was the first U.S. presidential campaign with public financing?
A.   1992
B.   1980
C.   1976
D.   1960

 

24.  When was the Electoral College established?
A.   1920
B.   1787
C.   1865
D.   1945

 

 

25.  The famous terms “dimpled” and “hanging” chad are associated with interpreting ballots in which election?
A.   2006
B.   2004
C.   2000
D.   1996

 

KEYS:

1.B        2.D       3.B       4.A       5.C       6.D       7.B       8.C       9.A      10.B
11.C      12.C     13.C     14.A     15.D      16.A      17.D     18.C     19.D     20.B
21.B      22.A      23.C     24.B     25.C