GED Social Studies : Elections and Politics

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GED Social Studies

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Elections And Politics

On a traditional political spectrum, which of these groups would appear furthest to the left?

Possible Answers:

Conservatives

Reactionaries

Moderates

Liberals

Radicals

Correct answer:

Radicals

Explanation:

The traditional political spectrum (from left to right) goes like this: Radical; Liberal; Moderate; Conservative; Reactionary. So the furthest to the left would be a radical. A radical would support complete, dramatic, and immediate overhaul of existing social or political norms. Radicals might resort to violence in order to achieve their goals.

Example Question #2 : Elections And Politics

In the contemporary American political landscape, the number of independent voters is __________.

Possible Answers:

falling rapidly

falling steadily

climbing rapidly

climbing steadily

fairly consistent

Correct answer:

climbing steadily

Explanation:

For many Americans, party loyalty is the least pronounced it has ever been. Recent elections have seen a greater and greater number of voters who would declare themselves independent. This mirrors another contemporary trend in the American political landscape: more and more Americans are voting based on the candidate and his orher policies rather than simply voting along party lines; however, it is worth nothing that the majority of voters still vote very consistently for the same party.

Example Question #3 : Civics And Government

Which of these political parties has never existed in United States history?

Possible Answers:

Whigs

Federalists

Democratic-Republicans

Liberal-Democrats

Progressive

Correct answer:

Liberal-Democrats

Explanation:

Of these answer choices, only the Liberal-Democrats (a British political party) have never existed in United States political history.

Example Question #3 : Elections And Politics

Which American political party passed the Alien and Sedition Acts?

Possible Answers:

Whigs

Republicans

Democratic-Republicans

Democrats

Federalists

Correct answer:

Federalists

Explanation:

The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by the Federalists in 1798 during the presidency of John Adams. The stated reason for passing the Alien and Sedition Acts was to provide greater security for the young nation in the wake of rising tensions with the French. The Alien Act made immigration more difficult for people from certain nations, and the Sedition Act made it illegal to speak out against the government or to incite rebellion against the government. The Acts were heavily criticized by Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans.

Example Question #4 : Elections And Politics

On the traditional political spectrum, which of these groups would appear furthest to the right?

Possible Answers:

Liberals

Reactionaries

Radicals

Moderates

Conservatives

Correct answer:

Reactionaries

Explanation:

The traditional political spectrum (from left to right) goes like this:

Radical - Liberal - Moderate - Conservative - Reactionary

So, the furthest to the right would be a reactionary. Someone who holds reactionary ideas passionately (and sometimes violently) opposes some kind of political or social change. Reactionaries may even want to return to a previous social or political order.

Example Question #3 : Political Parties

How many major parties are there in US politics?

Possible Answers:

2

1

4

3

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

The correct answer is "2." Currently, those two parties are the Democrats and the Republicans (and have been since the Civil War). That's not to say that there are NO other parties in the US, simply that there are only two major parties. This is partially due to our electoral system (that is, the way that we vote).

Example Question #6 : Elections And Politics

In return for providing financial assistance to the Senator during his congressional campaign a prominent business man is able to get his son a position within the Department of Education. This arrangement is known as __________.

Possible Answers:

the Coattail Effect

political patronage

meritocracy

None of these answers is correct.

the Reverse-Income Effect

Correct answer:

political patronage

Explanation:

Political patronage is the term used to describe the granting of favors, passing favorable legislation, or making government appointments in exchange for financial support during a campaign. Meritocracy is fairly close to being the opposite, as it is a system whereby only the most qualified and skilled person is able to get a job.

Example Question #3 : Elections And Politics

Which of these is a consequences of the American two-party system?

Possible Answers:

The American voting public has many options to choose from.

Politicians adopt narrow and specific opinions to ensure their policies stand out in an election cycle.

Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.

Fundraising and campaign advertising plays a small role in determining the winner.

The media is generally unable to predict which of the two major parties will win an election.

Correct answer:

Politicians adopt broad opinions to appeal to the largest number of people as possible.

Explanation:

In the American two-party system politicians often adopt broad opinions on a wide variety of issues to appeal to the largest number of people as possible. This generally ensures that both political parties are quite moderate when compared to the liberal or conservative parties in countries with a multi-party system.

Example Question #2 : Elections And Politics

An election in which many voters switch their political party allegiance is called a __________.

Possible Answers:

a realignment election

a dealignment election

a tipping point election

a bemusing election

an irate election

Correct answer:

a realignment election

Explanation:

A realignment election takes place when many votes switch their political-party allegiance. Often, a realignment election sees the rise of a third party or a previously unknown party into the two-party system. Other times it sees voters switching which of the two major parties they support. A realignment election often reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with one or both of the two major parties.

Example Question #3 : Elections And Politics

A presidential candidate must win a majority of __________________ in order to become the next president.

Possible Answers:

The Popular Vote

The Electoral College

The Affection of Different States

None of these

Correct answer:

The Electoral College

Explanation:

A presidential candidate must win a majority of the Electoral College in order to become the next President. This is a slightly tricky question. Many people are under the incorrect assumption that a candidate must win a majority of the popular vote in order to become President. In reality, becoming the President requires a majority of the Electoral College-- which does not necessarily require a majority of the popular vote (due to the way that we count votes).

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