AP U.S. Government topic quiz4 questions

5.9 Congressional Elections

Choose the best answer, check your reasoning, and use the explanation to correct any gap.

Question 1

Question 1 of 4

An incumbent House member uses casework records, district offices, and established donor networks during a reelection campaign. These resources most directly contribute to

Name recognition, constituency service, staff contacts, and fundraising networks are common sources of incumbency advantage in congressional elections. Their effect can vary with district conditions and national tides.
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D. the incumbency advantage

Name recognition, constituency service, staff contacts, and fundraising networks are common sources of incumbency advantage in congressional elections. Their effect can vary with district conditions and national tides.

Question 2

Question 2 of 4

A state redraws a House district so that supporters of one party are concentrated in a small number of districts while the opposing party wins more districts by narrower margins. The strategy is best described as

Packing concentrates the opposing party's voters into fewer districts, reducing their influence elsewhere. The practice is a redistricting strategy and is distinct from legislative vote trading or voter evaluation of past performance.
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A. packing

Packing concentrates the opposing party's voters into fewer districts, reducing their influence elsewhere. The practice is a redistricting strategy and is distinct from legislative vote trading or voter evaluation of past performance.

Question 3

Question 3 of 4

In a regular federal election, every House seat is scheduled while roughly one-third of Senate seats are scheduled. Which comparison accounts for that pattern?

House members serve two-year terms, so every seat reaches the end of its regular term in each two-year cycle. Senators serve six-year terms divided among three staggered classes, placing roughly one-third of Senate seats on the regular-cycle ballot. The other comparisons reverse or invent those schedules.
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B. Representatives face voters on a two-year cycle; six-year Senate service is divided into three rotating classes

House members serve two-year terms, so every seat reaches the end of its regular term in each two-year cycle. Senators serve six-year terms divided among three staggered classes, placing roughly one-third of Senate seats on the regular-cycle ballot. The other comparisons reverse or invent those schedules.

Question 4

Question 4 of 4

County returns show a Democratic majority in the presidential contest and a Republican majority in the Senate contest. Which additional evidence would most directly establish split-ticket voting?

Split-ticket voting is an individual pattern, so the evidence must connect one voter's choices across offices. Aggregate precinct results, equal turnout totals, party registration, and the eventual winners cannot show which combinations appeared on individual ballots. Matched anonymous records or a survey asking about both votes can.
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C. Matched ballot records or surveys linking the same voter's two choices

Split-ticket voting is an individual pattern, so the evidence must connect one voter's choices across offices. Aggregate precinct results, equal turnout totals, party registration, and the eventual winners cannot show which combinations appeared on individual ballots. Matched anonymous records or a survey asking about both votes can.

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