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Examining the Legal Framework for Election Reforms

Description: This quiz will test your understanding of the legal framework for election reforms.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: election law voting rights campaign finance
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What is the primary federal law governing the conduct of federal elections?

  1. The Help America Vote Act

  2. The Voting Rights Act

  3. The Federal Election Campaign Act

  4. The National Voter Registration Act


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) is the primary federal law governing the conduct of federal elections. It regulates campaign finance, including contributions and expenditures, and sets limits on how much money candidates and political parties can spend on their campaigns.

What is the purpose of the Voting Rights Act?

  1. To ensure that all citizens have the right to vote

  2. To prevent discrimination in voting

  3. To regulate campaign finance

  4. To establish a national voter registration system


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Voting Rights Act (VRA) is a landmark piece of legislation that was enacted in 1965 to prevent discrimination in voting. The VRA prohibits racial discrimination in voting, including the use of poll taxes, literacy tests, and other barriers to voting that were used to disenfranchise African Americans.

What is the Help America Vote Act?

  1. A law that provides funding for election administration

  2. A law that establishes a national voter registration system

  3. A law that regulates campaign finance

  4. A law that prevents discrimination in voting


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) is a law that was enacted in 2002 to provide funding for election administration and to improve the accuracy and efficiency of elections. HAVA provides funding for a variety of election-related activities, including the purchase of new voting machines, the training of election officials, and the implementation of new voting procedures.

What is the National Voter Registration Act?

  1. A law that establishes a national voter registration system

  2. A law that regulates campaign finance

  3. A law that prevents discrimination in voting

  4. A law that provides funding for election administration


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) is a law that was enacted in 1993 to establish a national voter registration system. The NVRA requires states to offer voter registration at a variety of locations, including public assistance offices, libraries, and motor vehicle agencies. The NVRA also requires states to allow voters to register to vote by mail.

What is the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case?

  1. A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations

  2. A case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations

  3. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals

  4. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that unions have the same free speech rights as individuals


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is a landmark case in which the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals. The Court's decision in Citizens United has had a significant impact on campaign finance law, as it has allowed corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

What is the McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission case?

  1. A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations

  2. A case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations

  3. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals

  4. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that unions have the same free speech rights as individuals


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission is a case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of campaign finance regulations that limited the amount of money that individuals could contribute to political candidates and parties. The Court's decision in McCutcheon has made it easier for wealthy individuals to influence elections.

What is the Shelby County v. Holder case?

  1. A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  2. A case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  3. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not require voters to show photo identification

  4. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not purge voter rolls


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Shelby County v. Holder is a case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The provision in question required states with a history of racial discrimination in voting to obtain federal approval before changing their voting laws. The Court's decision in Shelby County has made it easier for states to implement voting restrictions that disproportionately affect minority voters.

What is the Texas v. White case?

  1. A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  2. A case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  3. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not require voters to show photo identification

  4. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not purge voter rolls


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Texas v. White is a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not require voters to show photo identification in order to vote. The Court's decision in Texas v. White was based on the fact that such a requirement would disproportionately burden minority voters, who are less likely to have photo identification.

What is the Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute case?

  1. A case in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  2. A case in which the Supreme Court struck down the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act

  3. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not require voters to show photo identification

  4. A case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not purge voter rolls


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute is a case in which the Supreme Court ruled that states could not purge voter rolls based on a failure to vote. The Court's decision in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute was based on the fact that such a purge would disproportionately burden minority voters, who are more likely to move frequently and to have their voter registration cancelled as a result.

What is the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?

  1. An agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote

  2. An agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in their state

  3. An agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in the most populous state

  4. An agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote in the least populous state


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. The compact is designed to ensure that the President is elected by the majority of voters, rather than by the Electoral College.

What is the Electoral College?

  1. A group of electors chosen by each state to vote for President and Vice President

  2. A group of electors chosen by the national popular vote to vote for President and Vice President

  3. A group of electors chosen by the state legislatures to vote for President and Vice President

  4. A group of electors chosen by the President and Vice President to vote for the next President and Vice President


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Electoral College is a group of electors chosen by each state to vote for President and Vice President. The number of electors in each state is equal to the number of representatives and senators that the state has in Congress. The electors meet in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President.

How many electoral votes does it take to win the presidency?

  1. 270

  2. 365

  3. 435

  4. 538


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

It takes 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. This is because there are a total of 538 electoral votes, and a candidate needs to win a majority of them in order to win the election.

What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

  1. To ensure that the President is elected by the majority of voters

  2. To ensure that the President is elected by the majority of states

  3. To ensure that the President is elected by the majority of electors

  4. To ensure that the President is elected by the majority of Congress


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The purpose of the Electoral College is to ensure that the President is elected by the majority of electors. This is because the President is not elected directly by the people, but rather by the electors who are chosen by each state.

What is the role of the electors in the Electoral College?

  1. To vote for President and Vice President

  2. To choose the President and Vice President

  3. To nominate the President and Vice President

  4. To ratify the President and Vice President


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The role of the electors in the Electoral College is to vote for President and Vice President. The electors meet in their respective states on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to cast their votes for President and Vice President.

What happens if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?

  1. The election is decided by the House of Representatives

  2. The election is decided by the Senate

  3. The election is decided by the Supreme Court

  4. The election is decided by a runoff election


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

If no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives votes to choose the President from among the three candidates who received the most electoral votes. The Vice President is then chosen by the Senate from among the two candidates who received the most electoral votes.

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