U.S. Citizenship Test Practice: Elections and Voting
- Elections and Voting
- 10 questions
- 12 minutes
These questions cover how Americans choose their leaders: when elections are held, how the Electoral College works and how citizens take part. Tip: remember the number pairs, such as 538 electors and 270 votes needed to win.
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Question 1
Federal elections in the United States are held on a fixed day set by law. Which day is it?
Correct answer: A
Federal law sets Election Day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. That is why it always falls between November 2 and November 8.
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Question 2
The Electoral College has 538 electors. How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win the presidency?
Correct answer: C
A candidate needs a majority of the 538 electoral votes, which is 270. 269 would only be a tie, and 435 is the number of House seats.
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Question 3
How is the number of electors for each state decided?
Correct answer: B
Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress: two senators plus its representatives. Larger states therefore have more electoral votes.
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Question 4
Elections held halfway through a President's four-year term, when all House seats and about one-third of Senate seats are chosen, are called what?
Correct answer: D
Midterm elections take place two years after a presidential election. Voters choose all 435 House members and about one-third of the senators.
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Question 5
Before the general election in November, members of a political party vote to choose which candidate will represent their party. What is this vote usually called?
Correct answer: C
In a primary election, voters pick the candidate who will run for their party in the general election. Some states use caucuses, which are meetings, instead.
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Question 6
What are the two major political parties in the United States today?
Correct answer: A
The Democratic and Republican parties are the two major parties today. The Federalists and Whigs were important long ago, and the Green and Libertarian parties are smaller parties.
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Question 7
In nearly every state, what must a citizen do before voting in an election for the first time?
Correct answer: D
Almost every state requires citizens to register before they vote. Voting fees (poll taxes) and property requirements are not allowed.
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Question 8
When you vote, no one is allowed to see whom you chose. What is this kind of private vote called?
Correct answer: B
A secret ballot keeps each person's vote private, so voters cannot be pressured or punished for their choice. A poll tax was a fee, which the 24th Amendment banned in federal elections.
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Question 9
A President is elected in November. On which date does the new term begin?
Correct answer: D
Under the 20th Amendment, the President's term begins at noon on January 20 after the election. This day is called Inauguration Day.
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Question 10
Senators serve 6-year terms, but there is a Senate election every 2 years. About how much of the Senate is up for election each time?
Correct answer: C
Senate terms are staggered, so about one-third of the 100 seats are elected every two years. This means the whole Senate never changes at once.
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