Aim for FiveUS Government

Concept application

Switching to open primaries

  • Unit 5
  • 3 points
  • About 20 minutes

You read a short scenario about politics and explain how a political institution, behavior or process from the course is at work in it. On the exam: Question 1 of 4 in the free-response section (1 hour 40 minutes for all four, 50% of your score).

The question and its sources

Read the scenario and answer parts A, B, and C.

Scenario

In one state, each party's nominees for Congress have long been chosen in closed primaries, and in many districts only about 15 percent of registered voters took part. Last year, the state's voters approved a ballot measure that replaced the closed primaries with open primaries.

Supporters said the change would give the state's growing number of independent voters a voice and lead to more moderate nominees. Leaders of both major parties in the state opposed the measure. One state party chair said, “People who won't join our party shouldn't be picking our candidates.” In the first open primaries, turnout rose to 22 percent of registered voters.

Source: Hypothetical scenario

Suggested time: 20 minutes

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Part (a)

1 point

Describe the difference between a closed primary and an open primary.

0 / 2,500 characters

Part (b)

1 point

Explain how the change described in the scenario could affect the kinds of candidates who win party nominations.

0 / 2,500 characters

Part (c)

1 point

In the context of the scenario, explain why party leaders might oppose the change.

0 / 2,500 characters

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