Question

Which of the following are features of California's top-two primary system?

1) The two major political parties hold separate primaries to select their candidates for the general election
2) It is possible to have a general election in which the two candidates presented to voters are from the same political party.
3) The top-two primary system has been used in California since the ratification of the state's constitution in 1879.
4) Third-party candidates are legally prohibited from running in the general election

Answer 1

California's top-two primary system can result in a general election with both candidates from the same party and is open to all candidates regardless of party affiliation, but it's a recent development and does not bar third-party candidates from running (3).

Step-by-step explanation:

Features of California's top-two primary system include the possibility of having a general election where both candidates are from the same political party, which occurs because all candidates run against each other regardless of party affiliation. This system is a type of primary election used in California state-level offices, U.S. Senate, and House elections, and is not restricted by party lines.

However, the top-two primary system has not been in place since the ratification of the state constitution but is a more modern development. Third-party candidates are not legally prohibited from running in the general election; they can run if they manage to be among the top two candidates during the primary. Thus, the features of the top-two primary system include its nonpartisan nature and the possibility that it can result in general election matchups without third-party candidates if they do not receive enough votes in the primary.