AP Gov MCQ
Which of the following cases was most likely to derive the basis of its decision from the argument presented in The Federalist No. 78 that states: "that, accordingly, whenever a particular statute [contradicts] the Constitution, it will be the duty of the judicial tribunals to adhere to the latter and disregard the former"?
Marbury vs. Madison
Senate has use of filibuster
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The Declaration of Independence cites specific reasons for separating from British rule, including the British imposing taxes and maintaining a standing army without consent. Which of the following principles or ideas would these grievances be most related to? A - Natural rights such as life, liberty, and property B - The authority to create a centralized military among the colonies C - The incorporation of checks and balances among the branches of government D - Concurrent powers allowing the colonies to draft their own laws
A
("At War with the Separation of Powers,") Which of the following principles of government is most related to the author's argument in the passage? A - Separation of powers is necessary to our constitutional system to limit the power of the three branches and guarantee limited government. B - The president's power is constitutionally permitted to expand during times of crisis, which can lead to the use of force without permission from Congress. C - As the legislative branch, Congress is authorized to change the constitutional balance of power whenever it deems necessary. D - Separation of powers guarantees that each branch can focus on what it does best, but in some cases one branch may voluntarily cede power to another branch.
A
(Fed 15) Which of the following excerpts from Article I of the United States Constitution resolves a problem described by the author? A - "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;" B - "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time." C - "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States." D - "The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it."
A
In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the election despite losing the popular vote by about two percent. The line graph illustrates which of the following about presidential election polling? A - The trend appears to indicate that Clinton is more likely to win, but factors such as margin of error and the electoral system also need to be taken into account. B - Most polling used by the media is biased and lacks scientific rigor, leading to incorrect assumptions about who will win elections. C - Even though polls reach many people, it is not useful to make inferences about the general population because most people are not being polled. D - Polling the same group of people over a long period of time leads to incorrect polling results.
A
Which of the following is an accurate summary of James Madison's argument in The Federalist 10? A - A large republic presents more opportunities for groups to participate, compete, and limit each other. B - A large republic makes it possible to abolish factions and concentrate all power at the national level. C - A large republic allows the federal government to dominate the state governments through the necessary and proper clause. D - A large republic is a direct democracy where the people have a direct vote in policy matters, which controls factions.
A
The trend in late October and early November showing Clinton ahead but an increase in support for Trump most likely would be A - used by Clinton to assure her supporters of a likely victory B - described as momentum by the trailing Trump campaign to encourage supporters to vote C - the result of the margin of error, which might lead one to believe Trump was possibly ahead D - a result of unscientific polling practices by polling organizations
B
(Brutus 1) In the passage, Brutus is most concerned with the conflict between which of the following political ideas? A - Civil rights and national security B - Participatory democracy and elite democracy C - Political parties and special interest groups D - Religious liberty and the separation of church and state
B
(Brutus 1) Which of the following statements would the author of the passage most likely agree with? A - Average citizens cannot be trusted to vote because of low levels of education. B - Nations with extended territory cannot fairly represent their citizens in a republican form of government. C - The federal government should have greater authority than state legislatures. D - A small federal legislature is the best way to represent the will of the people in a large country.
B
(Fed 15) Which of the following experiences most likely influenced the perspective conveyed in the passage? A - The increased centralization of power in the national legislature under the Articles of Confederation B - The debt crisis of the 1780s which the national government was unable to address due to lack of authority C - The tension between states relying on commerce and those relying on agriculture D - Passage of the Stamp Act and other taxes during the revolutionary period
B
(Fed 15) Which of the following is a difference between the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution that is a response to a problem expressed in the passage? A - The Articles of Confederation lacked federal executive and judicial branches, whereas the United States Constitution did not. B - The Articles of Confederation allowed for the federal government to request revenues from states but did not permit it to tax citizens directly, whereas under the United States Constitution the federal government could tax citizens directly. C - Under the Articles of Confederation, members of the national legislature were paid by the state governments, whereas under the United States Constitution they were paid by the federal government. D - Under the Articles of Confederation, members of the national legislature were not able to regulate currency, whereas under the United States Constitution the federal government regulates currency.
B
As a compromise, the framers agreed on a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives elected by popular vote within states and the Senate selected by state legislatures. The direct election method conforms most to which of the following democratic ideals? A - The social contract is an agreement between citizens and government. B - Government should be based on the consent of the governed. C - Policy makers should be the most well-informed elites in society. D - State power should be respected in a federal constitution.
B
At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates from larger states argued that each state's representation in the legislature should be proportional to its population. Which statement accurately describes the compromise that led to both sides reaching agreement? A - A bicameral legislature with an upper house selected by the lower house and the lower house representation proportional to each state's population B - A bicameral legislature with an upper house representing each state equally and a lower house with representation proportional to each state's population C - A unicameral legislature with equal representation for every state D - A unicameral legislature with representation proportional to each state's population.
B
Which of the following cases expanded the powers of Congress by defining the necessary and proper clause more broadly? A - United States v. Lopez (1995) B - McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) C - Marbury v. Madison (1803) D - Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
B
President Theodore Roosevelt took his case directly to the American people to gain public support for his progressive reform initiatives by appearing in a movie newsreel. This type of presidential communication is an example of which of the following?
Bully Pulpit
On January 30, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring that for each new regulation added, at least two existing regulations be eliminated. Which combination of government actors has the power to fulfill President Trump's executive order?
Bureaucratic departments and agencies
("At War with the Separation of Powers,") Which of the following political processes would best solve the problem regarding the system of checks and balances, as articulated by the author in the passage? A - The president agrees to lift sanctions and signs a peace treaty with another country without waiting for the approval from Congress. B - Congress cuts the budget from the Armed Forces without getting presidential approval to prevent the president from sending troops abroad. C - The Supreme Court rules on a suit brought by an interest group that legislation permitting the president to launch military strikes without congressional approval is unconstitutional. D - The Supreme Court refuses to take a case on legislation that permits the president to launch military strikes without congressional approval.
C
In order to appease both Federalists and Anti-Federalists, it was agreed at the Constitutional Convention that a group of delegates would be charged with selecting the president. This would ensure that A - the process would be controlled directly by the citizens B - the winner of the national popular vote would be the president C - the most capable individuals would decide which candidate would be president D - Congress would select the electors who would cast the official vote for president
C
The idea of having a constitution, which includes a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances, promotes which of the following core American values? A - Civil liberties B - Rule of law C - Limited government D - Federalism
C
Which of the following best characterizes the general argument made in Brutus 1? A - A large republic would be preferable to a small one because more people could participate. B - A small republic would pose more danger to individual liberty than a large republic. C - A large republic is dangerous to personal liberty and undermines the states. D - A small republic is more susceptible to corruption than a large republic.
C
Which of the following best describes the holding in Baker v. Carr (1962) ?
Congressional redistricting is subject to judicial review.
("At War with the Separation of Powers,") Which of the following describes a possible method that can check the power of the president who willingly violates the constitutional balance of power as described in the passage? A - Congress can pass a law that removes the president from office. B - The Supreme Court can rule that the presidential election results are null and void based on the actions of the president. C - States can recall the president through a special election process. D - Congress can impeach and remove a president who is unable or unwilling to perform his or her official functions.
D
(Brutus 1) Which of the following excerpts from the passage best describes the author's reason for opposing an expansion of the scope of the federal government? A - "In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed." B - "This is the true criterion between a free government and an arbitrary one. The former are ruled by the will of the whole, expressed in any manner they may agree upon; the latter by the will of one, or a few." C - "If the people are to give their assent to the laws, by persons chosen and appointed by them, the manner of the choice and the number chosen, must be such, as to possess, be disposed, and consequently qualified to declare the sentiments of the people..." D - "... [I]t is impossible to have a representation, possessing the sentiments, and of integrity, to declare the minds of the people, without having it so numerous and unwieldy, as to be subject in great measure to the inconveniency of a democratic government."
D
A member of Congress is arrested and convicted of failing to pay the proper amount of income tax. Which of the following core American values is most relevant to this case? A - Limited government B - Equality of opportunity C - Free enterprise D - The rule of law
D
Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution lists several powers that are denied to the federal government, such as granting titles of nobility and passing ex post facto laws. This best demonstrates which of the following ideals of democracy? A - Natural rights B - Popular sovereignty C - Social contract theory D - Limited government
D
In The Federalist 10, which of the following did James Madison argue would best control the negative effects of factions? A - A law that prohibits factions B - A small direct democracy C - A large unitary government D - A large federal republic
D
In the 1950s Southern states attempted to prevent integration of their public schools. In return, the National Guard was sent to force states to implement federal regulations. This scenario illustrates which of the following about the relationship between the state and national governments? A - Most issues regarding education are settled at the state level. B - The Constitution gives state governments the exclusive power to interpret federal laws. C - The power of the national government to enforce state policy had been struck down by the Supreme Court. D - The debate over the role of the central government and state powers is ongoing.
D
The Gun-Free School Zones Act made it illegal for individuals knowingly to carry a gun in a school zone. The Supreme Court determined this act to be an unconstitutional stretch of the commerce clause in A - McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) B - Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) C - New York Times Company v. United States (1971) D - United States v. Lopez (1995)
D
Which of the following statements accurately describes the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in United States v. Lopez (1995) ? A - The necessary and proper clause did not allow Congress to create the Bank of the United States. B - Congress may regulate commerce between the states. C - State governments can declare federal statutes unconstitutional if they conflict with state law. D - Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime.
D
In Roe v. Wade (1973), the United States Supreme Court used what provision of the United States Constitution to extend the right to privacy to women seeking abortions?
Due process clause of the 14th amendment
During a television interview on July 1, 2018, Senator Lindsey Graham stated that "one of the concepts that really means a lot in America is stare decisis. That means you don't overturn precedent unless there's a good reason." About which ongoing debate was Senator Graham sharing his position?
Judicial activism versus judicial restraint
Which of the following cases arose from a state law that mandates public schools to begin the school day with the reading of a nondenominational prayer by a school official?
Engel vs. Vitale (1962)
What generally does the Fourteenth Amendment provide for?
Equal protection of the laws and due process
How long are the terms for House of Representatives and the Senate?
House - 2 years Senate - 6 years
House and Senate constitutional responsibilities?
House - initiates revenue bills Senate - ratifies treaties
In Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) how did the Supreme Court's decision address state interests and individual rights?
It balanced the state's interest in compulsory education with the students' free exercise rights.
A popular news website obtains transcripts of confidential discussions in the White House regarding how the National Security Agency should collect private data of citizens. Even though the president urges the website not to publish the story, the website does so anyway because it believes the conversation does not reveal information that poses a risk to national security. Which of the following cases would the news website most likely cite if it had to argue the case that it can publish the story without permission from the president?
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)
The case Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) upheld the standard of "separate but equal" in American law. Which of the following explains how this case relates to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Plessy established a precedent that was overturned in Brown
Which of the following was the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ?
Racial gerrymandering violates the 14th amendment
the facts in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ?
Redistricting in order to confine minority voters to a majority in one district was challenged under the Fourteenth Amendment.
A voter has seen his income increase by 3% over the past four years. He is encouraged that unemployment is down and the price of gas has remained relatively low. On Election Day, by voting for the incumbent presidential candidate, he has engaged in which type of voting?
Retrospective voting
Which of the following cases involves a state law that prevents women who are pregnant from seeking abortions?
Roe vs. Wade
On July 31, 2018, the United States Department of Education announced in the Federal Register its intention to establish a committee focusing on the implementation of federal programs. Which is the likely product of this committee's work?
Rule-making
Using social media, individuals are increasingly able to communicate their political views to a wide audience. However, some messages over social media have led to certain individuals being arrested for making credible threats. This issue is most related to which of the following cases?
Schenck v. United States (1919)
Which of the following is a doctrine based on the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution that was used in McDonald v. Chicago(2010) to limit the power of states and protect the right to keep and bear arms?
Selective Incorporation
In the case Randall v. Sorrell (2006), Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer argued that following judicial precedent "avoids the instability and unfairness that accompany disruption of settled legal expectations. For this reason, the rule of law demands that adhering to our prior case law be the norm. Departure from precedent is exceptional and requires special justification." Justice Breyer is referring to which of the following legal principles?
Stare decisis
A person accused of a crime cannot afford an attorney, so the state provides the accused with a public defender. Which of the following amendments in the Bill of Rights best applies in this scenario?
The 6th Amendment
In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court struck down racial segregation in public schools, finding that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." What constitutional clause did the Court rely most heavily on to reach this decision?
The equal protection clause
