AP US GOV & POLITICS Exam Questions
Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system?
They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee?
Conference
Which of the following explains an action Congress can take that would have the most influence on the data on the graphs?
Congress can pass legislation that changes the federal salary structure.
In 1998, Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter filed suit against her employer for pay discrimination based on her gender. Though Ledbetter was initially successful, Goodyear appealed the decision and the case went to the Supreme Court. In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that sex discrimination complaints must be made within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred," which Ledbetter had failed to do. Which of the following actions could be taken to reverse the impact of the decision?
Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?
Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards
The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by
state legislatures
The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in
the United States House of Representatives
Throughout most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, most African Americans were prevented from voting in many Southern states despite the Fifteenth Amendment, which extended the right to vote to African American males. Southern states were able to take this action because
the framers allowed the individual states to create voting processes and voter qualifications
Source: Foreign Affairs, 2018 Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph?
A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy
The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?
A delegation of power from the federal government to state governments, increasing state and local sovereignty
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation?
A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt.
Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public?
A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
The following questions refer to the chart below. Which of the following statements about the federal government between 1948 and 1978 is supported by the chart?
A relatively stable number of employees administered larger federal budgets and enforced more regulations.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation?
A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state
Which of the following sections of the United States Constitution is most related to the case Marbury v. Madison (1803) ?
Article III
Which of the following is the correct pairing of powers found in the Articles of Confederation and powers found in the Constitution?
Articles of Confederation: Unicameral legislature United States Constitution: Bicameral legislature
Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) ?
Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.
Refer to the political cartoon for the following question.. Herblock, Washington Post, 1949 Which of the following policies would the states most likely prefer according to the political cartoon?
Block grants
Refer to the diagram for the following question. Which of the following is true according to the diagram?
Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.
Linda Leali, "Reflecting on the Great Gift of the Separation of Powers," Daily Business Review, 2018 Which of the following best explains how the view of the author of the passage compares with The Federalist 51 regarding separation of powers and checks and balances?
Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.
In The Federalist 10, James Madison argued that the new constitution would help control faction by doing which of the following?
By creating a large republic, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction could gain enough power to completely dominate.
Which of the following sets of Supreme Court cases best illustrates how views of federalism have shifted in the United States?
Case 1: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Case 2: United States v. Lopez (1995)
The following questions refer to the following excerpt from a United States Supreme Court decision. "We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..." The decision of the Supreme Court upheld the principle that
Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties
Refer to the line graph for the following question. JOB APPROVAL RATINGS FOR PRESIDENTS, 1945-2012 Source: Gallup 2012. Which of the following correctly identifies an implication of the line graph?
Congress is more likely to act on a president's policy proposal at the beginning of a first term than at the end of a second term.
All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:
Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.
Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962) ?
Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.
The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The Department of Transportation has accepted public comments regarding the safety of automated vehicles in the United States in order to establish standards and guidelines for this new technology. Which of the following concepts is most related to the scenario?
Delegated discretionary authority
Cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements?
Different levels of government are involved in common policy areas.
Which of the following is a fundamental element of the United States Constitution?
Division of government authority across political institutions
Linda Leali, "Reflecting on the Great Gift of the Separation of Powers," Daily Business Review, 2018 Which of the following is a consequence of the dynamic competition among branches of government described in the passage?
Effective policy change among governmental levels and branches occurs with little long-term abuse of authority.
In the Constitution as originally ratified in 1788, the provisions regarding which of the following most closely approximate popular, majoritarian democracy?
Election of members of the House of Representatives
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following?
Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
Refer to the map for the following question. Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, 2017 Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment?
Federalism
Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?
Federalism
Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president?
Formal Power: Acting as commander in chief of the military Informal Power: Signing executive agreements with foreign nations
The following questions refer to the chart below. Which of the following public policy problems is most likely to result from the situation shown in the chart?
Government employees may become responsible for larger bodies of regulation than they can effectively monitor.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?
House of Representatives: Debate is limited. Senate: Members can filibuster.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?
House of Representatives: Debate on bills is limited Senate: Debate on bills can be unlimited
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?
House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people. Senate: The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.
In the case Twining v. New Jersey (1908), the Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination is not applicable to the states. In 1964 the Supreme Court overruled the decision in Malloy v. Hogan (1964) and held that the right was incorporated to the states. This scenario illustrates which of the following?
Ideological changes to the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of precedent.
Refer to the passage for the following question. George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 Which of the following scenarios illustrates Washington's concerns?
Ideological divisions within Congress can lead to partisan gridlock.
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton states, "A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning." Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to this statement?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Shortly after the 2008 election, President Obama appointed outspoken and controversial House member Rahm Emanuel to lead his White House as chief of staff. The selection drew criticism from Republican leaders, including House minority leader John Boehner, who remarked that the selection "is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center." Which of the following explains how Congress could legitimately respond to the appointment?
Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.
Which of the following is the best example of a categorical grant?
Money given to states for special education programs
Refer to the line graph for the following question. JOB APPROVAL RATINGS FOR PRESIDENTS, 1945-2012 Source: Gallup 2012. Which of the following statements reflects a pattern in the line graph?
Most presidents exit office with lower approval ratings than when they entered office.
A United States Supreme Court justice has announced his retirement at the end of the current Supreme Court term. What is the most likely presidential action in response to this announcement?
Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology
The majority party in the Senate is concerned that the Supreme Court has made a number of ideologically dangerous and controversial rulings. Which of the following actions would the Senate take in their attempt to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Pass legislation that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings
Refer to the passage for the following question. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch?
President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.
In November 2014, President Obama announced an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program through an executive order. The policy would protect over 700,000 more children of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republican members of Congress denounced the order as an abuse of executive power. Previously, members of the House of Representatives had voted to defund the program. This scenario best illustrates which of the following?
Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.
Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ?
Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional.
During his confirmation hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that Roe v. Wade (1973) "is the settled law of the land." This statement suggests that in a case that challenges the constitutionality of legislation restricting privacy and reproductive rights, which of the following should be a key factor in the court's ruling?
Reliance on legal precedent
Which of the following actions by the federal government best illustrates the concept of unfunded mandates?
Requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services
Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21 Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with?
Separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want.
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia law violated the U.S. Constitution. In response to Chief Justice John Marshall's majority opinion, President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Which of the following ideas regarding government does President Jackson's statement exhibit?
Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions.
The Supreme Court upholds a law passed by Congress as constitutional. The chief justice states in the majority opinion that previous decisions supporting Congress' power to make laws based on the commerce clause of the Constitution were the basis for the decision. Which of the following legal concepts did the chief justice apply in writing the opinion?
Stare decisis
Refer to the political cartoon for the following question.. Herblock, Washington Post, 1949 Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the political cartoon?
State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent.
In McCulloch v. Maryland , the Supreme Court established which of the following principles?
States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government.
A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate?
Supreme Court justice
Source: United States Department of Transportation, 2017 Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic?
The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.
Which of the following is likely to occur as a result of new legislation regarding automobile safety?
The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making?
The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.
Q28 Marbury v Madison and Federalist 78
The Federalist 78 is about the power and role of the federal courts, and in Marbury v. Madison, Madison expands that role by giving the courts the power to determine whether laws or executive actions conflict with the Constitution.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was struck down as unconstitutional because it exceeded the commerce clause.
Which of the following procedures results in the removal of the President from office?
The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict.
Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances?
The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent?
The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause.
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?
The commerce clause of the Constitution
Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787?
The creation of a strong national government
Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10?
The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.
Which of the following was a likely result of the decision in Wickard v. Filburn that contributed to the Court's later decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
The expansive interpretation of the commerce clause by the Supreme Court which greatly extended the power of Congress drew criticism that eventually led to a more narrow interpretation.
Which of the following best defines the constitutional interpretation of federalism?
The federal government and the states have separate but overlapping powers; where these powers conflict the federal government prevails.
Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 21 In the passage, Hamilton is concerned that under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government does not have sufficient constitutional powers to gain compliance from state governments. Which of the following is a way that the Constitution allows the federal government to address this problem?
The federal government can pass laws that allow it to fine or tax individuals directly.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ?
The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland's tax.
In the early part of the twenty-first century, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful?
The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights.
The following questions refer to the following excerpt from a United States Supreme Court decision. "We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..." Which of the following resulted from this Supreme Court decision?
The power of the national government was strengthened.
Which of the following enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens?
The power to pass a federal budget
Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior?
The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court used the power of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) to strike down a Georgia state law that regulated the relationship between citizens of Georgia and members of the Cherokee Nation. President Andrew Jackson opposed the decision and famously challenged the Supreme Court to enforce it. As the Supreme Court was not able to enforce the decision, the other branches of government ignored it. This example illustrates which of the following?
The president can approve or veto decisions made by the Supreme Court.
Refer to the table for the following question. Source: Table based on data from Todd Garvey, "Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional and Institutional Implications," CRS Report, published January 4, 2012,
The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.
Which of the following is an example of how separation of powers creates friction between the executive and legislative branches in the policy-making process?
The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.
Refer to the passage for the following question. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 By using the phrase "creative federalism," President Johnson is most likely referring to which of the following features of the American system?
The relationship between the federal and state governments evolves over time and flexible enough to permit new forms of interaction.
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?
The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate
Refer to the diagram for the following question. Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress?
The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party.
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
The scope of power of the central government
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy?
The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee
Which of the following is the best predictor of the Department of Education's annual budget?
The size of the previous year's budget
In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that a state legislature would have to redraw their representative districts in order to comply with the Constitution. Which of the following potential difficulties could have resulted from this decision?
The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's authority.
Which of the following features of the United States Constitution would most concern the author of Brutus 1?
The supremacy clause, which gives the federal government supremacy over states
In the 1780s, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shays' Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.
Which of the following best describes how a president can influence the data in the graphs?
Through the role of chief executive officer of the executive branch, the president can determine salary grades of federal employees.
Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda?
Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
Refer to the table for the following question. Source: Table based on data from Todd Garvey, "Presidential Signing Statements: Constitutional and Institutional Implications," CRS Report, published January 4, 2012, Which of the following statements is most accurately supported by the data in the table?
While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton's.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an example of
a federal mandate
In The Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government." In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor of the need for
a single executive who can respond quickly to crises
Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he
believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights
States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from
block grants
Giving state governments greater discretion in deciding how to achieve the specific goals of welfare reform is an example of
devolution
All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT
dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties
In a federal system of government, political power is primarily
divided between the central government and regional governments
American political culture is characterized by strong popular support for all of the following EXCEPT
economic equality
The term "bicameralism" refers to the
establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules
The reserved powers of the state governments can best be described as those powers
exercised by both national and state governments
The terms "fiscal federalism" and "cooperative federalism" refer to situations in which
federal, state, and local governments work together to complete a project, with the federal government providing much of the project funding
Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of
federalism
The framers of the United States Constitution left decisions on voting eligibility to the
individual states
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that was unpopular with a majority of Americans. The president and Congress might be able to lessen the impact of the decision by
refusing to actively enforce the decision
The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to
regulate interstate commerce
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to
reserve powers to the states
An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the President in the policymaking process is that bureaucrats
usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks