AP Gov Unit 1 Khan Academy Questions

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of "separation of powers" in the US Constitution?

Congress has authority over the federal budget, while the president appoints Supreme Court justices

Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Congress has implied powers not listed in the Constitution in order to implement its enumerated powers

Which of the following scenarios would violate the Tenth Amendment?

Congress passing a law raising the minimum driving age to 21

Which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of individualism and rule of law?

Criminalizing the use of recreational drugs like marijuana

Participatory democracy is best defined as which of the following?

Direct individual participation by citizens in political decisions that affect their daily lives

What are Brutus's ideas on a large government?

A large centralized government is unable to protect individual interests and liberties

Why did the Framers decide to include Article V of the Constitution, detailing an amendment process?

Concerns about protecting self-government

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the federal government authorized the Justice Assistance Grant in order to provide states and local governments with the funding necessary to support a range of law enforcement and crime prevention programs. Which response illustrates the best rationale for the type of grant fitting this scenario?

Block grants provide states with a great deal of flexibility in using federal funds to address specific local needs

Which of the following may Congress do to limit the power of the executive?

Impeach the president

Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of free enterprise and rule of law

Increasing regulations on banking practices

Which of the following was a way in which Shays's Rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the national government under the Articles of Confederation?

It could not raise money to pay a militia to put down the rebellion

Which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of equality of opportunity and limited government?

Mandating that all public schools have English language programs

Which of the following life events would be most likely to have a significant effect on an individual's political attitude?

Married individuals tend to become more conservative than they were before marriage, while divorced individuals tend to become more liberal than they were during marriage.

In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees people of the same sex the right to marry in the same manner as opposite-sex couples. Following this ruling, the National Organization for Marriage appealed to members of Congress encouraging them to pass an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. This is an example of which of the following principles of American government?

Multiple access points for stakeholders to influence policymaking

Which of the following is a consequence of federalism in the United States?

National policymaking is held in check, Diffusing political power between states and the federal government helps to reign in government and keeps each level from becoming too powerful.

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the process of political socialization?

Parents discuss at the dinner table who they are voting for in the next presidential election

The National Rifle Association (NRA) testifies in front of Congress to advocate for several laws, including one that would protect gun manufacturers from lawsuits concerning violence committed with weapons they made. This is an example of which of the following models of democracy?

Pluralist Democracy

A member of the Senate makes a statement to the press that she is unsure of how she is going to vote on a bill. After numerous calls from her constituents asking her to vote for the bill, she votes in support of the bill. This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?

Republicanism

Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of rule of law and limited government?

Seizing library records to investigate potential terrorists

Which of the following is a consequence of the allocation of power between the national government and state governments?

Stakeholders and institutions have multiple access points to influence public policy

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the process of political socialization in schools?

Students are required to take an American government course to graduate from high school (their opinions may be influenced by the class)

Social contract is best defined as which of the following?

The agreement between people and the government defining the rights and duties of each

A member of the House of Representatives proposes a Constitutional amendment that would force the president and Congress to balance the budget every year. Which of the following accurately describes the amendment process?

The bill must pass both the House and the Senate with a two-thirds majority

Which of the following was a strength of the Articles of Confederation that the Constitution retained?

The federal government could negotiate treaties with other countries

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of limited government?

The president vetoing a bill from Congress

What are Madison's ideas on factions?

They are inevitable, but can be controlled

Why are the compromises that were necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution still debated today?

They left some matters unresolved. For example, this lack of resolution on the process of electing a president has caused conflict recently.

In Federalist No. 10, Madison argues that the Constitution disperses power between the federal government and state governments. Which of the following describes a constitutional provision in the newly-ratified Constitution that does that?

US senators were chosen by state legislatures

Which of the following describes an exclusive power of the federal government?

coining money

Which of the following groups would be most likely to support a piece of legislation that lowers the corporate tax rate?

conservative

Which of the following ideological perspectives is most consistent with the Republican Party's platform?

conservative

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there was variation among states on the legality of same-sex marriage?

federalism

The commerce clause of the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Which of the following might be an implied power that Congress would have to complete this task?

setting a federal minimum wage

A senator wants to incentivize higher education for students from low-income families and wants to provide clear guidelines on how states must implement those incentives. Which type of grant should she propose?

categorical grant