AP Government 2019 Exam Practice

Members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs are concerned about the quality of services at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Which of the following is an action the committee can take to address the problem? (A) Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs to testify (B) Impounding funding for veterans hospitals until problems are resolved (C) Placing a referendum on the ballot in each state to increase health-care funding for veterans (D) Appointing a new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs

(A) Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs to testify

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 authorized the government to deny income tax deductions for employer health plans that did not offer employees the option of keeping their health insurance after leaving the job. Which enumerated power allowed Congress to make the law? (A) Regulating commerce among the states (B) Declaring laws unconstitutional (C) Borrowing money on the credit of the United States (D) Issuing copyrights and patents

(A) Regulating commerce among the states

Which of the following important functions of democracy would most likely be more difficult without political parties? (A) Eliminating corruption in the bureaucracy (B) Educating the public about upcoming elections (C) Ensuring that only eligible voters can vote (D) Reducing gridlock in Congress

(B) Educating the public about upcoming elections

Appointments to the federal judiciary are often contentious for which of the following reasons? (A) The House of Representatives can undermine presidential authority by overriding judicial appointments. (B) Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president's term is over. (C) The president selects nominees based on political orientation, while the Senate focuses on the academic credentials of nominees. (D) Federal judges are given a platform to legislate from the bench, and the Senate is hesitant about relinquishing power to the judiciary

(B) Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president's term is over.

A new president has been elected and has a number of positions to fill within the federal bureaucracy. Which of the following is an example of filling a position based on political patronage? (A) Choosing a secretary of state to appease members from the opposition party (B) Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand (C) Reappointing the secretary of defense even though he or she was appointed by the previous president, who is a member of the opposite party (D) Asking the chair of a prestigious university's economics department to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

(B) Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand

Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court's power? (A) Fire and replace justices (B) Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court (C) Adopt new constitutional amendments (D) Veto parts of the Court's decisions

(B) Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court

The application of the death penalty has been limited in recent decades and cannot be applied to minors and people who are found to be mentally incompetent. Which of the following is a reason for this? (A) The Supreme Court redefined what constitutes an unreasonable intrusion under the Fourth Amendment. (B) The Supreme Court changed its interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. (C) The Fifth Amendment's due process clause motivated state legislatures to limit the death penalty. (D) The right to an attorney guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment led to limited application of the death penalty

(B) The Supreme Court changed its interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.

Which of the following is contained in the Fourteenth Amendment and was likely an inspiration for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"? (A) The guarantee that citizens have the right to a speedy and public trial regardless of gender, race, or age (B) The principle that all people should be equal under the law, as embodied in the equal protection clause (C) The guarantee that all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to free speech (D) The due process clause, which implies the right to vote, shall not be denied on the basis of race

(B) The principle that all people should be equal under the law, as embodied in the equal protection clause

The president is most likely to use an executive order to make important policy when (A) Congress is dominated by the president's party (B) a compromise cannot be reached with Congress (C) the Supreme Court is divided along ideological lines (D) a negotiation with foreign heads of state reaches an impasse

(B) a compromise cannot be reached with Congress

Bureaucratic rule-making is best defined as (A) legally binding decisions made by Congress to constrain regulatory agencies (B) guidelines issued by government agencies, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented (C) directions given by the president to the bureaucracy regarding how a specific policy will be applied (D) review and supervision of departments and agencies conducted by congressional committees

(B) guidelines issued by government agencies, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented

The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be (A) less powerful than the executive (B) slow and deliberate in the law-making process (C) able to involve as many citizens as possible in the law making process (D) able to ensure that all citizens are equally represented

(B) slow and deliberate in the law-making process

Based on previous court rulings, which of the following scenarios would most likely violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? (A) A police officer inspects the contents of a computer hard drive without a warrant. (B) A mayor refuses to allow an unpopular group to hold a political rally. (C) A public school system uses race-based segregation. (D) The federal government passes a law prohibiting assault rifles.

(C) A public school system uses race-based segregation.

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power? (A) A state passes a law that increases the pay of state legislators. (B) A state enacts a law prohibiting smoking in all public places. (C) A state places a tax on furniture made overseas. (D) A state raises the drinking age to 25 years of age.

(C) A state places a tax on furniture made overseas.

Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment? (A) A suspect is interrogated without being informed of the right to an attorney. (B) A person is tried twice for the same crime. (C) A suspect's cell phone is analyzed by police before a warrant is issued. (D) A person is prosecuted for a federal crime without a jury.

(C) A suspect's cell phone is analyzed by police before a warrant is issued.

Which of the following statements describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process? (A) Members of the bureaucracy often lack the expertise to carry out the president's preferred policies. (B) Members of the president's Cabinet can be removed at any time by Congress. (C) Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president's agenda. (D) Congress generally gives specific details about how the laws they pass will be executed by members of the professional bureaucracy.

(C) Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president's agenda.

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of iron triangles? (A) The tendency of interest groups to hire former legislators, lobbyists, and judges (B) The inability of third-party candidates to garner public attention through media coverage (C) The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas (D) The practice of congressional leaders diverting PAC funds meant for certain popular candidates to those in more competitive races

(C) The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas

During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus and detained thousands of citizens who protested the war. Which of the following statements best illustrates this scenario? (A) When the public does not support the rights of others, those rights tend to no longer be applied. (B) There is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees the right to a fair trial. (C) There is a tension between civil liberties and public order. (D) Freedom of speech is an absolute right.

(C) There is a tension between civil liberties and public order.

Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is most likely to view a case concerning which of the following as a right-to-privacy case? (A) A university whose admissions standards prevent women from attending the institution (B) A person who is licensed to carry a handgun and brings one to a political rally (C) A high school student who leaves class at a specified time during each school day for daily prayer (D) A woman who is prevented from an abortion

(D) A woman who is prevented from an abortion

Which of the following is a consequence of candidate-centered campaigns? (A) The electoral success of third-party candidates sharply increases. (B) Parties tighten their control over candidate fund-raising to ensure compliance with regulations. (C) Candidates have less accountability for their positions because the importance of the party platform increases. (D) Candidates' ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.

(D) Candidates' ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.

A member of the House of Representatives has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage, but it has been in committee for 36 days and is unlikely to make it to the floor. Which of the following is the best course of action for the representative to take to get a vote on the bill? (A) Presenting a cloture motion (B) Placing a hold on the bill (C) Introducing a concurrent resolution (D) Filing for a discharge petition

(D) Filing for a discharge petition

Which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of individualism and equality of opportunity? (A) Expanding the national defense system (B) Reducing environmental regulations (C) Decreasing funding for space exploration (D) Implementing affirmative action programs

(D) Implementing affirmative action programs

Which of the following actions by public school students would most likely be protected symbolic speech based on the precedent established by Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)? (A) Leading prayers over the school's public address system (B) Publishing an editorial in the school newspaper (C) Protesting a school board decision by disrupting a school assembly (D) Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision

(D) Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision