AP US Gov Progress Check Questions
When deciding Marbury v. Madison (1803), which of the following excerpts from The Federalist No. 51 could best be used to help Chief Justice John Marshall write the argument in favor of judicial review?
"But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachment of the others."
Which of the following quotes from the Federalist Papers best supports the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ?
"Liberty is to faction what air is to fire ... But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire its destructive agency."
Which of the following parts of the United States Constitution is incorporated to the states based on the ruling in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) ?
"[T]he right of the ppl to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed. 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. 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; for if they do not know, or are not disposed to speak the sentiments of the people, the people do not govern, but the sovereignty is in a few. Now, in a large extended country, it 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...." Brutus 1 Which of the following statements would the author of the passage most likely agree with?
Nations with extended territory cannot fairly represent their citizens in a republican form of government
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 US (1971)
A Pentagon contractor named Daniel Ellsberg stole a report, which later became known as the Pentagon Papers. The report had classified information about the conduct of the war in Vietnam. He gave this report to several major media outlets. The government tried to use prior restraint to prevent the outlets from publishing these excerpts. The Court allowed the media outlets to publish the excerpts in which of the following cases?
New York Times Co. v. US (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 eventually overturned in the Brown case
Which of the following is the best example of a president using technology to communicate and obtain public support for a public policy agenda?
President John F. Kennedy outlining Cold War challenges and urging Americans to civic action in his inaugural address
Which of the following parties would be most likely to support requiring voters to show photo identification when going to the voting booth?
Republican
Which of the following cases involves a state law that prevents women who are pregnant from seeking abortions?
Roe v. Wade (1973)
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. US (1919)
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"?
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
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:
US v. Lopez (1995)
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. Smaller states argued that each state should have equal representation, regardless of population. The disagreement over representation threatened to derail the ratification of the United States Constitution. Which statement accurately describes the compromise that led to both sides reaching agreement?
a bicameral legislature with an upper house representing each state equally and lower house with representation proportional to each state's population
Which of the following scenarios is an example of a constitutional application of affirmative action?
a federal contractor actively recruits qualified minorities and women for positions in the company
In The Federalist 10, which of the following did James Madison argue would best control the negative effects of factions?
a large federal republic
Which of the following best characterizes the general argument made in Brutus 1?
a large republic is dangerous to personal liberty and undermines the states
Which of the following is an accurate summary of James Madison's argument in The Federalist 10?
a large republic represents more opportunities for groups to participate, compete, and limit each other
Which of the following is the best example of a president using the bully pulpit?
a president making a televised speech to gain public support for a policy initiative
Which of the following examples describes the core value of equality of opportunity?
a student gains admittance to a university solely based on academic performance
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932 after running on the Democratic Party platform that included an expansion of federal programs aimed at pulling the United States out of the Great Depression. The expansion plan, known as the New Deal, substantially increased the voting base of the Democratic Party. As a result, the Democratic Party dominated Congress and many state governments for the next half century. The election of 1932 is considered a critical election because it:
changed the base of support in each party
The decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) led to the creation of super PACs that can legally raise unlimited amounts of money and engage in electioneering with few limits. Madison argued in The Federalist 10 that factions, like super PACs, would not be detrimental to society because the Constitution:
created a large republic with many factions that would cancel each other out
Increases in the amount of money spent on national defense and security contracts, such as those that occurred after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and during the subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, would most likely have which of the following consequences?
defense contractors would increase their lobbying efforts in order to improve their chances of winning a contract
Which of the following scenarios best represents the model for party-line voting?
despite not recognizing the name, a candidate votes for the Democratic party because he is a Democrat
Writing for the court in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), a case weighing whether or not race can be considered in college admissions, Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell wrote that " . . . Race or ethnic background may be deemed a 'plus' in a particular applicant's file, yet it does not insulate the individual from comparison with all other candidates for the available seats." Which of the following legal concepts is Justice Powell considering in his statement?
equal protection clause
In Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court reached the following conclusion: "[I]n the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the [protections of the Fourteenth Amendment]." What generally does the Fourteenth Amendment provide for?
equal protection of the laws and due process
Students at a public university hold a peaceful protest to demonstrate against an increase in the cost of college tuition. Which of the following constitutional protections best applies to this scenario?
first amendment
Which of the following scenarios exemplifies the principle of stare decisis?
four members of the US SCOTUS agree to hear an appeal on a death penalty case from a state supreme court
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), the Supreme Court ruled that corporations and labor unions could spend unlimited amounts of money supporting political candidates under certain circumstances. Which of the following was the basis for the Court's ruling?
freedom of speech in the first amendment
Which of the following is the correct pairing of procedures or rules of each house of the legislative branch?
house: has a Rules Committee that decides how long debate will be on most bill senate: has use of the filibuster and cloture, which can help the minority to defeat a bill
One key interaction that Congress has with the bureaucracy as part of the iron triangle is to:
increase the budget and authority of the bureaucracy to regulate industry
Which of the following public policies would Democrats be most likely to support?
increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans
Which of the following explains the role of interest groups in the iron triangle diagram? (not exact pic)
interest groups work with Congress and the bureaucracy to determine how best to regulate an industry
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
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 best demonstrates how political parties serve as linkage institutions?
parties may organize activities to identify supporters, increase registration, and get out the vote
Which of the following best explains the role of parties in Congress?
parties organize government by selecting chamber leadership and determining committee membership
A citizen cast her vote for the candidate in a congressional election based on the candidate's promise to reform the health care system. Which voting behavior model best characterizes the citizen's choice?
prospective voting
Which of the following was the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ?
racial gerrymandering violates the 14th amendment
Which of the following correctly describes 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
Which of the following public policies would Republicans be most likely to support?
reducing government funding to organizations that provide reproductive services
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
For decades, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has worked closely with members of Congress to successfully curtail the capacity of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to regulate firearms and track gun crimes. Which of the following statements best explains how the NRA maintains its influence in Washington?
the National Rifle Association outspends its competitors in all elections and stages of policy making
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was a law passed by Congress prohibiting discrimination based on sex. Which of the following describes how the policy is being implemented?
the bureaucracy will create rules for enforcement and will have the discretion to implement those rules
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?
the due process clause of the 14th amendment
Which of the following best explains how political parties use party platforms?
the platform is used to define the party's general stance on political issues
Prior to his confirmation, Democrats on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions questioned President Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price about the ethics of some of his investments. He was eventually confirmed with support of Republicans in the Senate. This check on presidential power illustrates that:
the process of confirming members of the president's Cabinet can lead to conflict with members of the Senate
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?
the rule of law
Under Roe v. Wade (1973), as originally decided, when may the state largely prohibit women from having abortions?
the state's interest in prohibiting abortions is greatest during the third trimester of the pregnancy, thus, the state may prohibit women from seeking abortions in some conditions
"In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed. 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. 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; for if they do not know, or are not disposed to speak the sentiments of the people, the people do not govern, but the sovereignty is in a few. Now, in a large extended country, it 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...." 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?
"... [I]t is impossible to have a representation, possessing the sentiments, and of integrity, to declare the minds of the ppl, without having it so numerous and unwieldy, as to be subject in great measure to the inconveniency of a democratic government."
While [opponents of the Constitution] admit that the government of the United States is destitute of energy, they contend against conferring upon it those powers which are requisite to supply that energy. They seem still to aim at things repugnant and irreconcilable; at an augmentation of federal authority, without a diminution of State authority; at sovereignty in the Union, and complete independence in the members. . . . This [requires that] a full display of the principal defects of the Confederation [is] necessary, in order to show that the evils we experience do not proceed from minute or partial imperfections, but from fundamental errors in the structure of the building, which cannot be amended otherwise than by an alteration in the first principles and main pillars of the fabric. . . . [T]he United States has an indefinite discretion to [plead for] for men and money; but they have no authority to raise either, by regulations extending to the individual citizens of America. The consequence of this is, that though in theory their resolutions concerning those objects are laws, constitutionally binding on the members of the Union, yet in practice they are mere recommendations which the States observe or disregard at their option. Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 15 Which of the following excerpts from Article I of the United States Constitution resolves a problem described by the author?
"The Congress shall have Power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises to pay the debts and provide for common Defence and general welfare of the US, but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the US;"
Which of the following clauses of the Constitution could the Supreme Court have used when deciding the case Marbury v. Madison (1803) ?
"the judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the US, and treaties made"
Which of the following statements accurately describes the majority opinion of the Supreme Court in United States v. Lopez (1995) ?
Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
Which of the following cases addresses the issue of mandatory public school prayer?
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
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 v. Vitale (1962)
Which of the following is an example of affirmative action?
Harvard medical school actively recruits highly qualified minorities and female applicants for its residency program
The House and the Senate have some different constitutional responsibilities. Which of the following pairs correctly matches House and Senate constitutional responsibilities?
House: initiates revenue bills Senate: ratifies treaties
Which of the following cases expanded the powers of Congress by defining the necessary and proper clause more broadly?
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the separation of powers is integral to the Constitution not to preserve the prerogatives of each branch of government but to divide governmental powers among the branches so as to keep power diffused—and thereby limited and protective of personal freedom. . . . Thus, even if one branch of government consented to ceding an essential power to another branch, such a giveaway would be unconstitutional. . . . Can the president legally use military force to attack a foreign land without a serious threat or legal obligation or a declaration of war from Congress? In a word: No. Here is the back story. . . . . . . [A] bipartisan group of senators offered legislation supported by the president that . . . would permit a president to strike whomever and wherever he pleases. The president would be restrained only by a vote of Congress—after hostilities have commenced. Such a statute would give the president far more powers than he has now, would directly violate Congress' war-making powers by ceding them away to the president, would defy the Supreme Court on the unconstitutionality of giving away core governmental functions, would commit the U.S. to foreign wars without congressional and thus popular support, and would invite dangerous mischief by any president wanting to attack any enemy—real or imagined, old or new—for foreign or domestic political purposes, whether American interests are at stake or not. Andrew Napolitano, "At War with the Separation of Powers," The Washington Times, 2018. Which of the following principles of government is most related to the author's argument in the passage?
Separation of powers is necessary to our constitutional system to limit the power of the three branches and guarantee limited gov
While [opponents of the Constitution] admit that the government of the United States is destitute of energy, they contend against conferring upon it those powers which are requisite to supply that energy. They seem still to aim at things repugnant and irreconcilable; at an augmentation of federal authority, without a diminution of State authority; at sovereignty in the Union, and complete independence in the members. . . . This [requires that] a full display of the principal defects of the Confederation [is] necessary, in order to show that the evils we experience do not proceed from minute or partial imperfections, but from fundamental errors in the structure of the building, which cannot be amended otherwise than by an alteration in the first principles and main pillars of the fabric. . . . [T]he United States has an indefinite discretion to [plead for] for men and money; but they have no authority to raise either, by regulations extending to the individual citizens of America. The consequence of this is, that though in theory their resolutions concerning those objects are laws, constitutionally binding on the members of the Union, yet in practice they are mere recommendations which the States observe or disregard at their option. Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 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?
The AoC allowed for the federal government to request revenues from states but did not permit it to tax citizens directly, whereas under the US Constitution the federal government could tax citizens directly.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the separation of powers is integral to the Constitution not to preserve the prerogatives of each branch of government but to divide governmental powers among the branches so as to keep power diffused—and thereby limited and protective of personal freedom. . . . Thus, even if one branch of government consented to ceding an essential power to another branch, such a giveaway would be unconstitutional. . . . Can the president legally use military force to attack a foreign land without a serious threat or legal obligation or a declaration of war from Congress? In a word: No. Here is the back story. . . . . . . [A] bipartisan group of senators offered legislation supported by the president that . . . would permit a president to strike whomever and wherever he pleases. The president would be restrained only by a vote of Congress—after hostilities have commenced. Such a statute would give the president far more powers than he has now, would directly violate Congress' war-making powers by ceding them away to the president, would defy the Supreme Court on the unconstitutionality of giving away core governmental functions, would commit the U.S. to foreign wars without congressional and thus popular support, and would invite dangerous mischief by any president wanting to attack any enemy—real or imagined, old or new—for foreign or domestic political purposes, whether American interests are at stake or not. Andrew Napolitano, "At War with the Separation of Powers," The Washington Times, 2018. 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?
The SCOTUS rules on a suit brought by an interest group that legislation permitting the president to launch military strikes without congressional approval is unconstitutional
While [opponents of the Constitution] admit that the government of the United States is destitute of energy, they contend against conferring upon it those powers which are requisite to supply that energy. They seem still to aim at things repugnant and irreconcilable; at an augmentation of federal authority, without a diminution of State authority; at sovereignty in the Union, and complete independence in the members. . . . This [requires that] a full display of the principal defects of the Confederation [is] necessary, in order to show that the evils we experience do not proceed from minute or partial imperfections, but from fundamental errors in the structure of the building, which cannot be amended otherwise than by an alteration in the first principles and main pillars of the fabric. . . . [T]he United States has an indefinite discretion to [plead for] for men and money; but they have no authority to raise either, by regulations extending to the individual citizens of America. The consequence of this is, that though in theory their resolutions concerning those objects are laws, constitutionally binding on the members of the Union, yet in practice they are mere recommendations which the States observe or disregard at their option. Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist 15 Which of the following experiences most likely influenced the perspective conveyed in the passage?
The debt crisis of the 1780s which the national government was unable to address due to lack of authority
On June 27, 1989, President George H.W. Bush called for the Flag Desecration Amendment, which would prohibit desecration of the American flag. Bush's comments were in response to the United States Supreme Court's 5—4 decision in Texas v. Johnson, which held that a state law banning desecration of the flag was in violation of the First Amendment. Which of the following explains why the president asked for a constitutional amendment to be passed?
a constitutional amendment would force the SCOTUS to accept the constitutionality of the anti-flag burning laws in subsequent cases
"Presidents tend to assert their power and if Congress does not claim its duty to check and balance the executive, then the balance tilts heavily toward the executive branch. For example, the congressional resolution authorizing the United States to respond to the al-Qaeda attacks against the United States in 2001 was applied far beyond the initial campaign in Afghanistan. It was interpreted by George W. Bush's administration as justifying findings that the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war did not apply in the war on terrorism; that harsh interrogation tactics were permissible . . . ; and that the use of intercepts of telephone conversations between American citizens and people abroad was condoned. . . . When, after the Supreme Court ruled in 2006 . . . that the Bush administration was in fact violating the Geneva Conventions, . . . Congress was compelled to pass new laws on detainee treatment. Bush signed the law but then added a separate 'signing statement.' . . . President Bush declared that he would implement the law 'in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief . . . [in order to protect] the American people from further terrorist attacks.'" Sean Kay, America's Search for Security: The Triumph of Idealism and the Return of Realism, 2014 According to the passage, an attempt by Congress to place limitations on presidential power through legislation led to which of the following?
a signing statement by the president that declared that the legislation would not limit presidential power
On February 13, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement that the Supreme Court vacancy should be left to the next president of the United States, who would be elected that November. Nonetheless, President Obama nominated circuit judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy. The Senate judiciary committee never held a hearing nor was a vote scheduled on the nomination. The scenario demonstrates that
because federal judges are lifetime appointments, Senate confirmation can oftentimes be challenging
In 1973, the United States Supreme Court handed down the controversial Roe v. Wade decision striking down state laws banning abortion. In response, many pro-life groups have organized to have the decision overturned. Which of the following represents an action that these groups are most likely to take to achieve their goal?
become more actively involved in presidential campaigns so that presidential candidates will pledge to appoint justices who favor overturning Roe v. Wade
In the case Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the power under the commerce clause to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Which of the following explains how this case is similar to Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) ?
both cases upheld the power of the federal gov to ensure equal protection under the law
Housing covenants are agreements in the deed of a property that restricts the owner from doing certain things with the property. Some covenants prevented owners from selling to individuals of a specific race or ethnic group. In the case Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), the Supreme Court struck down racially restrictive housing covenants under the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Which of the following cases is most similar to Shelley v. Kraemer (1948) ?
brown v. board of education of topeka (1954)
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
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the separation of powers is integral to the Constitution not to preserve the prerogatives of each branch of government but to divide governmental powers among the branches so as to keep power diffused—and thereby limited and protective of personal freedom. . . . Thus, even if one branch of government consented to ceding an essential power to another branch, such a giveaway would be unconstitutional. . . . Can the president legally use military force to attack a foreign land without a serious threat or legal obligation or a declaration of war from Congress? In a word: No. Here is the back story. . . . . . . [A] bipartisan group of senators offered legislation supported by the president that . . . would permit a president to strike whomever and wherever he pleases. The president would be restrained only by a vote of Congress—after hostilities have commenced. Such a statute would give the president far more powers than he has now, would directly violate Congress' war-making powers by ceding them away to the president, would defy the Supreme Court on the unconstitutionality of giving away core governmental functions, would commit the U.S. to foreign wars without congressional and thus popular support, and would invite dangerous mischief by any president wanting to attack any enemy—real or imagined, old or new—for foreign or domestic political purposes, whether American interests are at stake or not. Andrew Napolitano, "At War with the Separation of Powers," The Washington Times, 2018. 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?
congress can impeach and remove a president who is unable or unwilling to perform his or her official functions
Which of the following is a likely response by another branch of government to a controversial decision such as Engel v. Vitale (1962) which declared that school-sponsored prayer was a violation of the First Amendment?
congress could strip the SCOTUS of appellate jurisdiction on cases dealing with prayer in school
Which of the following best describes the holding in Baker v. Carr (1962) ?
congressional redistricting is subject to judicial review
In the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. Following the ruling, schools were ordered to desegregate, but at a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, the governor ordered the state's National Guard to prevent African American students from entering the school. Only when President Eisenhower placed the National Guard under federal control and ordered troops to protect the students were they permitted to enter. This scenario illustrates which of the following?
controversial decisions by the court are often challenged and action is sometimes required to ensure enforcement by other branches of government
"Finally, there are the legal and moral arguments. Health care is considered a human right in every other developed nation. By not providing Medicare to all Americans, the government is not providing equal protection under the law: those with Medicare have more protection against the devastating effects of illness and injury, get more help overcoming or living with disabilities, and are protected against financial ruin. People say that single-payer would cost too much. Not true. We could provide health care for all our citizens for no more than we are currently spending on our very dysfunctional, fragmented and unfair system. How is this possible? Currently almost half of every health care dollar is spent on something other than health care: profit for insurance companies; multi-million-dollar salaries of their CEOs; money spent on advertising, processing (and rejecting) claims; and creating mountains of paperwork and endless hassles for doctors and patients." Dr. Ann Toy, Marin Voice, August 27, 2018. Which of the following explains how the role of government in health-care policy would be influenced if the policy proposal in the passage were to be implemented?
due to the nature of single-payer health-care systems, the federal gov would be responsible for funding and administering a Medicare-for-all system
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?
government should be based on the consent of the governed
"The Second Amendment . . . like other cherished texts, is not as clear as many make it out to be. The amendment reads: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.' . . . "'Americans have been thinking about the Second Amendment as an individual right for generations,' said Adam Winkler, a law professor at UCLA. . . . 'You can find state supreme courts in the mid-1800s where judges say the Second Amendment protects an individual right.' But for the 70 years or so before a Supreme Court decision in 2008, he said, 'the Supreme Court and federal courts held that it only applied in the context of militias, the right of states to protect themselves from federal interference.' "In 2008, the Supreme Court decided the District of Columbia v. Heller. . . . The conservative justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion in narrow but unprecedented terms: for the first time in the country's history, the Supreme Court explicitly affirmed an individual's right to keep a weapon at home for self-defense. . . . "'People look at the same record and come to wildly different conclusions about what the view was in the eighteenth century, in the nineteenth century,' said Nicholas Johnson, a Fordham University law professor who argues against Winkler's view of twentieth-century case law. . . . Carl Bogus, a law professor at Roger Williams University, has argued that James Madison wrote the Second Amendment in part to reassure his home state of Virginia. . . . The federalist Madison's compromise . . . was to promise a bill of rights. After weeks of tense debate, his federalists narrowly won the vote to ratify the Constitution. 'He writes an amendment that gives the states the right to have an armed militia, by the people arming themselves.' "A year later, the federal government passed a law requiring every man eligible for his local militia to acquire a gun and register with authorities." Alan Yuhas, "The Right to Bear Arms: What Does the Second Amendment Really Mean?," The Guardian, October 5, 2017 Which of the following is used as evidence to support the author's argument?
historical records show that the Second amendment was supposed to protect the right of individuals to own a gun, and not just for the purpose of supporting militias.
"The Second Amendment . . . like other cherished texts, is not as clear as many make it out to be. The amendment reads: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.' . . . "'Americans have been thinking about the Second Amendment as an individual right for generations,' said Adam Winkler, a law professor at UCLA. . . . 'You can find state supreme courts in the mid-1800s where judges say the Second Amendment protects an individual right.' But for the 70 years or so before a Supreme Court decision in 2008, he said, 'the Supreme Court and federal courts held that it only applied in the context of militias, the right of states to protect themselves from federal interference.' "In 2008, the Supreme Court decided the District of Columbia v. Heller. . . . The conservative justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion in narrow but unprecedented terms: for the first time in the country's history, the Supreme Court explicitly affirmed an individual's right to keep a weapon at home for self-defense. . . . "'People look at the same record and come to wildly different conclusions about what the view was in the eighteenth century, in the nineteenth century,' said Nicholas Johnson, a Fordham University law professor who argues against Winkler's view of twentieth-century case law. . . . Carl Bogus, a law professor at Roger Williams University, has argued that James Madison wrote the Second Amendment in part to reassure his home state of Virginia. . . . The federalist Madison's compromise . . . was to promise a bill of rights. After weeks of tense debate, his federalists narrowly won the vote to ratify the Constitution. 'He writes an amendment that gives the states the right to have an armed militia, by the people arming themselves.' "A year later, the federal government passed a law requiring every man eligible for his local militia to acquire a gun and register with authorities." Alan Yuhas, "The Right to Bear Arms: What Does the Second Amendment Really Mean?," The Guardian, October 5, 2017 The author cites the case District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) in order to:
illustrates that the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment has recently changed
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?
limited gov
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?
limited gov
In a press briefing, the White House press secretary issues a statement criticizing members of Congress who refuse to act on the president's judicial nominees to the federal courts. This scenario best illustrates which of the following?
members of the white house staff are strategically used to help the president pass an agenda
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?
natural rights such as life, liberty, and property
"In every free government, the people must give their assent to the laws by which they are governed. 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. 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; for if they do not know, or are not disposed to speak the sentiments of the people, the people do not govern, but the sovereignty is in a few. Now, in a large extended country, it 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...." Brutus 1 In the passage, Brutus is most concerned with the conflict between which of the following political ideas?
participatory democracy and elite democracy
[W]hile Internet politics may revitalize participation, it may not have the same effect on parties. Instead, the Internet promises to create more customized relationships between candidates and supporters that could strengthen their political bonds. The success of Obama's Internet campaign rested in part on a web presence that users could tailor to suit their needs and wishes so that they could take the initiative, if so inclined, to organize events, write testimonials, give money, volunteer, or persuade friends and neighbors about the strengths of the candidate. . . . Unlike television, Internet communication is individualized and personalized, and candidates who know how to use it can do so to create a loyal following. It is an open question whether the social networking tools made possible by technological advances and effectively employed by the Obama campaigns will continue to engage voters when other candidates try to use them, or whether 2008 and 2012 will stand alone as campaigns featuring a charismatic candidate who understood how to present himself online. Hillary Clinton's struggle to reach Millennial voters speaks to the importance of the messenger over the medium. Source: John Kenneth White and Matthew R. Kerbel, Party On! Political Parties from Hamilton and Jefferson to Trump, 2017. Which of the following examples best illustrates how the trend in political communications described in the passage will most likely affect campaigns?
political candidates will seek more date on voters so that their campaigns can create messages designed to attract different demographic
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. Which of the following concepts is most closely related to the passage?
political socialization
"Presidents tend to assert their power and if Congress does not claim its duty to check and balance the executive, then the balance tilts heavily toward the executive branch. For example, the congressional resolution authorizing the United States to respond to the al-Qaeda attacks against the United States in 2001 was applied far beyond the initial campaign in Afghanistan. It was interpreted by George W. Bush's administration as justifying findings that the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war did not apply in the war on terrorism; that harsh interrogation tactics were permissible . . . ; and that the use of intercepts of telephone conversations between American citizens and people abroad was condoned. . . . When, after the Supreme Court ruled in 2006 . . . that the Bush administration was in fact violating the Geneva Conventions, . . . Congress was compelled to pass new laws on detainee treatment. Bush signed the law but then added a separate 'signing statement.' . . . President Bush declared that he would implement the law 'in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief . . . [in order to protect] the American people from further terrorist attacks.'" Sean Kay, America's Search for Security: The Triumph of Idealism and the Return of Realism, 2014 According to the passage, which of the following occurred as a direct result of the congressional resolution authorizing action against al-Qaeda?
president bush interpreted it broadly to allow him to conduct the war on terrorism without much further consultation of Congress
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
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
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?
sixth amendment
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. The students mentioned in the passage did not have a strong preference in candidates or increased levels of partisanship, despite their exposure to civics education. Which of the following explains this type of political socialization?
some life experiences that socialize individuals into politics affect specific behaviors but not partisanship or ideology
On September 23, 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation mandating the use of Arkansas National Guard members and federal armed forces to enforce the United States Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Which limitation on judicial power is demonstrated in this scenario?
state and local govs can refuse to enforce supreme court decisions
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?
state decisis
A large national survey of young Americans recently released by CIRCLE shows young Obama and Romney voters had strikingly similar levels of political knowledge. The survey also shows a clear relationship between respondents' high school civics education experiences and their knowledge of campaign issues and political participation in the 2012 presidential election. However, taking high school civics had little or no relationship with young adults' choice between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. "Young people who recalled experiencing more high-quality civic education practices in schools were more likely to vote, to form political opinions, to know campaign issues, and to know general facts about the US political system," said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE. "Civics education was not related to partisanship or choice of candidate. These results should allay political concerns about civic education being taught in schools." Source: CIRCLE, 2013. Which of the following explains how the scenario described in the passage relates to political behavior?
taking part in civic education affects whether or not an individual participates politically
The police searched a suspect's smartphone without getting a warrant and found photo evidence of criminal activity. After a thorough investigation, the suspect was charged and the evidence obtained from the smartphone was used in the trial. Which of the following amendments contains the Bill of Rights protections that were most likely violated in this scenario?
the 14th amendment
The United States Supreme Court reviewed state-mandated racial segregation in public schools. The Court stated that the separate schools "involved have been equalized, or are being equalized, with respect to buildings, curricula, qualifications and salaries of teachers, and other 'tangible' factors. Our decision, therefore, cannot turn on merely a comparison of these tangible factors [among the] schools involved in each of the cases. We must look instead to the effect of segregation itself on public education." Which of the following rules or clauses did the Supreme Court use to address the issue of racial segregation in public schools?
the 14th amendment's equal protection clause in Brown v. Board (1954)
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963,© 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., © renewed 1991 Coretta Scott King Which of the following legislative acts best relates to the passage?
the Civil Rights Act of 1964
In order to appease competing views regarding how to select the chief executive, it was agreed at the Constitutional Convention that:
the POTUS would be chosen by a temporary group of electors, a process created as a result of compromise
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?
the debate over the role of the central government and state powers is ongoing
In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms was applicable to the states. Which of the following sections of the United States Constitution did the Supreme Court use to support its ruling?
the doctrine of selective incorporation through the 14th amendment, holding that state action limiting gun rights deprived persons of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"
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
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963,© 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., © renewed 1991 Coretta Scott King The text in the passage likely inspired Congress to act based on which of the following clauses of the United States Constitution?
the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment
"Finally, there are the legal and moral arguments. Health care is considered a human right in every other developed nation. By not providing Medicare to all Americans, the government is not providing equal protection under the law: those with Medicare have more protection against the devastating effects of illness and injury, get more help overcoming or living with disabilities, and are protected against financial ruin. People say that single-payer would cost too much. Not true. We could provide health care for all our citizens for no more than we are currently spending on our very dysfunctional, fragmented and unfair system. How is this possible? Currently almost half of every health care dollar is spent on something other than health care: profit for insurance companies; multi-million-dollar salaries of their CEOs; money spent on advertising, processing (and rejecting) claims; and creating mountains of paperwork and endless hassles for doctors and patients." Dr. Ann Toy, Marin Voice, August 27, 2018. Which of the following explains how the passage could influence policy trends in health care?
the passage could convince more members of Congress to support Medicare for all
"Finally, there are the legal and moral arguments. Health care is considered a human right in every other developed nation. By not providing Medicare to all Americans, the government is not providing equal protection under the law: those with Medicare have more protection against the devastating effects of illness and injury, get more help overcoming or living with disabilities, and are protected against financial ruin. People say that single-payer would cost too much. Not true. We could provide health care for all our citizens for no more than we are currently spending on our very dysfunctional, fragmented and unfair system. How is this possible? Currently almost half of every health care dollar is spent on something other than health care: profit for insurance companies; multi-million-dollar salaries of their CEOs; money spent on advertising, processing (and rejecting) claims; and creating mountains of paperwork and endless hassles for doctors and patients." Dr. Ann Toy, Marin Voice, August 27, 2018. Which of the following most likely explains how the views of moderates would be affected by this passage?
the passage might convince a moderate to oppose a single-payer system of health care and contact their representatives in Congress to indicate their opposition
"Presidents tend to assert their power and if Congress does not claim its duty to check and balance the executive, then the balance tilts heavily toward the executive branch. For example, the congressional resolution authorizing the United States to respond to the al-Qaeda attacks against the United States in 2001 was applied far beyond the initial campaign in Afghanistan. It was interpreted by George W. Bush's administration as justifying findings that the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war did not apply in the war on terrorism; that harsh interrogation tactics were permissible . . . ; and that the use of intercepts of telephone conversations between American citizens and people abroad was condoned. . . . When, after the Supreme Court ruled in 2006 . . . that the Bush administration was in fact violating the Geneva Conventions, . . . Congress was compelled to pass new laws on detainee treatment. Bush signed the law but then added a separate 'signing statement.' . . . President Bush declared that he would implement the law 'in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief . . . [in order to protect] the American people from further terrorist attacks.'" Sean Kay, America's Search for Security: The Triumph of Idealism and the Return of Realism, 2014 Which of the following is likely to occur as a result when Congress refuses to act as a check on the power of the president, according to the main idea of the passage?
the president will be able to push the limits of constitutional authority
[W]hile Internet politics may revitalize participation, it may not have the same effect on parties. Instead, the Internet promises to create more customized relationships between candidates and supporters that could strengthen their political bonds. The success of Obama's Internet campaign rested in part on a web presence that users could tailor to suit their needs and wishes so that they could take the initiative, if so inclined, to organize events, write testimonials, give money, volunteer, or persuade friends and neighbors about the strengths of the candidate. . . . Unlike television, Internet communication is individualized and personalized, and candidates who know how to use it can do so to create a loyal following. It is an open question whether the social networking tools made possible by technological advances and effectively employed by the Obama campaigns will continue to engage voters when other candidates try to use them, or whether 2008 and 2012 will stand alone as campaigns featuring a charismatic candidate who understood how to present himself online. Hillary Clinton's struggle to reach Millennial voters speaks to the importance of the messenger over the medium. Source: John Kenneth White and Matthew R. Kerbel, Party On! Political Parties from Hamilton and Jefferson to Trump, 2017. The new developments in campaigning described in the passage have the greatest impact on which of the following trends?
the rise of candidate-centered campaigns
"The Second Amendment . . . like other cherished texts, is not as clear as many make it out to be. The amendment reads: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.' . . . "'Americans have been thinking about the Second Amendment as an individual right for generations,' said Adam Winkler, a law professor at UCLA. . . . 'You can find state supreme courts in the mid-1800s where judges say the Second Amendment protects an individual right.' But for the 70 years or so before a Supreme Court decision in 2008, he said, 'the Supreme Court and federal courts held that it only applied in the context of militias, the right of states to protect themselves from federal interference.' "In 2008, the Supreme Court decided the District of Columbia v. Heller. . . . The conservative justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion in narrow but unprecedented terms: for the first time in the country's history, the Supreme Court explicitly affirmed an individual's right to keep a weapon at home for self-defense. . . . "'People look at the same record and come to wildly different conclusions about what the view was in the eighteenth century, in the nineteenth century,' said Nicholas Johnson, a Fordham University law professor who argues against Winkler's view of twentieth-century case law. . . . Carl Bogus, a law professor at Roger Williams University, has argued that James Madison wrote the Second Amendment in part to reassure his home state of Virginia. . . . The federalist Madison's compromise . . . was to promise a bill of rights. After weeks of tense debate, his federalists narrowly won the vote to ratify the Constitution. 'He writes an amendment that gives the states the right to have an armed militia, by the people arming themselves.' "A year later, the federal government passed a law requiring every man eligible for his local militia to acquire a gun and register with authorities." Alan Yuhas, "The Right to Bear Arms: What Does the Second Amendment Really Mean?," The Guardian, October 5, 2017 Which of the following best characterizes the debate regarding the Second Amendment according to the author of the passage?
the second amendment is viewed by some as an individual rights issue but by others as states' rights issue
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, August 28, 1963,© 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., © renewed 1991 Coretta Scott King Which of the following explains the most significant long-term consequence of the ideas expressed in the passage?
the value of "all men are created equal" was reaffirmed both in law and in American political culture
In its 2003 decision, McConnell v. Federal Election Commission (2003), the Supreme Court upheld the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's (BCRA) restriction on independent campaign spending by corporations and unions. However, in a 5-4 decision in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), the Supreme Court overturned this decision when it ruled that the government cannot ban independent political spending by a corporation or union because it is protected by the First Amendment. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the Supreme Court's deciding to overturn the precedent it established just 7 years earlier?
there were ideological changes in the composition of the members of the SCOTUS due to presidential appointments
Which of the following best explains the concept of the iron triangle, as illustrated in the diagram?
to show how interest groups, Congress, and the bureaucracy interact in a public policy area
[W]hile Internet politics may revitalize participation, it may not have the same effect on parties. Instead, the Internet promises to create more customized relationships between candidates and supporters that could strengthen their political bonds. The success of Obama's Internet campaign rested in part on a web presence that users could tailor to suit their needs and wishes so that they could take the initiative, if so inclined, to organize events, write testimonials, give money, volunteer, or persuade friends and neighbors about the strengths of the candidate. . . . Unlike television, Internet communication is individualized and personalized, and candidates who know how to use it can do so to create a loyal following. It is an open question whether the social networking tools made possible by technological advances and effectively employed by the Obama campaigns will continue to engage voters when other candidates try to use them, or whether 2008 and 2012 will stand alone as campaigns featuring a charismatic candidate who understood how to present himself online. Hillary Clinton's struggle to reach Millennial voters speaks to the importance of the messenger over the medium. Source: John Kenneth White and Matthew R. Kerbel, Party On! Political Parties from Hamilton and Jefferson to Trump, 2017. Given the evolution of campaign communication described in the passage, which of the following is a way that political candidates most likely would use these tools to reach the broadest possible base of supporters?
using social media tools to target different demographic and political groups with messages designed to appeal to them
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?
using the bully pulpit