AP GOPO: Test 2 Answers

Which of the following was the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993)?

Racial gerrymandering violates the Fourteenth 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.

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

United States v. Lopez (1995)

This passage best aligns with which of the following opinions in United States vs. Lopez?

We hold that the [Gun-Free School Zones] Act exceeds the authority of Congress "[t]o regulate Commerce...among the several States..." - Justice Rehnquist

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always

A member of the majority party in the chamber

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

"Pork barrel" legislation helps the reelection chances of a member of Congress because such legislation

Helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district

Which of the following statements best summarizes the argument in the Texas Justice Foundation's brief?

The judicial branch can determine if Congress is operating within its enumerated powers and thus checks legislative power.

In the McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819) decision, which two provisions in the Constitution were upheld and strengthened?

The necessary and proper clause and the supremacy clause

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 the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

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 I?

A large republic is dangerous to personal liberty and undermines the states

A first-term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees?

Agriculture

Which of the following policies would the states most likely prefer according to the political cartoon?

Block grants

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

On which of the following issues did Federalists and Jeffersonians have most widely differing views?

Creating a national bank

A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following?

Cuts off debate on a bill

A senator realizes a Senate vote on an immigration bill is coming up. The senator examines public opinion polls on the issue and carefully reads her inbox for constituents' view on the bill and the issue. This senator is following which model of representation?

Delegate

Which of the following statements about congressional reapportionment and redistricting is true?

Districts must be drawn so that, within a state, every person's vote is roughly equal to every other person's vote.

Which of the following statements accurately describes federalism?

Federalism is a sharing of powers between national and regional governments

Which of the following is an accurate pair of descriptions of the two chambers of Congress?

House: serves 2-year terms Senate: serves 6-year terms

In what way did the Seventeenth Amendment broaden democracy?

It gave citizens greater impact on lawmaking in the U.S. Senate.

A difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that in the House

Legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules

With which statement would a Seventeenth Amendment supporter agree?

Legislatures should be representative bodies.

Which of the following cases expanded the powers of Congress by defining the necessary and proper clause more broadly?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Which of the following is the best example of a categorical grant?

Money given to states for special education programs

A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most likely seek a place on which of the following committees?

Rules

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 government

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.

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 Articles of Confederation allowed for the federal government to request revenues from states but did not permit it to tax citizens directly, whereas under the United States Constitution the federal government could tax citizens directly.

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 political processes would best solve the problem regarding the system of checks and balances, as articulated by the author in the passage?

The Supreme Court rules on a suit brought by an interest group that legislation permitting the president to launch military strikes without congressional approval is unconstitutional

Which of the following statements best summarizes this excerpt from Senator Paul's speech?

The U.S. Senate should decide on war-like actions on its merit, not along with other legislation.

Which foreign policy reality might limit what the Senate can do in this scenario?

The War Powers Act gives the president freedom to act with the military for a limited time.

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.

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

Which power of Congress is Senator Paul probably most concerned about based on this passage?

The expressed power to declare war.

Which of the following options represents the majority opinion in United States vs. Lopez?

The powers of the federal government in relation to state governments is limited in this case.

A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that

There is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House