AP Gov Midterm Review - Chapters 4 & 5
Suppose Congress has presented a law to the president that the president believes will infringe upon the due process rights of Americans. Which action can the president take to check Congress' apparent power-grab?
He may veto the bill so that it does not become official law.
A Republican member of the House of Representatives who is responsible for the opposition strategy and coordinating party activity in a Democrat-controlled House would be known as the
House minority leader.
How does the process of a bill becoming a law differ if it is introduced in the House compared to if it is introduced in the Senate?
If a bill is introduced in the House, it must be presented to the Rules committee before it can move to the floor for consideration.
Which of the following best explains the trend shown in the graph? (graph with appropriations bills by year, difference in being delivered on time, ex. one year, many bills are delivered on time, while others are not)
Increased partisanship makes it more difficult for Congress to pass spending bills.
How does the War Powers Resolution relate to the authority granted to the president and Congress in the Constitution?
It upholds the authority of Congress to declare war and limits the power of the president as commander in chief.
After a bill has been introduced in either the House or the Senate, what is the next step for the bill?
It will be referred to a committee.
Two conservative Republicans booted from House budget panelBy David LawderTwo of the most conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives have been kicked off the House Budget Committee, a rare move that could make it easier for the panel to advance a deal with Democrats to cut fiscal deficits. Representatives Tim Heulskamp of Kansas and Justin Amash of Michigan—both favorites of the anti-tax Tea Party movement—are among those Republicans voting most often against House Speaker John Boehner. . . .Heulskamp and Amash cast the only House Budget Committee votes against [Chairman Paul] Ryan's budget plan earlier this year.Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the excerpt?
Members of Congress who defy their party's leadership face political consequences.
Which of the following best describes the viewpoint shown in the cartoon?
Other branches of government check the president.
Which is an example of the president checking the power of the legislative branch?
President Barack Obama's veto of the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
The following question(s) refer to the bar chart. The bar chart supports which of the following inferences?
President Donald Trump has nominated more white federal judges than any president since Ronald Reagan.
Which United States president made widespread and frequent use of drones during the War on Terror?
President Obama
Which of the following best explains the trend shown in the graph?
Presidents rarely face divided government at the beginning of a term.
The following question(s) refer to the bar chart. What is the most logical explanation for the data on the bar chart?
Presidents tend to nominate judges who match the demographics of their political supporters.
How do public approval trends impact a president's ability to take action during a time of crisis?
Public approval often increases during a time of crisis, which would allow the president to expand the power of the executive without much protest.
What was Anwar al-Awlaki accused of?
Recruiting followers for al-Qaeda over the Internet.
Which measure has been proposed as a way to alleviate the shortfall in paying out Social Security benefits?
Reducing the benefits paid to current recipients
A citizen of California might be frustrated that the citizens of Nebraska have an equal number of representatives in the
Senate.
Which is a responsibility of Congress?
Setting the federal budget
Select the pair of answers that best explains why the incumbency advantage is higher in the House of Representatives than it is in the Senate. House of Representatives Senate a.Frequent reelection - Ability to filibuster bills b.Partisan districts - Exclusive use of franking privileges c.More name recognition - Fewer opportunities for media coverage d.Smaller districts - Represents entire state
Smaller districts - Represents entire state
The only leadership position in the House of Representatives is the
Speaker of the House.
The Agriculture Committee in the House is a permanent committee that develops legislation regarding agriculture, food, and rural development. The Agriculture Committee is an example of which type of committee?
Standing committee
Why might some criticize the use of deadly force on American citizens who have committed or are suspected of terrorism?
Such actions violate a citizen's right to due process.
Which precedent was set by the Supreme Court's decision in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld?
That a president may not compromise the rights of American citizens during wartime.
Which characteristic of the executive branch allows the president to act quickly and decisively in an emergency?
That the president can act alone
Which group is part of the Executive Office of the President?
The Council of Economic Advisers
Which body of government has the authority to introduce bills?
The House of Representatives
The house of representatives . . . can make no law which will not have its full operation on themselves and their friends, as well as the great mass of society. This has always been deemed one of the strongest bonds by which human policy can connect the rulers and the people together . . . but without which every government degenerates into tyranny. —James Madison, Federalist No. 57 Which of the following statements best describes the viewpoint in the quote?
The House of Representatives was created to directly represent the citizens.
Suppose you are working for the president and are responsible for coordinating foreign policy initiatives. Which part of the Executive Office of the President do you work for? Correct Answer
The National Security Council
Suppose you are part of the president's cabinet and advise him on setting the priorities for national spending. Which group are you a part of?
The Office of Management and Budget
How does the position of the Speaker of the House compare to the Senate majority leader?
The Speaker of the House has more power than the Senate majority leader.
Use the information in this passage to answer the following question(s).On November 20, 2014, President Obama issued a statement removing the threat of deportation for approximately five million undocumented parents and permanent residents who lived in the country for at least five years.Which of the following is the best argument that President Obama exceeded his authority in the situation described?
The action expands presidential power beyond its constitutional limits.
Why might the citizens of a certain state choose to elect a new senator in an upcoming election?
The constituents may feel that the senator no longer represents their values or interests.
Which is a recent example of the Supreme Court checking the power of the executive branch?
The deadlock at the Supreme Court regarding President Obama's executive order that would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship.
Suppose the state of Idaho has just elected a senator who has, so far, demonstrated that she is willing to go above and beyond to advocate for her constituents by proposing legislation that benefits their interests. Which type of role is this senator playing?
The delegate role
What is the formal role of the first spouse in the United States government?
The first spouse has no formal role in the United States government
Use the information in this passage to answer the following question(s).On November 20, 2014, President Obama issued a statement removing the threat of deportation for approximately five million undocumented parents and permanent residents who lived in the country for at least five years.Which of the following powers did President Obama use in the scenario?
The informal power to issue an executive order
In times of military or economic crisis in America, as the president seeks to expand executive authority, which entity has the most effective check on the executive branch?
The judicial branch
Which process demonstrates the balance of power and the ability of the executive branch to check the legislative branch, and vice-versa?
The president acts as commander in chief of the army, while Congress may declare war.
President Smith begins slurring her words and speaking incoherently about dropping nuclear bombs on Russia. What is the most expeditious way under the Constitution to avert disaster?
The president can be removed when the vice president and a majority of the cabinet advise the Congress that the president is unfit.
Which process acts as a check by the legislative branch on the executive branch?
The process of impeachment
Which is an example of Congress checking the power of the president?
The refusal of Congress to approve funding for a border wall proposed by President Trump.
How does the style of representation in the House of Representatives differ from representation in the Senate?
The representation in the Senate is the same for each state regardless of population, while the number of representatives in the House of Representatives depends on a state's population.
Which event during President Obama's time in office would have resulted in an increase in overall public approval?
The successful assassination of Osama bin Laden
What is national debt?
The total amount of money owed by the federal government.
Most of the bills that are introduced in Congress fail. Why did the framers of the Constitution make the legislative process considerably complicated?
They did not want laws to be passed based on the populace's fleeting desires.
What is the purpose of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment?
To establish the line of succession should a president become incapacitated
What is the main function of a select committee?
To investigate specifics related to a scandal or to handle a crisis within the federal government.
What was the primary purpose of the 1842 Apportionment Act?
To mandate single-member districts in the House of Representatives
What is the main function of a political action committee?
To raise money for candidates running for the House of Representatives.
What is the primary purpose of the War Powers Resolution?
To restrict the president's ability to maintain troops in combat
Term limits were placed on the president through the
Twenty-Second Amendment
What precedent would a president be able to cite if they were faced with Congressional demands to release recorded phone calls, transcripts, or records and did not want to hand them over to Congress?
United States v. Nixon
An incumbent candidate running for Senate, who has a generally positive track record with her constituents and loyal donors contributing to her campaign, has a challenger who is new to politics altogether. How would this incumbent candidate likely fare in the election?
Well, since the senator has the advantage of name recognition and experience.
Suppose a presidential candidate is running for the first time on a platform that includes promises of sweeping health care reform and the public is generally in favor of the proposed ideas. If the candidate wins the election, when should they try to pass health care reform legislation?
Within the first six months of their election
Suppose you are president of the United States during wartime. How do you interpret your authority as commander in chief?
You expand your role as president to make swift, strong decisions.
Suppose in the year 2018, the United States generated $21.5 trillion and spent $19.5 trillion. In that year, the United States would have
a budget surplus.
In 2013, Texas Senator Ted Cruz gave a 21-hour speech that interfered with a planned vote on healthcare reforms, which would be considered
a filibuster.
Partisan polarization manifests itself during the end of a president's term in the form of
a lame duck period.
Congress may override a veto with
a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
Suppose a state's legislature has enlisted a commission to redraw its congressional district boundaries, but upon review notices that the districts each have significantly uneven numbers of constituents. Such redistricting would be
a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The following question(s) refer to this excerpt of proposed House Resolution 184 introduced by Representative Hakeem Jeffries in the House Judiciary Committee on March 9, 2017.RESOLVED: That the President is requested, and the Attorney General of the United States is directed, to transmit, respectively (in a manner appropriate to classified information, if the President or Attorney General determines appropriate), to the House of Representatives, not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, copies of any document, record, memo, correspondence, or other communication in their possession, or any portion of any such communication, that refers or relates to the following:(1) Any meeting or communication that occurred between Senator Jeff Sessions and any representative of the Russian government, including his meetings with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak, on July 18, 2016, and September 8, 2016.(2) Senator Sessions' testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on January 10, 2017, including but not limited to his statement that he "did not have communications with the Russians."Select the response that matches the most likely motivation of the resolution's sponsor and the most likely outcome of the resolution, given the fact of a Republican majority on the House Judiciary Committee. MotivationOutcome a.To learn embarrassing information about the president and attorney general for partisan purposes - Defeat of the resolution along strict party lines b.To gain further insight into how best to negotiate with the Russian government - Request to the president and the attorney general for additional information c.To waive the protections given to classified information - Request of the Supreme Court for guidance as to how best to proceed d.To begin impeachment proceedings against the president and his top aides - Support for the resolution to require the president and attorney general to testify before Congress
a.To learn embarrassing information about the president and attorney general for partisan purposes - Defeat of the resolution along strict party lines
In 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves who were not living in the Union. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation unilaterally due to the increased tension and division within the United States, making it
an executive order.
In 2018, President Donald Trump made a unilateral decision without congressional approval that banned a firearm accessory known as a bump stock via Correct Answer
an executive order.
The process of deciding on the number of representatives each state gets based on most recent census data is known as
apportionment.
A president may use the State of the Union Address as a tool for
bargaining and persuasion in Congress.
Select the pair of examples that matches the presidential role with the correct enumerated constitutional power. Presidential roleEnumerated constitutional power a.Commander in chief - Declare war b.Chief diplomat - Ratifies treaties c.Chief legislator - Gives the State of the Union Address d.Chief executive - Issues executive orders
c.Chief legislator - Gives the State of the Union Address
Suppose the president has decided to sign an executive order that would grant law enforcement officers authority to act swiftly and in their best judgment to deport immigrants who did not arrive legally. Such an action is an example of the president acting as
chief executive.
At the end of 2018, the United States government was embroiled in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and the House Democrats did not permit the president to issue a State of the Union Address until the government shutdown was ended. Denying the president his ability to give a State of the Union Address impaired his ability to act as
chief legislator.
When President Bush mobilized reserve troops to fight against the terrorist threat in Afghanistan in 2001, he was acting as
commander in chief.
A push by activist groups to encourage ethnic minorities, women, and the less-wealthy to run for political office would likely be an effort in favor of
descriptive representation.
Suppose Congress presents a bill to the president that would limit the rights of Americans to speak freely. The president vetoes the bill and upon reconsideration, the bill fails in a vote to override the veto. In this case, the bill
dies and does not become law.
A motion that is filed by a member of Congress for a bill to be moved out of a committee and onto the floor for consideration is called a
discharge petition.
Defense spending is considered
discretionary spending.
Which of the following is most likely to lead to the situation shown in the cartoon? (cartoon with laxative being shipped to congress)
divided government
Suppose a senator has proposed a budget measure that would direct money to his district for the purpose of improving parks. This would be an example of
earmarks.
The authority of the president to act as commander in chief of the United States army is an example of the president's
enumerated powers.
The president of the United States acts as the head of the
executive branch.
An American man who has been suspected of radicalizing young teens online and convincing them to join the terrorist group ISIS has been arrested and imprisoned. The president who ordered his capture and detainment did not notify the man of the charges brought against him and has not had a trial to be convicted of any crime. The man is well within his rights to
file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
Suppose that a Midwestern state has recently redrawn its districts in a way that benefits the interests of agricultural farmers. Such redistricting is known as
gerrymandering.
President Donald Trump is well known for his frequent and sometimes tactless use of the social media platform, Twitter. President Trump's announcements of policy initiatives and plans on Twitter is an example of
going public.
A political scientist who is studying the effects of increased partisan polarization might focus on
gridlock.
In order for someone to be considered a candidate for the United States Senate, he or she must
have at least nine years of citizenship.
Treason and bribery are considered valid reasons for Congress to
impeach the president or any other civil officer of the United States.
The following question(s) refer to this excerpt of proposed House Resolution 184 introduced by Representative Hakeem Jeffries in the House Judiciary Committee on March 9, 2017.RESOLVED: That the President is requested, and the Attorney General of the United States is directed, to transmit, respectively (in a manner appropriate to classified information, if the President or Attorney General determines appropriate), to the House of Representatives, not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution, copies of any document, record, memo, correspondence, or other communication in their possession, or any portion of any such communication, that refers or relates to the following:(1) Any meeting or communication that occurred between Senator Jeff Sessions and any representative of the Russian government, including his meetings with the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergey I. Kislyak, on July 18, 2016, and September 8, 2016.(2) Senator Sessions' testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on January 10, 2017, including but not limited to his statement that he "did not have communications with the Russians."What congressional power was used in passing this resolution?
legislative oversight
Suppose a member of the House of Representatives has spent the past week discussing upcoming legislation with other members of the House and has been working hard to convince members to vote in favor of the legislation. This person would be considered the
majority whip.
Attempts to increase descriptive representation in Congress might include trying to increase the
membership of women or minorities.
President Obama introduced several new pieces of legislation during his presidency, expanded the government by gaining more power as president from Congress and making unilateral decisions during wartime, received a lot of positive media attention, and worked with a large staff. Such characteristics would make President Obama a
modern president.
Suppose a member of Congress is part of a committee that ensures funds are being spent efficiently and elected officials are acting in accordance with the law. This member of Congress is participating in
oversight.
What do the maps illustrate?
partisan gerrymandering
The Supreme Court's decision in Baker v. Carr
required congressional districts to have roughly the same number of constituents.
The following question(s) refer to these two graphs: What is the most likely explanation for the pattern or trend described in your answer to Question 7?
the aging of the Baby Boomer generation
The Supreme Court's decision to uphold certain parts of President Trump's travel ban on immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries while striking down other parts of it as unconstitutional is an example of
the judicial branch checking the executive branch.
Suppose evidence has come to light that the president has provided financial assistance to violent non-state actors in foreign countries to assist in a plot to harm the American people. The House of Representatives may issue articles of impeachment on the grounds that the president has committed
treason.
Suppose the state of California has elected an incumbent representative to the House of Representatives who has suggested that he knows what is best for the citizens of California in his district and will use his experience and knowledge to achieve his goals. This representative is playing the
trustee role.
When the president is trying to get members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to support his or her policies and programs through direct appeals like phone calls, the president is
using bargaining and persuasion.
The following question(s) refer to the quote.On July 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson sent the following message to the United States Senate:The bill "to modify and continue" the act entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States" was presented to me on the 4th July instant. Having considered it with that solemn regard to the principles of the Constitution which the day was calculated to inspire, and come to the conclusion that it ought not to become a law, I herewith return it to the Senate, in which it originated, with my objections. A bank of the United States is in many respects convenient for the Government and useful to the people. . . . [D]eeply impressed with the belief that some of the powers and privileges possessed by the existing bank are unauthorized by the Constitution, subversive of the rights of the States, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, I felt it my duty at an early period of my Administration to call the attention of Congress to the practicability of organizing an institution combining all its advantages and obviating these objections.Which of the following terms describes Jackson's message?
veto
Suppose you are the first spouse to the newly-elected president and want to continue the work of First Lady Michelle Obama and champion healthy lifestyles for children and teens. Which initiative do you decide to champion as first spouse?
A campaign to lower barriers of entry into after-school sports programs
Suppose a new bill has been introduced that would make changes to existing education policies and roll back the federal government's involvement in public education. Which type of committee should be established to work out the different versions of the bill from the House and Senate?
A conference committee
How many votes are necessary for the whole impeachment process in Congress?
A majority in the House and two-thirds vote in the Senate
What happens after articles of impeachment have been successfully passed in the House of Representatives?
A trial is held in the Senate to convict or acquit the accused official.
A political scientist who believes that the key to a good executive branch leader is energy and the ability to take strong, swift action would likely agree with
Alexander Hamilton.
Why are entitlement programs classified as mandatory spending and are locked into the federal budget year after year?
Americans depend upon the receipt of such benefits, and as such, the programs cannot be cut.
Which statement reflects the difference between an incumbent congressional campaign and the campaign of a new congressional candidate?
An incumbent campaign will generally focus on connecting more with individual constituents, whereas a new candidate would spend more time generating name recognition and fundraising.
The President of the United States has the authority to use military force against terrorists and their associates under the
Authorization for Use of Military Force Act.
Suppose the president of the United States suspects an American citizen of going to Syria to join a terrorist network and create propaganda to be used in the United States against more Americans. The president has precedent to take which action against the citizen?
Authorizing a drone strike to attack them.
How did the War on Terror expand the power of the executive branch?
By appealing to the looming threat of terrorism against Americans, the president implemented policies and measures without the approval of Congress to combat those threats.
How would an average American citizen get a bill introduced in Congress that would require public schools to provide before- and after-school daycare?
By contacting their representatives and pressuring them to introduce such legislation
Why would efforts to improve substantive representation be more beneficial than efforts to improve descriptive representation?
By focusing on substantive representation, Congress would better reflect the interests of American citizens as a whole.
According to some political scientists, how might a focus on substantive representation help alleviate the negative effects of partisan polarization?
By focusing on the interests and policy preferences of Americans, members of Congress are better able to represent their constituents instead of political parties as a whole.
How did President Bush violate the rights of Yaser Hamdi in 2001?
By imprisoning him without notifying him of his crimes or due process.
Despite not having the ability to formally introduce and write legislation, how is the president able to influence the legislative process?
By threatening to veto a bill before it even comes across his desk
Which statement might a congressperson make to argue that Social Security benefits should remain classified as mandatory spending?
Changing benefits or the taxes to pay for them would produce a political backlash against lawmakers.
The following question(s) refer to the quote.On July 10, 1832, President Andrew Jackson sent the following message to the United States Senate:The bill "to modify and continue" the act entitled "An act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States" was presented to me on the 4th July instant. Having considered it with that solemn regard to the principles of the Constitution which the day was calculated to inspire, and come to the conclusion that it ought not to become a law, I herewith return it to the Senate, in which it originated, with my objections. A bank of the United States is in many respects convenient for the Government and useful to the people. . . . [D]eeply impressed with the belief that some of the powers and privileges possessed by the existing bank are unauthorized by the Constitution, subversive of the rights of the States, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, I felt it my duty at an early period of my Administration to call the attention of Congress to the practicability of organizing an institution combining all its advantages and obviating these objections.What is President Jackson's perspective in the quote?
Congress cannot establish a bank of the United States.
Assume you are part of the Congressional Budget Office and are responsible for finding areas of the federal budget to cut back on to reduce federal spending. Which area of the budget can you reasonably suggest?
Defense spending
The following question(s) refer to these two graphs: In examining the data found in Graphs 1 and 2, what pattern or trend would you most likely predict for the anticipated budget for fiscal year 2035?
Discretionary expenditures will consume a decreasing share of the federal budget.
Which argument would you make to defend the reinstatement of earmarks in Congress?
Earmarks allow Congress to better advocate for their constituency.
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling on Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, which stated that, even during times of war, a president may not violate the Constitutional rights of Americans, the National Security Agency continued to engage in surveillance programs on U.S. citizens, which some argue violated the
Fourth Amendment.
Who was the first president to authorize a drone strike that killed an American citizen?
George W. Bush
Suppose you are a policy advisor to the president who wants to get education reform legislation passed, a policy that is popular with most Americans. Since Congress is controlled by the opposing party, however, passing legislation is more difficult than usual. Which tactic do you suggest to the president that will have the best chance of enacting the desired policy without damaging public opinion?
Going public as a way to urge Americans to put pressure on their representatives in Congress.
Why was it important to Alexander Hamilton that there be only one executive leader?
Having two leaders would weaken the ability to protect the nation.