AP Gov Unit 1-4 Review MC
Which of the following examples describes the core value of equality of opportunity? A A student gains admittance to a university solely based on academic performance. B A person is hired at a workplace because the hiring manager prefers younger employees. C A business owner receives a loan from a bank as a result of growing up with the bank manager. D A citizen is appointed to the school board through political connections with the mayor.
A student gains admittance to a university solely based on academic performance.
In 1998, Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter filed suit against her employer for pay discrimination based on her gender. Though Ledbetter was initially successful, Goodyear appealed the decision and the case went to the Supreme Court. In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that sex discrimination complaints must be made within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred," which Ledbetter had failed to do. Which of the following actions could be taken to reverse the impact of the decision?
Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The following questions refer to the following excerpt from a United States Supreme Court decision. "We are unanimously of opinion, that the law passed by the legislature of Maryland, imposing a tax on the Bank of the United States, is unconstitutional and void...This is a tax on the operation of an instrument employed by the government of the Union to carry its powers into execution. Such a tax must be unconstitutional..." The decision of the Supreme Court upheld the principle that
Congress has the power to make laws to carry out its constitutional duties
A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate? A Secretary of defense B Supreme Court justice C Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors D Ambassador to Germany
Supreme Court justice
Shield laws protect journalists' right to refuse to testify against their sources while gathering information in their role as journalists. There is no shield law at the federal level. Based on the map and your knowledge, which of the following is a major difference between the issue of shield laws and the issue of prior restraint?
The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment protects against prior restraint by the government. However, protections for journalists and their sources are not as strong, as evidenced by the many states with weak or no shield laws.
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
The scope of power of the central 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 government would be responsible for funding and administering a Medicare-for-all system.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? A House of Representatives: The majority and minority parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally. Senate:Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass. B House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people. Senate: The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states. C House of Representatives: Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees. Senate: Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process. D House of Representatives: Members serve two-year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years. Senate: Members serve six-year terms with no term limits.
House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people. Senate: The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.
*Study based on interviews with twins separated at birth. According to the bar graph, which of the following statements is true about the influence of family on political traits? A The family has about a 30 percent rate of influence on the acquisition of political knowledge. B Foreign policy preferences are about 40 percent influenced by family. C Political party identification is about 70 percent influenced by family. D Attitudes about immigration are about 60 percent influenced by the family.
Political party identification is about 70 percent influenced by family.
In November 2014, President Obama announced an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program through an executive order. The policy would protect over 700,000 more children of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republican members of Congress denounced the order as an abuse of executive power. Previously, members of the House of Representatives had voted to defund the program. This scenario best illustrates which of the following?
Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.
Which of the following public policies would Republicans be most likely to support? A Creating a government-run health-care system B Restricting who can carry and purchase guns C Reducing government funding to organizations that provide reproductive services D Increasing the number of undocumented immigrants who may remain the country
Reducing government funding to organizations that provide reproductive services
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.
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.
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
"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 a 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 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 Fourteenth Amendment
unprompted first response to open-ended question 2 first choice from five options read to respondents Source: Pew Research, November 2008 post-election survey. Which of the following elements of polling likely created the difference in the poll results? A The difference was likely a result of the margin of error. B One poll is a tracking poll, and the other is a benchmark poll. C The formats of the survey questions are different. D The questions are worded differently.
The formats of the survey questions are different.
"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.
Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior? A The president holds a press conference to discuss midterm election results. B The president outlines the administration's legislative agenda in the State of the Union Address. C The president hosts a White House dinner with a foreign head of state. D The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?
The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate
Source: Real Clear Politics, 2016. The polling in the summer of 2016 shows a sharp increase in popular support for Clinton, followed by a sharp increase in popular support for Trump. Which of the following factors most likely accounts for these increases in popular support?
The timing of political events covered by the news which temporarily influenced preferences
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.
"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
illustrate that the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment has recently changed
Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke? A It is an agreement between political actors to maintain their grip on power. B It is an agreement in which the government promises to provide a minimum standard of living to citizens. C It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people. D It is an agreement between economic elites to maintain a stable economy. E It is an agreement in which the government outlines socially acceptable norms of political behavior.
C It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people.
Which of the following cases involves a state law that prevents women who are pregnant from seeking abortions? A Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) B Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) C Schenck v. United States (1919) D Roe v. Wade (1973)
Roe v. Wade (1973)
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 Fourteenth Amendment
Which of the following is an example of affirmative action? A The president submits a report to Congress forty-eight hours after he deployed troops in an overseas conflict. B The United States Department of Education offers low-interest college student loans to all financially qualified students. C Harvard Medical School actively recruits highly qualified minorities and female applicants for its residency program. D The state of Virginia awards an infrastructure contract to the company with the lowest bid.
Harvard Medical School actively recruits highly qualified minorities and female applicants for its residency program.
Source: CNN.com, 2018. Using both maps, which of the following best explains how states without the death penalty voted in the 2016 presidential election?
States without the death penalty were more likely to cast their ballots for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election.
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
All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 EXCEPT A dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties B fear for the stability of the central government C desire to promote trade among the states D the need to give the central government the power to levy taxes E dissatisfaction with the central government's ability to provide for national defense
A dissatisfaction over safeguards of individual rights and liberties
Which of the following scenarios is an example of a constitutional application of affirmative action? A A high school athletic program adds a women's basketball team in addition to its existing men's basketball team. B A federal contractor actively recruits qualified minorities and women for positions in the company. C A company providing a public service is required to serve all customers regardless of race or religion. D A person who cannot afford an attorney is provided one by the state.
A federal contractor actively recruits qualified minorities and women for positions in the company.
According to James Madison, which of the following best controls the effects of faction?
A large republic
Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public?
A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
The following questions refer to the chart below. Which of the following statements about the federal government between 1948 and 1978 is supported by the chart?
A relatively stable number of employees administered larger federal budgets and enforced more regulations.
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 government to ensure equal protection under the law.
Refer to the diagram for the following question. Which of the following is true according to the diagram? A The Senate minority leader is as powerful as the Senate majority whip. B The Speaker of the House, in coordination with the House majority leader, appoints the House minority leader. C Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate does not recognize political parties. D Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.
Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips.
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)
"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.
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.
Source: Pew Research Center, 2014. (Generations) Which of the following are supported by the data in the table? A Very few people change their views on social or political issues over time. B Younger people are more apt to identify as politically liberal rather than socially liberal. C As people get older, they tend to become more liberal on social issues but not on political issues. D More people become more socially conservative over time than more socially liberal.
More people become more socially conservative over time than more socially liberal.
Source: Pew Research Center, January 10-15, 2018. Which of the following explanations is least supported by information on the chart?
Most Democrats and Republicans surveyed believe that an increase in social security taxes is needed to address social security deficits.
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided the case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which ruled that states must recognize same sex couples' right to marry. Which of the following ideals of democracy would the attorneys for the same sex couple most likely put forth as their argument?
Natural rights of life and liberty include the right to marry whom you choose.
Shield laws protect journalists' right to refuse to testify against their sources while gathering information in their role as journalists. There is no shield law at the federal level. Which of the following states has the greatest protection for freedom of the press based on the information on the map?
New York (NY)
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 describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ? A The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional. B The poll tax was eliminated. C Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional. D It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size.
Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional.
Source: Pew Research Center, January 10-15, 2018. The data in the chart is too limited to support which if the following generalizations?
Republicans believe climate change is a priority for state governments rather than the federal government.
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? A Symbolic speech B Equal protection C Judicial review D Selective incorporation
Selective incorporation
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia law violated the U.S. Constitution. In response to Chief Justice John Marshall's majority opinion, President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Which of the following ideas regarding government does President Jackson's statement exhibit?
Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions.
Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph? A An increase in accountability of the bureaucracy B A decrease in the length of regulatory bills passed by Congress C A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy D An increase in the authority of the House of Representatives over the bureaucracy
A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy
Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962) ?
Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.
Which of the following public policies would Democrats be most likely to support? A Reducing taxes on American businesses and corporations B Increasing the age of eligibility for social security benefits C Reducing the size of the federal government by eliminating an executive department D Increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans
Increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton states, "A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning." Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to this statement? A Baker v. Carr (1962) B Marbury v. Madison (1803) C Shaw v. Reno (1993) D McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
*Study based on interviews with twins separated at birth. Based on the twin studies data shown in the bar graph, which of the following political traits are most influenced by genetics?
Political knowledge
In McCulloch v. Maryland , the Supreme Court established which of the following principles?
States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government.
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?
The Sixth Amendment
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent?
The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause.
The procedure for formally amending the United States Constitution best illustrates which of the following?
The federal structure of the United States government
Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda?
Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
Source: Real Clear Politics, 2016. The trend in late October and early November showing Clinton ahead but an increase in support for Trump most likely would be
described as momentum by the trailing Trump campaign to encourage supporters to vote
The framers of the United States Constitution left decisions on voting eligibility to the
individual states
Constitutional checks and balances, especially applied to the president, are designed to
minimize the threat of tyranny from any one branch of government
Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10?
A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism.
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) ? A United States v. Lopez (1995) B Engel v. Vitale (1962) C Roe v. Wade (1972) D Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Which of the following explains an action Congress can take that would have the most influence on the data on the graphs? A Members of Congress can increase congressional salaries, but only for the next Congress. B Congress can pass legislation that changes the federal salary structure. C Congress can cut funding for federal programs, which would lead to a decrease in salaries. D Congress can enforce a regulation that addresses wage increases.
Congress can pass legislation that changes the federal salary structure.
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
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? A Public opinion polling B Partisanship C Political socialization D Ideology
Political socialization
The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) relates to foundational documents in which of the following ways?
The Federalist 78 is about the power and role of the federal courts, and in Marbury v. Madison, Madison expands that role by giving the courts the power to determine whether laws or executive actions conflict with the Constitution.
Which of the following parties would be most likely to support requiring voters to show photo identification when going to the voting booth? A The Democratic Party B The Republican Party C The Green Party D The Libertarian Party
The Republican Party
Source: Pew Research, November 2008 post-election survey. Which of the following best explains how the format affected the polls?
The closed-ended format limited respondents to fewer options, which forced respondents to focus on the most important issue of those options.
Source: CNN.com, 2018. Using both maps, which of the following explains how states with the death penalty voted in the 2016 election?
The maps show that states with the death penalty were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election.
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires
ratification by three-fourths of the states
Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government? A The commerce clause of the Constitution B The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution C The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution D The First Amendment E The Fifth Amendment
A The commerce clause of the Constitution
Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money?
Block grants
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making? A The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. B The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand. C The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to "lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform." D The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans' disability claims.
The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.
Source: Republished with permission of Gallup, Inc. from Global Warming or Climate Change: Is There a Difference?, Riley E. Dunlap, 1999; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. Which of the following statements are supported by the data in the table?
Liberals are more likely than moderates to agree that global warming is a crisis.
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 government
Source: Pew Research Center, 2014. (generations) Which of the following statements are illustrated by the data in table?
Millennials are more likely to say they have become more liberal politically over time than Baby Boomers.
Shield laws protect journalists' right to refuse to testify against their sources while gathering information in their role as journalists. There is no shield law at the federal level. Which of the following statements is best supported by the information on the map?
Some states prioritize freedom of the press over criminal prosecutions.
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?
The First Amendment
Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system?
They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
American political culture is characterized by strong popular support for all of the following EXCEPT A the rule of law B limited government C individual liberty D equality of opportunity E economic equality
economic equality
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that was unpopular with a majority of Americans. The president and Congress might be able to lessen the impact of the decision by
refusing to actively enforce the decision
Which of the following is an example of the constitutional design of checks and balances? A The federal government requires state governments to provide unemployment insurance. B The Supreme Court overturns a lower court's ruling on the application of the Fourth Amendment. C The Senate rejects a president's nomination for secretary of state. D The Federal Communications Commission revokes the license of a radio station for hate speech. E The Office of Management and Budget rejects a proposed regulation of air quality standards.
The Senate rejects a president's nomination for secretary of state.
Source: Pew Research Center, January 10-15, 2018. Which of the following is a possible limitation depicted by the data presented in the chart?
The chart does not account for the segments of the population that identify as Independents.
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? A Executive Privilege under Article II, holding that the president is "commander-in-chief" B States' rights under the Tenth Amendment, holding that such powers were "not delegated to the United States by the Constitution" and, thus, "reserved to the States respectively" C The equal protection clause under the Fifth Amendment, holding that one cannot "be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law" D The doctrine of selective incorporation through the Fourteenth Amendment, holding that state action limiting gun rights deprived persons of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law"
The doctrine of selective incorporation through the Fourteenth 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
Which of the following is a correct statement about the federal government's role in interstate commerce? A The federal government has no role in regulating interstate commerce. B The federal government's role is limited to regulating activities that may lead to federal crimes. C The federal government's role is limited to regulating commerce transported on interstate waterways such as the Mississippi River. D The federal government's role is limited to regulating the transport of agricultural goods. E The federal government's role has been greatly expanded through the interpretation of the interstate commerce clause.
The federal government's role has been greatly expanded through the interpretation of the interstate commerce clause.
*Study based on interviews with twins separated at birth. According to the bar graph, which of the following is true about the influence of the general environment on political traits? A The general environment is the greatest influence in the acquisition of political knowledge in twins. B The general environment accounts for about 20 percent of the influence on political party identification in twins. C The general environment plays the biggest role in whether twins will participate and turn out to vote. D The general environment accounts for about 50 percent of the influence on attitudes about race in twins.
The general environment accounts for about 20 percent of the influence on political party identification in twins.
Source: CNN.com, 2018. Using both maps, which of the following best explains why support for the death penalty is concentrated in the southern and middle parts of the United States?
The maps show that the southern and middle parts of the United States have conservative views on social issues.
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.
Source: Real Clear Politics, 2016. In the 2016 election, Donald Trump won the election despite losing the popular vote by about two percent. The line graph illustrates which of the following about presidential election polling?
The trend appears to indicate that Clinton is more likely to win, but factors such as margin of error and the electoral system also need to be taken into account.
Source: Pew Research, November 2008 post-election survey. The data from the two polls, which ask the same question, illustrate which of the following?
Those making inferences from polling results should understand the methods used by pollsters.
The Connecticut (Great) Compromise provided for
a bicameral legislature with one house's composition based upon state population and another's on equal state representation
The framers of the Constitution intended to establish
a representative republic
The following questions refer to the following clause from the Constitution: "The Congress shall have power...to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." The practical effect of this clause has been to
allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution
Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he...
believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights
Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of
federalism
All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT A representation in the legislature B voting qualifications of the electorate C method of electing the President D congressional power to override a presidential veto E qualifications for members of the House and Senate
voting qualifications of the electorate
Which of the following parts of the United States Constitution is incorporated to the states based on the ruling in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) ? A "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." B "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated." C "No person shall . . . be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." D "[T]he right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
"[T]he right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Too often, we take our form of government for granted, not fully appreciating its unique and exceptional qualities. The framers of our Constitution, having revolted against tyranny, bequeathed to the nation, and to us as its citizens, a form of government with checks and balances intended to assure that we would never, as a nation, be subject to the abuses we experienced as a colony under a monarchy. . . . We should appreciate that the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution was modeled on the constitutions and declarations of the states, where the separation of powers was equally observed. Mirroring our U.S. Constitution, 40 state constitutions now specify that government is to be divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The separation of powers at the state level, with an independent executive, legislature, and judiciary, is also one of the fundamental tenets of our democracy. What often gets lost in translation is how dynamic the competition among the branches of government has been, and how much stronger we are as a country because of that ongoing debate. It has been said that the Constitution is not just a historic document, but a living participant in who we are as a nation. Out of the continuing effort to assure the separation of powers, we have built a system of government that functions remarkably well. Although the powers ascribed to each of the three branches may sometimes appear to swing like a pendulum, we have continuously reconsidered and recentered our understanding of the authority and limitation of each of these branches. Linda Leali, "Reflecting on the Great Gift of the Separation of Powers," Daily Business Review, 2018 Which of the following best explains how the view of the author of the passage compares with The Federalist 51 regarding separation of powers and checks and balances?
Both the author of the passage and The Federalist 51 assert that the structure of government helps control ambitions among the branches in such a way as to promote effective government.
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following? A Restricts the ability of Congress to tax. B Restricts the ability of Congress to establish an army or navy. C Establishes a unitary form of government. D Emphasizes state sovereignty over national sovereignty. E Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
Which of the following cases addresses the issue of mandatory public school prayer? A Engel v. Vitale (1962) B Schenck v. United States (1919) C Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) D Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
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? A The exclusionary rule B Selective incorporation C Time, place, and manner restrictions D Equal protection clause
Equal protection clause
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? A The "one person one vote" rule in Baker v. Carr (1962) B The free exercise clause in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) C The First Amendment's establishment clause in Engel v. Vitale (1962) D The Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
The Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
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 Fourth Amendment
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 enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens?
The power to pass a federal budget
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to
reserve powers to the states