AP US Gov Exam 2021
Liberal ideology is best defined as which of the following?
A belief in increasing the role of government to regulate the economy and create government programs to help the most needy
In 1963, Congress passed the Clean Air Act to control air pollution on a national level. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency set standards to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants in the United States. The action taken by the Environmental Protection Agency is an example of which of the following?
A guideline issued by the federal bureaucracy, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented
Which of the following scenarios is most closely related to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election.
A signing statement is best defined as which of the following?
A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?
A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Which of the following rulings is most likely to cite the Supreme Court's decision in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) as a legal precedent in support of the decision?
A ruling in favor of students to print their opinions in a school newspaper
Which of the following scenarios represents a violation of one of the civil liberties protected by the Bill of Rights?
A state compels Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade
Which of the following policies would a conservative politician most likely support?
Allowing voluntary prayer in schools
Which of the following is one example of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of the states, which was nearly impossible
Which of the following illustrates a situation that would not be protected by the First Amendment due to time, place, and manner restrictions?
Anti business protestors are arrested and prosecuted for shutting down major intersections in New York City's Times Square during rush hour.
Which of the following accurately compares the powers of Congress and the president?
Budgetary Policy and Cabinet Appointments
Which of the following scenarios best explains how the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has influenced political behavior?
Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., cited constitutional arguments as a basis for opposing segregation and inequality.
The case United States v. Lopez (1995) struck down the Gun-Free School Zones Act because
Congress exceeded its authority in the use of the commerce clause
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of monetary policy and fiscal policy?
Controlled by central banks, like the federal reserve system controlled by congress and the president
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the exclusive and concurrent powers of the federal government?
Declare war and levy taxes
A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this voting decision?
Delegate
Which of the following actions by a state government would most likely violate the precedent established by Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
Drawing new congressional district lines in a city that grouped people based on race
Which of the following is a correct comparison between the United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?
Granted congress the power to levy taxes and granted states alone the power to levy taxes
Which of the following statements explains how the Supreme Court has attempted to balance the power of the government with protections for individual liberties?
In cases involving interpretations of the Second Amendment, the Court has shown a commitment to an individual's right to own a gun
A member of Congress who advocates for a more Keynesian approach to solving a recession will likely support which of the following policies?
Increasing federal spending on infrastructure programs
Which of the following is an accurate description of the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Initiates all revenue bills and confirms presidential appointments
Which of the following statements best explains the impact the necessary and proper clause has had on congressional power?
It has broadened the power of Congress to enact legislation addressing a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues
Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the McDonald v. Chicago (2010) decision?
It incorporated an individual's right to bear arms for self-defense and made it apply to state and local governments
Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) decision?
It incorporated the right to legal counsel, as protected under the Sixth Amendment, to state and local governments
On November 2, 2014, a Gallup poll reported that 51 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, while 47 percent oppose legalization. The reported margin of sampling error was +/- 4 percent. Which of the following inferences can be made from the poll?
It is unclear whether more people support marijuana legalization than oppose it.
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton argued that the federal judiciary "is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." Which of the following statements represents a reason he gave for this argument?
It must depend on the executive for enforcement of its decisions.
Which of the following statements best describes judicial restraint?
Judges should limit the exercise of their own power to interpreting the Constitution according to its original intent
Which of the following statements best explains how national political campaigns have changed since the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
New "super PACS" can raise unlimited funds from virtually any source as long as the money is used as an independent expenditure for the campaign and is not given directly to the candidate
Which of the following amendments to the United States Constitution addresses the grievance that a woman is not permitted "to exercise her inalienable right to the elective franchise"?
Nineteenth Amendment
Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
One person should run the executive branch because they will be able to act swiftly, decisively, and discreetly, which is necessary for the presidency
A Supreme Court precedent banning prayer in schools could be viewed as interfering with state powers under the Constitution, and as creating law rather than interpreting it. Which of the following may Congress do to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Pass legislation changing the court's jurisdiction
Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting?
President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes
A person votes for Democratic candidates based on the belief that the policies of the Democratic Party will be personally beneficial. This type of voting matches which of the following voting behavior models?
Prospective voting
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the structure and function of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Responsible for proposing all tax bills responsible for ratifying all treaties
Selina voted for Senator Bruce Wayne (D-NY) in 2008 and was unhappy with his performance in office because he didn't fix the economy. So in the 2014 midterm elections, Selina decides to vote for Barbara Kean, a Republican candidate. Which model of voting behavior does this best represent?
Retrospective voting
The Supreme Court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) that a citizen's right to keep and bear arms at home for self-defense is protected from state and federal infringement. Which of the following is most relevant to that decision?
Selective incorporation
The commerce clause of the Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Which of the following might be an implied power that Congress would have to complete this task?
Setting a federal minimum wage
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the process of political socialization in schools?
Students are required to take an American government course to graduate from high school
Arizona enacted an immigration law in 2010, claiming the legislation complemented existing federal law. The Obama administration disagreed, claiming the state law conflicted with national law. Which clause of the Constitution did the Supreme Court most likely use to strike down a section of the state law?
Supremacy clause
Which of the following statements is most consistent with the author's argument in this passage?
The Bill of Rights implies that there is a right to privacy that the government cannot infringe upon
A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority, but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend?
The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.
In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Court held that the District of Columbia could not ban the registration of handguns or require weapons to be nonfunctional in the home. Which of the following amendments was the focus of the Court's ruling?
The Second Amendment
Junior Congress member Ben Wyatt is deciding whether or not to support a bill that would guarantee free wifi for his district in Pawnee, Indiana. He thinks that free wifi would be a great improvement to his community, but waits for feedback from his constituents before he casts his vote. A majority of citizens in Pawnee support the bill, so Congress member Wyatt decides to vote in favor of it. Which model of representation do his actions embody?
The delegate model
In 1890, Louisiana enacted a law that required separate railway cars for black people and for white people. Homer Plessy took a seat in a "whites only" train. He refused to move to the car reserved for black people and was arrested. In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the Supreme Court ruled in a 7-1 vote to uphold the Louisiana law. Which of the following constitutional clauses does this case have in common with Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
The equal protection clause
The Washington Post receives a top secret report that details how the executive branch mishandled a deal made with a foreign nation regarding nuclear weapons. The executive branch attempts to stop the publishing of the report, but the publisher cites the precedent in New York Times Company v. United States (1971) establishing which of the following legal rules?
The heavy presumption against prior restraint
Which of the following factors most likely led to shifts in Supreme Court decision making over time?
The ideological composition of the justices on the Supreme Court shifted to become less liberal over time
Which constitutional change in the early twentieth century led to an increase in democratic participation in the United States?
The method by which US senators are elected was changed
Critics of the winner-take-all aspect of the electoral college are most likely to make which of the following arguments?
The winner-take-all system of the electoral college encourages presidential candidates to focus their time and effort disproportionately on battleground states with larger populations.
South Carolina passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate?
Which of the following scenarios best explains the inclusion of Title IX as part of the Education Amendment of 1972?
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the enumerated and implied powers of Congress?
coining money maintaining a national bank
Which of the following is a correct comparison of the position of libertarians and conservatives on matters of social policy?
support the right of same sex marriage and oppose the right of same sex marriage
Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?
.The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the decision in United States v. Lopez (1995)?
Congress cannot use the commerce clause to regulate the possession of firearms in public schools
Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers?
Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector
Supporters of Jefferson's view that the legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion" could point to which of the following cases?
Engel v. Vitale
The primary and caucus election system of selecting presidential candidates has had which of the following effects?
It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process
Congress passes a law requiring that all public accommodations provide access for people with disabilities. The United States Supreme Court rules that the law does not apply to the airline industry. Which of the following is the best way for Congress to provide people with disabilities access to the airline industry in light of the Court's ruling?
Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities
After a House of Representatives member supports an unpopular tax despite protests from his constituents, he loses his bid for reelection. This is an example of which of the following democratic ideals?
Popular sovereignty
Which of the following describes the role of the House Rules Committee?
Schedules and manages the flow of legislation on the floor
A woman is arrested for possessing illegal substances that were obtained after a warrantless search of her home by local police. Which of the following best explains whether the evidence could be used in a criminal trial?
The exclusionary rule, derived from the Fourth Amendment, prevents the evidence from being used against the suspect
Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifth Compromise?
The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.
A recent poll indicates that 89 percent of US adults favor expanding solar panel farms throughout the United States. Which of the following supports the credibility of the poll result?
The poll was conducted over the phone using a random-digit-dialing system
Which of the following situations best reflects the author's concern about an "imperial" presidency?
The president issuing an increasing number of executive agreements
Which of the following policies is an example of specific legislation that extended civil rights to women?
Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972
Which of the following statements best explains how a politician might use data found in a public opinion poll?
To craft the presentation of policy so as to gain public support
A political science professor is researching the effects that the Fifteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments have had on the American political system. Which of the following is the most likely reason the professor is researching these amendments?
To study the expansion of voting rights
Which of the following scenarios explains how demographic factors affect voter participation in elections?
Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70?
While Schlessinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.
Which of the following statements is the most valid criticism of voting for a third party in the US political system?
Your third-party vote may help a candidate that you disagree with
In 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag in front of the Dallas City Hall in protest to Reagan administration policies. He was tried and convicted under a Texas law that prohibited people from desecrating a respected object. The case eventually went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in a 5-4 decision that Johnson had not violated the Constitution. Which of the following constitutional provisions does the case described in the scenario have in common with Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)?
Freedom of speech clause
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the Senate and House of Representatives?
HOR- designed to represent the population S- designed to represent states equal
Members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure are concerned over increased accidents on national highways. Which of the following is an action the committee can take to address the problem?
Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials of the Department of Transportation
In May of 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that the National Security Agency's collection of Americans' phone records was in violation of the USA PATRIOT Act. Which of the following core values are involved in the national debate regarding the surveillance program referred to in this scenario?
Liberty versus stability and order
On a political survey, Patrick Yang reveals that he rarely votes, because he does not believe the federal government listens to or responds to his needs, nor does he think the average citizen has much influence over political affairs. A political scientist would characterize these attitudes as representing which of the following?
Low political efficacy
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress?
Nominating ambassadors declaring war
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the checks held by the legislative and judicial branches?
impeaching and removing federal judges and declaring an entire law unconstitutional
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers?
nominating federal judges issuing executive orders
Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of rule of law and limited government?
seizing library records to investigate potential terrorists
