AP Gov Final MC
"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish the Constitution for the United States Of America" The first phrase in the preamble to the Constitution best expresses which of the following principles: A. Popular Sovereignty B. Pluralism C. Separation of powers D. Rule of Law E. Federalism
A.
A Supreme Court that demonstrates a willingness to change public policy and alter judicial president is said to be engaging in: A) Judicial activism B) Due process C) Judicial restraint D) ex post facto lawmaking E) Judicial review
A.
A writ of certiorari from the Supreme Court indicates that the Court: A) Will review a lower court decision B) Has rendered a decision on a case C) Has decided not to hear an appeal D) Will recess until the end of the calendar year E) Plans to overturn one of its previous rulings
A.
All of the following were concerns about the Articles of Confederation that led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT: A. Anger over high taxes levied by national government B. Fear for the stability of the central government C. Desire to promote trade among the states D. Lack of powerful executive branch E. Dissatisfaction with the central government's ability to provide national defense
A.
Based on the regional shift, which of these states would have been expected to gain representation following the 2010 census? A) Arizona B) Illinois C) Michigan D) New York E) Tennessee
A.
Both block & categorical grants are parts of fiscal federalism. However, block grants: A)Give more discretion to the states as to how to spend the funds, whereas categorical grants have more strings attached B) Give more power to the federal government to set specific requirements as a condition of the grant whereas categorical grants have fewer restrictions C) Involve the dispersion of money whereas categorical grants are given in the form of services D) Are provided to improve the welfare of communities whereas categorical grants are intended to improve the environment E) Are funded mandates whereas categorical grants are unfunded
A.
Congress' control over federal appropriations is more commonly known as: A) The power of the purse B) The great trump card C) The bully pulpit D) The great pocketbook E) Oversight
A.
Cooperative federalism can best be defined as: A) The concept that state & national governments should work together towards common goals B) The cooperation of the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of a national government C) The process of coordinating economic policy between two countries that are both federal system governments D) States working together in a place of a strong national government E ) The condition that exists when one political party controls the national level of government and another party controls one or more state government
A.
Despite the popular impression that policy is decided by the president and Congress and merely implemented by the federal bureaucracy, policy is, in fact, ________________. A) Also made by the bureaucracy B) Determined by the U.S. Supreme Court's actions C) Implemented by the executive branch D) Implemented by the legislative branch E) Often left to the recipients of social studies
A.
In the Second Treatise of Civil Government, John Locke wrote that the "great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property" In this statement, he most directly expresses his views on the a. The most important purpose government b. threat posed by government to individual property rights c. Superior kind of government offered by organizing into commonwealth d. Importance of managing property carefully to preserve it e. Need for people to submit to their government
A.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) is significant because it: A) Expanded federal power by acknowledging that the Constitution grants the federal government implied as well as expressed powers B) Expanded federal power by giving federal courts the power of judicial review C) Expanded federal power by interpreting the commerce clause broadly
A.
Soft money refers to: A) Unregulated money donated to political parties that was supposed to be used generic "party-building" activities, such as voter registration campaigns and get-out-the-vote drives B) Expenditures made by independent groups for political advertisements, primarily aired on TV C) Public funds that come out of a pool if money created by taxpayers who volunteered to contribute to a fund D) Regulated contributions made directly to candidates and their campaigns E) Unregulated expenditures made by a candidate himself or herself for political advertisements
A.
The effort to control the federal bureaucracy through budgetary appropriation falls under the jurisdiction of which part of government? A) Congress B) Office of Management and Budget C) The Internal Revenue Service D) The President E) The Supreme Court
A.
The most important result of political socialization is: A) The transmission of political culture B) A decrease in partisanship C) The training of political elite D) The declining influence of the family E) The undermining of religion
A.
The right to bear arms is provided for in the ______ A) Second B) Third C) Fifth D) Sixth E) Seventh
A.
What limits the Presidential term to 4 years? A) The original constitution B) An amendment to the constitution C) Federal law D) Supreme Court decision E) Common practice
A.
When it comes to political parties, the US Constitution: A) Makes no Specific reference to them B) Warns specifically against them C) Makes them illegal D) Specifies the rules that must be in place to govern them E) Refers to them at the state level but not the federal level
A.
When one party holds one or both chambers of Congress and the opposite party holds the presidency this is know as: A) Divided government B) Dealignment C) Coalition government D) Realignment E) Split Branches
A.
When redrawing state distract lines, the state party in the majority is likely to: A) Move two of the opposition party's representatives into a single district B) Move two of their own party's representatives into a single distract C) Try to keep all existing distract lines in place without letting any new ones be drawn D) Allow the party in the minority to draw new distract lines E) Ask the Supreme Court to draw new distract lines
A.
When the House and the Senate pass different versions of a bill, these versions are to be reconciled by which type of committee? A) A conference committee B) A joint committee C) A reconciliation committee D) A select committee E) A standing committee
A.
Which amendment to the US Constitution extended suffrage to women? A) 19th B) 20th C) 21st D) 22nd E) 23rd
A.
Which of the following age group has the lowest voter turnout? A) 18-29 B) 30-34 C) 45-55 D) 55-65 E) 65+
A.
Which of the following factors best account(s) for what is considered newsworthy? A) A story's high entertainment value B) A story's high informational value C) A story's high political value E) All of the above
A.
Which of the following most accurately describes the impact of Citizens United v. FEC on political parties? A) It decreased the power of political parties B) It increased the power of political parties C) It had an effect on state level parties but not on national party D) It had an effect on the parties at the national but not the state level E) It had an effect on the parties since it applied only to corporations and unions
A.
Which of the following would be the best indicator of a rise in a partisanship in the electorate? A) A decline in split ticket voting B) A decline in straight ticket voting C) Increasing protest before Supreme Court arguments D) Decreased voter turnout E) A shift in party strategies at elections from targeting swing voters to getting loyal supporters turn out
A.
Which statement best describes how the text of the Constitution addresses the issue of granting regulatory power to bureaucrats? A) It is silent on the matter B) It prohibits transfer or congressional power C) It allows transfer of congressional power with presidential approval D) It allows transfer of congressional power during declared war E) It prohibits transfer or congressional power during a declared war
A.
During a midterm election, the president's party usually: A) Maintains its number of seats in Congress B) Loses seats in Congress C) Gains seats in Congress D) Avoids contesting elections E) Enjoys a surge in popular support in opinion polls
B.
According to the preemption doctrine, if state and federal law conflict: A) Federal law always takes precedence B) Federal law takes precedence as long as the national government is exercising an enumerated or implied power C) State law always takes precedence D) State law takes precedence so long as it is exercising a power granted it under the Constitution E) Both laws are null and void
B.
In 1964, Congress prohibited federal aid to schools that remained segregated in the: A) Equal Opportunity Act B) Civil Rights Act C) Equality of Education Act D) No Child Left Behind Act E) National Education Act
B.
The Amendment to the Constitution that reserves all powers to the states that are not delegated to the federal government is the: A) 6th Amendment B) 10th Amendment C) 14th Amendment D) 21st Amendment E) 25th Amendment
B.
The Bill of Rights was adopted primarily in response to: A) Shay's Rebellion B) British abuses of the colonists' civil liberties C) The horrors of the French Revolution D) The Spanish Inquisition E) The abuses committed by the US Continental Army during the Revolutionary War
B.
The ______ banned gender discrimination in employment by law A) Gender Equity Act of 1972 B) Civil Rights Act of 1964 C) 19th Amendment D) Fair Labor Standards Act E) Supreme Court ruling in National Organization for Women v. Bank of America
B.
What limits the President from serving more than two terms in office? A) The original constitution B) An amendment to the constitution C) Federal law D) Supreme Court Decision E) Common practice
B.
Which of the following if true of federal judges? A) They serve 4 years terms that coincide with the presidential term B) They are appointed for the life and can only be removed by impeachment C) They are elected by Congress and serve 10-year terms D) They are appointed for life and cannot be removed from office E) They are appointed by the Supreme Court to life terms
B.
In which of the following did the Supreme Court rule that a state could not tax an arm of the federal government such as the Second Bank of the United States? A) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) B) Marbury v. Madison (1803) C) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) D) Dred Scot v. Sanford (1857) E) Texas v. White (1869)
C.
Oversight is: A) An executive check on congressional power B) A judicial check on executive power C) A congressional check on executive power D) An executive check on judicial power E) A congressional check on judicial power
C.
Te Fifth Amendment's protection against the government compelling an individual to be a witness against him or herself A) Incorporation B) Indoctrination C) Self-incrimination D) Unlawful search and seizure E) Libel
C.
The Supreme court has used the practice of selective incorporation to: A) Limit the number of appeals filed by defendants in state courts B) Extend voting rights to racial minorities and women C) Apply most Bill of Rights protects to state law D) Hasten the integration of public schools E) Prevents the states from calling a constitutional convention
C.
The Three-Fifths Compromise at the Constitution Convention: A. Allowed cloture to be invoked, ending a filibuster in the Senate, with the support of 60 senators B. Prescribed the proportion of states required to ratify a constitutional amendment C. Provided a formula by which slaves would be counted for apportioning the House of Representatives D. Established the percentage of votes necessary for the electors to be chosen under the original provisions of the Electoral College system E. Established the percentage of members of the House required to pass a bill raising revenue
C.
The courts have recently ruled that, under the 14th Amendment, racial and ethnic classifications by states in regard to any matter: A) Are reasonable B) Are arbitrary, but usually reasonable C) Are inherently suspect D) Are not the proper business of the federal courts to consider, but up to the states individually E) Are always unconstitutional
C.
The most important function of a party whip is to help: A) Fundraise for party candidates B) The President works with the media in times of crisis C) Maintain party discipline in the legislature D) Turn out the vote among a party's base E) Coordinate the national convention, which is held every 4 years
C.
The side of the House of Representatives is set by: A) The Constitution at 435 B) The Constitution at 535 C) Law at 435 D) Law at 535 E) Costmary practice at 435
C.
The ultimate power to determine how much the government will tax and spend, and what is will spend taxes for, lies with: A) The Treasury Department B) The Federal Bureaucracy C) Congress D) The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) E) The President
C.
Under America's first Constitution, the Articles of Confederation A. The national government dominated state governments B. The executive branch had more power than Congress C. Congress was a unicameral body D. States were represented in Congress proportionately according to population E. Reflected the Founding Fathers' belief that a national standing army was necessary
C.
What was the main obstacle to the implementation of the policy prohibiting sex discrimination in intercollegiate athletics? A) Opposition by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) B) Public opinion concerning the appropriateness of women's participation in all sports C) The lack of clarity and vague policy goals stated in Title IX D) The exemption of revenue-producing sports E) The lack of presidential willingness to take on the issue
C.
Which presidential debate, because it was televised, is credited with changing the outcome of an election? A) Lincoln-Douglas Debate B) Truman-Deway Debate C) Kennedy-Nixon Debate D) Reagan-Carter Debate E) Obama-McCain Debate
C.
Who can introduce bills into the House of Representatives? A) Both members of the House of Representatives and the Senate B) Either members of the House of Representatives and/or the President C) Only members of the house of Representatives D) Members of the House of Representatives and members of the population eligible to vote E) Only members of the standing committee which would only have jurisdiction over the subject of the bill
C.
Once Congress passes a bill, the President may do all of the following expect: A) Sign it B) Veto it C) Let it become law by not doing anything D) Cross out what he doesn't like, but sign off on the rest E) Use a pocket veto
D.
The fastest growing area if mass media is: A) Cable Television B) Network Television C) Newspapers D) Internet E) Magazines
D.
Of the following, the best predictor of voting turnout is: A) Race B) Religion C) Age D) Education E) Gender
D.
A key idea of pluralism is that the public interest will be best served by a political system that: A. Systematically incorporates only a few government recognized umbrella organizations into the policy making process B. Restricts the participation of the masses to a few indirect elections C. Is based on universal suffrage D. Facilitates competition among groups, with each advocating among groups, with each advocating its own policies E. Maximizes efficiency in the policy making process
D.
A policy document allocating burdens and benefits is known as: A) A revenue statement B) An expenditure list C) Tax regulations D) A budget E) A rate of interest
D.
A proponent of devolution would rely on which of the following as support? A) The supremacy clause B) The necessary and proper clause D) The 10th Amendment E) The principles of checks and balances
D.
All of the following are enumerated powers of Congress EXCPET: A) Appropriate funds B) Declare war C) Regulate commerce D) Oversight E) Establish post offices
D.
Congress publishes the ___________, which lists tops federal jobs available for the direct presidential appointment, often with Senate confirmation A) amicus curiae brief B) appropriations list C) General schedule ratings list D) Plum Book E) Standard operating procedures
D.
If the office of the Vice President becomes vacant, then a new person is chosen for the position by A) Presidential appointment B) A presidential nomination and senatorial confirmation C) A presidential nomination and House of Representative confirmation D) A presidential nomination and Congressional confirmation E) Direct election of the people
D.
In a dispute between a state and the federal government over whether a particular federal law can mandate state action, the federal government would rely on: A) The Nullification Doctrine B) Precedent established by US. V. Lopez C) The 10th Amendment D) The commerce clause E) The establishment clause
D.
Obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, in violation of the 4th Amendment, is know as: A) Violation of privacy B) An Ariel search C) Cruel & unusual punishment D) Unreasonable search and seizure E) Bounty hunting
D.
The part of the 14th Amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, property, without a proper hearing is called: A) Elastic clause B) Eminent Domain clause C) Interstate commerce clause D) Due process clause E) Necessary and proper clause
D.
The process through which an individual acquires his or her particular political orientations, including his or her knowledge, feelings , and evaluations regarding the political world, is know as: A) Demography B) Political orientation C) Political ideology D) Political socialization E) Political indoctrination
D.
The trend toward more negative and cynical news coverage began during: A) The Great Depression B) World War II C) The Korean War D) The Vietnam War
D.
When does reapportionment of congressional representation take place? A) At the end of each calendar year B) Every 2 years after a midterm election C) Every 3 years after the presidential election D) Every 10 years after each census E) On a rotational basis declared by the government
D.
Which of the following is consistent with liberal ideology? A) Likely to support American military intervention around the world B) Opposes affirmative action C) Supports prayer in school D) Wants to tax the rich more E) Believes we should stop "coddling animals"
D.
Who can challenge a law in an American court? A) Any citizen can challenge a law B) Any tax-paying citizen C) Only a lawyer D) Only a person who has a serious interest in a case E) Only a person who is included in a class action suit
D.
Why may the filibuster be considered undemocratic? A) It is used by the majority to defeat the minority B) It is used by the minority to defeat the majority C) It is used in the Senate but not in the House of Representatives D) It is used to prevent logrolling in Congress E) It is used to undermine the power of the Speaker of the House
D.
Why wasn't Bill Clinton removed from office? A) He was never accused of any wrongdoing B) The House of Representatives didn't vote that he should be impeached C) The Senate did not have a 2/3 vote to convict him E) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court vetoed the Senate's vote
D.
"We conclude that in the field of education the doctrine of 'separate but equal ' has no place. Separate educational Facilities are inherently unequal" A) Gideon v. Wainwright B) Marbury v. Madison C) Engel v. Vitale D) Regents of University of California v. Baake E) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
E.
A legislator who has been appointed by a party to enforce party discipline is known as : A) The chamber president B) The senior Senator or representative C) Speaker of the House D) The majority leader E) A party whip
E.
Brown v. Board of Education A) Overturned the Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson B) Held that school segregation was inherently unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment ended legal segregation C) Ended legal segregation D) A and B only E) A, b, and C
E.
Equal protection of the laws A) Is guaranteed in the original Constitution B) Means that states have to ensure that their laws promote equality among persons C) Provides a rigid standard for constitutional interpretation D) Means that laws cannot establish different standards for treatment of different groups E) Does not deny states treating classes of citizens different if the classification is reasonable
E.
Government by proxy results when ________ are hired by federal bureaucrats to do work. A) Local governments B) State governments C) Business firms D) Nonprofit organizations E) All of the above
E.
If there is a tie in the Senate (50-50), then: A) Nothing happens B) the President breaks the tie C) The Chief Justice breaks the tie D) the vote is take again immediately E) the Vice President breaks the tie
E.
In the House of Representatives, it is the Committee that writes tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole. A) Budget B) Finance C) Revenue D) Appropriations E) Ways and Means
E.
Mass media's role in American politics can be traced back to: A) When the radio was invented B) Only when television began to televise presidential debates C) When the government passed a law allowing the coverage of mass over events D) By newspapers covering the events of Civil War E) Colonial times with newspapers, often controlled and financed by political operatives
E.
The Cabinet was created by: A) The original constitution B) An amendment to the constitution C) Federal law D) Supreme Court Decision E) Common practice
E.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tends to employ: A) Lawyers B) Doctors C) Engineers D) Economists E) A and D
E.
The full process of impeachment includes: A) Majority vote by House of Representatives that the president has committed a serious crime B) Trial by the Senate C) 2/3 vote of Senate to convict and remove the president from office D) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding over senatorial trial E) All of the above
E.
The practice in Congress whereby two or more members agree to support each others' bills known most commonly as: A) Mutual reciprocity B) Mutual consideration C) Vote trading D) Vote exchanging E) Logrolling
E.
The written publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone's reputation is called: A) Incorporation B) Obscenity C) Slander D) Pornography E) Libel
E.
What are you engaging in if you cast your ballot for a Democratic candidate for president and a Republican candidate for Congress? A) Checks and balances B) Divided government C) Intelligent partisanship D) Separation of powers E) Ticket Spelling
E.
What is the largest social policy of the federal government? A) Early childhood education B) Children's health insurance C) Job-training programs D) College loans E) Social Security
E.
Which of the following founders was the "principal architect" of the Constitution? A. Edmund Randolph B. George Washington C. Thomas Jefferson D. Alexander Hamilton C. James Madison
E.
Shays' Rebellion was significant because... a. It demonstrated the weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation b. It became a symbol of the opression of the British government c. The expense of supressing it led to higher taxes and a need for the new U.S. to borrow from foreign governments d. Led to calls to amend the Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights e. Created support for a Constitutionsl provision guaranteeing equality for all citizens regardles of race
a
All of the statements in the answer choices below correctly describe differences between the anti-federalists and the federalists EXCEPT: a. the anti-federalists advocated for strong state governments which would be closer to the people whereas the federalists emphasized the need for a strong central government b. the anti-federalists were more interested in making it possible for ordinary people to have input in government whereas the federalists wanted to facilitate rule by statesmen and so they were more likely to try and limit the influence of the masses c. the anti-federalists were supported by large landowners, professionals, creditors, wealthy merchants, and those who lived in more densely settled areas by the seaboard whereas the federalists were supported by small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers, and debtors d. the anti-federalists strongly supported the addition of the Bill of Rights whereas the federalists felt individual freedoms were protected sufficiently by the Constitution and by state governments e. the anti-federalists considered a small republic a better protector of liberties whereas the federalists believed a large republic would best protect individual liberties
c
In the original Constitution, which of the following was closest to the people? a. the executive b. the Senate c. The House of Representatives d. The Supreme Court e. Lower Courts
c
The Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise) a. prohibited slavery in nearly formed states but allowed it in states where slavery already existed b. gave states the right to determine whether or not to prohibit slavery c. guaranteed equal representation in the Senate but based representation on proportional population in the House of Representatives d. Allowed for direct elections to the House of Representatives but gave state legislatures the right to select Senators e. Provided for 2 year terms for the House of Representatives but made Senate terms 6 years
c
The concept of "consent of the governed" is essential to a. Federalism b. Individualism c. popular sovereignty d. pluralism e. populism
c
According to James Madison in Federalist 10, the "most common and durable source of factions" has been a. discord between owners and workers b. ideological disagreements between communists and capitalists c. political parties d. tension between state and federal governments e. the unequal division of property
e
James Madison argues in Federalist 10 that factions should be a. welcomed because they are a cure for the chaos and instability of a monarchy b. encouraged because they are likely to promote the common good c. eliminated because, under the principles of republicanism d. feared because they allow the majority to oppress the minority
e