AP Gov Quarter Final

(B) Cuts off debate on a bill.

A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following? (A) Returns a bill to committee. (B) Cuts off debate on a bill. (C) Criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties. (D) Removes a President who has been impeached by the House. (E) Brings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval.

(A) regulatory policy

A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of (A) regulatory policy (B) judicial policy (C) fiscal policy (D) distributive policy (E) monetary policy

(E) limit the president's authority to commit troops overseas

Congress adopted the War Powers Resolution to (A)give the president additional powers in case of military emergencies (B) delineate a clear chain of command in the event of nuclear war (C) criticize the president for declaring war without authorization from Congress (D) enable the president to commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping forces (E) limit the president's authority to commit troops overseas

(A) Liberty versus stability and order

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 debates is at the center of the national conversation regarding the surveillance program referred to in this scenario? (A) Liberty versus stability and order (B) Majority rule versus minority rights (C) States' rights versus federal authority (D) Common good versus freedom of expression

(B) an iron triangle

Lobbyists from the Airlines for America, an advocacy group that represents commercial airlines, work with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and officials from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss a new policy that addresses issues of airline safety. This scenario best illustrates (A) a political action committee (B) an iron triangle (C) a social movement (D) an independent expenditure

(D) Trustee

Members of Congress receive many phone calls, meeting invitations, and e-mails from various competing interest groups asking for support on their preferred public policies. This situation best exemplifies which of the following models of democracy? (A) Pluralist (B) Politico (C) Elitist (D) Trustee

(B) independent agencies

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of (A) cabinet departments (B) independent agencies (C) Executive Office bureaus (D) congressional committees (E) White House staff agencies

(C) White House staff

The Senate must confirm all of the following presidential appointments EXCEPT (A) United States attorneys (B) United States Supreme Court justices (C) White House staff (D) heads of executive agencies (E) federal judges

(B) Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states.

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following? (A) A consolidation of power in the national government based on national supremacy (B) Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states. (C) A delegation of power from the state governments to the federal government, increasing the power of the (C) United States government (D) An increase in cooperative federalism, where power and duties are shared between the federal and state governments

(A) a representative republic

The framers of the Constitution intended to establish (A) a representative republic (B) a direct democracy (C) an authoritarian state (D) a socialist democracy (E) a parliamentary republic

(C) logrolling

The practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B's legislation, provided that Representative B will support Representative A's legislation, is referred to as (A) personal casework and services (B) partisan discipline (C) logrolling (D) pork barrel legislation (E) filibustering

(A) Joint resolutions that propose constitutional amendments

The president cannot veto which of the following? (A) Joint resolutions that propose constitutional amendments (B) Laws overturning United States Supreme Court decisions (C) Legislation regulating congressional salaries (D) Legislation affecting foreign policy (E) Bills that originate in the Senate

(A) Elite theories concentrate on the role of interest groups; pluralist theories emphasize the role of individuals.

Which of the following accurately characterizes the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the United States? (A) Elite theories concentrate on the role of interest groups; pluralist theories emphasize the role of individuals. Elite theories argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; pluralist theories argue that (B)many minorities compete for power in different policy areas. Elite theories argue that social status is the major source of political power; pluralist theories argue that (C)wealth is the major source. Elite theories emphasize the multiple access points that interest groups have to public officials; pluralist (D)theories stress the limits in the number and effectiveness of such access points (E) Elite theories view government as efficient; pluralist theories view it as slow and wasteful.

(C)

Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president? (A) (B) (C) (D)

(D) Block Grants

Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money? (A) Categorical grants-in-aid (B) Foreign aid (C) Unfunded mandates (D) Block grants (E) Military funding

(A)

Which of the following pairs accurately identifies the methods used by Congress and the president to hold the bureaucracy accountable to the other branches?

(D) The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers? (A) The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign govemments, but for the treaty to take effect, it requires approval by the Senate. (B) As commander-in-chief of the military, the president orders troops to a foreign nation to address a potential threat to national security. (C) A Senate committee holds a hearing to discuss potential misuse of funds by the Department of Veterans Affairs. (D) The federal government provides about 25% of the total funding for highways and transit in the United States, while the other 75% of the funding comes from states.

(A) Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.

Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962)? (A) Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law. (B) To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state. (C) There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels. (D) Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause.

(B) The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the line graph? (A) The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, even though the number of bills passed by Congress has decreased. (B) The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress. The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but the number of bills passed by Congress has (C) increased. (D) The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.

((E) funds to administer programs clearly specified by the federal governmen

In contrast to revenue sharing, categorical grants-in-aid provide state and local governments with (A) substantial discretion in deciding how to use the grants to solve their problems (B) aid that reflects tax base and population (C) the power to impose regressive taxes (D) funds sufficient to support a high level of local service (E) funds to administer programs clearly specified by the federal government

(A) Unfunded mandates

Which of the following is a method by which Congress is likely influencing state policy being depicted in the cartoon? (A) Unfunded mandates (B) Selective incorporation (C) Legislative oversight (D) Block grants

(C) A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt.

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation? The NAACP leadership sends representatives to Washington to lobby for changes to the Voting Rights Act. B) Congress passes a bill allocating money to clean up nuclear waste sites after a wave of large-scale peaceful protests. C) A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt. A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.

(A) Agenda setting

Which of the following stages comes first in the policy-making process? (A) Agenda setting (B) Legitimation (C) Program evaluation (D) Policy formulation (E) Implementation

(B) amendments of the United States Constitution required 3/5 of the states to prove.

Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise? (A) The number of senators increased in three-fifths of the states with enslaved populations. (B) Amendments to the United States Constitution required three-fifths of the states to approve. (C) The presidential winner would be determined by three-fifths of the electors in the Electoral College. (D) A formula for calculating a state's enslaved population for the purposes of representation was enacted.

(A) While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.

"In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. I constitutional Presidency- as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency.... The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions-belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world- had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70? (A) While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. (B) While The Federalist 70 views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, Schlesinger views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. (C) Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous. (D) Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.

(B) allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in 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 (A) make the legislature the most powerful branch of the national government (B) allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution (C) allow the state governments to nullify federal laws within their borders (D) give the President uncontested powers in the area of foreign policy (E) ensure that any powers not delegated by the Constitution to the United States government are reserved to the states and the people

(C) A large republic

According to James Madison, which of the following best controls the effects of faction? (A) Direct democracy (B) The popular election of state judges (C) A large republic (D) Property requirements for eligibility to work (E) The creation of a merit-based civil service

(A) approximately equal representation for every voter

Elections for the House of Representative provide (A) approximately equal representation for every voter (B) an equal chance of getting elected for both incumbents and challengers (C) a system in which only those candidates who receive a majority of the votes cast win on the first ballot (D) proportional representation based on the percentage of votes cast for each party (E) proportional representation of racial and ethnic minorities

(D) educational policy is not mentioned in the constitution, which has created debate about the proper role for the national government and educational policy.

In 2005, the Utah legislature passed a law that allowed school districts to ignore parts of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), a law passed by Congress in 2001 that supported standards-based education reform. Utah did this despite the fact that it endangered losing $76 million in federal aid to Utah public schools. Which of the following statements best explains why Utah took this action? (A) Utah argued that because the majority of its citizens are Mormon, the No Child Left Behind Act infringed upon their free exercise rights. (B) The Supreme Court ruled several parts of the No Child Left Behind Act unconstitutional, so Utah had to create policy to address those areas. (C) Since education is a policy clearly delegated to the states, the No Child Left Behind Act was a clear violation of the Constitution. (D) Educational policy is not mentioned in the Constitution, which has created debate about the proper role for the national government in educational policy.

(A) by creating, a large a Public, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction contain enough power to completely dominant.

In The Federalist 10, James Madison argued that the new constitution would help control faction by doing which of the following? (A) By creating a large republic, the new constitution made it less likely that a faction could gain enough power to completely dominate. (B) The new constitution had significant limits on the freedom of expression, thereby limiting the ability of factions to organize (C) To the new constitution gave political parties specific powers in the government which limited their influence. (D) The use of the electoral college and the indirect election of senators would limit the influence that factions could wield.

(C) the House can impeach federal judges in the president, and the Senate holds the impeachment trial

One example of constitutional checks and balances is (A) the president declares war, but Congress appropriates military funds (B) the president nominates cabinet members, and the House holds confirmation hearings (C) the House can impeach federal judges and the president, and the Senate holds the impeachment trial (D) Congress can override United States Supreme Court decisions on the constitutionality of laws (E) presidential vetoes of laws can be overridden by a simple majority vote in both the House and the Senate

(C) Concurrent powers

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? (A) Delegated powers (B) Reserved powers (C) Concurrent powers (D) Exclusive powers

(E) A bicameral legislature with one houses composition based upon state population in another's on equal state representation

The Connecticut (Great) Compromise provided for (A) all revenue bills to originate in the Senate (B) all judicial appointments to be nominated by the president (C) the elimination of the importation of slaves (D) an electoral college and rules for the removal of the president (E) a bicameral legislature with one house's composition based upon state population and another's on equal state representation

(B) the power of the purse

The House Appropriations Committee disagrees with a proposal in the president's annual budget request to increase the number of people eligible for food stamps, consequently leading to the House of Representatives passing a budget that does not increase funding for the program. This ability to check presidential actions is best described as (A) the bully pulpit (B) the power of the purse (C) the oversight function (D) the line-item veto

(A) If the president is removed, the vice president will take office to finish the president's current term.

The House of Representatives impeaches the president. Which of the following scenarios represents how bicameralism is used as a check on the vote to impeach? (A) If the president is removed, the vice president will take office to finish the president's current term. (B) The Senate deliberates the case and votes to determine the president's guilt or innocence. (C) The chief justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial. (D) After the impeachment, House managers will prepare a case to convict and remove the president from office.

(A) an enumerated power

The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of (A) an enumerated power (B) an implied power (C) an inherent power (D) a reserved power (E) a concurrent power

(E) states legislatures

The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by (A) the United States House of Representatives (B) The United States Senate (C) United States district courts (D) state governors (E) state legislatures

(D) As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.

The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with? (A) The national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments. (B) Separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want. (C) Under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government. (D) As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.

(A) The system should be able to accommodate political change, but the process for change should incorporate checks and balances.

The process in the diagram reflects which of the following about the perspective of the framers on constitutional government? (A) The system should be able to accommodate political change, but the process for change should incorporate checks and balances. (B) Limited government is best achieved through a Constitution that limits the power of the federal government and expands the power of states. (C) Citizens ought to determine for themselves by a simple majority the laws that govern a democracy. (D) Multiple access points should exist for groups who want to participate in government, with the states acting as laboratories of democracy.

(A) establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules

The term "bicameralism" refers to the (A) establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules (B) members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms (C) president having veto power over both chambers of Congress (D) members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies (E) checks that Congress has over the federal bureaucracy

(B) pork barrel legislation

To get an important bill passed in the House, a provision is added that allocates $500 million to study the impact of global climate change on manatees in Florida. This is an example of (A) the free rider problem (B) pork barrel legislation (C) an issue network (D) gerrymandering

(B) I and II

Under the Articles of Confederation, which of the following were true? I. Congress could not tax the states directly. II. The executive branch of government exercised more power than Congress. III. Congress was a unicameral body. IV. States were represented in Congress proportionally according to population. (A) I and II (B) I and III (C) I and IV (D) Il and III (E) II and IV

A

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of checks on the legislative branch and checks on the executive branch?

(A) The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation? (A) The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue. (B) The executive branch was granted too much power over the legislature. (C) The federal government had too much control over interstate commerce. (D) The judicial branch was elected and did not consistently adhere to rule of law.

(B) Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates.

Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic? (A) Despite many attempts at reform, some members of the federal bureaucracy are still hired through political patronage. (B) Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates. (C) Specialized skills, such as a background in STEM, are less important than a degree in political science for most jobs in the bureaucracy. (D) Most members of the federal bureaucracy work near Washington, D.C., or in state capitals.

(A) the power of the national government was strengthened.

"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. Which of the following resulted from this Supreme Court decision? (A) The power of the national government was strengthened. (B) The power of the Supreme Court was weakened. (C) The power of state governments to tax individual citizens was clearly limited. (D) Congress was given the power to coin money. (E) Congress alone was given the power to charter banks.

(B) Supreme Court justice

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

(D) ratification by three-fourths of the states

After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, it's adoption requires (A) official filing with the secretary of state (B) support by a majority vote of the people (C) signature by the president (D) ratification by three-fourths of the states (E) publication in the Federal Register

(D) A President may veto part of a bill.

All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true EXCEPT: (A) Congress overrides fewer than ten percent of presidential vetoes. (B) A vetoed bill is often revised and passed in another form. (C) Presidents often threaten to veto bills to increase their leverage with Congress. (D) A President may veto part of a bill. Congress often places provisions the President wants into a bill the President dislikes to make a veto less (E) likely.

(D) Supremacy clause

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? (A) Commerce clause (B) Necessary and proper clause (C) Full faith and credit clause (D) Supremacy clause

(A) believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights

Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he (A) believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights (B) argued that a national military force was needed to deal with insurrections (C)argued that the laws passed by the national government were supreme over state laws (D) believed that compromise between the branches of government would ensure a limited government

(D) Controlling an executive agency's annual budget

Congress is most likely to exert oversight of the executive bureaucracy in which of the following ways? (A) Directly selecting the head of an executive agency (B) Impeaching the head of an executive agency (C) Using the Court to block implementation of proposed regulations (D) Controlling an executive agency's annual budget (E) Changing the term length of heads of independent regulatory commissions

(E) pardoning felons

Congressional legislative powers include all of the following EXCEPT (A) legislating federal appropriations (B) approval of treaties (C) establishing a lower-court system (D) passing federal laws (E) pardoning felons

(C) exercise some control over executive agencies

Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to (A) override presidential vetoes (B) hold public hearings before confirming judicial appointees (C) exercise some control over executive agencies (D) allow nongovernmental agencies to defend or refute pending legislation publicly (E) seek judicial opinion on the constitutionality of pending legislation

(D) regulate intrastate commerce

Enumerated powers of the federal government include all of the following EXCEPT the power to (A) coin money (B) declare war (C) regulate interstate commerce (D) regulate intrastate commerce (E) tax

(D) gerrymandering

Establishing the boundaries of United States congressional districts to give one party an advantage over another party is referred to as (A) raiding (B) apportionment (C) reapportionment (D) gerrymandering (E) filibustering

(A) modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that (A) modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority (B) the executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic (C) presidents have less power in handling foreign policy than in handling domestic policy (D) interest groups have too much power in the contemporary governmental system (E) the courts have few means of limiting presidential power

(E) Pocket veto

If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, but which the president has not yet signed, what is the result? (A) Line-item veto (B) Legislative veto (C) Executive veto (D) Judicial review (E) Pocket veto

(D) are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

In The Federalist papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions (A) should be nurtured by a free nation (B) should play a minor role in any free nation (C) are central to the creation of a free nation (D are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation (E) are necessary to control the masses in a free nation

(B) are personally loyal to the President

In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who (A) give the White House ideological balance (B) are personally loyal to the President (C) have extensive governmental experience (D) will help the President develop a good working relationship with Congress (E) can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations

(E) using the media to set the policy agenda

In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in (A) using the legislative schedule to political advantage (B) enforcing party discipline (C) satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process (D) effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion (E) using the media to set the policy agenda

(E) provided for a strong national government with many powers, while the Articles created a weak central government with few independent powers

Of the following, the most significant difference between the Constitution of 1787 and the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution (A) made states sovereign over the national government, while the Articles were based on national sovereignty (B)was difficult to amend, while the Articles included an easier process requiring approval by a simple majority of states (c) provided for a presidential system of government, while the Articles provided for a parliamentary system of government (D) created a dominant national executive, while the Articles established a dominant national legislature (E) provided for a strong national government with many powers, while the Articles created a weak central government with few independent powers

(A) Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court.

On September 29, 2020, after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump, a Republican, nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Many Democrats in the Senate feared that the appointment of Barrett would swing the Court in a more ideologically conservative direction and attempted to block her nomination. After a heated Senate confirmation hearing, Barrett was eventually confirmed by a 52 to 48 vote in the Senate. The scenario best highlights which of the following statements about court appointees? (A) Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court. Judicial appointees tend to make controversial statements on important policy issues during their (B) confirmation hearings to get confirmed. (C) The merit system for hiring members of the bureaucracy extends to the vetting process for nominations to the Supreme Court. (D) Presidents usually request that the Senate be slow and deliberate with judicial appointments to check the power of the judicial branch

(C) bureaucratic implementation of law

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will spend money appropriated by Congress to maintain wild refuges. This action is an example of (A) the power of the filibuster (B) congressional oversight of the bureaucracy (C) bureaucratic implementation of law an unfunded mandate (E) an independent expenditure

(B) Congress exceeded its authority in the use of the commerce clause

The case United States v. Lopez (1995) struck down the Gun-Free School Zones Act because (A) it violated Fourth Amendment protections against unwarranted searches (B) Congress exceeded its authority in the use of the commerce clause (C) the Second Amendment is a right incorporated to the states (D) students retain their First Amendment rights while attending public schools

(A) Presidential foreign policy can be checked through the legislative power of Congress.

The data in the table illustrate which of the following about United States constitutional goverment? (A) Presidential foreign policy can be checked through the legislative power of Congress. (B) The president can declare war, but Congress can vote to block funding for wars. (C) Cloture procedures make it increasingly difficult to filibuster bills in the Senate. (D) Gerrymandering has intensified partisan divisions in Congress.

(B) acknowledgment of the limitations of national power, and a recognition of the reserve the power of the states.

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following? (A) A consolidation of power in the national government based on national supremacy (B) Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states. (C) A delegation of power from the state governments to the federal government, increasing the power of the United States government (D) An increase in cooperative federalism, where power and duties are shared between the federal and state governments

(D) as a practical matter, the laws of the national government opt to have supremacy over state laws.

The next most palpable defect of the subsisting Confederation, is the total want of a SANCTION to its laws. The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions, either by pecuniary [fines], by a suspension or divestiture of privileges, or by any other constitutional mode. There is no express delegation of authority to them to use force against delinquent members; and if such a right should be ascribed to the federal head, as resulting from the nature of the social compact between the States, it must be by inference and construction... There is, doubtless, a striking absurdity in supposing that a right of this kind does not exist. Based on The Federalist 21, which of the following arguments about government would Hamilton likely agree with? (A) The national government, by natural right, has more power than the state governments. (B) Separation of powers means that the national government is limited to passing only legislation that all the states want. (C) Under federalism, the states retain more power than the national government (D) As a practical matter, the laws of the national government ought to have supremacy over state laws.

(C) the framers allowed the individual states to create voting processes and voter qualifications

Throughout most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, most African Americans were prevented from voting in many Southern states despite the Fifteenth Amendment, which extended the right to vote to African American males. Southern states were able to take this action because (A) the Fifteenth Amendment did not apply to all states (B) Congress passed legislation that restricted the application of the Fifteenth Amendment to placate Souther (C) the framers allowed the individual states to create voting processes and voter qualifications (D) the Supreme Court had declared the Fifteenth Amendment unconstitutional

(C) Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.

Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees? (A) Committees are organized by the executive branch to ensure that both branches can communicate and negotiate policy goals. (B) The United States Constitution requires that Congress organize itself into committees, with each party having equal access to committee seats. (C) Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process. (D) Committees are organized by state delegations so that each state has some role in deciding which bills get passed.

(D) Members of Congress negotiate bills so that individual districts get money for projects that do not benefit the nation as a whole.

Which of the following best describes pork barrel politics? (A) The Office of Management and Budget negotiates with Congress to get the president's budget proposal passed. (B) Senators from states with agricultural economies promote farm price supports. (C) Voters in rural areas support different issue positions than do voters in metropolitan areas. (D) Members of Congress negotiate bills so that individual districts get money for projects that do not benefit the nation as a whole. (E) Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee refuse to endorse the president's nominees to the federal courts.

(B) Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments.

Which of the following best explains why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda? (A) Cabinet secretaries are unlikely to be members of the president's party. (B) Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments. (C) Cabinet secretaries are likely to compete with the president in a subsequent election. (D) Under the Hatch Act, cabinet secretaries are prohibited from campaigning on behalf of the president. (E) The Freedom of Information Act compels cabinet secretaries to divulge confidential information to the media.

(A) The necessary and proper clause

Which of the following clauses in the Constitution justifies the "implied powers doctrine"? (A) The necessary and proper clause (B) The privileges and immunities clause (C) The contract clause (D) The debts and engagements clause (E) The executive power clause

(C) The necessary and proper clause

Which of the following clauses serves as the constitutional basis for the federal Real ID Act of 2005, a law that established uniform standards for state-issued identification cards and provided regulation of a state function? (A) The due process clause (B) The establishment clause (C) The necessary and proper clause (D) The commerce clause

(D) A district that has a majority of African American residents is drawn in a state, using race as the predominant factor in its creation.

Which of the following congressional plans to create new district maps would most likely face a challenge in the Supreme Court based on precedent? (A) A state legislature hires a private consulting group to fairly balance districts according to political ideology with the unintended consequence of having no districts that are majority Hispanic. (B) A district is drawn by a panel of judges to ensure more competitive elections but inadvertently creates more districts that are majority White than majority African American. (C) A square-shaped contiguous district in which the majority of voters are African American is drawn in a state, using similarity in geographic size as the predominant factor in its creation. (D) A district that has a majority of African American residents is drawn in a state, using race as the predominant factor in its creation.

(A) The necessary and proper clause

Which of the following constitutional provisions broadened the power of Congress? (A) The necessary and proper clause (B) The equal protection clause (C) The Tenth Amendment (D) The Ninth Amendment (E) The eminent domain provision in the Fifth Amendment

(B) Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.

Which of the following describes the president's Cabinet? (A) It consists of career civil servants with decades of experience in government service. (B) Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions. (C) Its members hold office for fixed terms that coincide with the president's. (D) Its members must be selected from among current or former members of Congress. (E) Its members are required to approve presidential policy decisions.

(C) It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people.

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.

(A) The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.

Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic? (A) The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume. (B) The president can negotiate a treaty that would allow for increased imports of oil. (C) The House Committee on Energy and Commerce can hold a hearing on the cost of fuel. (D) The Supreme Court can overturn laws that regulate fuel economy.

(D) The supremacy clause, which gives the federal government supremacy over states

Which of the following features of the United States Constitution would most concern the author of Brutus 1? (A) The Bill of Rights, which protects individual liberties and states' rights (B) The reservation of any power not given to the federal government to the states (C) The two-year term for members of the House of Representatives (D) The supremacy clause, which gives the federal government supremacy over states

(B) government is based on the consent of the governed.

Which of the following ideals of democracy is reflected in the procedure for apportionment in the House of Representatives? (A) The federal government represents states equally. (B) Government is based on the consent of the governed. (C) Leaders in Congress are among the most well-informed in society. (D) Political power is distributed between the national government and state governments.

(B) The Federalist 10 Factions are most dangerous at the local level. Brutus 1 (B) Small republics are best for stable governments.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the arguments made in The Federalist 10 and Brutus 1? (A) The Federalist 10 Factions are inevitable with popular sovereignty. (A) Brutus 1 A strong national government is needed. The Federalist 10 (B) Factions are most dangerous at the local level. Brutus 1 (B) Small republics are best for stable governments. The Federalist 10 (C) Power should be concentrated in the executive branch to address factions. Brutus 1 (C) National government is too far from the people. The Federalist 10 (D) The effects of factions cannot be controlled. Brutus 1 (D) Popular sovereignty leads to anarchy.

(C)

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?

(D) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ? (A) The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional. (B) Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority. (C) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland's tax. (D) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

(D) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) ? (A) The federal government exceeded its authority in establishing a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional. (B) Maryland was within its authority to tax the federal government, but the Bank of the United States exceeded federal authority. (C) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, but it had to pay Maryland's tax. (D) The federal government had the authority to establish a national bank, and Maryland's tax was unconstitutional.

(C) Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector

Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers? (A) Congress changing the tax code so that individuals making more than $350,000 per year have to pay higher taxes (B) Congress requesting that the Supreme Court review the constitutionality of a state gun-control law (C) Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector (D) Congress ratifying a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada

(C) Confirming ambassadors

Which of the following is an example of a power exclusively granted to the Senate in Article II of the Constitution? (A) Declaring war (B) Overriding a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority veto (C) Confirming ambassadors (D) Creating spending bills

(B) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances? (A) An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. (B) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. (C) A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators. A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the (D) House.

(B) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances? (A) An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. (B) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. (C) A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators. (D) A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.

(D) The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.

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.

(C) the senate, rejects, a president nomination for secretary of state.

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.

(A) A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism.

Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10? (A) A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism. (B) Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics. (C) The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities. (D) Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny. (E) The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.

(C) The branches have different constituencies with different interests.

Which of the following is the primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government? (A) Each branch sets and approves the other's budget. (B) The branches are staffed with many of the same people. (C) The branches have different constituencies with different interests. (D) The branches are responsible for the selection of Cabinet-level officials. (E) Each branch has the constitutional power to levy taxes.

(E) They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.

Which of the following is true of independent regulatory agencies? (A) They tend to have larger budgets than cabinet departments. (B) They are directly supervised by cabinet departments. (C) They provide a product or service directly to the public. (D) They are insulated from contact with interest groups. (E) They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.

(B) The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy? (A) A lobbyist representing the National Rifle Association refusing to meet with employees from the Department of Homeland Security (B) The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee (C) The White House chief of staff being formally censured by the president for publicly speaking out against the president's policy goals (D) A federal judge being impeached for making legal decisions based on bribes

(A) Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority? (A) Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards (B) The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee (C) The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce (C) The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental (D) Protection Agency.

(B) The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic? (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 bv 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.

(D) President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes

Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting? (A) President Clinton invoking executive privilege in resisting a subpoena by the United States Senate during the Whitewater investigation (B) President Bush issuing a signing statement in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that considerably weakened its provisions (C) President Obama issuing an executive order delaying the deportation of at least five million undocumented immierants (D) President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes