AP GOV SEMESTER 2 MULTIPLE CHOICE

Which of the following causes would most likely be taken up by a single-issue group A) Abortion B) Corporate taxation C) International trade D) Workers' compensation E) Campaign finance reform

A) Abortion

Which of the following statements are true about the cases on the Supreme Court's docket? I. The Supreme Court tries to hear every case that is appealed to it II. Cases pertaining to civil liberties are likely to be placed on the docket III. The U.S. solicitor general decides which cases the Supreme Court will hear IV. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving civil disputes among residents of a particular state A) II only B) IV only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) III and IV only

A) II only

All the following are steps in the budgetary process EXCEPT A) The congressional budget office works closely with the president to finalize the budget that he will propose to congress B) The house ways and means committee and the senate finance committee work together to write the tax codes C) The OMB reviews and assesses the budget proposals submitted by each agency D) Congress passes a budget resolution to set a cap on expenditures for the fiscal year E) The appropriations committee decides how to divide federal resources among the departments and agencies

A) The congressional budget office works closely with the president to finalize the budget that he will propose to congress

What is the main function of the federal bureaucracy? A) To develop and enforce procedures for implementing policy B) To make policy recommendations C) To create new policies D) To review policies E) To research policy initiatives

A) To develop and enforce procedures for implementing policy

When an international event that is interpreted as an imminent threat to the US takes place, the immediate effect in the president's approval rating is usually A) a sharp increase B) a sharp decline C) a slight increase D) a slight decline E) no change

A) a sharp increase

Which of the following describes a presidency that has become too powerful? A) an imperial presidency B) a presidency that refuses to react to the threat of foreign policy problems C) a presidency facing a recession D) a president that refuses to compromise with congress E) a president who vetoes the majority of legislation sent to him

A) an imperial presidency

Citizens concerned about a proposal to redistribute federal funding to public schools would form which of the following groups? A) public interest group B) PAC C) consumer interest group D) single-issue group E) class action group

A) public interest group

Interest groups become in the judicial process in all of the following ways EXCEPT by A) running advertisements endorsing a judicial nominee B) lobbying the Judiciary Committee about a judicial nominee C) filing amicus curiae briefs D) having their lawyers represent a plaintiff E) filing a class action suit

A) running advertisements endorsing a judicial nominee

Membership in the House is determined by which of the following methods? A) states are divided into congressional districts of equal population, with one representative per district B) Electors from each state cast their vote based on the popular vote C) Political parties elect their representatives from each state D) The public elects two representatives from each state E) Seats are divided among regions of the United States, each with the same number of representatives

A) states are divided into congressional districts of equal population, with one representative per district

Which of the following interest groups has become the most influential in recent years? A) NRA B) AARP C) AFL-CIO D) AFSCME E) HIAA

B) AARP

The federal government borrows money from citizens through A) Income taxes B) Bonds C) Social Security D) Authorization bills E) Entitlement programs

B) Bonds

Which of the following statements accurately describe legislative committees? I. Committees are in session only when preparing bills to be introduced onto the floor II. Committee recommendations largely influence members' votes on a piece of legislation III. Junior members of Congress have few opportunities to sit on committees IV. The speaker of the House has a great deal of influence in appointing members to committee chairmanships V. Conference committees are composed of senatrs whose task is to amend bills that are in danger of being killed in Congress. A) I and III only B) II and IV only C) III and V only D) I, II, and IV only E) I, III and V only

B) II and IV only

Most federal bureaucrats are hired in which of the following ways? A) They are awarded positions by the political party in power B) They taken examination to prove their qualifications C) they are appointed to a position by the president D) they work in the legislative branch and then move to the bureaucracy E) they pay a fee to apply for a position

B) They taken examination to prove their qualifications

What is the final step in the Supreme Court's decision-making process? A) Taking a vote B) Writing the opinion C) Hearing oral arguments D) Reading briefs E) Setting the agenda

B) Writing the opinion

All of the following statements accurately describe the federal court system EXCEPT A) very few federal cases actually go to trial B) federal courts do not handle cases involving state laws C) all federal judges must be nominated by the president and confirmed by Congress D) lower courts must adhere to the precedents set by higher courts E) some federal courts have original jurisdiction, whereas others have appellate jurisdiction

B) federal courts do not handle cases involving state laws

A senator can effectively prevent the Senate from voting by A) conducting oversight B) filibustering C) introducing another bill D) holding hearings E) no known process, because the rules are very structured

B) filibustering

After Congress passes an appropriations bill, the president may do all of the following EXCEPT A) sign it into law B) send it directly to the supreme court for judicial review C) veto it, sending it back to congress with the reasons for rejecting it D) let it become law after ten working days by not doing anything to it E) not sign it after congress adjourns, exercising a pocket veto

B) send it directly to the supreme court for judicial review

Smaller interest groups often meet with more success because A) they have highly developed methods of fundraising B) their members are more active C) they make large campaign contributions D) they have more resources with which to mobilize the public E) they pursue only less politicized issues

B) their members are more active

Which of the following is an uncontrollable expenditure? A) National security B) Public education C) Entitlement programs D) Highway systems E) Energy research

C) Entitlement programs

Interest groups differ from political parties in which of the following ways? A) Interest groups link the public to the political process B) Interest groups pursue general policy goals in the political arena C) Interest groups try to shape specific policy goals primarily through legislation D) Interest groups are not allowed to play any part in political campaigns E) Interest groups unite politicians with the same political ideology

C) Interest groups try to shape specific policy goals primarily through legislation

Which of the following accurately describes the size of the federal bureaucracy A) The U.S. Postal Service is the largest department of the bureaucracy B) The federal bureaucracy grew at a rapid rate due to the expansion of national defense during the cold war C) The federal bureaucracy experienced no significant change in size throughout the second half of the 20th century D) the federal bureaucracy expands at the same rate tha the American population grows so that the two remain proportional E) Washington D.C., houses the largest group of federal bureaucrats

C) The federal bureaucracy experienced no significant change in size throughout the second half of the 20th century

Congress influences the ideology of the Supreme Court by... A) passing laws to limit judicial review and prohibit judicial activism B) issuing recommendations through the senate judiciary committee C) approving or rejecting the president's nomination of justices D) choosing which cases the Supreme Court will hear E) nominating justices for the president's approval

C) approving or rejecting the president's nomination of justices

Lawmakers often rely on lobbyists for all of the following reasons EXCEPT A) to come up with new policy ideas that they can introduce to Congress B) for advice on strategies to advance or prevent a piece of legislation C) for money that would allow them to travel to their constituencies D) to encourage group members to vote for them during the election E) for expertise on a certain issue

C) for money that would allow them to travel to their constituencies

The decision of a federal court is most likely determined by... A) the argument put forth by the prosecution B) the argument put forth by the defense C) precedents set by similar cases D) the political ideology of the judge E) briefs submitted by the federal government

C) precedents set by similar cases

Senators are often unwilling to vote for cloture on a debate because... A) their constituents would disaprove B) the bill under discussion would most likely be killed C) they want support when they filibuster D) they would be less likely to be appointed to an influential committee seat E) the president would probably veto the bill

C) they want support when they filibuster

The warren court had the greatest impact on which area of policy? A) Abortion B) Labor C) Welfare D) Civil rights E )Environment

D) Civil rights

Policy implementation is sometimes a matter of trial and error and may not succeed for any of the following reasons EXCEPT A) Administrators may make poor judgments B) Bureaus often are short staffed or lack resources C) Miscommunication among departments that share responsibility for a program D) Failure to establish standard operating procedures E) Legislation may not clearly convey congress's policy goals

D) Failure to establish standard operating procedures

Which of the following statements accurately describe methods interest groups employ to influence policymaking? I. class action lawsuit allow interest groups to sue in the name of a larger section of the public II. Interest groups meet with judges about cases that affect their policy area III. Interest groups make almost all of their PAC contributions to incumbents rather than challengers IV. Lobbyists use their policy expertise to make themselves indispensable to politicians V. interest groups pay committee members to review proposed legislation from a legislative point of view A) III only B) I and IV only C) II and V only D) I, III, and IV only E) II IV and V only

D) I, III, and IV only

The government will erase the national debt as soon as it succeeds in balancing the fisical budget I. The rising cost of public education has contributed significantly to the federal debt. II. The debt allows the government to displace the cost of current policies onto the shoulders of future generation. III. President Reagan's major tax cuts in the 1980's caused the national debt to grow to an unprecedented sized IV. The government will erase the national debt as soon as it succeeds in balancing the fisical budget A) II only B) IV only C) I and II only D) II and III only E) I, III, and IV only

D) II and III only

Which of the following institutions is responsible for compiling the president's budget proposal? A) Department of Treasury B) Congressional Budget Office C) Senate Appropriations Committee D) Office of Management and Budget E) Council of Economic Advisors

D) Office of Management and Budget

Courts of appeal focus their attention on which aspect of a case? A) The facts presented by both parties in the original case B) The amicus curiae briefs registered with the court C) The backgrounds of the jury members in the original case D) The procedures and interpretation of the law in the original case E) The testimonies of both sides given before the Supreme Court

D) The procedures and interpretation of the law in the original case

Iron triangles are composed of... A) a cabinet department, a legislative committee, and a federal judge B) a corporate board, an interest group, and the speaker of the House C) a PAC, an interest group, and a congressional candidate D) an interest group, a legislative committee and a federal agency E) a local civic group, a state legislator, and a federal department

D) an interest group, a legislative committee and a federal agency

The task of joint committees in Congress is to... A) register bills to be introduced to the floor and schedule debate B) handle proposed legislation that deals with more than one area of policy C) merge each house's version of a bill into a single bill D) combine members of both the House and the Senate to consider overlapping policy areas E) educate the public about the activities of Congress

D) combine members of both the House and the Senate to consider overlapping policy areas

Policy implementation is sometimes a matter of trial and error and may not succeed for any of the following reasons EXCEPT A) administrators may make poor judgments B) bureaus often are short staffed or lack resources C) miscommunication among departments that share responsibility for a program D) failure to establish standard operating procedures E) legislation may not clearly convey Congress's policy goals

D) failure to establish standard operating procedures

On a major piece of health care legislation, members of Congress are most likely to vote... A) along party lines B) according to their personal ideology C) in a presidential coalition D) in keeping with the needs of their constituency E) according to the pressures of lobbyists

D) in keeping with the needs of their constituency

All of the following help to explain the president's difficulty in controlling the media EXCEPT A) there are too many media outlets B) the media is protected by the first amendment C) the public opposes censorship of the media D) the president's press secretary encourages media scrutiny E) the media acts as a linkage group

D) the president's press secretary encourages media scrutiny

Examples of people on the white house staff include all of the following EXCEPT A) the chief of staff B) the white house cook C) the national security advisor D) the vice president E) the press secretary

D) the vice president

A plaintiff cannot bring suit unless he or she has fulfilled which of the following requirements? A) Paid bail B) Filed an amicus curiae brief C) Appealed the case D) Hired a public defender E) Established standing to sue

E) Established standing to sue

After a House committee reviews a bill and writes its report, the bill goes to the A) Senate B) appropriate subcommittee C) president D) floor for debate E) House Rules Committee

E) House Rules Committee

When the president needs support, which of the following does he look to? I. The federal bureaucracy II. The cabinent III. The president's party leadership in congress IV. public support A) I only B) II only C) II and III only D) III and IV only E) I ,II, III, and IV

E) I ,II, III, and IV

Which of the following represents reasons why presidents have trouble getting their legislative agenda passed? I. Other policymakers have their own agendas and interests II. Other policymakers have their own sources of power III. Congress is not beholden to the president but to other interests IV. The influence of special interest groups and lobbyists play a significant role A) I only B) II only C) I and III only D) II and IV only E) I, II, and III and IV

E) I, II, and III and IV

In which of the following ways does Congress conduct legislative oversight? I. Appoints select committees to investigate the actions of the bureaucracy II. Controls the spending of the federal agencies III. Holds hearings to question agency officials IV. Issues inspections of government offices V. Passes laws to limit the powers of the bureaucracy A) I and III only B) II and IV only C) II and V only D) I, II, and IV only E) I, III, and V only

E) I, III, and V only

Which of the following is the most frequent outcome of a Supreme Court case? A) It significantly alters current policies B) The justices vote unanimously C) It reverses the decision of the lower court D) It overrules the Court's own precedent E) It agrees with the decision of the lower court

E) It agrees with the decision of the lower court

Federal agencies perform their regulatory task of enforcing industry standards by A) Setting budgets for private industries B) Issuing executive orders to factories C) Hiring civil servants to head industry offices D) Requiring industries to report directly to the president E) Sending agency officials to inspect facilities

E) Sending agency officials to inspect facilities

The Constitution stated that the requirements for being president are all the following EXCEPT A) obtaining a majority of the electoral votes B) having resided in the US for at least 14 years C) being a natural-born citizen D) being at least 35 years old E) being a member of a political party

E) being a member of a political party

Incumbents have all of the following advantages over their challengers EXCEPT A) incumbents receive more campaign donations than challengers B) challengers' positions on most issues are not likely to be known by the public C) incumbents have well-established relationships with their constituencies D) incumbents have higher visibility than challengers E) challengers have a clean political record, and incumbents do not

E) challengers have a clean political record, and incumbents do not

Proponents of the pluralist theory argue that for the most part power is evenly distributed among interest groups because... A) the public participates equally in different types of interest groups B) all interest groups receive the same amount of federal funds C) each policy area is assigned a limited number of related interest groups D) interest groups each get the same attention from politicians E) competition prevents any one group from becoming more influential

E) competition prevents any one group from becoming more influential

Elite theorists believe that the power of interest groups A) is derived from their equal access to the government B) comes mostly from public support C) is evenly distributed among them D) reinforces a more democratic government E) is held by only a few of the groups

E) is held by only a few of the groups

Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposals submitted to Congress A) treasury department B) council of economic advisors C) federal trade commission D) department of commerce E) office of management and budget

E) office of management and budget

Using the bully pulpit refers to a president A) using the power and influence of his office to exert pressure B) calling upon members of his cabinet to influence legislation C) using his veto power to reject legislation D) signing a piece of legislation into law E) taking a trip to a foreign country to sign a treaty

E) taking a trip to a foreign country to sign a treaty