AP GOV final exam study guide 1st semester

The congress shall have the 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 departments or officer thereof. The practical effect of this clause has been (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 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

(B) allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

entitlement

(n) having the right to certain privileges; believing, sometimes without cause, that one deserves or has a right to certain privileges

list 5 powers given to the president

1. Commander in Chief (commands the military force) 2. Head of Executive Branch (in charge of the Cabinet) 3. Appoints ambassadors, justices, and other government officials with Senate approval (majority) 4. Makes treaties with consent of Congress (2/3 vote) 5. Speaks with Congress and recommends laws (States of Union Address)

what are the disadvantages of federalism

1. creates inequality because states differ in the resources they have for services 2. allows for local interests to delay or stop support for a policy 3. creates confusion because there are so many different levels of government citizens do not know who to contact of who is doing what

what are advantages to federalism

1. promotes diverse polices and allows for experimentation 2. provides multiple power centers making it difficult for any one faction to dominate 3. increases ability for participation in government

what are the 5 major steps in the policy making process

1. recognize the problem (agenda setting) 2. formulate the policy 3. adopting the policy 4. implementing the policy 5. evaluate the policy

explain the difference between a political party and an ideology and describe what it means to be a liberal and a conservative

A political party is a group that seeks to elect candidates to public office. an ideology is a comprehensive and mutually consistent set of ideas used to take a postilion on public issues and develop a political viewpoint on how the government should act. A party is a group that hopes to control government and make policy to benefit them. An ideology is a set or ideas or beliefs that are influenced by factors in your life. a liberal is someone who supports political and social reform and more regulation of the economy. a conservative is someone who supports the expansion of american military power, more control of social behavior, and less interference in the economy.

since 1972, voters in presidential elections have A) Become more focused on individual candidates B) increasingly based their votes on televised candidate debate C) become more influence by party platforms D) become more likely to focus on local rather than National conditions E) become more likely to rely on print media for information

A) Become more focused on individual candidates

the use of direct primaries instead of the convention system in selecting presidential candidates results in which of the following I. a weakening of party control over nominations II. a reduction in the costs of election campaigns III. an increase in the number of people involved in the choice of candidates IV. an increase in voter turnout in midterm elections A) I and III only B) II and IV only C) III and IV only D) I, II, and III only E) I, II, III, and IV

A) I and III only

Political Parties seek to win elections to control government. A. Identify 2 activities that political parties do to win elections. B. Describe one way 3rd parties can affect elections. C. Explain how single-member districts make it difficult for 3rd parties to win elections.

A) Political parties raise and give money to candidates who fit their party image and display electable traits. Parties also host rallies and party conventions to help their candidate. B) Third parties can affect elections by playing a spoiling role, this means they take votes away from one candidate causing the other to win. (Ralph Nader (Green Party) in the 2000 election taking votes from Al Gore (Democrat) or in the 1912 election Teddy Roosevelt (Bull Moose) took votes away from Taft (Republican) giving them to Wilson (Democrat)) Thirds parties can also bring issues not discussed by the two major parties (Ross Perot (Reform) made the two parties address trade polices, tax reform, changes in social security, etc.) C) Single member districts make it difficult for 3rd parties to win elections because 3rd parties do not have enough recognition or funding to win winner take all elections. They would have to over come both major parties to win. Single member districts are districts with only one Representative, these districts are won by whoever wins the most votes by any margin.

Allowing corporate influence to flow unfettered into federal campaigns will only undermine the confidence the American people have in their government, and serve only to stack the deck further in favor of special interests at the expense of hardworking Americans. —Senator Michael Bennet (D.-Colorado)83 A critic of the quote would make which of the following arguments? A) The First Amendment protects the right of individuals to participate in the political process. B) Corporations and labor unions should not be considered as persons protected under the Bill of Rights. C) Advertising is expensive, and candidates need large donations in order to conduct their campaigns. D) The First Amendment protects all political speech, including campaign spending by groups.

A) The First Amendment protects all political speech, including campaign spending by groups.

A critic of the cartoon would make which of the following political arguments? A) Unlike renting a movie or going to a bar, voting is an important political right that should not be restricted through ID laws. B) Voter ID laws are an infringement on the basic right of privacy. C) If a form of identification is acceptable to travel or go to a bar, it should be acceptable for voting. D) Voter identification laws are a reasonable way to prevent fraud.

A) Unlike renting a movie or going to a bar, voting is an important political right that should not be restricted through ID laws.

cooperative federalism can best be described by which of the following statements A) different levels of government are involved in common policy areas B) government must have cooperation for people in order to make a legislative decisions C) local levels of government can make decisions on issues more efficiently than State and National governments can D) the federal government must make regulations that can be applied across every state in the same way E) businesses and government can work together to more effectively accomplish their goals

A) different levels of government are involved in common policy areas

the main intent of 'Motor voter" is to A) increase voter registration B) increase voter turnout by providing transportation to polls for people without cars C) increase the rate at which incumbents are re-elected to office D) prevent states from using literacy requirements for voting E) all sixteen year old to vote of they have a valid driver's license

A) increase voter registration

which of the following is the best example of a categorical grant A) money given to states for special education programs B) money given to individuals in the form of tax rebates C) money given to states unconditionally D) money given to states to spend at their discretion on transportation E) money given directly to private business for economic development

A) money given to states for special education programs

The bar charts refer to which of the following trends? A) An increase in party-line voting B) An increase in party polarization C) A decrease in trust and confidence in government D) A decrease in bipartisanship

An increase in party polarization

Which of the following describes the person most likely to vote, based on the demographic characteristics? A) A twenty-five-year-old white male, with a high school diploma B) A sixty-five-year-old Hispanic female, with a PhD C) A thirty-five-year-old African American male, with a bachelor's degree D) An eighteen-year-old white female, entering college

B) A sixty-five-year-old Hispanic female, with a PhD

since the early 1980s, the Republican party platform has been increasingly influenced by A) environmental activists B) Evangelical Christians C) civil libertarian D) labor unions E) active military officers

B) Evangelical Christians

Which of the following best describes the viewpoint in the cartoon? A) Spending by Super PACs has too much influence on Supreme Court decisions. B) Super PAC spending is a threat to representative democracy. C) Super PACs have become so big that they will collapse under their own weight. D) Citizens have as much power as Super PACs because they have the ability to choose policymakers.

B) Super PAC spending is a threat to representative democracy.

Which of the following best describes a trend shown in the graph? A) Turnout in all federal elections is usually below 50 percent. B) Turnout is lower in midterm congressional elections than in presidential elections. C) Turnout in presidential elections decreased every year from 1992 to 2008. D) Turnout in midterm congressional elections is more unpredictable than turnout in presidential elections.

B) Turnout is lower in midterm congressional elections than in presidential elections.

the legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the farmers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would A) be less powerful than the executive B) be cautious and deliberate C) involve as many citizens as possible D) ensure that all groups be equally represented E) allow majorities virtually unlimited control over policy

B) be cautious and deliberate

The framers of the United States Constitution left decisions on voting eligibility to the A) Civil rights agencies B) individual states C) United States Supreme Court D) House of Representatives E) Senate

B) individual states

which of the following is true of the electoral college system? A)it encourages the emergence of third parties B) it encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns and competitive populous states C) it ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the president D) it requires that a candidate when a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the college E) it tends to make presidential election appear closer than they really are

B) it encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns and competitive populous states

the framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is A) educating citizens B) protecting individual property rights C) protecting new immigrants from persecution D) expanding the borders of the nation E) ensuring that anyone accused of a crime has the right to legal representation

B) protecting individual property rights

Allowing corporate influence to flow unfettered into federal campaigns will only undermine the confidence the American people have in their government, and serve only to stack the deck further in favor of special interests at the expense of hardworking Americans. —Senator Michael Bennet (D.-Colorado)83 The quote refers to which of the following? A) The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 B) Buckley v. Valeo (1976) C) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) D) The Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971

C) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Which of the following is the most accurate measure of voter turnout? A) The percentage of those registered who vote B) The percentage of the total population that votes C) The percentage of the voting-age population that votes D) The percentage of those living in a country who vote

C) The percentage of the voting-age population that votes

which of the following is the most likely consequence of divided government A) reorganization of the federal bureaucracy B) conflicts between states C) delays in confirmation of federal court nominees D) conflicts between National and states E) elimination of the seniority rule in Congress

C) delays in confirmation of federal court nominees

explanations for low voter turnout include all of the following EXCEPT A) registration requirements B) weak party affiliation C) laws protecting voting rights for minorities D) weekday elections E) frequency of Elections at the state and local level

C) laws protecting voting rights for minorities

the Graph above supports which of the following statements about partisanship? A) the higher people's incomes, the less likely they are to be republicans B) at all income levels, people are divided about equally between the Democratic and republican parties C) only in the highest income group people more likely to be Republican than democrats D) as income levels increases, people are less likely to identify with either political party E) income level accurately reflects presidential election voting patterns over the past twenty years

C) only in the highest income group people more likely to be Republicans than democrats

which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary A) voters May pay a poll tax to vote in a closed primary but not in an Open Primary B) voters are allowed to split their ticket in a closed primary but not in an Open Primary C) only voters who registered as members of a political party may vote in that parties closed primary about independence and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries D) open primaries require a runoff system while closed primaries do not E) candidates must seek the approval of the party organization to run in a closed primary but anyone may be a candidate in an Open Primary

C) only voters who registered as members of a political party may vote in that parties closed primary about independence and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries

which of the following is the leading predictor of how an individual will vote in a congressional election A) newspaper endorsements B) gender C) partisanship D) presidential endorsement E) occupation

C) partisanship

over the past 20 years, reform of the presidential nomination process have had which of the following effects? A) the nomination process in both parties has become less democratic and open B) the number of black delegates at Republican national conventions has grown substantially C) the number of candidates willing and able to seek the nomination has decreased dramatically D) the number of female delegates and minority group delegates at democratic national conventions has grown substantially

C) the number of candidates willing and able to seek the nomination has decreased dramatically

the debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues? A) the right of the people to Rebel B) the existence of slavery C) the scope of power of the central government D) the need to establish a standard currency E) the representation of small and large states

C) the scope of power of the central government

one reason for the persistence of a two party system in the united states is A) the lack of diverse issues in the United States politics B) the separation of powers C) the single member district electoral system D) the lack of a strong labor movement E) low voter turnout in most elections

C) the single member district electoral system

Which of the following is an argument that the Electoral College favors large states? A) Candidates focus on the swing states and battleground states that have the most votes in the Electoral College. B) Candidates focus on all large states because they have the most votes in the Electoral College. C) It is easier to win a majority of votes in large states than in small states because people most people in large states live in cities. D) Large states are overrepresented in comparison with their populations because large states have a lot of members in the House of Representatives.

Candidates focus on the swing states and battleground states that have the most votes in the Electoral College.

McCulloch v. Maryland (year, what the case was about 1-2 sentences, how the court ruled 1-2 sentences. the part of the Constitution used to back the case (be specific)

Chief Justice John Marshall, 1819, This case is about whether Congress can create a national bank and if so can Maryland tax the national bank. The court ruled unanimously in favor of McCulloch (the federal gov), they ruled the federal government could create a national bank and Maryland could not tax it. the Supremacy clause and the necessary and proper clause (elastic clause article 1, section 8)

us v Lopez Major issues (year, what the case was about 1-2 sentences, how the court ruled 1-2 sentences. the part of the Constitution used to back the case (be specific))

Chief Justice William Rehnquist, 1995, Does congress how the power to pass the Gun Free School Zones Act. The court in favor of Lopez. They ruled 5-4 and the Congress had exceeded their authority under the commerce clause. the commerce clause was used.

of the following, which group voted most heavily Democratic in the presidential elections between 1964 and 1992 A) Mexican American B) Chinese Americans C) Jewish Americans D) Black Americans E) Roman Catholic Americans

D) Black Americans

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the table above? A) Latinos are fairly homogeneous in their party identification B) Latinos have become substantially more supportive of the Democratic party than they were in the 1950's C) the majority of Latinos probably voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 D) Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the republican party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent E) Latinos of Mexican descent are less likely to consider themselves independent than are Latinos of Cuban or Puerto Rican descent

D) Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the republican party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent

Which of the following best describes the viewpoint in the cartoon? A) It is unreasonable to ask voters to present identification. B) Voting is similar to renting a movie or going to a bar and should require an ID. C) Voter ID laws make it too difficult for people to exercise their right to vote. D) Voter ID laws are an attempt to prevent fraud at the polls.

D) Voter ID laws are an attempt to prevent fraud at the polls.

the 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 desirable but inevitable in a free nation E) are necessary to control the masses in a free nation

D) are desirable but inevitable in a free nation

all of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States EXCEPT A) inequality in the government services across sub national entities B) opportunities for experimentation in government programs C) multiple points of access for interest group D) decentralization of political conflict E) a strict division pf power among levels of government

D) decentralization of political conflict

giving state governments greater discretion in deciding how to achieve the specific goals of welfare is an example of A) an unfunded mandate B) implied powers C) dual federalism D) devolution E) affirmative action

D) devolution

The congress shall have the 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 departments or officer thereof. Interpretations of this clause have been central to attempts to define the nature of which of the following aspects of the united states political system? A) Republicanism B) pluralism C) due process of law D) federalism E) judicial review

D) federalism

which of the following best describes the concept of political efficacy A) it is the belief that the average citizen can make little or no difference in an election B) it is the belief that an intelligent voting decision cannot be made without information C) it is the belief that the media must provide unbiased information for citizens to be able to make well-informed choices D) it is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically E) it is the belief that politicians Mesquite the electorate well informed if they are to govern efficiently

D) it is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically

which of the following is true about divided power control of the presidency and Congress? A) it is natural occurrence due to the constitutional system of check and balance B) It rarely occurs the United States elections, because of straight-ticket voting C) it promotes quick action by the president and Congress on such issues as the federal budget D) it reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades E) it results from the reappointment of House Seats after the decennial census

D) it reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades

The table above supports which of the following statements about partisanship and the 1984 presidential election? A) democrats were more likely to vote their party identification than were Republicans B) the number of strong Democrats was less than the number of strong Republicans C) independent democrats and independent republicans were tow groups most likely to vote for candidates of the other party D) partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted E) independents were less likely to vote than were party identifiers

D) partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted

The last two legislative sessions have seen a small push to eliminate the straight-ticket option. . . . Especially in Texas—as independent-minded as we are, with the spirit of independence we have in Texas—we ought to be voting for individuals.50 —Texas state senator Jeff Wentworth Which of the following is a potential outcome if the proposal referred to above becomes law? A) More third-party candidates will be elected. B) Divided government may occur more frequently. C) The Republican Party in Texas will win more legislative seats. D) Voter turnout will decrease.

Divided government may occur more frequently.

The cartoon expresses which of the following viewpoints? A) Republican Party leaders were surprised by Donald Trump's unconventional campaign. B) Donald Trump had difficulty controlling Republican Party leadership during his campaign. C) Donald Trump ran an unconventional and unpredictable campaign. D) Voters were drawn to Donald Trump's message as a political newcomer.

Donald Trump ran an unconventional and unpredictable campaign.

the Americans with Disabilities Act which provides protections for the disabled, is an example A) state Supremacy B) horizontal federalism C) affirmative action D) dual federalism E) a federal mandate

E) a federal mandate

which of the following is not a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns? A) by requirements for disclosure of a campaign donations B) by establishing a federal agencies to regulate campaign finance activities C) by limits on the distribution of soft money D) by limits on individual donations to campaigns E) by prohibitions on- advertising

E) by prohibitions on- advertising

which of the following is a fundamental element of the united states constitution? A)recognition of the centrality of political parties in government B) direct election of members of the executive branch C) an executive branch that is more powerful than the legislative D)emphasis on a unitary system of government E) division of government Authority across political institutions

E) division of government Authority across political institutions

unlike articles of confederation the Constitution does which of the following A) restricts the ability of congress to tax B) restricts the ability of congress to establish an army or navy C) establishes a unitary from of government D) emphasizes state sovereignty over national sovereignty E) emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism

E) emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism

which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state government? A) checks and balances B) the Bill of Rights C) separation of powers D) Representation E) federalism

E) federalism

compared to the general population, delegates to presidential nomination conventions are A) less interested in politics B) less educated C) financially worse off D) more likely to register as independent E) more ideological

E) more ideological

the difference shown in the table demonstrates which of the following A) political efficacy B) women's greater political participation C) men;s greater political participation D) age discrimination E) the gender gap

E) the gender gap

How is a president chosen when none of the candidates receives a majority of the electoral college vote? A) there is a national runoff election between the two candidates with the greatest number of electoral votes B) the United States Supreme Court directly elects the president C) the election is ruled null and void in Congress appoints new president D) the Senate chooses a new president by a majority vote of its entire membership E) the house chooses a new president by majority vote of it state delegations

E) the house chooses a new president by majority vote of it state delegations

which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true? A)according to the Constitution only two major political parties may exist at any time B) the Constitution requires political parties to be restricted by both federal and state law C) the Constitution indicates that political party leaders at the national level be elected by political party leaders at the state level D) the Constitution specifies that political party leaders must be native-born the United States citizens E) the issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution

E) the issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution

the most common form of political activity undertaken by United States citizens is A) lobbying to influence decisions by public officials B) campaigning for candidates for office C) contributing money to a political party D) voting in local elections E) voting in presidential elections

E) voting in presidential elections

The last two legislative sessions have seen a small push to eliminate the straight-ticket option. . . . Especially in Texas—as independent-minded as we are, with the spirit of independence we have in Texas—we ought to be voting for individuals.50 —Texas state senator Jeff Wentworth Which of the following would be most likely to support the proposal discussed in the quote? A) Party-line voters B) Third party candidates C) Leaders of the two major parties D) Incumbent candidates

Leaders of the two major parties

According to the Pew Research Center, more than 28.5 percent of all eligible voters cast ballots in the 2016 presidential primaries, compared to 30.4 percent turnout in the 2008 primaries.52 Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data? A) Voters in primaries and caucuses are more radical than voters in the general election. B) Most eligible voters do not participate in presidential primaries. C) Voter turnout in primaries increased substantially from 2008 to 2016. D) Turnout in Democratic primaries was higher in 2008, while turnout in Republican primaries was higher in 2016.

Most eligible voters do not participate in presidential primaries.

Suppose the Green Party of the United States won 5 percent of the votes throughout the country in congressional races. How many seats in Congress would the Green Party likely win? A) Five seats in the Senate, and no seats in the House of Representatives B) Five percent of the seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate C) Twenty-two seats in the House of Representatives and none in the Senate D) No seats in either house of Congress

No seats in either house of Congress

compare the terms elite democracy, participatory democracy, and pluralist democracy.

Participatory- people join a variety of groups and have interaction and (participate) with the government Pluralist-there are so many different groups. people have the option of joining them and no one group can take control of the government because of there are so many different groups and offices to control. elitist- a small group with the most of the economic power (money) control the government

Which of the following is an argument that the Electoral College favors small states? A) Small states have at least three votes in the Electoral College, and this gives them influence disproportionate to their populations. B) Small states are often the deciding factor in presidential elections, and candidates focus on them more than on large states. C) Large states, like California and Texas, are easy to predict, so they have little impact on the outcome of presidential elections. D) Voter turnout is very high in small states, making them more important than large states.

Small states have at least three votes in the Electoral College, and this gives them influence disproportionate to their populations.

[A]lthough Sanders voters are quite liberal, a lot of them aren't Democrats, or at least don't like to identify themselves as Democrats. Clinton crushed Sanders among self-identified Democrats, winning them by 27 percentage points, based on exit polls. But Sanders won independents who voted in the Democratic primary by 31 percentage points.51 Which of the following explains why the percentage of delegates awarded to Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries exceeded the percentage of primary voters who supported her? A) There was a backlash against superdelegates who supported Sanders. B) Superdelegates usually support the candidate favored by the party elite. C) Voter turnout was higher among self-identified Democrats than among independents. D) Independent voters are more likely to vote in primaries than in the general election

Superdelegates usually support the candidate favored by the party elite.

The graphic addresses which of the following problems of voting for a third party? A) Third parties rarely win elections. B) Third-party candidates are not well known to the American public. C) Voting for a third party benefits the opposing party. D) Voting for a third party is perceived as throwing away a vote.

Third-party candidates are not well known to the American public.

bipartisn

agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other's policies.

incumbent

an official who is currently in office

enumerated powers

authority specifically granted to a branch of the government in the Constitution

constituent

being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect.

[A]lthough Sanders voters are quite liberal, a lot of them aren't Democrats, or at least don't like to identify themselves as Democrats. Clinton crushed Sanders among self-identified Democrats, winning them by 27 percentage points, based on exit polls. But Sanders won independents who voted in the Democratic primary by 31 percentage points.51 —Nate Silver Which of the following would improve Hillary Clinton's chances of winning the nomination? A) Closed primaries B) Open primaries C) Caucasus D) Split-ticket voting

closed primaries

divided government

control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties.

fiscal policy

government use of taxes and spending to attempt to lower unemployment, support economic growth, and stabilize the economy.

horse race journalism

media tracing candidates and showing who is up in the polls on a given day

List 5 powers given to Congress.

power to tax, power to borrow money, coin money, control interstate commerce, establish lower courts, declare war, create army and navy

Devolution

returning more authority to state or local governments

what is and how big is a sampling error

slightly different results, usually a + or - 3

political socialization

the experiences and factors that shape an individual's political values, attitudes, and behaviors.

federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states

Be able to explain how the Electoral College works - how many votes per state, how is that determined, total votes, number needed to win, who decides if no candidate wins Electoral vote, how could a candidate win the popular vote and not EC, what is meant by "winner-take-all"

they are the number of HOR seats per state plus the number of Senators (Alaska has 3 electoral votes (1 HOR and 2 senate)). the number of representatives is determined by the states populations. the total number of votes is 538. the number needed to win is 270. the HOR decides if no candidate wins the electoral college, each states's delegation's get to cast one vote to decide the president. A candidate could win the popular vote and not the electoral college by not winning enough or the correct states to receive the 270 electoral votes. Winner take all is an election type where a candidate wins by at least one vote more than the other candidate they win the whole election.