AP Gov Final Study Guide

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States?

1. Political Parties 2. Interest Groups 1a. Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. 2a. Interest groups seek to influence public policy.

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of rights protected and not protected by the First Amendment?

1. Protected by the First Amendment 2. Not Protected by the First Amendment 1a. The right to burn a flag 2a. Obscenity

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation? A. A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners B. A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads C. A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state D. A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases

A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

Which of the following policies would the states most likely prefer according to the political cartoon? A. Federal mandates B. Regulatory preemption C. Block grants D. Categorical grants

Block grants

A 2017 study in The American Economic Review found that watching Fox News during an election cycle increased a Democrat's chances of voting Republican by 28 percent. Conversely, by watching MSNBC Republicans were more inclined to vote Democrat by 8 percent. This scenario best illustrates which of the following about the media? A. Increased media choices tend to reinforce existing beliefs when citizens are offered ideological choices in programming. B. Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view. C. The consumption of news tends to increase voter participation for Republicans but is less effective in increasing participation for Democrats. D. Modern political parties have launched air campaigns to persuade voters by purchasing advertisements on 24-hour news networks.

Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view.

Which of the following pair of Supreme Court cases best illustrates how views of federalism have shifted in the United States?

Case 1: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Case 2: United States v. Lopez (1995)

Which of the following Supreme Court cases established that those accused of felonies who cannot afford legal counsel are entitled to legal counsel provided by the state? A. United States v. Lopez (1995) B. McDonald v. Chicago (2010) C. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) D. Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Which of the following describes the Twenty-Fourth Amendment? A. It desegregated places of public accommodation. B. It required elections for the United States Senate. C. It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender. D. It eliminated poll taxes.

It eliminated poll taxes.

Which of the following is true based on the information graphic? A. All citizens over 18 years old are eligible to vote regardless of where they live, but only about 56% actually do vote. B. Voters from 18 and 54 are far more likely to vote than voters over 54, but this can depend on which state they live in. C. Over 75% of the population is eligible to vote, but only about half the electorate actually voted in the 2016 presidential election. D. Voters ages 18-35 are less likely to vote because some states restrict voting only to citizens over the age of 21.

Over 75% of the population is eligible to vote, but only about half the electorate actually voted in the 2016 presidential election.

During his confirmation hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that Roe v. Wade (1973) "is the settled law of the land." This statement suggests that in a future case that challenges the constitutionality of legislation restricting privacy and reproductive rights, which of the following should be a key factor in the court's ruling? A. Briefs submitted by interested parties B. Contemporary societal norms C. The consensus of the other justices D. Reliance on legal precedent

Reliance on legal precedent

A voter's decision to support the incumbent president in an upcoming election is based on recent economic growth and record low unemployment. Which of the following models of voting behavior best characterizes this voter's decision? A. Prospective voting B. Party-line voting C. Retrospective voting D. Rational choice voting

Retrospective voting

Which of the following is a likely effect of the trend depicted in the bar graph on voting and elections? A. There will be fewer restrictions placed on voting. B. Voter turnout is likely to increase among non-Whites. C. The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends. D. There will be more retrospective voting among young voters.

The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends.

Which of the following is likely to occur as a result of new legislation regarding automobile safety? A. The Supreme Court will be asked to review the legislation annually. B. States will be empowered to begin automobile manufacturing. C. The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations. D. Mandatory spending will be required in all future federal budgeting for the program.

The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations.

Which of the following is most likely responsible for the increase in the number of southern African American state legislators between 1960 and 1992 as shown in the graph? A. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 B. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) C. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 D. The Nineteenth Amendment

The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A. The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B. The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C. The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. D. The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.

The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.

An important Senate race takes place in the state of Georgia. Rather than focus on the issue positions taken by the candidates, a 24-hour cable news station instead focuses primarily on poll results and campaign strategies using a "big board" to show the counties where each candidate has the most support. Which of the following is an effect of this type of new coverage? A. The electorate will be increasingly divided along partisan lines. B. The electorate will be more likely to turn out to vote on Election Day. C. The electorate will be more likely to have expanded knowledge of the electoral process. D. The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.

The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.

The clause of the United States Constitution that was used in the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) was A. The due process clause B. The necessary and proper clause C. The free exercise clause D. The equal protection clause

The equal protection clause

A public school district implemented a policy that allowed students to vote on whether they wanted a student-led prayer to be read at football games. This policy was later found to be unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. Which of the following clauses did the policy most likely violate? A. The interstate commerce clause B. The free exercise clause C. The supremacy clause D. The establishment clause

The establishment clause

Which of the following best explains a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto? A. The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto. B. Congress has severely curtailed the power of the president to withhold funds for bills that have been adopted. C. The Supreme Court is hesitant to acknowledge the president's power to veto legislation. D. The president wants to ensure executive agencies do not spend the money appropriated by Congress.

The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.

In which of the following situations would the Supreme Court be most likely to utilize the doctrine of selective incorporation? A. When an individual claims that a right protected by the Bill of Rights is infringed upon by a state B. When there is a conflict among the branches of the national government C. When a federal policy shifting oversight authority from a national agency to a state agency is challenged D. When a former employee files a wrongful termination claim against a company headquartered in another state

When an individual claims that a right protected by the Bill of Rights is infringed upon by a state

A media organization is interested in reporting election results in a congressional election prior to the final tally of votes which will not occur until later in the evening. The organization randomly selects several polling places across the district asking voters whom they voted for. The type of poll being used in this scenario is known as A. an exit poll B. a benchmark poll C. an opinion poll D. a tracking poll

an exit poll

Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president?

1. Formal Power 2. Informal Power 1a. Acting as commander in chief of the military 2a. Signing executive agreements with foreign nations

In a public opinion poll, a polling company used an online survey tool to randomly contact respondents who did not have telephone lines in addition to contacting people over the phone. Which of the following best explains this decision? A. The company saved money because it did not need to hire as many telephone interviewers to conduct the poll. B. The company was establishing a benchmark poll at the beginning of a campaign. C. The company was interested in asking different questions to different individuals. D. The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation? A. 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. D. A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.

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.

In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation. . . . . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings . . . on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 Which of the following actions did President Johnson suggest he would take to address problems in public schools? A. Driving down the cost of education by removing ineffective teachers B. Calling on experts to advise the federal government in finding ways to improve public education C. Increasing school accountability by requiring schools to show evidence of improvement D. Scaling back the role of the federal government and allowing state and local governments to take the lead in education policy

Calling on experts to advise the federal government in finding ways to improve public education

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information? A. Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary. B. Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption. C. The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press. D. There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

Which of the following constitutional amendments is most related to the issue shown on the map? A. Second Amendment B. Eighth Amendment C. Sixteenth Amendment D. Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Eighth Amendment

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . . It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 Which of the following scenarios illustrates Washington's concerns? A. An increasing number of voters are not turning out to vote in elections. B. Federalism can lead to different public policy outcomes between states. C. Ideological divisions within Congress can lead to partisan gridlock. D. Members of the press fail to report on the illegal activities of certain members of the bureaucracy.

Ideological divisions within Congress can lead to partisan gridlock.

Which of the following best explains how political parties are likely to respond to the data in the chart? A. Political parties are likely to continue to stand by their traditional positions and not bother to appeal to groups that have not previously been included in their base. B. Political parties will adapt their positions and find ways to appeal to voters from growing demographic groups. C. Political parties will adapt by switching from candidate-centered campaigns to campaigns that strategically mobilize voters across the country with a consistent message. D. Political parties will advocate for proportional representational systems so that groups with larger populations are able to win seats and be represented more fairly in government.

Political parties will adapt their positions and find ways to appeal to voters from growing demographic groups.

In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation. . . . . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings . . . on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch? A. President Johnson believes that Congress will soon pass a bill on education reform, and he would like to be able to claim credit for it. B. President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education. C. President Johnson is expecting the Supreme Court to soon rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by the previous administration. D. President Johnson is issuing an executive order calling on local governments to increase training for teachers and address poverty among students.

President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.

A new president has been elected after running on a campaign of lowering taxes and reducing spending on discretionary programs but now must work with Congress to ensure legislation passes which achieves those goals. Which of the leaders in the diagram plays the most crucial role in shaping the legislation that the president wants passed? A. President pro-tempore B. Vice president C. Speaker of the House D. House majority leader

Speaker of the House

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers? A. The president negotiates a treaty regarding climate change with foreign governments, 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.

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 is an example of how separation of powers creates friction between the executive and legislative branches in the policy-making process? A. The electoral college vote ends with no candidate receiving a majority of the votes, and the House of Representatives is delegated the task of selecting the next president. B. The Senate votes to impeach a sitting president for high crimes and misdemeanors. C. The secretary of state is dispatched along with a delegation of senators to negotiate a treaty with a foreign government. D. The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.

The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action.

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

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

Which of the following statements presents the most important limitation of the data in the graph? A. The time frame for the data is misleading. B. There is no information about the total number of state legislators. C. There are insufficient data points to detect a trend. D. The trend over time is potentially misleading and would be easier to read in a pie chart.

There is no information about the total number of state legislators.

Which of the following Supreme Court decisions allows public school students to wear T-shirts protesting a school board decision that eliminates funding for high school arts programs? A. Engel v. Vitale (1962) B. Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) C. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) D. New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)

have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . . It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 Which of the following newspaper headlines best summarizes the excerpt from Washington's Farewell Address? A. Washington Boasts of the Potential of the New Republic B. Washington Warns of Dangerous Party Factions C. Washington Endorses a Stronger Executive Branch D. Washington Takes Negative View of Checks and Balances

Washington Warns of Dangerous Party Factions

In The Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government." In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor of the need for A. a single executive who can respond quickly to crises B. a president who has a good understanding of public policy C. an electoral college in the selection of the president D. a president who is youthful and assertive

a single executive who can respond quickly to crises

Which of the following is the correct pairing of powers found in the Articles of Confederation and powers found in the Constitution?

1. Articles of Confederation 2. United States Constitution 1a. Unicameral legislature 2a. Bicameral legislature

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan "dead on arrival." Among the cited issues was Obama's request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget? A. The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year. B. The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent. C. Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill. D. The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.

Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill.

Which of the following is generally the most important agent of political socialization? A. Family B. The media C. Place of birth D. Social class

Family

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment? A. Separation of powers B. Judicial review C. Checks and balances D. Federalism

Federalism

Which of the following sets of policies would most likely be supported by a libertarian? A. Increase income and capital gains taxes on the wealthy to raise revenue for social security benefits B. Legalization of the commercial sale of marijuana and a reduction in government spending on prisons C. Elimination of the estate tax and promotion of government-funded prekindergarten education D. Expansion of the welfare state and a reduction in spending on national defense

Legalization of the commercial sale of marijuana and a reduction in government spending on prisons

"If, therefore, the legislature pass any laws, inconsistent with the sense the judges put upon the constitution, they will declare it void; and therefore in this respect their power is superior to that of the legislature." Brutus 15 Which of the following cases is most related to the quote? A. Marbury v. Madison (1803) B. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) C. McDonald v. Chicago (2010) D. United States v. Lopez (1995)

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The majority party in the Senate is concerned that the Supreme Court has made a number of ideologically dangerous and controversial rulings. Which of the following actions could be taken by the Senate to limit the Supreme Court's power? A. Replace the chief justice of the Supreme Court with someone with whom they agree with ideologically B. Pass legislation already passed by the House that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings C. Ratify a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court's power D. Enforce term limits for justices on the Supreme Court

Pass legislation already passed by the House that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings

Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the political cartoon? A. State governments have used the Tenth Amendment to override the federal government's mandates. B. State governments are unwilling to share their budgetary surpluses with other states. C. State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent. D. The fiscal irresponsibility of state governments has led to increased federal regulation on their budgetary priorities.

State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent.

Which of the following best explains why eligibility criteria vary by state as shown on the information graphic? A. The Twenty-Sixth Amendment is not incorporated to the states. B. States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution. C. The president is selected through the electoral college process, and therefore citizens do not actually have a real vote in presidential elections. D. The Voting Rights Act guarantees that each state may determine its own procedures for elections.

States can create criteria for voting rights so long as they do not violate the United States Constitution.

In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation. . . . . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings . . . on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 By using the phrase "creative federalism," President Johnson is most likely referring to which of the following features of the American system? A. The relationship between the federal and state governments evolves over time and is flexible enough to permit new forms of interaction. B. National policymaking is constrained by the sharing of power between the three branches of government. C. The balance of power between the states and federal government has been trending toward more federal regulation and less state control. D. Congress may use the commerce clause to address problems in public schools such as lack of resources and school safety.

The relationship between the federal and state governments evolves over time and is flexible enough to permit new forms of interaction.

Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress? A. The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party. B. The vice president is responsible for creating and setting the legislative agenda for the Senate. C. The Speaker of the House has very little power to control members of the majority party in the House of Representatives. D. The majority leaders in both chambers work to ensure that a bipartisan agenda is passed in the Congress.

The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party.

In the 1780s, proponents of the new Constitution cited Shays' Rebellion as an example in support of which of the following criticisms of the national government under the Articles of Confederation? A. The national government did not provide sufficient protection of individual rights. B. The lack of a centralized judiciary made enforcement of national laws difficult. C. States with larger populations were underrepresented in Congress. D. There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.

There was a lack of a national military power to address security concerns.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. . . . It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. George Washington's Farewell Address, 1796 In what respect does the Constitution address Washington's concern regarding the "spirit of encroachment" expressed in the excerpt? A. Constitution distributes power across national institutions. B. The Constitution provides for equal representation of all citizens in Congress. C. The Constitution requires a simple majority vote in Congress to overturn a veto. D. The Constitution requires the Supreme Court to approve all legislation.

The Constitution distributes power across national institutions.

Which of the following statements is most accurately supported by the data in the table? A. President Clinton greatly reduced the use of presidential signing statements compared with his predecessors. B. While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton's. C. President Clinton's brief access to the power of the line-item veto allowed him to issue fewer signing statements that raised concerns about legislation. D. President George W. Bush was forced to issue more signing statements as a direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton's.

In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation. . . . . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings . . . on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 A liberal response to the "strained resources" of local government most likely would include A. a reduction of federal income taxes so that state and local governments can use those resources B. less federal regulation and more authority for local school boards to create curricula and standards C. an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities D. encouraging state and local governments to offer vouchers so that students can attend private or charter schools

an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities