AP US government final

29 Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent? The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decision ((A) involving the commerce clause. (B) The Supreme Court overturns a lower court decision in a case dealing with voter identification laws (C) A state passes a law which contradicts federal law, causing the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal D) The chief justice of the Supreme Court disagrees with the majority of the other justices and decides to declare a law passed by Congress as unconstitutional.

((A) involving the commerce clause.

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

(A)

30. The constitutional powers of the president include all of the following EXCEPT (A) acting as head of military (B) vetoing legislation (C) declaring war (D) granting pardons (E) appointing ambassadors

(C) declaring war

33. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the table? (A) Forty-six Republicans voted against the bill, which led to a successful filibuster. (B) The bill was able to pass because some Republicans and Independents voted for it along with all Democrats. (C) Independents align most strongly with Republicans in the Senate. The smaller chamber size of the Senate made this bill easier to pass in the Senate than in the House of (D) Representatives

B

13. Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions? (A) House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice. (B)) Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate. Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process. (D) Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties can be victorious. (E) Independent commissions are more able to draw legislative districts that comply with the one person, one vote standard.

C

Which of the following is true of the relationship between Congress and executive agencies? (A) The agencies were created by and work under the direction of Congress. (B) Agencies, once created, work totally independent of Congress. (C) Because the agencies have bureaucratic expertise, Congress delegates "rule-making authority" to them. (D) Because of differing objectives, their relationships are always adversarial. E Congress creates, staffs, and supervises all executive agencies.

C

Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph? (A) An in in accountability of the bureaucracy (B) A decrease in the length of regulatory bills passed by Congress (C) A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy (D) An increase in the authority of the House of Representatives over the bureaucracy

C) A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy

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

D

Congress has the constitutional power to control the judicial branch by A) determining the size of the Supreme Court (B) nominating the chief justice of the Supreme Court C) limiting the length of judicial terms D) reducing the salary of judges while they are sitting (E) altering the original jurisdiction of the Supreme

D

5. (A) legislating federal appropriations approval of treaties (C) establishing a lower-court system (D) passing federal laws (E) pardoning felons

E

Which of the following governmental bodies is most directly responsible to the electorate? House of Representatives Senate the Executive Branch Supreme Court the bureaucracy

House of Representatives

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?

House of Representatives Debate on bills is limited Senate Debate on bills can be unlimited

The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish post offices and post roads. This is an example of a)enumerated powers b) implied powers c) reserved powers d) concurrent powers. exclusive powers

a)enumerated powers

16) Which of the following forms of fiscal (monetary) federalism allows the states t broadest financial discretion? a) categorical grants b)block grants c) mandates d) foreign assistance e) US military funding

b) block grants

Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances? a) The Supreme Court can overrule the President's policy proposals. b)The House of Representatives appoints with the approval of the Senate. c) Supreme Court justices The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law. d) A bill becomes a law when the House and Senate pass it, and the Supreme Court declares it Constitutional. e) The Supreme Court can remove members of Congress, and Congress can impeach the President.

c) Supreme Court justices The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law.

The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to a) clarify the Supreme Court's power of judicial review b) ensure equal voting rights c)protect individual rights d)define all powers reserved for the federal and state governments e) prevent the supremacy of one faction of government over another

c)protect individual rights

30) In a federal system of government, power is primarily: a) vested in local governments. b) vested in regional governments. c. divided between the central government and regional governments. d) divided between the regional and local governments. e) vested in a class elite.

c. divided between the central government and regional governments.

23) An alternative developed by the federal government that places the primary fiscal/monetary responsibility on the states was a. revenue sharing b. project grants c formula grants d. unfunded mandates

unfunded mandates

The procedure of formally amending the United States Constitution best illustrates which of the following? a. The dominance of the national government over the state governments the Supreme Court's power to review b. the constitutional amendments the dominance of the state government over the national government c. the federal structure of the constitution and shared power between states and federal government the founding of the founding fathers desire rapid constuanial rivisan

.the federal structure of the constitution and shared power between states and federal government

Which of the following statements accurately describe the system of checks and balances? 1.)the system of checks and balances prevents the rule of the majority, because one institution cannot gain total power over the others lll the power to veto bills allows the president to check Congress III. the system of checks and balances grew out of a long tradition but is not defined by the Constitution IV. Congress checks the power of the judicial branch nominating justices

1 & 2

The case of McCulloch v. Maryland ruled that The federal government could exercise only the enumerated powers of the Constitution II. The implied powers in Article 1 of the Constitution allowed Congress to create a nationally chartered bank II. The state governments could levy taxes on national government institutions Neither states nor the federal government could tax one another The state courts had sole jurisdiction over regulatory affairs within their boundaries

2 only

13. Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions? (A) House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice. (B)) Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate. Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process. (D) Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties can be victorious. (E) Independent commissions are more able to draw legislative districts that comply with the one person, one vote standard.

A

17. Which statement best explains the information in the graphic? (A) The secretary was confirmed by a party-line vote. B) Confirmation was blocked by one party. C)Independents swayed the vote for the majority. compromise were unsuccessful.

A

8. Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely consequence for the legislative process in Congress? (A) More competitive races for House seats in the general election (B) A decrease in party-line voting on important legislation introduced in the House C. An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation (D) Greater cooperation between Congress and the president on nominations

A

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. The vice president is responsible for creating and setting the legislative agenda for the Senate. The Speaker of the House has very little power to control members of the majority party in the House of Representatives. The majority leaders in both chambers work to ensure that a bipartisan agenda is passed in the Congress.

A

I6) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of (A cabinet departments (B) independent agencies (C) Executive Office bureaus (D) congressional committees (E)-White House staff agencies

A

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

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

A

9. The framers of the Constitution designed which of the following to be LEAST responsive to public opinion (A) The office of the president (B) The courts (C) Congress (D) The electoral college (E) Political parties.

B

I5 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of (A cabinet departments (B) independent agencies (C) Executive Office bureaus (D) congressional committees (E)-White House staff agencies

B

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

B

25. Which of the following is a unique power held by members of the Senate? A) Control of the veto B) Control of the appropriations process C) The ability filibuster D) The ability to impeach the president E) The ability to work with a clearly defined constituency

C

6. Congress is most likely (A) Directly selecting the head of an executive agency (B) Impeaching the head of an executive agency (C) Using the Court to block implementation of proposed regulations C) Controlling an executive agency's annual budget D) Changing the term length of heads of independent regulatory commissions

C

A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following? (A) Returns a bill to committee. 12. (B) Cuts off debate on a bill. (C) Criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties. (D) Removes a President who has been impeached by the House. (E) Brings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval.

C

A United States Supreme Court justice has announced his retirement at the end of the current Supreme Court term. What is the most likely presidential action in response to this announcement? (A) Confer with House leadership to discuss potential nominces (B) Confer with the chief justice to discuss potential nominees (C) Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology (D) Nominate a sitting senator of the majority party

C

The Web site healthcare.gov was launched on October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue. The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions? (A) Committee markup (B) Budget testimony (C) Oversight (D) Impeachment

C

Those who believe that the Supreme Court in its rulings should defer to the elective institutions of government are 11. advocating (A) "Social Darwinism" (B "judicial activism" ( C) "judicial restraint" (D) incorporation" "nullification"

C

Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993)? (A) The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional. (B) The poll tax was eliminated. (C) Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional. (D) It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size.

C

The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton argued that the federal judiciary "is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." Which of the following statements represents a reason he gave for this argument? (A) It has the power of the sword and the power of judgment but lacks the power of the purse. (B) Each branch must given the ability to defend its power and check the others. (C) The federal government is further from the people and thus less accountable. (D) It must depend on the executive for enforcement. its decisions.

D

Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of divided government in the United States political system? A) The majority of Supreme Court justices are from one party, but the president is from another. B) The majority of governors are from one party, but the president is from another. C) The president and a majority of members of Congress are from one party, but the majority of governors are from another. D) The majority of senators and the majority of representatives are from one party, but the president is from another. E) The majority of Supreme Court justices are from one party, but the majority of senators and representatives are from another.

D

Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in (A) Joint committees (B) ad hoc committees (C) select committees (D) conference committees (E) standing committees

E

Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing? (A) Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship congressional committees. major (B) Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority. (C) Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party. (D) The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority. (E) The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.

E

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

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

19) Dual federalism refers to the fact that a)the Constitution provides two layers of government in the nation-the national and the state b. there are two major forms of aid from the national government to the states-categorical and block grants c. both the national and state governments can levy taxes on citizens d. there are two distinct eras in American history-the era before cooperative federalism and the era since e. there is a distinct line between policies surrounding public education and private education in the states.

a)the Constitution provides two layers of government in the nation-the national and the state

28) The Framers' distrust of the public when writing the Constitution is best illustrated by the a. Electoral College b. Bill of Rights c. process of electing members of the House of Representatives d. creation of a bicameral legislature ability to amend the Constitution

a. Electoral College b. Bill of Rights

10) Anti-Federalists argued against adoption of the Constitution for all of the following reasons EXCEPT a.) It failed to centralize power b) It responded to the needs of the minority, not the majority c) It placed too many restrictions on the states d) It neglected individual rights e) It favored property owners

a.) It failed to centralize power

Of the following which has been use the most to expand the power of the national government? a.) The commerce clause of the Constitution b.) the fifth amendment. c.) habeas corpus clause of the constitution. d.) the bill of attainder clause of the Constitution. e.) the 10th amendment

a.) The commerce clause of the Constitution

To receive federal funding, state programs usually must a.)comply with some federal regulations b)hire federal employees to oversee the program Must request c) be approved by the Supreme Court Ending you d) return a percentage of the funds as profit it through apply to the Department of the Treasury

a.)comply with some federal regulations

15) The case of Marbury v. Madison established which principle? the a)supremacy clause b)judicial review c) natural rights of citizens d) the writ of habeus corpus e) the separation of powers

b)judicial review

The elastic clause gives Congress the authority to a.) overrule the president's veto b)pass laws necessary to carry out its assigned powers c) form an unlimited number of committees and subcommittees d.)check the power of the Supreme Court by approving the president's nominees for justices

b)pass laws necessary to carry out its assigned powers

The United States is not a direct democracy because a.) the population has increased too rapidly in the last 100 years b)the authors of the Constitution did not trust the public to make informed decisions the c.)Constitution prohibits direct representation d.)the separation of powers would not work in a direct democracy e.) direct democracy would not fairly represent all Americans if every one voud en) would

b)the authors of the Constitution did not trust the public to make informed decisions the

24) Which kind of federalism best describes an autonomous (separated) relationship between the states and national government? a. cooperative federalism b. creative federalism c. layer cake federalism d. fiscal federalism e. marble cake

c. layer cake federalism

In the case of United States v. Lopez the Supreme Court a. found the entire Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 to be unconstitutional b affirmed the right of the federal government to have final say in Second Amendment cases c. reversed a trend of using the Interstate Commerce clause of the Constitution to expand federal power d. denied Texas the authority to promote safety in schools e. reversed the Texas ruling and found Lopez to be innocent

c. reversed a trend of using the Interstate Commerce clause of the Constitution to expand

22) Which area of policy is generally left up to the states? a. foreign policy b. military policy c. relations among the several states d. health and welfare e. immigration

d

27) The failure of the Articles of Confederation and necessity for a new Constitution were made evident by the a. success of the American Revolution b. legislature's inability to select a president c. need for a bicameral legislature d. government's inability to subdue Shays' Rebellion e. excess of centralized power in the national government

d

11) In The Federalist papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions a) should be nurtured by a free nation b) should play a minor role in any free nation c) are central to the creation of a free nation d) are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation e) are necessary to control the masses in a free nation

d) are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

Federalism is a system of government in which a) ecutive, legislative, and judicial branch share equal powers b. political officials are elected by the public in a popular election c. legislative committees and federal agencies work together to make and implement policy d) more than one level of government oversees a body of people e. the president is chosen by an electoral college rather than by a popular election

d) more than one level of government oversees a body of people

5) Which of the following is an example of checks and balances as established by the Constitution? A .)requirement that states lower the legal drinking age to 18 a condition of receiving funds a highway grant. b) The election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election. c) Media criticism of public officials during a campaign. court decision. d The Supreme Court's ability to overturn a federal e) The requirement that presidential appointments be approved by theSupreme Court Senate.

e) The requirement that presidential appointments be approved by theSupreme Court Senate.

8) The full faith and credit clause would require all of the following EXCEPT a) that a marriage performed in Las Vegas be valid in other states across state lines b) that a driver's license serve as identification when a person travels c) that divorced parent pay child support even if his or her children reside in another state d) that a birth certificate issued by any state can be used to open a bank account e) that something against the law in one state is against the law in all other states.

e) that something against the law in one state is against the law in all other states.

4) Which of the following was the most important outcome freplacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution in 1787? a.) The protection of Free Speech. b.)The establishment of judicial review. c) The guarantee of states' rights. d.)The establishment of direct democracy. e.)he creation of a strong national government.

e.)he creation of a strong national government.

21) Advocates of a strong federal system believe in all the following EXCEPT a. state and local governments do not have many of the resources necessary to deal with the problems facing the country

local leaders are more suited to solve problems than national leaders