AP Gov Fall Final
Based on previous rulings, which of the following scenarios would the Supreme Court most likely rule violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
A man who was arrested for waving a Nazi flag at a rally
Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Fifth Amendment?
A person is tried twice for the same crime
Devolution often refers to:
Transferring responsibilities for programs from the federal government to state and local governments
What is the most common form of American political participation?
Voting in the presidential election every four years is the most common form of political participation in the United States.
Read the passage and answer the question below. "We advocate abolishing the term "citizen journalist." These people can call themselves "citizen news gatherers," but it is no more appropriate to call them citizen journalists than it would be to sit before a citizen judge or be operated on by a citizen brain surgeon. Because of declining revenues, newspapers, magazines and TV stations actually think they can get these "volunteers" to replace the professionals . . . that they can abandon their print editions, and have bloggers post without covering stories as they happen. Yes, there are a million news blogs, but only one New York Times. But to continue its reputation, the Times must uphold traditional editorial principles. So must we all." Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
bloggers cover stories as they happen but don't have the training to provide good news coverage
Use the text below to answer the following question. "If you start from the understanding that important party decisions are made before the voters weigh in, the question 'who's winning?'—or, alternately, 'who is the party choosing, and which people are making that choice?'—becomes one of the best ways to give ordinary citizens who want to become more active political participants the information they need. (If you're not a party member, meanwhile, knowing the process by which the party made its choice—rather than just the outcome it arrived at—can still help inform your own political participation.)" -Greg Marx, "In Defense of (the Right Kind of) Horse Race Journalism," Columbia Journalism Review, September 6, 2011. Regarding the above excerpt, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
horse race journalism is a more effective tool for informing voters and attracting their participation when applied to primary elections instead of general elections
Which of the following statements accurately summarizes why it is virtually impossible for third-party candidates to become president?
the Electoral College uses a winner takes all system
Which statement best summarizes a central criticism in the ongoing debate surrounding the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)?
the Supreme Court extended 1st Amendment protection of political speech at the expense of election fairness
Use the text below to answer the following question. "The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves . . . and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote . . ." -Excerpt from Amendment XII of the US Constitution According to this Amendment, how is the president chosen if no candidate receives a majority of votes by the Electoral College?
the house of reps. Elects the president from the 3 candidates who receive the most electoral votes. Each representative has one vote.
Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Eighth Amendment?
A minor is sentenced to the death penalty
Affirmative action is best defined as which of the following?
A policy benefiting those who tend to suffer from discrimination or are members of a historically disadvantaged group
Based on previous rulings, which of the following scenarios would most likely violate the freedom of speech clause of the First Amendment?
A public school district bans students from wearing t-shirts supporting presidential candidates before an election.
Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Second Amendment?
A state banning the sale and purchase of handguns
Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of rule of law and limited government?
Expelling undocumented US residents from the country
Which of the following agents of socialization is the most successful at transmitting political ideologies?
Family, school, peers & mass media
Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of equality of opportunity and free enterprise?
Passing an "equal pay for equal work" law to reduce differences in pay for women and men
What is the only crime specifically mentioned in the U.S. Constitution (Article III, Section 3)?
Treason
The Constitution specifically denies to states the power to:
Treaty, alliance, confederation, grant letters of marque and reprisal, coin money, emit bills of credit, make anything but gold, etc.
Between 1964 and 1984, which of the following would have been most likely to vote for the Democratic presidential candidate?
A Black teacher from Los Angeles
Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is most likely to view a case concerning which of the following as a violation of the Sixth Amendment?
A Court refuses to provide a defendant a lawyer even though she cannot afford one
Who is the author of Federalist 78?
Alexander Hamilton
Which of the following is one example of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of the states, which was nearly impossible
In the Federalist Papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions...
Are undesirable, but inevitable in a free nation
What are the main four major components of Article II of the United States Constitution?
Article 2 Section 1: Establishes the office of the President and the Vice-President Term: 4 years Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, whereby each state has one vote for each member of Congress. Article 2 Section 2: Presidential Powers: Commander-in-chief of the armed forces and of the militia (National Guard) of all the states He has a Cabinet to aid him Can pardon criminals Makes treaties with other nations Picks many of the judges and other members of the government (all with the approval of the Senate). Article 2 Section 3: Duties of the President: to give a state of the union address to make suggestions to Congress to act as head of state by receiving ambassadors and other heads of state to be sure the laws of the United States are carried out. Article 2 Section 4: Discusses removal of president; impeachment
Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between the competing values of individualism and limited government?
Banning religious prayer in public schools
What is the basic premise of Federalist 78?
Basis for the court's power of judicial review It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.
Conservative ideology differs from liberal ideology in that conservatives
Believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems.
Which of the following Supreme Court Cases ruled that "separate but equal" public schools are a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment?
Brown v. Board of Education
Which of the following statements best explains how candidate-centered campaigns have weakened the influence of political parties on the political process?
Candidates raise funds for campaign from voters and Political Action Committees
What does Article III, Section 2 pertain to?
Clause 1: Federal courts can decide cases involving federal law, disputes between different states, and disputes between residents of different states. The 11th Amendment, passed in 1795, curtailed federal jurisdiction in several types of cases involving state governments; that amendment accounts for the crossed-out bits here. Clause 2: "Original jurisdiction"; means the court hears a case in the first instance. "Appellate Jurisdiction" means that the court hears a case only upon appeal of a previous decision from a lower court. The Supreme Court only has original jurisdiction in special cases. Clause 3: Someone accused of a crime in federal court has the right to have his trial heard by a jury of his peers, rather than decided solely by a judge
Why did the Framers decide to include Article V of the Constitution, detailing an amendment process
Concerns about protecting self-government
A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that:
Congress consists of 100 senators (two from each state) and 435 voting members of the House of Representatives.
The necessary and proper clause is best defined as which of the following?
Congress has the power to carry out its enumerated powers
Which of the following groups would be most likely to support a constitutional amendment banning all abortions?
Conservatives
In recent years the Supreme Court has applied the decision across all states that individuals have the right to possess a firearm in the home for self-defense. Which of the following is a reason for this?
District of Columbia v. Heller,(2008), is a landmark case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms, unconnected with service in a militia, for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, and that the District of Columbia's handgun ban and requirement that lawfully owned rifles and shotguns be kept "unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock" violated this guarantee. - (Pennsylvania Constitution) ?
"All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and the wellborn, the other the mass of the people. . . . The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government." -Alexander Hamilton, "Speech in the Constitutional Convention on a Plan of Government," 1787 Which of the following models of democracy is the author advocating?
Elite democracy
What does Article III, Section 1 pertain to?
Establishes the Supreme Court. Grants Congress the power to create inferior courts. Supreme Court is head of the judicial branch. Judges shall have good behavior and receive compensation which will not be diminished during their term.
Which of the following may Congress do to limit the power of the executive?
Impeach the president
Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) decision?
In 1971, the administration of President Richard Nixon attempted to suppress the publication of a top-secret history of US military involvement in Vietnam, claiming that its publication endangered national security. - In the resulting case, the Supreme Court found that this injunction against publication was a violation of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press.
What group is considered to be the most reliable voting block?
In 2018 ages 65 and older turnout was 65%
Which of the following actions by a news organization would most likely be protected from prior restraint based on the precedent established by New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)?
In this ruling, the Court established a "heavy presumption against prior restraint," even in cases involving national security. This means that the Court is very likely to find cases of government censorship unconstitutional
The importance of Shays' Rebellion to the development of the United States Constitution was that it
Indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order. This conflict in Massachusetts caused many to criticize the AOC and admit that the weak central government was not working; uprising led by Daniel Shas to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay the taxes.
What was the long-term significance of the Marbury v Madison ruling?
It held a significant role in the principle of judicial review, which allowed Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.
Why is Marbury v. Madison (1803) considered by many scholars of Constitutional Law to be the most important Supreme Court case in U.S. history?
It held a significant role in the principle of judicial review, which allowed Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.
The Connecticut (Great) Compromise drafted at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 is significant for which of the following reasons?
It proposed a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with membership established according to the population of each state
In The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are ....
James Madison argued that factions in a republic are natural, but controllable by institutions. System of Republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism. Interest groups arise from unequal distribution of property (factions).
Which of the following scenarios is an example of how the media can act as a linkage institution?
Linkage institution: a structure within a society that connects the people to the gov.
Why was U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall so influential in the foundations of a strong Judicial Branch?
Marbury V. Madison The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress (Judiciary Act of 1789).
What does 'Stare Decisis' translate as?
Means "Let the decision stand". In use, it means that once an issue has been decided by a court, that decision becomes "the law of the land" (Latin).
In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees people of the same sex the right to marry in the same manner as opposite-sex couples. Following this ruling, the National Organization for Marriage appealed to members of Congress encouraging them to pass an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. This is an example of which of the following principles of American government?
Multiple access points for stakeholders to influence policymaking
Which of the following is a consequence of federalism in the United States?
NATIONAL POLICYMAKING IS HELD IN CHECK Diffusing political power between states and the federal government helps to resign in government and keeps each level from becoming to powerful.
The Constitution grants the national government exclusive powers to:
Only the federal government can coin money, regulate the mail, declare war, or conduct foreign affairs
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the process of political socialization?
Parents discuss at the dinner table who they are voting for in the next presidential election
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the process of political socialization in schools?
Politics and history are taught in school
How does the role of 'legal precedent' affect court decisions?
Precedents are past court decisions that influence future cases. Precedents change when a ruling is overturned.
Priyanka Kumble votes for political candidates based solely on their platforms and the policies they and their party plan to implement once elected. Which model of voting behavior does this best represent?
Prospective voting
The framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is:
Protecting individual property rights
Of the following, the most significant difference between the Constitution of 1787 and the Articles of Confederation was that the Constitution
Provided for a strong national government with many powers, while the AOC created a weak central government with few independent powers
Which of the following statements reflects a pluralist theory of American politics?
Public policies emerge from compromises among competing groups
Which of the following policies is likely to create the most tension between free enterprise and the rule of law?
Reducing environmental regulations for oil companies
Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power?
Requiring Amish students to attend school until the age of 16 despite their religious beliefs
In the 1960s, Connecticut had a law prohibiting counselors from providing advice to married couples on how to prevent pregnancy. Police officers arrested the Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood League of Connecticut after she disobeyed this law. In 1965, the Supreme Court heard the case and ruled that protections in the Bill of Rights imply that people have a right to privacy. Which of the following cases is also an example of a right-to-privacy case?
Roe v. Wade
Which of the following is most important to get an accurate measure of public opinion?
Selecting a random sample
What type of poll is used by the media to monitor election results?
Telephone and "exit" polls.
A suspected terrorist has chosen to remain silent after being arrested, yet the police continue to question him on potential locations of a bomb without informing him of his rights. This scenario is an example of which of the following?
The "public safety" exception
In 2013, Edward Snowden released classified information showing that the National Security Agency (NSA) was conducting a massive surveillance program by collecting data from major cell phone providers. Which of the following amendments provides the basis for an accusation of unconstitutional action by the NSA?
The 4th Amendment
Which of the following amendments protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures?
The 4th Amendment
When the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1789, the amendments protected civil liberties infringement from which levels of government?
The Federal Gov. only
In Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has the right to regulate public accommodation under the commerce clause. After this decision, the federal government, under the authority of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forced public places to desegregate. This scenario is an example of which of the following?
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that protects minority rights
Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke?
The agreement between the people and the gov. defining the duties and rights of each
"Winston Churchill is said to have remarked that 'Any man who is not a socialist at the age of 21 has no heart, and any man who is still a socialist at the age of 40 has no head.' The first part of the quote can be taken as saying that it is easy to favor economic equality when one is a young adult in the process of getting educated, finding a job, and beginning a career. But the second part implies that the notion of equality of income for all looks far different once one is middle aged and established in an occupation." Martin P. Wattenberg, Is Voting for Young People? 2012 Which of the following statements is most consistent with the author's argument in this passage?
The author argues that your voting preferences will change once you age
In 1988 and 1989, the Pennsylvania legislature amended its abortion control law. The changes included requiring a 24-hour waiting period for the procedure and that a married woman must notify her husband that she intends to have an abortion. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court upheld most of the Pennsylvania laws because they did not create a "substantial obstacle" to a woman seeking an abortion. This became known as the undue-burden test. Which of the following constitutional provisions does the case described in the scenario have in common with Roe v. Wade (1973)?
The decision in the case above upheld Roe v. Wade (1973), but created a new standard to determine if the state was interfering with a woman's right to choose
The exclusionary rule can best be described as which of the following?
The exclusionary rule prevents the government from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United States Constitution. The decision in Mapp v. Ohio established that the exclusionary rule applies to evidence gained from an unreasonable search or seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Political socialization takes place
The family, educational system, peer groups, and mass media all play a role. - Political socialization is a lifelong process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire political values.
What were some of the fears that our founders had that were addressed in Article II?
The framers: Separated power permitted checks and balances between the branches, no one could gain too much power Based the government on federalism (separation of government by national, state and local authorities) Added the 10th Amendment- reserve clause. Any right delegated to the national government the states reserved
Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics?
The higher one's socioeconomic status is, the more likely they are to actively participate in politics
What is meant by an "inferior court"?
The lower courts, beneath the Supreme Court
**Which of the following statements describes the role political parties within Congress play to promote their party's public policy agenda?
The majority party selects committee chairs who promote the party's legislative priorities
Why are presidential nominations to the US Supreme Court the cause of so much tension and strife among the Congress?
They are lifetime positions it has the largest influence even after the president is out of office
A recent poll indicates that 57 percent of all people in the United States disapprove of the Supreme Court's ruling that no state or local government may require the reading of Bible verses in public schools. Which of the following supports the credibility of the poll result?
The poll received a representative sample of 1,850 respondents
What is judicial review?
The power of the federal courts to declare actions of government or people (federal, state, local, citizens) constitutional or unconstitutional.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of "separation of powers" in the US Constitution?
The president commands the nation's armed forces, while Congress has the power to ratify treaties
What is meant by Hamilton's statement that the judiciary would have "no influence over either the sword or the purse, ..."?
There was little concern that the judiciary might be able to overpower the political branches; since Congress controlled the flow of money and the President the military, courts did not have nearly the same clout from a constitutional design standpoint.
Political socialization is best defined as which of the following?
The process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire their ideas about government
What are three examples of when the US Senate may reject a presidential nomination for an appointment?
The senate can try cases of impeachment, having power to approve or not approve treaties, and also approves or not approve president appointments with the cabinet.
Which constitutional change in the early twentieth century (1913) led to an increase in democratic participation in the United States?
The way US senators are elected
List four FORMAL powers expressly given to our President:
Veto power, command armed forces, pardoning power, appointment powers, make treaties, convene Congress
Which of the following best explains the danger that "attack journalism" poses to political participation?
attack journalists make politicians seem untrustworthy
Which statement accurately summarizes how constituencies affect the campaign strategy of candidates running for the US Senate or House of Representatives?
candidates for house districts must consider specific needs and critical issues that characterize a relatively small number of voters
The Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), organized to oppose any and all tax increases, would be considered which of the following type of interest group?
cause groups
Like the old Progressive Party, a new generation third-party called the Working Families Party (WFP) has successfully competed in specific geographies in recent years, forging opportunistic alliances with either of the major parties while building a precinct-level organization and support. Based on this information and current election rules, which of the following is the best strategy for the WFP to influence public policy in the United States?
concentrate on grass roots campaigns in local elections that lack two-party candidates
Even though he just retired, Bill sees no reason to join the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), as the dues are not enough to make much difference in protecting his health care, and he expects that he will benefit from the association's activities whether he becomes a member or not. This scenario reflects which of the following political concepts?
free rider problem
A campaign advertisement appears on TV and in social media that says, "Candidate Smith has a record that includes policies that will hurt all Americans. If these policies are put into place, much of your hard-earned savings will be taxed away, and your well-paying job will be moved overseas. Be sure to vote on election day." Which statement below best explains what limitations, if any, might be placed on this campaign message?
his opponent could use "soft money" - money that is given to political parties, not a candidate
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table?
more people will come to an open primary bc it is unrestricted
Which is the best explanation for the extraction of massive amounts of personal data from social media sites by political consulting firms?
provides insight into voter preferences
The presidential election cycle begins at which of the following points in modern day elections?
spring of the year before the election
After the three debates between Romney and Obama in the 2012 presidential race, the polls were effectively tied; after the Clinton/Trump debates in 2016, Clinton had a slight lead. Based on these two campaigns, which of the following is an essential campaign strategy when most voters have made up their minds?
voter mobilization
