· web viewobergefell v. hodges federalism describe two advantages of federalism for the creation...

AP Government FRQ Question Strands by Topic 2004 - 20172017Supreme Court 1. Describe one constitutional provision that seeks to

insulate the Supreme Court from public opinion.Supreme Court 2. Identify a power that is exercised by the Supreme

Court that acts as a check on another branch of the federal government.

Supreme Court 3. Explain how each of the following can limit the independence of the Supreme Court: Congress, President

Supreme Court 4. Explain how the Supreme Court protects its political independence.

IG Goals & Strategy 5. Identify the primary goal of interest groups.

IG Goals & Strategy 6. Describe each of the following strategies used by interest groups: lobbying, amicus curiae briefs

IG Goals & Strategy 7. Explain how each of the following hinders the success of interest groups in obtaining their primary goal: separation of powers, bureaucratic discretion

Federal Spending

NOTE: Mandatory programs include Social Security, major federal health programs, other entitlement programs, and offsetting receipts.

8. Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid are all mandatory spending programs, also known as entitlement programs. Identify a change in federal spending between 1970 and 2023(projected) based on the chart above.

Federal Spending 9. Describe the difference between entitlement programs and discretionary programs.

Federal Spending 10. Describe one demographic trend that has contributed to the changes in entitlement spending.

Federal Spending 11. Explain why changes in entitlement spending make

balancing the federal budget difficult.Federal Spending 12. Explain how deficit spending affects the projected

trend in net interest.Federalism 13. Describe EACH of the following Constitutional

provisions: Tenth Amendment, Supremacy ClauseFederalism 14. Explain how ONE of the following court cases

changed the balance of power between the national government and state governments: United States v. Lopez, Obergefell v. Hodges

Federalism 15. Describe TWO advantages of federalism for the creation of public policy in the United States.

2016Function of PP 16. Describe one important function of political parties as a

linkage institution in elections.Function of Media 17. Describe the influence of the media on the election

process in the role of gatekeeping/agenda setting.Function of Media 18. Describe the influence of the media in the role of

scorekeeping/horse race journalism.Function of IG 19. Describe two strategies interest groups use to influence

the electoral process.IG 20. Explain how, according to critics, interest groups may

limit representative democracy.Data Trend

21. “United States Demographic Changes” Identify a trend depicted in the chart.

Party Demographics

22. Explain how the trend you identified in (A) is likely to affect the success of either the D or R party.

Parties in Congress 23. Explain how the changes are likely to affect the way in which parties operate in Congress

Powers of POTUS 24. Describe two specific actions that presidents can take to respond to the changes in the chart above.

Function of Congress

25. Identify the primary role of Congress in the policy process.

Divided 26. Explain how divided party control of Congress can

Government make the policy process difficult.Function of Bureau.

27. Identify the primary role of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Powers of Bureau. 28. Explain how “rule making” increases the power of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Powers of Bureau. 29. Explain how “bureaucratic discretion” increases the power of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Checks & Balances 30. Explain how “oversight hearings” enables Congress to limit the power of the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances 31. Explain how “power of the purse” enables Congress to limit the power of the bureaucracy.

Power of Nat. Gov’t

32. Explain how “checks and balances” protects against the concentration of power in the national gov’t.


33. Explain how “federalism” protects against the concentration of power in the national government.

Election/Elite Theory

34. Explain how the “electoral college” limited the people’s ability to influence the national government.

Election/Elite Theory

35. Explain how the “selection of senators” limited people’s ability to influence the nat. gov’t. (Prior to 17th)

Suffrage 36. Describe a constitutional amendment that increased suffrage.

Voter Turnout 37. Describe the effect of the Voting Right Act of 1965 on citizen participation in elections.

Voter Turnout 38. Describe the effect of the Motor Voter Act on citizen participation in elections.

2015Powers of POTUS 39. Describe a power of the president in the role of Chief

Legislator.Powers of POTUS 40. Describe a power of the president in the role of Chief

Bureaucrat/Chief Administrator.Checks & Balances 41. Explain how “civil service employees” limit the

president’s influence in policy making.Checks & Balances 42. Explain how “the Supreme Court” limits the president’s

influence in policy making.Divided Gov’t 43. Describe the influence of divided government on the

policy-making process.Federalism 44. Compare state sovereignty under the Articles of

Confederation and under the Constitution.Power of Nat. Gov’t

45. Explain how the commerce clause has been used to expand the power of the federal gov’t over the states.


46. Explain how mandates have been used to expand the power of the federal gov’t of the states.

Power of States 47. Explain how block grants have played a role in the

devolution of power from the nat. gov’t to the states.Power of States 48. Explain how Supreme Court decisions have played a

role in the devolution of power to the states.Electoral College 49. Explain one reason that the framers chose to use the

electoral college as the method to elect the president.Data Interpretation

50. Describe the message the cartoon above conveys about presidential elections.

Data Interpretation 51. Explain why California, Texas, and New York do not appear prominently in the cartoon above.

Campaign Tactics 52. Describe two campaign tactics POTUS candidates use to win the key states identified in the cartoon.

CR v. CL 53. Describe the difference between civil rights and civil liberties.

Clause of Constitution

54. Identify the primary clause of the 14th amendment that is used to extend civil rights.

CR Legislation 55. Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to women.

CR Legislation 56. Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to persons with disabilities.


57. Identify the primary clause of the 14th Amendment that is used to extend civil liberties.

CL Court Case 58. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright.

CL Court Case 59. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Mapp v. Ohio

CL Court Case 60. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona.

2014Federalism 61. Compare the positions of Federalists & Anti-Federalists

regarding the power of the national government.


62. Describe two features of the original Constitution that have led to a growth in power of the national gov’t.

Limit Power of NG

63. Explain how the First Amendment addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.

Limit Power of NG

64. Explain how the Tenth Amendment addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.

Limit Power of States

65. Explain how the due process clause of the 14th amendment altered the balance of power in federalism.

Limit Power of States

66. Explain how the equal protection clause of the altered the balance of power in federalism.

Suffrage 67. Identify the effect the fifteenth amendment had on the electorate.

Suffrage 68. Identify the effect the 19th amendment had on the electorate.

Suffrage. 69. Identify the effect the 26th amendment had on the electorate.

Voter Turnout 70. Explain how motor voter laws may affect voter turnout.

Voter Turnout 71. Explain how photo identification laws may affect voter turnout.

Voter Turnout 72. Describe education’s relationship to the likelihood of a person voting in an election.

Voter Turnout 73. Describe age’s relationship to the likelihood of a person voting in an election.

Voter Turnout 74. Explain why voter turnout is different in presidential versus midterm elections.

Voter Turnout 75. Explain why voter turnout is different in primary versus general elections.

Powers of Congress

76. Describe two enumerate powers Congress has in making foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS

77. Describe two expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS

78. Explain how executive agreements expand the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS

79. Explain how elections limit the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS

80. Explain how presidential approval ratings limit the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Party Polarization

81. Define party polarization.

Data Trend

82. Identify a trend show in the graph above.Parties in Congress

83. Describe two causes of party polarization in Congress.

Parties in Congress

84. Describe one effect of party polarization on congressional policy making.

2013Form of Gov’t 85. Define direct democracy.

Form of Gov’t 86. Define republican form of government.

Form of Gov’t 87. Describe one reason the framers chose a republican form of government over a direct democracy.

Representation 88. Describe the trustee model of congressional representation.

Representation 89. Describe the delegate model of congressional representation.

Representation 90. Explain why a member of Congress might sometimes act as a trustee rather than a delegate.

Functions of PP 91. Describe two important functions of political parties in United States elections.

Parties in Congress

92. Describe one important role PP play within Congress to promote the party’s public policy agenda.

Weaken PP 93. Explain how direct primaries have weakened the influence of PP over the political process.

Weaken PP 94. Explain how candidate-centered campaigns have weakened the influence of PP over the political process.

Strengthen PP 95. Explain how party polarization has strengthened party influence in Congress.

Data Interpretation

96. Describe one similarity between Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by Bush.

Data Interpretation

97. Describe two differences between Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by Bush.

Checks & Balances

98. Explain why a president’s party affiliation accounts for differences in appointments to the judiciary.

Checks & Balances

99. Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having judicial nominations confirmed.

Policy Formation

100.Explain the importance of the media in the formation of the policy agenda.

Policy Formation

101.Explain the importance of elections in the formation of the policy agenda.

Policy Enactment

102.Explain the role of congressional committees in the enactment of public policy.

Policy Enactment

103.Explain the role of executive orders in the enactment of public policy.

Policy Implementation

104.Explain the importance of bureaucratic discretion in the implementation of public policy.

Policy Implementation

105.Explain the importance of bureaucratic discretion in the implementation of public policy.

2012Functions of Congress

106.Describe the role of the senate filibuster in lawmaking.

Functions of Congress

107.Describe the role of the House Rules Committee in lawmaking.

Functions of Congress

108.Describe the role of the conference committee in lawmaking.

Checks & Balances

109.Describe one method by which Congress exercises oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

Function of Congress

110.Explain how casework affects members’ attention to legislation.

Data Interpretation

111.Using the chart, compare minority representation in 1960 and 2010.

Suffrage 112.Explain how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 assisted in the removal of barriers to minority voting.

Suffrage 113.Explain how the 24th amendment assisted in the removal of barriers to minority voting.

Suffrage 114.Identify one barrier that currently impeded minority representation in Congress.

Suffrage 115.Explain why the barrier you identified inhibits minority representation in Congress.

Checks & Balances

116.Describe two political factors that affect presidents’ decisions to appoint members of the federal judiciary.

Checks & Balances

117.Identify and explain two political factors that affect and complicate the confirmation process.

Checks & Balances

118.Explain how one legislative power serves as a check on court decisions.

Checks & Balances

119.Explain how one executive power serves as a check on court decisions.

IG Tactics 120.Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections.

IG Tactics 121.Explain how interest groups use issue networks to influence government decision making.

IG Tactics 122.Explain how interest groups use amicus curiae briefs to influence government decision making.

IG Influence 123.Explain how the media serves to limit interest group influence.

IG Influence 124.Explain how pluralism serves to limit interest group influence.

2011SCOTUS 125.Define judicial review.

SCOTUS 126.Explain how judicial review empowers the SC within the system of checks and balances.

SCOTUS 127.Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.

SCOTUS 128.Explain how stare decisis influences decisions made by justices when deciding cases heard by the court.

SCOTUS 129.Explain how judicial activism influences decisions made by justices when deciding cases.

Public Opinion 130.Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.

Public Opinion 131.Explain why strong polling results enhances the influence of public opinion on Congress voting decisions.

Public Opinion 132.Explain why competitive re-elections enhances the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Public Opinion 133.Explain why legislators’ voting records limits the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Public Opinion 134.Explain why party leadership limits the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Elections 135.Define open primary.

Elections 136.Define caucus.

Elections 137.Describe one consequence of the Republican winner-take-all primary for the nomination process.

Elections 138.Explain why the use of super-delegates increases the influence of party leaders in the nomination process.

Election Tactics 139.Explain why a candidate’s strategy to win the nomination is often different from winning the general.

Congress & POTUS

140.Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ veto power.

Congress & POTUS

141.Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ power to issue executive orders.

Congress & POTUS

142.Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ power as commander in chief.

Congress & POTUS

143.Explain how presidential decision making is affected by congress’ legislative oversight power.

Congress & POTUS

144.Explain how presidential decision making is affected by the Senate’s advice and consent power.

Congress & POTUS

145.Explain how presidential decision making is affected by congress’ budgetary power.

2010

Bill of Rights 146.Explain two provisions of the BOR that protect individuals who try to influence politics.

IG Tactics 147.Explain how grassroots mobilization is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Tactics 148.Explain how lobbying is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Tactics 149.Explain how litigation is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Regulation 150.Describe one specific federal government regulation of interest groups.

Bureaucracy 151.Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.

Bureaucracy 152.Explain how the structure of the federal bureaucracy contributes to bureaucratic independence.

Bureaucracy 153.Explain how the complexity of public policy problems contributes to bureaucratic independence.

Checks & Balances

154.Explain one constitutional provision Congress can use to check the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances

155.Explain one constitutional provision the courts can use to check the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances

156.Explain one constitutional provision interest groups can use to check the bureaucracy.

Data Trend

157.“Southern State Partisanship in US Elections” Identify one specific trend evident in the figure above.

Elections 158.Explain how incumbency advantage led to choosing more Democratic candidates to Congress than POTUS.

Elections 159.Explain how gerrymandering led to choosing more Democratic candidates to Congress than POTUS.

Elections 160.Explain how differences between state and national parties led to choosing more Democrats in Congress.

Demographics 161.Explain how party composition has changed in the past few decades with respect to Catholics.

Demographics 162.Explain how party composition has changed in the past

few decades with respect to labor union members.Demographics 163.Explain how party composition has changed in the past

few decades with respect to women.Demographics 164.Explain how party composition has changed in the past

few decades with respect to social conservatives.Limiting Power 165.Explain how federalism limits the power of the national

executive.Limiting Power 166.Explain how checks and balances limits the powers of the

national executive.Limiting Power 167.Explain how the establishment clause limits the power of

the national government.Limiting Power 168.Explain how the guarantee of a public trail limits the

power of the national government.Limiting Power 169.Explain how the citizenship clause of the 14th amendment

limits the power of state governments.Limiting Power 170.Explain how selective incorporation limits the power of

state governments.

2009Democracy 171.Identify the part of the national government that was

originally most closely tied to citizens. Explain how.Democracy 172.Explain two ways the US Constitution limited majority rule.

Democracy 173.Explain how primary elections have moved the US from a less democratic system to a more democratic one.

Democracy 174.Explain how the 17th am. has moved the US from a less democratic system to a more democratic one.

Democracy 175.Explain how the expansion of suffrage has made the US a more democratic system.

Voter Turnout 176.Describe how age is related to the likelihood of voting.

Voter Turnout 177.Describe how education is related to the likelihood of voting.

Voter Turnout 178.Describe one current government electoral requirement that decreases voter turnout. Explain how.

Linkage 179.Identify one linkage institution other than elections & explain 2 ways it connects citizens to government.

PP in Congress

180.Describe two advantages the majority party in the US House of Representatives has in lawmaking.

House v. Senate

181.Describe two differences between House & Senates rules that affect legislation not passing.

House v. Senate

182.Explain how the differences you identified can lead to the passage of a bill in one but not the other chamber.

Media 183.Define policy agenda.

Media 184.Explain how the national news media engage in agenda setting.

Media 185.Explain the primary reason the POTUS tends to have an advantage over Congress in gaining media attention.

Data Trend

186.Describe the difference in viewing patterns of older and younger age-groups.

Data Trend 187.Describe the change from 1974 to 2002 in viewing habits that exist for all age categories.

Media 188.Describe one implication for POTUS in their use of media to promote their objectives to the public.

2008Gerrymandering 189.Define congressional reapportionment and explain one

reason why it is important to states.Gerrymandering 190.Define congressional redistricting.

Gerrymandering 191.Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.

Gerrymandering 192.Describe two limits that the US Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

Powers of POTUS

193.Describe two formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.

Powers of POTUS

194.Define mandatory spending & explain how it limits the POTUS’ ability to influence policymaking in H&S.

Powers of POTUS

195.Define party polarization & explain how it limits the POTUS’ ability to influence policymaking in Congress.

Powers of POTUS

196.Define lame-duck period & explain how it limits the POTUS’ ability to influence policymaking in Congress.

Economic Policy

197.Define fiscal policy.

Economic 198.Describe one significant way the executive branch

Policy influences fiscal policy.Economic Policy

199.Describe one significant way the legislative branch influences fiscal policy.

Economic Policy

200.Define monetary policy.

Economic Policy

201.Explain two reasons why the Federal Reserve Board is given independence in establishing monetary policy.

Voter Turnout 202.Explain how two measures taken by some states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout for African Am.

CR 203.Describe two alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changed in civil rights policies.

CR 204.Choose one form of participation and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies.

2007Elections 205.Describe the winner-take-all feature of the electoral

college.Elections 206.Explain one in which the winner-take-all feature affects

how presidential candidates run their campaigns.Elections 207.Explain one way in which the winner-take-all feature

hinders third-party candidates.Elections 208.Explain two reasons why the electoral college has not been

abolished.Con. Clause 209.Identify the clause upon which the US Supreme Court

based its decision (Engel v. Vitale; Lemon).CL 210.Describe the SCOTUS’ decision in the case you selected.

Con. Clause 211.Identify the clause upon which the US Supreme Court based its decision (Reynolds or Oregon).

CL 212.Describe the Supreme Court’s decision in the case that you selected.

Checks & Balances

213.Describe two ways in which other political institutions might limit the impact of SCOTUS decisions.

Foreign Policy 214.Describe the constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war.

Foreign Policy 215.Describe two provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit the POTUS.

Foreign Policy 216.Identify and explain two other formal powers Congress has over war making.

Federalism 217.Define federalism.


218.Explain how categorical grants have been used to increase the power of the federal government,


219.Explain how federal mandates have been used to increase the power of the federal government.


220.Explain how selective incorporation has been used to increase the power of the federal government.

Power of States 221.Explain how the Welfare Reform Act has been used to increase the power of the states.

Power of States 222.Explain how block grants have been used to increase the power of the states.

Power of States 223.Explain how the 10th amendment has been used to increase the power of the states.

2006IG Goals 224.Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the

political process.PP Goals 225.Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in

the political process.IG Tactics 226.Describe two different ways by which IG support the

fundamental goal of PP in the political process.IG Tactics 227.Explain 2 different ways in which that form helps IG to

achieve their fundamental goal in the process.Social Security 228.Define entitlement program.

Social Security 229.What is the primary source of revenue for the Social Security program?

Social Security 230.Identify one threat to the future of SS should the trends depicted in the chart above continue.

Social Security 231.Describe one demographic trend that threatens the future of SS AND explain how it is responsible for (B).

Social Security

232.Explain how any one of the trends in the chart above would change if the age of eligibility were raised.

Bureaucracy 233.Explain 2 reasons why Congress fives federal agencies policy-making discretion in executing laws.

Bureaucracy 234.Identify the policy area of the EPA & give one example of how it exercises that discretion.

Bureaucracy 235.Identify the policy area of the FCC and give one example of how it exercises that discretion.

Bureaucracy 236.Identify the policy area of the Federal Reserve and give one example of how it exercises that discretion.

Checks & Balances

237.Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.

Congress 238.Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature.

Congress 239.Identify one power unique to the House & explain why the framers gave the House that power.

Congress 240.Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power.

2005Public Opinion 241.Describe two ways in which the US Supreme Court is

insulated from public opinion.Public Opinion 242.Explain how two factors work to keep the SCOTUS from

deviating too far from public opinion.Power of Nat. Gov’t

243.Explain how the power to tax & spend has been used over time to expand federal power.


244.Explain how the elastic clause has been used over time to expand federal power.


245.Explain how the commerce clause has been used over time to expand federal power.


246.Explain how the ADA has been used to increase power of the federal gov’t relative to the states.


247.Explain how the Civil Rights Act has been used to increase power of the federal gov’t relative to the states.


248.Explain how the Clean Air Act has been used to increase power of the federal gov’t relative to the states.

CL 249.Define selective incorporation.

CL Court Cases 250.Explain how rights of criminal defendants have been incorporated. (Must include case in response)

CL Court Cases 251.Explain how the first amendment has been incorporated. (Must include case in response)

CL Court Cases 252.Explain how privacy rights have been incorporated. (Must include case in response)

Elections 253.Define the proposal of eliminating soft money.

Elections 254.Describe an argument that proponents make in favor of eliminating soft money.

Elections 255.Describe an argument that opponents make against

eliminating soft money.Elections 256.Define the proposal of limiting independent expenditures.

Elections 257.Describe an argument that proponents make in favor of limiting independent expenditures.

Elections 258.Describe an argument that opponents make against limiting independent expenditures.

Elections 259.Define the proposal of raising limits on individual contributions.

Elections 260.Describe an argument that proponents make in favor of raising limits on individual contributions.

Elections 261.Describe an argument that opponents make against raising limits on individual contributions.

2004Foreign Policy 262.Describe two formal constitutional powers the POTUS

has in making foreign policy.Foreign Policy 263.Describe two formal constitutional powers of Congress in

making foreign policy.Foreign Policy 264.Identify two informal powers of POTUS that contribute

to his advantage over Congress in conducting FP.Foreign Policy 265.Explain how each of the powers you identified in (C)

contributes to the POTUS advantage.IG Tactics 266.Describe litigation and explain why an interest group

would choose this technique.IG Tactics 267.Describe campaign contributions and explain why an

interest group would choose this technique.IG Tactics 268.Describe grassroots mobilization and explain why an

interest group would choose this technique.IG Tactics 269.Identify the tactic primarily used by the AMA and

explain why they would choose such tacticIG Tactics 270.Identify the tactic primarily used by the Sierra Club and

explain why they would choose such tactic.IG Tactics 271.Identify the tactic primarily used by the NRA and explain

why they would choose such tactic.IG Tactics 272.Identify the tactic primarily used by the NAACP and

explain why they would choose such tactic.

Elections

273.Describe the point of view expressed about minor parties in the political cartoon above.

Elections 274.Identify and explain how two rules of the US electoral system act as obstacles to minor-parties winning.

Elections 275.Describe two contributions minor parties make in spite of the institutional obstacles to their success.

Trust in Gov’t 276.Explain how divided government has contributed to a decline in trust and confidence in government.

Trust in Gov’t 277.Explain how the increased cost of election campaigns has contributed to a decline in trust & confidence.

Trust in Gov’t 278.Explain two specific consequences of the decline in trust & confidence in government for political behavior.

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