AP Gov Midterm

Front

The Articles of Confederation attempted to create____.

Back

A firm league of friendship among the states

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation aimed to create a "firm league of friendship among the states," emphasizing cooperation while maintaining state sovereignty, rather than establishing a strong national government or centralized authority.

Front

The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues?
right of people to rebel,
scope of power of the central government,
representation of large and small states,
Need to establish national bank

Back

scope of power of the central government

Answer explanation

The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists centered on the scope of power of the central government, with Federalists advocating for a stronger central authority and Anti-Federalists fearing it would threaten individual liberties.

Front

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation? National govt lacked power to raise revenue, executive branch had too much power over legislature, judicial branch was created, federal govt had too much control over interstate commerce

Back

National govt lacked power to raise revenue

Answer explanation

The Articles of Confederation failed primarily because the national government lacked the power to raise revenue, making it difficult to fund operations and pay debts.

Front

Which is the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of democracy?

Back

Elite theory emphasizes the role of the wealthy and educated; the pluralist emphasizes the role of the interest group.

Answer explanation

Elite theory focuses on the influence of the wealthy and educated in decision-making, while pluralist theory highlights the importance of interest groups in representing diverse viewpoints within democracy.

Front

What is federalism?

Back

The split of power between the state and national govt.

Answer explanation

Federalism is defined as the split of power between the state and national government, allowing both levels to govern simultaneously within their own spheres of authority.

Front

Why is the 10th amendment important?

Back

It grants powers to the states and the people

Answer explanation

The 10th Amendment is important because it grants powers to the states and the people, ensuring that any powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for state governments and individuals.

Front

No branch of government performs the same functions as another. This is an example of ____.

Back

Separation of Powers

Answer explanation

This is an example of Separation of Powers, as it highlights that each branch of government has distinct functions, preventing any one branch from gaining too much power.

Front

In Federalist 10, James Madison argued that factions...

Back

Were bad and could be countered by a big republic

Answer explanation

In Federalist 10, Madison argued that factions are detrimental to the public good and can be mitigated by a large republic, which dilutes their influence and protects against tyranny of the majority.

Front

Which of the following was NOT a problem in the Articles of Confederation?
- Congress had no power to tax
- Unanimous consent needed for amendments
- The executive Branch was too powerful
- National gov't was far inferior to state gov'ts

Back

The executive Branch was too powerful

Answer explanation

The statement 'The executive Branch was too powerful' is incorrect regarding the Articles of Confederation, as the national government lacked a strong executive, leading to ineffective governance.

Front

What is popular Sovereignty?

Back

Power of the people

Answer explanation

Popular sovereignty refers to the principle that the power of the government comes from the people. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Power of the people', as it encapsulates the essence of this democratic concept.