AP Gov Unit 2 Test 1 Review

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best explains why the framers designed the House of Representatives with shorter terms than the Senate?

• To ensure that members of the House would be more responsive to public opinion.

• To make it easier for members of the House to pass legislation quickly.

• To limit the influence of political parties in the legislative process.

• To allow the president to exert more control over the House.

Multiple Choice

The differences in debate rules between the House and the Senate can affect the policymaking process in which of the following ways?

• The House’s strict rules make it harder to pass budget bills.

• The Senate’s rules require unanimous consent before any bill can be introduced.

• The House’s rules allow minority-party members to block legislation indefinitely.

• The Senate’s unlimited debate can be used to delay or block legislation.

Multiple Choice

The Senate’s six-year terms and statewide constituencies were intended to serve which of the following purposes?

• To make the Senate more insulated from shifts in public opinion.

• To ensure the Senate would act as a check on the judicial branch.

• To encourage senators to focus primarily on local district needs.

• To give the president greater influence over the legislative branch.

Multiple Choice

One major difference in the powers of the House and Senate is that the Constitution grants the Senate the sole power to:

• originate all revenue bills

• impeach federal officials

• confirm presidential appointments and ratify treaties

• initiate the process of overriding a presidential vetoes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements best explains the impact the necessary and proper clause has had on congressional power?

• It has weakened the power of Congress by restricting it to only those powers listed in the Constitution

• It has broadened the power of Congress by allowing it to limit the executive branch’s ability to commit the United States to an armed conflict

• It has weakened the power of Congress by allowing the Supreme Court to declare any law unconstitutional

• It has broadened the power of Congress to enact legislation addressing a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an enumerated power Congress has in making foreign policy?

• Committing troops to military endeavors

• Negotiating treaties with other countries

• Appointing foreign policy officials

• Confirming ambassadors to foreign countries

Multiple Choice

The House Rules Committee has the power to:

• end a filibuster and force a vote

• stop a bill before it gets to committee

• determine how long a debate will last on a bill

• force all representatives to vote on a bill

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the Conference Committee?

• House and Senate members conference over whether killed bills should return to floor action

• It sets the parameters for floor debate on a bill in the House

• To determine a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a bill

• Members determine whether or not a bill is worthy of floor action

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an action that can stop a filibuster? (It requires a three-fifths vote)

• unanimous consent agreement

• discharge petition

• cloture

• termination request

Multiple Choice

Which of the following political challenges is most likely to arise as mandatory spending continues to grow as a share of the federal budget?

• Lawmakers may face pressure to cut popular entitlement programs, which could be politically unpopular.

• Congress will have more discretion to increase funding for defense and infrastructure.

• Voters will have less interest in federal budget debates since most spending is fixed by law.

• The president will gain the constitutional authority to reduce funding for mandatory programs unilaterally.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following situations in the table above best illustrates divided government?

• 1993–1994

• 2009–2010

• 1995–2000

• 2017–2018

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a common consequence of divided government as shown in the table?

• Congress is more likely to pass major legislation quickly and with bipartisan support.

• Policy gridlock becomes more frequent as the president and Congress pursue different agendas.

• The president gains the constitutional power to veto legislation without the possibility of override.

• Congress loses the ability to use its oversight powers against the executive branch.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a way divided government affects presidential appointments?

• The president is more likely to choose judges with moderate political ideologies.

• The Senate is more likely to confirm a nominee if the government is divided.

• The House becomes the primary chamber responsible for confirming nominees.

• The Supreme Court takes over the confirmation process during divided government.

Multiple Choice

Which constitutional principle was most directly reinforced by the Supreme Court’s decision in Baker v. Carr (1962)?

• Separation of powers

• Federalism

• Judicial restraint

• Equal Protection Clause

Multiple Choice

A state legislature draws oddly shaped districts that link distant communities of the same racial group even though other compact alternatives exist.
Which of the following describes the most likely judicial response based on Shaw v. Reno?

• The plan would be upheld because state legislatures have plenary power over redistricting.

• The plan would be struck down because racial gerrymandering without a compelling interest violates the Equal Protection Clause.

• The plan would be upheld as long as each district has equal population.

• The plan would be struck down only if the governor vetoes it.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a trustee's approach in a legislative role?

• Voting strictly based on party lines

• Voting based on personal judgment and what they believe is best

• Voting based on the majority opinion of their constituents

• Voting to maintain political alliances