AP Final Review 2

Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to

• Override presidential vetoes
• Hold public hearings before confirming judicial appointees
• Exercise some control over executive agencies
• Allow nongovernmental agencies to defend or refute pending legislation publicly

With respect to prayer in public schools, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that

• State-sponsored prayer violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment
• State-sponsored prayer is permitted by the free exercise clause of the First Amendment
• The free exercise clause permits teachers to mandate silent prayer
• Since educational policy is controlled largely by state governments, the First Amendment does not affect school policy on prayer

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that

• Modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority
• The executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic
• Presidents have less power in handling foreign policy than in handling domestic policy
• Interest groups have too much power in the contemporary governmental system

The grandfather clause is significant in United States political history for which of the following reasons?

• It was a means whereby elderly voters were excluded from the electorate
• It was declared unconstitutional by the Fifteenth Amendment
• It was a means whereby Black citizens in southern states were disenfranchised
• It was created by the Supreme Court's decision in Plessy v. Ferguson

Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in

• Joint committees
• Select committees
• Conference committees
• Standing committees

Which of the following is a primary function of the Senate Judiciary Committee?

• Conducting oversight hearings on the Supreme Court budget
• Initiating appointments to the Supreme Court
• Conducting hearings on judicial appointments made by the president
• Conducting investigations into wrongdoing by the executive branch

Which of the following describes the social contract theory as advanced by John Locke?

• It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people
• It is an agreement between political actors to maintain their grip on power
• It is an agreement in which the government promises to provide a minimum standard of living to citizens
• It is an agreement between economic elites to maintain a stable economy

Int he United States judicial system, when a judge decides a case based on decisions rendered in similar cases in the past, the judge is following the principle of

• Amicus curiae
• Stare decisis
• Diversity
• Certiorari

After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires

• Official filing with the secretary of state
• Support by a majority vote of the people
• Signature by the president
• Ratification by three-fourths of the states

One of the best strategies that interest groups can use to achieve their goals is

• Lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy
• Pressing for changes in high-profile public policies
• Using the judiciary to invalidate federal legislation
• Running candidates for office