AP Government Exam Review 3

In Roe v Wade the majority of Supreme Court justices determined that 

• a constitutional right to privacy necessitated making contraceptives legal
• abortions could be performed only during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy
• the United States Constitution implies a right to privacy and thus made abortion legal
• a husband is allowed to veto his wife's decision to have an abortion

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
• seek judicial opinioni on the constitutionality of pending legislation

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

• state-sponsored prayer violates the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment
• state sponsored prayer is permitted by the free exercise clause of the 1st Amendment
• since educational policy is controlled largely by state governments, the 1st Amendment does not affect school policy on prayer
• in school districts in which local authorities can demonstrate that all students belong to a single religion, mandated prayer is permissible

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
• the courts have few means of limiting presidential power

The grandfather clause is significant in the 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 the 5th Amendment
• it was a means whereby Black citizens om 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
• conducting investigations into allegedly subversive activities
• 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 was an agreement between political actors to maintain their grip on power
• It is an agreement in which the government promises to protect the natural rights of people
• 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

In the 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 of the president
• ratification by 3/4 of the states