AP GOPO Unit 2

Which of the following describes the president’s Cabinet?

• It consists of career civil servants with decades of experience in government service.

• Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.

• Its members hold office for fixed terms that coincide with the president’s.

• Its members must be selected from among current or former members of Congress.

• Its members are required to approve presidential policy decisions.

The doctrine of stare decisis is significant for which of the following reasons?

• it establishes the jurisdiction of federal courts in litigation involving two or more states.

• it is the principle that affirms that courts are bound by prior decisions.

• It is the policy by which the Supreme Court decides which of the appellate cases it will hear.

• It directs states to provide a lawyer for people who cannot pay for their own legal defense.

• It holds high courts responsible for determining the constitutionality of proposed legislation before it becomes law.

Establishing the boundaries of United States congressional districts to give one party an advantage over another party is referred to as

• raiding

• apportionment

• reapportionment

• gerrymandering

• filibustering

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will spend money appropriated by Congress to maintain wildlife refuges. This action is an example of

• the power of the filibuster

• congressional oversight of the bureaucracy

• bureaucratic implementation of law

• an unfunded mandate

• an independent expenditure

The idea that judges ought to freely strike down laws that are inconsistent with their understanding of the Constitution is known as

• original intent

• judicial restraint

• judicial activism

• judicial review

• stare decisis

Which of the following identifies the formal procedure for ending a filibuster?

• Oversight

• Logrolling

• Pocket veto

• Cloture

• Discharge petition

If Congress wanted to effect a change in the Social Security payroll tax, to what congressional committee would the task initially be assigned?

• House Appropriations Committee

• Senate Appropriations Committee

• House Ways and Means Committee

• House Rules Committee

• Senate Finance Committee

Constitutional checks and balances, especially applied to the president, are designed to

• provide for a balanced budget

• minimize the threat of tyranny from any one branch of government

• ensure that the states do not become too powerful

• ensure efficient government

• ensure that the federal government is militarily strong

The practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B’s legislation, provided that Representative B will support Representative A’s legislation, is referred to as

• personal casework and services

• partisan discipline

• logrolling

• pork barrel legislation

• filibustering

Which of the following is the primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government?

• Each branch sets and approves the other’s budget.

• The branches are staffed with many of the same people.

• The branches have different constituencies with different interests.

• The branches are responsible for the selection of Cabinet-level officials.

• Each branch has the constitutional power to levy taxes.