AP Government 2.3-Congressional Behavior

Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) ?

• Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.

• To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state.

• There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels.

• Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause.

Which of the following best describes the holding in Baker v. Carr (1961) ?

• Unequal representation of citizens in legislative districts is unconstitutional and may be reviewed by the courts.

• Political issues such as reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering are to be resolved by the legislative branch.

• Racial gerrymandering is a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause.

• Gerrymandering that favors a single party is not subject to legal action because there is no standard to determine how a state legislative district map should be drawn.

Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962) ?

• Declared that racial gerrymandering was a violation of the due process clause.

• Stated that the Tenth Amendment exclusively reserves the power to review congressional districts to the states.

• Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts.

• Stated that the Seventeenth Amendment requires regular review of the constitutionality of congressional districts.

Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation?

• The NAACP leadership sends representatives to Washington to lobby for changes to the Voting Rights Act.

• Congress passes a bill allocating money to clean up nuclear waste sites after a wave of large-scale peaceful protests.

• A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt.

• A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.

Despite concerns raised by her constituents, a member of the House of Representatives votes in favor of a bill, believing that in the long term it is in the best interest of her constituents. This is an example of which of the following models of representation?

• Delegate

• Politico

• Trustee

• Virtual

A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this voting decision?

• Trustee

• Delegate

• Elite

• Pluralist

After extensive polling, a member of the House of Representatives learns that her constituents favor universal background checks for all gun purchases. Based on this information, the representative votes in favor of background checks in a criminal justice bill, although she personally opposes the provision. In doing so, she is acting as a

• delegate

• trustee

• politico

• committee chair

The Supreme Court’s decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993) is most applicable to which of the following scenarios?

• A public school expels students for protesting school policy.

• A state establishes a ban on carrying firearms near schools and churches.

• A state legislature approves a redistricting plan that draws district lines on basis of race.

• A group of state officials refuse to comply with federal legislation.

Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) ?

• The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional.

• The poll tax was eliminated.

• Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional.

• It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size.

Which of the following best describes gerrymandering?

• The party in power wins four or five surrounding districts by very small margins.

• The Supreme Court requires that state legislatures must adopt the doctrine of one person, one vote.

• The party in control of the state legislature draws district boundaries in such a way as to favor its own candidates in subsequent elections.

• By polling voters, party officials are able to determine how citizens will vote.