AP GOV Post Test

Which of the following important functions of democracy would most likely be more difficult without political parties?

• Eliminating corruption in the bureaucracy
• Educating the public about upcoming elections
• Ensuring that only eligible voters can vote
• Reducing gridlock in Congress

Which of the following is a consequence of candidate-centered campaigns?

• The electoral success of third-party candidates sharply increases.
• Parties tighten their control over candidate fund-raising to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Candidates have less accountability for their positions because the importance of the party platform increases.
• Candidates’ ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.

Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court’s power?

• Fire and replace justices
• Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court
• Adopt new constitutional amendments
• Veto parts of the Court’s decisions

The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be

• less powerful than the executive
• slow and deliberate in the law-making process
• able to involve as many citizens as possible in the law making process
• able to ensure that all citizens are equally represented

The application of the death penalty has been limited in recent decades and cannot be applied to minors and people who are found to be mentally incompetent. Which of the following is a reason for this?

• The Supreme Court redefined what constitutes an unreasonable intrusion under the Fourth Amendment.
• The Supreme Court changed its interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
• The Fifth Amendment’s due process clause motivated state legislatures to limit the death penalty.
• The right to an attorney guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment led to limited application of the death penalty.

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of iron triangles?

• The tendency of interest groups to hire former legislators, lobbyists, and judges
• The inability of third-party candidates to garner public attention through media coverage
• The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas
• The practice of congressional leaders diverting PAC funds meant for certain popular candidates to those in more competitive races

A member of the House of Representatives has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage, but it has been in committee for 36 days and is unlikely to make it to the floor. Which of the following is the best course of action for the representative to take to get a vote on the bill?

• Presenting a cloture motion
• Placing a hold on the bill
• Introducing a concurrent resolution
• Filing for a discharge petition

Which of the following statements describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process?

• Members of the bureaucracy often lack the expertise to carry out the president’s preferred policies.
• Members of the president’s Cabinet can be removed at any time by Congress.
• Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president’s agenda.
• Congress generally gives specific details about how the laws they pass will be executed by members of the professional bureaucracy.

Which of the following actions by public school students would most likely be protected symbolic speech based on the precedent established by Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)?

• Leading prayers over the school’s public address system
• Publishing an editorial in the school newspaper
• Protesting a school board decision by disrupting a school assembly
• Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision

Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment?

• A suspect is interrogated without being informed of the right to an attorney.
• A person is tried twice for the same crime.
• A suspect’s cell phone is analyzed by police before a warrant is issued.
• A person is prosecuted for a federal crime without a jury.