AP Government Exam Review

Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10?

• A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism.

• Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics.

• The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities.

• Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny.

• The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.

Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation?

• The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue.

• The executive branch was granted too much power over the legislature.

• The federal government had too much control over interstate commerce.

• The judicial branch was elected and did not consistently adhere to rule of law.

Which of the following forms of financial aid from the national government gives the states the broadest discretion in the spending of money?

• Categorical grants-in-aid

• Foreign aid

• Unfunded mandates

• Block grants

• Military funding

Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he

• believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights

• argued that a national military force was needed to deal with insurrections

• argued that the laws passed by the national government were supreme over state laws

• believed that compromise between the branches of government would ensure a limited government

Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of the political cartoon?

• State governments have used the Tenth Amendment to override the federal government’s mandates.

• State governments are unwilling to share their budgetary surpluses with other states.

• State governments prefer federal funding but do not want federal oversight over how the money is spent.

• The fiscal irresponsibility of state governments has led to increased federal regulation on their budgetary priorities.

Which of the following policies would the states most likely prefer according to the political cartoon?

• Federal mandates

• Regulatory preemption

• Block grants

• Categorical grants

Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government?

• The commerce clause of the Constitution

• The habeas corpus clause of the Constitution

• The bill of attainder clause of the Constitution

• The First Amendment

• The Fifth Amendment

Which of the following pair of Supreme Court cases best illustrates how views of federalism have shifted in the United States?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which of the following is a consequence of having concurrent powers within a federal system of government?

• The executive branch can expand its control of the policy agenda.

• States can pass laws that override the laws of the federal government.

• Citizens and interest groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points.

• Members of Congress can cultivate close relationships with power brokers in their regions.

The decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) reflected new ideas about federalism at the time that can be best characterized by which of the following?

• A consolidation of power in the national government based on national supremacy

• Acknowledgement of the limitations of national power and a recognition of the reserved power of the states.

• A delegation of power from the state governments to the federal government, increasing the power of the United States government

• An increase in cooperative federalism, where power and duties are shared between the federal and state governments