AP Government Overview

Which of the following constitutional principles most directly addresses the relationship between the national and state governments?

• The Bill of Rights
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
• Federalism

Which of the following is a fundamental element of the United States Constitution?

• Recognition of the centrality of political parties in governemnt
• Division of government authority across political institutions
• An executive branch that is more powerful than the legislature
• Direct election of members of the executive brach

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an exampleof

• state supremacy
• horizontal federalism
• dual federalism
• a federal mandate

The Americans with Disabilities Act, which provides protections for the disabled, is an exampleof

• state supremacy
• horizontal federalism
• dual federalism
• a federal mandate

Giving state governments greater discretion in deciding how to achieve the specific goals of welfare reform is an example of

• devolution
• an unfunded mandate
• implied powers
• dual federalism

The Articles of Confederation implemented the principle of

• a strong national government 
• state sovereignty
• universal suffrage
• an independent judiciary

Many scholars argue that categorical grants-in-aid do which of the following?

• Giver states far too much power over national monies
• Broaden state power beyond that outlined in the Constitution
• Weaken the power of state governors and legislators
• Strengthen the impact of the 10th Amendment

In the United States political system, the term Federalism refers to

• limits on the powers of the state governments
• limits on the powers of the national government
• the division of powers between the levels of government
• the legal authority of the courts to hear cases

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution?

• A requirement that states lower their legal drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving funds through federal highway grant programs
• Media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period
• The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate
• The election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election

In a federal system of government, political power is primarily

• vested in local governments
• vested in the regional governments
• divided between the central government and regional governments
• divided between regional governments and local governments