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WorksheetsAP Government Semester 1 Review
Total questions: 145
Worksheet time: 2hrs 4mins
Which of the following provides an example of federalism in action?
a presidential veto
the formal amendment process
the process by which a case reaches the SCOTUS
the impeachment process
The marble cake analogy, in which the responsibilities of different levels of government can be unclear and indistinct, is MOST applicable to
cooperative federalism
dual federalism
judicial federalism
horizontal federalism
In which case did SCOTUS strike down the National Gun Free School Zones Act as an unconstitutional application of the commerce clause?
Gibbons v. Ogden
McCulloch v. Maryland
South Dakota v. Dole
U.S. v. Lopez
Clauses in national laws that direct state and local governments to do something specified by the national government are known as
declarations
supplementary clauses
categorical grants
mandates
What type of government transfer of funds gives states the MOST freedom in the use of money?
categorical formula grants
PELL grants
categorical project grants
block grants
Which of the following pairs was a compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention?
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise and The Three-Fifths Compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise and The Compromise of 1850
The Great (Connecticut) Compromise and The Missouri Compromise
Compromise on the importation of slaves and The Compromise Tariff
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of state and federal government?
State governments regulate things like drinking age and driver's licenses, while Federal governments regulate things like tariffs and citizenship requirements
State governments derive most of their power from the Tenth Amendment, while the Federal government derives most of its power from the Declaration of Independence
State governments cannot tax citizens' income, but can tax sale of goods, while the Federal government can tax citizens' income, but cannot tax the sale of goods
State governments are not required to abide by Supreme Court rulings, as it is a national court, but the Federal government must obey Supreme Court rulings, as it is a national court.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the federal government's powers under the U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?
Under the U.S. Constitution, the government could rise money through taxation, whereas under the Articles of Confederation, the government could only raise money through tariffs.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the federal government was in charge of printing and coining money, whereas under the Articles of Confederation, each state was in charge of printing and coining money.
Under the U.S. Constitution, amendments were harder to ratify, whereas under the Articles of Confederation, amendments were easier to ratify.
Under the U.S. Constitution, key legislation requires a majority of either house to pass Congress, whereas under the Articles of Confederation, key legislation required a two-thirds vote to pass Congress.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the Federalists and Antifederalists?
Federalists thought direct popular rule is necessary, whereas Antifederalists thought direct popular rule is dangerous.
Federalists thought the size of the Republic must be large, whereas Antifederalists thought the size of the Republic must be limited.
Federalists thought strong state power is desirable, whereas Antifederalists thought strong state power is undesirable.
Federalists thought the Articles of Confederation were deeply flawed, whereas Antifederalists thought the Articles of Confederation were functional.
The list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence best helps support which of the following claims?
The King of England had broken the social contract with the colonists.
The U.S. will take action to uphold ad extend human rights for all people.
All those who join the revolution will be honored.
The British must make peace with the colonists in order to preserve a functional government.
The U.S. government is based on many different ideas, one of them being "republicanism." Which quote from the Constitution best demonstrates the idea of "republicanism?"
"The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all impeachments."
"The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes.
"The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States."
"This Constitution, and the Laws if the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land."
Which of the following enumerated powers was most relevant in the McCulloch v. Maryland case?
The ability to coin money
The ability to conduct foreign relations
The ability to control interstate commerce
The ability to establish lower courts
The United States v. Lopez case is different than McCulloch v. Maryland because in the Lopez case
a 4-4 deadlocked decision was the result.
the court was unwilling to apply the Full Faith and Credit Clause to support the state's argument.
the state government did not have legal standing to bring the case to the high court.
the court ruled that the Commerce Clause could not be used to expand federal powers.
Which of the following statements is true about the Great Compromise?
The House of Representatives will be filled with two representatives from each state
The Senate will be filled mainly by the bigger populated states
3/5th of slaves will be counted to help fill the Senate
States will have equal voting power in the Senate
What case established that the Necessary and Proper Clause could be used to extend the national government's power beyond its expressed authority?
McCulloch v. Maryland
Marbury v. Madison
New York v. United States
Gonzalez v. Raich
Roe v, Wade
The following idea would most likely be expressed by, "The Constitution contains no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, trial by jury, and the right against searches and seizures."
Federalist
Antifederalist
What describes the perspective of Anti-Federalists on the ratification of the US Constitution?
It should never become law
There should be no changes
Individual rights should be included
The central government should be stronger
A clause in Article I, section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the power to do whatever it deems necessary and constitutional to meet its enumerated obligations; the basis for the implied powers, allows for a broad interpretation of Federal power.
Supremacy Clause
Necessary and Proper Clause
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Privileges and Immunities Clause
Powers granted directly to the national government by the Constitution are called
reserved powers.
enumerated (expressed powers).
denied powers.
implied powers.
The Seventeenth Amendment altered the original structure of dual federalism toward shared federalism by
allowing the direct election of senators
creating a national income tax
allowing the federal government to prevent the sale of alcohol
providing due process to state law
The 10th Amendment was primarily intended to
give people the right to vote on important issues.
limit the rights of citizens.
place limits on the powers of the national government.
Assure national gov would control state governments.
The common theme of the 15,19,24, & 26th Amendments is
place limits on immigrants coming to the US
extend voting rights to groups that were formerly disenfranchised.
prevents a strong central government from threatening people's rights.
strengthen the rights of persons accused of a crime.
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires
official filing with the Secretary of State
support by a majority vote of the people.
signature of the President.
ratification by 3/4 of the states.
Which would be an effect of the 24th amendment?
Assuring equal access to places of public accommodation regardless of race.
Eliminating poll taxes.
Reduced barriers to political participation on basis of gender.
Increased the importance of the Speaker of the House.
Which representative democracy plans favored large states and which favored small states?
New York Plan and Rhode Island Plan
Wyoming Plan and South Dakota Plan
Pennsylvania Plan and Delaware Plan
Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan
What is a government that is run by the people, either directly or indirectly?
Oligarchy
Monarchy
Autocracy
Democracy
What are agencies of socialization?
The Department of American Socialization (DAS)
The Agencies for Social and Economic development
The family, school, religion and other social institutions that transmit values from one generation to the next
All the above
Which socialization factor is the first to influence the political attitudes of individuals?
Family
The President
Elementary school teacher
Sesame Street
What is political efficacy?
The feeling that one’s politics beliefs are better than another’s.
The attachment a person has to a particular political party
The feeling that one’s political participation makes a difference
None of the above
What are demographics?
Demographics are the “measure of the people”
Demographics are the social indicators or socio-economic status (SES) of individuals in the population
Demographics indicate race, class, family, religion, residence, age, gender etc
All the above
What term describes how we define ourselves, define others and make sense of the world around us, and then pass these values from one generation to the next?
Collective memory
Culture
Socialization
None of the above
Where in the Constitution does it protect the rights of the people to participate in politics and government?
The 1st Amendment
The 14th Amendment
The 15th Amendment
All the above
Which theory of participation says that power is concentrated in the hands of a few rich and powerful individuals?
Rational actor theory
Elitism
Pluralism
All the above
Which of the following is the best definition of public opinion?
the sum of many individual views
what journalists think about issues
the beliefs of one or more interest groups
how politicians express common attitudes
Which of the following is the most important reason why a scientific poll is more accurate than a straw poll?
the type of questions asked
the number of people surveyed
the method of sampling employed
the means of contacting people used
How can the company conducting an opinion poll reduce the margin of error?
ask fewer questions
survey a larger sample
use mail instead of phone
limit the survey to college graduates
How do political analysts determine the voting patterns of women and men?
conduct exit polls
examine the ballots
review election results
interview election judges
The accuracy of a poll is usually expressed in terms of
census parameter
population error
sampling error
interview error
What might be the chief problem with an opinion poll conducted on a downtown street at the noon hour?
Polled individuals will feel a time pressure that will affect their responses
Logistical difficulties will prevent the collection of a large-enough sample size
It will include a disproportionate number of business employees on their lunch break
It will include a disproportionate number of women and older adults
To assess public opinion, political observers today rely primarily on
election returns
newspaper editorials
voter registration drives
opinion polls
Increasing refusal rates have raised questions about the future of
street polling
telephone polling
internet polling
exit polling
A time-honored method of interpreting public opinion is
newspaper editorials
voter registration drives
election returns
interest group activities
Pollsters often experience a refusal rate of at least ________ percent
10
25
50
85
The larger the sample, the smaller the sampling error.
true
false
An _________________________ is any person, who expresses their opinions via the mass media.
pundit
politician
opinion leader
interest group
Which of the following best represents an example of the process of political socialization?
As a result of his strongly conservative views, an individual limits his news sources to only those that have a conservative leaning in their reporting.
A member of Congress makes her staff members available to provide capitol tours to her constituents and their families.
An employee at the Department of Defense develops a strong working relationship with defense contractors that ultimately result in his receiving a job offer from the company.
A high school student joins a Young Politicians club at her school and develops specific positions on a number of political issues.
Which of the following correctly identifies a factor that is a significant influence on the development of individual political attitudes, and one that is not?
Religious upbringing is an important source of influence, while interaction with peers is NOT a significant influence.
Reporting by the media is an important source of influence, while education about the political system is NOT a significant influence.
Relationships with family are an important source of influence, while membership in civic organizations is NOT a significant influence.
Major political events are an important source of influence, while laws related to voter registration are NOT a significant influence.
In which of the following situations would public opinion polls most likely affect the way a member of the House of Representatives from New York votes on legislation?
Nationwide polling indicates that Americans overwhelmingly favor passage of the legislation.
Polling within New York indicates that voters support passage of the legislation.
Public opinion polls within the member's New York district reflect shifting opinions on the legislation.
A public opinion poll in the member's New York district indicates that voters oppose the legislation.
Which of the following represents a typical liberal viewpoint on the right to privacy?
The right to privacy is not expressly outlined in the Constitution and should be overturned in future precedent.
The right to privacy should apply to one's home and internet usage, but not to birth control or abortion.
The right to privacy is implied in the Constitution and should be protected from birth control to cell phones.
The federal government should be able to monitor a citizen's activity at all times through computers, cameras and phones.
Which of the following best represents a typical conservative viewpoint on environmental regulation?
Those making environmental regulations should take more consideration to the impact on businesses and corporations.
Environmental regulation is necessary to protect the environment from destruction at the hands of businesses.
Environmental regulation should be handled by the corporations themselves and not something forced upon them.
The United States should sign environmental regulation treaties to ensure that our policy is enforced by the international community.
Which of the following correctly describes conservative and liberal positions on social issues?
Conservatives believe poverty can best be solved through private charity, while liberals believe government programs are needed to help fight poverty.
Conservatives believe civil rights protections should be expanded to include homosexuals, while liberals believe civil rights legislation improperly increases the power of the federal government.
Conservatives believe increased environmental protections are necessary to limit climate change, while liberals believe government regulations are overly burdensome on businesses.
Conservatives believe abortion right should be protected, while liberals believe access to abortion should be restricted.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of representative democracies?
In a pluralist democracy conflict is unlikely, whereas in an elite democracy conflict arises from an overabundance of choice.
In a pluralist democracy conflict may arise and compromise is required, whereas in an elite democracy elites are willing to bargain with the broader public when making policy decisions.
In a pluralist democracy interest groups actively compete in the political arena, whereas in an elite democracy a small number of powerful elites have the most influence.
In a pluralist democracy small groups comprised of upper class rule according to self-interest, whereas in an elite democracy interest groups compete to promote policy preferences.
A candidate running for President wants to better understand how her target voters obtain their political beliefs. Her campaign polls 500 voters to ask them about this subject. The majority of those surveyed will likely align with those of
their former schools and teachers
their friends on social media
their favorite media outlet
their parents
Conservatives are typically in favor of limited government. However, if a conservative were to compromise on this value, it would probably be in the interest of
free enterprise, such as requiring disclosures of stock trades
equality of opportunity, such as promoting affirmative action programs
individualism, such as ensuring a woman's right to choose
the rule of law, such as extending surveillance powers over suspected terrorists
As Americans reach middle and old age, it is generally true that they become more
individualistic
influenced by friends and peers
conservative
culturally aware
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graph?
Fewer national news organizations represent the Republican Party than the Democratic Party
Trust in information from national news media is increasingly related to partisan affiliation
Republicans placed more trust in the information from national news media in 2017 than in 2016
Democrats are more engaged with national media coverage than are Republicans
“I believe great decisions are made with care, made with conviction, not made with polls. I do not need to take your pulse before I know my own mind. I do not reinvent myself at every turn. I am not running in borrowed clothes. When I act, you will know my reasons.” -George W. Bush, Acceptance Speech, Republican National Convention, August 3, 2000
Which of the following statements best summarizes Governor Bush’s argument?
He does not use polls as they are often unreliable
He uses polls to defend his policies against Congressional opposition
He uses polls to inform the media of his policy stances
He does not use polls to decide his stance on policy
An animal rights organization conducts a random digit dialing survey, asking 1,500 respondents to answer the following question:
“Should the United States repeal a law that requires responsible dog owners to pay for expensive and invasive surgery on a dog to prevent them from fathering cute puppies?”
The organization reported a sampling error of ±4% and published its findings in the following chart.
A pollster might claim that this poll is unreliable for which of the following reasons?
The poll used a biased question that strongly influenced respondents to have one opinion
The poll was conducted by random digit dialing system, making it hard to track the demographics of respondents
The poll did not report a sampling error, refusing to show the margin of error
The poll’s sample size was too small to be considered a true representative sample
Which of the following statements best describes a trend in the line graph above?
Support for gun control legislation has consistently hovered around 60% in the period shown
Opposition to gun control legislation decreased substantially from 2017 to 2018
Opposition to gun control legislation generally increased in the period shown.
Support for gun control legislation generally increased in this period
Which kind of education combs the social sciences, philosophies, and humanities?
Civic education
Liberal education
Public education
All the above
What is used to give politicians society's beliefs so that they know how they can direct public policy?
civil rights
ideology
public opinion polls
straw polls
What is the most important thing that predicts how voter preference?
age
gender
race/ethnicity
geography
What is the term for a set of beliefs and values that are shared by the population (example freedom and equality)?
political efficacy
political trust
political socialization
political culture
Which of the following would be a reason that would most likely have someone vote?
higher level of education
lower level of education
public opinion
poll taxes
What is the thing that affects agenda setting the most?
family
media
opinion leader
peers
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graph above and your knowledge of political socialization?
Religious people are more likely to vote Democrat than unaffiliated people because they heavily support same-sex marriage
Religious people are more likely to vote Republican than unaffiliated people because they heavily support same-sex marriage
A person’s attitude about same-sex marriage has nothing to do with their religious preferences
A person’s attitude about same-sex marriage can depend on which religious organization they take part in
“Paid family leave won’t only make life easier for Moms and Dads – it will also keep skilled, talented Americans in the workforce and grow our economy. That’s why every other advanced country already has it.”
Hillary Clinton in a speech in Warren, Michigan, source: Newsweek
This quote is an example of which of the following?
The values of the United States have influenced political attitudes in other countries
The values of the United States have had no influence on the political attitudes of other countries
The values of the United States have remained unchanged as the rest of the world has participated in globalization
The values of other countries have influenced political attitudes in the United States
News coverage that focuses on who is ahead rather than on the issues
Horse-race Journalism (Scorekeeper)
Gatekeeper
Watchdog
Media Bias
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy
Political Party
Interest Group
Political Action Committee
Linkage Institutions
The people chosen to cast each state's votes in a presidential election. Each state can cast one electoral vote for each senator and representative it has. The District of Columbia has three electoral votes, even though it cannot elect a representative or senator.
Mid-term Election
Critical Election
Electoral College
Presidential Primaries
Analyze the political cartoon and give your best interpretation of the cartoonist's political attitude.
The cartoonist is positive toward's the president's ideas and sees them as inventive and progressive.
The cartoonist is negative toward's the president's ideas and sees them as rooted in fantasy.
The cartoonist is neutral on the president's ideas and doesn't try to cast them in any particular light.
What conclusion can be drawn from analyzing the chart?
The majority of Americans take get involved in the political process through donating money to a campaign.
Volunteering for a political campaign is the way that most baby boomers participate in politics.
Attendance at political rallies has increased in the last decade.
Casting a vote is the primary way that most Americans participate in government.
The ideals of a party make up its __________.
values
platform
website
stance
Which statement best explains what typically occurs when parties such as the Green Party gain popularity?
The donations to campaign funds are more limited.
Voter turnout for both parties often declines.
The major party candidates often have votes taken away.
Moderate voters are more likely to participate.
One purpose of political parties is to..
Cast electoral votes
Administer election tests
Set the age for voting
Recruit and nominate candidates
The type of election in which members from the same Political Party challenge each other for their party's endorsement in the next election.
General Election
Intra-Party Election
Semi-Final Election
Primary Election
The ability of the news media, by covering stories about some topics and not others, to shape the public agenda
Horse-race Journalism (Scorekeeper)
Gatekeeper
Watchdog
Media Bias
Which statement best explains how third parties can have a positive effect on national politics?
Third parties often bring attention to topics that are unpopular or unknown
Third parties shift voters’ attention away from major party candidate
Third parties promote the concerns of special interest groups
Third parties help bridge the gap between state and federal legislators
The Supremacy Clause states that
state laws are superior to federal laws
federal laws are superior to state laws
expressed powers are superior to implied powers
Illinois is superior to Huntley
What did the Motor Voter Act do?
It requires you to renew your driver's license in order to vote.
It requires states to transport you to the polls on election day.
It requires states to let you register to vote when you apply for or renew your driver's license.
It requires you to have a state ID to vote.
These people are calling on behalf of a political candidate. Why is this an example of traditional participation?
Because their involvement can have a direct influence on the political process.
Because their involvement will have no influence on the political process.
Because the telephone is considered a traditional form of communication that is now outdated.
Which of these examples is NOT considered a form of online participation?
Distributing information about a proposed law on a website.
Posting a video on YouTube endorsing a mayoral candidate.
Tweeting support for a protest movement.
Mailing a letter to a local congressman asking him to propose new legislation.
What conclusion can be drawn from analyzing the chart?
The majority of Americans take get involved in the political process through donating money to a campaign.
Volunteering for a political campaign is the way that most baby boomers participate in politics.
Attendance at political rallies has increased in the last decade.
Casting a vote is the primary way that most Americans participate in government.
According to the bar graph, voter turnout in the United States can be described as:
Higher than that of most other democratic nations.
Very comparable to European nations like France, Germany and Spain.
Low compared to most other democratic nations around the world.
Higher in 2008 than it was in 1945.
How are Political candidates officially nominated
After a series of caucuses and primary elections delegates name their candidates at a "Nomination Convention"
Candidates eventually force out weaker opponents
Candidates must win WWE Summerslam
Political parties distribute literature about their candidates in order to —
recruit individuals to run for office
educate the electorate about campaign issues
help new residents register to vote
assist people in getting to their polling places
