2019 AP Gov practice exam

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?

Delegate

Which of the following rulings is most likely to cite the supreme courts decision in Tinker v.Des monies independent Community School district (1969) as a legal precedent in support of the decision?

A ruling in favor of students to print their opinions in a school newspaper.

Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three Fifths Compromise?

Slaveholding states were able to count slaves to determine their number of senators.

The Case United States v. Lopez (1995) struck down the Gun-Free School Zones Act because

Congress exceeded its authority in the use of the commerce clause

Which of the following statements represents a trend supported by the data in the bar graph?

Both party caucuses in the House consisted of more moderate members in 2012 than in 2002.

Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely consequence for the legislative process in Congress?

An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation

A women arrested for possessing illegal substances that were obtained after a warrant less search of her home by local police. Which of the following best explains whether the evidence could be used in a criminal trial?

the exclusionary rule derived from the Fourth Amendment, prevents the evidence from being used against the suspect.

Which statement best explains the information in the graphic?

Confirmation was blocked by one party

In 2013 a parliamentary procedure was implemented in the senate that allowed a simple majority vote to end debate on Cabinet member confirmations. Which of the following best explains how the procedural change relates to the information in the graphic?

If the procedural change had not occurred, Republican senators would not have been able to immediately invoke cloture of a filibuster.

Which of the following scenarios explains how demographic factors affect voter participation in election?

Wealthier individuals are more likely to become involved in campaigns because they believe that their actions may influence the candidates.

Critics of the winner-take all aspect of the electoral college are most likely to make which of the following arguments?

A state's presidential election results rarely mirror a state's congressional election results.

In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton argued that the federal judiciary "is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." Which of the following statements represents a reason he gave for this argument?

It must depend on the executive for enforcement of its decisions.

The Supreme Court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) that a citizen's right to keep and bear arms at home for self-defense is protected from state and federal infringement. Which of the following is most relevant to that decision?

Selective incorporation

Which of the following statements regarding political parties is true based on the graphic?

The Republican Party initially emerged as an antislavery political party

The graphic illustrates which of the following statements about political parties?

Federalism leads to a multiparty system in which at least three parties generally compete for control of local, state, and national government

A political science professor is researching the effects that the Fifteenth and Twenty-Sixth Amendments have had on the American political system. Which of the following is the most likely reason the professor is researching these amendments?

to study the expansions of voting rights

South Carolina passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate?

Concurrent powers

Which of the following scenarios best explains the inclusion of Title IX as part of the Education Amendments of 1972?

Members of Congress added the amendment to the bill in response to social movements seeking to address inequality in education for women.

Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers?

Congress requesting that the Supreme Court review the constitutionality of a state gun-control law.

Which of the following statements about Americans' trust in the mass media is best supported by the data in the graph?

It generally decreased over time

Which best describes a likely reason for the information depicted in the graph?

An increase in concerns over media bias

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances?

A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.

On November 2, 2014, a Gallup poll reported that 51 percent of Americans support legalizing marijuana, while 47 percent oppose legalization. The reported margin of sampling error was +/- 4 percent. Which of the following inferences can be made from the poll?

It is unclear whether more people support marijuana legalization than oppose it

Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting?

President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes

Which constitutional principle best explains the differences in poverty rates presented in the map?

federalism

Which of the following statements best explains the diagram?

The United States District Court is the starting place for all cases going to the United States Supreme Court.

Which of the following describes the origin of the United States court system presented in the diagram?

Article III of the Constitution established a Supreme Court, while other federal courts were established by Congress.

Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?

The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.

Which of the following illustrates a situation that would not be protected by the First Amendment due to time, place, and manner restrictions?

Antibusiness protestors are arrested and prosecuted for shutting down major intersections in New York City's Times Square during rush hour.

Congress passes a law requiring that all public accommodations provide access for people with disabilities. The United States Supreme Court rules that the law does not apply to the airline industry. Which of the following is the best way for Congress to provide people with disabilities access to the airline industry in light of the Court's ruling?

Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities

Which of the following scenarios best explains how the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment has influenced political behavior?

Civil Rights leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., cited constitutional arguments as a basis for opposing segregation and inequality.

The Washington Post receives a top secret report that details how the executive branch mishandled a deal made with a foreign nation regarding nuclear weapons. The executive branch attempts to stop the publishing of the report, but the publishers cite the precedent in New York Times Company v. United States (1971) establishing which of the following legal rules?

heavy presumption of prior restraint

A person votes for Democratic candidates based on the belief that the policies of the Democratic Party will be personally beneficial. This type of voting matches which of the following voting behavior models?

Retrospective voting

In May of 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that the National Security Agency's collection of Americans' phone records was in violation of the USA PATRIOT Act. Which of the following core values are involved in the national debate regarding the surveillance program referred to in this scenario?

Liberty versus stability and order

which of the following accurately compares the powers of congress and the president?

Congress: Budgetary Policy President: Cabinet appointments.

Which of the following is a correct comparison between the United States Constitution and the Articles of Confederation?

US Constitution=Granted Congress the power to levy taxes

Articles of Confederation=Granted states alone the power to levy taxes

Which of the following is an accurate description of the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate?

House: initiates all revenue bills. Senate: confirms presidential appointments

Which of the following is a correct comparison of the positions of libertarians and conservatives on matters of social policy?

Libertarians support gay marriageConservatives oppose gay marriage

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the checks held by the legislative and judicial branches?

Legislative checks to the judicial branch (impeaching and removing federal judges) - judicial checks to the legislative branch (declaring an entire law unconstitutional)

Which of the following scenarios is most closely related to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ?

A member of Congress establishes a political action committee to gain influence within the chamber.

A labor union spends millions of dollars to independently run negative advertisements about a presidential candidate shortly before the election.

A member of Congress who advocates for a more Keynesian approach to solving a recession will likely support which of the following policies?

Increasing federal spending on infrastructure programs

Which of the following is a limitation of the data when drawing a conclusion about the most important problem facing the country in 2017 ?

The data were collected in a short time frame, which does not reveal full-year trends.

Which of the following represents the most likely way the information in the table will be used?

Congress will use the data to suggest that there is support for their legislative proposals.

A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority, but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend

The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.

Arizona enacted an immigration law in 2010, claiming the legislation complemented existing federal law. The Obama administration disagreed, claiming the state law conflicted with national law. Which clause of the Constitution did the Supreme Court most likely use to strike down a section of the state law?

Supremacy