ap gov unit 1

John Locke’s conception of natural rights—consisting of life, liberty, and property—are found most explicitly in which foundational document?

Answer: The Declaration of Independence

Brutus and all Antifederalists argued for:

Answer: The citizens of New York to reject the Constitution.

Which of the following would be an exclusive power of the federal government?

Answer: To create a process to gain citizenship.

Which pair is a correct statement of powers in the system of checks and balances?

Answer: President: veto legislation; Congress: override a veto.

According to James Madison in Federalist No. 45, the national government will exercise its powers primarily in the area of:

Answer: Foreign affairs.

In the Declaration of Independence, “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are an example of:

Answer: Natural rights.

A specific power denied to the national government under the Articles of Confederation was the power to:

Answer: Tax.

Which pair is correct in regard to the amendment process?

Answer: Two-thirds of both houses of Congress propose an amendment; three-fourths of state legislatures ratify a proposed amendment.

In 2016, Donald Trump won the presidential election despite Hillary Clinton winning more popular votes. This was the result of:

Answer: The winner-take-all system used by most states in the Electoral College.

Robert Dahl’s excerpt argues that the United States has a fundamental problem in:

Answer: Representing all citizens equally regardless of where they live.

Which pair correctly describes representation created by the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?

Answer: House representation is based on state population; Senate representation is equal for each state.

Which statement provides the best evidence that the United States is a pluralist democracy?

Answer: The number of interest groups increased dramatically in the late twentieth century.

The No Child Left Behind Act required states to administer standardized exams or risk losing federal education funds. This is an example of:

Answer: The national government using the grant process to influence state behavior.

In Federalist No. 10, Madison states that a minority faction can be defeated by the majority through regular voting. This is an example of:

Answer: Republicanism.

States generally prefer block grants over categorical grants because block grants:

Answer: Give states greater flexibility in using the funds than categorical grants do.

Which scenario best represents how the Fourteenth Amendment can be used to limit state power?

Answer: A civil rights group sues a state to challenge a state law that separates boys and girls in science and math classes.

The conflict depicted in the marijuana enforcement cartoon is best explained as a result of which political concept?

Answer: Concurrent powers.

In checks and balances, what check can the judicial branch exercise over the executive and legislative branches?

Answer: Exercise judicial review.

The Declaration of Independence is the basis for which principle of American government?

Answer: Popular sovereignty.

According to the graph of total dollars spent on elections, which statement is true?

Answer: In general, both presidential and congressional campaign spending has increased over time.

During the 1950s, the Supreme Court used judicial review to strike down racial segregation. Which statement best explains this situation?

Answer: Checks and balances and the separation of powers allowed the public to influence policy through the courts.

Which statement best represents the artist’s point of view in the electronic-surveillance cartoon?

Answer: In the recent past, the government has engaged in electronic surveillance of citizens without their knowledge.

The president can check the power of the judicial branch by:

Answer: Nominating justices.

According to the state-revenue pie chart, what is the largest contributor to state revenue?

Answer: Intergovernmental grants.

Which provision of the Constitution best supports the elitist theory of representative democracy?

Answer: Members of the judicial branch are not elected by citizens.

If a president promised cabinet positions to donors in exchange for campaign contributions, what outcome would the Framers probably expect?

Answer: The president would be impeached and removed from office.

If candidates who receive the most campaign contributions from wealthy donors tend to win elections, which theory of representative democracy does this support?

Answer: Elite democracy.

A chart showing K–12 education funded by local, state, and federal revenue best illustrates which political concept?

Answer: Concurrent powers.

Why are so few proposed constitutional amendments actually ratified?

Answer: The amendment process requires supermajorities in both Congress and among the state legislatures.

Which court case could be used as precedent for the Supreme Court to overturn a state law legalizing recreational marijuana?

Answer: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)