ap government test prep topics everything you wanted to know about ap government but were afraid to...
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AP Government Test Prep AP Government Test Prep TopicsTopics
Everything you wanted to Everything you wanted to know about AP Government know about AP Government
but were afraid to askbut were afraid to ask
Issues and Theories involved in the Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the framing and ratification of the
ConstitutionConstitutionArticles of Confederation (especially Articles of Confederation (especially weaknesses)weaknesses)Shay’s Rebellion (rationale for Shay’s Rebellion (rationale for convention)convention)Characteristics of delegatesCharacteristics of delegatesOrdered, limited, balanced Ordered, limited, balanced government (how was this government (how was this achieved?)achieved?)Compromises (what did they settle?)Compromises (what did they settle?)
Issues and Theories involved in the Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the framing and ratification of the
ConstitutionConstitution
Federalists v. Anti Federalists Federalists v. Anti Federalists (leaders and positions of each)(leaders and positions of each)
Arguments offered in Arguments offered in FederalistFederalist Papers (especially #s 10, 51, 78)Papers (especially #s 10, 51, 78)
Bill of RightsBill of Rights
The nature and political impact of The nature and political impact of federalismfederalism
DefinitionDefinitionAlternativesAlternativesAdvantages and DisadvantagesAdvantages and DisadvantagesPowers (How are they divided?)Powers (How are they divided?)Role of the courtsRole of the courtsUse of money by federal government Use of money by federal government (especially grants)(especially grants)Federal mandatesFederal mandates
Democratic theoryDemocratic theory
Definition of democracy (distinguish Definition of democracy (distinguish between types)between types)
Characteristics of representative Characteristics of representative democracydemocracy
Elite versus Pluralist theoriesElite versus Pluralist theories
Constitutional development of the Constitutional development of the national governmentnational government
Mostly the workings of the Mostly the workings of the Constitution or how the federal Constitution or how the federal government is structuredgovernment is structured
Concept of constitutionalismConcept of constitutionalism
Checks and balances (examples)Checks and balances (examples)
Judicial ReviewJudicial Review
Formal and informal process of Formal and informal process of amending Constitutionamending Constitution
Issues relating to the separation of Issues relating to the separation of powerspowers
Powers inherent to each branchPowers inherent to each branch
Relative power of each branch to the Relative power of each branch to the othersothers
Growth of presidential powerGrowth of presidential power
Diminishing power of Congress?Diminishing power of Congress?
Court’s power?Court’s power?
American political cultureAmerican political culture
Define political cultureDefine political culture
Identify characteristics peculiar to Identify characteristics peculiar to U.S.U.S.
Distinguish between political Distinguish between political ideologies (conservative v. liberal; ideologies (conservative v. liberal; socialist v. libertarian, etc.)socialist v. libertarian, etc.)
Political socializationPolitical socialization
Agents of socializationAgents of socialization
Reinforcing v. cross-cutting Reinforcing v. cross-cutting cleavages in societycleavages in society
Demographic characteristics and Demographic characteristics and impact on political participationimpact on political participation
The political impact of the mediaThe political impact of the media
Sources of mass mediaSources of mass media
Importance of TVImportance of TV
Ways media uses politiciansWays media uses politicians
Ways politicians use mediaWays politicians use media
Media biasMedia bias
Campaign and election coverageCampaign and election coverage
The nature, sources, and The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinionconsequences of public opinion
Ways to measure public opinionWays to measure public opinion
Polling (How to conduct, types?)Polling (How to conduct, types?)
Effects of public opinion on Effects of public opinion on politicians, public policypoliticians, public policy
Voting behaviorVoting behavior
Constitutional requirementsConstitutional requirements
History of voting rightsHistory of voting rights
Registration of votersRegistration of voters
Voter turnout (what affects it?)Voter turnout (what affects it?)
Sociological v. Psychological voting Sociological v. Psychological voting behaviorbehavior
Party identificationParty identification
Political participation other than Political participation other than votingvoting
Joining interest groups, political Joining interest groups, political partiesparties
Running for officeRunning for office
Variations by socioeconomic groupVariations by socioeconomic group
Variations by other demographicsVariations by other demographics
Factors that lead to group Factors that lead to group differences in political beliefs and differences in political beliefs and
behaviorbehaviorIssue politics; Cross cutting Issue politics; Cross cutting cleavagescleavages
Candidate’s appealCandidate’s appeal
Other demographic factorsOther demographic factors
Political beliefs and behavior of Political beliefs and behavior of minority groupsminority groups
Group orientationGroup orientation
Voting tendenciesVoting tendencies
Political participation Political participation strength/weaknessstrength/weakness
Women’s political participationWomen’s political participation
Voting rateVoting rate
Candidate supportCandidate support
Representation in governmentRepresentation in government
Gender gap in voting?Gender gap in voting?
Women’s issuesWomen’s issues
Income inequalityIncome inequality
Political partiesPolitical parties
Dominance of two-party system Dominance of two-party system (why?)(why?)
Purpose of major partiesPurpose of major parties
Organization of partiesOrganization of parties
Role of minor partiesRole of minor parties
Weakening of party system (factors)Weakening of party system (factors)
Campaigns and electionsCampaigns and elections
Distinguish between congressional Distinguish between congressional and presidential campaignsand presidential campaigns
Role of interest groups and party Role of interest groups and party affiliationaffiliation
IncumbencyIncumbency
Differences between House and Differences between House and SenateSenate
Factors for presidential nominationFactors for presidential nomination
Campaigns and electionsCampaigns and elections
Primary season (types of primaries)Primary season (types of primaries)
Presidential debates (characteristics)Presidential debates (characteristics)
Convention stage (what happens?)Convention stage (what happens?)
Electoral College (how does it work?)Electoral College (how does it work?)
Campaign financing (including soft Campaign financing (including soft money, McCain-Feingold-Cochran, money, McCain-Feingold-Cochran, Buckley v. Valeo)Buckley v. Valeo)
Reform proposalsReform proposals
Interest group politicsInterest group politics
Federalist #10Federalist #10
Purpose of interest groupsPurpose of interest groups
Types of interest groupsTypes of interest groups
TechniquesTechniques
LobbyingLobbying
Iron-trianglesIron-triangles
Political action committeesPolitical action committees
DefinitionDefinition
Role in the political processRole in the political process
TacticsTactics
Regulation of PACsRegulation of PACs
The CongressThe Congress
Congressional elections Congressional elections (gerrymandering, incumbency)(gerrymandering, incumbency)
Structure (bicameral, party Structure (bicameral, party leadership – differences by house)leadership – differences by house)
Representation (demographic Representation (demographic background)background)
Roles of Congressmen/SenatorsRoles of Congressmen/Senators
Powers (especially elastic clause)Powers (especially elastic clause)
The CongressThe Congress
Committee System (differences in Committee System (differences in each house)each house)
Bill-making processBill-making process
Regulations and criticisms of Regulations and criticisms of CongressCongress
The PresidencyThe PresidencyFormal and informal qualificationsFormal and informal qualificationsRoles of the officeRoles of the officePowers of the presidencyPowers of the presidencyVice presidentVice presidentPresidential successionPresidential successionCabinet and White House OfficeCabinet and White House OfficeAccountabilityAccountabilityPresidential legacyPresidential legacy
The federal courtsThe federal courtsStructure (district courts, courts of Structure (district courts, courts of appeal, Supreme, etc.)appeal, Supreme, etc.)
Concept of jurisdiction (original, Concept of jurisdiction (original, appellate, concurrent)appellate, concurrent)
Judicial reviewJudicial review
Federalism as it applies to caseloadsFederalism as it applies to caseloads
Composition of the Supreme CourtComposition of the Supreme Court
Terminology (Writ of certiorari, Rule of 4)Terminology (Writ of certiorari, Rule of 4)
Opinions (majority, dissenting and Opinions (majority, dissenting and concurring)concurring)
The bureaucracyThe bureaucracy
Historical evolution (patronage to Historical evolution (patronage to Pendleton, Civil Service, Hatch Act, Pendleton, Civil Service, Hatch Act, etc.)etc.)Purpose and responsibilities (Iron Purpose and responsibilities (Iron triangles, enforcement, information)triangles, enforcement, information)Parts of bureaucracy (name game)Parts of bureaucracy (name game)Special distinction w/ independent Special distinction w/ independent regulatory commissionsregulatory commissionsCriticisms and accountabilityCriticisms and accountability
Relationships between the Relationships between the institutions of federal governmentinstitutions of federal government
Constitutional relationship (How a Bill Constitutional relationship (How a Bill Becomes a Law, Budgetary process, Becomes a Law, Budgetary process, other checks and balances)other checks and balances)
Political relationship (Party politics, Political relationship (Party politics, ideology, institutional turf)ideology, institutional turf)
Current examples?Current examples?
Links between the institutions of the Links between the institutions of the federal government and public opinion, federal government and public opinion,
interest groups, political parties, the interest groups, political parties, the media, and sub-national governmentsmedia, and sub-national governments
Impact of each non-institutional Impact of each non-institutional group on each institution (consider group on each institution (consider susceptibility and likelihood of susceptibility and likelihood of influence from each) influence from each)
Current examples?Current examples?
Policy processes and outputsPolicy processes and outputs
Overall understanding of Overall understanding of implementation of public policyimplementation of public policy
Consider theoretical law and actual Consider theoretical law and actual interpretation of law by bureaucratic interpretation of law by bureaucratic agencyagency
Economic policyEconomic policyFiscal policyFiscal policyTaxation (regressive, progressive, Taxation (regressive, progressive, both economic and political impact of both economic and political impact of tax cuts/raises)tax cuts/raises)Spending (mandatory versus Spending (mandatory versus discretionary spending)discretionary spending)Monetary policy (remember the role Monetary policy (remember the role of the Fed)of the Fed)Budget process (Constitutional Budget process (Constitutional mechanics and the politics involved)mechanics and the politics involved)
Social and social welfare policySocial and social welfare policyHistory of the safety net (especially History of the safety net (especially New Deal and Great Society)New Deal and Great Society)Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlementsother entitlementsRole of federalism in social welfare Role of federalism in social welfare policy (experimentation, funding policy (experimentation, funding issues)issues)Recent changes/challenges to Recent changes/challenges to welfarewelfare
Making foreign policyMaking foreign policy
President’s rolePresident’s roleAdvising the presidentAdvising the presidentCongressional roleCongressional roleHistorical approaches (isolationism, Historical approaches (isolationism, internationalism)internationalism)Foreign Policy issues (trade, Foreign Policy issues (trade, terrorism, national security interests, terrorism, national security interests, humanitarian interests)humanitarian interests)Foreign aid (politics involved)Foreign aid (politics involved)
Making environmental policyMaking environmental policy
Responsibilities of federal Responsibilities of federal governmentgovernment
Environment v. Industry (whales v. Environment v. Industry (whales v. jobs)jobs)
Legislation (Clean Air and Water Legislation (Clean Air and Water Acts) & enforcement (EPA)Acts) & enforcement (EPA)
International agreements (Kyoto)International agreements (Kyoto)
The development of civil rights for The development of civil rights for African AmericansAfrican Americans
Reconstruction amendmentsReconstruction amendmentsRelevant court cases (Plessy, Brown, Relevant court cases (Plessy, Brown, etc.)etc.)Tools of discrimination (poll taxes, Tools of discrimination (poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses)literacy tests, grandfather clauses)Strategies/LeadershipStrategies/LeadershipLegislation (Civil Rights Act 64, Legislation (Civil Rights Act 64, Voting Rights Act 65)Voting Rights Act 65)Unresolved issues (de facto Unresolved issues (de facto segregation, busing, etc.)segregation, busing, etc.)
The development of civil rights for other The development of civil rights for other minority groups: Hispanic Americans, minority groups: Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans,
gender, etc.gender, etc.
Impact of Civil Rights Act 64Impact of Civil Rights Act 64
Political participationPolitical participation
Immigration statusImmigration status
Gender and equal rightsGender and equal rights
Women’s suffrage (19Women’s suffrage (19thth))
ERA amendmentERA amendment
Gender politicsGender politics
Gay and lesbian political movement Gay and lesbian political movement (especially through the courts and (especially through the courts and through federal and state legislation)through federal and state legislation)
Affirmative actionAffirmative action
DefinitionDefinition
Court cases (Bakke, Adarand, Court cases (Bakke, Adarand, Richmond)Richmond)
Pro affirmative action positionPro affirmative action position
Con affirmative action positionCon affirmative action position
First Amendment issuesFirst Amendment issuesBe familiar with all parts of the Be familiar with all parts of the amendmentamendment
Religion - establishment clause, Religion - establishment clause, exercise clause & relevant cases exercise clause & relevant cases (Lemon test)(Lemon test)
Speech & Press (Miller test, Schenck, Speech & Press (Miller test, Schenck, fighting words, clear & present fighting words, clear & present danger, libel v. slander, prior restraint)danger, libel v. slander, prior restraint)
Assembly/Petition (limitations)Assembly/Petition (limitations)
Rights of the accused; due processRights of the accused; due process
Distinguish between substantive and Distinguish between substantive and procedural due process (14procedural due process (14thth Amendment key so understand it)Amendment key so understand it)
Searches & seizures (Mapp, Searches & seizures (Mapp, exclusionary rule, Miranda rule)exclusionary rule, Miranda rule)
Trial (Gideon, double jeopardy, cruel Trial (Gideon, double jeopardy, cruel & unusual punishment)& unusual punishment)
Privacy rights; abortion rightsPrivacy rights; abortion rights
Parts of Constitution that contribute Parts of Constitution that contribute to privacy rightsto privacy rights
Griswold (right to privacy)Griswold (right to privacy)
Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, partial-birth abortion bansCasey, partial-birth abortion bans
Application of privacy rights to gays Application of privacy rights to gays & lesbians& lesbians
Political economyPolitical economyPoliticization of the economyPoliticization of the economyMedia fixation on the numbers (GDP, Media fixation on the numbers (GDP, consumer spending, unemployment)consumer spending, unemployment)Politicians use of numbers for Politicians use of numbers for support & attack (especially during support & attack (especially during campaigns)campaigns)Impact of political issues on economy Impact of political issues on economy (war, terrorism, immigration, taxes, (war, terrorism, immigration, taxes, outsourcing, etc.)outsourcing, etc.)