ap u. s. government test review. congress congressional reapportionment and redistricting are...

AP U. S. GOVERNMENT TEST REVIEW

CongressCongressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.

a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states. (2)

Def: the reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of RepresentativesExp: more representation gives a state more influence and votes in the electoral college

Congress (Cont.)

b) Define congressional redistricting. (1)The drawing or redrawing of House district

lines. c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting. (2)

Enhance political party strength, protect incumbents, increase minority representation, reward friends, etc.

Congress (Cont.)

d) Describe two limits that the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.• Districts must be equally populated.• Redistricting cannot dilute minority voting

strength. (Baker vs. Carr)• District lines cannot be drawn solely based

upon race. (Shaw vs. Reno)

PresidencyA number of factors enable a president to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.a) The Constitution grants the president certain

enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy. (2)– Legislative powers (veto, pocket veto, signing legislation)– State of the Union address– Appointment power (to a domestic office)– Calling Congress into session– Chief executive role (“faithfully execute the law” clause)

Presidency (Cont.)

b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policymaking in Congress. (4)• Mandatory spending– Def: Automatic spending– Exp: Budgetary constraints make it difficult to

accomplish policy goals

Presidency (cont.)

• Party polarization–Def: Increased interparty differences–Exp: Unable to build coalitions

• Lame-Duck Period–Def: Period of time in which an

officeholder’s terms is coming to an end–Exp: President’s power is perceived as

diminished

Judiciary

The United States Supreme Court receives many appeals, but it hears and rules on a small percentage of cases each year. Numerous factors influence the actions of the Court, both in deciding to hear a case and in the decisions it hands down.a. Define judicial review. (1)

Def. The power of the court to rule on the constitutionality of laws, acts, statutes, executive orders.

Judiciary (cont.)

b. Explain how judicial review empowers the Supreme Court within the system of checks and balances. (1)

It gives the Court the power to overturn laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the president.

c. Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.(1)

Reference to lower courts and Rule of 4

Judiciary (cont.)

d. Explain how each of the following influences decisions made by individual justices when deciding cases heard by the Court. (2)• Stare DecisisJustices apply precedent to current cases and rule based on past decision.• Judicial activismJustices are more likely to strike down laws and policies as unconstitutional.

Bureaucracy

The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.a) Describe one key characteristic of the merit

system. (1)Hiring based on merit/experience/qualifications.

Bureaucracy (cont.)

b. For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence. (2)• The structure of the federal bureaucracyLarge, specialized units, tenure protections, based on merit, independent agencies and regulatory commissions.

Bureaucracy (cont.)

• The complexity of public policy problemsRequires specialized expertise, delegated and discretionary authority.

c. For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy. (3)

• CongressAppropriations, legislation, rejection of

appointments, impeachment of executive officials

Bureaucracy (cont.)

• The courtsCourt rulings that limit bureaucratic

practices, judicial review that can declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional, injunctions against federal agencies.• Interest groups

First Amendment rights of lobbying, protests, speech

Political Beliefs and Behavior

Public opinion polls are a way to link the public with elected officials. Members of Congress often use polls to understand the views of their constituents, but they must also pay attention to other political considerations.a. Identify two characteristics of a valid,

scientific, public opinion poll. (2)Random sample; unbiased, unambiguous question wording.

Political Beliefs and Behavior (cont.)

b. Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. (2)• Strong public opinion as expressed in

polling results.Desire to get reelected, obligation to represent constituents.


• Competitive re-electionsDesire to get reelected

c. Explain why each of the following limits the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. (2)

• Legislators’ voting recordsTo avoid being seen as indecisive by

voters/supporters


• Party leadershipTo avoid the risk of losing party support or to gain party support

Political Parties

Nominees for the presidency of the two major parties are chosen by delegates at national conventions. How these delegates are chosen varies across states and between the political parties.a. Define each of the following methods used by states to choose delegates to party conventions. (2)

Political Parties (cont.)

• Open primaryA primary election in which any voters can cast a ballot in any party’s primary.• CaucusA meeting or gathering of members of a political party where members deliberate and choose from the list of those seeking the presidential nomination.


b. Republican Party rules permit winner-take-all primaries. Describe one consequence of this rule for the Republican nomination process. (1)

Advantages those with more prominence or better name recognition early in the process, shortens the timeframe for candidates wrapping up the nomination.


c. The Democratic Party has used superdelegates in the presidential nominating process since 1984. Explain why the use of superdelegates increases the influence of party leaders in the Democratic nomination process. (1)

Party leaders are now assured a role in the nomination process, party leaders can cast the deciding vote in close nomination contests, superdelegates are unpledged and can change their mind as the process unfolds


d. Explain why a candidate’s strategy to win the nomination is often different from the strategy developed to win the general election. (1)

Electorate in the primary election is different from the electorate in the general election. A candidate’s opponents in the primary are fellow partisans, whereas opponents in the general election are from other parties. There are differences in financing and media coverage.

Interest Groups

Individuals often form groups in order to promote their interests. The Constitution contains several provisions that protect the rights of individuals who try to promote their interests in a representative democracy.a. Explain two provisions in the Bill of Rights

that protect individuals who try to influence politics. (2)

Speech, press, assembly, petition, etc.

Interest Groups (cont.)

b. Interest groups engage in a variety of activities to affect public policy. Explain how each of the following is used by interest groups to exert influence over policy. (3)• Grassroots mobilizationInterest groups organize citizens, who act to influence policymakers.


• Lobbying of government institutionsDirect contact with policymakers for the purpose of persuasion through the provision of information, political benefits, etc.• LitigationUse of the courts to gain policy preferences through cases or amicus curiae briefs.


c. Describe one specific federal governmental regulation of interest groups. (1)

Disclosure of contributions, registration of lobbyists, prohibition of bribery, limits on honoraria

Mass Media

Mass Media (cont.)

a. Define policy agenda. (1)A set of issues, problems or subjects that gets the attention of people involved in policymaking.b. Explain how the national news media engage

in agenda setting. (1)Raise awareness, provide information, get the attention of policymakers.

Mass Media (cont.)

c. Explain the primary reason the president tends to have an advantage over Congress in gaining media attention. (1)

President is one person, easier to gain media attention, represents the nation, has constitutional powers Congress doesn’t have.d. See table. (2)

Mass Media (cont.)

e. Given the information in the table, describe one implication for presidents in their use of the media to promote their political and policy objectives to the American public. (1)

Presidents must rely on alternative media to gain the attention of the public. Presidents target older viewers through use of nightly news programs. The nightly news is not as effective as it used to be.

Public Policy

Fiscal policy and monetary policy are two tools used by the federal government to influence the United States economy. The executive and legislative branches share the responsibility of setting fiscal policy. The Federal Reserve Board has the primary role of setting monetary policy.a. Define fiscal policy. (1)Taxing, spending, the budget

Public Policy

b. Describe one significant way the executive branch influences fiscal policy. (1)

The president proposes/prepares the federal budget and vetoes legislation.c. Describe one significant way the legislative

branch influences fiscal policy. (1)Congress passes the federal budget, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) advises Congress on economic policies.

Public Policy (cont.)

d. Define monetary policy. (1)Regulating the money supply, controlling inflation/deflation, adjusting interest rates to regulate the economy, adjusting bank reserve requirements.

Public Policy (cont.)

e. Explain two reasons why the Federal Reserve Board is given independence in establishing monetary policy. (2)

It removes politics from monetary policy decision making, relies on expertise when making decisions, makes economic policies efficiently.

Constitutional Underpinnings

The framers of the Constitution created a political system based on limited government. The original Constitution and the Bill of Rights were intended to restrict the powers of the national government. Later constitutional developments also limited the powers of state governments.

Constitutional Underpinnings (cont.)

a. Explain how each of the following limits the powers of the national executive. (2)

• FederalismDivides power between national and state governments, which limits the authority of the national executive.• Checks and BalancesOther branches can limit what the executive can do, e. g. Supreme Court declaring an executive action unconstitutional or Congress overriding a presidential veto.


b. Explain how each of the following two provisions in the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the national government. (2)

• Establishment clausePrevents the national government from establishing a national religion or taking any action that would show preferential treatment for one religion over another.


• Guarantee of a public trialRequiring trials to be open to the public limits the government’s ability to violate the rights of citizens.c. Choose one of the following and explain how it

limits the power of state governments. (1)• Citizenship clause of the Fourteenth AmendmentRequires states to provide citizenship guarantees to all who meet the definition of citizen.


• Selective incorporationProhibits states from denying Bill of Rights provisions.

Civil Rights and Liberties

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1870Despite the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, voter turnout among African American citizens was very low throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Over the past 50 years, civil rights policies have changed substantially, along with a significant increase in African American voter turnout.

Civil Rights and Liberties (cont.)

a. Explain how two measures taken by some states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African American citizens. (2)

Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, white primaries, dilution of voting strength through redistricting.


b. Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African American citizens turned to alternative forms of political participation. Describe two alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in civil rights policies. (2)

Demonstrations, courts/litigation, boycotts, election activities other than voting (campaigning, donating)


c. Choose one of the forms of participation you described in (b) and explain why it was effective in changing civil rights policies. (1)

Demonstrations, for example: gained attention (participation), media (linkage institution) informed policymakers, who changed law (outcome)

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