Ap Exam- No Tears

Question 1

Examples of checks and balance

Answer 1

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.
• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
• The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.

Question 2

Checks and balances

Answer 2

• Created so no one branch would control too much power. (Separation of powers)
• Three branches: the executive branch, legislative branch, and the judicial branch

Question 3

Examples of checks and balances

Answer 3

• The legislative branch makes laws, but the President in the executive branch can veto those laws with a Presidential Veto.
• The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
• The President in the executive branch can veto a law, but the legislative branch can override that veto with enough votes.

Question 4

Separation of powers

Answer 4

• The legislative branch is responsible for enacting the laws of the state and appropriating the money necessary to operate the government.
• The executive branch is responsible for implementing and administering the public policy enacted and funded by the legislative branch.
• The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the constitution and laws and applying their interpretations to controversies brought before it.

Question 5

Articles of Confederation

Answer 5

• first constitution

* failed because states had too much power and the leaders of the U.S government feared a strong central power

Question 6

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

Answer 6

• 1787
• The Great Compromise combined the Virginia plan and the New Jersey Plan which created our current legislature with two houses, one based on population and elected by the people and the other house allowing two senators per state being appointed by state legislatures.

Question 7

Slave trade compromise

Answer 7

forbid Congress the power to tax the export of goods from any state, and, for 20 years, the power to act on the slave trade.

Question 8

3/5 compromise

Answer 8

states could count slaves as part of the population in order to determine representation and taxation for the federal government.

Question 9

Bicameralism

Answer 9

Where the legislators are divided into two separate assemblies, chambers or houses.

Question 10

Federalism

Answer 10

• A system of government in which there are levels of government (US, state, local) where each has responsibility and powers the other levels can’t take from them.

Question 11

The Supremacy Clause

Answer 11

• Article 6, Clause 2
• establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made compatible to it, and treaties made under its authority, constitute the supreme law of the land.

Question 12

Reserved powers

Answer 12

*powers that are not enumerated (written down, assigned)
*established by the 10th amendment
Example- trade regulation

Question 13

The elastic clause

Answer 13

*statement in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers

Question 14

Necessary & Proper Clause

Answer 14

allows Congress to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the enumerated powers

Question 15

Fiscal federalism

Answer 15

a concept of federalism where funding is appropriated by the federal government to the states with specific conditions attached. The legislation can be in the form of mandates.

Question 16

Commerce Clause

Answer 16

(Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”

Question 17

Block grants

Answer 17

Block grants are large chunks of money given to local governments by the federal government with few strings attached

Question 18

Categorical grants

Answer 18

• the way in which the federal government influences local and state governments.
• come with strict rules on their spending.

Question 19

Republicans

Answer 19

• seek to restrict and limit social welfare spending favor expansive social welfare programs
• pro-life – supports government restrictions on abortions
• oppose gun control

Question 20

Democrats

Answer 20

• favor expansive social welfare programs
• pro-choice including right of pregnant women to obtain abortion paid for by tax payer
• favor gun control

Question 21

Winner take all system/single member district

Answer 21

the candidate who wins the most votes wins all the delegates at stake

Question 22

Critical/realigning elections

Answer 22

When it’s an election period and there is a change in the economy that produces a turning point and redefines the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters.

Question 23

Patronage

Answer 23

Granting favors in return for political support

Question 24

Merit System

Answer 24

hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job

Question 25

Voting requirements

Answer 25

applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident of the state, and 18 years old on or before Election Day

Question 26

Primary elections

Answer 26

Where people go to vote for who will be the last candidates in the politcal parties for president Four primary types: Open- where anyone with any party affiliation may vote Closed- where only those voters registered with that particular party may vote Semi- open- anyone with any political party affiliation may vote, but can only vote in one primary Runoff- some states hold a second primary between the two candidates with the most votes

Question 27

Hard money

Answer 27

political donations that are regulated by law through the Federal Election Commission.

Question 28

Soft money

Answer 28

is money donated to political parties in a way that leaves the contribution unregulated.

Question 29

McCain V. Feingold act

Answer 29

McCain lost the republican primary because George Bush outspent him, McCain created the bill in 2002 to eliminate soft money campaign finance to avoid that happening again, act said no more soft money from parties, upheld by the supreme court. also restricted hard money contributions to 2000 per candidate, including to self, up to 95000 per 2 years

Question 30

PACs

Answer 30

is a type of organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidate