AP Gov Study

Question 1

Direct Democracy

Answer 1

Citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Question 2

Representative Democracy

Answer 2

Citizens elect officials to make laws on their behalf.

Question 3

Social Contract Theory

Answer 3

Government power comes from the consent of the governed.

Question 4

Problems with Articles of Confederation

Answer 4

Weak central government, no power to tax or enforce laws.

Question 5

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 5

Combined VA Plan (population) and NJ Plan (equal representation).

Question 6

New Jersey Plan

Answer 6

Equal representation for each state.

Question 7

Virginia Plan

Answer 7

Representation based on population size.

Question 8

Confederacy

Answer 8

Loose union of independent states with weak central authority.

Question 9

Unitary System

Answer 9

All government power held by central government.

Question 10

Fiscal Federalism

Answer 10

Federal government influences states through money.

Question 11

Grants-in-aid

Answer 11

Federal money given to states for specific purposes.

Question 12

Categorical Grants

Answer 12

Federal funds for specific programs with strict rules.

Question 13

Block Grants

Answer 13

Federal funds for broad purposes with fewer rules.

Question 14

Revenue Sharing

Answer 14

Federal money given to states with no strings attached (no longer used).

Question 15

Express Powers

Answer 15

Powers directly listed in the Constitution.

Question 16

Implied Powers

Answer 16

Powers not listed but allowed via the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Question 17

Inherent Powers

Answer 17

Powers naturally held by the national government (e.g. foreign policy).

Question 18

Denied Powers

Answer 18

Powers the government is forbidden to have.

Question 19

Concurrent Powers

Answer 19

Powers shared by national and state governments (e.g. tax).

Question 20

Interstate Commerce Clause

Answer 20

Congress regulates trade between states.

Question 21

Take Care Clause

Answer 21

President must faithfully execute the laws.

Question 22

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 22

States must honor each other’s laws and records.

Question 23

How to Amend the Constitution

Answer 23

2/3 of Congress to propose, 3/4 of states to ratify.

Question 24

Gerrymandering

Answer 24

Drawing district lines to favor a political party.

Question 25

Political Efficacy

Answer 25

Belief that one’s political actions matter.

Question 26

Referendum

Answer 26

Citizens vote on a law passed by legislature.

Question 27

Initiative

Answer 27

Citizens propose and vote on new laws.

Question 28

Recall

Answer 28

Voters remove an elected official before term ends.

Question 29

Political Action Committees (PACs)

Answer 29

Groups that raise money to support candidates.

Question 30

Interest Groups

Answer 30

Organizations that try to influence public policy.

Question 31

Horserace Journalism

Answer 31

Focus on polling and strategy instead of issues.

Question 32

527 Groups

Answer 32

Tax-exempt groups that influence elections without directly supporting candidates.

Question 33

House Powers

Answer 33

Impeaches officials, starts revenue bills, 2-year terms, based on population.

Question 34

Senate Powers

Answer 34

Confirms appointments, tries impeachments, 6-year terms, equal per state.

Question 35

House Details

Answer 35

Lower house, rules committee, Speaker controls debate and committees.

Question 36

Senate Details

Answer 36

Upper house, unlimited debate, filibuster allowed, cloture ends debate.

Question 37

Committee Types

Answer 37

Standing (permanent), Select (temporary), Joint (both houses), Conference (resolves bill differences).

Question 38

President Requirements

Answer 38

35+, natural-born citizen, 14-year U.S. resident.

Question 39

Commander-in-Chief Powers

Answer 39

Heads armed forces and National Guard.

Question 40

Chief Executive Powers

Answer 40

Executes laws, appoints officials, grants pardons.

Question 41

Foreign Affairs Powers

Answer 41

Appoints ambassadors, makes treaties, sends troops (War Powers Act).

Question 42

Legislative Powers

Answer 42

State of Union, veto, suggest laws, call sessions, pocket veto.

Question 43

Bureaucracy

Answer 43

Agencies that implement and enforce laws.

Question 44

Oversight

Answer 44

Congress monitoring and checking the bureaucracy.

Question 45

Judicial Restraint

Answer 45

Courts avoid overturning past decisions.

Question 46

District Courts

Answer 46

Lowest federal courts, use juries, trial-level.

Question 47

Courts of Appeals

Answer 47

Hear appeals from district courts, no juries.

Question 48

Supreme Court

Answer 48

Highest court, hears constitutional cases.

Question 49

Exclusionary Rule

Answer 49

Illegally obtained evidence can’t be used in court.

Question 50

Fiscal Policy

Answer 50

Government taxing and spending to control the economy.

Question 51

Keynesianism

Answer 51

Government should spend in recessions, cut in booms.

Question 52

Monetarism

Answer 52

Control inflation by regulating money supply.

Question 53

Planning

Answer 53

Government controls wages, prices, and investments.

Question 54

Supply-Side Economics

Answer 54

Lower taxes and regulation boost growth.

Question 55

Reaganomics

Answer 55

Mix of tax cuts, monetarism, and reduced regulation.

Question 56

Selective Incorporation

Answer 56

Applying the Bill of Rights to states via the 14th Amendment.