AP Government FRQ Question Strands by Topic 2004 - 2017

2017
Supreme Court /
  1. Describe one constitutional provision that seeks to insulate the Supreme Court from public opinion.

Supreme Court /
  1. Identify a power that is exercised by the Supreme Court that acts as a check on another branch of the federal government.

Supreme Court /
  1. Explain how each of the following can limit the independence of the Supreme Court: Congress, President

Supreme Court /
  1. Explain how the Supreme Court protects its political independence.

IG Goals & Strategy /
  1. Identify the primary goal of interest groups.

IG Goals & Strategy /
  1. Describe each of the following strategies used by interest groups: lobbying, amicus curiae briefs

IG Goals & Strategy /
  1. Explain how each of the following hinders the success of interest groups in obtaining their primary goal: separation of powers, bureaucratic discretion

Federal Spending /
NOTE: Mandatory programs include Social Security, major federal health programs, other entitlement programs, and offsetting receipts.
  1. Social security, Medicare, and Medicaid are all mandatory spending programs, also known as entitlement programs. Identify a change in federal spending between 1970 and 2023(projected) based on the chart above.

Federal Spending /
  1. Describe the difference between entitlement programs and discretionary programs.

Federal Spending /
  1. Describe one demographic trend that has contributed to the changes in entitlement spending.

Federal Spending /
  1. Explain why changes in entitlement spending make balancing the federal budget difficult.

Federal Spending /
  1. Explain how deficit spending affects the projected trend in net interest.

Federalism /
  1. Describe EACH of the following Constitutional provisions: Tenth Amendment, Supremacy Clause

Federalism /
  1. Explain how ONE of the following court cases changed the balance of power between the national government and state governments: United States v. Lopez, Obergefell v. Hodges

Federalism /
  1. Describe TWO advantages of federalism for the creation of public policy in the United States.

2016
Function of PP /
  1. Describe one important function of political parties as a linkage institution in elections.

Function of Media /
  1. Describe the influence of the media on the election process in the role of gatekeeping/agenda setting.

Function of Media /
  1. Describe the influence of the media in the role of scorekeeping/horse race journalism.

Function of IG /
  1. Describe two strategies interest groups use to influence the electoral process.

IG /
  1. Explain how, according to critics, interest groups may limit representative democracy.

Data Trend /
  1. “United States Demographic Changes” Identify a trend depicted in the chart.

Party Demographics /
  1. Explain how the trend you identified in (A) is likely to affect the success of either the D or R party.

Parties in Congress /
  1. Explain how the changes are likely to affect the way in which parties operate in Congress

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Describe two specific actions that presidents can take to respond to the changes in the chart above.

Function of Congress /
  1. Identify the primary role of Congress in the policy process.

Divided Government /
  1. Explain how divided party control of Congress can make the policy process difficult.

Function of Bureau. /
  1. Identify the primary role of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Powers of Bureau. /
  1. Explain how “rule making” increases the power of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Powers of Bureau. /
  1. Explain how “bureaucratic discretion” increases the power of the bureaucracy in the policy process.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how “oversight hearings” enables Congress to limit the power of the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how “power of the purse” enables Congress to limit the power of the bureaucracy.

Power of Nat. Gov’t /
  1. Explain how “checks and balances” protects against the concentration of power in the national gov’t.

Power of Nat. Gov’t /
  1. Explain how “federalism” protects against the concentration of power in the national government.

Election/Elite Theory /
  1. Explain how the “electoral college” limited the people’s ability to influence the national government.

Election/Elite Theory /
  1. Explain how the “selection of senators” limited people’s ability to influence the nat. gov’t. (Prior to 17th)

Suffrage /
  1. Describe a constitutional amendment that increased suffrage.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe the effect of the Voting Right Act of 1965 on citizen participation in elections.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe the effect of the Motor Voter Act on citizen participation in elections.

2015
Powers of POTUS /
  1. Describe a power of the president in the role of Chief Legislator.

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Describe a power of the president in the role of Chief Bureaucrat/Chief Administrator.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how “civil service employees” limit the president’s influence in policy making.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how “the Supreme Court” limits the president’s influence in policy making.

Divided Gov’t /
  1. Describe the influence of divided government on the policy-making process.

Federalism /
  1. Compare state sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation and under the Constitution.

Power of Nat. Gov’t /
  1. Explain how the commerce clause has been used to expand the power of the federal gov’t over the states.

Power of Nat. Gov’t /
  1. Explain how mandates have been used to expand the power of the federal gov’t of the states.

Power of States /
  1. Explain how block grants have played a role in the devolution of power from the nat. gov’t to the states.

Power of States /
  1. Explain how Supreme Court decisions have played a role in the devolution of power to the states.

Electoral College /
  1. Explain one reason that the framers chose to use the electoral college as the method to elect the president.

Data Interpretation /
  1. Describe the message the cartoon above conveys about presidential elections.

Data Interpretation /
  1. Explain why California, Texas, and New York do not appear prominently in the cartoon above.

Campaign Tactics /
  1. Describe two campaign tactics POTUS candidates use to win the key states identified in the cartoon.

CR v. CL /
  1. Describe the difference between civil rights and civil liberties.

Clause of Constitution /
  1. Identify the primary clause of the 14th amendment that is used to extend civil rights.

CR Legislation /
  1. Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to women.

CR Legislation /
  1. Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to persons with disabilities.

Clause of Constitution /
  1. Identify the primary clause of the 14th Amendment that is used to extend civil liberties.

CL Court Case /
  1. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright.

CL Court Case /
  1. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Mapp v. Ohio

CL Court Case /
  1. Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona.

2014
Federalism /
  1. Compare the positions of Federalists & Anti-Federalists regarding the power of the national government.

Clause of Constitution /
  1. Describe two features of the original Constitution that have led to a growth in power of the national gov’t.

Limit Power of NG /
  1. Explain how the First Amendment addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.

Limit Power of NG /
  1. Explain how the Tenth Amendment addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.

Limit Power of States /
  1. Explain how the due process clause of the 14th amendment altered the balance of power in federalism.

Limit Power of States /
  1. Explain how the equal protection clause of the altered the balance of power in federalism.

Suffrage /
  1. Identify the effect the fifteenth amendment had on the electorate.

Suffrage /
  1. Identify the effect the 19th amendment had on the electorate.

Suffrage. /
  1. Identify the effect the 26th amendment had on the electorate.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Explain how motor voter laws may affect voter turnout.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Explain how photo identification laws may affect voter turnout.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe education’s relationship to the likelihood of a person voting in an election.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe age’s relationship to the likelihood of a person voting in an election.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Explain why voter turnout is different in presidential versus midterm elections.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Explain why voter turnout is different in primary versus general elections.

Powers of Congress /
  1. Describe two enumerate powers Congress has in making foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Describe two expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Explain how executive agreements expand the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Explain how elections limit the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Powers of POTUS /
  1. Explain how presidential approval ratings limit the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.

Party Polarization /
  1. Define party polarization.

Data Trend /
  1. Identify a trend show in the graph above.

Parties in Congress /
  1. Describe two causes of party polarization in Congress.

Parties in Congress /
  1. Describe one effect of party polarization on congressional policy making.

2013
Form of Gov’t /
  1. Define direct democracy.

Form of Gov’t /
  1. Define republican form of government.

Form of Gov’t /
  1. Describe one reason the framers chose a republican form of government over a direct democracy.

Representation /
  1. Describe the trustee model of congressional representation.

Representation /
  1. Describe the delegate model of congressional representation.

Representation /
  1. Explain why a member of Congress might sometimes act as a trustee rather than a delegate.

Functions of PP /
  1. Describe two important functions of political parties in United States elections.

Parties in Congress /
  1. Describe one important role PP play within Congress to promote the party’s public policy agenda.

Weaken PP /
  1. Explain how direct primaries have weakened the influence of PP over the political process.

Weaken PP /
  1. Explain how candidate-centered campaigns have weakened the influence of PP over the political process.

Strengthen PP /
  1. Explain how party polarization has strengthened party influence in Congress.

Data Interpretation /
  1. Describe one similarity between Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by Bush.

Data Interpretation /
  1. Describe two differences between Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by Bush.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain why a president’s party affiliation accounts for differences in appointments to the judiciary.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having judicial nominations confirmed.

Policy Formation /
  1. Explain the importance of the media in the formation of the policy agenda.

Policy Formation /
  1. Explain the importance of elections in the formation of the policy agenda.

Policy Enactment /
  1. Explain the role of congressional committees in the enactment of public policy.

Policy Enactment /
  1. Explain the role of executive orders in the enactment of public policy.

Policy Implementation /
  1. Explain the importance of bureaucratic discretion in the implementation of public policy.

Policy Implementation /
  1. Explain the importance of bureaucratic discretion in the implementation of public policy.

2012
Functions of Congress /
  1. Describe the role of the senate filibuster in lawmaking.

Functions of Congress /
  1. Describe the role of the House Rules Committee in lawmaking.

Functions of Congress /
  1. Describe the role of the conference committee in lawmaking.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Describe one method by which Congress exercises oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

Function of Congress /
  1. Explain how casework affects members’ attention to legislation.

Data Interpretation /
  1. Using the chart, compare minority representation in 1960 and 2010.

Suffrage /
  1. Explain how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 assisted in the removal of barriers to minority voting.

Suffrage /
  1. Explain how the 24th amendment assisted in the removal of barriers to minority voting.

Suffrage /
  1. Identify one barrier that currently impeded minority representation in Congress.

Suffrage /
  1. Explain why the barrier you identified inhibits minority representation in Congress.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Describe two political factors that affect presidents’ decisions to appoint members of the federal judiciary.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Identify and explain two political factors that affect and complicate the confirmation process.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how one legislative power serves as a check on court decisions.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain how one executive power serves as a check on court decisions.

IG Tactics /
  1. Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections.

IG Tactics /
  1. Explain how interest groups use issue networks to influence government decision making.

IG Tactics /
  1. Explain how interest groups use amicus curiae briefs to influence government decision making.

IG Influence /
  1. Explain how the media serves to limit interest group influence.

IG Influence /
  1. Explain how pluralism serves to limit interest group influence.

2011
SCOTUS /
  1. Define judicial review.

SCOTUS /
  1. Explain how judicial review empowers the SC within the system of checks and balances.

SCOTUS /
  1. Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.

SCOTUS /
  1. Explain how stare decisis influences decisions made by justices when deciding cases heard by the court.

SCOTUS /
  1. Explain how judicial activism influences decisions made by justices when deciding cases.

Public Opinion /
  1. Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.

Public Opinion /
  1. Explain why strong polling results enhances the influence of public opinion on Congress voting decisions.

Public Opinion /
  1. Explain why competitive re-elections enhances the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Public Opinion /
  1. Explain why legislators’ voting records limits the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Public Opinion /
  1. Explain why party leadership limits the influence of public opinion on Congress.

Elections /
  1. Define open primary.

Elections /
  1. Define caucus.

Elections /
  1. Describe one consequence of the Republican winner-take-all primary for the nomination process.

Elections /
  1. Explain why the use of super-delegates increases the influence of party leaders in the nomination process.

Election Tactics /
  1. Explain why a candidate’s strategy to win the nomination is often different from winning the general.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ veto power.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ power to issue executive orders.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how congressional decision making is affected by the POTUS’ power as commander in chief.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how presidential decision making is affected by congress’ legislative oversight power.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how presidential decision making is affected by the Senate’s advice and consent power.

Congress & POTUS /
  1. Explain how presidential decision making is affected by congress’ budgetary power.

2010
Bill of Rights /
  1. Explain two provisions of the BOR that protect individuals who try to influence politics.

IG Tactics /
  1. Explain how grassroots mobilization is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Tactics /
  1. Explain how lobbying is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Tactics /
  1. Explain how litigation is used by IG to exert influence over policy.

IG Regulation /
  1. Describe one specific federal government regulation of interest groups.

Bureaucracy /
  1. Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.

Bureaucracy /
  1. Explain how the structure of the federal bureaucracy contributes to bureaucratic independence.

Bureaucracy /
  1. Explain how the complexity of public policy problems contributes to bureaucratic independence.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain one constitutional provision Congress can use to check the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain one constitutional provision the courts can use to check the bureaucracy.

Checks & Balances /
  1. Explain one constitutional provision interest groups can use to check the bureaucracy.

Data Trend /
  1. “Southern State Partisanship in US Elections” Identify one specific trend evident in the figure above.

Elections /
  1. Explain how incumbency advantage led to choosing more Democratic candidates to Congress than POTUS.

Elections /
  1. Explain how gerrymandering led to choosing more Democratic candidates to Congress than POTUS.

Elections /
  1. Explain how differences between state and national parties led to choosing more Democrats in Congress.

Demographics /
  1. Explain how party composition has changed in the past few decades with respect to Catholics.

Demographics /
  1. Explain how party composition has changed in the past few decades with respect to labor union members.

Demographics /
  1. Explain how party composition has changed in the past few decades with respect to women.

Demographics /
  1. Explain how party composition has changed in the past few decades with respect to social conservatives.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how federalism limits the power of the national executive.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how checks and balances limits the powers of the national executive.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how the establishment clause limits the power of the national government.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how the guarantee of a public trail limits the power of the national government.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how the citizenship clause of the 14th amendment limits the power of state governments.

Limiting Power /
  1. Explain how selective incorporation limits the power of state governments.

2009
Democracy /
  1. Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens. Explain how.

Democracy /
  1. Explain two ways the US Constitution limited majority rule.

Democracy /
  1. Explain how primary elections have moved the US from a less democratic system to a more democratic one.

Democracy /
  1. Explain how the 17th am. has moved the US from a less democratic system to a more democratic one.

Democracy /
  1. Explain how the expansion of suffrage has made the US a more democratic system.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe how age is related to the likelihood of voting.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe how education is related to the likelihood of voting.

Voter Turnout /
  1. Describe one current government electoral requirement that decreases voter turnout. Explain how.

Linkage /
  1. Identify one linkage institution other than elections & explain 2 ways it connects citizens to government.

PP in Congress /
  1. Describe two advantages the majority party in the US House of Representatives has in lawmaking.

House v. Senate /
  1. Describe two differences between House & Senates rules that affect legislation not passing.

House v. Senate /
  1. Explain how the differences you identified can lead to the passage of a bill in one but not the other chamber.

Media /
  1. Define policy agenda.

Media /
  1. Explain how the national news media engage in agenda setting.