1994 AP U.S. Govt. & Politics
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If you are in AP U. S. Government, this is a practice test for the AP exam, so study study.
- 1.All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true EXCEPT
- A.
Congress overrides fewer than ten percent of presidential vetoes
- B.
A vetoed bill is often revised and passed in another form
- C.
Presidents often threaten to veto bills to increase their leverage with Congress
- D.
A President may veto part of a bill
- E.
Congress often places provisions the President wants into a bill the President dislikes to amek a veto less likely
- 2.
- A.
The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade
- B.
Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents
- C.
The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law
- D.
PAC's a illegal in most states
- E.
PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation though lobbying activities
- 3.
- A.
Returns a bill to committee
- B.
Cuts off debate on a bill
- C.
Criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties
- D.
Removes a President who has been impeached by the House
- E.
Brings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval
- 4.
- A.
I and III only
- B.
II and IV only
- C.
III and IV only
- D.
I, II, and III only
- E.
I, II, III, and IV
- 5.Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years?
- A.
National parties have become too closely identified with controversial issues
- B.
Court decisions have restricted the political parties' abilities to recruit new members
- C.
It is less expensive to join an interest group than to join a political party
- D.
Interest groups have been more successful in avoiding negative press coverage than have political parties
- E.
Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties
- 6.Which of the following best characterizes the influence of the news media on public opinion in the United States?
- A.
They alter the public's views on issues
- B.
They affect which issues the public thinks are important
- C.
They determine how citizens will vote
- D.
Hey are most able to influence people with the highest level of education
- E.
Htey are most able to influence the urban sectors of society
- 7.Of the following, which group voted most heavily Democratic in presidential elections between 1964 and 1992?
- A.
Mexican Americans
- B.
Chinese Americans
- C.
Jewish Americans
- D.
Black Americans
- E.
Roman Catholic Americans
- 8.To enforce the Fourteenth Amendment more clearly, Congress passed the
- A.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
- B.
Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act
- C.
Social Security Act
- D.
Twenty-sixth Amendment
- E.
War Powers Resolution
- 9.In the United States, most criminal cases end in
- A.
A plea bargain negotiated by the defense and prosecution
- B.
An appeal to the United States Court of Appeals
- C.
An appeal to a state court of appeals
- D.
A trial by judge
- E.
A trial by jury
- 10."The Congress shall have power...to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." -clause from the Constitution.Interpretations of this clause have been central to attempts to define the nature of which of the following aspects of the United States political system?
- A.
Republicanism
- B.
Pluralism
- C.
Due process of law
- D.
Federalism
- E.
Judicial review
- 11."The Congress shall have power...to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof." -excerpt from the Constitution.The practical effect of this clause has been to
- A.
Make the legislature the most powerful branch of the national government
- B.
Allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution
- C.
Allow state governments to nullify federal laws with their borders
- D.
Give the President uncontested powers in the area of foreign policy
- E.
Ensure that any powers not delegated by the Constitution to the United States government are reserved to the states and the people
- 12.Those who believe that the Supreme Court in its rulings should defer to the elective institutions of government are advocating
- A.
"Social Darwinism"
- B.
"judicial activism"
- C.
"judicial restraint"
- D.
"incorporation"
- E.
"nullification"
- 13.In general, Congress is most likely to defer to the President
- A.
In the area of foreign policy
- B.
In the area of fiscal policy
- C.
In the area of social policy
- D.
Late in the President's term
- E.
When the economy is strong
- 14.
- A.
Using the legislative schedule to political advantage
- B.
Enforcing the party discipline
- C.
Satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process
- D.
Effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion
- E.
Using the media to set the policy agenda
- 15.Supporters of granting the President a line-item veto would most likely argue that this power would increase a President's ability to
- A.
Work effectively with the cabinet
- B.
Negotiate understandings with foreign heads of government
- C.
Control federal spending
- D.
Avoid costly disputes with the judiciary
- E.
Provide effectively for national defense
- 16.Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a United States President and another head of state?
- A.
It does not require Senate approval, but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation
- B.
It does not require congressional funding because the president can use the power fo the purse to raise implementation funds
- C.
It has more legal force than a treaty
- D.
It is binding on all succeeding Presidents and Congresses
- E.
It has been used extensively to end armed conflicts
- 17.Over the past 20 years, reforms of teh presidential nomination process have had which of teh following effects?
- A.
The nomination process in both parties has become less democratic and open
- B.
The number of Black delegates at Republican national conventions has grown substantially
- C.
The number of candidates willing and able to seek the nomination has decreased dramatically
- D.
The number of female delegates and minority-group delegates at Democratic national conventions has grown substantially
- E.
State and local party organizations have increased their control over the process
- 18.All of the following are reasons incumbents in the House of Representatives enjoy an electoral advantage over challengers EXCEPT that incumbents
- A.
Get substantial financial support from their party's national committee
- B.
Are better known to voters than are challengers
- C.
Find it much easier to raise campaign funds than do challengers
- D.
Can use staff members to do constituent service
- E.
Often serve on committees that enable them to help the constituency
- 19.The Office of Management and Budget has the primary responsibility for doing which of the following?
- A.
Implementing federal unemployment policy
- B.
Preparing the budget
- C.
Auditing the budget
- D.
Appropriating funds for the budget
- E.
Approving the budget
- 20.The boundary lines of congressional districts are drawn by
- A.
The United States House of Representatives
- B.
The United States Senate
- C.
United States district courts
- D.
State governors
- E.
State legislatures
- 21.The most common form of political activity undertaken by United States citizens is
- A.
Lobbying to influence decisions by public officials
- B.
Campaigning for candidates for office
- C.
Contributing money to a political party
- D.
Voting in local elections
- E.
Voting in presidential elections
- 22.
- A.
A majority agrees in principle with these rights, but in practice many people are often intolerant of views they do not support
- B.
A majority actively supports these rights without any reservations
- C.
A majority opposes these rights in principle
- D.
The average citizen is more supportive fo these rights than are members of the elite
- E.
Conservatives have traditionally been more supportive of these rights than have liberals
- 23.The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to
- A.
Expand presidential power
- B.
Restrict the application of judicial review
- C.
Make most rights contained in the Bill of Rights applicable to the states
- D.
Prevent states from taxing agencies of the federal government
- E.
Limit the use of the legislative veto
- 24.The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would
- A.
Be less powerful than executive
- B.
Be cautious and deliberate
- C.
Involve as many citizens as possible
- D.
Ensure that all groups be equally represented
- E.
Allow majorities virtually unlimited control over policy
- 25.All of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States EXCEPT
- A.
Inequality in government services across subnational entities
- B.
Opportunities for experimentation in government programs
- C.
Multiple points of access for interest groups
- D.
Decentralization of political conflict
- E.
A strict division of power among levels of government
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