FRQ’s from the AP Practice Exam:
Period 4:
A1) less people come when there are registration requirements. In ND can register day of election
therefore voter turnout is higher. Motor Voter act gave eventually increased level of turnout because of
increase in those registered.
A2) In some countries like Australia it is mandatory to vote so more people vote. However in US there is
no legal consequence for voting or not voting and therefore the turnout is less. In 2008 Obama v McCain
the turnout in that presidential election year was about 63%.
A3) Ballot fatigue occurs in the US because the US has over 48,000 different governments. Therefore
people get the tendency to vote in more important elections like presidential elections rather than local
elections. Ex: 1996 the presidential election voter turnout was around 49%. In congressional elections
the turnout is in the 20’s and gets lower for local elections.
B1) race can have a major effect on voting behavior. Black for example vote mostly for democrats. In
2008 98% of all blacks voted for Obama. Blacks experience a group consciousness so feel the need to
vote for people of their race.
B2) party identification can have a major effect on voting behavior. Voters typically vote for the party
they are registered in. although many split tickets today majority still vote along party lines. Ex: strong
democrat will vote for the democrat candidate 98% of the time. Due to the lack of trust in the
government since 1968 there has been a huge increase in the number of independents. Since they don’t
associate with a party the way they vote depends more on the individual candidates.
B3) geographic regions can have a major effect on voting behavior. For example NYC is overwhelmingly
democrat while most of upstate NY is mostly republican. On national basis also true, the south is usually
more republican, northeast and west coast are very democrat. These regions have voted
overwhelmingly for these respective parties in last presidential elections.
Period 7:
1A1: Voter registration requirements have decreased voter turnout. For example, in North Dakota voter
registration is allowed on the day of the election and voter turnout there is above the national average.
Also, after the passage of the motor voter act the number of registered voters increased dramatically in
the mid 1990’s. However, there was a lower voter turnout as a result of the act which led to a 49% voter
turnout in the 1996 presidential election.
1A2: In Australia, where there is mandatory voting, the level of voter participation is usually in the mid90s. Conversely, in the United States where there are no penalties for not voting the level of voter
participation in presidential elections is typically in the 50% range. In the year 2008 it was slightly higher
when 63% of eligible voters voted.
1A3: In the United States some people claim that there is ballot fatigue because there are over 48,000
governments in the U.S. American Citizens are expected to cast a ballot in every election, but voters
grow tired from voting so often only vote in the larger elections. In presidential elections the average
rate of voter turnout is around 50%, while in congressional elections voter turnout is around 20%.
1B1: Race can play a major effect on voting behavior. For example, blacks often vote for liberal
democrats. Specifically, in the 2008 presidential election when Obama was voted into office 98% of
blacks voted for him. This has to do with blacks feeling group consciousness and therefore feel
compelled to vote especially when a person of their race is running.
1B2: With the exception of split-ticket voters, people have a tendency to support or vote for the party
they are registered with. For example, a politician that is a registered republican will often times win a
district that has a republican majority while the converse in not true. Since there are more democrats
registered in Orange County, NY President Obama carried this county in 2008 and 2012
1B3: Geographic regions differ in social and economic interests and therefore elect people from
different parties. Specifically, in the south voters typically vote for conservative republican candidates.
Conversely, democrats win in many major cities such as New York City and along the west coast like
California.
Period 4:
2A1) Congress has the power of the purse and is therefore a check on the presidential power. James
Madison helped create a system of checks and balances. For example during the Civil War had to ask
congress officially to increase the number of troops in action as per the Supreme Court.
2A2) The President can appoint several people to the federal government like ambassadors and federal
justices. The senate can approve the appointments or not approve them based on the Senate’s power
given to them by the advice and consent clause in the US constitution. For example the senate refused
to approve Reagan’s appointment of Robert Bork to the SC.
2B1) although congress has war making powers the president is the commander in chief. The president
determines troop movements and actions and congress does more of the funding. For example in
Vietnam Nixon chose the bombing sites and congress chose to foot the bill.
2B2) executive privilege can limit the power that congress has because it can limit the amount of
information that congress receives from the president. Ex: president W. bush with the help of Dick
Cheney, created a new energy policy. Executive privilege was used to keep congress in the dark as to
who visited Cheney about the bill.
2C1) judicial rulings have affected judicial powers. The courts make rulings but they rely upon the
executive branch and state powers to enforce their rulings. For ex: in Brown v BOE the SC ruled in favor
of integration of the schools but the states in the south refused to do this until the 1964 civil rights act,
which basically required it. This is why most schools in the south have not integrated until about 1970
2C2) amendments can affect judicial powers. If the SC rules a certain way in a case based on the current
constitution by adding a new amendment the ruling of the court may have to change. Ex: in Dred Scott
case the SC ruled that blacks were not citizens of the US even if they were free. However after the 14th
amendment was ratified, blacks were citizens.
Period 7:
2A1: While the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Congress has the power of the
purse. Therefore Congress can establish how much money is spent on the war effort. For example while
the President deployed troops to Vietnam, Congress determined the amount of money spent on the
troops.
2A2: While the president can nominate Supreme Court judges, the Senate, based on the advice and
consent clause of the Constitution, can approve or disapprove of his nomination. For example, Reagan
nominated Bork to the Supreme Court but the Senate rejected his nomination.
2B1: Since the President is in charge of the armed forces as Commander-in-Chief he can deploy troops
without congressional approval, as was done in Vietnam. Despite the passage of the War Powers Act,
Presidents have still found ways around it.
2B2: The Executive Branch may withhold information from congress as a result of Executive Privilege.
For example under W. Bush, Dick Cheney created a new energy policy for the U.S. Government that
relied very heavily on oil. Congress tried to get a list of who visited the White House office while Cheney
was making proposal; Cheney claimed executive privilege and Congress was never able to get this list.
2C1: While the Supreme Court determines the constitutionality of laws it is the president and/or the
states that enforce the laws. An example of this would be Worcester vs. Georgia, when the Supreme
Court ruled it was illegal to move Native Americans from their native lands but President Jackson said,
“The Supreme Court made their decision, now let’s see them enforce it.”
2C2: It is the power of the courts to interpret the constitutions, including the amendments, while it is
the duty of the other two branches to determine the amendments. Therefore if an amendment is
changed the ruling is changed. In the Dred Scott case, all blacks, even those who were free, were not
citizens. However with the 14th amendment all blacks were granted citizenship
Period 4:
3A1) financial resources can give interest groups power over congress. If an interest group has a lot of
money they can use that money to donate to the campaigns of congressmen/women or they can use
the money to fight the courts. Ex: NRA gives money in the form of donations and NAACP fights in the
courts.
3A2) expertise gives interest groups power over congress. Interest groups are a part of iron triangles and
therefor provide key information to members of congressional committees. Ex: groups of farmers can
influence the agricultural committee by providing expertise.
3A3) the size of an interest group can influence parts of congress. Typically an effective interest group is
one that is smaller because it has a more singular focus and has less free riders. Ex: Pro Life groups are
often very small but their singular focus gives them a lot of influence over parts of congress.
3B1) congress has regulated interest groups. Congress can make laws that mandate the maximum
amount that interest groups can donate to people in the gov. Ex: an interest group is only allowed to
spend 50 dollars on any single congressman.
3B2) congress has regulated interest groups. Congress can pass other laws that go against what the
interest group is lobbying for. Ex: when congress in 1990’s passed the assault weapons ban it went
against the basic ideas of the NRA.
Period 7:
3A1: The financial resources of an interest group enhances its influence over Congress. Interest groups
can donate to campaigns and therefore leverage their money to gain access. The NRA does this by
donating large amounts of money to many different congressional campaigns.
3A2: Interest groups are known for providing expertise to members of Congress, therefore exerting
influence over them. This can be considered lobbying or as a part of iron triangles. Interest groups
provide expertise to congressional committees. For example, a group of dairy farmers in the Midwest
can try to provide knowledge to the agricultural committee in Congress.
3A3: The size of an interest group can influence group by providing a large potential constituency in a
particular district. The interest group may ask members to vote a certain way, either for or against a
specific congress member. Also, the more members the more likely they are to have their ideas adopted
into the agenda. For example AARP may influence their members in Florida and therefore have a large
amount of influence over the voting of Floridian congress members.
3B1: Congress has made laws that limit the amount of money an interest group can provide or spend on
specific congress people. For example a specific interest group may spend a maximum of 50 dollars on
certain congress persons.
3B2: Congress can also make others laws that go against what the interest groups wanted. For example,
in the 1990’s the federal government passed an assault weapons ban against the wishes of the NRA.
Period 4:
4a) a balanced budget is when the federal revenue is equal to the federal expenditures.
4B) federal entitlements are programs that were created by congress and law that mandate
people/groups get specific financial incentives once they reach a certain threshold. Ex: if a person makes
below a certain amount of money they are entitled to welfare, food stamps and other programs.
4C) food stamps are an entitlement program. Therefore is a large number of people reach the threshold
to receive food stamps then the gov must give them food stamps. This often occurs during times of
recessions or depressions when the gov does not have tons of funds, therefore making it difficult for the
federal gov to balance their budget.
4D) a consequence of large budget deficits would be having to borrow a large sum of money from
foreign investors like china and therefore having to listen to the investors.
Period 7:
4A: A balanced budget is when revenue matches expenditures.
4B: Federal entitlements are programs created by law that are open to any citizen who meet the
requirements set by said law.
4C: Social Security is an example of an Entitlement Program, which forces the federal government to pay
out more funds to help finance mostly the elderly. Because the number of elderly is greatly increasing,
especially as the baby boomer generation retires, the amount the federal government owes is growing
greatly.
4D: Large budget deficits place the burdens made today onto future generations who did not create the
costs that are now being incurred. Additionally, the large deficits cause the national debt to rise, which
causes inflation to occur and also an increase in the amount the federal government owes every year in
interest payments.