frq
when you
DO
DON’T
Carefully read the question –
circle key words
Think before you write and
scribble a quick outline
Frantically start writing
Re-read the whole question
including the question stem
Write an introduction
Write each FRQ on
its proper page
Leave blank lines between
each section of the FRQ
A formal
power of the
President of
the United
States is…
Use A, B, C labels
Copy part of the question as a
lead-in to your answer
Do the verbs (see reverse)
Short-write
Write using spare tires (If it
asks for 2 give 3 or 4)
Write legibly in
black or blue pen
Include pictures/diagrams if
they help explain your answer
Re-read your answers from the
POV of a reader
Use pronouns (Ex…Say
“Congress” not “They”)
COMPARE the
positions of
Federalists and
Anti-Federalists
regarding the power
of the national
government.
EXPLAIN how
executive
agreements expand
the president’s
ability to implement
foreign policy.
DESCRIBE the
process of
reapportionment as
it relates to the US
House of
Representatives.
HIGH HURDLE
FRQ verbs
COMPARE
Make sure you write about both
items of comparison and cross
reference them. Your comparisons
need to be explicit, not implicit.
EXPLAIN
Identify and discuss logical
connections or causal patterns that
exist between or among various
political phenomena. Write a
substantial paragraph that contains
“how” and “why.”
DESCRIBE
A description involves providing a
depiction or portrayal of a
phenomenon or its most significant
characteristics. Write a paragraph
that includes a definition with some
‘plus factors.’
DEFINE “Federal
System.”
DEFINE
Write a couple of sentences that
provide the meaning of the word or
concept. Add an example to show
you understand the definition.
IDENTIFY a
characteristic of a
valid, scientific,
public opinion poll.
IDENTIFY
Write a single sentence that answers
the question. No further analysis or
examples are necessary.
The positions of the Federalists and
Anti-Federalists regarding the power
of the national government are as
follows. The Federalists believed in
a strong national government that
could tax and carry out other
functions of a larger centralized
government. On the other hand,
Anti-Federalists believed in a weak
federal government that through the
10th Amendment left powers up to
the states. These powers left to the
states are known as reserved
powers.
Executive agreements expand the
president’s ability to implement
foreign policy because executive
agreements carry virtually the same
weight as treaties but do not need to
be approved by Congress. How
executive agreements work is that
the president signs an agreement
with another foreign head of state.
Why presidents prefer executive
agreements is that the benefits are
virtually the same as with treaties,
but the 2/3rds threshold for treaty
passage in the Senate does not
need to be met.
Every 10 years there is a census.
After the population of each state is
known, the reps are distributed by
each state’s population. Every state
(even sparsely populated ones like
Wyoming) get one representative.
Large states like California get 53
representatives. Illinois gets 18.
A federal system exists when the
Constitution formally divides power
between the central government and
the governments of the subdivisions.
The central government (Washington
DC) and the governors of the
subdivisions (Illinois) share power.
A characteristic of a valid, scientific,
public opinion poll is a randomized and
representative sample.