AP Government FRQs

1. AP Government FRQs • Or, how to get very angry at the simplicity of it all

2. First step, know the points totals and what they are asking • - The test will specify the points available for each question • -Weigh your answers according to the available points; in other words, if its only worth one point, how detailed do you think the answer should be? • - Break the questions down into tasks • - Look for key words to help explain what you need to do • - Things like Explain (How and Why), Describe, Identify

3. What to write? • Sentences are desired • Break it down like the question • Example: ‘Identify a cause of the Great Depression 1 point’ • Answer: One cause of the Great Depression would be stock speculation leading to the stock market crash in 1929 • Remember POINT VALUES- If its only worth one point, dont over think it

4. 1. Voter participation and voter behavior in elections are affected by a number of factors. • a. Describe the effect of each of the following on the level of voter participation in elections: • The voter registration requirement 1 point • Lack of penalties for not voting 1point • Ballot fatigue 1point • b. Describe the effect of each of the following on voter behavior in elections: • Race 1 point • Party identification 1point • Geographic regions 1point Might be helpful to underline the question subjects Might be helpful to underline the task being asked of you

5. Answers for Question 1 • Part (a): 3 points • One point is earned for each correct description of a factor affecting voter participation in elections • Acceptable descriptions include: • The voter registration requirement diminishes voter participation by requiring citizens to register prior to an election. • Lack of penalties for not voting diminishes voter participation because there are no legal consequences for failing to vote. • Long ballotsdissuade voters from voting for all offices. Frequent elections dissuade voters from going to the polls.

6. Part (b): 3 points • One point is earned for each correct description of a factor affecting voter behavior in presidential elections • Acceptable descriptions include: • Race: Whites are more likely to vote Republican; African Americans and Hispanics/ Latinos are more likely to vote Democratic • Party identification: Voters generally vote with the party with which they are identified • Geographic regions: Several patterns exist; for example, the South tends to vote Republican, the Pacific Coast tends to vote Democratic, and the Rocky Mountain region tends to vote Republican

7. 2. Each policy-making institution in the United States federal government is subject to restrictions on its power. • a. Explain how each of the following can restrict presidential power: • “Power of the Purse” 1 point • The appointment confirmation process 1 point • b. Explain how each of the following can restrict congressional power: • Presidential power as commander-in-chief 1 point • Executive privilege 1 point • c. Explain how each of the following can restrict judicial power: • Enforcement of judicial rulings 1 point • Constitutional amendments 1 point

8. Part (a): 2 points • One point is earned for each correct explanation of how the “power of the purse” and the appointment confirmation process can restrict presidential power • Power of the purse: Congress controls appropriations. The president may request funding, but Congress can deny such requests. • Appointment confirmation: The president can appoint officials, but the Senate can reject those appointments • You may explain how or why each limits the power of the institution in question.

9. Part (b): 2 points • One point is earned for each correct explanation of how the presidents power as commander in chief and executive privilege can restrict congressional power • Presidents power as commander in chief: Congress may have the power to declare war, but the president is commander in chief and therefore can deploy troops as he/ she sees fit • Executive privilege: Congress has the powers of oversight and investigation, but thepresident can refuse to disclose conversations that he/ she had with the White House staff.

10. Part (c): 2 points • One point is earned for each correct explanation of how enforcement of judicial rulings and constitutional amendments can restrict congressional power • Enforcement of judicial rulings: Courts can issue rulings, but they have no enforcement mechanism to ensure that the rulings are carried out. The courts depend upon others for enforcement. • Constitutional amendments: Courts can interpret the Constitution, but Congress and the states can pass constitutional amendments that the courts are obligated to follow.

11. 3. Several characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress. Because of the perception that interest groups exert undue influence, Congress has regulated the influence of these groups. • a. Describe how each of the characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress: • Financial resources 1 point • Expertise 1 point • Size 1 point • b. Identify two ways in which Congress has regulated the influence of interest groups. 2 points

12. Part (a): 3 points • One point is earned for explaining how each specified characteristic of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress. • Financial resources can enhance the influence of an interest group because money enables interest groups to campaign, make monetary contributions, buy independent television time, and employ a large staff. • Expertise enhances influence because members of Congress will pay attention to and respect what members of the interest group have to say. (value of information) • Size enhances influence because the larger the group, the greater the ability to deliver votes and other resources. The larger the group, the greater the potential for fundraising and campaign contributions to influence members of Congress.

13. Part (b): 2 points • One point is earned for each of two identifications of the ways in which Congress has attempted to limit the influence of interest groups. • Identifications include: • Registration requirements for lobbyists • Limitations on campaign contributions • Disclosure of campaign contributions • Limitations on independent expenditures: for example, an issue advocacy ad cannot explicitly endorse a candidate • Restrictions on former members of Congress: for example, a two year “cooling off” period before the former member can lobby Congress

14. 4. Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget. Rarely does the federal government balance its budget. • a. Define balanced budget 1 point • b. Define federal entitlements 1 point • c. Identify an entitlement and explain how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget. 2 points • d. Describe a consequence of large budget deficits. 1 point What is the task and what is the subject?

15. Now, write me an AP FRQ response • 4. Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget. Rarely does the federal government balance its budget. • a. Define balanced budget 1 point • b. Define federal entitlements 1 point • c. Identify an entitlement and explain how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget. 2 points • d. Describe a consequence of large budget deficits. 1 point

16. Part (a): 1 point • One point is earned for defining a balanced budget, noting the salient point that a budget is balanced when federal spending equals federal income. • Part (b): 1 point • One point is earned for defining federal entitlements. • A federal entitlement is a federal program that guarantees a specific level of benefits to persons (or other entities) who meet requirements set by law, such as Social Security, farm price supports, or unemployment benefits. • Reference may also be made to “eligibility” (a person receives an entitlement if he/ she meets certain requirements) and “mandate” (spending that is required by law)

17. Part (c): 2 points • One point is earned for identifying a federal entitlement. • Medicaid • Medicare • Social Security • Food stamps, etc... • One point is earned for explaining how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget. • Congress has no discretion on how much money to appropriate • Since Congress must spend money on entitlement programs, it has sufficient discretion to bring about a balanced budget • Since entitlements account for more than 2/3rds of the federal budget, Congress is not left with much to cut to bring about a balanced budget

18. Part (d): 1 point • One point is earned for describing a consequence of large budget deficits • Descriptions include: • There is a large amount of interest paid on the debt • Deferring payments puts a burden on future generations.

19. Now, its time to do two new ones • The Constitution has been amended over time to reflect changes in the American political system. No issue has received more attention among these amendments than that of voting rights. • Describe three amendments that had an impact on voting rights • Describe how each amendment has changed the nature of the electorate

20. Part (a): 3 points • 15th Amendment: Extended voting rights to freed slaves (males) after the Civil War • 19th Amendment: Gave women the right to vote • 23rd Amendment: Granted residents of Washington, DC, the right to vote • 24th Amendment: Prohibited states from using poll taxes or tests to prevent citizens from voting • 26th Amendment: Changed the minimum voting age from 21 to 18

21. Part (b): 3 points • Describe each of the three you chose

22. Several parts of the Constitution have important implications for federalism. • Describe the relevance of these for federalism: • Supremacy Clause • 10th Amendment • Necessary and proper, or “elastic” clause • Explain how federalism has affected federal/ state relations in ONE of the following areas: • Environmental policy • International relations • Elections

23. Part (a): 3 points • Supremacy Clause: Part of the Constitution put in by the Framers which allows laws made by the national government, as long as they do not violate the Constitution, to override a conflicting state law • 10th Amendment: Part of the Constitution that reserves powers not given to the federal government for the states. • Necessary and Proper Clause: This is part of Article I that allows Congress to make laws governing the country that it feels are appropriate to keep the country running. An example of this could be the creation of the National Bank by Hamilton after the Revolutionary War in order to pay debts and exercise its Constitutional power to collect taxes