AP Government Seminar 2002 FRQ Project

1. AP Government Seminar2002 FRQ Project Don Moseley Eagles Landing Christian Academy don.moseley@eagleslanding.org

2. Question 1 • The concept of “divided government” in the United States means that one political party can control the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the President in making appointments to federal offices. • Describe two problems that divided government poses for the President in making federal appointments. • Identify and explain two ways Presidents try to overcome the problems described in (a). • EQs: What are a POTUS’s executive powers, why have they grown and how can Congress constrain them? • Discussion of the factors for the growth of presidential power over the course of American history and Article II • Vocabulary: Ordinance power, executive order, appointment and removal power • Content Area: I Constitutional Underpinnings, III Political Parties, IV Institutions

3. The Executive Powers of the President

4. Question 2 • Using the information in the figure above and your knowledge of United States politics, complete the following tasks. • Describe what the figure above demonstrates about the distribution of government benefits over time. • Identify two politically relevant factors that have affected the changing distribution of government benefits between the children and the elderly. • Explain how each of the two factors identified in (b) has affected the changing distribution of government benefits. • EQs: How have interest groups affected the changing distribution of government benefits? • Vocabulary • Interest group, single interest group, public interest group, public policy, public affairs, lobbying, propaganda, grass roots, labor union • Content Area: III- Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media. V - Public Policy

5. Question 3 • Political institutions can present both obstacles and opportunities to racial minority groups in their efforts to gain political influence. • Identify one feature of one of the following and explain how that feature has presented obstacles to racial minority groups in their efforts to achieve political goals. • Federalism • The United States political party system • The United States electoral system • Identify one feature of one of the following and explain how that might present opportunities to racial minority groups in their efforts to achieve political goals. • Federalism • The United States political party system • The United States electoral system

6. EQ: What are the powers delegated to and denied to the National and State governments? What is Federalism? How does the US electoral system function? What is the role of the political party system in the United States? Why is there a dominant two party structure in the United States? Read: Lanahan reader: pg 79, 84-87, “Diversity in the Power Elite” Quote: “I was lucky to be born black” Colin Powell pg 85 Discuss: the opportunities and obstacles described in the Lanahan reader. Content Area: I Constitutional Underpinnings, II Political Beliefs and Behaviors (demographics), III Political Parties, IV Institutions of National Government, VI Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Voting Rights Acts) Vocabulary Federalism, division of powers, delegated powers, expressed powers, implied powers, inherent powers, reserved powers, exclusive powers, concurrent powers

7. Powers

8. Question 4 • In the last half of the twentieth-century, voter turnout in federal elections has declined. During the same period, voter turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections. • Identify two factors that have contributed to the overall decline in turnout in federal elections and explain how each factor has contributed to the overall decline. • Identify and explain two reasons why voter turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in midterm elections. • EQ: What are the factors in the United States that have led to low voter turnout?

9. In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Independent voters – why? Vocabulary Off-year election, political efficacy, political socialization, gender gap, party identification, straight-ticket voting, split-ticket voting, independent Content Area: II Political Beliefs and Behaviors, III Political Parties, Interest Groups and Mass Media (the role that each of these areas plays in relation to voter turnout), V Public Policy – (How public policy helps or hinders voter turnout)

10. Voter Characteristics