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AP United States Government and Politics

FRQ PACKET

In this packet are all of the FRQs that the College Board has asked during the May AP Government & PoliticsExam.

There is also a table of contents on the following page that match up each of the FRQs to the chapters that we will

cover in your textbook.

In order to review the key (answers) for each of the FRQs, you will need to go to the College Board website whichis accessible from my website. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2086.html
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2086.htmlhttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2086.html


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FRQ GUIDE (updated 7/11/2013)

Chapter/Topic Corresponding FRQ used on previous AP ExamsYear:Number

(Some may be in multiple sections due to related topics being covered)

1: People, Politics and Participation 2013:1, 2010: 1, 2003:2,

2: The Constitution 2013:1, 2011:4, 2010:1, 2010:4, 2009:1, 2007:2, 2006:4, 2001:1, 2000:1

3. Federalism 2010:4, 2007:4, 2005:2, 2003:3, 2002:3, 2000:1,

4. Civil Liberties 2010:1, 2010:4, 2007:2, 2005:3, 2001:3,

5. Civil Rights 2012:2, 2008:4, 2001:3,

6. Political Socialization and Public

Opinion

2011:2, 2010:3, 2009:2, 2004:4, 2000:3,

7. Interest Groups 2012:4, 2010:1, 2006:1, 2004:2, 2001:4, 1999:2,

8. Political Parties 2013:2, 2010:3, 2007:1, 2006:1, 2004:3, 2002:3, 2001:4, 2000:3,

9. Elections, Campaigns, and Voting 2011:3, 2009:2, 2007:1, 2005:4, 2004:4, 2003:2, 2002:3, 2002:4, 200

2000:3, 2000:4, 1999:1,

10. The Media 2013:4, 2012:4, 2009:4, 1999:1,

11. Congress 2013:1, 2012:1, 2011:2, 2011:4, 2009:3, 2008:1, 2008:2, 2007:3, 2006:4

2004:1 , 2004:4, 2003:4, 2002:1, 2001:2, 2001:4, 2000:4, 1999:3,

12. The Presidency 2011:4, 2009:4, 2008:2, 2007:1, 2007:3, 2004:1, 2004:4, 2003:1, 2002

2001:4, 1999:1,

13. The Bureaucracy 2013:4, 2010:2, 2006:3, 1999:3,

14. The Judiciary 2013:3, 2012:3, 2011:1, 2005:1, 2000:2,

15. Economic Policy 2013:4, 2008:3,

16. Domestic Policy 2013:4, 2006:2, 2002:2, 2000:1, 1999:4,

17. Foreign Policy and National

Security

2007:3, 2004:1,


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Free-Response Question Tasks

The first priority for students is to understand exactly what tasks a question is asking them to perform. Studentsshould then focus on writing a clear, concise, and well-supported response. When appropriate, they should provideexamples to support their responses.

To this end, it is critical that students understand the instructions and action verbs that are often used on the APExam. Students may be asked to list, discuss, describe, explain, analyze, and so on. These are not all identical tasks

Furthermore, the question may call for more than one task, such as both identify and explain. Students shouldrealize that some of the tasks are more complex than others. For example, composing a list may not even require a

complete sentence, but students, to adequately explain some phenomena, may need to write several paragraphs,including well-developed supporting examples. The following list of commonly used action verbs will help studentunderstand the exact tasks that they will be required to perform.

List/Identify. Listing or identifying is a task that requires no more than a simple enumeration of somefactors or characteristics. A list does not require any causal explanations. For example, a student might beasked to list or identify three characteristics presidents consider when making appointments. Such a list,which could be bulleted or numbered, might include party, race, gender, etc.

Define. A definition requires a student to provide a meaning for a word or concept. Examples may help todemonstrate understanding of the definition. Students may be instructed to note the terms significance as

part of the definition. Describe. A description involves providing a depiction or portrayal of a phenomenon or its most significan

characteristics. Descriptions most often address what questions. For example, if students are asked todescribe reasons for the decline in voter turnout, they must do more than simply list factsthey must

actually describe the reasons. Students may explain that the expansion of suffrage led to a decline in overalvoter turnout because once voting was made available to more individuals, the overall percentage of those

voting declined. Discuss. Discussions generally require that students explore relationships between different concepts or

phenomena. Identifying, describing, and explaining could be required tasks involved in writing a

satisfactory discussion.

Explain. An explanation involves the exploration of possible causal relationships. When providingexplanations, students should identify and discuss logical connections or causal patterns that exist between

or among various political phenomena. Compare/Contrast. This task requires students to make specific links between two or more concepts. Evaluate/Assess. An evaluation or assessment involves considering how well something meets a certain

standard and as such generally requires a thesis. It is important to identify the criteria used in the evaluation

If no criteria are explicitly given in the question, students should take care to clearly identify the ones thatthey choose to employ. Specific examples may be applied to the criteria to support the students thesis.Evaluation or assessment requires explicit connections between the thesis or argument and the supportingevidence.

Analyze. This task usually requires separating a phenomenon into its component parts or characteristics asa way of understanding the whole. An analysis should yield explicit conclusions that are explained orsupported by specific evidence or well-reasoned arguments.

OTHER

CHARTS--If there is a chart or graph in the FRQ, ALWAYS incorporate DATA from the chart INTO youranswer!


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2013 AP UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

1. There are several different approaches to representation within a democratic political system.

(a) Define direct democracy.

(b) Define republican form of government.

(c) Describe one reason the framers of the United States Constitution chose a republican form of government

over a direct democracy.

(d) Describe each of the models of congressional representation.

Trustee model (attitudinal view) Delegate model (representational view)

(e) Explain why a member of Congress might sometimes act as a trustee (attitudinal view) rather than a delegate

(representational view).

2. Political parties play important roles in United States elections and government institutions. Over the past several

decades, the influence of political parties in elections has declined while their strength in Congress has increased.

(a) Describe two important functions of political parties in United States elections.

(b) Describe one important role political parties play within Congress to promote the partys public policy

agenda.

(c) Explain how each of the following factors has weakened the influence of political parties over the political

process. Direct primaries Candidate-centered campaigns

(d) Explain how party polarization has strengthened party influence in Congress.

3. Presidents consider many factors when nominating candidates to the federal courts, and getting their nominees

confirmed is often difficult.

(a) Using the chart above,

describe ONE similarity

between President BarackObamas judicial

appointments

and those made by President

George W. Bush.

(b) Using the chart above, describe TWO differences between President Barack Obamas judicial appointments

and those made by President George W. Bush.

(c) Explain why a presidents party affiliation accounts for d ifferences in presidential appointments to the

judiciary.

(d) Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having judicial nominations to federal courts

confirmed.

4. The public policy process is complex. The formation, enactment, and implementation of public policy involve

many government institutions.

(a) Explain the importance of each of the following in the formation of the policy agenda.

Media Elections

(b) Describe the roles of each of the following in the enactment of public policy.

Congressional committees Executive orders

(c) Explain the importance of each of the following in the implementation of public policy.

Bureaucratic discretion Issue networks OR iron triangles


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1.Members of Congress are charged with three primary dutieswriting laws, overseeing the implementation oflaws, and serving the needs of their constituents.

(a) Describe the role of each of the following in lawmaking. Senate filibuster

House Rules Committee Conference committee

(b) Describe one method by which Congress exercises oversight of the federal bureaucracy.(c) Explain how casework affects membersattention to legislation

2.(a) Using the chart to the right, compare minorityrepresentation in 1960 and 2010.

(b) Explain how each of the following assisted in the

removal of barriers to minority voting. Voting Rights Act of 1965 Twenty-fourth Amendment

(c) Identify one barrier that currently impedes minorityrepresentation in Congress. Explain why the barrier youidentified inhibits minority representation in Congress.

3.The judicial branch is often assumed to be insulated from politics. However, politics affects many aspects of thejudiciary.

(a) Describe two political factors that affect presidents decisions to appoint members of the federal judiciary. (b) Identify two political factors that affect the confirmation process of a presidents nominees and explain ho weach factor complicates a confirmation.(c) Explain how one legislative power serves as a check on court decisions.(d) Explain how one executive power serves as a check on court decisions.

4.Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. In doing so, however,

they may not act in the overall public interest.(a) Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections.

(b) Explain how interest groups use each of the following to influence government decision making. Issue networks (also known as iron triangles)

Amicus curiae briefs(c) Explain how each of the following serves to limit interest group influence.

The media Pluralism


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1.The United States Supreme Court receives many appeals, but it hears and rules on a small percentage of caseseach year. Numerous factors influence the actions of the Court, both in deciding to hear a case and in the decisionsit hands down.

a. Define judicial review.b. Explain how judicial review empowers the Supreme Court within the system of checks and balances.c. Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.d. Explain how each of the following influences decisions made by individual justices when deciding cases

heard by the Court. Stare decisis

Judicial activism

2.Public opinion polls are a way to link the public with elected officials. Members of Congress often use polls tounderstand the views of their constituents, but they must also pay attention to other political considerations.

a. Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.b. Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of

members of Congress. Strong public opinion as expressed in polling results

Competitive re-electionsc. Explain why each of the following limits the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of

members of Congress.

Legislators voting records Party leadership

3.Nominees for the presidency of the two major parties are chosen by delegates at national conventions. Howthese delegates are chosen varies across states and between the political parties.

a. Define each of the following methods used by states to choose delegates to party conventions.

Open primary Caucus

b. Republican Party rules permit winner-take-all primaries. Describe one consequence of this rule for theRepublican nomination process.

c. The Democratic Party has used superdelegates in the presidential nominating process since 1984. Explainwhy the use of superdelegates increases the influence of party leaders in the Democratic nomination

process.

d. Explain why a candidates strategy to win the nomination is often different from the strategy developedto win the general election.

4.The Constitution of the United States creates a government of separate institutions that share power rather than agovernment that delegates power exclusively to a single branch. Frequently, this means that presidents and

Congress struggle with each other.a. For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is

affected by that power. Veto power Power to issue executive orders

Power as commander in chiefb. For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that presidential decision making is

affected by that power. Legislative oversight power Senateadvice and consent power

Budgetary power


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1.Individuals often form groups in order to promote their interests. The Constitution contains several provisionsthat protect the rights of individuals who try to promote their interests in a representative democracy.

(a) Explain two provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics.

(b) Interest groups engage in a variety of activities to affect public policy. Explain how each of the following isused by interest groups to exert influence over policy.

Grassroots mobilization Lobbying of government institutions

Litigation

(c) Describe one specific federal governmental regulation of interest groups.

2.The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementinggovernmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees whoare organized under a merit system.

(a) Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.

(b) For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence. The structure of the federal bureaucracy The complexity of public policy problems

(c) For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy. Congress The courts

Interest groups

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE


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3.Over the last several decades, thecomposition of the Democratic and Republican

parties has changed in important ways. A major

partisan shift has occurred in the South, but other

demographic changes have also been identified.

Changes in party composition are reflected at

different rates in presidential elections than in

congressional elections.

(a) Identify one specific trend evident in the

figure above.

(b) Choose two of the following and use each to explain why southern voters from 1948 to 2000 were electing

Democratic candidates to Congress more frequently than choosing Democratic candidates for the presidency.

Incumbency advantage Gerrymandering

Differences between state and national parties

(c) Several other changes in party composition have emerged in the past few decades. Select three of the

following groups and for each explain how parties have changed in composition with respect to that

group.

Catholics

Labor union members

Women

Social conservatives

4.The framers of the Constitution created a political system based on limited government. The originalConstitution and the Bill of Rights were intended to restrict the powers of the national government.

Later constitutional developments also limited the powers of state governments.

(a) Explain how each of the following limits the powers of the national executive.

Federalism

Checks and balances

(b) Explain how each of the following two provisions in the Bill of Rights limits the powers of the national

government.

Establishment clause

Guarantee of a public trial

(c) Choose one of the following and explain how it limits the power of state governments.

Citizenship clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

Selective incorporation


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1.In The Federalistpaper number 10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majorityand minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizingthat danger. The United States Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several

provisions that limited majority rule. Throughout the next two centuries, the role of majority rule in theUnited States government and politics continued to change.

(a) Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain howit was tied to citizens.

(b) Explain two ways the United States Constitution limited majority rule.

(c) Choose two of the following twentieth-century developments and explain how each moved the United Statesfrom a less democratic system to a more democratic system.

Primary elections The Seventeenth Amendment Expansion of suffrage

2.In the United States political system, there are several linkage institutions that can connect citizens togovernment. Elections constitute one such institution. Because of low voter turnout, elections represent animperfect method of linking citizens to their government. Even when there is low voter turnout, however, otherlinkage institutions can connect citizens to government.

(a) Describe how each of the following is related to the likelihood of voting. Age

Education

(b) Identify one current government electoral requirement that decreases voter turnout. Explain how it decreasesvoter turnout.

(c) Identify one linkage institution other than elections and explain two ways it connects citizens to government.

3.In the United States Congress, the majority party exerts a substantial influence over lawmaking. However, evenwhen one party has a numerical majority in each chamber of the United States Congress, there is no guaranteethat legislation supported by that majority party will be passed by both chambers. Rules of each chamber

independently influence the likelihood that legislation will pass in that chamber; legislation passed by onechamber is not always passed by the other.

(a) Describe two advantages the majority party in the United States House of Representatives has in lawmaking,above and beyond the numerical advantage that that majority party enjoys in floor voting.

(b) Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass

in one chamber but not in the other.

(c) Explain how the differences identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not in the

other.


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4.One of the most important ways the news media influence politics is through agenda setting.

(a) Define policy agenda.

(b) Explain how the national news media engage in agenda setting.

(c) Explain the primary reason the president tends to have an advantage over Congress in gaining media attention.

(d) Consider the table above.

Describe the difference in the viewing patterns of older and younger age-groups. Describe the change from1974 to 2002 in viewing habits that exists for all age categories.

(e) Given the information in the table, describe one implication for presidents in their use of the media to promotetheir political and policy objectives to the American public.


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1.Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conductedpoliticians often engage in gerrymandering.(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.(b) Define congressional redistricting.(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.

(d) Describe two limits that the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

2.A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. Howeverpresidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.(a) The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powersthat enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.(b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the presidents abil ityto influence domestic policymaking in Congress.

mandatory spending party polarization lame-duck period

3.Fiscal policy and monetary policy are two tools used by the federal government to influence the United Stateseconomy. The executive and legislative branches share the responsibility of setting fiscal policy. The FederalReserve Board has the primary role of setting monetary policy.(a) Define fiscal policy.(b) Describe one significant way the executive branch influences fiscal policy.(c) Describe one significant way the legislative branch influences fiscal policy.(d) Define monetary policy.

(e) Explain two reasons why the Federal Reserve Board is given independence in establishing monetary policy.

4.The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by anyState on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. --Fifteenth Amendment to the United StatesConstitution, 1870

Despite the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment, voter turnout among African American citizens was verylow throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Over the past 50 years, civil rights policies have changed

substantially, along with a significant increase in African American voter turnout.(a) Explain how two measures taken by some states prior to the 1960s affected voter turnout among African

American citizens.(b) Facing discrimination at the voting booth, many African American citizens turned to alternative forms of

political participation. Describe two alternative forms of participation that helped bring about changes in

civil rights policies.(c) Choose one of the forms of participation you described in (b) and explain why it was effective in changing

civil rights policies.


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frq.packet.review.materials.ap.government.13 14

Documents

ap government politicsexam

ap united states government

following list

used action verbs

exact tasks

foreign policy

economic policy

domestic policy