AICP MCQ 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which planning theory argues that decisions should be made through open dialogue among all affected stakeholders to reach consensus?
- Rational comprehensive planning
- Communicative/collaborative planning (Correct answer)
- Advocacy planning
- Incremental planning
Correct answer: Communicative/collaborative planning
Communicative or collaborative planning, associated with theorists like Habermas and Healey, emphasizes deliberative dialogue and consensus-building among stakeholders.
Question 2: A city is preparing a general plan. Which element is REQUIRED in California but not universally mandated by federal law?
- Land use element
- Housing element (Correct answer)
- Conservation element
- Safety element
Correct answer: Housing element
California's Government Code mandates a housing element in every general plan with specific state-reviewed requirements; no equivalent federal mandate exists.
Question 3: The 'highest and best use' concept in real estate appraisal is most directly relevant to which planning function?
- Environmental impact assessment
- Zoning and land use regulation (Correct answer)
- Transportation demand modeling
- Community visioning
Correct answer: Zoning and land use regulation
Highest and best use analysis — the legally permitted, physically possible, financially feasible, and maximally productive use — directly informs zoning and land use decisions.
Question 4: Under the AICP Code of Ethics, a planner who discovers a client is providing false information to a regulatory body is obligated to:
- Maintain client confidentiality and say nothing
- Immediately report to the media
- Advise the client to correct the information or withdraw from the engagement (Correct answer)
- Ignore it if the plan is otherwise sound
Correct answer: Advise the client to correct the information or withdraw from the engagement
The AICP Code requires planners to bring professional conduct issues to the client's attention and, if unresolved, to withdraw rather than be complicit in deception.
Question 5: Which federal act requires metropolitan areas above a population threshold to have a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)?
- Clean Air Act of 1970
- Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962 (Correct answer)
- National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
- Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991
Correct answer: Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962
The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1962 first required urbanized areas over 50,000 population to establish MPOs to conduct continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning.
Question 6: A 'form-based code' primarily regulates land development based on:
- Permitted land uses and density
- Building form, placement, and facade standards (Correct answer)
- Environmental performance metrics
- Fiscal impact to the municipality
Correct answer: Building form, placement, and facade standards
Form-based codes regulate the physical form of buildings and their relationship to streets and public space, rather than separating land uses as conventional zoning does.
Question 7: The concept of 'induced demand' in transportation planning refers to:
- New transit ridership generated by fare subsidies
- Additional vehicle traffic generated by new road capacity (Correct answer)
- Demand for housing near transit stations
- Freight traffic created by economic growth
Correct answer: Additional vehicle traffic generated by new road capacity
Induced demand describes the phenomenon where expanding road capacity stimulates additional vehicle trips, often negating the intended congestion relief.
AICP MCQ 2
Which planning theory argues that decisions should be made through open dialogue among all affected stakeholders to reach consensus?