AP US Government & Politics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which clause of the Constitution is the basis for the federal government's authority to regulate activity that crosses state lines?
- The Commerce Clause (Correct answer)
- The Supremacy Clause
- The Necessary and Proper Clause
- The Full Faith and Credit Clause
Correct answer: The Commerce Clause
The Commerce Clause in Article I gives Congress power to regulate trade among the states.
Question 2: A president issues a directive managing federal agencies without congressional approval. This action is best described as a(n):
- Executive order (Correct answer)
- Treaty
- Bill of attainder
- Concurrent resolution
Correct answer: Executive order
Executive orders let presidents direct the executive branch without new legislation.
Question 3: In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), the Supreme Court relied most directly on which principle to uphold the national bank?
- Implied powers (Correct answer)
- Selective incorporation
- Judicial restraint
- Reserved powers
Correct answer: Implied powers
The Court used implied powers from the Necessary and Proper Clause to justify the bank.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the role of a political party's national convention?
- Formally nominating the presidential candidate and adopting the platform (Correct answer)
- Drawing congressional district boundaries
- Confirming Supreme Court justices
- Setting interest rates for the economy
Correct answer: Formally nominating the presidential candidate and adopting the platform
National conventions formally nominate the candidate and approve the party platform.
Question 5: The practice of 'logrolling' in Congress refers to:
- Members trading votes to support each other's bills (Correct answer)
- Delaying a vote through extended debate
- Attaching unrelated riders to legislation
- Overriding a presidential veto
Correct answer: Members trading votes to support each other's bills
Logrolling is the mutual exchange of voting support among legislators.
Question 6: Which amendment guarantees that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people?
- Tenth Amendment (Correct answer)
- Fourth Amendment
- Sixteenth Amendment
- Seventeenth Amendment
Correct answer: Tenth Amendment
The Tenth Amendment reserves undelegated powers to the states and the people.
Question 7: A linkage institution that connects citizens to government by aggregating public opinion and informing voters is best exemplified by:
- The mass media (Correct answer)
- The federal judiciary
- The Electoral College
- The Office of Management and Budget
Correct answer: The mass media
Mass media is a linkage institution that informs and connects citizens to government.
AP US Government & Politics 2
Which clause of the Constitution is the basis for the federal government's authority to regulate activity that crosses state lines?