AP Government Midterm Review

Independent expenditure-only PACs, may accept donations of any size from corporations, unions, or individuals and can endorse candidates. The cannot coordinate their activities with campaigns in any way. Their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.

• Super PAC

• 527 Group

• 501(c)4 Group

• Interest Group

A state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections

• Red State

• Blue State

• Swing State

A supreme court decision is a great way to get things changed... lobbyist know this... so if there is a court case about their issue coming up....they want to get involved... even though it might not be their court case... so that the Supreme Court hears their opinions... they may submit what kind of brief (legal argument)

• amicus curiae (friend of the court)

• happy meal

• campaign donation to supreme court justicies

The concept that society must ensure that people are equal, and governments must design policies to redistribute wealth and status so that economic and social equality is actually achieved. (we dont believe in this concept)

• Individualism

• Socialism

• Equality of Opportunity

• Equality of Outcome

A principle of constitutional government in which the government's powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

• Limited Government

• Party Platform

• Polarization

• Means Test

A liberal response to the “strained resources” of local government most likely would include

• a reduction of federal income taxes so that state and local governments can use those resources.

• less federal regulation and more authority for local school boards to create curricula and standards.

• an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities.

• encouraging state and local governments to offer vouchers so that students can attend private or charter schools.

**** MMQ**** Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions

Agree-Disagree

The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree)

Forced Choice

The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%)

OR

Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%)

Source: Pew Research Center, 1999.

Which of the following is the best conclusion a polling group might draw from the results of the two polls?

• Including loaded phrases such as “military strength” in questions skews the results of the poll.
• Asking the same question twice biases respondents, encouraging them to change their position.
• Using an agree-or-disagree format encourages respondents to agree with the position.
• A majority of Americans support using military force to ensure peace.

What is the meaning of grassroots lobbying?

• Lobbying for environmental issues
• Citizen participation in influencing public policy
• The measuring of support of opposition to proposed legislation
• Lobbying that does not use money to influence public policy

The Connecticut (Great) Compromise drafted at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 is significant for which of the following reasons?

• It denied Congress the power to establish tariffs on exported merchandise.

• It provided equality of representation among the states in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• It established the presidential system and gave the United States Supreme Court power to serve as the ultimate arbiter of constitutional disputes.

• It proposed a Senate with equal representation for each state and a House of Representatives with membership established according to the population of each state.

The supremacy clause in the Constitution states that

• the federal government has the right to regulate interstate commerce.

• only Congress may declare war.

• federal law takes precedence over state law when the laws conflict.

• the Supreme Court has the power to overturn decisions of lower courts.