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AP Government Test AP Government Test Prep Topics Prep Topics Everything you wanted to Everything you wanted to know about AP Government know about AP Government but were afraid to ask but were afraid to ask
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AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Mar 26, 2015

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Page 1: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

AP Government Test Prep AP Government Test Prep TopicsTopics

Everything you wanted to Everything you wanted to know about AP Government know about AP Government

but were afraid to askbut were afraid to ask

Page 2: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Issues and Theories involved in the Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the framing and ratification of the

ConstitutionConstitutionArticles of Confederation (especially Articles of Confederation (especially weaknesses)weaknesses)Shay’s Rebellion (rationale for Shay’s Rebellion (rationale for convention)convention)Characteristics of delegatesCharacteristics of delegatesOrdered, limited, balanced Ordered, limited, balanced government (how was this government (how was this achieved?)achieved?)Compromises (what did they settle?)Compromises (what did they settle?)

Page 3: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Issues and Theories involved in the Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the framing and ratification of the

ConstitutionConstitution

Federalists v. Anti Federalists Federalists v. Anti Federalists (leaders and positions of each)(leaders and positions of each)

Arguments offered in Arguments offered in FederalistFederalist Papers (especially #s 10, 51, 78)Papers (especially #s 10, 51, 78)

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

Page 4: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The nature and political impact of The nature and political impact of federalismfederalism

DefinitionDefinitionAlternativesAlternativesAdvantages and DisadvantagesAdvantages and DisadvantagesPowers (How are they divided?)Powers (How are they divided?)Role of the courtsRole of the courtsUse of money by federal government Use of money by federal government (especially grants)(especially grants)Federal mandatesFederal mandates

Page 5: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Democratic theoryDemocratic theory

Definition of democracy (distinguish Definition of democracy (distinguish between types)between types)

Characteristics of representative Characteristics of representative democracydemocracy

Elite versus Pluralist theoriesElite versus Pluralist theories

Page 6: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Constitutional development of the Constitutional development of the national governmentnational government

Mostly the workings of the Mostly the workings of the Constitution or how the federal Constitution or how the federal government is structuredgovernment is structured

Concept of constitutionalismConcept of constitutionalism

Checks and balances (examples)Checks and balances (examples)

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review

Formal and informal process of Formal and informal process of amending Constitutionamending Constitution

Page 7: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Issues relating to the separation of Issues relating to the separation of powerspowers

Powers inherent to each branchPowers inherent to each branch

Relative power of each branch to the Relative power of each branch to the othersothers

Growth of presidential powerGrowth of presidential power

Diminishing power of Congress?Diminishing power of Congress?

Court’s power?Court’s power?

Page 8: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

American political cultureAmerican political culture

Define political cultureDefine political culture

Identify characteristics peculiar to Identify characteristics peculiar to U.S.U.S.

Distinguish between political Distinguish between political ideologies (conservative v. liberal; ideologies (conservative v. liberal; socialist v. libertarian, etc.)socialist v. libertarian, etc.)

Page 9: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political socializationPolitical socialization

Agents of socializationAgents of socialization

Reinforcing v. cross-cutting Reinforcing v. cross-cutting cleavages in societycleavages in society

Demographic characteristics and Demographic characteristics and impact on political participationimpact on political participation

Page 10: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The political impact of the mediaThe political impact of the media

Sources of mass mediaSources of mass media

Importance of TVImportance of TV

Ways media uses politiciansWays media uses politicians

Ways politicians use mediaWays politicians use media

Media biasMedia bias

Campaign and election coverageCampaign and election coverage

Page 11: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The nature, sources, and The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinionconsequences of public opinion

Ways to measure public opinionWays to measure public opinion

Polling (How to conduct, types?)Polling (How to conduct, types?)

Effects of public opinion on Effects of public opinion on politicians, public policypoliticians, public policy

Page 12: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Voting behaviorVoting behavior

Constitutional requirementsConstitutional requirements

History of voting rightsHistory of voting rights

Registration of votersRegistration of voters

Voter turnout (what affects it?)Voter turnout (what affects it?)

Sociological v. Psychological voting Sociological v. Psychological voting behaviorbehavior

Party identificationParty identification

Page 13: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political participation other than Political participation other than votingvoting

Joining interest groups, political Joining interest groups, political partiesparties

Running for officeRunning for office

Variations by socioeconomic groupVariations by socioeconomic group

Variations by other demographicsVariations by other demographics

Page 14: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Factors that lead to group Factors that lead to group differences in political beliefs and differences in political beliefs and

behaviorbehaviorIssue politics; Cross cutting Issue politics; Cross cutting cleavagescleavages

Candidate’s appealCandidate’s appeal

Other demographic factorsOther demographic factors

Page 15: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political beliefs and behavior of Political beliefs and behavior of minority groupsminority groups

Group orientationGroup orientation

Voting tendenciesVoting tendencies

Political participation Political participation strength/weaknessstrength/weakness

Page 16: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Women’s political participationWomen’s political participation

Voting rateVoting rate

Candidate supportCandidate support

Representation in governmentRepresentation in government

Gender gap in voting?Gender gap in voting?

Women’s issuesWomen’s issues

Income inequalityIncome inequality

Page 17: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political partiesPolitical parties

Dominance of two-party system Dominance of two-party system (why?)(why?)

Purpose of major partiesPurpose of major parties

Organization of partiesOrganization of parties

Role of minor partiesRole of minor parties

Weakening of party system (factors)Weakening of party system (factors)

Page 18: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Campaigns and electionsCampaigns and elections

Distinguish between congressional Distinguish between congressional and presidential campaignsand presidential campaigns

Role of interest groups and party Role of interest groups and party affiliationaffiliation

IncumbencyIncumbency

Differences between House and Differences between House and SenateSenate

Factors for presidential nominationFactors for presidential nomination

Page 19: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Campaigns and electionsCampaigns and elections

Primary season (types of primaries)Primary season (types of primaries)

Presidential debates (characteristics)Presidential debates (characteristics)

Convention stage (what happens?)Convention stage (what happens?)

Electoral College (how does it work?)Electoral College (how does it work?)

Campaign financing (including soft Campaign financing (including soft money, McCain-Feingold-Cochran, money, McCain-Feingold-Cochran, Buckley v. Valeo)Buckley v. Valeo)

Reform proposalsReform proposals

Page 20: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Interest group politicsInterest group politics

Federalist #10Federalist #10

Purpose of interest groupsPurpose of interest groups

Types of interest groupsTypes of interest groups

TechniquesTechniques

LobbyingLobbying

Iron-trianglesIron-triangles

Page 21: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political action committeesPolitical action committees

DefinitionDefinition

Role in the political processRole in the political process

TacticsTactics

Regulation of PACsRegulation of PACs

Page 22: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The CongressThe Congress

Congressional elections Congressional elections (gerrymandering, incumbency)(gerrymandering, incumbency)

Structure (bicameral, party Structure (bicameral, party leadership – differences by house)leadership – differences by house)

Representation (demographic Representation (demographic background)background)

Roles of Congressmen/SenatorsRoles of Congressmen/Senators

Powers (especially elastic clause)Powers (especially elastic clause)

Page 23: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The CongressThe Congress

Committee System (differences in Committee System (differences in each house)each house)

Bill-making processBill-making process

Regulations and criticisms of Regulations and criticisms of CongressCongress

Page 24: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The PresidencyThe PresidencyFormal and informal qualificationsFormal and informal qualificationsRoles of the officeRoles of the officePowers of the presidencyPowers of the presidencyVice presidentVice presidentPresidential successionPresidential successionCabinet and White House OfficeCabinet and White House OfficeAccountabilityAccountabilityPresidential legacyPresidential legacy

Page 25: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The federal courtsThe federal courtsStructure (district courts, courts of Structure (district courts, courts of appeal, Supreme, etc.)appeal, Supreme, etc.)

Concept of jurisdiction (original, Concept of jurisdiction (original, appellate, concurrent)appellate, concurrent)

Judicial reviewJudicial review

Federalism as it applies to caseloadsFederalism as it applies to caseloads

Composition of the Supreme CourtComposition of the Supreme Court

Terminology (Writ of certiorari, Rule of 4)Terminology (Writ of certiorari, Rule of 4)

Opinions (majority, dissenting and Opinions (majority, dissenting and concurring)concurring)

Page 26: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The bureaucracyThe bureaucracy

Historical evolution (patronage to Historical evolution (patronage to Pendleton, Civil Service, Hatch Act, Pendleton, Civil Service, Hatch Act, etc.)etc.)Purpose and responsibilities (Iron Purpose and responsibilities (Iron triangles, enforcement, information)triangles, enforcement, information)Parts of bureaucracy (name game)Parts of bureaucracy (name game)Special distinction w/ independent Special distinction w/ independent regulatory commissionsregulatory commissionsCriticisms and accountabilityCriticisms and accountability

Page 27: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Relationships between the Relationships between the institutions of federal governmentinstitutions of federal government

Constitutional relationship (How a Bill Constitutional relationship (How a Bill Becomes a Law, Budgetary process, Becomes a Law, Budgetary process, other checks and balances)other checks and balances)

Political relationship (Party politics, Political relationship (Party politics, ideology, institutional turf)ideology, institutional turf)

Current examples?Current examples?

Page 28: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Links between the institutions of the Links between the institutions of the federal government and public opinion, federal government and public opinion,

interest groups, political parties, the interest groups, political parties, the media, and sub-national governmentsmedia, and sub-national governments

Impact of each non-institutional Impact of each non-institutional group on each institution (consider group on each institution (consider susceptibility and likelihood of susceptibility and likelihood of influence from each) influence from each)

Current examples?Current examples?

Page 29: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Policy processes and outputsPolicy processes and outputs

Overall understanding of Overall understanding of implementation of public policyimplementation of public policy

Consider theoretical law and actual Consider theoretical law and actual interpretation of law by bureaucratic interpretation of law by bureaucratic agencyagency

Page 30: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Economic policyEconomic policyFiscal policyFiscal policyTaxation (regressive, progressive, Taxation (regressive, progressive, both economic and political impact of both economic and political impact of tax cuts/raises)tax cuts/raises)Spending (mandatory versus Spending (mandatory versus discretionary spending)discretionary spending)Monetary policy (remember the role Monetary policy (remember the role of the Fed)of the Fed)Budget process (Constitutional Budget process (Constitutional mechanics and the politics involved)mechanics and the politics involved)

Page 31: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Social and social welfare policySocial and social welfare policyHistory of the safety net (especially History of the safety net (especially New Deal and Great Society)New Deal and Great Society)Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlementsother entitlementsRole of federalism in social welfare Role of federalism in social welfare policy (experimentation, funding policy (experimentation, funding issues)issues)Recent changes/challenges to Recent changes/challenges to welfarewelfare

Page 32: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Making foreign policyMaking foreign policy

President’s rolePresident’s roleAdvising the presidentAdvising the presidentCongressional roleCongressional roleHistorical approaches (isolationism, Historical approaches (isolationism, internationalism)internationalism)Foreign Policy issues (trade, Foreign Policy issues (trade, terrorism, national security interests, terrorism, national security interests, humanitarian interests)humanitarian interests)Foreign aid (politics involved)Foreign aid (politics involved)

Page 33: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Making environmental policyMaking environmental policy

Responsibilities of federal Responsibilities of federal governmentgovernment

Environment v. Industry (whales v. Environment v. Industry (whales v. jobs)jobs)

Legislation (Clean Air and Water Legislation (Clean Air and Water Acts) & enforcement (EPA)Acts) & enforcement (EPA)

International agreements (Kyoto)International agreements (Kyoto)

Page 34: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The development of civil rights for The development of civil rights for African AmericansAfrican Americans

Reconstruction amendmentsReconstruction amendmentsRelevant court cases (Plessy, Brown, Relevant court cases (Plessy, Brown, etc.)etc.)Tools of discrimination (poll taxes, Tools of discrimination (poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses)literacy tests, grandfather clauses)Strategies/LeadershipStrategies/LeadershipLegislation (Civil Rights Act 64, Legislation (Civil Rights Act 64, Voting Rights Act 65)Voting Rights Act 65)Unresolved issues (de facto Unresolved issues (de facto segregation, busing, etc.)segregation, busing, etc.)

Page 35: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

The development of civil rights for other The development of civil rights for other minority groups: Hispanic Americans, minority groups: Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans,

gender, etc.gender, etc.

Impact of Civil Rights Act 64Impact of Civil Rights Act 64

Political participationPolitical participation

Immigration statusImmigration status

Page 36: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Gender and equal rightsGender and equal rights

Women’s suffrage (19Women’s suffrage (19thth))

ERA amendmentERA amendment

Gender politicsGender politics

Gay and lesbian political movement Gay and lesbian political movement (especially through the courts and (especially through the courts and through federal and state legislation)through federal and state legislation)

Page 37: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Affirmative actionAffirmative action

DefinitionDefinition

Court cases (Bakke, Adarand, Court cases (Bakke, Adarand, Richmond)Richmond)

Pro affirmative action positionPro affirmative action position

Con affirmative action positionCon affirmative action position

Page 38: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

First Amendment issuesFirst Amendment issuesBe familiar with all parts of the Be familiar with all parts of the amendmentamendment

Religion - establishment clause, Religion - establishment clause, exercise clause & relevant cases exercise clause & relevant cases (Lemon test)(Lemon test)

Speech & Press (Miller test, Schenck, Speech & Press (Miller test, Schenck, fighting words, clear & present fighting words, clear & present danger, libel v. slander, prior restraint)danger, libel v. slander, prior restraint)

Assembly/Petition (limitations)Assembly/Petition (limitations)

Page 39: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Rights of the accused; due processRights of the accused; due process

Distinguish between substantive and Distinguish between substantive and procedural due process (14procedural due process (14thth Amendment key so understand it)Amendment key so understand it)

Searches & seizures (Mapp, Searches & seizures (Mapp, exclusionary rule, Miranda rule)exclusionary rule, Miranda rule)

Trial (Gideon, double jeopardy, cruel Trial (Gideon, double jeopardy, cruel & unusual punishment)& unusual punishment)

Page 40: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Privacy rights; abortion rightsPrivacy rights; abortion rights

Parts of Constitution that contribute Parts of Constitution that contribute to privacy rightsto privacy rights

Griswold (right to privacy)Griswold (right to privacy)

Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, partial-birth abortion bansCasey, partial-birth abortion bans

Application of privacy rights to gays Application of privacy rights to gays & lesbians& lesbians

Page 41: AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask.

Political economyPolitical economyPoliticization of the economyPoliticization of the economyMedia fixation on the numbers (GDP, Media fixation on the numbers (GDP, consumer spending, unemployment)consumer spending, unemployment)Politicians use of numbers for Politicians use of numbers for support & attack (especially during support & attack (especially during campaigns)campaigns)Impact of political issues on economy Impact of political issues on economy (war, terrorism, immigration, taxes, (war, terrorism, immigration, taxes, outsourcing, etc.)outsourcing, etc.)