Table of Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
About the Author xiii
Introduction: The Five-Step Program xv
Step 1 Set Up Your Study Program
1 What You Need to Know About the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam 3
Background of the Advanced Placement Program 3
The New AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam 4
Frequently Asked Questions About the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam 6
2 How to Plan Your Time 11
Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam 11
Step 2 Determine Your Test Readiness
3 Take a Diagnostic Exam 17
AP U.S. Government and Politics Diagnostic Exam 19
Answer Key for Multiple-Choice Questions 34
Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 35
Scoring the Free-Response Questions 40
Score Conversion Worksheet 41
Step 3 Develop Strategies for Success
4 Section I of the Exam: How to Approach the Multiple-Choice Questions 45
Introduction to the Multiple-Choice Section of the Exam 45
Types of Multiple-Choke Questions 46
Strategies for Answering the Multiple-Choice Questions 47
5 Section II of the Exam: How to Approach the Free-Response Questions 49
Introduction to the Free-Response Questions 49
How Do I Prepare for the Free-Response Questions? 50
Types of Free-Response Questions Prompts 51
Developing the Free-Response Answers 51
Scoring the Free-Response Answers 53
Step 4 Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
Unit 1 Foundations of American Democracy
6 Constitutional Foundations 59
Principles of Government 60
Origins of American Government 61
The United States Constitution 66
Review Questions 71
Answers and Explanations 73
Rapid Review 75
7 Federalism 77
The Constitutional Basis of Federalism 78
Federalism in Practice 79
Establishing National Supremacy 79
Federalism Today 81
Review Questions 83
Answers and Explanations 85
Rapid Review 87
Unit 2 Interactions Among Branches of Government
8 The Legislative Branch 91
Structure of Congress 92
Organization of Congress 92
Election to Congress 92
Leadership of Congress 94
The Committee System 94
Congressional Staff and Support 96
Roles of Members of Congress 96
Privileges of Members of Congress 96
Powers of Congress 96
The Lawmaking Process 97
Legislative Tactics 98
Influences on Congress 99
Review Questions 100
Answers and Explanations 102
Rapid Review 104
9 The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy 105
Constitutional Origins of the Presidency 106
The Road to the White House 107
The Vice Presidency 109
Presidential Powers 109
Limitations on Presidential Powers 112
Presidential Character 112
The Bureaucracy 113
The Executive Office of the President (EOP) 115
Executive Departments 115
Review Questions 117
Answers and Explanations 119
Rapid Review 120
10 The National Judiciary 121
The Federal Court System 121
Structure of the Judicial System 122
Judicial Selection 123
The Court at Work 124
Courts as Policymakers 125
Judicial Philosophy 126
Review Questions 128
Answers and Explanations 130
Rapid Review 131
Unit 3 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
11 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights 135
Civil Liberties 135
Freedom of Religion 136
Freedom of Speech 137
Freedom of the Press 139
Freedom of Assembly and Petition 139
Property Rights 140
Right to Privacy 140
Rights of the Accused 140
Civil Rights 141
The Civil Rights Movement 142
Other Minorities 143
Affirmative Action 145
Review Questions 146
Answers and Explanations 148
Rapid Review 151
Unit 4 American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
12 Political Socialization, Ideology, and Public Opinion 155
Core Political Values 155
Political Socialization 156
Public Opinion 156
Review Questions 159
Answers and Explanations 161
Rapid Review 162
Unit 5 Political Participation
13 Campaigns, Elections, and Voting 165
Participation and Voting 166
Types of Elections 169
Campaign Finance 171
Review Questions 173
Answers and Explanations 175
Rapid Review 176
14 Political Parties 177
Roles of Political Parties 177
Party Systems 178
What Do Political Parties Do? 178
Party Identification and Membership 179
The Two-Party Tradition in America 179
Third or Minor Parties 181
Structure and Organization of Political Parties 182
Future of Political Parties 183
Review Questions 184
Answers and Explanations 186
Rapid Review 187
15 Interest Groups and the Mass Media 189
Interest Groups 189
Mass Media 192
Biases in the Media 195
Review Questions 196
Answers and Explanations 198
Rapid Review 200
Unit 6 Pulling It All Together: Public Policy
16 Politics and Public Policymaking 203
The Policymaking Process 203
Domestic Policy 204
Economic Policy 206
Foreign and Defense Policy 208
Review Questions 210
Answers and Explanations 212
Rapid Review 213
Step 5 Build Your Test-Taking Confidence
AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam 1 217
Answer Key for Multiple-Choice Questions 232
Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 233
Scoring the Free-Response Questions 237
Score Conversion Worksheet 239
AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam 2 241
Answer Key for Multiple-Choice Questions 256
Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 257
Scoring the Free-Response Questions 263
Score Conversion Worksheet 265
AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam 3 267
Answer Key for Multiple-Choice Questions 283
Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 284
Scoring the Free-Response Questions 289
Score Conversion Worksheet 291
AP U.S. Government and Politics Practice Exam 4 293
Answer Key for Multiple-Choice Questions 308
Answers and Explanations for the Multiple-Choice Questions 309
Scoring the Free-Response Questions 315
Score Conversion Worksheet 317
Appendixes
Websites Related to the Advanced Placement Exam 321
Glossary of Terms 323
