Review for the Advanced Placement Exam

Review Questions

Answer on a separate sheet of paper. Be as detailed and thorough as possible.

1.	The Founding Fathers believed that it is in our human nature to pursue our own self-interest. What safeguards were written into the Constitution to safeguard against abuses stemming from our natures?
2.	What are the formal methods for amending the Constitution? What are some informal ways that the meaning of the Constitution can be changed? Give examples.

3.	List four ways that the Constitution included a role for the states in our political system
4.	List four demographic features that influence voter turnout and what the correlation is. List three methods that state and federal governments have adopted to increase voter turnout.
5.	List five ways that the Internet has changed election campaigns.
6.	List three ways that Congress has tried to legislate limitations on the influence of interest groups.
7.	What are the underlying reasons that explain why Congress moves slowly and inefficiently? What are the results of the ways that Congress operates this way?
8.	Identify two ways party leadership can influence members of their party in Congress. Identify one factor that makes it difficult for party leadership to influence members of their party in Congress
9.	Why did the Founding Fathers create the Electoral College. List as many flaws as you can with the Electoral College. List reasons to maintain the Electoral College.
10.	List as many strengths and weaknesses of the presidency that you can. Give an example for each one. Include all the restrictions that Congress has put on the power of the presidency.
11.	List as many effects of divided government that you can think of. What are the methods that a president can use to overcome these barriers?
12.	List and explain the causes for the problems the president has in obtaining bureaucratic cooperation. List as many checks on bureaucratic power that you can think of. What are the powers that the bureaucracy has to resist reform and change?
13.	What are the arguments in favor of judicial activism? What are the arguments in favor of judicial restraint? Try to give an example for each point you make. What are some Supreme Court decisions that are examples of judicial activism?
14.	What controls does the Congress have if it does not like a decision of the Court? Give an example for each one.
15.	List as many reasons as you can for why it is hard to enact new policies. Give examples for each.

Now, memorize everything that you’ve written. Look back at the review questions from the midterm and make sure you know those answers also.