AP Government Final Review
*The exam period is 2 hours and you should spend no more than 1 hour on each section.*
Writing Section: 50%
You will be writing two FRQs on the final exam and will have five different ones to choose from.
Although you will only write two, I recommend outlining all five in order to fully understand which
two will be your strongest. Also, outlining all five will help you review content you will see in the
multiple choice section.
Topic #1: The Constitution
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Define Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Explain the position of each group regarding the power
of the national government.
Be able to identify, define, and explain with examples at least two features of the Constitution
that led to the growth in power of the national government.
Define the 1st and 10th amendment. Explain with examples how each addressed major concerns
of Anti-Federalists during the ratification process of the Constitution.
Define the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause. Explain how each of the clauses of
the 14th amendment have altered the balance of power between the national and state
governments. Provide examples.
Topic #2: Voting Behavior
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Define the 15th, 19th, and 26th amendments. Be able to explain the impact of each on the voting
population (electorate).
Define Motor Voter Laws and Photo Identification Laws in voting. Be able to explain the impact
of each on voter turnout.
Be able to identify and explain with examples how both education and age impact the likelihood
of an individual voting.
Be able to explain with examples how and why voter turnout is different in Presidential vs
Midterm Elections and Primary vs. General Elections. Define each type of election.
Topic #3: Congress
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Define Senate Filibuster, House Rules Committee, and Conference Committee. Be able to
explain each and provide examples of how each play a role in the lawmaking process.
Define Legislative Oversight. Be able to identify, define, and describe with an example at least
one way Congress exercise Legislative Oversight over the federal bureaucracy.
Define casework. Explain how casework impacts a congressman’s attention to legislation.
Provide examples.
Topic #4: Interest Groups
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Be able to identify, define, and explain with examples at least two ways an interest group can
influence elections.
Define Iron Triangles and Amicus Curiae briefs. Be able to explain how each is used by interest
groups to influence government decision making
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Be able to explain and give examples of how the media and pluralism limit the impact of interest
group influence on government.
Topic #5: Federalism
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Define Federalism and Checks & Balances. Be able to explain how each limits the power of the
executive branch in the national government.
Define the Establishment Clause and what amendment guarantees the right to a public trial. Be
able to explain how each limits the power of the national government in general.
Define the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment and Selective Incorporation. Be able to
explain how each limits the power of state government.
Multiple Choice: 50%
The multiple choice section will be between 40 and 50 questions and is a district assessment, not an
AP test. Although many of the topics covered in multiple choice have already been brought up in the
writing section, I have listed some other commonly seen topics on these exams.
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Separation of Powers: Be able to clearly identify and explain the role of each of the three
branches of government. Also be clear on the system of checks and balances and what checks
each branch of the national government has on the other.
Bill of Rights: Be familiar with the basic Civil Liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
Common Court Cases to be Familiar With: Marbury v. Madison, Mapp v. Ohio, Miranda v.
Arizona, Gideon v. Wainwright, Texas v. Johnson, Gibbons v. Ogden, Hernandez v. Texas, Brown
v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, Engel v. Vitale, and Schenck v. US. There is always the
possibility of others coming up on the exam but these tend to be some of the most common.
The impact of demographics on voter turnout. The impact 3rd parties tend to have on elections
and their role in US politics. Finally be able to explain how the electoral college works and how
the election is decided in the event of a tie.
Define “battleground” or “swing” states and explain their impact on national elections and how
campaigns are conducted.
The role interest group play in politics and the impact they can have on elections, the
candidates, and actual elected officials.
The basic structure of Congress and specifically the role that committees play in the law making
process.
Federalism and examples of Federalism at work. Be able to explain the national governments
incentive vs. punishment approach in the federalism system. Define block and categorical
grants.
The President’s role as a Chief Diplomat. What he can and cannot do.
The President and Congress’ role in deploying troops and declaring war and how that
relationship has changed including the War Powers Resolution.
The Cabinet and department system in the executive branch. How it works.
The role of the media in politics and specifically in elections.
The Supreme Court Justice Selection process and the impact of having a young justice.