AP Government
Name __________________
Chapter 17 Study Guide
It will be very useful for you to make flashcards for these words; you should utilize
the terms and definitions in your answers below!
KEY TERMINOLOGY
edPolitical agenda
Majoritarian politics
Pork-barrel legislation
Policy entrepreneurs
cost
interest group politics
logrolling
process regulation
benefit
client politics
entrepreneurial politics
Reading Questions: Answer each question using complete sentences and
vocabulary/ political terminology where possible.
1. Explain, in your own words, the process by which the political agenda is set. How
does public policy get formed?
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2. Look at the picture on p. 465. What is the message of this billboard? What group
created this message? Pick another group and explain its involvement in making
the same issue that is depicted in this picture a national issue.
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3. Fill out the following graphic organizer explaining the politics of different policy
issues. For each one, give a definition and an example.
PERCEIVED COSTS
PERCEIVED
Distributed
Concentrated
BENEFITS
Distributed
Majoritarian Politics:
Entrepreneurial Politics:
Concentrated
Client Politics:
Interest Group Politics:
4. Read p. 477-478. What role do perceptions, beliefs, interests and values play in
the politics of the costs and benefits of a public policy? Explain the role of each of
the four and give an example of each.
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5. Read “What Would You Do” on p. 479. Then write a cost benefit analysis and
your decision as to what you would advise the President to do and why. Be sure to
use vocabulary like cost-benefit analysis, distributed, concentrated, entrepreneurial
politics, majoritarian politics, client politics, interest group politics, interests, values,
perceptions, and beliefs.
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