AP Government: Chapter 1 Study Guide
Key Terms to know:
-checks and balances
-culture wars
-free market
-liberal
-politics
-redistributive tax policies
-collective action problem
-factions
-free rider problem
-libertarians
-positive externalities
-separation of powers
-conservative
-federalism
-ideology
-melting pot
-public goods
Questions to answer:
1. Give a brief explanation of the problems caused/involved with the “Bridge to Nowhere” project.
2. What are the main purposes of our government?
3. What is meant by the author of your textbook’s statement that, “Much of the country is purple.”?
4. What is the danger of the development of political factions?
5. What is the major difference between the U.S. government’s presidential system and the
parliamentary system favored by England and other countries of the world?
6. Since politics are seen to be conflictual in nature, what are some of the major issues (name at least 3)
which have cause this type of conflict to be most prevalent over the past few years?
7. The authors claim that, “Politics is Everywhere.” Where does politics appear in your daily lives?
8. The authors mention four areas which serve as sources of conflict in American Politics, 1) Economic
Interests, 2) Cultural Values, 3) Identity Politics, and 4) Identity Politics. Give a brief explanation/example
of each of these sources.
AP Government: Chapter 2 Study Guide
Key Terms to Know:
-Antifederalists
-Commerce Clause
-executive powers clause
-Great Compromise
-judicial review
-national supremacy clause
-New Jersey Plan
-republican democracy
- ⅗ Compromise
-Articles of Confederation
-”Consent of the Governed”
-Federalist Papers (#10 and #51)
-impeachment
-limited government
-natural rights
-pluralism
-republicanism
-Virginia Plan
-Bill of Rights
-enumerated powers
-Federalists
-implied powers
-monarchy
-necessary and proper clause
-power of the purse
-reserved powers
1. What were the consequences for Republicans for attempting to impeach President Clinton in 1998?
2. Explain the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
3. Discuss impact of the Annapolis Convention and Shays’ Rebellion on calling of the Constitutional Convention.
4. How did philosophers John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu influence the framers of the Constitution?
5. What economic interests did the framers need to contend with when creating the Constitution?
6. List the major issues that led to tension among those at the Constitutional Convention.
7. What were the major compromises that occurred at the Constitutional Convention?
8. Discuss any arguments against ratification of the Constitution.
9. Discuss the importance of “SHARED POWERS” in the Constitution.
10. How can Congress effectively use its two major Negative or Checking powers?
11. Explain the importance of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803)
12. Why has ambiguity been so important to the continued effectiveness of the Constitution?
13. Explain the importance of the following 3 parts of the Constitution: 1) the elastic (necessary and proper)
clause, 2) the executive powers clause, and 3) the commerce clause.
14. Briefly explain the process of amending the Constitution.
15. Why is the Supreme Court case, McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) significant regarding implied powers.
AP Government: Chapter 3 Study Guide
Key Terms to Know:
-block grants
-commerce clause powers
-confederal government
-dual federalism (layer cake)
-full faith and credit clause
-privileges and immunities clause
-states’ sovereign immunity
-devolution revolution
-categorical grants
-competitive federalism
-cooperative federalism (marble cake)
-federal preemptions
-general revenue sharing
-remedial legislation
-unfunded mandates
-coercive federalism
-concurrent powers
-doctrine of interposition
-fiscal federalism
-picket fence federalism
-states’ rights
-unitary government
Supreme Court Cases: McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), Barron v. Baltimore (1833),
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S. (1964), Webster v. Reproductive Health Services
(1989), Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), U.S. v. Lopez (1995), Printz v. United States (1997)
1. How do drinking laws in the United States demonstrate the effects of federalism?
2. What is Federalism? Briefly describe the merits of marble cake (dual) v. layer cake (cooperative) federalism.
3. How did the founding fathers balance some power in the states when drawing up the Constitution?
4. Explain how the “full faith and credit clause” has elements that favor both the nation and the states.
5. Give an example of the how the “privileges and immunities clause” can help U.S. citizens.
6. Briefly explain the types of grants provided to the states by the federal government.
7. List some examples of “unfunded mandates” imposed upon states by the federal government.
8. Why has the 14th amendment been so prominent in the years since its passing back in the mid-1800’s?
9. How does the federalist system of government help the citizens of the United States?
10. How does the federalist system of government hurt the citizens of the United States?