AP Government
Seminar
2002 FRQ Project
Don Moseley
Eagles Landing Christian Academy
don.moseley@eagleslanding.org
Question 1
The concept of “divided government” in the United States means
that one political party can control the executive branch while
another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the
President in making appointments to federal offices.
Describe two problems that divided government poses for the
President in making federal appointments.
Identify and explain two ways Presidents try to overcome the
problems described in (a).
EQs: What are a POTUS’s executive powers, why have they grown
and how can Congress constrain them?
Discussion of the factors for the growth of presidential power over
the course of American history and Article II
Vocabulary: Ordinance power, executive order, appointment and
removal power
Content Area: I Constitutional Underpinnings, III Political Parties, IV
Institutions
Function
Executing the Law
Implied or
Expressed?
Expressed
The Ordinance Power
Implied
The Appointment
Power
Expressed
The Executive Powers of the President
Gives the President Power to…
Uphold and carry out all federal laws, with
some discretion in interpreting and
enforcing them.
direct the administration of the executive
branch, issue orders, and delegate
responsibility within the bureaucracy
appoint some officials on his own authority
and appoint some officials with the
Senate’s approval
The Removal Power
Implied
Remove any person he or she has
appointed, except for federal judges;
Congress may set limits on his power to
remove the heads of independent agencies
that are not purely executive agencies.
Question 2
Using the information in the figure above and your knowledge of
United States politics, complete the following tasks.
Describe what the figure above demonstrates about the distribution
of government benefits over time.
Identify two politically relevant factors that have affected the
changing distribution of government benefits between the children
and the elderly.
Explain how each of the two factors identified in (b) has affected
the changing distribution of government benefits.
EQs: How have interest groups affected the changing distribution of
government benefits?
Vocabulary
Interest group, single interest group, public interest group, public
policy, public affairs, lobbying, propaganda, grass roots, labor union
Content Area: III- Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media.
V - Public Policy
Question 3
Political institutions can present both obstacles and opportunities to
racial minority groups in their efforts to gain political influence.
(a) Identify one feature of one of the following and explain how that
feature has presented obstacles to racial minority groups in their
efforts to achieve political goals.

Federalism

The United States political party system

The United States electoral system
(a) Identify one feature of one of the following and explain how that
might present opportunities to racial minority groups in their
efforts to achieve political goals.

Federalism

The United States political party system

The United States electoral system
EQ: What are the powers delegated to and denied to the National and
State governments? What is Federalism? How does the US electoral
system function? What is the role of the political party system in the
United States? Why is there a dominant two party structure in the
United States?
Read: Lanahan reader: pg 79, 84-87, “Diversity in the Power Elite”
Quote: “I was lucky to be born black” Colin Powell pg 85
Discuss: the opportunities and obstacles described in the Lanahan
reader.
Content Area: I Constitutional Underpinnings, II Political Beliefs and
Behaviors (demographics), III Political Parties, IV Institutions of
National Government, VI Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Voting Rights
Acts)
Vocabulary
Federalism, division of powers, delegated powers, expressed powers,
implied powers, inherent powers, reserved powers, exclusive powers,
concurrent powers
Powers
National Powers
(Enumerated)
Concurrent
(Shared powers)
Coin Money
Tax
Conduct foreign relations
Borrow money
State Powers
(Reserved powers)
Set time, place and manner of
elections
Ratify amendments to the US
Constitution
Regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among
states
Establish Courts
Make and enforce laws
Charter Banks and corporations
Take measures for public
health, safety, and morals
provide for an army and navy
Establish a national court
system
Make laws necessary and
proper to carry out foregoing
powers
Spend money for the general
welfare
Exert powers the Constitution
does not delegate to the
national government (10th
amendment) or prohibit states
from using
Establish local governments and
regulate commerce within a
state
Question 4
In the last half of the twentieth-century, voter turnout in
federal elections has declined. During the same period, voter
turnout has been higher in presidential elections than in
midterm elections.
(a) Identify two factors that have contributed to the overall
decline in turnout in federal elections and explain how
each factor has contributed to the overall decline.
(b)Identify and explain two reasons why voter turnout has
been higher in presidential elections than in midterm
elections.
EQ: What are the factors in the United States that have led to
low voter turnout?
In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Independent
voters – why?
Vocabulary
Off-year election, political efficacy, political socialization, gender gap, party
identification, straight-ticket voting, split-ticket voting, independent
Content Area: II Political Beliefs and Behaviors, III Political Parties, Interest
Groups and Mass Media (the role that each of these areas plays in relation to
voter turnout), V Public Policy – (How public policy helps or hinders voter
turnout)
Democrat
Voter Characteristics
Republican
Income/Occupation
Lower status, lower
income
Higher status and
income
Education
less educated
more educated
Gender/Age
women/ younger
men/ older
Religion
Catholics, Jews
Protestants
Ethnicity
African-Americans,
other nonwhites,
Hispanics
Whites and Cubans
Geography
Venn diagram (below)
Compare the similarities and differences between voters and non-voters and then give your
opinion as to why presidential elections have greater voter turnout than mid-term elections.
Voter vs. Non-Voters