AP U.S. Government & Politics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), the Supreme Court relied on which clause to uphold Congress's power to create a national bank?
- The Commerce Clause
- The Necessary and Proper Clause (Correct answer)
- The Supremacy Clause only
- The Tenth Amendment
Correct answer: The Necessary and Proper Clause
The Court used the Necessary and Proper Clause to find that creating a bank was an implied power supporting Congress's enumerated powers.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes 'iron triangles' in American policymaking?
- A stable alliance among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups (Correct answer)
- The three branches of the federal government
- The relationship between the President, Senate, and House
- A coalition of three political parties
Correct answer: A stable alliance among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups
Iron triangles describe the mutually beneficial, lasting relationships among committees, agencies, and interest groups in a policy area.
Question 3: A candidate wins the popular vote nationally but loses the presidency. This outcome is possible because of:
- Gerrymandering of House districts
- The Electoral College system (Correct answer)
- Senate confirmation rules
- Judicial review
Correct answer: The Electoral College system
The Electoral College awards electors mostly by state winner-take-all, so the national popular vote winner can still lose.
Question 4: Which constitutional principle is most directly illustrated by the President's veto power over legislation?
- Federalism
- Checks and balances (Correct answer)
- Popular sovereignty
- Judicial review
Correct answer: Checks and balances
The veto lets the executive check the legislative branch, a core example of checks and balances.
Question 5: The 'incorporation doctrine' refers to the process by which the Supreme Court:
- Applies most Bill of Rights protections to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment (Correct answer)
- Grants corporations the rights of individuals
- Adds new amendments to the Constitution
- Combines federal agencies for efficiency
Correct answer: Applies most Bill of Rights protections to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment
Selective incorporation uses the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause to apply Bill of Rights protections to state governments.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a categorical grant?
- Federal funds given for any purpose a state chooses
- Federal funds for a specific program with strict conditions (Correct answer)
- A block grant with broad discretion
- A tax credit to individuals
Correct answer: Federal funds for a specific program with strict conditions
Categorical grants provide money for a narrowly defined purpose and come with detailed federal requirements.
Question 7: In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court established the principle of:
- Selective incorporation
- Judicial review (Correct answer)
- Executive privilege
- Dual federalism
Correct answer: Judicial review
Marbury established judicial review, the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
AP U.S. Government & Politics 2
In McCulloch v.
Maryland (1819), the Supreme Court relied on which clause to uphold Congress's power to create a national bank?