AP Gov Review Game

Semester 1: Founders’ Intent, Election 2012, 112th Congress

The Rules

• One team at a time answers each question.• Get it wrong, goes in order to next team to try

to steal.• No matter who gets the point, still goes to

whoever was next in line originally.• 1 point per question, except final bonus

question.

1. What term means the institutions through which policies are made?

• Government

2. What are the institutions that connect citizens to the government?

• Linkage institutions

3. Name 1 example of a linkage institution.

• Political parties• Interest groups• Elections• Media

4. Name 1 of John Locke’s key philosophical concepts.

• Natural rights• Limited government• Property rights• Consent of the governed

5. Who had most of the power under the Articles of Confederation?

• State legislatures

6. What did most founders see as the greatest threat to government?

• Factions

7. What was the Connecticut Compromise?

• Bicameral legislature – 1 population (House), 1 equal (Senate)

8. What is federalism?

• Shared/divided power between national and state governments

9. What is the supremacy clause?

• Constitution and national laws are supreme law of the land (Article VI)

10. What to states have to give to acts and records of other states?

• Full faith and credit

11. What is cooperative federalism?

• Shared tasks between national and state governments (marble cake)

12. What is dual federalism?

• Divided tasks between national and state governments (layer cake)

13. What are categorical grants?

• Money from national to state governments with specific purposes

14. What are block grants?

• Money from national to state governments with discretion to states on how to use

15. What is the possible result of demographic changes for politics?

• Reapportionment – changing representation in House, Electoral College, and state legislatures

16. Name 1 common characteristic of conservatives.

• Small government• Lower taxes• Less spending• More military support• More social/moral control

17. Name 1 common characteristic of liberals.

• Big government• Higher taxes on higher incomes• More government programs• Less military• Less social/more control

18. What is a nomination?

• Party’s official appointment of candidate for office

19. Why do major parties take moderate stands on issues?

• Most of the voters are moderate

20. What is ticket splitting?

• Voting for multiple parties on the same ticket

21. What is the purpose of the National Convention?

• Officially nominate president/vice-president candidates, write party platform

22. What is a campaign strategy?

• Plan for using money, media, and momentum to win nominations/elections

23. What is frontloading?

• States holding primaries/caucuses earlier in the year to get more media attention

24. What is soft money?

• Given to parties, not candidates (not as regulated)

25. What is legitimacy of elections?

• People accept results peacefully because they know it was run fairly

26. What is civic duty?

• Belief in supporting democratic government by voting/participating

27. What was the Motor Voter Act?

• Required states to register people to vote when they apply for driver’s licences

28. How many electoral votes are there per state?

• Number of Representatives + Senators

29. How are voters different in primaries than general elections?

• Primaries are more activist and more liberal/conservative

30. Name 1 strategy used by interest groups?

• Lobbying• Electioneering• Going public• Litigation

31. What kind of coverage does the media generally give elections?

• Horse-race – who’s ahead/behind, big crowds, public appearances, sound bites, etc.

• Not focused on issues

32. Name 1 advantage for incumbents in Congress running for re-election.

• Raise more campaign funds• Better known to voters• Case work• Committees that serve constituents• Franking (free mail)

33. What is a good committee for a House member who wants influence on how the

House operates?

• House Rules Committee

34. What is the trustee view of representation?

• Use best judgment and broad interests, not just what constituents want

• Constituents elected you to be an expert, not just do whatever they want

35. What is the delegate view of representation?

• Focus on what constituents want, not necessarily broader interests or personal views

• Elected to serve voters and mirror their wants

36. What is pork barrel legislation?

• Special projects inserted in bills to bring money/influence to home state/constituents

37. Where do revenue (spending) bills have to start?

• House of Representatives

38. What is the filibuster?

• Senate rule of unlimited debate – used to stall voting on legislation

39. Name 1 possible result of a bicameral legislature.

• Gridlock – not getting things done• Compromise – have to give/take to pass bill• Checks and balances – House and Senate

40. BONUS QUESTION!

• Worth 10 points• Each team choose 1 representative to come to

the front of the room and answer• Whoever says correct answer 1st wins

Name 1 Senator or Representative from Iowa in the 113th Congress.

• Charles Grassley• Tom Harkin• Tom Latham• Steve King• Bruce Braley• Dave Loebsack