AP US Government : AP US Government

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Factors That Influence Beliefs In Politics

Which of these statements about the gender gap is true?

Possible Answers:

Women are more likely to support increased social spending.

Women are more likely to vote for reducing government involvement in higher education.

Men are more likely to support prohibition of drugs or alcohol.

Men are less likely to support foreign intervention by the United States military.

Women are more likely to support gun ownership rights.

Correct answer:

Women are more likely to support increased social spending.

Explanation:

"Gender gap," refers to the consistent differences between the voting patterns of men and women. For example, women are much more likely to vote for increased restrictions on gun ownership. Women are also, particularly in contemporary times, less likely to vote conservative than men. The only statement above that is true is that women are more likely to support an increase in government spending on social welfare.

Example Question #1 : Factors That Influence Beliefs In Politics

African-American voters have recently been more likely to support __________.

Possible Answers:

liberal Democrats

conservative Republicans

moderate Democrats

Independent candidates

moderate Republicans

Correct answer:

liberal Democrats

Explanation:

African-American votes have shown a strong tendency in recent years to support Democratic Party candidates who lean heavily to the left. Unlike white Democratic Party voters, who are more likely to support a moderate candidate.

Example Question #202 : Ap Us Government

Women are currently more likely than men to support all of the following issues EXCEPT __________.

Possible Answers:

an end to United States military involvement in the Middle East

affirmative action to encourage racial equality

Women are more likely to support all of these issues.

tighter restrictions on gun ownership

an increase in the social security program

Correct answer:

Women are more likely to support all of these issues.

Explanation:

There is a growing gender gap in American politics. To oversimplify, women are more likely to vote Democratic and support liberal positions on economic and social issues, while men are more likely to vote Republican and support conservative positions on economic and social issues. The greatest gender gap can be evidenced in the large majority of women who favor major restrictions on gun ownerships, versus far fewer men.

Example Question #2 : Factors That Influence Beliefs In Politics

Which of these statements about the voting gender gap is most true?

Possible Answers:

In recent elections women have been much more likely than men to vote for the Democratic Party.

In recent elections women have been much less likely than men to vote for the Democratic Party.

Men vote roughly equally for Republicans and Democrats, whereas women’s voting patterns change dramatically every election cycle.

Men are more likely to vote for gun ownership rights, whereas women are more likely to vote for decreased role of government.

Men are more likely to support affirmative action to encourage racial and social equality.

Correct answer:

In recent elections women have been much more likely than men to vote for the Democratic Party.

Explanation:

Since the 1980 election, there has been a very clear voting pattern in American general elections, where women are much more likely than men to vote for a candidate from the Democratic Party. The two largest gender discrepancies in American history have occurred during the successful elections of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Men are more likely to vote for gun ownership rights, but men are also more likely to vote for a decreased role of government. Women are more likely to support affirmative action to encourage racial and social equality.

Example Question #202 : Ap Us Government

The term, Solid South, historically refers to __________.

Possible Answers:

the degree to which racial prejudice and segregation proved impossible to eliminate in southern society

the fact that the South had more candidates for President than any other region of the United States

the degree of wealth equality that emerged in the southern society in the twentieth century

the fact that the South always supported southern candidates

the fact that, historically, the South always voted for the Democratic Party

Correct answer:

the fact that, historically, the South always voted for the Democratic Party

Explanation:

The term, Solid South, was historically used, from the end of the Civil War until the middle of the 1960s, to refer to the fact that the South almost always voted for the Democratic Party. This was born, in part, out of the South’s response to the Republican party’s northern associations during the Civil War and its aftermath. These days, the "Solid South" could just as easily be applied to the fact that the South very consistently votes Republican.

Example Question #6 : Factors That Influence Beliefs In Politics

Fiscal conservatives favor which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Lowered and balanced budgets

More taxation

More government regulation

Acquiring national debt

More government spending

Correct answer:

Lowered and balanced budgets

Explanation:

Modern fiscal conservatives favor reducing spending, reducing taxation and regulation, lowering national debt, and lowering and balancing budgets.

Example Question #203 : Ap Us Government

John Locke wrote in the Second Treatise on Government (1689) that “Whoever has the…supreme power…is bound to govern by established standing laws," reinforcing the idea that?

Possible Answers:

Governments should be based on laws of God

Rulers must be subject to the law

Rulers should govern with unlimited power

All governments should be democratic

Correct answer:

Rulers must be subject to the law

Explanation:

This question is designed to test reading skills as well as subject knowledge. John Locke wrote extensively about the legitimacy of government as well as ways in which it should operate. All information needed is contained within the question. Locke is clearly stating his views regarding a rulers place within the law. 

Example Question #11 : Factors That Influence Beliefs In Politics

How did Thomas Hobbes view the concept of the social contract?

Possible Answers:

Justifying the overthrow of democracies.

Discovering God's will for humans

Perfecting human interaction with nobility.

Preserving order and escaping the brutal state of nature

Correct answer:

Preserving order and escaping the brutal state of nature

Explanation:

The writings of Thomas Hobbes explored the relationship between man and government. Hobbes had a non-idealized vision of human nature and advocated for social contract and government intervention in human society. He uses the stability brought about by government to justify an amount of control exerted by governments. Hobbes was an influential thinker throughout the 18th century and influence a number of early American legislators.

Example Question #201 : Ap Us Government

Which of the following statements about the pluralist theory of politics is false?

Possible Answers:

Interest groups provide equal opportunities for representation to any and all interested citizens.

The people and their government are brought together by interest groups, so that each side is able to gain insight and ideas from the other.

Interest groups usually decide not to follow the established rules of fair play and good conduct in their political dealings.

Competition between interest groups for public attention and resources helps enforce a balance of power so that no one group gains dominance.

Correct answer:

Interest groups usually decide not to follow the established rules of fair play and good conduct in their political dealings.

Explanation:

The pluralist theory believes that, by and large, interest groups (contrary to public opinion) actually do follow all the expected rules when pursuing their goals. According to pluralist belief, interest groups avoid depiction, manipulation, cheating, and/or falsehoods out of simple common sense and self-interest – each group wants a fair chance to achieve their aims and so therefore they all implicitly agree not to act in unfair ways that would otherwise unjustly obstruct each other. This default code of cooperation and ethical conduct underlies all interest group activities, reducing corruption and helping to keep each group’s ambitions in check.

Example Question #1 : Political Participation

Liberal voting patterns are least likely to be followed by which of these social or ethnic groups?

Possible Answers:

African-Americans

White Catholics

White atheists

White Protestants

Hispanic-Americans

Correct answer:

White Protestants

Explanation:

The most consistently conservative voting bloc in contemporary America is white Protestants.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors