AP US Government : AP US Government

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Congressional Procedures

Logrolling is best defined as __________.

Possible Answers:

the waning power of a President in the last months of his Presidency

the term given to the adoption of British common law into the United States Constitution

an exchange of political favors or concessions in order to assure the support of a bill

support offered by a representative to a bill that favors the representative's home district

the policy of maintaining a large armed force to discourage other nations from attacking the United States

Correct answer:

an exchange of political favors or concessions in order to assure the support of a bill

Explanation:

Logrolling is the term given to the exchange of political favors between two individuals or groups. One group offers political concessions to another group in exchange for the second group offering its support in favor of a bill that the first group wishes to get passed.

Example Question #481 : Ap Us Government

An unrelated amendment, added to a bill in order to try and pass a controversial measure in the legislature is called a(n) __________.

Possible Answers:

cloture

filibuster

runner

enigma

rider

Correct answer:

rider

Explanation:

In Congressional procedure it is quite common for one group to try to add an unrelated amendment to a bill that seems likely to garner a lot of support. The usual goal is to try to pass a controversial or unpopular measure by hiding it in a much larger bill about something unrelated. This amendment is called a “rider.”

Example Question #482 : Ap Us Government

A temporary committee created for the purpose of tackling a specific issue is called a __________.

Possible Answers:

Ways and Means Committee

standing committee

outlined committee

select committee

joint committee

Correct answer:

select committee

Explanation:

A Select Committee is a temporary committee created with a prescribed purpose, usually to investigate one particular issue, and is then disbanded once that issue has been dealt with.

Example Question #4 : Congressional Procedures

A discharge petition is __________.

Possible Answers:

a process by which the House can remove a Bill that has stalled in a specific House committee and bring it to the attention of the full House

related to the power of Congress to remove Supreme Court Justices from office if they are deemed to be unfit for service

a movement organized by those in opposition to a political figure, designed to remove that person from office

related to expediting the removal of American military forces from their involvement in prolonged or stagnated foreign wars

a process by which Congress can oversee and overrule a decision made by the Supreme Court

Correct answer:

a process by which the House can remove a Bill that has stalled in a specific House committee and bring it to the attention of the full House

Explanation:

A discharge petition is a means by which the House can vote to remove a Bill from a committee and bring it to the House Floor for discussion. It requires an absolute majority to be utilized, and so is rarely done successfully.

Example Question #61 : Congress

What is the name given to the ability of a Member of Congress to mail a letter to a member of his or her constituency free of charge?

Possible Answers:

Franking Privilege

Gerrymandering

Huey Doctrine

Gossamer Rights

Cloture Rule

Correct answer:

Franking Privilege

Explanation:

The ability of a Member of Congress to mail a letter to a member of their constituency, without having to pay for the service, is called Franking Privilege. It is designed, at least in theory, to encourage increased interaction between a representative and those that they represent.

Example Question #483 : Ap Us Government

Roll calling in Congress, to determine if the minimum number of representatives are present in order to pass or discuss a resolution, is called a __________.

Possible Answers:

Quorum Call

Teller Vote

Cloture Rule

Closed Poll

Sequential Referral

Correct answer:

Quorum Call

Explanation:

A Quorum is the minimum number of representatives required to be present in a government body in order to carry official business. A Quorum Call then is a roll call designed to see if the minimum number of representatives are present.

Example Question #484 : Ap Us Government

The Cloture Rule is designed to __________.

Possible Answers:

encourage the use of the filibuster

undermine a Judicial ruling

overrule a Presidential veto

bring a Congressional debate to a quick end

veto a congressional action

Correct answer:

bring a Congressional debate to a quick end

Explanation:

The Cloture Rule is designed to combat the occasional use of a filibuster in Congress. A filibuster is when one individual speaks indefinitely, but according to congressional procedure, with the intention of preventing Congress from debating or passing a bill. The Cloture Rule stated that, with a two-thirds majority (now three-fifths) vote of Congress, a filibuster can be ended and the debate quickly terminated.

Example Question #64 : Congress

To be sent to the president, a bill must be passed by _____________.

Possible Answers:

the Senate

the House

both the House and the Senate

a majority vote of congress

an agreement of senior members of congress

Correct answer:

both the House and the Senate

Explanation:

The constitution of the United States explicitly lays out bill procedure. A bill is first introduced into the House. Once it is approved there, it goes to the Senate. Then a committee of members from both the House and the Senate meet to hammer out differences in the bill before it is sent to the President to be signed or vetoed.

Example Question #61 : National Government Institutions

According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the __________.

Possible Answers:

House of Representatives

Office of the Internal Revenue Service

House and Senate

Congressional Budget Office

Senate

Correct answer:

House of Representatives

Explanation:

The constitution stipulates that budget bills are produced in the House of Representatives. The Congressional Budget Office advises and produces statistics for Congress and the Internal Revenue Service is in charge of collecting taxes.

Example Question #488 : Ap Us Government

After a President is impeached, the ___________ must vote to remove the President from office, and the motion must pass by a ___________ vote. 

Possible Answers:

House . . . 

Senate . . . 

Senate . . . 

Senate . . . 

House . . . 

Correct answer:

Senate . . . 

Explanation:

The Senate must vote to remove the President from office by a  vote. Remember that impeachment is a two-step process. First the House draws up "Articles of Impeachment"--essentially a discussion of what the President did wrong and why he deserves to be impeached. The Article(s) must pass by a simple majority vote.

At that point, the Articles are kicked over to the Senate which essentially puts the President on trial over the substance of the Articles. Afterwards, the Senate must vote to remove the President from office, and the measure must pass by a  vote. 

All of the other answers are incorrect because they either involve the wrong chamber, or the wrong fraction, or both.

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