AP US Government : Institutional Relationships

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Relationships With Interest Groups

Which of these is currently a federal restriction on lobbyists?

Possible Answers:

Lobbyists must apply for licenses to lobby to Congress.

Former members of Congress must wait up to two years before lobbying directly to former colleagues. 

Foreign entities may not lobby state or federal governments.

Lobbyists may not work in multiple states simultaneously.

State funds may never be used to lobby state or federal governments.

Correct answer:

Former members of Congress must wait up to two years before lobbying directly to former colleagues. 

Explanation:

Controversy has arisen in the past few decades over the role of former members of Congress in lobbying. This has led to what is called a "revolving door" in Congress. In light of this, light restrictions have been added that prevent former members of Congress from lobbying to former staff for one year, and other members of Congress for two. Students should be aware of current controversies surrounding interest groups in the United States.

With respect to the other answers, few states have restrictions on state funds being used to lobby, lobbyists must register but do not need to apply for licensing, lobbyists can certainly work in multiple states, and foreign entities can lobby the government as long as they adhere to certain restrictions.

Example Question #2 : Relationships With Interest Groups

Which of these Federal departments manages programs related to Native Americans?

Possible Answers:

The Department of Homeland Security

The Department of State

The Department of Justice

The Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of the Interior

Correct answer:

The Department of the Interior

Explanation:

The Department of the Interior manages programs related to Native Americans. The Department of the Interior is also responsible for the management of Federal land and national parks, as well as conservation and the management of natural resources.

Example Question #762 : Ap Us Government

The White House Press Secretary is a position established within the executive branch to effectively deal with

Possible Answers:

state legislatures.

members of congress.

everyday voters.

interactions with the news media.

Correct answer:

interactions with the news media.

Explanation:

The White House Press Secretary is a modern phenomenon, only created in the last half of the twentieth century with the explosion of different forms of news media. With a daily briefing in the White House Press Room, the Press Secretary's main function is to distill the President's message for the White House Press Corps and to answer any of their questions. While this has a residual effect of extending the message to other groups, the chief task of a Press Secretary is to deal with the press.

Example Question #2 : Relationships With Media

Which of these First Amendment rights is most frequently challenged during wartime?

Possible Answers:

Freedom of Assembly

Petitioning the government for redress of grievances

Freedom of the Press

Free exercise of religion

Freedom of Speech

Correct answer:

Freedom of the Press

Explanation:

Freedom of the Press has been temporarily restricted during wartime various times, such as in the Sedition Act of 1918, upheld by the Supreme Court in 1919 under the "clear and present danger" test, and again in 2001 following the declaration of the War on Terror. Students should be able to quickly rule out most options besides "freedom of the press" and "freedom of speech." Freedom of the press is more frequently directly restricted, as the freedom of speech for individual persons acting outside of mass media is rarely as potentially dangerous or influential.

Example Question #3 : Relationships With Media

The media’s function as protector of the people from corrupt, unethical, and incompetent political leaders is called __________.

Possible Answers:

agenda setting

objective journalism

yellow journalism

the watchdog role

the common-carrier role

Correct answer:

the watchdog role

Explanation:

The watchdog role is a term given to the media’s accepted duty to protect the general public from the corrupt and incompetent practices of political leaders. In this capacity, it is the duty of the media to report any instances of government malpractice, deceit, or general incompetence to the public.

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