AP US Government : Relationships with the Public
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Relationships With The Public
The so-called “graying of America” refers to the __________.
decline in the number of Americans attending higher education
growth of minority populations in most American states
reduced involvement of the United States in foreign conflicts in the twenty-first century
demographic aging of the US population
growth in the number of Americans attending higher education
demographic aging of the US population
The “graying of America” is a demographic term used to describe the aging of the population in contemporary times. The average age is steadily rising, as baby boomers are becoming older. This could have challenging consequences for the current young generation, because there will be less people paying into social security and more people withdrawing money.
Example Question #2 : Relationships With The Public
Pork barrel legislation is best defined as __________.
the practice of supporting a popular president even when he or she is a member of a rival political party
the act of supporting a judge for the judiciary who is guaranteed to favor one party’s policies over another
the practice of elected officials gaining funding for a project or issue that favors their district
the policy of giving government jobs to employees based on personal favors and political arrangements
the act of passing legislation that attempts to ensure the incumbent will be reelected
the practice of elected officials gaining funding for a project or issue that favors their district
Pork barrel legislation is the term given to the common legislative practice of elected officials gaining funding through legislature for a project that favors their home district. At its most controversial, pork barrel legislation is concerned with gaining funding for something that disproportionately affects the representative's district but is paid for by the taxes of the whole nation.
Example Question #3 : Relationships With The Public
Which of the following descibres the roll of the executive and legislative branch in a presidential democracy?
In a presidential democracy, the legislature is more accountable to the executive than it is to the voters.
In a presidential democracy, the executive and the legislature are less accountable to the citizens than they are to each other.
In a presidential democracy, the executive and the legislature are both directly accountable to the citizens.
In a presidential democracy, the executive is more accountable to the legislature than it is to the voters.
In a presidential democracy, the executive and the legislature are both directly accountable to the citizens.
The main purpose of this question is to test the students understanding of accountability. Specifically, the difference in accountability between a parliamentary and presidential system. In a presidential democracy, all members of the legislative branch, and the president are both elected, and thus are directly voted on by citizens, making them accountable to those citizens.
While the two branches are dependent and accountable to one another, in one way or another, their relationship to the citizenry is the most fundamental aspect of their accountability.
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