1. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS AND RUBRICS

2. Voter participation and voter behavior in elections are affected by a number of factors
Describe the effect of each of the following on the level of voter participation in elections.
The voter registration requirement
Lack of penalties for not voting
Ballot fatigue
Describe the effect of each of the following on voter behavior in elections.
Race
Party identification
Geographic Regions

3. Question 1 Rubric
6 points
Part (a): 3 points
One point is earned for each correct description of a factor affecting voter participation in elections.
Acceptable descriptions include:
The voter registration requirement diminishes voter participation by requiring citizens to register prior to an election.
Lack of penalties for not voting diminishes voter participation because there are no legal consequences for failing to vote.
Long ballots dissuade voters from voting for all offices. Frequent elections dissuade voters from going to the polls.

4. Question 1 Rubric Part (b): 3 points
One point is earned for each correct description of a factor affecting voter behavior in presidential elections.
Race: Whites are more likely to vote Republican; African Americans and Hispanics/Latino are more likely to vote Democratic.
Party identification: Voters generally vote with the party with which they are identified.
Geographic regions: Several patterns exist; for example, the South tends to vote Republican, the Pacific Coast tens to vote Democratic, and the Rocky Mountain region tends to vote Republican.
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

5. Each policy-making institution in the United States federal government is subject to restrictions on its power
a. Explain how each of the following can restrict presidential power.
“Power of the purse”
The appointment confirmation process
b. Explain how each of the following can restrict congressional power.
Presidential power as commander-in-chief
Executive privilege
c. Explain how each of the following can restrict judicial power
Enforcement of judicial rulings
Constitutional amendments

6. Question 2 Rubric
6 points
Part (a): 2 points
One point is earned for each correct explanation of how the “power of the purse” and the appointment confirmation process can restrict presidential power.
Acceptable explanations include:
Power of the purse: Congress controls appropriations. The president may request funding, but Congress can deny such requests.

7. Question 2 Rubric
Part (a): continued
Appointment confirmation: The president can appoint officials, but the Senate can reject those appointments.
Note: In each case above, the student must explain how or why each limits the power of the institution in question.

8. Question 2 Rubric
Part (b): 2 points
One point is earned for each correct explanation of how the president’s power as commander-in-chief and executive privilege can restrict congressional power.
Acceptable explanations include:
President’s power as commander-in-chief; Congress may have the power to declare war, but the president is commander-in-chief and can therefore deploy troops as he or she sees fit.

9. Question 2 Rubric
Part (b): continued
Executive privilege: Congress has the powers of oversight and investigation, but the president can refuse to disclose conversations that he or she had with the White House staff.

10. Question 2 Rubric Part (c): 2 points
One point earned for each correct explanation of how enforcement of judicial rulings and constitutional amendments can restrict congressional power.
Enforcement of judicial rulings: Courts can issue rulings, but they have no enforcement mechanism to ensure that the rulings are carried out. The courts depend upon others for enforcement.

11. Question 2 Rubric
Part (c): continued
Constitutional amendments: Courts can interpret the Constitution, but Congress and the states can pass constitutional amendments.
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

12. Several characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress. Because of the perception that interest groups exert undue influence, Congress has regulated the influence of these groups.

13. a. Describe how each of the. characteristics of an interest group
a. Describe how each of the characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress.
Financial resources
Expertise
Size
b. Identify two ways in which Congress has regulated the influence of interest groups.

14. Question 3 Rubric
5 points
Part (a) 3 points
One point is earned for explaining how each specified characteristic of an interest group can enhance its influence over congress.
Acceptable explanations include:

15. Question 3 Rubric
Financial resources can enhance the influence of an interest group because money enables interest groups to campaign, make monetary contributions, buy independent television time, and employ a large staff.

16. Question 3 Rubric
Part (a): continued
Expertise enhances influence because members of Congress will pay attention to and respect what members of the interest group have to say.

17. Question 3 Rubric
Part (a): continued
Size enhances influence because the larger the group, the greater the ability to deliver votes and other resources. The larger the group, the greater the potential for fundraising and campaign contributions to influence members of Congress.

18. Question 3 Rubric Part (b): 2 points
One point is earned for each of two identifications of the ways in which Congress has attempted to limit the influence of interest groups.

19. Question 3 Rubric Part (b): continued
Acceptable identifications may include:
Registration requirements for lobbyists.
Limitations on campaign contributions
Disclosure of campaign contributions
Limitations on independent expenditures: for example, an issue advocacy ad cannot explicitly endorse a candidate.

20. Question 3 Rubric
Part (b): continued
Restrictions on former members of Congress: for example, a two-year “cooling-off” period before the former member can lobby Congress.
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

21. Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget
Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget. Rarely does the federal government balance its budget.
Define balanced budget.
Define federal entitlements.
Identify an entitlement and explain how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget.
Describe a consequence of large budget deficits.

22. Question 4 Rubric Part (a): 1 point
One point is earned for defining a balanced budget, noting the salient point that a budget is balanced when federal spending equals federal income.

23. Question 4 Rubric
Part (b): 1 point
One point is earned for defining federal entitlements.
An acceptable definition includes:
A federal entitlement is a federal program that guarantees a specific level of benefits to persons (or other entities) who meet requirements set by law, such as Social Security, farm price supports, or unemployment benefits.

24. Question 4 Rubric
Part (b): continued
Reference may also be make to “eligibility” (a person receives an entitlement if he or she meets certain requirements) and “mandate” (spending that is required by law).

25. Question 4 Rubric Medicaid Medicare Social Security
Part (c): 2 points
One point is earned for identifying a federal entitlement.
Medicaid
Medicare
Social Security
Veteran’s Administration programs
Unemployment programs
Food Stamps
Federal employee and military retirement plans

26. Question 4 Rubric Part (c): continued Note: This is not exhaustive.
One point is earned for explaining how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget.
Acceptable explanations for impediments:

27. Question 4 Rubric
Part (c): continued
Congress has no discretion on how much money to appropriate.
Since Congress must spend money on entitlement programs, it has insufficient discretion to bring about a balanced budget.
Since entitlements account for more than two-thirds of the federal budget, Congress is not left with much to cut in order to bring about a balanced budget.

28. Question 4 Rubric
Part (d): 1 point
One point is earned for describing a consequence of large budget deficits.
Acceptable descriptions include:
There is a large amount of interest paid on the debt.
Deferring payment puts a burden on future generations.
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

29. Many scholars and observers have argued that the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution has become the single most important act in all of United States politics.
a. Identify which provision of the Fourteenth Amendment was applied in one of the following Supreme Court cases. For the case you select, explain the significance of the decision in United States politics.

30. a. continued Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954)
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

31. Mapp v. Ohio (1961) Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
(b). Identify which provision of the Fourteenth Amendment was applied in one of the following Supreme Court cases. For the case you select, explain the significance of the decision in United States politics.
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

32. Question 5 Rubric 6 points Part (a): 3 points Identification:
(1point) Identification of the “provision.” Must use “equal protection.”
Explanation:
(1 point) Factual statement about the holding.
(1 point) Explanation of the significance or impact of the case in United States politics

33. Question 5 Rubric Part (a): continued
Must go beyond the holding of the case
For example: “led to Civil Rights movement”
NOT credited: “Brown led to desegregation of public schools”

34. Question 5 Rubric Part (b): 3 points Identification:
(1 point) identification of the “provision.” Must use “due process.”
Explanation:
(1 point) Factual statement about the holding.
(1 point) Explanation of the significance or impact of the case in United States politics
Must go beyond holding of the case
NOT credited “All police must read Miranda rights”

35. Question 5 Rubric
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

36. The concept of “divided government” in the United States means that one political party can control the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the President in making appointments to federal offices.

37. Question 6
Describe two problems that divided government poses for the President in making federal appointments.
Identify and explain two ways Presidents try to overcome the problems described in (a).

38. Question 6 Rubric Senatorial courtesy does not apply
Part (a): 2 points possible (1 point per description)
Part (a): (Problems posed for Presidents):
Simple, declarative statement acceptable for description
greater policy conflict likely/ideological conflict
narrows the field of potential candidates
offices go unfilled
tougher committee scrutiny
harder to get congressional/Senate/legislature approval/confirmation/ratification of appointments
(House not acceptable)
more frequent character attacks on nominees
Senatorial courtesy does not apply

39. Question 6 Rubric
Part (b): 4 points possible (1 point for each of 2 identifications, 1 point for each of 2 explanations)
Part (b): (ways Presidents overcome problems)
One point for identification; second point for explanation only available after adequate identification. Explanation must answer how Presidents’ efforts work to overcome problems. Reference to approval/ratification/confirmation must include reference to Senate/Congress. Reference to congress or legislature is acceptable; (House is NOT)

40. Question 6 Rubric Part (b): continued
generate public support (including use of media)
compromise on choices (ideological compromise)
building coalitions in Congress
making deals (e.g., veto as threat)
building coalitions with interest groups
making interim recess appointments

41. Question 6 Rubric
Part (b): continued
more intense background screening of nominees (looking for “bulletproof” candidates)
selecting more minority nominees (i.e., “diversification”)
increased reliance on White House staff (when forced to appoint officials not in line with Presidents position)
A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.
A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

42. THE END