AP Government Test Prep Topics Everything you wanted to know about AP Government but were afraid to ask

Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the Constitution Articles of Confederation (especially weaknesses) Shay’s Rebellion (rationale for convention) Characteristics of delegates Ordered, limited, balanced government (how was this achieved?) Compromises (what did they settle?)

Issues and Theories involved in the framing and ratification of the Constitution Federalists v. Anti Federalists (leaders and positions of each) Arguments offered in Federalist Papers (especially #s 10, 51, 78) Bill of Rights

The nature and political impact of federalism Definition Alternatives Advantages and Disadvantages Powers (How are they divided?) Role of the courts Use of money by federal government (especially grants) Federal mandates

Democratic theory Definition of democracy (distinguish between types) Characteristics of representative democracy Elite versus Pluralist theories

Constitutional development of the national government Mostly the workings of the Constitution or how the federal government is structured Concept of constitutionalism Checks and balances (examples) Judicial Review Formal and informal process of amending Constitution

Issues relating to the separation of powers Powers inherent to each branch Relative power of each branch to the others Growth of presidential power Diminishing power of Congress? Court’s power?

American political culture Define political culture Identify characteristics peculiar to U.S. Distinguish between political ideologies (conservative v. liberal; socialist v. libertarian, etc.)

Political socialization Agents of socialization Reinforcing v. cross-cutting cleavages in society Demographic characteristics and impact on political participation

The political impact of the media Sources of mass media Importance of TV Ways media uses politicians Ways politicians use media Media bias Campaign and election coverage

The nature, sources, and consequences of public opinion Ways to measure public opinion Polling (How to conduct, types?) Effects of public opinion on politicians, public policy

Voting behavior Constitutional requirements History of voting rights Registration of voters Voter turnout (what affects it?) Sociological v. Psychological voting behavior Party identification

Political participation other than voting Joining interest groups, political parties Running for office Variations by socioeconomic group Variations by other demographics

Factors that lead to group differences in political beliefs and behavior Issue politics; Cross cutting cleavages Candidate’s appeal Other demographic factors

Political beliefs and behavior of minority groups Group orientation Voting tendencies Political participation strength/weakness

Women’s political participation Voting rate Candidate support Representation in government Gender gap in voting? Women’s issues Income inequality

Political parties Dominance of two-party system (why?) Purpose of major parties Organization of parties Role of minor parties Weakening of party system (factors)

Campaigns and elections Distinguish between congressional and presidential campaigns Role of interest groups and party affiliation Incumbency Differences between House and Senate Factors for presidential nomination

Campaigns and elections Primary season (types of primaries) Presidential debates (characteristics) Convention stage (what happens?) Electoral College (how does it work?) Campaign financing (including soft money, McCain-Feingold-Cochran, Buckley v. Valeo) Reform proposals

Interest group politics Federalist #10 Purpose of interest groups Types of interest groups Techniques Lobbying Iron-triangles

Political action committees Definition Role in the political process Tactics Regulation of PACs

The Congress Congressional elections (gerrymandering, incumbency) Structure (bicameral, party leadership – differences by house) Representation (demographic background) Roles of Congressmen/Senators Powers (especially elastic clause)

The Congress Committee System (differences in each house) Bill-making process Regulations and criticisms of Congress

The Presidency Formal and informal qualifications Roles of the office Powers of the presidency Vice president Presidential succession Cabinet and White House Office Accountability Presidential legacy

The federal courts Structure (district courts, courts of appeal, Supreme, etc.) Concept of jurisdiction (original, appellate, concurrent) Judicial review Federalism as it applies to caseloads Composition of the Supreme Court Terminology (Writ of certiorari, Rule of 4) Opinions (majority, dissenting and concurring)

The bureaucracy Historical evolution (patronage to Pendleton, Civil Service, Hatch Act, etc.) Purpose and responsibilities (Iron triangles, enforcement, information) Parts of bureaucracy (name game) Special distinction w/ independent regulatory commissions Criticisms and accountability

Relationships between the institutions of federal government Constitutional relationship (How a Bill Becomes a Law, Budgetary process, other checks and balances) Political relationship (Party politics, ideology, institutional turf) Current examples?

Links between the institutions of the federal government and public opinion, interest groups, political parties, the media, and sub-national governments Impact of each non-institutional group on each institution (consider susceptibility and likelihood of influence from each) Current examples?

Policy processes and outputs Overall understanding of implementation of public policy Consider theoretical law and actual interpretation of law by bureaucratic agency

Economic policy Fiscal policy Taxation (regressive, progressive, both economic and political impact of tax cuts/raises) Spending (mandatory versus discretionary spending) Monetary policy (remember the role of the Fed) Budget process (Constitutional mechanics and the politics involved)

Social and social welfare policy History of the safety net (especially New Deal and Great Society) Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlements Role of federalism in social welfare policy (experimentation, funding issues) Recent changes/challenges to welfare

Making foreign policy President’s role Advising the president Congressional role Historical approaches (isolationism, internationalism) Foreign Policy issues (trade, terrorism, national security interests, humanitarian interests) Foreign aid (politics involved)

Making environmental policy Responsibilities of federal government Environment v. Industry (whales v. jobs) Legislation (Clean Air and Water Acts) & enforcement (EPA) International agreements (Kyoto)

The development of civil rights for African Americans Reconstruction amendments Relevant court cases (Plessy, Brown, etc.) Tools of discrimination (poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses) Strategies/Leadership Legislation (Civil Rights Act 64, Voting Rights Act 65) Unresolved issues (de facto segregation, busing, etc.)

The development of civil rights for other minority groups: Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, gender, etc. Impact of Civil Rights Act 64 Political participation Immigration status

Gender and equal rights Women’s suffrage (19th) ERA amendment Gender politics Gay and lesbian political movement (especially through the courts and through federal and state legislation)

Affirmative action Definition Court cases (Bakke, Adarand, Richmond) Pro affirmative action position Con affirmative action position

First Amendment issues Be familiar with all parts of the amendment Religion - establishment clause, exercise clause & relevant cases (Lemon test) Speech & Press (Miller test, Schenck, fighting words, clear & present danger, libel v. slander, prior restraint) Assembly/Petition (limitations)

Rights of the accused; due process Distinguish between substantive and procedural due process (14th Amendment key so understand it) Searches & seizures (Mapp, exclusionary rule, Miranda rule) Trial (Gideon, double jeopardy, cruel & unusual punishment)

Privacy rights; abortion rights Parts of Constitution that contribute to privacy rights Griswold (right to privacy) Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, partial-birth abortion bans Application of privacy rights to gays & lesbians

Political economy Politicization of the economy Media fixation on the numbers (GDP, consumer spending, unemployment) Politicians use of numbers for support & attack (especially during campaigns) Impact of political issues on economy (war, terrorism, immigration, taxes, outsourcing, etc.)