11 Merged

AP® United States Government and Politics
2011 Free-Response Questions
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2011 AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

SECTION II
Time—1 hour and 40 minutes
Directions: You have 100 minutes to answer all four of the following questions. Unless the directions indicate
otherwise, respond to all parts of all four questions. It is suggested that you take a few minutes to plan and outline
each answer. Spend approximately one-fourth of your time (25 minutes) on each question. In your response, use
substantive examples where appropriate. Make certain to number each of your answers as the question is numbered
below.
1. The United States Supreme Court receives many appeals, but it hears and rules on a small percentage of cases
each year. Numerous factors influence the actions of the Court, both in deciding to hear a case and in the
decisions it hands down.
a. Define judicial review.
b. Explain how judicial review empowers the Supreme Court within the system of checks and balances.
c. Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari.
d. Explain how each of the following influences decisions made by individual justices when deciding cases
heard by the Court.
• Stare decisis
• Judicial activism
2. Public opinion polls are a way to link the public with elected officials. Members of Congress often use polls to
understand the views of their constituents, but they must also pay attention to other political considerations.
a. Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.
b. Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of
members of Congress.
• Strong public opinion as expressed in polling results
• Competitive re-elections
c. Explain why each of the following limits the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members
of Congress.
• Legislators’ voting records
• Party leadership
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3. Nominees for the presidency of the two major parties are chosen by delegates at national conventions. How these
delegates are chosen varies across states and between the political parties.
a. Define each of the following methods used by states to choose delegates to party conventions.
• Open primary
• Caucus
b. Republican Party rules permit winner-take-all primaries. Describe one consequence of this rule for the
Republican nomination process.
c. The Democratic Party has used superdelegates in the presidential nominating process since 1984. Explain
why the use of superdelegates increases the influence of party leaders in the Democratic nomination process.
d. Explain why a candidate’s strategy to win the nomination is often different from the strategy developed to
win the general election.
4. The Constitution of the United States creates a government of separate institutions that share power rather than a
government that delegates power exclusively to a single branch. Frequently, this means that presidents and
Congress struggle with each other.
a. For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is affected
by that power.
• Veto power
• Power to issue executive orders
• Power as commander in chief
b. For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that presidential decision making is affected
by that power.
• Legislative oversight power
• Senate advice and consent power
• Budgetary power
STOP
END OF EXAM

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AP® U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FREE-RESPONSE
QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION

made up of more than 5,900 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in
education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college
students, educators, and schools.
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trademarks of the College Board. Admitted Class Evaluation Service and inspiring minds are trademarks owned by the College
Board. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on the Web:
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SECTION II
substantive examples where appropriate.
1. Members of Congress are charged with three primary duties—writing laws, overseeing the implementation of
laws, and serving the needs of their constituents.
(a) Describe the role of each of the following in lawmaking.
• Senate filibuster
• House Rules Committee
• Conference committee
(b) Describe one method by which Congress exercises oversight of the federal bureaucracy.
(c) Explain how casework affects members’ attention to legislation.


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2. (a) Using the chart above, compare minority representation in 1960 and 2010.
(b) Explain how each of the following assisted in the removal of barriers to minority voting.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Twenty-fourth Amendment
(c) Identify one barrier that currently impedes minority representation in Congress. Explain why the barrier
you identified inhibits minority representation in Congress.


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3. The judicial branch is often assumed to be insulated from politics. However, politics affects many aspects of the
judiciary.
(a) Describe two political factors that affect presidents’ decisions to appoint members of the federal judiciary.
(b) Identify two political factors that affect the confirmation process of a president’s nominees and explain how
each factor complicates a confirmation.
(c) Explain how one legislative power serves as a check on court decisions.
(d) Explain how one executive power serves as a check on court decisions.
4. Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. In doing so, however,
they may not act in the overall public interest.
(a) Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections.
(b) Explain how interest groups use each of the following to influence government decision making.
• Issue networks (also known as iron triangles)
• Amicus curiae briefs

(c) Explain how each of the following serves to limit interest group influence.
• The media
• Pluralism
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION

made up of more than 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity
in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college
students, educators, and schools.
© 2013 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, SAT, and the acorn logo are
registered trademarks of the College Board. Admitted Class Evaluation Service and inspiring minds are trademarks owned by
the College Board. All other products and services may be trademarks of their respective owners. Visit the College Board on
the Web: www.collegeboard.org. Permission to use copyrighted College Board materials may be requested online
at: www.collegeboard.org/inquiry/cbpermit.html.


SECTION II
1. There are several different approaches to representation within a democratic political system.
(a) Define direct democracy.
(b) Define republican form of government.
(c) Describe one reason the framers of the United States Constitution chose a republican form of government
over a direct democracy.
(d) Describe each of the models of congressional representation.
x Trustee model (attitudinal view)
x Delegate model (representational view)
(e) Explain why a member of Congress might sometimes act as a trustee (attitudinal view) rather than a delegate
(representational view).
2. Political parties play important roles in United States elections and government institutions. Over the past several
decades, the influence of political parties in elections has declined while their strength in Congress has increased.
(a) Describe two important functions of political parties in United States elections.
(b) Describe one important role political parties play within Congress to promote the party’s public policy
agenda.
(c) Explain how each of the following factors has weakened the influence of political parties over the political
process.
x Direct primaries
x Candidate-centered campaigns
(d) Explain how party polarization has strengthened party influence in Congress.


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PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY BY SELECTED

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, 2000–2011 (in percent)
African Asian
President American Hispanic American White Women Men
Barack Obama 22% 11% 8% 59% 46% 54%
George W. Bush 7% 9% 1% 82% 22% 78%
Source: Alliance for Justice, August 2011

Percentages do not add up to 100.
3. Presidents consider many factors when nominating candidates to the federal courts, and getting their nominees
confirmed is often difficult.
(a) Using the chart above, describe ONE similarity between President Barack Obama’s judicial appointments
and those made by President George W. Bush.
(b) Using the chart above, describe TWO differences between President Barack Obama’s judicial appointments
and those made by President George W. Bush.
(c) Explain why a president’s party affiliation accounts for differences in presidential appointments to the
judiciary.
(d) Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having judicial nominations to federal courts
confirmed.
4. The public policy process is complex. The formation, enactment, and implementation of public policy involve
many government institutions.
(a) Explain the importance of each of the following in the formation of the policy agenda.
x Media
x Elections
(b) Describe the roles of each of the following in the enactment of public policy.
x Congressional committees
x Executive orders
(c) Explain the importance of each of the following in the implementation of public policy.
x Bureaucratic discretion
x Issue networks OR iron triangles
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
®
AP United States Government and Politics
© 2014 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement Program, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo
are registered trademarks of the College Board.


SECTION II
1. The United States Constitution’s ratification resulted from a political process that required compromise between
the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Many of the debates in government today continue to reflect the concerns of
each perspective.
(a) Compare the positions of Federalists and Anti-Federalists regarding the power of the national government.
(b) Describe two features of the original Constitution that have led to a growth in the power of the national
government.
(c) Explain how each of the following additions to the Constitution addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.
x First Amendment
x Tenth Amendment
(d) Explain how one of the following clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment has altered the balance of power
between the state and national governments.
x Due process clause
x Equal protection clause


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2. Voter turnout is influenced by constitutional provisions, voting laws, and demographics.

(a) Identify the effect of one of the following amendments on the electorate.
x Fifteenth Amendment
x Nineteenth Amendment
x Twenty-sixth Amendment
(b) Explain how each of the following factors may affect voter turnout.
x Motor voter laws
x Photo identification laws
(c) Select one of the following demographic features and describe its relationship to the likelihood of a person
voting in an election.
x Education
x Age
(d) Explain why voter turnout is different in each of the following.
x Presidential versus midterm elections
x Primary versus general elections
3. Congress and the president both have a role in making foreign policy. Despite recent expansions in presidential
power, there are still limits on presidential decision making in foreign policy.
(a) Describe two enumerated powers Congress has in making foreign policy.
(b) Describe two expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy.
(c) Explain how executive agreements expand the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.
(d) Explain how one of the following can limit the president’s ability to implement foreign policy.
x Elections
x Presidential approval ratings


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4. (a) Define party polarization.

(b) Identify a trend shown in the graph above.
(c) Describe two causes of party polarization in Congress.
(d) Describe one effect of party polarization on congressional policy making.
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
®

SECTION II
1. American politics has often been called an “invitation to struggle.” Although in recent years the president has
been thought to have an advantage in policy making, there are still constraints on the power of the president.
(a) Describe a power of the president in each of the following roles.
• Chief legislator
• Chief bureaucrat or chief administrator
(b) Explain how each of the following limits the president’s influence in policy making.
• Civil service employees
• The Supreme Court
(c) Describe the influence of divided government on the policy-making process.
2. The framers of the Constitution devised a federal system of government that affected the relationship between
the national and state governments.
(a) Compare state sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation and under the Constitution.
(b) Explain how each of the following has been used to expand the power of the federal government over
the states.
• Commerce clause
• Mandates
(c) Explain how each of the following has played a role in the devolution of power from the national
government to the states.
• Block grants
• Supreme Court decisions


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CARLSON © 2012 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reprinted

with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.
3. The framers created the electoral college to elect the president of the United States. This system influences the
campaign strategies of presidential candidates.
(a) Describe one reason that the framers chose to use the electoral college as the method to elect the
president.
(b) Describe the message the cartoon above conveys about presidential elections.
(c) Explain why California, Texas, and New York do not appear prominently in the cartoon above.
(d) Describe two campaign tactics presidential candidates use to win the key states identified in the
cartoon above.


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2015 AP® U
4. The Fourteenth Amendment protects civil rights and civil liberties.

(a) Describe the difference between civil rights and civil liberties.
(b) Identify the primary clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that is used to extend civil rights.
(c) Describe a specific legislative action that extended civil rights to each of the following.
• Women
• Persons with disabilities
(d) Identify the primary clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that is used to extend civil liberties.
(e) Explain how civil liberties were incorporated by the Supreme Court in two of the following cases.
• Gideon v. Wainwright
• Mapp v. Ohio
• Miranda v. Arizona
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
®
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SECTION II
1. Linkage institutions—such as political parties, the media, and interest groups—connect citizens to the
government and play significant roles in the electoral process.
(a) Describe one important function of political parties as a linkage institution in elections.
(b) Describe the influence of the media on the electoral process in each of the following roles.
• Gatekeeping/agenda setting
• Scorekeeping/horse race journalism
(c) Describe two strategies interest groups use to influence the electoral process.
(d) Explain how, according to critics, interest groups may limit representative democracy.


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*Note: 2050 projections are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau
2. The United States is experiencing a dramatic change in the makeup of its population. These changes have
political consequences for political institutions.
(a) Identify a trend depicted in the chart.
(b) Assuming that recent voting patterns continue, explain how the trend identified in (a) is likely to affect the
electoral success of either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party.
(c) Explain how the demographic changes shown in the chart above are likely to affect the way in which parties
operate in Congress.
(d) Describe two specific actions that presidents can take to respond to the demographic changes in the chart
above.
3. The public policy process involves interactions between Congress and the bureaucracy.
(a) Identify the primary role of Congress in the policy process.
(b) Explain how divided party control of Congress can make the policy process difficult.
(c) Identify the primary role of the bureaucracy in the policy process.
(d) Explain how one of the following increases the power of the bureaucracy in the policy process.
• Rule making
• Bureaucratic discretion
(e) Explain how each of the following enables Congress to limit the power of the bureaucracy.
• Oversight hearings
• Power of the purse


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4. The Constitution limited the power of the national government and restricted popular control; however, citizen
participation has changed over time.
(a) Explain how each of the following constitutional features protects against the concentration of power in the
national government.
• Checks and balances
• Federalism
(b) Explain how one of the following features of the Constitution limited the people’s ability to influence the
national government.
• Electoral college
• Selection of senators before the Seventeenth Amendment
(c) Describe a constitutional amendment that increased suffrage.
(d) Describe the effect of one of the following laws on citizen participation in elections.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Act)
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
2017
AP United States
Government and Politics
Free-Response Questions
are registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.
SECTION II
1. The framers of the Constitution intended the Supreme Court to be politically insulated. Despite this intent, the
Supreme Court is not completely insulated from political influences.
(a) Describe one constitutional provision that seeks to insulate the Supreme Court from public opinion.
(b) Identify a power exercised by the Supreme Court that acts as a check on another branch of the federal
government.
(c) Explain how each of the following can limit the independence of the Supreme Court.
• Congress
• President
(d) Explain how the Supreme Court protects its political independence.
2. Interest groups play an important role in the political process.

(a) Identify the primary goal of interest groups.
(b) Describe EACH of the following strategies used by interest groups.
• Lobbying
• Amicus curiae
(c) Explain how EACH of the following hinders the success of interest groups in obtaining their primary goal.
• Separation of powers
• Bureaucratic discretion


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Source: The Congressional Budget Office, An Analysis of the President’s 2014 Budget, May 2013, and
the Office of Management and Budget, FY 2014 Budget, Historical Tables, April 2013.
NOTE: Mandatory programs include Social Security, major federal health programs, other entitlement
programs, and offsetting receipts.
3. Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare are all mandatory spending programs, also known as entitlement
programs.
(a) Identify a change in federal spending between 1970 and 2023 (projected) based on the chart above.
(b) Describe the difference between entitlement programs and discretionary programs.
(c) Describe one demographic trend that has contributed to changes in entitlement spending.
(d) Explain why changes in entitlement spending make balancing the federal budget difficult.
(e) Explain how deficit spending affects the projected trend in net interest.


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4. The balance of power between the United States national government and state governments is shaped by
the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings.
(a) Describe EACH of the following constitutional provisions.
• Supremacy clause
• Tenth Amendment
(b) Explain how ONE of the following court rulings changed the balance of power between the national
government and state governments.
• United States v. Lopez
• Obergefell v. Hodges
(c) Describe TWO advantages of federalism for the creation of public policy in the United States.
STOP
END OF EXAM
-4-
QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
2018
AP United States
are registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.

SECTION II
Directions: You have 1 hour and 40 minutes to answer all four of the following questions. Unless the directions
indicate otherwise, respond to all parts of all four questions. It is suggested that you take a few minutes to plan and
outline each answer. Spend approximately one-fourth of your time (25 minutes) on each question. In your response,
use substantive examples where appropriate.
1. Political parties seek to win elections to control government.

(a) Identify two activities that political parties do to win elections.
(b) Describe one way third parties can affect elections.
(c) Explain how single-member districts make it difficult for third parties to win elections.
(d) Explain how electoral competition is affected by gerrymandering.
2. Public opinion polls are commonly used by politicians and the media.
(a) Identify two characteristics of a reliable scientific public opinion poll.
(b) Describe two ways polling results are used by politicians.
(c) Explain how frequent public opinion polls impact media coverage of political campaigns.


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3. The United States Constitution gave Congress and the president specific legislative powers. As a result, the
interactions between the two are dynamic and complex.
(a) Describe the constitutional principle of checks and balances.
(b) Describe EACH of the following presidential powers in the legislative process:
• Veto
• State of the Union address
(c) Using the data in the chart, describe the relationship between the number of presidential vetoes and the
number of congressional overrides.
(d) Explain how Congress can reduce the likelihood of a presidential veto.


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4. In a democracy, what the majority wants should influence public policy. The opinion of the majority is
sometimes, but not always, reflected in policy change.
(a) Explain how interest groups reduce the influence of public opinion on policy.
(b) Explain how EACH of the following increases the likelihood of policy change.
• Newly elected president
• National crisis
(c) Describe the role of EACH of the following institutions in the policy process.
• The courts
• The media
STOP
END OF EXAM

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QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
2019
AP United States
®

© 2019 The College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are
registered trademarks of the College Board. Visit the College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.
2019 AP® US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

SECTION II
Time — 1 hour and 40 minutes
Directions: You have 1 hour and 40 minutes to answer all four of the following questions. It is suggested that you
spend approximately 20 minutes each on Questions 1, 2, and 3 and 40 minutes on Question 4. Unless directions
indicate otherwise, respond to all parts of all four questions. In your response, use substantive examples where
appropriate. It is recommended that you take a few minutes to plan each answer. You may plan your answers in this
Questions booklet, but no credit will be given for notes written in this booklet. You will only earn credit for what you
write in the Free Response booklet.
1. Since 2008 the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian interest group, has promoted an annual
event known as Pulpit Freedom Sunday. On this occasion, pastors are encouraged to challenge a provision of
the tax law known as the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits political activity by certain nonprofit
organizations, including religious organizations. While the Johnson Amendment does not restrict religious
leaders from speaking out regarding social issues, it does prohibit them from contributing money to political
campaigns or speaking out in favor or against candidates running for political office.
On Pulpit Freedom Sunday, as an act of civil disobedience, pastors and religious leaders preach openly about
the moral qualifications of candidates seeking office.
After reading the scenario, please respond to A, B, and C below.

A. Describe an action Congress could take to address the concerns of the interest group in the scenario.
B. In the context of the scenario, explain how partisan divisions could prevent the action described in
part A.
C. Explain why the Alliance Defending Freedom might argue that their constitutional rights are
threatened by the Johnson Amendment.
__________________________________________________________
Begin your response to this question at the top of a new page in the Free Response booklet
and fll in the appropriate circle indicating the question number.

Visit the College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.
-2- GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE.

Source: American National Election Studies 2016 Pilot, January 2016
2. Use the bar graph to answer the following questions.

A. Identify the political affiliation of people who are most likely to believe elected officials should
compromise.
B. Describe the difference between Democrats and Republicans on their attitudes of whether
government officials should stick to their principles, based on the data in the bar graph.
C. Explain how the data in the bar graph could influence how a Republican candidate would shift his or
her campaign positions after securing the Republican nomination for president.
D. Explain how the data in the bar graph could affect policy making interactions between the president
and Congress.
__________________________________________________________


3. This question requires you to compare a Supreme Court case you studied in class with one you have not studied
in class. A summary of the Supreme Court case you did not study in class is presented below and provides all
of the information you need to know about this case to answer the prompt.
In the 1950s, Pete Hernandez, a Mexican American agricultural worker, was found guilty of murder and
sentenced to life in prison by an all-white jury in Jackson County, Texas. Hernandez’s defense claimed that
people of Mexican ancestry had been discriminated against in Jackson County. They pointed to the fact that no
person of Mexican ancestry had served on a jury in 25 years and that the Jackson County Courthouse itself
practiced segregation in its facilities. The five jury commissioners, who selected the members of the grand jury,
testified under oath that they selected jurors based only on their qualifications and did not consider race or
national origin in their decisions.
In the ensuing case, Hernandez v. Texas (1954), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Hernandez,
deciding that evidence of discrimination against Mexican Americans existed in Jackson County and that the
Constitution prohibits such discrimination.
Based on the information above, respond to the following questions.

A. Identify the clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that was used as the basis for the decision in both
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) and Hernandez v. Texas (1954).
B. Explain how the facts in both Brown v. Board of Education and Hernandez v. Texas led to a similar
decision in both cases.
C. Explain how an interest group could use the decision in Hernandez v. Texas to advance its agenda.
__________________________________________________________


4. The United States Constitution establishes a federal system of government. Under federalism, policy making is
shared between national and state governments. Over time, the powers of the national government have increased
relative to those of the state governments.
Develop an argument about whether the expanded powers of the national government benefits or hinders policy
making.
Use at least one piece of evidence from one of the following foundational documents:
The Articles of Confederation
Brutus 1
The Federalist 10
In your essay, you must:
✓ Articulate a defensible claim or thesis that responds to the prompt and establishes a line of
reasoning.
✓ Support your claim or thesis with at least TWO pieces of accurate and relevant evidence.
One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed above.
A second piece of evidence can come from any other foundational document not used as your
first piece of evidence, or it may be from your knowledge of course concepts.
✓ Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis.
✓ Respond to an opposing or alternative perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
__________________________________________________________
STOP
END OF EXAM

-5-
QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
2021
AP United States
®

Set 1
© 2021 College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered
trademarks of College Board. Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.
AP® United States Government and Politics 2021 Free-Response Questions

SECTION II
4 Questions
orange booklet, but no credit will be given for anything written in this booklet. You will only earn credit for what
you write in the separate Free Response booklet.

© 2021 College Board.
Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.
2
1. In April of 2018, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of the social media company Facebook, was called to testify
before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation about, among other things, a data leak that led to 87 million Facebook users’ private information
being sold without their consent.
Senators questioned Zuckerberg about whether Facebook could adequately regulate itself and protect personal
information or whether Congress should intervene. Zuckerberg defended the company, emphasizing its mission
to better connect the world. In response, Zuckerberg stated, “My position is not that there should be no
regulation. I think the real question, as the Internet becomes more important in people’s lives, is what is the
right regulation, not whether there should be or not.”
After reading the scenario, respond to A, B, and C below.

A. Referencing the scenario, describe the enumerated power in Article I of the Constitution that gives
Congress the authority to regulate a business like the one above.
B. Explain how the two-chamber structure of the legislature affects the ability of Congress to exercise
the power described in Part A.
C. If Congress decides to regulate how social media companies gather and use the data of their users,
explain how these companies could use the political process to ensure that the new regulation does
not negatively affect them.
__________________________________________________________
Begin your response to this question at the top of a new page in the separate Free Response booklet
and fill in the appropriate circle at the top of each page to indicate the question number.

3
Cabinet Diversity by President, 1981–2017
Source: Georgia Public Broadcasting News, 2017
2. Use the bar graphs to answer the following questions.

A. Identify the president who had the highest percentage of women and racial/ethnic minorities serving
in the Cabinet.
B. Describe a pattern in the percentage of racial and ethnic minorities serving in Cabinet positions.
C. Draw a conclusion about the political parties and the diversity of Cabinet appointments as shown in
the bar graphs.
D. Explain how interest groups can influence presidential Cabinet appointments as shown in the bar
graphs.
__________________________________________________________

4
This question requires you to compare a Supreme Court case you studied in class with one you have not
studied in class. A summary of the Supreme Court case you did not study in class is presented below and
provides all of the information you need to know about this case to answer the prompt.
McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (2013)

3. Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon contributed $33,088 to sixteen different candidates running for
federal office in 2012. His donations exceeded the aggregate (total) campaign finance limit established by the
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002. This law limited the total amount of political contributions
that an individual could make in a given two-year election period to federal candidates, federal political action
committees, and political parties.
In the subsequent case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (2013), the Court ruled in a 5–4 decision
that limits on the amount of political contributions established by the BCRA are unconstitutional. The Court
held that “contributing money to a candidate is an exercise of an individual’s right to participate in the electoral
process. . . . A restriction on how many candidates and committees an individual may support is hardly a
‘modest restraint’ on those rights. The government may no more restrict how many candidates or causes a
donor may support than it may tell a newspaper how many candidates it may endorse.”
A. Identify the civil liberty that is common in both Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
(2010) and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (2013).
B. Explain how the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission relates to the reasoning
in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission.
C. Explain how the decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission can be used to support the
participatory, pluralist, or elite model of democracy.
__________________________________________________________

5
4. Environmental regulation is a complex policy area that involves both the states and the federal government.
Develop an argument that takes a position on whether the federal government should be primarily responsible
for managing environmental policy or if it should be the responsibility of the states.
• Brutus 1
• The Federalist 10
• The Preamble of the United States Constitution
In your response, you should do the following:
✓ Respond to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of reasoning.
✓ Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence.
• One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed above.
• A second piece of evidence can come from any other foundational document not used as your first
piece of evidence, or it may be from your knowledge of course concepts.
✓ Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
__________________________________________________________
STOP
END OF EXAM

6
QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION
2021
AP United States
®

Set 2
© 2021 College Board. College Board, Advanced Placement, AP, AP Central, and the acorn logo are registered
trademarks of College Board. Visit College Board on the web: collegeboard.org.

SECTION II
Time — 1 hour and 40 minutes
orange booklet, but no credit will be given for anything written in this booklet. You will only earn credit for what
you write in the separate Free Response booklet.

2
1. In October of 2018, musician Taylor Swift used the social media site Instagram to endorse candidates for the
United States Congress in the upcoming election. The post was a rare political statement from the pop star, who
noted that “I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but . . . I feel very differently about that
now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human
rights I believe we all deserve in this country. . . . So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have
turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need
to register, which is quick and easy to do.”
Immediately following Swift’s Instagram post, thousands of 18– 24 year olds signed up to vote. Swift added a
link to the website vote.org in her bio, which lists voting procedures in various states.
After reading the scenario, respond to A, B, and C below.

A. Referencing the scenario, describe the structural barrier to voting that is discussed above.
B. Explain why the structural barrier described in part A may be more of an obstacle in some states than
in others.
C. If youth voter turnout increases as a result of the actions in the scenario, explain how this could affect
the way candidates run campaigns in the future.
__________________________________________________________

3
United States House of Representatives Elections for Ohio: Votes Won

versus Seats Won, 1982 and 2012
Source: Rich Exner and James Owens, The Plain Dealer
2. Use the pie charts to answer the following questions.

A. Identify the party that won the highest percentage of votes and seats in 1982.
B. Describe a change between the percentage of seats won by Republicans in 1982 and 2012.
C. Draw a conclusion about the difference in percentage of votes won and seats won in Ohio in the
2012 election as shown in the charts.
D. Explain why the information in the charts could pose a challenge to participatory democracy.
__________________________________________________________

4
This question requires you to compare a Supreme Court case you studied in class with one you have not
studied in class. A summary of the Supreme Court case you did not study in class is presented below and
provides all of the information you need to know about this case to answer the prompt.
Betts v. Brady (1942)

3. In 1941, Smith Betts was arrested for robbery in the state of Maryland. Unable to afford a lawyer, he was
denied a public defender by a judge and forced to represent himself. He was found guilty and given an
eight-year sentence.
In the ensuing case, Betts v. Brady (1942), the Supreme Court ruled against Mr. Betts, who claimed his
constitutional right to a fair trial was denied. In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that the right to counsel applied
to only criminal cases in federal courts and that he did not have a right to counsel in a state court, except in
death penalty cases.
Justice Black, in his dissenting opinion, reasoned, “This case can be determined by a resolution of a narrower
question: whether, in view of the nature of the offense and the circumstances of his trial and conviction, this
petitioner was denied the procedural protection which is his right under the federal Constitution. I think he was.”
A. Identify the constitutional amendment in the Bill of Rights that is common to both Gideon v.
Wainwright (1963) and Betts v. Brady (1942).
B. Explain how the decision in Gideon v. Wainwright relates to the reasoning in Justice Black’s
dissenting opinion in Betts v. Brady.
C. Explain how the decision in Betts v. Brady demonstrates the principle of federalism.
__________________________________________________________

5
4. The power of the executive branch in relation to the legislative branch has varied over time. Develop an
argument that takes a position on the appropriate balance of power between the president and Congress.
• Declaration of Independence
In your response you should do the following:
✓ Respond to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of reasoning.
✓ Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence.
• One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed above.
• A second piece of evidence can come from any other foundational document not used as your first
piece of evidence or it may be from your knowledge of course concepts.
✓ Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective using refutation, concession, or rebuttal.
__________________________________________________________
STOP
END OF EXAM

6
QUESTIONS
END OF EXAMINATION

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AP® United States Government and Politics

2011 Free-Response Questions

About the College Board

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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• Voting Rights Act of 1965

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• Issue networks (also known as iron triangles)

• Amicus curiae briefs

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PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY BY SELECTED

Barack Obama 22% 11% 8% 59% 46% 54%

George W. Bush 7% 9% 1% 82% 22% 78%

Source: Alliance for Justice, August 2011

© 2013 The College Board.

are registered trademarks of the College Board.

Visit the College Board on the Web: www.collegeboard.org.

AP Central is the official online home for the AP Program: apcentral.collegeboard.org.

2014 AP® UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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2. Voter turnout is influenced by constitutional provisions, voting laws, and demographics.

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4. (a) Define party polarization.

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

(c) Describe the influence of divided government on the policy-making process.

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CARLSON © 2012 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reprinted

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4. The Fourteenth Amendment protects civil rights and civil liberties.

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Time—1 hour and 40 minutes