AP Gov AP Test Review Detailed Questions
And Expert Answers
Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence
and the Constitution. - ANS In DOI - equality, consent of the governed, the
unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the right of
people to alter or abolish the government
natural rights - ANS The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human
rights
popular sovereignty - ANS A belief that ultimate power resides in the people
republicanism - ANS A philosophy of limited government with elected
representatives serving at the will of the people The government is based on
consent of the governed.
social contract - ANS An agreement for mutual benefit between n individual or
group and the government or community as a whole
The Declaration of Independence - ANS drafted by Jefferson with help from Adams
and Franklin, provides a foundation for popular sovereignty
,The U.S. Constitution - ANS drafted at the Philadelphia Convention and led by
George Washington, with important contributions from Madison, Hamilton, and
members of the "Grand Committee," provides the blueprint for a unique form of
political democracy in the U.S.
Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions,
policies, or debates in the U.S. - ANS Participatory democracy is shown in
movements such as occupy wall street, pluralist id prevalent in the powerful
interest groups, and elite-dominated politics prevail today as individuals with the
most time, education, money, etc... will take more action and be heard
Participatory democracy - ANS A political system in which all or most citizens
participate directly by either holding office or making policy
Pluralist democracy - ANS Appointed civil servants make the key governing
decisions
Elite democracy - ANS A few top leaders make the key decisions without reference
to popular desires
The five Madisonian Principles of a representative democracy that continue to be
reflected in contemporary institutions and political behavior. - ANS Federalism,
Popular Sovereignty, Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers, and Limited
Government
,Federalism - ANS Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed
between a central government and subdivisional governments called states. The
national and subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over
individuals.
-The American system of government
Popular Sovereignty - ANS A belief that ultimate power resides in the people
-10th Amendment stating that all powers not explicitly given to the government
reside with the people
Checks and Balances - ANS Limits imposed on all branches of government by
vesting in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another branch
Separation of Powers - ANS A political idea, that power in the government should
be divided into separate branches in order to ensure that no one branch of a
governing body can gain too much authority
Limited Government - ANS A principle of constitutional government; a government
whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution *Thomas Hobbes
What is a faction? - ANS A specific group with similar ideologies (political parties
and special interests or interest groups)
, What is the source of factions? - ANS Groups of people that are like-minded or
connected by some common impulse of passion or interest, that may begin to
dominate government for their own ends
How are factions controlled? - ANS Through participatory democracy at a national
level
Federalist No. 10 - ANS focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling
the "mischiefs of faction," delegating authority to elected representatives and
dispersing power between the states and national government.
Why were the Anti-Federalists reluctant to sign the new Constitution? - ANS Anti-
federalists were worried that things such as the supremacy clause would grant the
national government too much power and ultimately result in another tyranny
In other words, identify the problems in the Articles of Confederation and how
they were corrected in the Constitution. - ANS In the articles of confederation, the
problems consisted of a very weak central government, no single executive, the
states could coin their own money, every state has to agree on any amendment,
congress settled disputes. In the constitution these issues were solved by the
supremacy clause, creation of the president, ¾ of states make an amendment,
supreme court's authority to settle disputes.
Great (Connecticut) Compromise - ANS States have equal representation in one
house of the legislature (Senate) and representation based on population in the
other house (House of Representatives)
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