10 exam-style questions with answers and explanations, straight from our 1,030-question bank. Tap an answer to check yourself. When you're ready, take the scored version in the free practice test.
The AP Gov exam has 59 questions and runs 3 hours.
These 10 free AP Gov questions are organized by exam domain, so you can see how each part of the AP United States Government and Politics blueprint is tested. Reveal the answer and explanation under each question.
Under the original Constitution, senators were chosen by state legislatures rather than by voters, and were given six-year terms that insulated them from immediate public pressure. This original design BEST reflects which model of democracy?
Correct answer: A - Elite democracy
A student is building an argument in support of the claim that a large republic makes it more difficult for any single faction to dominate national policy. Which required foundational document provides the STRONGEST support for this specific claim?
Correct answer: D - Federalist No. 10
A bill has the support of 54 senators, but a group of opponents announces it will hold the floor and debate the measure indefinitely. What must the bill's supporters obtain in order to force a final vote?
Correct answer: D - 60 votes to invoke cloture and end debate
A president negotiates a climate accord with the leaders of six other nations and puts it into effect without ever submitting it to the Senate. Which presidential tool is being used, and what is its principal limitation?
Correct answer: A - An executive agreement; it avoids Senate ratification but does not bind future presidents
Congress passes a statute directing the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate any air pollutant that 'may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health,' without defining specific thresholds. The EPA then issues detailed emissions limits for power plants. The EPA's action BEST illustrates:
Correct answer: C - Discretionary and rulemaking authority delegated by Congress
Selective incorporation is the process by which protections in the Bill of Rights have been applied to state and local governments. Which constitutional provision is the mechanism for this process?
Correct answer: C - The Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
A public high school suspends a student for wearing a T-shirt criticizing a proposed state law. Administrators concede that the shirt caused no disruption to classes or school activities. Applying the precedent in Tinker v. Des Moines, a court would MOST likely rule that the suspension is:
Correct answer: B - Unconstitutional, because the speech caused no material and substantial disruption
A congressional committee debates lowering income tax rates to stimulate growth. During the same period, the Federal Reserve considers lowering interest rates for the same purpose. Which statement accurately describes these two actions?
Correct answer: C - Congress is setting fiscal policy; the Federal Reserve is setting monetary policy
An organization accepts unlimited contributions and spends $50 million on advertisements urging voters to defeat a Senate incumbent. It gives no money directly to any candidate and never coordinates with a campaign. Which statement about this organization is accurate?
Correct answer: A - It is a super PAC, and federal law bars it from contributing directly to candidates
In a presidential election, no candidate receives a majority of the 538 electoral votes. According to the Constitution, what happens next?
Correct answer: B - The House chooses the president, with one vote per state delegation
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