AP Government Review Topics to Know

The Incumbency Advantage What is it? Which legislative chamber has more of an advantage over competitors? How do “pork barrel politics” and franking relate to incumbency advantage?

Federalism How does the “supremacy clause” connect to federalism? What clauses and other legislative acts have increased the federal government’s power over the states? How does federalism allow for interest groups to have more influence in politics? How does federalism allow for policy experimentation? What is devolution?

The Articles of Confederation What type of government was set up under the Articles? What weaknesses were present under the Articles? What single event during the Articles years pushed the young country to write the Constitution?

Crash Course: America’s Beginnings

Selection of SCOTUS Justices How many Justices? Who chooses this number? Who appoints and confirms them? Who gets chosen as an appointee? What impacts this choice? Judicial activism v. Judicial restraint

The Electoral College How does a candidate win the votes of a state? Does a candidate need to win the popular vote to become president? What about the winner-take-all system makes it difficult for third-party candidates? What does the size of the state tell you about it’s impact on the electoral college?

The Electoral College

Minority Voting Patterns What party do minorities support traditionally? If race & education were eliminated, what race is the most likely to vote?

Voter Turnout What is voter turnout like during a presidential election year? A mid-term year? What demographic factors affect turnout? What other factors affect turnout?

Divided Government What is it? What is the effect on partisanship, the legislative process, and trust in government? How do presidents attempt to overcome problems caused by divided government?

Political Action Committees (PACs) How has the number of PACs changed since the 1970s? In what elections do PACs have the most influence? How are PACs regulated?

The Veto Power What is it? How can it be used as a threat? How can a veto be overridden? Do vetoes get overridden often? What is a pocket veto? Who has line-item veto power? Who doesn’t?

The Cabinet How are cabinet heads chosen, and how can they be removed? Why might a cabinet member be conflicted over their loyalties? How are cabinet members related to iron triangles?

Presidential Primaries What effect to primaries have on party control? What is the difference between open and closed? Who votes in primaries? What is the purpose of frontloading?

Committees & the Seniority System What is a standing committee? How is leadership established in legislative committees? What role do committees play in lawmaking? What are the most influential committees in the House?

The Federalist Papers Federalist #10 - Factions are inevitable and a threat to a large republic. How did James Madison dispel this fear? Federalist #51 - “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” What does this statement mean?

The 14th Amendment & Selective Incorporation What are the two major clauses in the 14th Amendment? How has selective incorporation expanded civil rights?

Political Socialization What is it? What agents form your political socialization? What is the most important?

Critical Election What is it? What factors lead to critical elections? How were the elections of 1800, 1860, 1896, and 1932 critical? What is dealignment?

The Selection of Supreme Court Cases What type of jurisdiction do most cases in the Supreme Court derive from? Explain the process of calling up a case using a writ of certiorari. Of the appeals made to the SCOTUS, how many are heard?

The Mass Media What is the media’s role as a linkage institution in U.S. politics? How does horse-race journalism impact elections and policy issues in the U.S.?

The Role of State Legislatures How did the 17th Amendment take power from state governments? What role do state governments have in redistricting? How many state legislatures are needed to ratify amendments to the Constitution?