1. AP Government Jeopardy
Policy-Making

2. Round 1: The Federal bureaucracy

3. 1. An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the president in policymaking decisions is that bureaucrats
Control the budgetary process
Have an independence from the president that is guaranteed by the Constitution
Find it easier to gather public support than does the president
Usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the president lacks
Usually have better access to the media than does the president 1

4. 2. Cabinet-level agencies are responsible to
Congress
The president
The courts
The White House staff
The executive office of the president 2

5. 3. Many contemporary politicians have come to see bureaucracies as agencies
That aim to make realistic recommendations that may result in lower budgets than the year before
Whose main objective is to seek profits
Whose major goal is to cut back their powers
Who strive to maximize their budgets and powers
Who work more closely with the judiciary 3

6. 4. The following are characteristics of the independent regulatory agency EXCEPT
It has responsibility for some sector of the economy
It makes rules designed to protect the public interest
It enforces rules designed to protect the public interest
Its powers are so great that it is often called the “fourth branch of government”
It is exempt from court rulings 4

7. 5. All the following are examples of independent regulatory agencies EXCEPT
The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
The Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 5

8. 6. When a president tries to control a bureaucratic agency, all the following methods are available to him EXCEPT
Appointing the right people to head the agency
Reducing the agency’s budget
Issuing executive orders
Recommending a reduction of the agency’s following year’s budget
Using his office to influence agency direction 6

9. 7. Which of the following results from an iron triangle relationship?
Each policy being made independently from the others
Policies being made that are contradictory from others
A lack of an integrated, coherent approach to broad policy problems
A cooperative relationship among a special interest group, a bureaucratic agency, and Congress
A hostile relationship among the bureaucratic agencies making policy 7

10. Round 2: Special interest groups

11. 1. All of the following statements concerning special interest groups are true EXCEPT
They are policy experts
They attempt to appeal to a broad spectrum of political interests
They often run their own candidates for office
They lobby different levels of government
They have specific policy goals 1

12. 2. Special interest groups do all of the following EXCEPT
Testify at congressional hearings
Donate money to federal judges
Endorse candidates for political office
Try to influence the media
Work on the campaigns of candidates 2

13. 3. All of the following argument are essential to the special interest theory of politics EXCEPT
Interest groups compete with each other
Interest groups provide linkage between people and government
One or two interest groups may dominate the debate over legislation
Interest groups encourage membership from diverse groups that may disagree with their goals
Interest groups have been protected by Supreme Court decisions 3

14. 4. Which of the following represents a major reason for the proliferation of special interests and lobby groups?
The reactive nature of interest groups and lobbyists to new issues
The increase in donations received by interest groups from their membership
Trust citizens have in the legislative process
The ability of lobbyists and special interest groups to get members from their own groups to run for political office
The increasing demand for campaign reform 4

15. 5. Which of the following statements represents the main function of special interest groups?
They eventually want to end up as political office holders
They nominate candidates for political office
They have the primary function of funding political campaigns
They want to influence officeholders and achieve legislative goals
The attempt to recruit an elite membership in order to become influential 5

16. 6. A significant amount of PAC money most likely goes to
Candidates challenging Republican seats
Candidates challenging Democratic seats
Candidates who are new to the political scene
Candidates who have wide philosophical differences with the PAC
Candidates who hold incumbent status 6

17. 7. All of the following are techniques used by lobbyists EXCEPT
Testifying at congressional hearings
Providing officials with research information
Appearing on the floor of Congress as staff assistants to senators and representatives
Taking senators and representatives to conferences sponsored by a special interest group
Giving senators and representatives feedback from their constituents 7

18. Round 3: Public opinion and the media

19. 1. Which of the following conclusions can be made about voting behavior?
Young people vote more than any other age group
Minorities general support Republican candidates
Southerners vote more than Northerners
Voting is a class-based activity
Women vote more for Republican candidates than men 1

20. 2. Which of the following is a major result of media-centered politics?
A greater interest in elections
A greater loyalty to political parties
An increase in voter turnout
A decrease in voter turnout
An increase in the analysis of issues by the media 2

21. 3. Which of the following represents the most effective way for a president to manage news coverage?
Controlling the flow of information
Staying on the defensive
Having different staff members speak to the press
Explaining a policy issue multiple times
Giving reporters unlimited access to his daily routine 3

22. 4. Which of the following trends most closely reflects the last 40 years of American electoral history?
An increase in suffrage opportunities
A consistent increase in voter turnout
Third-party victories
Campaign finance reform affecting congressional races
Congressional incumbents losing elections 4

23. 5. It has been shown in recent elections that during times of severe economic troubles, the electorate
Do not vote as often as they do during good times
Tend to vote out incumbents
Tend to vote incumbents back in
Are more likely to vote in congressional races than the presidential race
Register in large numbers 5

24. 6. All of the following are criticisms aimed at the media EXCEPT
The media defines the campaign agenda rather than the candidate
The media accepts too many negative advertisements
The media relies too much on polling
The media’s investigations of politicians usually emphasize serious issues
Talk radio places an unfair emphasis on conservative issues 6

25. 7. All of the following statements best explain why people vote EXCEPT
Religious views
Political socialization
Gender politics
The economic class to which they belong
Political surveys 7