AP US GOVERNMENT AND
POLITICS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS
democracy - ✔✔gov by the people, either directly or indirectly, with free and frequent
elections
direct democracy - ✔✔gov in which citizens vote on laws and select officials more
directly
representative democracy - ✔✔gov that derives its powers indirectly from the people,
who elect those who will govern; also called a republic
constitutional democracy - ✔✔gov that enforces recognized limits on those who govern
and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent
elections
constitutionalism - ✔✔set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism,
separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights, that requires leaders
to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act or make laws. We then hold them
politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,statism - ✔✔the idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the
individuals residing in that nation
popular consent - ✔✔the idea that a just gov must derive its powers from the consent of
the people it governs
majority rule - ✔✔governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority
majority - ✔✔the candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an
election
plurality - ✔✔candidate or party with the most votes case in an election, not necessarily
more than half
ideology - ✔✔a consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of gov
theocracy - ✔✔gov by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔the first governing document of the confederated states,
drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789
Annapolis Convention - ✔✔A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems
of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call
to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention - ✔✔The convention in Philadelphia, May 25-September 17,
1787, that framed the Constitution of the United States
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
, Shays' Rebellion - ✔✔Rebellion by farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787,
protesting mortgage foreclosures; led by Daniel Shays and important because it
highlighted the need for a strong national gov just as the call for the Constitutional
Convention went out
bicameralism - ✔✔the principle of a two house legislature
Virginia Plan - ✔✔initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the
Virginia delegation for a strong central gov with a bicamerl legislature, the lower house
to be elected by the voters and the upper chosen by the lower, representation based on
wealth or population
New Jersey Plan - ✔✔proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William
Paterson of New Jersey for a central gov with a single-house legislature in which each
state would be represented equally
Connecticut Compromise - ✔✔compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional
Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation
would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two
senators
Three-Fifths Compromise - ✔✔compromise agreement between northern and southern
states at the Constitutional Convention that the three fifths of the slave population
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
POLITICS EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS
democracy - ✔✔gov by the people, either directly or indirectly, with free and frequent
elections
direct democracy - ✔✔gov in which citizens vote on laws and select officials more
directly
representative democracy - ✔✔gov that derives its powers indirectly from the people,
who elect those who will govern; also called a republic
constitutional democracy - ✔✔gov that enforces recognized limits on those who govern
and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free, fair, and relatively frequent
elections
constitutionalism - ✔✔set of arrangements, including checks and balances, federalism,
separation of powers, rule of law, due process, and a bill of rights, that requires leaders
to listen, think, bargain, and explain before they act or make laws. We then hold them
politically and legally accountable for how they exercise their powers.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,statism - ✔✔the idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the
individuals residing in that nation
popular consent - ✔✔the idea that a just gov must derive its powers from the consent of
the people it governs
majority rule - ✔✔governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority
majority - ✔✔the candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an
election
plurality - ✔✔candidate or party with the most votes case in an election, not necessarily
more than half
ideology - ✔✔a consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of gov
theocracy - ✔✔gov by religious leaders, who claim divine guidance
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔the first governing document of the confederated states,
drafted in 1777, ratified in 1781, and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789
Annapolis Convention - ✔✔A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems
of trade and navigation, attended by five states and important because it issued the call
to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention - ✔✔The convention in Philadelphia, May 25-September 17,
1787, that framed the Constitution of the United States
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
, Shays' Rebellion - ✔✔Rebellion by farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787,
protesting mortgage foreclosures; led by Daniel Shays and important because it
highlighted the need for a strong national gov just as the call for the Constitutional
Convention went out
bicameralism - ✔✔the principle of a two house legislature
Virginia Plan - ✔✔initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the
Virginia delegation for a strong central gov with a bicamerl legislature, the lower house
to be elected by the voters and the upper chosen by the lower, representation based on
wealth or population
New Jersey Plan - ✔✔proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William
Paterson of New Jersey for a central gov with a single-house legislature in which each
state would be represented equally
Connecticut Compromise - ✔✔compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional
Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation
would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two
senators
Three-Fifths Compromise - ✔✔compromise agreement between northern and southern
states at the Constitutional Convention that the three fifths of the slave population
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
