AP US Government and Politics Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Describe the purposes of government? - ✔✔establish justice; insure domestic
tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare; secure the
blessings of liberty
What are the differences between a monarchy and a dictatorship? - ✔✔Monarchy=
divine right Dictatorship=ruler seizes power
compare and contrast a direct democracy vs an indirect democracy - ✔✔In a direct
democracy people make the decisions directly. In an indirect democracy people elect
officials to represent them and cast votes for them.
Define and provide examples for each of the following theories of democracies - ✔✔-
traditional theory of democracy: government depends on the consent of the governed
-pluralist theory: Interest groups compete in the political arena, with each other
promoting it policy preferences through organized efforts
-elite theory: a small number of powerful elite form an upper class, which rules on its
own self interest
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,-hyper pluralism: democracy is a system of many groups having so much strength that
government is often pulled in many directions
From what sources do Americans become politically socialized? - ✔✔The main source is
family as well as level of education, race, gender and socio-economic status
Summarize the steps of the policy-making cycle: - ✔✔1. Define the role of government
2. Agenda setting
3. Policy formation and adoption
4. Policy implementation
5. Policy evaluation
Compare the political theories of Thomas Hobbes & John Locke - ✔✔John Locke=
People are naturally good. Social contract theory, voluntary agreement between the
government and the governed. People born with natural rights.
Thomas Hobbes= People are naturally selfish and need laws and a monarch to keep
them in line. You conceded your rights to the government, in return for your life. No
right to rebel.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Explain how the Declaration of Independence incorporated some of the ideas of John
Locke. - ✔✔Life liberty and property; believed that governments are created to support
these rights
List some of the powers held by the central government in the Articles of
Confederation. - ✔✔1 To declare war and make peace.
2 To coin and borrow money
3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties
4 To operate post offices
Describe some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. - ✔✔2 It did not have
the power to tax
3 It did not have the power to enforce laws
4 Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, 5 There was no national army or navy
6 There was no system of national courts
7 Each state could issue its own paper money
8 Each state could put tariffs on trade between states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming
in from another state or country.)
How did Shays' Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation? - ✔✔The state could not hold down a rebellion and the federal
government did not have the means or ability to help.
Describe the concept of factions. - ✔✔a group or clique within a larger group, party,
government, organization,
List the features of the Connecticut (Great) Compromise - ✔✔Congress bi-cameral with
representation in the lower house based on population of the state. Equal representation
of the states in the upper house.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
Describe the purposes of government? - ✔✔establish justice; insure domestic
tranquility; provide for the common defense; promote the general welfare; secure the
blessings of liberty
What are the differences between a monarchy and a dictatorship? - ✔✔Monarchy=
divine right Dictatorship=ruler seizes power
compare and contrast a direct democracy vs an indirect democracy - ✔✔In a direct
democracy people make the decisions directly. In an indirect democracy people elect
officials to represent them and cast votes for them.
Define and provide examples for each of the following theories of democracies - ✔✔-
traditional theory of democracy: government depends on the consent of the governed
-pluralist theory: Interest groups compete in the political arena, with each other
promoting it policy preferences through organized efforts
-elite theory: a small number of powerful elite form an upper class, which rules on its
own self interest
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,-hyper pluralism: democracy is a system of many groups having so much strength that
government is often pulled in many directions
From what sources do Americans become politically socialized? - ✔✔The main source is
family as well as level of education, race, gender and socio-economic status
Summarize the steps of the policy-making cycle: - ✔✔1. Define the role of government
2. Agenda setting
3. Policy formation and adoption
4. Policy implementation
5. Policy evaluation
Compare the political theories of Thomas Hobbes & John Locke - ✔✔John Locke=
People are naturally good. Social contract theory, voluntary agreement between the
government and the governed. People born with natural rights.
Thomas Hobbes= People are naturally selfish and need laws and a monarch to keep
them in line. You conceded your rights to the government, in return for your life. No
right to rebel.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Explain how the Declaration of Independence incorporated some of the ideas of John
Locke. - ✔✔Life liberty and property; believed that governments are created to support
these rights
List some of the powers held by the central government in the Articles of
Confederation. - ✔✔1 To declare war and make peace.
2 To coin and borrow money
3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties
4 To operate post offices
Describe some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. - ✔✔2 It did not have
the power to tax
3 It did not have the power to enforce laws
4 Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, 5 There was no national army or navy
6 There was no system of national courts
7 Each state could issue its own paper money
8 Each state could put tariffs on trade between states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming
in from another state or country.)
How did Shays' Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation? - ✔✔The state could not hold down a rebellion and the federal
government did not have the means or ability to help.
Describe the concept of factions. - ✔✔a group or clique within a larger group, party,
government, organization,
List the features of the Connecticut (Great) Compromise - ✔✔Congress bi-cameral with
representation in the lower house based on population of the state. Equal representation
of the states in the upper house.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
