AP US Government Congress Exam
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
List seven perks members of Congress receive - ✔✔There are a few perks that Congress
members receive in return for all their hard work including but not limited to a salary
of $154,700 along with kind retirement benefits. Members receive an office space not
only in Washington, but also in the state they are representing, and in order to get back
and forth from their two offices they get to travel. Not only can they travel back to their
own states some Congress men and women also get opportunities to travel to other
nations. They also receive what can be called franking privileges, like a machine that
can recreate their signatures in ink, and beside franking privileges they also receive a lot
of small privileges
Describe a "typical" member of Congress in terms of the following categories: sex, race,
age, religion, prior occupation and wealth. - ✔✔A "typical" member of Congress is a
middle-aged white male, who comes from the upper middle class and has a protestant
background. Before becoming a member of Congress their prior occupation was law
which probably helped them fund their campaign, and make the transition into
Congress.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
, What is the difference between descriptive and substantive representation? - ✔✔A
descriptive representation in Congress is when a Congress member claims to represent
their constituent's beliefs because the constituent's beliefs are the member's exact beliefs
as well. Descriptive representation is not possible so instead our Congress has
substantive representation which is where the Congress members represent the
interests of groups.
List and explain five advantages incumbents have over their opponents in
congressional elections. - ✔✔Incumbents have at least five advantages over their
opponents in congressional elections, one of these advantages is because they are well
known they are able to advertise all year long. They don't advertise the traditional way,
instead of television ads they actually talk to their constituents and attempt to stay
visible and well known. They also take credit on things they did not do, but were
involved in, this is called credit claiming. Another way of credit claiming is to help the
community through the casework and pork barrel; this is a better technique than credits
claiming the policies that member has voted on. Another advantage that incumbent's
have is that through position-taking their constituent's learn about the character of the
incumbent. Most opponents who run against an incumbent tend to be weak and aren't a
risk, plus incumbents have more money put towards their campaign thanks to PACs
than their opponents.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
List seven perks members of Congress receive - ✔✔There are a few perks that Congress
members receive in return for all their hard work including but not limited to a salary
of $154,700 along with kind retirement benefits. Members receive an office space not
only in Washington, but also in the state they are representing, and in order to get back
and forth from their two offices they get to travel. Not only can they travel back to their
own states some Congress men and women also get opportunities to travel to other
nations. They also receive what can be called franking privileges, like a machine that
can recreate their signatures in ink, and beside franking privileges they also receive a lot
of small privileges
Describe a "typical" member of Congress in terms of the following categories: sex, race,
age, religion, prior occupation and wealth. - ✔✔A "typical" member of Congress is a
middle-aged white male, who comes from the upper middle class and has a protestant
background. Before becoming a member of Congress their prior occupation was law
which probably helped them fund their campaign, and make the transition into
Congress.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
, What is the difference between descriptive and substantive representation? - ✔✔A
descriptive representation in Congress is when a Congress member claims to represent
their constituent's beliefs because the constituent's beliefs are the member's exact beliefs
as well. Descriptive representation is not possible so instead our Congress has
substantive representation which is where the Congress members represent the
interests of groups.
List and explain five advantages incumbents have over their opponents in
congressional elections. - ✔✔Incumbents have at least five advantages over their
opponents in congressional elections, one of these advantages is because they are well
known they are able to advertise all year long. They don't advertise the traditional way,
instead of television ads they actually talk to their constituents and attempt to stay
visible and well known. They also take credit on things they did not do, but were
involved in, this is called credit claiming. Another way of credit claiming is to help the
community through the casework and pork barrel; this is a better technique than credits
claiming the policies that member has voted on. Another advantage that incumbent's
have is that through position-taking their constituent's learn about the character of the
incumbent. Most opponents who run against an incumbent tend to be weak and aren't a
risk, plus incumbents have more money put towards their campaign thanks to PACs
than their opponents.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
