AP US Government Exam Questions
and Answers 100% Pass
activation - ✔✔One of three key consequences of electoral campaigns for voters, in
which the voter is activated to contribute money or ring doorbells instead of just voting.
Adarand Constructors v. Peña - ✔✔1995 SuCo decision: Federal programs that classify
based on race should be assumed unconstitutional and put up to strict scrutiny. They're
only okay if they are "narrowly tailored" for a "compelling governmental interest."
Affirmative Action - ✔✔A policy designed to give special compensation to a previously
disadvantaged group.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - ✔✔Requires employers to make reasonable
accommodations for the disabled, and not to discriminate against them in hiring.
amicus curiae briefs - ✔✔Briefs submitted to the court by outside parties to influence
the decision.
Anti-Federalists - ✔✔At the time of the Con, they argued that the Con was a class based
document, would erode fundamental liberties and weaken the states.
antitrust policy - ✔✔Policy that ensures competition and prevents monopoly.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,appropriations bill - ✔✔Act of Cong that funds programs within authorized limits.
Usually these bills are annual.
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔First Con, adopted in 1777, enacted in 1781. They
established a national legislature (Continental Congress), but left most authority with
the states.
authorization bill - ✔✔Act of Cong (type of bill) that makes or continues a government
or entitlement program, also defines budget limits for said program.
Barron v. Baltimore - ✔✔1833 SuCo: The Bill of Rights only applies to the National Gvt.
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A legislature divided into 2 houses, such as the US Congress
and most state legislatures.
bill - ✔✔A proposed law written in legal language. Only o member of Congress can
submit one, although anyone can write one.
Bill of Rights - ✔✔First 10 Amendments written to satiate Anti-Federalists. They define
basic liberties and rights.
blanket primaries - ✔✔Primaries in which voters can be from and vote for any party.
block grants - ✔✔Federal grants automatically given to states to support broad
programs. (Compared to categorical grants)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Brown v. Board of Education - ✔✔1954 SuCo: School segregation is unconstitutional
because it violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection. Overturned
Plessy v. Ferguson.
budget - ✔✔A policy document allocating taxes and expenditures,
budget resolution - ✔✔The bottom line for all federal spending.
bureaucracy - ✔✔A system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the work
of government.
cabinet - ✔✔A group of presidential advisers. Consists of 14 secretaries and the attorney
general.
campaign strategy - ✔✔Master game plan of a political campaign.
capitalism - ✔✔An economic system in which individuals and corporations, not the
government, own the principle means of production and seek profit.
casework - ✔✔Pork barreling, basically. Activities of Congressmen that help individual
constituents.
categorical grants - ✔✔Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes. These
grants have strings attached. (Compare to block grants)
congressional caucus - ✔✔A group of Congressmen sharing an interest or characteristic.
(Not the party version)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, state party caucus - ✔✔A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the
national party convention. Usuall organized as a pyramid (Not the congressional
version)
censorship - ✔✔Government regulation of media content.
census - ✔✔Demographics report required by the Constitution to be redone every 10
years.
checks and balances - ✔✔An important part of the Madisonian model designed to limit
government's power by requiring power to be balanced among different institutions
that check each other's activities.
civic duty - ✔✔The belief that it is a citizen's duty to vote in order to support
democracy.
civil disobedience - ✔✔A form of political participation where people consciously break
a law and suffer the consequences to make a point.
civil law - ✔✔Judicial law not involving criminal charges. Cases are between 2 parties
and involve common law.
civil liberties - ✔✔Legal constitutional protections against government. (compare to
civil rights)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
and Answers 100% Pass
activation - ✔✔One of three key consequences of electoral campaigns for voters, in
which the voter is activated to contribute money or ring doorbells instead of just voting.
Adarand Constructors v. Peña - ✔✔1995 SuCo decision: Federal programs that classify
based on race should be assumed unconstitutional and put up to strict scrutiny. They're
only okay if they are "narrowly tailored" for a "compelling governmental interest."
Affirmative Action - ✔✔A policy designed to give special compensation to a previously
disadvantaged group.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 - ✔✔Requires employers to make reasonable
accommodations for the disabled, and not to discriminate against them in hiring.
amicus curiae briefs - ✔✔Briefs submitted to the court by outside parties to influence
the decision.
Anti-Federalists - ✔✔At the time of the Con, they argued that the Con was a class based
document, would erode fundamental liberties and weaken the states.
antitrust policy - ✔✔Policy that ensures competition and prevents monopoly.
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,appropriations bill - ✔✔Act of Cong that funds programs within authorized limits.
Usually these bills are annual.
Articles of Confederation - ✔✔First Con, adopted in 1777, enacted in 1781. They
established a national legislature (Continental Congress), but left most authority with
the states.
authorization bill - ✔✔Act of Cong (type of bill) that makes or continues a government
or entitlement program, also defines budget limits for said program.
Barron v. Baltimore - ✔✔1833 SuCo: The Bill of Rights only applies to the National Gvt.
bicameral legislature - ✔✔A legislature divided into 2 houses, such as the US Congress
and most state legislatures.
bill - ✔✔A proposed law written in legal language. Only o member of Congress can
submit one, although anyone can write one.
Bill of Rights - ✔✔First 10 Amendments written to satiate Anti-Federalists. They define
basic liberties and rights.
blanket primaries - ✔✔Primaries in which voters can be from and vote for any party.
block grants - ✔✔Federal grants automatically given to states to support broad
programs. (Compared to categorical grants)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,Brown v. Board of Education - ✔✔1954 SuCo: School segregation is unconstitutional
because it violates the 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection. Overturned
Plessy v. Ferguson.
budget - ✔✔A policy document allocating taxes and expenditures,
budget resolution - ✔✔The bottom line for all federal spending.
bureaucracy - ✔✔A system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the work
of government.
cabinet - ✔✔A group of presidential advisers. Consists of 14 secretaries and the attorney
general.
campaign strategy - ✔✔Master game plan of a political campaign.
capitalism - ✔✔An economic system in which individuals and corporations, not the
government, own the principle means of production and seek profit.
casework - ✔✔Pork barreling, basically. Activities of Congressmen that help individual
constituents.
categorical grants - ✔✔Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes. These
grants have strings attached. (Compare to block grants)
congressional caucus - ✔✔A group of Congressmen sharing an interest or characteristic.
(Not the party version)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, state party caucus - ✔✔A meeting of all state party leaders for selecting delegates to the
national party convention. Usuall organized as a pyramid (Not the congressional
version)
censorship - ✔✔Government regulation of media content.
census - ✔✔Demographics report required by the Constitution to be redone every 10
years.
checks and balances - ✔✔An important part of the Madisonian model designed to limit
government's power by requiring power to be balanced among different institutions
that check each other's activities.
civic duty - ✔✔The belief that it is a citizen's duty to vote in order to support
democracy.
civil disobedience - ✔✔A form of political participation where people consciously break
a law and suffer the consequences to make a point.
civil law - ✔✔Judicial law not involving criminal charges. Cases are between 2 parties
and involve common law.
civil liberties - ✔✔Legal constitutional protections against government. (compare to
civil rights)
Katelyn Whitman, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
