AP US GOVERNMENT UNIT 1 EXAM 2026
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
How is power distributed in unitary, federal, and confederate governments?
Unitary = Sovereignty and all major powers lie with the central government
Federal = Powers are split between a central government and a local governments,
but sovereignty lies with the central government
Confederacy = Sovereignty and all major powers lie with the local governments
rather than the central government
Which type of government structure would be threatened by debate over public
policy?
Dictatorships/Autocracies
What are the five basic American concepts of democracy?
1.) Belief in the fundamental worth of the individual
2.) Equality under the law
3.) Majority Rule while protecting minority rights
4.) Maximize individual freedoms
5.) Recognize that compromise is a necessity
,How has the Supreme Court's traditional interpretation of the commerce clause
impacted federal power?
The SCOTUS has generally ruled in favor of the federal government when the feds
claim powers from the commerce clause. This frequent use of the commerce clause
to justify implied powers has greatly expanded federal power.
What are the basic principles of the social contract theory?
The state was created voluntarily by free people, Governmental power is granted
by the people, The people may limit the government's power, The contract is null
and void if the government violates the rights of the people
What four characteristics must a unit of government have to be considered a state?
A population
Living in a defined territory
Organized politically (a government)
With sovereignty
Who is known as the "father of the constitution"?
James Madison
What were the anti-federalist's main arguments against the Constitution?
The constitution unfairly benefited the wealthy; there was no Bill of Rights; The
convention was organized illegally - therefor the Constitution and its ratification
, process was illegal; the states would lose their sovereignty; the powers given to the
national government were so strong that they would lead to despotism.
What were the main flaws within the Articles of Confederation? What powers did
the national congress have under the Articles of Confederation?
The Congress could not tax, regulate trade, there was no executive branch to
enforce the law, and an amendment required all 13 states to approve. The Articles
Congress could: conduct foreign policy, borrow money, coin money, set weights
and measures, and raise an army of volunteers from state militias.
What constitutional crisis was revealed as a result of Shay's Rebellion?
The crisis revealed the need for a national executive to enforce law in times when
the states (in the case Massachusetts) could not
What is the difference between expressed, implied, delegated, and reserved
powers? What are some examples of each?
Expressed powers are clearly enumerated in the constitution (power to tax, regulate
trade, declare war, coin money).
Implied powers are not clearly written, but are derived from expressed powers and
the necessary and proper clause (establish a national bank).
Reserved powers are powers not given to the national government which are
thereby reserved to the states via the 10th Amendment (Education, Marriage and
Drivers license)
Why were the federalist papers originally written?
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+
How is power distributed in unitary, federal, and confederate governments?
Unitary = Sovereignty and all major powers lie with the central government
Federal = Powers are split between a central government and a local governments,
but sovereignty lies with the central government
Confederacy = Sovereignty and all major powers lie with the local governments
rather than the central government
Which type of government structure would be threatened by debate over public
policy?
Dictatorships/Autocracies
What are the five basic American concepts of democracy?
1.) Belief in the fundamental worth of the individual
2.) Equality under the law
3.) Majority Rule while protecting minority rights
4.) Maximize individual freedoms
5.) Recognize that compromise is a necessity
,How has the Supreme Court's traditional interpretation of the commerce clause
impacted federal power?
The SCOTUS has generally ruled in favor of the federal government when the feds
claim powers from the commerce clause. This frequent use of the commerce clause
to justify implied powers has greatly expanded federal power.
What are the basic principles of the social contract theory?
The state was created voluntarily by free people, Governmental power is granted
by the people, The people may limit the government's power, The contract is null
and void if the government violates the rights of the people
What four characteristics must a unit of government have to be considered a state?
A population
Living in a defined territory
Organized politically (a government)
With sovereignty
Who is known as the "father of the constitution"?
James Madison
What were the anti-federalist's main arguments against the Constitution?
The constitution unfairly benefited the wealthy; there was no Bill of Rights; The
convention was organized illegally - therefor the Constitution and its ratification
, process was illegal; the states would lose their sovereignty; the powers given to the
national government were so strong that they would lead to despotism.
What were the main flaws within the Articles of Confederation? What powers did
the national congress have under the Articles of Confederation?
The Congress could not tax, regulate trade, there was no executive branch to
enforce the law, and an amendment required all 13 states to approve. The Articles
Congress could: conduct foreign policy, borrow money, coin money, set weights
and measures, and raise an army of volunteers from state militias.
What constitutional crisis was revealed as a result of Shay's Rebellion?
The crisis revealed the need for a national executive to enforce law in times when
the states (in the case Massachusetts) could not
What is the difference between expressed, implied, delegated, and reserved
powers? What are some examples of each?
Expressed powers are clearly enumerated in the constitution (power to tax, regulate
trade, declare war, coin money).
Implied powers are not clearly written, but are derived from expressed powers and
the necessary and proper clause (establish a national bank).
Reserved powers are powers not given to the national government which are
thereby reserved to the states via the 10th Amendment (Education, Marriage and
Drivers license)
Why were the federalist papers originally written?
