AP US Government Unit 2 Practice Test: Branches of Government

Our free AP US Government unit 2 test covers the branches of government. Topics include the structures, power, and functions of congress, the federal judiciary, the presidency, and the bureaucracy. Also addressed is the role of each branch in policy making.

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Question 1

Under the Hatch Act, federal employees are prohibited from

A	Engaging in certain kinds of political activity
B	Voting in presidential elections
C	Working for the executive branch
D	Taking on an additional job

Question 1 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). The Hatch Act is a federal law that prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities, including campaigning for or against candidates, while on duty or in their official capacity, to ensure impartiality and nonpartisanship in government operations.

Question 2

Bureaucratic capture is

A	The condition under which an agency primarily serves the interests of a nongovernmental group rather than those of elected officials or the public at large
B	Congress regulating what the bureaucracy is legally required to regulate
C	The president reassigning regulatory responsibility to an agency
D	The agencies have no discretion in implementing laws passed by Congress

Question 2 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). Bureaucratic capture is when an organization of the federal bureaucracy serves the interests of an interest group that has "captured" the agency more than the citizens the agency is serving. It is a relationship between the agency and interest group.

Question 3

Which of the following is a limit on a president’s ability to issue executive orders?

A	Congress can pass a law nullifying the president’s order
B	Executive orders expire at the end of the calendar year and must be reissued continuously to remain in effect
C	Executive orders are always subject to review by the Supreme Court before taking effect
D	A governor can issue a contradictory executive order that negates the president’s executive order within a state

Question 3 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). Congress can limit executive orders through several means, including passing legislation to override or modify specific executive orders, withholding funding for implementing certain orders, conducting oversight hearings to scrutinize executive actions, and potentially impeaching the president for abuse of power or violation of the Constitution.

Question 4

Which of the following is part of the president’s job as head of the executive branch?

A	Deciding when to declare war
B	Implementing the law
C	Using the power to lay and collect taxes
D	Using legislative powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States

Question 4 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). Article Two of the Constitution requires the executive branch to implement the law. (A) is the responsibility of Congress while (C) and (D) rest primarily within the legislative branch.

Question 5

Questions 5–6 refer to the chart below:

Which of the following is the correct next step after a bill is reported out of committee?

A	Voted on and approved
B	Refereed to committee
C	Debated by full House
D	Scheduled for consideration

Question 5 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). After a bill is reported out of committee, the next step in the legislative process is typically for it to be scheduled for consideration by the full House or Senate. This involves setting a date and time for debate and voting. Only after it is scheduled can it be debated by all members.

Question 6

Which of the following steps is where most bills die in the process of a bill becoming law?

A	Referred to committee
B	Reported out of committee
C	Scheduled for consideration
D	Debated by full House

Question 6 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). More than 90 percent of all bills are referred to committee but are never voted on. They “die” in committee.

Question 7

If the president cannot get an agenda adopted by Congress, then the president may use which of the following techniques to appeal directly to the people of the United States?

A	A bully pulpit
B	An executive order
C	A signing statement
D	A veto threat

Question 7 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). The president is the only elected official (except for the vice president) who is elected by all the American voters. Presidents will often try to influence the people by speaking directly to them from their “bully pulpit.”

Question 8

Which of the following is a reason for the expansion power of the executive branch over time?

A	The United States Constitution
B	Foreign crises
C	States challenging federal power
D	The filibuster rule

Question 8 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). The power of the executive branch has expanded over time, in part due to foreign crises. In situations involving international conflict or emergency, the President often acts quickly and decisively, which has led to an expansion of executive power. Historical examples include wartime actions and responses to international threats, which have bolstered the role and authority of the presidency in foreign affairs.

Question 9

Questions 9–10 refer to the graph below:

The judicial vacancies shown above must be filled by the president and confirmed by

A	A simple majority of the Senate
B	A 60% majority of the Senate
C	A two-thirds majority of the Senate
D	A simple majority of each house of Congress

Question 9 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). Judicial vacancies must be filled by the president and confirmed by a simple majority of the Senate.

A 60% majority (B) is required for a vote of cloture. A two-thirds majority (C) is required for treaty ratification. A simple majority of each house of Congress (D) is required to confirm a vice-presidential nominee should the office of vice president become open.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true based on the data in the graph?

A	Party polarization has decreased over time
B	1977 to 1994 was a period of unified government
C	Appelate judges are retiring at a faster rate than district judges
D	Both Democrats and Republicans have engaged in obstructionist tactics

Question 10 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). Party polarization causes obstructionism, so answer (A) can be eliminated. One might think that the low amount of obstructionism before 1994 might have been a period of unified government, but in reality, there were several years of divided government in that period. Therefore, answer (B) can be eliminated. There is no way of knowing if answer (C) is true. Answer (D) must be correct because the Senate engaged in obstructionist tactics under presidents from both major parties.

Question 11

Comparing the three constitutionally defined branches of government, Congress is most powerful compared to the other branches in

A	Military affairs
B	Foreign affairs
C	Domestic affairs
D	Judicial proceedings

Question 11 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Congress initiates all laws, taxes, and spending measures. The president is more influential in foreign (B) and military (A) affairs due to their role as Commander in Chief. Judicial proceedings (D) are within the judicial branch of government.

Question 12

Which of the following models of representation is a member of Congress most likely to follow when voting on a domestic issue that affects their district or state?

A	The delegate model
B	The partisan model
C	The politico model
D	The trustee model

Question 12 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). Members of Congress who view themselves as delegates follow the will of their constituents. Partisans (B) follow the will of their party. Trustees (D) follow their own instincts, especially in fields in which they are experts. Politicos (C) balance all three interests based on whatever policy areas they confront.

Question 13

Questions 13–14 refer to the map below:

Which of the following concepts is represented in the map above?

A	Electoral College
B	Logrolling
C	Gerrymandering
D	Divided government

Question 13 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular political party or group, often resulting in districts with unusual, non-compact shapes. This manipulation can affect electoral outcomes by grouping or dividing certain populations strategically.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of gerrymandering?

A	It usually leads to more competitive elections
B	It reduces the importance of primaries
C	It tends to increase partisanship in Congress
D	It is generally favored by Republicans and opposed by Democrats

Question 14 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Gerrymandering often leads to less competitive elections (A) since districts are drawn in a such a way to group voters who are in the same party. The primary may end up being more competitive than the election, which increases the importance of the primary (B). Gerrymandering is widely used and supported by both Republicans and Democrats (D). With less competitive elections there is a greater chance for more extreme candidates to win, leading to greater partisanship.

Question 15

The president is most likely to assert his authority over Congress in

A	Educational policy
B	Environmental policy
C	Foreign policy
D	Healthcare policy

Question 15 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). The president is Commander in Chief of the armed forces and is the United States’ chief diplomat. Therefore, he has broad discretion over foreign policy. All three other policies are domestic policy. Domestic policy-making is shared with Congress.

Question 16

Bureaucrats who see themselves as career government officials are likely to be

A	Appointed to office
B	Elected to office
C	Hired through the civil service system
D	Hired through the patronage system

Question 16 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Bureaucrats are not elected to office, so answer (B) may be eliminated. Political appointees (A) can be career-government officials but are more likely to come from outside government. Bureaucrats who get their jobs through the patronage system get their jobs as rewards for political favors. Patronage is usually illegal and was largely replaced by the civil service system in 1883, which requires job candidates to be qualified for their jobs (D).

Question 17

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House and the Senate?

	House of Representatives	Senate
(A)	Led by Majority Leader	Led by Speaker
(B)	Initiates of revenue bills	Gives advice and consent to treaties
(C)	Tries impeached officials	Initiates articles of impeachment
(D)	Flexible floor debate rules protect minority	Rigid floor debate rules favor majority

A	A
B	B
C	C
D	D

Question 17 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution states that revenue bills are initiated in the House. Article II, Section 2 states that the Senate gives advice and consent on treaties. All of the other descriptions are reversed.

Question 18

If Congress disagrees with a federal court’s decision, it has the power to

A	Refuse to implement the ruling
B	Inform the bureaucracy what it thinks about the ruling
C	Propose a constitutional amendment
D	Require the court to hear the case again

Question 18 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). If Congress disagrees with a federal court's decision, one of the most significant powers it holds is to propose a constitutional amendment to override that decision. This process involves gaining approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. This method is a direct and formal way to change the interpretation of the Constitution as it pertains to the issue addressed by the court's decision.

Question 19

Which of the following Supreme Court cases established judicial review?

A	Baker v. Carr (1961)
B	Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
C	Marbury v. Madison (1803)
D	Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Question 19 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, providing courts the power to strike down laws, statutes, and government actions that contravene the U.S. Constitution. This helped to define the boundary between the constitutionally separate executive and judicial branches.

Question 20

Which of the following positions require Senate confirmation?

A	Members of the White House Staff
B	Supreme Court law clerks
C	Federal judges
D	Governors

Question 20 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). As head of the White House Office and one of the president’s closest advisers, the president may choose whomever he or she wants to be Chief of Staff.

Ambassadors (A) and federal judges (C) are explicitly listed in the Constitution as requiring Senate confirmation. The Cabinet (B) is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution; however, public ministers, consuls, and Officers of the United States require Senate confirmation, and it was understood at the time the Constitution was written that the Cabinet fell into these categories.

Question 21

Question 21 refers to the passage below:

Military leaders believe that heavy-duty tanks are less useful due to the changing nature of warfare. The army has placed almost half of them in storage facilities. However, the plant that produces these tanks employs thousands of Americans.

Union leaders from the plant lobby the members of Congress who represent this district. Several other interest groups and PACs also lobby to keep the plant open. These include groups that want to increase US defense spending and those that support more aggressive actions against foreign dictatorships. These groups also lobby the bureaucrats in the Department of Defense in order to increase support for this tank. Several of their lobbyists recently worked for the Department and they often socialize with the current leaders.

The members of Congress fight to keep the plant open so that it can continue producing the tanks. They receive large election donations from the interest groups. They also work to build support for the tank within the Defense bureaucracy while supporting higher government salaries and additional defense spending.

The scenario above illustrates

A	Bureaucratic non-compliance
B	An iron triangle
C	An issue network
D	A political action committee at work

Question 21 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). An iron triangle is a mutually beneficial, three-way relationship between Congress, government bureaucrats, and special interest lobby groups. Each group takes actions that will help the other group, creating a lasting and unbreakable bond between the three.

The problem with this is that all three of these groups benefit but the interests of the average American are disregarded. These groups simply attempt to benefit themselves.

Question 22

A concurring opinion is

A	A written document that reflects the collective judgment of the justices who are on the majority side of a ruling
B	A document written by a justice on the minority side of a ruling which outlines additional considerations he or she thinks are important
C	A document written by a justice on the majority side of a ruling which outlines a separate reasoning on the case and identifies flaws or overlooked points, as perceived by the justice, in the majority opinion
D	A written document that reflects likely concerns of the legislative branch

Question 22 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). A concurring opinion is a written statement issued by a judge or justice who agrees with the majority decision in a case but for different reasons or with additional reasoning, offering a separate perspective on the legal issues involved.

Question 23

A typical challenge in managing "street level" bureaucrats in the federal government is

A	Controlling interest group donations to federal employees
B	Managing federal and state relations
C	The consequences of the spoils system
D	Providing autonomy and discretion versus following standardized rules and procedures

Question 23 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). While bureaucrats are provided standardized rules and procedures to execute a policy with a goal of equity, allowing for discretion to address specific problems not envisioned by lawmakers is valued within the bureaucracy.

Question 24

Questions 24–27 refer to the passage below:

Upon the principles of a free government, inconveniences from the source just mentioned must necessarily be submitted to in the formation of the legislature; but it is unnecessary, and therefore unwise, to introduce them into the constitution of the Executive. It is here too that they may be most pernicious. In the legislature, promptitude of decision is oftener an evil than a benefit. The differences of opinion, and the jarrings of parties in that department of the government, though they may sometimes obstruct salutary plans, yet often promote deliberation and circumspection, and serve to check excesses in the majority. When a resolution too is once taken, the opposition must be at an end. That resolution is a law, and resistance to it punishable. But no favorable circumstances palliate or atone for the disadvantages of dissension in the executive department. Here, they are pure and unmixed. There is no point at which they cease to operate. They serve to embarrass and weaken the execution of the plan or measure to which they relate, from the first step to the final conclusion of it. They constantly counteract those qualities in the Executive which are the most necessary ingredients in its composition, vigor and expedition, and this without any counterbalancing good. In the conduct of war, in which the energy of the Executive is the bulwark of the national security, every thing would be to be apprehended from its plurality.

—Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist No. 70

Which of the following statements from the passage above would Alexander Hamilton agree with?

A	A plural executive would be too powerful
B	The jarring of political parties in the executive branch would obstruct justice
C	A plural executive would be embarrassing when compared to other countries
D	A single executive is more capable of taking decisive action than a plural executive

Question 24 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). Hamilton’s main argument is stated in the fifth sentence and then rephrased in the eighth and the final sentence. He states in several places that a plural executive would be weak, so answer (A) may be eliminated. The “jarring of parties” is in the legislative branch, so answer (B) is wrong. The word “embarrass” means “complicate” in this context, so answer (C) is incorrect.

Question 25

Based on the passage above, which of the following statements about pluralism would Alexander Hamilton agree with?

A	Pluralism encourages deliberation
B	Pluralism checks excesses of the majority
C	Pluralism encourages competition between political parties
D	All of the above

Question 25 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). In the passage from The Federalist No. 70, Alexander Hamilton discusses the disadvantages of having multiple parties or factions ("dissension") within the executive branch, while suggesting that in the legislature, such differences can be beneficial. He acknowledges that the "differences of opinion, and the jarrings of parties" can promote deliberation, circumspection, and act as a check on majority excesses.

These points relate to the broader concept of pluralism, which is about having multiple competing groups within a political system, and Hamilton seems to agree that these elements are beneficial in legislative settings. While Hamilton criticizes pluralism in the executive branch for its potential to introduce inefficiency and conflict, he acknowledges its positive aspects in the legislative domain.

Question 26

Which article of the US Constitution best fits The Federalist No. 70?

A	Article I
B	Article II
C	Article III
D	Article VI

Question 26 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). Article II of the US Constitution establishes the executive branch of the federal government, outlining the powers and responsibilities of the President, including their election, term limits, and authority as Commander in Chief.

Question 27

Which of the following developments did Hamilton not anticipate in The Federalist No. 70?

A	Legislative inaction
B	The rise of political parties
C	Growth of the federal bureaucracy
D	An increase in national security threats

Question 27 Explanation:

The correct answer is (C). Hamilton did not anticipate the growth of bureaucracy. Pluralism in the bureaucracy has made it difficult for the executive branch to take action, especially in domestic matters.

Hamilton mentions the obstructionist nature of a pluralistic legislature (A) and the “jarring of parties” (B) in the first half of the paragraph. He also makes points about security threats (D) at the end of the paragraph.

Question 28

While the spoils system , its principal drawback was that .

A	Strengthened political parties; it made government responsible to the mass public
B	Strengthened political parties; appointees often lacked necessary knowledge and expertise
C	Helped make government responsible to the public; appointees often lacked necessary knowledge and expertise
D	Helped make government responsible to the public; it strengthened political parties

Question 28 Explanation:

The correct answer is (B). The spoils system, also known as patronage, is a political practice in which elected officials or party leaders reward their supporters with government jobs and favors. It was vital in creating strong political parties by providing a mechanism to reward party loyalists. However, it often led to corruption, inefficiency, and the appointment of unqualified individuals to public office.

Question 29

A committee includes members of both the House and Senate, while a committee exists exclusively within the House or Senate and is as permanent as Congress allows.

A	Joint; standing
B	Conference; select
C	Select; conference
D	Joint; select

Question 29 Explanation:

The correct answer is (A). A joint committee is a committee of members from both chambers of Congress, formed to address specific issues or conduct specific tasks that require cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

A standing committee is a permanent committee that is responsible for considering and drafting legislation within a specific subject area, such as finance, agriculture, or foreign relations.

Question 30

The president is considered to have a “first mover” advantage when involved in international treaty-making because:

A	The United States is the most powerful nation in the world, giving the president an advantage when negotiating with foreign leaders
B	Leaders in the Senate have a more difficult time agreeing on treaties with foreign leaders than the president does
C	While congressional leaders can initiate treaties, only the president has the power to ratify treaties
D	The Senate cannot initiate international treaties and can only consider them once they have been negotiated by the president

Question 30 Explanation:

The correct answer is (D). This “first mover” advantage stems from the president's unique constitutional powers in foreign affairs, such as the authority to negotiate treaties, appoint ambassadors, and conduct diplomacy, which can give them an edge in shaping international agreements to reflect their administration's priorities and objectives.

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