AP Gov Exam Practice Test #1 2023

AP Gov Exam Practice Test #1 2023: Boost your AP Government and Politics Exam preparation with our sample practice test, featuring 55 multiple-choice questions and a 1 hour 20-minute time limit. Enhance your knowledge, hone your time management skills, and gain confidence for the official exam.

AP Gov Exam Practice Test #1 2023

Get a taste of the AP Government and Politics Exam with this sample practice test, designed to provide a realistic testing experience. Featuring 55 carefully selected multiple-choice questions covering essential topics in U.S. government and political systems, this practice test comes with a time limit of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

This sample test will help students sharpen their time management skills, pinpoint knowledge gaps, and build confidence before tackling the official AP exam.

Practice Tests
3

AP Government and Politics Practice Test

AP Government and Politics Practice Test 1
Total Items: 55
Section: 1 - Multiple Choice
Time Limit: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

1 / 55

Which of the following choices represent the information provided in the chart?

2 / 55

Which of the following best explains the movement found in the results of the graph?

3 / 55

Which of the following occurred as a result of the data presented in the graph?

4 / 55

Which of the following is an accurate statement about presidential elections in New Hampshire and South Carolina?

5 / 55

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the pie chart?

6 / 55

Which of the following best describes who has the power to create the amount of federal spending found in the chart?

7 / 55

Which of the following statements is accurate based on the information presented in the graph?

8 / 55

Which of the following reflects what a supporter of Keynesian economics would advocate as a response to high inflation in the United States?

9 / 55

Based on the information in the table, which geographic area was most closely aligned with the Republican candidates for president in 2000– 2008?

10 / 55

Based on the information in the table, which of the following is an accurate statement about demographic trends from 2000 to 2008?

11 / 55

“It is equally evident, that the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others, for the emoluments annexed to their offices. Were the executive magistrate, or the judges, not independent of the legislature in this particular, their independence in every other would be merely nominal. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 51

Which of the following best represents the point of view in Federalist No. 51?

12 / 55

“It is equally evident, that the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others, for the emoluments annexed to their offices. Were the executive magistrate, or the judges, not independent of the legislature in this particular, their independence in every other would be merely nominal. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 51

Which of the following constitutional provisions is reflected in Federalist No. 51?

13 / 55

“It is equally evident, that the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others, for the emoluments annexed to their offices. Were the executive magistrate, or the judges, not independent of the legislature in this particular, their independence in every other would be merely nominal. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 51

Why did Madison claim that “if men were angels, no government would be necessary”?

14 / 55

“It is equally evident, that the members of each department should be as little dependent as possible on those of the others, for the emoluments annexed to their offices. Were the executive magistrate, or the judges, not independent of the legislature in this particular, their independence in every other would be merely nominal. But the great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department the necessary constitutional means and personal motives to resist encroachments of the others. The provision for defense must in this, as in all other cases, be made commensurate to the danger of attack. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

—James Madison, Federalist No. 51

What could have happened if the ideas expressed in Federalist No. 51 were ignored?

15 / 55

Defense of Marriage Act (1996) An Act to define and protect the institution of marriage. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Defense of Marriage Act.”

“No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.”

Definition of “marriage” and “spouse” “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

Which of the following explains the purpose of this law?

16 / 55

Defense of Marriage Act (1996) An Act to define and protect the institution of marriage. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Defense of Marriage Act.”

“No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.”

Definition of “marriage” and “spouse” “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

Opponents of this law would make which of the following arguments?

17 / 55

Defense of Marriage Act (1996) An Act to define and protect the institution of marriage. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Defense of Marriage Act.”

“No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.”

Definition of “marriage” and “spouse” “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word ‘marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

Which constitutional provision is the basis for the Supreme Court ruling this law unconstitutional?

18 / 55

The map shows the percent change in resident population for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico 2000–2010. Which of the following explains why these changes are reported every ten years?

19 / 55

Which of the following happens after this map is released?

20 / 55

Which of the following illustrates the main idea of the cartoon?

21 / 55

When President Obama issued an executive order, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), exempting children of undocumented immigrants from being deported under specific conditions, which of the following statements explains why he issued the order?

22 / 55

Based on the information in this graphic, what would be the impact on the 2016 presidential election?

23 / 55

Based on the information in this graphic, which of the following describes the campaign plan a presidential candidate would adopt?

24 / 55

Which of the following describes a consequence of the 2010 Citizens United v FEC ruling that dealt with campaign-finance laws?

25 / 55

No Labels is an organization that supports “a bloc of elected officials who combine ideological independence and common sense with a willingness to reach across the aisle to get things done.” Which of the following models of democracy does this philosophy represent?

26 / 55

Standing House committees such as the Ways and Means are important because they

27 / 55

One way Congress can respond to a Supreme Court ruling that declares a law unconstitutional is to

28 / 55

The principle of presidential executive privilege was limited by the Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v Nixon (1974) and resulted in the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon. Which of the following is an accurate statement that explains the ruling?

29 / 55

A major difference between a freshman member and a five-term member of the House of Representatives is that the

30 / 55

Based on precedents regarding affirmative action, in which of the following situations would the Supreme Court agree to hear oral arguments?

31 / 55

Which interrelationship best illustrates the concept of the “iron triangle”?

32 / 55

Which of the following situations would rely on the principle of selective incorporation?

33 / 55

In attempting to gain public support for his policy agenda, which of the following methods does the president use?

34 / 55

Which of the following actions taken by an individual or group would violate the Supreme Court ruling Schenk v United States (1919)?

35 / 55

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 was passed to streamline the budget process. A secondary objective of the measure was to place controls on the president’s ability to determine allocations without appropriate congressional checks. What is the constitutional basis of this law?

36 / 55

Which of the following situations would be a violation of the due process section of the Sixth Amendment?

37 / 55

The president gets a budget passed by Congress. He decides to sign it even though he disagrees with parts of the proposed law. What action can the president take without a formal veto of the bill?

38 / 55

Which of the following is an example of political socialization?

39 / 55

A special-interest group favoring equal pay for women would probably have the greatest success lobbying Congress for that law if

40 / 55

John Jones wants to get an appointment to West Point. His representative reviews the application and recommends John. Which of the following models of congressional behavior does this represent?

41 / 55

Two polls were taken asking the respondents whether they approved of the job President Trump was doing. Both polls used a random sample of 1,200 individuals.

Poll 1: Do you approve of the job President Trump is doing as President:
35 percent approval
Margin of error: 3.5 percent.

Poll 2. Do you approve of the job President Trump is doing as President:
42 percent approval
Margin of error 5.5 percent.

Which conclusion can you reach about the polls?

42 / 55

Southern states that created majority-minority districts did so because

43 / 55

What is an accurate comparison between the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution?

44 / 55

What is an accurate comparison between Schenck v United States (1919) and Tinker v Des Moines (1969)?

45 / 55

What is an accurate comparison between the formal and informal powers of the president?

46 / 55

What is an accurate comparison between characteristics of special- interest groups and political parties?

47 / 55

What is an accurate comparison of the constitutional powers of the president and the constitutional powers of the Senate?

48 / 55

When Green Party candidate Ralph Nader ran for president in 2000, some said we should have a third major political party in the country in addition to the Democrats and Republicans.
Which of the following most accurately describes why someone would support a third political party over the two major parties?

49 / 55

Which of the following actions would the Federal Reserve take if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was negative for two consecutive quarters?

50 / 55

Which of the following would a person who believes in free enterprise believe in compared to a person who believes in equality of opportunity? A person believing in free enterprise favors

51 / 55

Which of the following principles in the First Amendment was found in the New York Times Company v United States (1971)?

52 / 55

The president is most likely to use executive privilege to

53 / 55

An advantage bureaucrats in the federal government have over the president in the policy-making process is that bureaucrats

54 / 55

Which of the following best explains why presidential appointments can be held up?

55 / 55

Liberal activists would probably support which of the following cases heard by the Supreme Court?

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