AP GOVERNMENT REVIEW SET
10th Amendment correct answerPowers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution
are reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights
amendment"
13th Amendment correct answerAbolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed
after Civil War (1865-70)
14th Amendment correct answer(1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be
deprived of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of
EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War.
15th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race. Third
of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. First Voting Rights Amendment (with 19,
24 & 26)
16th Amendment correct answerPower of Congress to tax income
17th Amendment correct answerEstablished the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by
state legislatures)
19th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
1st Amendment correct answerFreedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech,
press, assembly, and petition.
,22nd Amendment correct answerLimits the president to two terms.
23rd Amendment correct answerGives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC
still has no representation in Congress)
24th Amendment correct answerAbolishes poll taxes
26th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
2nd Amendment correct answerRight to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest
group & Republican Party.
4th Amendment correct answerNo "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v.
US, Mapp v. Ohio)
5th Amendment correct answer(1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda)
(2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges)
(3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment)
6th Amendment correct answerThe right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that
states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in criminal
trials.
7th Amendment correct answerRight to jury in civil trials.
8th Amendment correct answerGovernment cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of
"cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society."
Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, non-murder crimes...
,9th Amendment correct answerUnenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenumerated rights
in addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open ended)
Constitution correct answerA nation's basic law, creates political institutions, assigns or divides power in
government and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be written or unwritten.
Agents of Socialization correct answerFamily (most important); TV/media (growing in importance);
friends/peers; school (formal socialization). How we develop (absorb) opinions & beliefs.
American Political Culture correct answerA set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about
government that is shared by most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law, limited
government, capitalism & private property
Anti-Federalists correct answerA group who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. They
opposed a strong central government (tyranny) and supported states' rights. "I smell a rat!"
Articles of Confederation correct answerSet up the 1st independent American government (1783-88).
Nonbinding "league of friendship" among sovereign states with weak central government to help with
common defense & cooperation (like the European Union). Replaced by our current constitution in
1788.
Bandwagon Effect correct answer"Copy-cat" behavior. People often do things just because other people
do them. In primary elections, it is when people support the candidate everyone else seems to be
supporting (poll leaders). Leads to Primary Frontloading (states want to have the most impact in the
primary process)
Block Grants correct answerGrants ($) given to the states by the federal government for a general
purpose (like education or road-building). Unlike categorical grants, states have discretion to decide how
to spend the money. Example = Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (States develop and
implement welfare programs using federal money).
, Casework correct answerAssistance given to individual constituents by congressional members, like
helping an elderly person figure out how to get Medicare benefits. Major incumbency advantage.
Categorical Grant correct answerA grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific
purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no state
discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. Most common type of federal grant because it gives
Congress the most control over the states.
Checks and Balances correct answerA major principle of the American system of government. Helps
maintain separation of powers so that no one branch gets too powerful. Explained in Federalist 51.
Examples: President vetos laws; Senate confirms appointments & treaties; Congress impeaches
president & judges...
Chief Justice John Marshall correct answerIn office from 1801-1835 (longest serving CJ). Supported
increased power of federal government. Decided McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, and
Marbury v. Madison.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 correct answerProhibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment
or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based on Congress's
interstate commerce clause power (discrimination impacts interstate commerce). The most important
federal civil rights law.
Commerce Clause correct answerArt. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has
the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate Commerce
Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly (Gibbons v. Ogden) until
Lopez & Morrison.
Confederation correct answerNonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European Union,
America under Articles of Confederation).
10th Amendment correct answerPowers not expressly given to federal government by the Constitution
are reserved to states or the people. Also known as "reserved powers amendment" or "states' rights
amendment"
13th Amendment correct answerAbolished slavery. First of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed
after Civil War (1865-70)
14th Amendment correct answer(1) All persons born in the U.S. are citizens; (2) no person can be
deprived of life, liberty or property without DUE PROCESS OF LAW; (3) no state can deprive a person of
EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws. Second of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War.
15th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race. Third
of three "Reconstruction Amendments" passed after Civil War. First Voting Rights Amendment (with 19,
24 & 26)
16th Amendment correct answerPower of Congress to tax income
17th Amendment correct answerEstablished the direct election of senators (instead of being chosen by
state legislatures)
19th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
1st Amendment correct answerFreedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech,
press, assembly, and petition.
,22nd Amendment correct answerLimits the president to two terms.
23rd Amendment correct answerGives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC
still has no representation in Congress)
24th Amendment correct answerAbolishes poll taxes
26th Amendment correct answerStates cannot deny the right to vote based on age (18+)
2nd Amendment correct answerRight to arm bears. Supported by National Rifle Association interest
group & Republican Party.
4th Amendment correct answerNo "unreasonable" searches and seizures. Exclusionary rule (Weeks v.
US, Mapp v. Ohio)
5th Amendment correct answer(1) No Self-Incrimination (Miranda)
(2) No Double Jeopardy (defendant cannot be tried again on the same, or similar charges)
(3) No deprivation of life liberty or property without "due process of law" (fair treatment)
6th Amendment correct answerThe right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that
states must provide indigent defendants with a free lawyer ("public defender"). Right to jury in criminal
trials.
7th Amendment correct answerRight to jury in civil trials.
8th Amendment correct answerGovernment cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of
"cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society."
Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, non-murder crimes...
,9th Amendment correct answerUnenumerated Rights Amendment. Citizens have unenumerated rights
in addition to those stated in the Constitution. Not been developed by Supreme Court (too open ended)
Constitution correct answerA nation's basic law, creates political institutions, assigns or divides power in
government and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Can be written or unwritten.
Agents of Socialization correct answerFamily (most important); TV/media (growing in importance);
friends/peers; school (formal socialization). How we develop (absorb) opinions & beliefs.
American Political Culture correct answerA set of basic, foundational values and beliefs about
government that is shared by most citizens. Key elements: democracy, equality before the law, limited
government, capitalism & private property
Anti-Federalists correct answerA group who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. They
opposed a strong central government (tyranny) and supported states' rights. "I smell a rat!"
Articles of Confederation correct answerSet up the 1st independent American government (1783-88).
Nonbinding "league of friendship" among sovereign states with weak central government to help with
common defense & cooperation (like the European Union). Replaced by our current constitution in
1788.
Bandwagon Effect correct answer"Copy-cat" behavior. People often do things just because other people
do them. In primary elections, it is when people support the candidate everyone else seems to be
supporting (poll leaders). Leads to Primary Frontloading (states want to have the most impact in the
primary process)
Block Grants correct answerGrants ($) given to the states by the federal government for a general
purpose (like education or road-building). Unlike categorical grants, states have discretion to decide how
to spend the money. Example = Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) (States develop and
implement welfare programs using federal money).
, Casework correct answerAssistance given to individual constituents by congressional members, like
helping an elderly person figure out how to get Medicare benefits. Major incumbency advantage.
Categorical Grant correct answerA grant ($) given to the states by the federal government for a specific
purpose or program. The federal government tells the states exactly how to spend the money (no state
discretion unlike block grants). Example = Medicaid. Most common type of federal grant because it gives
Congress the most control over the states.
Checks and Balances correct answerA major principle of the American system of government. Helps
maintain separation of powers so that no one branch gets too powerful. Explained in Federalist 51.
Examples: President vetos laws; Senate confirms appointments & treaties; Congress impeaches
president & judges...
Chief Justice John Marshall correct answerIn office from 1801-1835 (longest serving CJ). Supported
increased power of federal government. Decided McCulloch v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, and
Marbury v. Madison.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 correct answerProhibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment
or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based on Congress's
interstate commerce clause power (discrimination impacts interstate commerce). The most important
federal civil rights law.
Commerce Clause correct answerArt. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has
the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate Commerce
Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly (Gibbons v. Ogden) until
Lopez & Morrison.
Confederation correct answerNonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European Union,
America under Articles of Confederation).
