Tuesday - Thursday, Interpret Data

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY BY SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, 2000-2011 (in percent)
President	African American	Hispanic	Asian American	White	Women	Men
Obama	22%	11%	8%	59%	46%	54%
Bush	7%	9%	1%	82%	22%	78%

Presidents consider many factors when nominating candidates to the federal courts, and getting their nominees confirmed is often difficult.

  (a) Using the chart above, describe ONE similarity between President Obama's judicial appointments

       and those made by President Bush.

  (b) Using the chart above, describe TWO differences between President Obama's judicial appointments

        and those made by President Bush.

  (c) Explain why a president's party affiliation accounts for differences in presidential appointments to the

       judiciary.

  (d) Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having a judicial nominations of federal

        courts confirmed.

The above question was take from released 2013 College Board AP US Government and Politics Exam.

Thursday, March 27th Practice AP Prompt

Please answer the following prompt from the 2011 College Board AP US Government and Politics Exam.

For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is affected by that power.

   - Veto power

   - Power to issue executive orders

   - Power as commander in chief

Tuesday, March 25th Make sure you know

Please answer the following questions take from the 2011 released College Board AP US Government and Politics Exam.

For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is affected by that power.

    - Legislative oversight power

    - Senate advice and consent powers

    - Budgetary power

Thursday, March 20th Practice Essay Prompt

Please answer the following essay prompt taken from the released College Board AP US Government and Politics Exam. If you come across a section of the question that you are not familiar with, you may use your textbook and/or notes.

You have till Sunday to complete the question. I will be taking a grade for completion and effort.

1. Members of Congress are charged with three primary duties-writing laws, overseeing the implementation
    of laws, and serving the needs of their constituents.

   (a) Describe the role of each of the following in lawmaking.

                 -Senate filibuster
              
                 -House Rules Committee

                 -Conference Committee

    (b) Describe one method by which Congress exercises oversight of the federal bureaucracy.

    (c) Explain how casework affects members' attention to legislation.

Tuesday, March 18th Practice AP Multiple Choice

Please answer the following AP questions taken from the 2010 College Board AP US Government and Politics exam. 

1. In the organization of government, the principle of federalism is illustrated best by the
   
    (A) president's power as commander in chief
    (B) separation of powers between the US Supreme Court and Congress
    (C) representation system for electing senators
    (D) qualifications for the office of president
    (E) federal bureaucracy

2. All of the following contribute to the success of incumbent member of Congress in election campaigns
    EXCEPT:

    (A) Incumbents usually raise more campaign funds than do their challangers
    (B) Incumbents tend to understand national issues better than do their challangers
    (C) Incumbents are usually better known to voters than are their challangers
    (D) Incumbents can use legislative staff to perform campaign services
    (E) Incumbents often sit on committees that permit them to serve district interests

3. The voting patterns of members of Congress correlate most strongly with

    (A) the population density of their districts
    (B) their economic background
    (C) their education level
    (D) their political party affilitation
    (E) the location of their districts

4. The Constitution and its amendments expressly prohibit all of the following EXCEPT

    (A) slavery
    (B) double jeopardy
    (C) cruel and unusual punishment
    (D) unreasonable searches and seizures
    (E) sex discrimination in employment

5. In vetoing a bill, the president does which of the following

    (A) Rejects only a part of the bill without rejecting it entirely
    (B) Prevents any further action on the bill
    (C) Sends the bill back to conference committee
    (D) Rejects all sections of the bill
    (E) Decides the bill's constitutionality

6. A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most
    likely seek a place on which of the following committees?

    (A) Agriculture
    (B)  International Relations
    (C) Transportation and Infrastructure
    (D) Rules
    (E) Veterans' Affairs

7. Which of the following in NOT a core value of the United States political culture?

    (A) Legal equality
    (B) Political equality
    (C) Economic equality
    (D) Freedom of religion
    (E) Freedom of speech

Please report on the Ukranian Conflict for this week's current event.

AP Practice Question for Tuesday, February 25th

Please respond to the following released AP Exam prompt. Your responses should be written in the comment section of the blog. You may use your textbook.

"Interest groups seek to influence political processes in ways that benefit their members. In doing so, however, they may not act in the overall public interest."

(a) "Describe two techniques interest groups use to influence elections."

(b) "Explain how interest groups use each of the following to influence government decision making."

       - "Issue networks (also known as iron triangles)"

       - "Amicus curiae briefs"

(c) "Explain how each of the following serves to limit interest group influence."

       - "The media"

       - "Pluarlism"