AP Government and Politics: Unit 2 Review

Exam Preparation:

• Exam Date: May 6th, 2025
• Study like training for a marathon: consistent and paced preparation.
• Recommended review videos: Carey LaManna and Himmler’s History on YouTube.

Exam Format:

• 55 Multiple Choice Questions
  • Time: 1 hour & 20 minutes
  • Weight: 50% of grade
• 4 Free Response Questions
  • Time: 1 hour & 40 minutes
  • Weight: 50% of grade

Exam Content Coverage:

• Unit I: Foundations of Democracy: 15-22%
• Unit 2: Interaction Among the Branches: 25-36%
• Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights: 13-18%
• Unit 4: Political and Ideological Beliefs: 10-15%
• Unit 5: Political Participation: 20-27%

Required Supreme Court Cases:

• Marbury v. Madison (1803), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), Schenck v. US (1919), etc.

Required Documents:

• The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, The Constitution, Federalist Papers (#10, #51, #70, #78), Brutus #1, Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Unit 2: Interaction Among the Branches (25-36% of the AP Exam)

Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives

Structures, Powers, and Functions:

• Senate: Represents states equally (2 senators per state)
• House: Represents the population (435 members based on state population size)
• Term Lengths: House (2 years), Senate (6 years)
• Powers: Enumerated (declare war, coin money, levy taxes) and Implied (via the Necessary and Proper Clause)

Policy-Making Process:

• Rely on committees; have different roles in policy-making.
• Unique Powers:
  • House: Impeach civil officers, elect President if no majority in electoral votes.
  • Senate: Approve/reject presidential nominations, treaty ratification.

Legislative Process:

• Speeds Up: Committee of the Whole, Unanimous consent (Senate), Cloture motion (Senate).
• Slows Down: Filibuster (Senate), Holding a bill.

Presidential Powers

Roles and Powers:

• Formal Powers: Veto, Commander in Chief, Treaty negotiation, Appointments.
• Informal Powers: Executive agreements, Executive orders, Signing statements.

Checks on Presidency:

• Senate confirmation checks appointments.
• Conflict arises with congressional agenda.

The Judicial Branch

Judicial Review:

• Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).
• Allows courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.

Supreme Court:

• Insulated from public opinion (lifetime appointments, no electoral accountability).
• Influences through landmark decisions.

Bureaucracy:

• Executes federal policies, enforces laws via departments and agencies.
• Criticized for being unaccountable due to independence and complexity.
• Oversight by Congress (committee hearings, budget controls).

Study Tips:

• Consistent review sessions.
• Utilize multimedia resources.
• Practice previous exam questions.
• Focus on understanding concepts, not just memorization.