AP US Government and Politics 2003 FRQs

AP US Government and Politics2003 FRQs

By Mitch [email protected] Summer Institute

July 14, 2010

mailto:[email protected]

2003 AP US Government & Politics FRQs 2

2003 AP US Gov FRQ #1

• Presidential approval ratings fluctuate over the course of each presidential administration.– A. Identify two factors that decrease presidential

approval ratings, and explain why each factor has that effect.

– B. Identify two factors that decrease presidential approval ratings, and explain why each factor has that effect.


Essential Questions

• What factors increase and decrease presidential approval ratings?

• How or why do these factors change presidential approval ratings?


Vocabulary

• Presidential Approval Rating:– The percentage of Americans who approve of the

way the President is handling his job as President– As measured by a poll, most notably the Gallup

Poll– Presidential approval drives presidential influence,

and his ability to get things done (especially getting legislation passed).

– See Wilson, pp. 423-424


Presidential Approval Ratings

Presidential Scandals

Expectations Gap

Decline in Popularity over term

(time)

Bad Economic Conditions

• Almost always lower presidential approval• Exs: Watergate, Iran-Contra, Monica Lewinsky• May be exceptions for especially good handling (e.g. “Checkers”)

• Result of overly-ambitious campaign promises• Exs: Carter (change D.C.), Bush 41 (“no new taxes”)

• Approval usually goes down overtime as “honeymoon” wears off• Exs: All Presidents from HST through BHO EXCEPT:• Ford (Special case), Reagan & Clinton (Unusually gifted politicians)

• President gets the blame (regardless of underlying causes)• Exs: Carter, Bush 41, Obama

FACTORS THAT CAN DECREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS

• • •

FACTORS THAT CAN DECREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS

• • •

• • •

• • •

Use of Media

(“Spin”)

Good Economic Conditions

Reelection (Campaign

Effect)

Most Foreign Policy

Problems / Crises

FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS

• Effective use of media (radio, TV, newspapers, Internet) can increase ratings above what they otherwise would be• Exs: Kennedy, Reagan• Note: Ineffective use of media does not in itself lower ratings

• President gets the credit (regardless of underlying causes• Exs: Eisenhower 1st term, Reagan (post-1982), Clinton• Note: Ineffective use of media does not in itself lower ratings

• Effect of running / making oneself attractive• Exs: Nixon in 1972, Reagan in 1984

• Crises almost always raise popularity in the short term• Obvious exs: Release of Iranian hostages (RWR), 9/11 (GWB)• Less obvious exs: Bay of Pigs Invasion (JFK), Failed Iran hostage rescue attempt (JEC)• But NOTE: Sustained international failures over a long period of can devastate presidential popularity (Vietnam, LBJ)

FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS

• • •

• • •

• • •

• • •


HOW or WHY

• Each explanation must include either how by…) or why (because…) the factor causes change in approval ratings, e.g.:– By allowing Americans to see the President in a

positive light, the effective use of media can increase presidential approval ratings. (HOW)

– International problems usually increase presidential approval ratings (at least in the short term), because Americans want to feel unified behind their leader in times of foreign crises (WHY)



• Citizens often chose to participate in the political process in ways other than voting– A. Identify two forms of participation in the

political process other than voting– B. Explain two advantages of each form of

participation you identified in (A).


Essential Questions

• What are the ways (other than voting) that citizens can participate in the political process?

• What are the advantages of each form of participation?


Ways citizens participate in political process (other than voting)

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• No large number of people necessary (one person can originate)

• Appeal to principle / law as opposed to public opinion• Ex: Brown v. Board of Education

Litigation

• Public attention and sympathy• Low cost, often immediate response• Ex: Montgomery Bus BoycottProtest

• Direct access to leaders, magnification of numbers• Target specific actors and policy areas• Ex: Letter to the editor, writing a congresswomanContacting


Ways citizens participate in political process (other than voting) cont.

• Multiply individual interest• Training ground• Ex: Freedom Summer

Campaign work / voter registration

• Direct influence on political decision-making• Ability to set policy agenda• Exs: Ralph Nader (2000), Harvey Milk

Running / holding political office

• Bring others’ attention to the issues• Multiply influence• Exs: Discussing abortion with a friend

Political discussions


Ways citizens participate in political process (other than voting) cont.

• Solidarity with like-minded individuals• Magnifying effect and impact• Exs: NRA, NAACP, ACLU, AARP, NORML

Membership in political

organization



• Using the data in the graph above and your knowledge of United States politics, perform the following tasks:– Identify two trends shown in the graph.– Explain how each of the following contributes to the difference between the

federal and the state and local lines in the graph.• Block grants• Federal mandates


Essential Question

• Which level(s) of government are growing the fastest and what are the factors driving this growth?


FRQ #3 Vocabulary

• Block Grants (see Edwards, pp. 86-88)– Federal money given to states (or local communities) without a

specific purpose or category. The grantee can spend the money using its own discretion within a broad area such as community development or social services.

– Compare categorical grants, which represent federal money sent to state and local governments with specific requirements of how that money will be spent.

• Federal Mandates– Federal laws or regulations that require states and/or localities to

take some action which will cost money, but without all (or in some cases, any) of the necessary federal money attached.

– Exs: ADA, NCLB


Trends

• Remember – in order to qualify as a trend, your answer must span more than one data point!


Acceptable Trends

Federal Level Stays Constant

State/local levels show

general increase

Widening gap between the

two lines

State / local show decline

after 1990

Federal level dropped until

1947


Block Grants

States able to obtain increased resources

from Federal government /

definition of block grants

Led to Increases in state and local hiring


Federal Mandates

Shift of responsibility to states / definition of federal mandates

Led to Increases in state and local hiring



• Both party leadership and committees in Congress play key roles in the legislative process– A. Define two of the following elements of the

congressional committee system and explain how each influences the legislative process• Specialization• Reciprocity/logrolling• Party representation on committees

– B. Identify two ways party leadership in Congress can influence the legislative process, and explain how each way influences the process.


Essential Question

• How does Congressional leadership and committees influence the legislative process?


2003 FRQ #4 Vocabulary

• Specialization– Members of Congress develop policy expertise

• Reciprocity / logrolling – Vote trading / exchanges– Bargaining

• Party representation on committees – Representation is reflective of the chamber as a

whole


Reciprocity / logrollingSpecialization Party representation

on committees

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Reciprocity / logrollingSpecialization Party representation

on committees

• Development of Expertise

• Independence from Executive Branch

• More attention paid to legislation

• Division of labor• Better legislation

(Explain HOW)

• Speeds process• Government more

expansive (can do more)

• More porkbarrel spending (linked to reciprocity)

• Note: Electoral success NOT accepted (doesn’t influence legislative process)

• Party pushes its own agenda

• Party determines leadership on committees


Party Leadership

• Assignment of members to committees• Assignment of committee chairs• Agenda-setting (rules committee)• Party discipline• Leadership use of media• Recognition on floor• Leadership control of electoral support

Note: Explain HOW above influences legislative process

Documents

AP US Government and Politics 2003 FRQs