AP Comparative Government and Politics Practice Quiz: Change in Power and Authority
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 10 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 10
All Questions (10)
A) A military takeover that rewrites the constitution and its institutions.
B) A popular uprising that establishes an entirely new system of rule.
C) A scheduled election results in a new political officeholder taking power.
D) The fundamental rules of the political system are suddenly replaced after a revolution.
Correct Answer: C
The content states that governments, including political officeholders, can be changed more frequently and easily than regimes through the relatively peaceful process of elections. The other options describe the replacement of rules and institutions, which defines a regime change.
A) Democratic regimes rely on violent means, while authoritarian regimes use peaceful elections.
B) Authoritarian regimes can maintain sovereignty using less power than democratic regimes.
C) Democratic regimes can uphold their sovereignty with a lesser application of power compared to authoritarian regimes.
D) Both regime types use an identical amount of power to support their sovereignty.
Correct Answer: C
The text explicitly states that 'democratic regimes can maintain sovereignty using less power than authoritarian regimes.' This is because their authority is typically seen as more legitimate by the populace.
A) The appointment of a new cabinet minister after a resignation.
B) A revolution supported by a large portion of the population that replaces a monarchy with a republic.
C) A prime minister is replaced through a constitutional vote of no confidence.
D) A line of succession is followed after the death of a head of state.
Correct Answer: B
The text defines regime change as an event where 'rules and institutions are replaced...as a result of...revolutions in which a large portion of the population supports a change.' Replacing a monarchy with a republic is a fundamental change to the rules and institutions of the political system.
A) Coups d'état
B) Revolutions
C) Appointments and lines of succession
D) Sudden replacement of institutions
Correct Answer: C
The content lists 'elections, appointments, and lines of succession' as part of the 'relatively peaceful process' through which governments can be changed, distinguishing them from more violent means like coups or revolutions.
A) involvement of foreign powers.
B) speed at which the change occurs.
C) support of a large portion of the population.
D) peaceful transfer of power to new leaders.
Correct Answer: C
The text specifies that a revolution is a type of regime change 'in which a large portion of the population supports a change in the political system.' This popular support is a defining characteristic mentioned in the content.
A) The replacement of a single political officeholder.
B) A shift in a country's economic policy.
C) The replacement of the fundamental rules and institutions of the political system.
D) A change in the head of state through an established line of succession.
Correct Answer: C
The text directly states, 'Changes in regimes occur when rules and institutions are replaced either incrementally or suddenly.' This is the core definition that separates it from a more simple change in government.
A) The new regime will likely use less power than the previous democratic regime.
B) The new regime will likely use more power to maintain control than its democratic predecessor.
C) The new regime will maintain sovereignty exclusively through peaceful elections.
D) The use of power to maintain sovereignty will remain unchanged from the previous regime.
Correct Answer: B
This scenario describes a change from a democratic to an authoritarian regime. The text states that how a regime uses power is determined by its characteristics and that 'democratic regimes can maintain sovereignty using less power than authoritarian regimes.' Therefore, the new authoritarian regime would need to use more power.
A) the country's geographic borders.
B) how a regime chooses to use power in support of its sovereignty.
C) the outcomes of all elections.
D) the frequency of peaceful protests.
Correct Answer: B
The first two points of the content connect the concept of 'sources of power and authority' directly to 'how a regime chooses to use power in support of sovereignty,' indicating a cause-and-effect relationship between the nature of a regime's power and how it is exercised.
A) a revolution.
B) a coup d'état.
C) a change in government.
D) a change in regime.
Correct Answer: C
The content explains that governments, including political officeholders, are changed 'through the relatively peaceful process of elections.' Since the underlying political system (the parliamentary regime) and its rules remain the same, this is a change in government, not regime.
A) only a change in government, with the regime's rules remaining intact.
B) either a change in government or a more fundamental change in regime.
C) a peaceful transition that strengthens democratic institutions.
D) an incremental change that happens over several decades.
Correct Answer: B
The text presents nuance. Point 4 states governments can change by violent means like coups. Point 3 states that regimes can also change through coups. Therefore, a coup can result in either a change of officeholders (government) or a replacement of the entire system (regime), making this the most comprehensive answer.