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AP Comparative Government and Politics Practice Quiz: Executive Term Limits

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 7 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 7

Which of the following is identified in the text as a primary advantage of implementing executive term limits?

All Questions (7)

Which of the following is identified in the text as a primary advantage of implementing executive term limits?

A) They ensure policy continuity between administrations.

B) They allow chief executives to build extensive experience in office.

C) They inhibit the emergence of dictators and personality rule.

D) They strengthen the accountability of the officeholder to the electorate.

Correct Answer: C

The provided text explicitly states that an advantage of executive term limits is that they 'inhibit the emergence of dictators and personality rule.' The other options are listed or implied as disadvantages: impeding policy continuity, preventing the building of experience, and weakening accountability.

A political analyst argues that a country's policy-making has become inefficient because term-limited executives rush to complete projects before leaving office, leading to poorly planned initiatives. This argument highlights which potential disadvantage of executive term limits?

A) They force good executives to leave office.

B) They can cause poorly designed policy.

C) They inhibit the emergence of personality rule.

D) They provide opportunities for new leaders with new ideas.

Correct Answer: B

The scenario describes a situation where the time constraint of a term limit leads to rushed, inefficient, and poorly planned initiatives. This directly corresponds to the disadvantage listed in the text that term limits 'can cause poorly designed policy.'

According to the text, the creation of a 'lame-duck period' is a disadvantage of executive term limits because it can lead to which of the following outcomes?

A) An increase in the executive's focus on governing rather than winning elections.

B) A weakening of the officeholder's ability to achieve policy goals as their term ends.

C) A rise in personality rule as the executive tries to maintain influence.

D) An opportunity for new leaders to introduce their policy goals early.

Correct Answer: B

A 'lame-duck period' refers to the end of a president's term when their influence is diminished because they cannot be reelected. This weakens their accountability and power, thus impeding their ability to achieve policy goals, a key disadvantage mentioned in the text.

A proponent of executive term limits would most likely argue that they are valuable for a political system primarily because they:

A) guarantee that only the most experienced and effective leaders hold power.

B) prioritize checking executive power over maintaining policy continuity.

C) ensure that popular policies are maintained for long periods.

D) strengthen an executive's accountability to the public during their final term.

Correct Answer: B

The text presents a trade-off. Proponents of term limits favor the advantages, such as checking power and preventing dictators, even if it comes at the cost of the disadvantages, such as impeding policy continuity. Therefore, they prioritize checking power over ensuring continuity.

A country has an extremely popular and effective president credited with major economic and social reforms. However, the constitution requires this leader to step down after two terms. This situation best illustrates which drawback of executive term limits?

A) They create a lame-duck period for the officeholder.

B) They force good executives to leave office.

C) They help to focus the officeholder on governing.

D) They check the emergence of personality rule.

Correct Answer: B

This scenario directly exemplifies the disadvantage that term limits 'force good executives to leave office,' even if they are popular and effective. While checking personality rule (D) is an advantage, the core conflict highlighted in the scenario is the loss of a successful leader.

Which of the following describes the most significant trade-off associated with executive term limits as presented in the text?

A) Gaining new policy ideas at the expense of a more powerful executive branch.

B) Increasing short-term stability at the risk of long-term political stagnation.

C) Enhancing accountability at the cost of losing experienced leaders.

D) Guarding against authoritarianism at the risk of policy discontinuity and losing effective leaders.

Correct Answer: D

The text frames the debate around term limits as a balance of pros and cons. The primary advantage is checking power to guard against dictators (authoritarianism). The primary disadvantages are forcing good executives out and impeding policy continuity. This option best synthesizes this central trade-off.

The argument that executive term limits 'help to focus the officeholder on governing rather than winning elections' is based on which assumption?

A) Executives without the possibility of reelection will prioritize legacy-building policies.

B) Elections are the only mechanism for holding an executive accountable.

C) New leaders are always more effective at governing than experienced ones.

D) Policy continuity is the most important goal of an executive.

Correct Answer: A

This advantage assumes that once the pressure of campaigning for reelection is removed, an executive will turn their full attention to governing and creating effective policies to define their time in office (i.e., their legacy), rather than focusing on short-term political wins needed for an election.