AP U.S. Government and Politics Flashcards: Congressional Behavior
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
How do ideological divisions and polarization contribute to gridlock?
Ideological divisions and polarization (the movement of political attitudes to extremes) can lead to a lack of consensus, resulting in gridlock.
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How do ideological divisions and polarization contribute to gridlock?
Ideological divisions and polarization (the movement of political attitudes to extremes) can lead to a lack of consensus, resulting in gridlock.
Define gridlock in a congressional context.
Gridlock is a situation in which no congressional action on legislation can be taken due to a lack of consensus between parties.
A representative's district overwhelmingly supports a new tax cut, so the representative votes in favor of it, despite their personal reservations. Which role are they fulfilling?
This representative is fulfilling the role of a delegate, as they are voting based on the interests of their constituents rather than their own judgement.
Why might partisanship intensify when dealing with a lame duck president in a divided government?
In a divided government, members of the opposing party in Congress may be more inclined to vote against the initiatives and appointments of a lame duck president due to heightened partisanship.
How has the Supreme Court addressed issues like gerrymandering and unequal representation?
The Supreme Court has partially addressed these issues through cases that opened the door for equal protection challenges to redistricting.
How can a divided government affect partisanship and presidential initiatives?
A divided government can lead to more intense partisanship, which may result in members of Congress voting against presidential initiatives and appointments.
What is a divided government?
A divided government is when one party controls the presidency and the other party controls at least one of the chambers of Congress.
What is partisan voting?
Partisan voting is when members of Congress vote based on their political party affiliation.
Describe the "trustee" model of representation.
A representative acting as a trustee votes on issues based on their own knowledge and judgement.
What is the "politico" model of representation?
A politico is a representative who uses a combination of the trustee and delegate role conceptions when making decisions.
Describe the "delegate" model of representation.
A representative acting as a delegate sees themselves as an agent of those who elected them and votes based on the interests of their constituents.