AP U.S. Government and Politics Unit 5: Political Participation Practice Exam

1. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 5.1] A political cartoon from 1912 shows a large figure labeled "The People" pointing at the U.S. Senate chamber door. A caption reads: "Let us choose our own Senators." The cartoon appears alongside a news story describing a reform that would remove the power of state legislatures to select U.S. senators. Which constitutional amendment is most directly associated with the reform described in the stimulus?

2. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.1] A state held elections in two consecutive cycles. Analysts tracked economic conditions in the months before each election and the vote share for the incumbent party’s candidate for governor. [Image Cue]: Bar graph, "Economic Conditions and Incumbent Vote Share," x-axis: Election Year 1 and Election Year 2; left y-axis: Economic growth (negative to positive), right y-axis: incumbent vote share (0% to 100%). Data points: Year 1 economic growth +3% and incumbent vote share 54%; Year 2 economic growth −2% and incumbent vote share 46%. Key trend: incumbent vote share decreases when recent economic conditions worsen. Which model of voting behavior is best illustrated by the pattern in the graph?

3. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.1] A voter enters the voting booth with little information about individual candidates. The voter says, "I’m just going to vote for the same party for every office on this ballot—president, senator, representative, and local officials—so government will be consistent." Which model of voting behavior best describes the voter’s decision?

4. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.1] A political science textbook describes a change made during the Progressive Era: "Beginning in 1914, voters—not state legislators—chose United States senators in statewide elections. Reformers argued that this would reduce corruption and make senators more accountable to the public." Which constitutional amendment established the change described in the excerpt?

5. [Skill: 2.A | Topic: 5.1] A survey asks voters why they supported a challenger in a congressional election. The results are shown below. Survey prompt: "Which statement best describes your reason for voting for the challenger?" Results: - "The incumbent’s party mismanaged the economy over the last two years" — 52% - "The challenger’s plan will improve the economy over the next two years" — 21% - "My family always votes for this party" — 15% - "I voted for every candidate from one party" — 12% Which model of voting behavior is best illustrated by the most common response in the survey?

6. [Skill: 1.B | Topic: 5.1] A civil rights organization publishes the following claim: "Requiring a citizen to pay a fee in order to cast a ballot is an unconstitutional barrier to voting in federal elections." Which constitutional amendment is most directly associated with the claim?

7. **1. [Skill: 4A | Topic: 5.10]** A news article about a U.S. House race reports: > “The candidate’s campaign has a small in-house staff but relies heavily on outside consultants. The media firm produces ads and tests which messages perform best with different voter groups, while a data analytics team builds models to identify persuadable voters and recommends where the candidate should spend time and money.” Which of the following best explains how the described campaign organization and strategy can affect the election process?

8. **2. [Skill: 3A | Topic: 5.10]** A political scientist creates a graph showing changes in competitive U.S. Senate campaigns over time. [Image Cue]: Line graph, "Average Cost and Length of Competitive U.S. Senate Campaigns". X-axis: Election year (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020). Left Y-axis: Average total campaign cost (in millions of dollars) rising steadily from 8 to 28. Right Y-axis: Months of active general-election campaigning rising from 5 to 10. Key trend: both lines increase over time. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information in the graph?

9. **3. [Skill: 1A | Topic: 5.10]** A candidate for governor posts short videos on multiple social media platforms. The campaign uses the platforms to (1) solicit many small-dollar donations through embedded links, and (2) rapidly share claims about opponents that are difficult for journalists to fact-check in real time. Which of the following best identifies both a benefit and a drawback of the campaign’s reliance on social media?

10. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 5.11] A textbook summarizes a federal law passed in the early 2000s: > “Congress attempted to reduce the influence of large, unregulated donations to political parties and to increase accountability for televised electioneering communications. The law also required candidates to appear in certain advertisements to state that they approved the message.” Which of the following laws is the textbook describing?

11. [Skill: 3A | Topic: 5.11] A news article describes a Supreme Court decision: > “The Court held that the government may not prohibit independent political expenditures by corporations and labor unions. The majority reasoned that spending money to disseminate political messages is closely tied to core First Amendment protections.” Which of the following best explains the constitutional argument used by the majority in the decision described?

12. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 5.11] A student creates the following comparison about organizations that spend money to influence federal elections: - Organization X: May accept unlimited contributions from individuals; may spend unlimited amounts advocating for or against federal candidates; cannot donate directly to candidates. - Organization Y: May donate money directly to a candidate’s campaign up to legal limits; is funded by voluntary contributions and often represents a group’s interests; may also spend on political messaging. Which of the following best identifies Organization X and Organization Y?

13. [Skill: 1 | Topic: 5.12] A political science class tracks local news coverage for a month. Students find that most nightly broadcasts and the top stories on major news apps repeatedly feature water quality problems in the region. By the end of the month, a follow-up survey shows a large increase in the percentage of residents who say water quality is “one of the most important problems facing the community,” even though no new water-quality data were released during the month. Which of the following best explains the change in public concern described in the scenario?

14. [Skill: 3 | Topic: 5.12] A news website posts the following headline the week before an election: “Candidate J Surges to 49%—Now a Toss-Up!” The article focuses primarily on recent polling numbers, fundraising totals, and candidates’ social media engagement. It includes minimal discussion of policy proposals or governing experience. Which of the following best describes the likely effect of the type of coverage described?

15. [Skill: 2 | Topic: 5.12] A poll asks: “How much of the time do you trust the federal government to do what is right?” Results are shown below. [Image Cue]: Bar chart, “Trust in Federal Government Over Time,” x-axis: Year (2000, 2008, 2016, 2024), y-axis: Percent who answer “Most of the time,” bars: 2000 = 32%, 2008 = 22%, 2016 = 18%, 2024 = 16%. Key trend: steady decline. A cable news program features the chart nightly and frames the election as “a referendum on a government nobody trusts,” while spending most of the segment discussing which candidate is “winning” week-to-week. Which of the following best explains how the media is functioning in the scenario?

16. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.13] A national survey asked adults about their primary source of political news and then administered a short political knowledge quiz (10 questions) and asked about exposure to opposing viewpoints. Results: - People who primarily use broadcast/network news: average quiz score 7/10; 62% report “often” encountering opposing viewpoints. - People who primarily use ideologically oriented cable/news sites: average quiz score 6/10; 34% report “often” encountering opposing viewpoints. - People who primarily use social media feeds tailored by algorithms: average quiz score 5/10; 21% report “often” encountering opposing viewpoints. Which of the following best explains the pattern in the results?

17. [Skill: 4.A | Topic: 5.13] A city’s only daily newspaper was purchased by a large national media corporation. Over the next year, the paper reduced local government reporting and increased nationally syndicated political commentary. At the same time, several local residents began getting political news primarily from partisan news websites and commentators who frequently claim that mainstream outlets “cannot be trusted.” Which of the following is the most likely effect of these changes on political participation and democratic debate in the city?

18. **1. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.2]** A political scientist compares two states’ election laws. - **State A** has automatic voter registration when residents get a driver’s license, offers two weeks of early voting (including weekends), and allows no-excuse absentee voting. - **State B** requires voters to register in person at a county office at least 30 days before Election Day, offers voting only on Election Day during standard business hours, and allows absentee voting only with an approved excuse. If all other factors are similar, which of the following best explains why **State A** is likely to have higher voter turnout than **State B**?

19. **2. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.2]** A researcher surveys eligible voters and groups them by self-reported political efficacy (high vs. low). The researcher then compares turnout in a presidential election and a midterm election. [Image Cue]: Bar chart, "Voter Turnout by Political Efficacy and Election Type"; x-axis categories: High efficacy, Low efficacy; two bars per category (Presidential, Midterm). Data points: High efficacy—Presidential 75%, Midterm 60%; Low efficacy—Presidential 50%, Midterm 30%. Key trend: turnout is higher in presidential than midterm for both groups, and higher efficacy correlates with higher turnout in both election types. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the data in the chart?

20. 1. [Skill: 4.A | Topic: 5.3] Read the excerpt. "In the weeks before Election Day, a nonprofit organization releases a voter guide comparing candidates’ positions, runs advertisements urging turnout, and meets with members of Congress after the election to advocate for legislation aligned with the guide." Which linkage institution is most clearly represented by the nonprofit organization in the excerpt?

21. 2. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.3] Read the excerpt. "After winning a narrow majority in the House, the party’s leaders pressure members to vote together on key bills. The Speaker rewards loyal members with desirable committee assignments and uses the Rules Committee to control which amendments reach the floor, making it easier to advance the party’s agenda." Which function and impact of political parties on government is most directly illustrated in the excerpt?

22. [Skill: 4A | Topic: 5.4] A political journalist wrote the following about modern presidential nominations: “Candidates now build their own brands through national media appearances, social media, and online fundraising. Rather than relying on party leaders to recruit and select nominees, many candidates assemble campaign organizations that can compete in primaries with only limited assistance from the formal party. Party committees increasingly focus on voter-contact tools and turnout operations instead of controlling who becomes the nominee.” Which of the following developments best supports the journalist’s claim about why political parties have adapted in this way?

23. [Skill: 3A | Topic: 5.4] A researcher compiled the following information about campaign outreach by major political parties in recent election cycles: - The share of total ad spending devoted to digital ads increased steadily across three consecutive election cycles. - Party committees expanded the use of voter files and consumer data to create “persuasion” and “turnout” lists. - Field operations increasingly emphasized targeted text messages, social media ads, and get-out-the-vote reminders to specific demographic groups. Which of the following best explains how these trends demonstrate party adaptation?

24. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.5] A political scientist is comparing how different electoral systems translate votes into seats. In a state with 10 legislative districts, the statewide vote totals in the most recent election were: - Party A: 48% - Party B: 46% - Party C: 6% Under the state’s current winner-take-all, single-member district system, Party A won 6 seats and Party B won 4 seats. Party C won 0 seats. Which of the following best explains why Party C failed to win any seats despite receiving 6% of the statewide vote?

25. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.5] The following excerpt is from a news analysis about presidential elections: “After the Liberty Party gained attention by emphasizing restrictions on digital data collection, a major party revised its national platform to endorse new federal privacy protections. In the next election cycle, media coverage of the Liberty Party declined and its vote share fell.” Which of the following best explains how the major party’s action created a barrier to the Liberty Party’s electoral success?

26. [Skill: 4A | Topic: 5.6] A news report describes the following pattern in federal policymaking: “A national interest group representing a large industry regularly meets with a congressional committee that oversees the industry. The committee chair consults the group’s policy experts when drafting bills. A federal regulatory agency that implements the committee’s laws also meets frequently with the interest group to discuss proposed regulations. In return, the group mobilizes its members and donors to support key committee members during elections.” Which of the following best describes the relationship among the interest group, the congressional committee, and the regulatory agency in the report?

27. [Skill: 3A | Topic: 5.6] A political science class compiled the following information about two interest groups active in the same policy area. [Image Cue]: Table, "Interest Group Resources and Access", Columns: (1) Estimated membership, (2) Annual lobbying spending (in dollars), (3) Number of registered lobbyists, (4) Reported meetings with key executive-branch officials last year. Data: Group X—4,000,000 members; 25,000,000 dollars; 60 lobbyists; 140 meetings. Group Y—80,000 members; 400,000 dollars; 4 lobbyists; 12 meetings. Based on the data, which of the following conclusions is best supported?

28. **1. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.7]** A news article describes the following events during debate over a federal budget proposal: > “The National Association of Rural Hospitals (NARH) met with members of a House appropriations subcommittee and their staff. NARH provided reports comparing rural and urban emergency-room access and urged an increase in funding for a specific grant program. At the same time, NARH asked its members to call their representatives before the subcommittee vote.” Which of the following best explains how the political actor in the excerpt is attempting to influence the policy outcome?

29. **2. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.7]** A political scientist compiled the following voting data: - In 1992, 44% of non-college white voters supported the Republican presidential candidate. - In 2000, 54% of non-college white voters supported the Republican presidential candidate. - In 2008, 57% of non-college white voters supported the Republican presidential candidate. - In 2016, 64% of non-college white voters supported the Republican presidential candidate. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the data and most directly reflects how elections and political parties can affect policy outcomes?

30. [Skill: 1A | Topic: 5.8] A state’s election guide includes the following excerpt: “In State Z, a voter may participate in a party’s primary election only if the voter has been registered with that party for at least 30 days prior to the primary. In addition, each party permits precinct-level caucus meetings that select some delegates to the party’s state convention.” Based on the excerpt, which of the following is the most accurate conclusion about how State Z’s rules may affect the presidential nomination process?

31. [Skill: 2A | Topic: 5.8] The table below shows the results of a hypothetical presidential election in three states that each allocate electors using a winner-take-all system. State A: 20 electors; Candidate X = 600,000 votes; Candidate Y = 400,000 votes State B: 18 electors; Candidate X = 490,000 votes; Candidate Y = 510,000 votes State C: 17 electors; Candidate X = 480,000 votes; Candidate Y = 520,000 votes Which of the following statements is best supported by the data and accurately explains a major effect of the Electoral College on U.S. presidential elections?

32. [Skill: 3.A | Topic: 5.9] A political scientist compares a state that uses a closed primary with a state that uses an open primary. The political scientist summarizes the findings in a graph. [Image Cue]: Bar graph, "Who Votes in Primary Elections by Primary Type". X-axis: Primary type (Open Primary, Closed Primary). Y-axis: Percent of primary voters. Two bars for each primary type: (1) "Strong party identifiers" and (2) "Ideologically very conservative/very liberal". Data shown: Open Primary—Strong party identifiers 52%, Ideologically very conservative/very liberal 35%. Closed Primary—Strong party identifiers 76%, Ideologically very conservative/very liberal 58%. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the data?

33. [Skill: 1.A | Topic: 5.9] A news article about congressional elections includes the following information: - "Incumbents often use constituent services and frequent communication with voters to build name recognition and goodwill." - "In midterm elections, voter turnout is typically lower than in presidential elections." - "The president’s party frequently loses seats in midterm elections." Which of the following best explains why the president’s party is more likely to lose House seats in midterm elections, even though incumbents generally have an advantage?