Official 2011 AP US Government Thread

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
21

I’m pretty confident about it. I took one of the released exams and I only missed 5, but that might be because I recognized some of the questions from previous tests my teacher has given us. The only things I’m worried about are the FRQs. Anyone have tips on how to succeed on them?</p>

22

This video is worth taking a look at: [High</a> School U.S. Government Exam - C-SPAN Video Library](<a href=“http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Examf]High”>http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/Examf)</p>

and @appleandrice: [-</a> DBQ/FRQ Essay Writing Guide - AP US History Exam Review Course -](<a href=“http://apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431&Itemid=91]-”>http://apexamreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431&Itemid=91). The site is for APUSH but I’m certain that you can definitely apply the FRQ strategies to the Gov exam.</p>

23

I consistently get 47/60 on the practice exams, and if I don’t make a dumb move like saying Senatorial Courtesy is used for Supreme Court Justices (I felt SO dumb, and it was otherwise a perfect 95+ essay), then the few FRQs I’ve written are gold. This is enough for a low 4, right? I think if I master my amendments, federal grants, and individual administrations, that’ll be enough for a 5, not that I care. Should I expect a FRQ on the judicial selection process or campaign finance reform? I heard those’re likely…</p>

24

Judicial selection… the president appoints SC justices and Congress has to approve them, correct? </p>

Campaign finance reform? Enlighten me on that… o.O</p>

25

Campaign finance reform put limits on like PAC’s and 527’s and other interest group donations, I think</p>

26

Hmm, I don’t have time to go into detail, but look up Soft Money, Hard Money, PACs, 527 Organizations, and the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act. And there are a few other campaign finance reform acts it would help to know too, though I can’t remember them right now. Ahah, for one, the Hatch Act. Best of luck fellow AP Govers.</p>

27

I feel like I’m terribly unprepared for this test. :(</p>

For campaign finance reform, the big one as I recall is FECA (both the 1971 and 1974.)</p>

What bills/legislation are must-know for this test?</p>

28

I’m pretty confident about the test. I’ve broken 50 on a couple of multiple choice tests, otherwise scoring in the high 40s. FRQs seem decent, but the only problem is that it’s such a broad subject that it’s easy to forget some facts here and there. Questions on spending/fiscal policy are probably the hardest for me.</p>

As far as the court cases are concerned, they’ll only require you to know the landmark court cases for certain amendments. Otherwise, based off what I’ve seen on practice multiple-choice and FRQ sections, you need to have an overall understanding of the amendments and their different items, I think.</p>

Good luck everyone!</p>

29

Also, does anyone have any good/useful study guides for the exam?</p>

30

I need to study court cases.</p>

31

@thankyou4flying <a href=“http://shs.smyrna.k12.de.us/users/mfeldma/AP%20Review2008.pdf[/url]”>http://shs.smyrna.k12.de.us/users/mfeldma/AP%20Review2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

32

@franticpizza, that’s a pretty useful link thanks!
Anyone have ideas on this year’s FRQs? I’m hoping that it won’t be on anything to do with elections because that’s not my strongest point. I’d like it if there was a selective incorporation question or a question about the constitutional underpinnings of the government.</p>

33

i took ap gov and politics last year and got a 5.
I only studied for about 2 hours:

  1. read through the constitutional amendments
  2. read Crash Course
  3. took some practice multiple choice questuions</p>
34

@appleandrice I think they mentioned in the C-SPAN video that there hasn’t been a judicial FRQ in a while… or selective incorporation.</p>

35

@franticpizza Video is great, thanks!!</p>

36

I’m so screwed. I decided to self-study this course and well… college apps, overburdening AP Literature teacher (mindless work btw), and senioritis got me.</p>

So it’s Mon 3AM KST, I’ve just finished reading PR and took a practice test and got a 41/60… Am I screwed or what?</p>

37

I have a feeling one of the FRQ’s is gonna be on fiscal policy. My teacher was saying on the AP teacher section of the site that they have had up a random powerpoint as a resource that’s on fiscal policy. Seems legit. Also, does anyone know any good sites to go over political parties and elections/campaigns? Those seem to be my weak areas.</p>

38

I just finished going through the 2009 and 2010 AP U.S. Government and Politics threads here. I learned some useful information, I guess.</p>

@tsweezy fiscal policy is taxing and spending, correct? And fiscal policy can only be changed by the House? Because of taxation without representation and the House was what originally represented the people of the country.</p>

39

So no one has tests to trade?</p>

40

@franticpizza, thanks and yea fiscal policy is just taxing and spending. Taxing bills are done by the ways and means committee in the House, the doesn’t the OMB “type up” a proposed budget to send to the president who then sends it to the Congress?
Also, remember monetary policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve and that deals with changing the required reserve ratio, discount rate, and open market operations.</p>