AP®︎ U.S. Government & Politics: Unit 5 Practice Test
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with focused practice questions on Unit 5 of AP U.S. Government & Politics – Political Participation.
Questions List
Unit 5 (All Topics)
Question 1 Topic 5.1Easy
This question tests the following: LO 5.1.A
Which amendment granted African American men the right to vote?
What You’re Being Tested On:
Explore the learning objectives taken directly from the College Board’s AP® U.S. Government & Politics Curriculum. Ensure you’re prepared for the exact topics covered on the AP® exam, in-class tests, and quizzes, and gain confidence in your mastery of the material.
Unit 5: Political Participation
This unit looks at how citizens engage with the political system through voting, political parties, interest groups, and campaigns, including trends and models of participation.
Topic 5.1: Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior
Learning Objective: LO 5.1.A
Describe the voting rights protections in the Constitution and in legislation.
Review: EK 5.1.A.1
Expansion of opportunities for political participation are found in the legal protections of the Amendments to the Constitution. i. The 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people. ii. The 15th Amendment granted African American men the right to vote. iii. The 17th Amendment changed the practice for electing Senators from a vote by state legislatures to a direct vote by the people. iv. The 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote. v. The 24th Amendment eliminated poll taxes, a structural barrier to voting. vi. The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18.
Learning Objective: LO 5.1.B
Describe different models of voting behavior.
Review: EK 5.1.B.1
Various political models explain differences in voting behavior. i. Rational choice voting refers to individuals who base their decisions on what is perceived to be in their best interest. ii. Retrospective voting refers to individuals who decide whether the party or candidate in power should be reelected based on the recent past. iii. Prospective voting refers to individuals who vote based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future. iv. Straight ticket voting refers to individuals who vote for all of the candidates from one political party on a ballot.
Topic 5.2: Voter Turnout
Learning Objective: LO 5.2.A
Explain the roles that individual choice and state laws play in voter turnout in elections.
Review: EK 5.2.A.1
Structural barriers (such as polling hours, availability of absentee ballots, etc.), political efficacy (the belief that an individual’s participation in the political process will make a difference), and demographics can influence differences in voter turnout in the U.S.
Review: EK 5.2.A.2
The following can influence voter turnout: i. Differences in state-controlled elections (the hours polls are open, Voter ID laws, variations in funding for polling places and workers, variations in types of voting allowed, such as voting by mail, absentee voting, and early voting) ii. Variations in voter registration laws and procedures (registering in-person, online, or automatically) iii. Election type (more turnout for presidential elections than midterm elections)
Review: EK 5.2.A.3
Demographic characteristics and political efficacy or engagement are used to predict the likelihood of whether an individual will vote.
Review: EK 5.2.A.4
Factors influencing voter choice include: i. Party identification and ideological orientation ii. Candidate characteristics iii. Contemporary political issues iv. Religious beliefs or affiliation, age, gender, race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics
Topic 5.3: Political Parties
Learning Objective: LO 5.3.A
Describe linkage institutions.
Review: EK 5.3.A.1
Linkage institutions are channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policymakers: i. Political parties ii. Interest groups iii. Elections iv. Media
Learning Objective: LO 5.3.B
Explain the function and impact of political parties on the electorate and government
Review: EK 5.3.B.1
The functions and impact of political parties on the electorate and government are represented by: i. Mobilization and education of voters ii. Party platforms iii. Candidate recruitment iv. Campaign management, including fundraising and media strategy v. The committee and party leadership systems in legislatures
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.4: How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt
Learning Objective: LO 5.4.A
Explain why and how political parties change and adapt.
Review: EK 5.4.A.1
Parties have adapted to candidate-centered campaigns where the public focus is on the characteristics of the candidate and not on the party. The role of parties in nominating candidates has also been weakened.
Review: EK 5.4.A.2
Parties may adapt their policies and messaging to appeal to various demographic coalitions.
Review: EK 5.4.A.3
The structure of parties has been influenced by: i. Critical elections (elections in which there is a realignment of political party support among voters) ii. Campaign finance law iii. Changes in communication and data management technology
Review: EK 5.4.A.4
Parties use communication technology and voter data management to disseminate, control, and clarify political messages and enhance outreach and mobilization efforts.
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.5: Third-Party Politics
Learning Objective: LO 5.5.A
Explain how structural barriers affect third-party and independent candidate success.
Review: EK 5.5.A.1
In comparison to proportional systems, winner- take-all voting districts serve as a structural barrier to third-party and independent candidate success. Winner-take-all voting advantages the two-party system in the U.S.
Review: EK 5.5.A.2
The incorporation of third-party agendas into platforms of major political parties serves as a barrier to third-party and independent candidate success.
Topic 5.6: Interest Groups Influencing Policymaking
Learning Objective: LO 5.6.A
Explain the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policymaking.
Review: EK 5.6.A.1
Interest groups may represent very specific or more general interests, and can educate voters and office holders, conduct lobbying, draft legislation, and mobilize membership to apply pressure on and work with legislators and government agencies. Interest groups may also file an amicus curiae brief (a written document submitted as a “friend of the court” to provide additional information for justices to consider when reviewing a case).
Review: EK 5.6.A.2
In addition to working within party coalitions, interest groups exert influence through iron triangles and issue networks that help interest groups exert influence across political party coalitions.
Learning Objective: LO 5.6.B
Explain how variation in types of interest groups and the resources interest groups possess affects their ability to influence elections and policymaking.
Review: EK 5.6.B.1
The inequality of interest group resources affects the amount of influence they may have on the policymaking process. i. Some interest groups, such as AARP, have large memberships, are able to mobilize those members, and possess access to large financial reserves. ii. Some interest groups have more direct and more frequent access to important people in the policy process. iii. Free riders are individuals who benefit from the work of an interest group without providing financial support. Interest groups may deal with this issue by providing selective benefits, goods and services that are only available to members, to encourage more people to join.
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.7: Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes
Learning Objective: LO 5.7.A
Explain how various political actors influence public policy outcomes.
Review: EK 5.7.A.1
Single-issue groups, ideological/social movements, and protest movements form with the goal of affecting society and policymaking.
Review: EK 5.7.A.2
Competing actors such as interest groups, professional organizations, social movements, the military, and bureaucratic agencies influence policymaking, such as the federal budget process, at key stages and to varying degrees.
Review: EK 5.7.A.3
Elections and political parties are related to major policy shifts or initiatives, occasionally leading to political realignments of voting constituencies.
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.8: Electing a President
Learning Objective: LO 5.8.A
Explain how the different processes work in a U.S. presidential election.
Review: EK 5.8.A.1
The process and outcomes in U.S. presidential elections are affected by: i. Incumbency advantage phenomenon (benefits current officeholders possess over challengers) ii. Open and closed primaries (voting processes to elect candidates) iii. Caucuses (closed meetings of party members to select candidates or decide policy) iv. Party conventions v. General (presidential) elections vi. The Electoral College
Learning Objective: LO 5.8.B
Explain how the Electoral College affects U.S. presidential elections.
Review: EK 5.8.B.1
States can choose how they allocate their electors; most states use a winner-take-all system. Because the results of the Electoral College vote may not be the same as the popular vote nationwide, there is an ongoing debate over the Electoral College.
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.9: Congressional Elections
Learning Objective: LO 5.9.A
Explain how the different processes work in U.S. congressional elections.
Review: EK 5.9.A.1
The process and outcomes in U.S. congressional elections are affected by: i. Incumbency advantage phenomenon ii. Open and closed primaries iii. Caucuses iv. General (presidential and midterm) elections.
Topic 5.10: Modern Campaigns
Learning Objective: LO 5.10.A
Explain how campaign organizations and strategies affect the election process.
Review: EK 5.10.A.1
The benefits and drawbacks of modern campaigns are represented by: i. Dependence on professional consultants ii. Rising campaign costs and intensive fundraising efforts iii. Duration of election cycles iv. Impact of and reliance on social media for campaign communication and fundraising
Illustrative Examples specific knowledge students should know & demonstrate
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Topic 5.11: Campaign Finance
Learning Objective: LO 5.11.A
Explain how the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process.
Review: EK 5.11.A.1
Federal legislation and case law pertaining to campaign finance demonstrate the ongoing debate over the role of money in political and free speech, as set forth in: i. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which was an effort to ban soft money and reduce attack ads with “Stand by Your Ad” provision: “I’m [candidate’s name] and I approve this message” ii. Supreme Court decisions that ruled political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment
Review: EK 5.11.A.2
Debates have increased over free speech and competitive and fair elections related to money and campaign funding (including contributions from individuals, political action committees [PACs], and political parties).
Review: EK 5.11.A.3
Different types of PACs influence elections and policymaking through fundraising and spending.
Topic 5.12: The Media
Learning Objective: LO 5.12.A
Explain the media’s role as a linkage institution.
Review: EK 5.12.A.1
Agenda setting takes place when traditional news media, new communication technologies, and advances in social media influence how citizens routinely acquire political information, including news events, investigative journalism, election coverage, and political commentary.
Review: EK 5.12.A.2
The media’s use of polling results to convey popular levels of trust and confidence in government can affect elections by turning such events into “horse races” based more on popularity and factors other than qualifications and platforms of candidates.
Topic 5.13: Changing Media
Learning Objective: LO 5.13.A
Explain how increasingly diverse choices of media and communication outlets influence political institutions and behavior.
Review: EK 5.13.A.1
Political participation is influenced by a variety of media coverage, analysis, and commentary on political events.
Review: EK 5.13.A.2
The rapidly increasing demand for media and political communications outlets from an ideologically diverse audience have led to debates over media bias and the impact of media ownership and partisan news sites.
Review: EK 5.13.A.3
The nature of democratic debate and the level of political knowledge among citizens is affected by: i. Increased media choices ii. Ideologically oriented programming iii. Consumer-driven media outlets and emerging technologies that reinforce existing beliefs iv. Uncertainty over the credibility of news sources and information
