UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS AND RUBRICS

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND

POLITICS

FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS AND RUBRICS

Voter participation and voter behavior in elections are affected by a number of factors

a. Describe the effect of each of the following on the level of voter participation in elections.

The voter registration requirement Lack of penalties for not voting Ballot fatigue

b. Describe the effect of each of the following on voter behavior in elections.

Race Party identification Geographic Regions

Question 1 Rubric6 pointsPart (a): 3 points One point is earned for each correct description of a factor

affecting voter participation in elections.

Acceptable descriptions include:

The voter registration requirement diminishes voter participation by requiring citizens to register prior to an election.

Lack of penalties for not voting diminishes voter participation because there are no legal consequences for failing to vote.

Long ballots dissuade voters from voting for all offices. Frequent elections dissuade voters from going to the polls.

Question 1 Rubric

• Part (b): 3 points One point is earned for each correct description of a factor

affecting voter behavior in presidential elections. Race: Whites are more likely to vote Republican; African

Americans and Hispanics/Latino are more likely to vote Democratic.

Party identification: Voters generally vote with the party with which they are identified.

Geographic regions: Several patterns exist; for example, the South tends to vote Republican, the Pacific Coast tens to vote Democratic, and the Rocky Mountain region tends to vote Republican.

A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.

A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

a. Explain how each of the following can restrict presidential power.

“Power of the purse” The appointment confirmation processb. Explain how each of the following can restrict

congressional power. Presidential power as commander-in-chief Executive privilegec. Explain how each of the following can restrict

judicial power Enforcement of judicial rulings Constitutional amendments

Each policy-making institution in the United States federal government is subject to restrictions on its power

Question 2 Rubric

6 pointsPart (a): 2 points

One point is earned for each correct explanation of how the “power of the purse” and the appointment confirmation process can restrict presidential power.

Acceptable explanations include:

Power of the purse: Congress controls appropriations. The president may request funding, but Congress can deny such requests.

Question 2 RubricPart (a): continued

Appointment confirmation: The president can appoint officials, but the Senate can reject those appointments.

Note: In each case above, the student must explain how or why each limits the power of the institution in question.

Question 2 RubricPart (b): 2 points One point is earned for each correct explanation of how

the president’s power as commander-in-chief and executive privilege can restrict congressional power.


President’s power as commander-in-chief; Congress may have the power to declare war, but the president is commander-in-chief and can therefore deploy troops as he or she sees fit.

Question 2 RubricPart (b): continued

Executive privilege: Congress has the powers of oversight and investigation, but the president can refuse to disclose conversations that he or she had with the White House staff.

Question 2 RubricPart (c): 2 points

One point earned for each correct explanation of how enforcement of judicial rulings and constitutional amendments can restrict congressional power.

Enforcement of judicial rulings: Courts can issue rulings, but they have no enforcement mechanism to ensure that the rulings are carried out. The courts depend upon others for enforcement.

Question 2 RubricPart (c): continued

Constitutional amendments: Courts can interpret the Constitution, but Congress and the states can pass constitutional amendments.



Several characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress. Because of the perception that interest groups exert undue influence, Congress has regulated

the influence of these groups.

a. Describe how each of the characteristics of an interest group can enhance its influence over Congress.

Financial resourcesExpertiseSize

b. Identify two ways in which Congress has regulated the influence of interest groups.

Question 3 Rubric

5 points

Part (a) 3 points

One point is earned for explaining how each specified characteristic of an interest group can enhance its influence over congress.


Question 3 Rubric

Financial resources can enhance the influence of an interest group because money enables interest groups to campaign, make monetary contributions, buy independent television time, and employ a large staff.

Question 3 Rubric

Part (a): continued

Expertise enhances influence because members of Congress will pay attention to and respect what members of the interest group have to say.


Size enhances influence because the larger the group, the greater the ability to deliver votes and other resources. The larger the group, the greater the potential for fundraising and campaign contributions to influence members of Congress.

Question 3 Rubric

Part (b): 2 points

One point is earned for each of two identifications of the ways in which Congress has attempted to limit the influence of interest groups.

Question 3 RubricPart (b): continuedAcceptable identifications may include:

Registration requirements for lobbyists.

Limitations on campaign contributions

Disclosure of campaign contributions

Limitations on independent expenditures: for example, an issue advocacy ad cannot explicitly endorse a candidate.


Restrictions on former members of Congress: for example, a two-year “cooling-off” period before the former member can lobby Congress.



Many people are concerned about large deficits in the federal budget. Rarely does the federal government balance its budget.

a. Define balanced budget.

b. Define federal entitlements.

c. Identify an entitlement and explain how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget.

d. Describe a consequence of large budget deficits.

Question 4 Rubric

Part (a): 1 point

One point is earned for defining a balanced budget, noting the salient point that a budget is balanced when federal spending equals federal income.

Question 4 RubricPart (b): 1 point

One point is earned for defining federal entitlements.

An acceptable definition includes:

A federal entitlement is a federal program that guarantees a specific level of benefits to persons (or other entities) who meet requirements set by law, such as Social Security, farm price supports, or unemployment benefits.

Question 4 Rubric

Part (b): continued

Reference may also be make to “eligibility” (a person receives an entitlement if he or she meets certain requirements) and “mandate” (spending that is required by law).

Question 4 RubricPart (c): 2 points

One point is earned for identifying a federal entitlement.

MedicaidMedicareSocial SecurityVeteran’s Administration programsUnemployment programsFood StampsFederal employee and military

retirement plans


Note: This is not exhaustive.

One point is earned for explaining how entitlements are a barrier to the federal government achieving a balanced budget.

Acceptable explanations for impediments:


Congress has no discretion on how much money to appropriate.

Since Congress must spend money on entitlement programs, it has insufficient discretion to bring about a balanced budget.

Since entitlements account for more than two-thirds of the federal budget, Congress is not left with much to cut in order to bring about a balanced budget.

Question 4 RubricPart (d): 1 pointOne point is earned for describing a consequence of large

budget deficits.

Acceptable descriptions include:

There is a large amount of interest paid on the debt.

Deferring payment puts a burden on future generations.

A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

Many scholars and observers have argued that the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution has become the single most important act in all of United States politics.

a. Identify which provision of the Fourteenth Amendment was applied in one of the following Supreme Court cases. For the case you select, explain the significance of the decision in United States politics.

a. continued

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

(b). Identify which provision of the Fourteenth Amendment was applied in one of the following Supreme Court cases. For the case you select, explain the significance of the decision in United States politics.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Question 5 Rubric6 pointsPart (a): 3 pointsIdentification:(1point) Identification of the “provision.” Must

use “equal protection.”Explanation:

(1 point) Factual statement about the holding.(1 point) Explanation of the significance or impact of the case in United States politics


Must go beyond the holding of the case

For example: “led to Civil Rights movement”

NOT credited: “Brown led to desegregation of public schools”

Question 5 RubricPart (b): 3 points

Identification:

(1 point) identification of the “provision.” Must use “due process.”

Explanation:

(1 point) Factual statement about the holding.

(1 point) Explanation of the significance or impact of the case in United States politics

Must go beyond holding of the caseNOT credited “All police must read Miranda

rights”

Question 5 Rubric



The concept of “divided government” in the United States means that one political party can control the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the President in making appointments to federal offices.

Question 6a. Describe two problems that

divided government poses for the President in making federal appointments.

b. Identify and explain two ways Presidents try to overcome the problems described in (a).

Question 6 RubricPart (a): 2 points possible (1 point per description)Part (a): (Problems posed for Presidents):Simple, declarative statement acceptable for description

greater policy conflict likely/ideological conflict narrows the field of potential candidates offices go unfilled tougher committee scrutiny harder to get congressional/Senate/legislature

approval/confirmation/ratification of appointments (House not acceptable)

more frequent character attacks on nominees

Senatorial courtesy does not apply

Question 6 RubricPart (b): 4 points possible (1 point for each of 2

identifications, 1 point for each of 2 explanations)

Part (b): (ways Presidents overcome problems)One point for identification; second point for

explanation only available after adequate identification. Explanation must answer how Presidents’ efforts work to overcome problems. Reference to approval/ratification/confirmation must include reference to Senate/Congress. Reference to congress or legislature is acceptable; (House is NOT)


generate public support (including use of media)

compromise on choices (ideological compromise)

building coalitions in Congressmaking deals (e.g., veto as threat)building coalitions with interest

groupsmaking interim recess appointments


more intense background screening of nominees (looking for “bulletproof” candidates)

selecting more minority nominees (i.e., “diversification”)

increased reliance on White House staff (when forced to appoint officials not in line with Presidents position)

A score of zero (0) is earned for an attempted answer that earns no points.A score of dash (---) is earned for a blank or off-task answer.

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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS AND RUBRICS