The AP U. S. and Comparative Government and Politics

Excelling on the
AP Government &
Politics Exams
About This Book and TESTware®

This book, along with REA’s exclusive TESTware® software, will prepare you for the Advanced Placement Examinations in Government and Politics by giving you, first and foremost, an accurate and complete representation of the actual exams for both United States Government and Politics and Comparative Government and Politics. But REA doesn’t stop there: we give you thorough yet concise subject reviews, a series of targeted drills, and an up-to-date glossary that comprises the full range of terminology with which you should be familiar.

If you are taking the United States Government and Politics exam, you’ll want to concentrate on Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is devoted to the Comparative Government and Politics exam. In both cases, you’ll find a lively course review keyed to exactly the material you’ll need to know to score well on the test, complemented by our handy glossary to help you get the most out of your study time. Three complete practice exams are provided for U.S. Government and Politics, while two full-length practice exams are provided for Comparative Government and Politics.

Practice Test 1 for AP U.S. Government and Politics and Practice Test 4 for AP Comparative Government and Politics are included in two formats: in printed form in this book and in TESTware® format on the enclosed CD. We recommend that you begin your preparation by first taking the computerized version of your test. The software provides timed conditions and instantaneous, accurate scoring, which make it all the easier to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses.

Each REA practice exam features an answer key and detailed explanations for every question. The explanations not only provide the correct response but also tell you why the remaining answers shouldn’t be chosen.

By going over the appropriate review section(s), taking the corresponding exam(s), and studying our detailed explanations, you will discover your strengths and weaknesses and prepare yourself to score well on the AP Government and Politics exams.

About the Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement Program is designed to provide high school students with the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still attending high school. The program consists of two components: an AP course and an AP exam. In addition, the AP Government and Politics curriculum is divided into two courses: United States Government & Politics and Comparative Government & Politics.

If you wish to pursue an Advanced Placement Government and Politics course, you may enroll in the United States course, the Comparative course, or both. You will be expected to leave the course(s) with college-level writing skills and knowledge of government and politics. Upon completion of the course(s), you may then take the corresponding AP exam(s). Test results are then used to grant course credit and/or determine placement level in the subject when you enter college.

 

AP exams are administered every May. The exam schedule has been designed to allow you the opportunity to take both exams, if you are enrolled in both courses. If the United States exam is given during the morning administration, the Comparative exam will be given during the afternoon administration.

The AP United States Government & Politics Exam

The United States exam is 145 minutes in length and is divided into two sections:
  I.            Multiple-Choice (50% of your grade): This 45-minute section is composed of 60 questions designed to measure your understanding of facts, concepts, and theories pertinent to United States government and politics. Your ability to analyze and understand data, and the patterns and consequences involved with political processes and behaviors, will also be tested. In addition you must have knowledge of the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas relevant to United States government and politics.

II.  Free-Response (50% of your grade): This 100-minute section consists of four mandatory questions, each of which accounts for one-fourth of your total free-response score. You should allot roughly 25 minutes—or one-quarter of the total time in the free-response segment—for each essay. Each question normally asks you to interrelate ideas from different content areas from among the topics listed below. In addition, you may also be asked to evaluate and define fundamental concepts in the study of United States politics, and possibly to analyze case studies that bear on political relationships and events in the United States. You will be required to demonstrate mastery of political interpretation, and analytic and organizational skills through writing. In addition, you may be presented with graphs, charts, and tables from whose data you would be asked to draw logical conclusions.
      Here’s a breakdown of coverage on the United States exam:
 
Topics

1.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"   % of Exam

I.

Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government

5-15%

II.

Political Beliefs and Behaviors

10-20%

III.

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media

10-20%

IV.

Institutions of National Government:
The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts
35-45%

T-SIZE: 11.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"V.

Public Policy

5-15%

VI.

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

5-15%

 
The AP Comparative Government & Politics Exam
The Comparative exam is 145 minutes long and is divided into two -sections:
tyle="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"I.            Multiple-Choice (50% of your grade): This 45-minute section is composed of 55 questions designed to measure your understanding of facts, concepts, and theories pertinent to comparative government and politics. Your ability to analyze and understand data, and the patterns and consequences involved with political processes and behaviors will also be tested. Six countries, referred to as core countries, are covered: the United Kingdom, the Russian -Federation, the People’s Republic of China, Mexico, Nigeria, and Iran. For certain questions, basic knowledge of the United States will be assumed.

II.  Free-Response (50% of your grade): This 100-minute section consists of eight mandatory questions. Comparative free-response questions require you to provide brief definitions or descriptions of five concepts or terms, and their significance; to identify and explain relationships using major concepts from comparative politics, and to discuss the causes and implications of politics and policy; and to use core concepts in an analysis of one or more of the countries studied during the course. In answering the definitions and descriptions questions, the student will note that the responses are confined to a single paragraph. The key to this type of essay is to illustrate the concept completely, yet with brevity. Also, if the concept can be further illustrated by an event in one of the case study countries, then it should be referred to, preferably as a closing sentence in the response.
      Here’s a breakdown of coverage on the Comparative exam:
 
I.     Introduction to Comparative Politics  5%
II.   Sovereignty, Authority, and Power 20%
III.  Political Institutions  35%
IV.  Citizens, Society, and the State 15%
V.   Political and Economic Change 15%
VI.  Public Policy 10%
 
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK AND TESTware®
What do I study first?

To begin your studies, read over the introduction and the suggestions for test taking. Take the appropriate Practice Test for either AP U.S. Government and Politics or AP Comparative Government and Politics on CD-ROM. This will allow you to determine your strengths and weaknesses. Next, study the course review material focusing on your specific problem areas. The course review includes the information you need to know when taking the exam. To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule, which you will find in the front of this book.

SSD accommodations for students with disabilities
Many students qualify for extra time to take the AP exams and our -TESTware® can be adapted to accommodate your time extension. This allows you to practice under the same extended time accommodations that you will receive on the actual test day. To customize your -TESTware® to suit the most common extensions, visit our website at www.rea.com/ssd.

About the Review Sections
As mentioned earlier, this book includes two reviews: one for United States Government and Politics, the other for Comparative Government and Politics.
The United States Government and Politics Review covers all of the key information you’ll need to score well on the United States exam. These topics include:
•            American Political Literacy
•            Constitutional Framework
•            The Federal Government
•            Public Policy
•            Political Institutions and Special Interests
•&#...