AP United States Government and Politics

Topics may include:

• The ideals of democracy as shown in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
• Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on central government and democracy
• Separation of powers and “checks and balances”
• The relationship between the states and the national government (federalism)
• How federalism has been interpreted differently over time

On The Exam

15%–22% of multiple-choice score

Topics may include:

• The structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress
• The roles and powers of the president
• The roles and powers of the Supreme Court and other federal courts
• The roles of the federal bureaucracy (departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations)

On The Exam

25%–36% of multiple-choice score

Topics may include:

• The intent of the Bill of Rights
• The First Amendment (freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press) and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it
• The Second Amendment (the right to bear arms) and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it
• Supreme Court interpretations of other amendments
• How the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment have motivated social movements

On The Exam

13%–18% of multiple-choice score

Topics may include:

• How cultural and social factors affect citizens’ beliefs about government
• How polls are used to gather data about public opinion
• The ideologies of the Democratic and Republican parties
• How political ideologies affect policy on economic and social issues

On The Exam

10%–15% of multiple-choice score

Topics may include:

• Laws that protect the right to vote
• Why it’s hard for third parties and independent candidates to succeed
• Interest groups and their influence
• Campaign finance and its role in elections
• The media’s role in elections

On The Exam

20%–27% of multiple-choice score