Transcript 2003 FRQ Questions Mitch White

AP US Government and Politics
2003 FRQs
By Mitch White
[email protected]
Marist Summer Institute
July 14, 2010
2003 AP US Gov FRQ #1
• Presidential approval ratings fluctuate over
the course of each presidential administration.
– A. Identify two factors that decrease presidential
approval ratings, and explain why each factor has
that effect.
– B. Identify two factors that decrease presidential
approval ratings, and explain why each factor has
that effect.
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Essential Questions
• What factors increase and decrease
presidential approval ratings?
• How or why do these factors change
presidential approval ratings?
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Vocabulary
• Presidential Approval Rating:
– The percentage of Americans who approve of the
way the President is handling his job as President
– As measured by a poll, most notably the Gallup
Poll
– Presidential approval drives presidential influence,
and his ability to get things done (especially
getting legislation passed).
– See Wilson, pp. 423-424
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Presidential Approval Ratings
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FACTORS THAT CAN DECREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS
Presidential
Scandals
Expectations
Gap
• Almost always lower presidential approval
• Exs: Watergate, Iran-Contra, Monica Lewinsky
• May be exceptions for especially good handling (e.g. “Checkers”)
• Result of overly-ambitious campaign promises
• Exs: Carter (change D.C.), Bush 41 (“no new taxes”)
Decline in
Popularity
over term
(time)
• Approval usually goes down overtime as “honeymoon” wears off
• Exs: All Presidents from HST through BHO EXCEPT:
• Ford (Special case), Reagan & Clinton (Unusually gifted politicians)
Bad
Economic
Conditions
• President gets the blame (regardless of underlying causes)
• Exs: Carter, Bush 41, Obama
FACTORS THAT CAN DECREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS
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FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS
Use of
Media
(“Spin”)
• Effective use of media (radio, TV, newspapers, Internet) can
increase ratings above what they otherwise would be
• Exs: Kennedy, Reagan
• Note: Ineffective use of media does not in itself lower ratings
Good
Economic
• President gets the credit (regardless of underlying causes
• Exs: Eisenhower 1st term, Reagan (post-1982), Clinton
• Note: Ineffective use of media does not in itself lower ratings
Conditions
Reelection
(Campaign
Effect)
Most
Foreign
Policy
Problems /
Crises
• Effect of running / making oneself attractive
• Exs: Nixon in 1972, Reagan in 1984
• Crises almost always raise popularity in the short term
• Obvious exs: Release of Iranian hostages (RWR), 9/11 (GWB)
• Less obvious exs: Bay of Pigs Invasion (JFK), Failed Iran hostage
rescue attempt (JEC)
• But NOTE: Sustained international failures over a long period of
can devastate presidential popularity (Vietnam, LBJ)
FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL RATINGS
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HOW or WHY
• Each explanation must include either how by…)
or why (because…) the factor causes change in
approval ratings, e.g.:
– By allowing Americans to see the President in a
positive light, the effective use of media can increase
presidential approval ratings. (HOW)
– International problems usually increase presidential
approval ratings (at least in the short term), because
Americans want to feel unified behind their leader in
times of foreign crises (WHY)
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2003 AP US Gov FRQ #2
• Citizens often chose to participate in the
political process in ways other than voting
– A. Identify two forms of participation in the
political process other than voting
– B. Explain two advantages of each form of
participation you identified in (A).
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Essential Questions
• What are the ways (other than voting) that
citizens can participate in the political
process?
• What are the advantages of each form of
participation?
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting)
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting)
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting)
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting)
Litigation
Protest
Contacting
• No large number of people necessary (one person can
originate)
• Appeal to principle / law as opposed to public opinion
• Ex: Brown v. Board of Education
• Public attention and sympathy
• Low cost, often immediate response
• Ex: Montgomery Bus Boycott
• Direct access to leaders, magnification of numbers
• Target specific actors and policy areas
• Ex: Letter to the editor, writing a congresswoman
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting) cont.
Campaign work /
voter registration
• Multiply individual interest
• Training ground
• Ex: Freedom Summer
Running / holding
political office
• Direct influence on political decision-making
• Ability to set policy agenda
• Exs: Ralph Nader (2000), Harvey Milk
Political
discussions
• Bring others’ attention to the issues
• Multiply influence
• Exs: Discussing abortion with a friend
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Ways citizens participate in political
process (other than voting) cont.
Membership
in political
organization
• Solidarity with like-minded individuals
• Magnifying effect and impact
• Exs: NRA, NAACP, ACLU, AARP, NORML
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2003 AP US Gov FRQ #3
• Using the data in the graph above and your knowledge of United
States politics, perform the following tasks:
– Identify two trends shown in the graph.
– Explain how each of the following contributes to the difference
between the federal and the state and local lines in the graph.
• Block grants
• Federal mandates
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Essential Question
• Which level(s) of government are growing the
fastest and what are the factors driving this
growth?
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FRQ #3 Vocabulary
• Block Grants (see Edwards, pp. 86-88)
– Federal money given to states (or local communities) without a
specific purpose or category. The grantee can spend the money
using its own discretion within a broad area such as community
development or social services.
– Compare categorical grants, which represent federal money
sent to state and local governments with specific requirements
of how that money will be spent.
• Federal Mandates
– Federal laws or regulations that require states and/or localities
to take some action which will cost money, but without all (or in
some cases, any) of the necessary federal money attached.
– Exs: ADA, NCLB
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Trends
• Remember – in order to qualify as a trend, your answer must span more than
one data point!
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Acceptable Trends
Federal Level
Stays Constant
State/local
levels show
general increase
State / local
show decline
after 1990
Widening gap
between the
two lines
Federal level
dropped until
1947
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Block Grants
States able to obtain
increased resources
from Federal
government /
definition of block
grants
Led to
Increases in state and
local hiring
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Federal Mandates
Shift of responsibility
to states / definition
of federal mandates
Led to
Increases in state and
local hiring
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2003 AP US Gov FRQ #4
• Both party leadership and committees in
Congress play key roles in the legislative process
– A. Define two of the following elements of the
congressional committee system and explain how
each influences the legislative process
• Specialization
• Reciprocity/logrolling
• Party representation on committees
– B. Identify two ways party leadership in Congress can
influence the legislative process, and explain how
each way influences the process.
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Essential Question
• How does Congressional leadership and
committees influence the legislative process?
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2003 FRQ #4 Vocabulary
• Specialization
– Members of Congress develop policy expertise
• Reciprocity / logrolling
– Vote trading / exchanges
– Bargaining
• Party representation on committees
– Representation is reflective of the chamber as a
whole
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Reciprocity /
logrolling
Specialization
Party representation
on committees
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Reciprocity /
logrolling
Specialization
• Development of
Expertise
• Independence
from Executive
Branch
• More attention
paid to legislation
• Division of labor
• Better legislation
(Explain HOW)
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Speeds process
Government more
expansive (can do
more)
More porkbarrel
spending (linked to
reciprocity)
Note: Electoral
success NOT
accepted (doesn’t
influence legislative
process)
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Party representation
on committees
• Party pushes its
own agenda
• Party determines
leadership on
committees
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Party Leadership
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Assignment of members to committees
Assignment of committee chairs
Agenda-setting (rules committee)
Party discipline
Leadership use of media
Recognition on floor
Leadership control of electoral support
Note: Explain HOW above influences legislative process
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