2026 AP Gov Review

FRQ

1

How many FRQ questions are there on the AP Gov. Exam? 

 4 Free-response questions

2

If an FRQ question asks you to describe something you should...

Use at least two full sentences.  

3

How long do you get for FRQ questions 1-3? 

1. Concept Application - 20 min

2. Quantitative Analysis- 20 min

3. SCOTUS Comparison- 20 min

60 min for 1-3. 

4

Define and Identify involve writing at least how many sentences? 

1. 

5

If an FRQ asks you to explain you should ...

Use three full sentences and an example. 

The Constitution

1

This Article of the Constitution establishes the constitution as the "supreme law of the land"

Article VI

2

Article I, Section 8 of the constitution establishes...

the expressed powers of congress

3

This branch of government is responsible for creating lower courts (aka every federal court that is not the Supreme Court)

The Legislative Branch

4

Sometimes Congress has to do things that are not EXPRESSLY written in the constitution. They can do so because of...

The Elastic Clause

(The Necessary and Proper Clause)

5

If a person immigrates to this country, which government position are they disqualified from running for?

The President.

Required Documents

1

Framework for the US Government

The US Constitution

2

Argued that a large republic was the best defense against the "tyranny of factions."

Federalist 10

3

Written by MLK Jr. in order to defend the expansion of civil rights.

Letter from a Birmingham Jail

4

Defended the importance of a federal judiciary

Federalist 78

5

Discusses the importance of Checks and Balances to a federalist government

Federalist 51

Supreme Court Cases

1

Protected students' right to free speech.

Tinker v. Des Moines

2

Tested America's commitment to the free exercise clause

Wisconsin v. Yoder

3

Created the "clear and present danger" test for free speech

Schenck v. United States

4

Established the process of Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison

5

In Engel v. Vitale, it was determined that a prayer in public school was inappropriate because it violated the...

establishment clause

Miscellaneous

1

The peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles within a political body...

Pluralism or Pluralist View

2

Specific powers granted to Congress by the United States Constitution. 

Enumerated or Expressed Powers. 

3

A provision inserted into a discretionary spending bill that directs money to a specific recipient while circumventing the merit-based competitive funds allocation process. 

Earmark

4

A parliamentary procedure where one or more members of Congress debate over a proposed piece of legislation to delay or prevent a decision being made. 

Filibuster

5

Kind of Economics where the government increases spending when in a recession and decreases spending when inflation is high. 

Keynesian Economics.