AP US Government and Politics case studies
AP US Government and Politics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
AP United States Government and Politics is a College Board Advanced Placement course and exam equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in U.S. It is designed for high school students who want to examine the relationships between the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court and explore how political ideologies and opinions shape American politics. The AP US Government and Politics case studies are 5 cases and about 2,704 words.
1The Stalled Redistricting Commission
A state with 8 congressional districts passed a ballot initiative creating a 5-member independent redistricting commission: two members chosen by the majority party, two by the minority party, and a fifth chosen by the other four. The fifth member must be an unaffiliated voter.
578 words, about 3 min2The Pocket Veto That Wasn't
Congress passes a spending bill on November 20 and presents it to the President on November 22. Congress adjourns sine die on December 18 for the year; the new Congress convenes January 3.
557 words, about 3 min3The Speech That Cost a Scholarship
A public university awards a merit scholarship funded by a state appropriation. A student, Jordan, posts on a personal social media account a profane criticism of the university's president, calling her 'a corrupt hack who should be fired.' The post includes a photo of the president taken at a public event.
541 words, about 3 min4The Poll That Moves the Race
A statewide race is tied 48-48 with two weeks left. A campaign internal poll (n=600 likely voters, margin of error ±4) shows its candidate ahead 51-45 after a negative ad.
495 words, about 2 min5The Ballot Initiative and the Signature Threshold
A state requires 8% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election (about 250,000 signatures) to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. A coalition gathers 300,000 signatures but submits them 30 days before the deadline, and the secretary of state's verification process takes 45 days.
533 words, about 3 min