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AP US Government and Politics study materials
AP US Government and Politics study resources

AP US Government and Politics practice questions

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Question 1Foundations of American Democracy

Which principle holds that government power ultimately rests with the consent of the people?

  1. Popular sovereignty Correct answer.
  2. Judicial review
  3. Separation of powers
  4. Federalism

Explanation

Popular sovereignty is the foundational idea that political authority originates with the people, who delegate it to government through constitutions and elections. The other options describe structural arrangements rather than the source of authority itself.

Question 2Foundations of American Democracy

The Framers' decision to divide governing authority among legislative, executive, and judicial branches primarily sought to achieve which goal?

  1. Preventing any single faction from controlling government Correct answer.
  2. Establishing direct democracy at the national level
  3. Eliminating the influence of political parties
  4. Guaranteeing equal representation for small states

Explanation

Montesquieu's insight, adopted by Madison, was that separating powers lets ambition counter ambition, so no single group can capture all of government. This reflects the Framers' concern about tyranny, including majority faction.

Question 3Foundations of American Democracy

Under the Constitution, which power is reserved to the states?

  1. Establishing local governments Correct answer.
  2. Declaring war
  3. Coining money
  4. Regulating interstate commerce

Explanation

The Tenth Amendment reserves to the states powers not delegated to the national government, and establishing local governments is a classic example. The other listed powers are enumerated federal powers under Article I.

Question 4Foundations of American Democracy

A small state with a large population relative to other states would most likely favor which legislative arrangement?

  1. Appointment of senators by state legislatures with no popular input
  2. Equal representation in both chambers regardless of population
  3. Population-based representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate Correct answer.
  4. Representation in both chambers based on population

Explanation

Large-population states supported the Virginia Plan's population-based representation, while small states backed the New Jersey Plan's equal representation. The Connecticut Compromise combined them, producing a population-based House and an equal-state Senate.

Question 5Foundations of American Democracy

Which clause of the Constitution requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states?

  1. The Full Faith and Credit Clause Correct answer.
  2. The Supremacy Clause
  3. The Privileges and Immunities Clause
  4. The Necessary and Proper Clause

Explanation

Article IV's Full Faith and Credit Clause obligates states to honor one another's official acts and records, promoting interstate legal consistency. It is distinct from the clauses governing citizenship privileges and federal supremacy.

Question 6Foundations of American Democracy

Which clause has been the primary constitutional basis for the expansion of federal regulatory power over the economy?

  1. The Tenth Amendment
  2. The Takings Clause
  3. The Commerce Clause Correct answer.
  4. The Second Amendment

Explanation

Article I grants Congress power to regulate interstate commerce, and courts have broadly interpreted this to uphold federal regulation of many economic activities. This makes it a central engine of federal expansion.

Question 7Foundations of American Democracy

The Anti-Federalists' strongest objection to the proposed Constitution was that it

  1. permitted states to coin their own money
  2. gave too much power to state governments
  3. created too weak a national executive
  4. lacked a bill of rights protecting individuals from the national government Correct answer.

Explanation

Anti-Federalists such as George Mason and Patrick Henry argued that a powerful national government without explicit protections would endanger individual liberties. The promise to add a Bill of Rights secured ratification.

Question 8Foundations of American Democracy

Which statement best describes a confederation as a form of government?

  1. Sovereign states retain authority and delegate limited powers to a central body Correct answer.
  2. A central authority holds most power while subunits are subordinate
  3. A single unitary government administers all territory directly
  4. Power is divided between a central government and regional governments that share sovereignty

Explanation

In a confederation, the constituent states remain sovereign and the central body acts only with delegated authority, as under the Articles of Confederation. This contrasts with federal systems that divide sovereignty and unitary systems that concentrate it.

Question 9Foundations of American Democracy

The Three-Fifths Compromise resolved a dispute over which issue?

  1. Whether Congress could regulate commerce
  2. Whether the Senate would have equal representation
  3. How the president would be elected
  4. How slaves would be counted for representation and taxation Correct answer.

Explanation

Southern and Northern delegates disagreed over whether enslaved people would count toward population for House seats and direct taxes. The compromise counted three-fifths of the enslaved population for those purposes.

Question 10Foundations of American Democracy

Why did the Framers create an Electoral College rather than provide for direct popular election of the president?

  1. They intended the president to serve at the pleasure of Congress
  2. They sought to guarantee that the president would be chosen by state governors
  3. They believed voters could not legally choose any federal official
  4. They wanted to insulate selection from uninformed popular passions and give small states influence Correct answer.

Explanation

The Framers distrusted direct democracy and designed electors as informed intermediaries, while the electoral formula also gave smaller states disproportionate weight. The system reflected both concerns about popular passion and compromises among states.

Question 11Foundations of American Democracy

Which feature of the Articles of Confederation most directly contributed to economic instability in the 1780s?

  1. The national government had a powerful executive
  2. Congress could not levy taxes or regulate interstate commerce Correct answer.
  3. States were prohibited from issuing paper money
  4. A national judiciary resolved disputes between states

Explanation

Without taxation or commerce power, Congress could not fund debts or create a coherent national market, and states pursued conflicting policies. This weakness motivated the Annapolis and Philadelphia conventions.

Question 12Foundations of American Democracy

A federal grant that requires states to meet specific conditions in exchange for funds is best described as

  1. an unfunded mandate
  2. a block grant
  3. a categorical grant Correct answer.
  4. a concurrent power

Explanation

Categorical grants target specific purposes and come with detailed conditions, giving the national government leverage over state policy. Block grants are broader and more flexible, while mandates impose requirements without funding.

Question 13Foundations of American Democracy

Which constitutional provision was designed to prevent states from interfering with valid federal law?

  1. The Establishment Clause
  2. The Full Faith and Credit Clause
  3. The Tenth Amendment
  4. The Supremacy Clause Correct answer.

Explanation

Article VI declares the Constitution and federal laws made under it the supreme law of the land, binding state judges and officials. This establishes federal legal primacy in cases of conflict.

Question 14Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of concurrent powers?

  1. Only Congress may declare war
  2. Only states may establish public schools
  3. Both the national and state governments may levy taxes Correct answer.
  4. The president may veto state legislation

Explanation

Concurrent powers are shared by both levels of government, and taxation is the standard example, along with borrowing and establishing courts. Powers held exclusively by one level are not concurrent.

Question 15Foundations of American Democracy

Madison's argument in Federalist No. 10 addresses the problem of faction primarily by claiming that

  1. an extended republic with many competing interests makes it harder for any one faction to dominate Correct answer.
  2. a small republic is best because citizens share common interests
  3. factions should be outlawed by the national government
  4. religious unity is necessary for political stability

Explanation

Madison argued that a large republic multiplies factions and forces compromise, making majority tyranny less likely than in a small republic. He rejected eliminating factions as impossible without destroying liberty.

Question 16Foundations of American Democracy

The Connecticut Compromise resolved the conflict between the Virginia and New Jersey Plans by

  1. granting the president power to appoint senators
  2. abolishing the Articles of Confederation entirely
  3. creating a bicameral legislature with population-based representation in one chamber and equal state representation in the other Correct answer.
  4. counting slaves as full persons for representation

Explanation

The compromise combined the Virginia Plan's population-based lower house with the New Jersey Plan's equal state representation in the upper house. It settled the central dispute over legislative apportionment.

Question 17Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following is an example of a check the Senate has on the executive branch?

  1. Commanding the armed forces
  2. Impeaching the president
  3. Confirming presidential appointments Correct answer.
  4. Declaring presidential actions unconstitutional

Explanation

The Senate's advice-and-consent role allows it to confirm or reject presidential nominations, a key check on executive appointments. Impeachment originates in the House, and only courts declare actions unconstitutional.

Question 18Foundations of American Democracy

The Framers' concept of a republic differs from a direct democracy chiefly because a republic

  1. concentrates authority in a hereditary monarch
  2. allows citizens to vote directly on all legislation
  3. relies on elected representatives to make policy decisions Correct answer.
  4. eliminates the need for a written constitution

Explanation

A republic filters public opinion through elected representatives, whereas direct democracy lets citizens decide policy themselves. The Framers favored the representative model as a safeguard against majority passion.

Question 19Foundations of American Democracy

Which clause grants Congress the authority to make laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers?

  1. The Bill of Attainder Clause
  2. The Taxing and Spending Clause
  3. The Necessary and Proper Clause Correct answer.
  4. The Commerce Clause

Explanation

Article I, Section 8's Necessary and Proper Clause, or elastic clause, authorizes implied powers that support enumerated ones. It has been used to justify broad federal action such as a national bank.

Question 20Foundations of American Democracy

A state law directly conflicts with a valid federal statute. Under the Supremacy Clause, the state law is

  1. enforceable until Congress repeals its statute
  2. invalid to the extent of the conflict Correct answer.
  3. enforceable if approved by the state legislature
  4. valid if the state law was passed first

Explanation

Federal law prevails over conflicting state law under Article VI, so the conflicting state provision is preempted. Timing or state approval does not alter this hierarchy.

Question 21Foundations of American Democracy

The main purpose of the Bill of Rights was to

  1. establish the structure of the federal judiciary
  2. expand the enumerated powers of Congress
  3. define the powers reserved to state governors
  4. limit the powers of the national government over individuals Correct answer.

Explanation

The first ten amendments were added to protect individual liberties against the new national government, responding to Anti-Federalist concerns. Their original scope was a limitation on federal power.

Question 22Foundations of American Democracy

Which statement reflects the principle of federalism as established by the Constitution?

  1. All governing authority is concentrated in the national government
  2. The national government may abolish states at will
  3. States may nullify federal laws they consider unconstitutional
  4. Authority is divided between a national government and state governments, each with constitutionally protected powers Correct answer.

Explanation

Federalism divides sovereign authority between national and state governments, each deriving powers from the Constitution. This division is protected by provisions such as the Tenth Amendment and Article IV.

Question 23Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best explains why the Framers included the Tenth Amendment?

  1. To grant Congress additional implied powers
  2. To reassure states that undelegated powers would remain with them Correct answer.
  3. To establish the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction
  4. To prohibit states from making treaties

Explanation

The Tenth Amendment codified the principle that powers not delegated to the national government nor prohibited to states are reserved to the states or the people. It responded to fears of an overreaching central government.

Question 24Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following scenarios most clearly implicates the Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV?

  1. A state imposes a sales tax on goods sold within its borders
  2. A state requires its own residents to serve on juries
  3. A state charges out-of-state residents a higher fee than residents for a commercial license Correct answer.
  4. A state requires all drivers to pass a road test

Explanation

Article IV's Privileges and Immunities Clause bars states from discriminating against nonresidents in fundamental privileges, including pursuing a livelihood. A higher license fee for nonresidents is the classic violation.

Question 25Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best reflects the Framers' understanding of how ambition could be made to counteract ambition?

  1. The states are given the power to recall members of Congress
  2. Each branch is given the means and motives to resist encroachments by the others Correct answer.
  3. Each branch is elected by the same constituency on the same schedule
  4. The judiciary is made subordinate to the legislature in all matters

Explanation

Madison in Federalist No. 51 argued that the constitutional structure must supply each branch with the institutional means to defend its prerogatives. This is why the branches have distinct constituencies, terms, and check powers.

Question 26Foundations of American Democracy

The Framers' decision to divide power between a national government and state governments is known as which principle?

  1. Federalism Correct answer.
  2. Separation of powers
  3. Checks and balances
  4. Popular sovereignty

Explanation

Federalism is the constitutional principle that divides governmental authority between a central government and constituent state governments, each with its own sphere of power. The other principles refer to different structural arrangements: separation of powers divides functions among branches, popular sovereignty locates ultimate authority in the people, and checks and balances allows branches to limit one another.

Question 27Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best describes the Great Compromise's effect on representation in Congress?

  1. It created a bicameral legislature with representation in the House based on population and equal representation in the Senate. Correct answer.
  2. It abolished the Articles of Confederation and created a parliamentary system.
  3. It provided for a single executive chosen by state legislatures.
  4. It established a unicameral legislature with representation based solely on state population.

Explanation

The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) resolved the dispute between large and small states by creating a two-house Congress: the House apportions seats by population, while the Senate gives each state equal representation. This blended the Virginia Plan's population-based model with the New Jersey Plan's state-equality model.

Question 28Foundations of American Democracy

Which constitutional clause has been interpreted to allow Congress to regulate activities that are not explicitly listed among its enumerated powers?

  1. The full faith and credit clause
  2. The establishment clause
  3. The necessary and proper clause Correct answer.
  4. The privileges and immunities clause of Article IV

Explanation

The necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8) grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers, and the Supreme Court in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) interpreted it broadly to imply additional federal powers. The other clauses address interstate recognition of acts, interstate nondiscrimination, and religious establishment, respectively.

Question 29Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following is an example of a reserved power under the Constitution?

  1. Establishing local governments Correct answer.
  2. Regulating interstate commerce
  3. Coining money
  4. Declaring war

Explanation

Reserved powers are those not delegated to the federal government nor prohibited to the states; the Tenth Amendment confirms that they are reserved to the states or the people. Establishing local governments is a traditional state function, whereas coining money, declaring war, and regulating interstate commerce are enumerated federal powers.

Question 30Foundations of American Democracy

A state enacts a tax on all out-of-state businesses that sell goods within the state, but does not tax in-state businesses selling the same goods. Which constitutional provision is most directly implicated?

  1. The Second Amendment
  2. The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
  3. The commerce clause Correct answer.
  4. The free exercise clause

Explanation

The commerce clause grants Congress power to regulate interstate commerce and has been interpreted by the Supreme Court (the dormant commerce clause doctrine) to prohibit state laws that discriminate against or unduly burden interstate commerce. The tax discriminates against out-of-state businesses, directly implicating the commerce clause.

Question 31Foundations of American Democracy

In Federalist No. 51, Madison argues that the structure of government must ensure that "ambition [is] made to counteract ambition." Which feature of the Constitution best reflects this argument?

  1. The division of Congress into two houses with different constituencies and terms Correct answer.
  2. The prohibition on religious tests for public office
  3. The provision for a decennial census
  4. The requirement that the president be a natural-born citizen

Explanation

Madison's argument is that the separate branches, and the two houses of the legislature, should have enough independence and differing incentives to check one another. A bicameral Congress with different modes of election (population-based House, state-based Senate) and different term lengths creates competing ambitions that restrain each other.

Question 32Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best explains why the Framers chose a federal system rather than a unitary system?

  1. They sought to eliminate state governments entirely.
  2. They believed that a unitary system would give too much power to the states.
  3. They wanted to preserve the states as centers of power while creating a stronger national government for defense and commerce. Correct answer.
  4. They wanted to replicate the British parliamentary system.

Explanation

The Framers sought to strengthen the national government to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation while retaining the states as important political communities. Federalism allowed them to divide power between the national and state governments, preserving state authority while creating a more effective central government.

Question 33Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best describes the impact of the Seventeenth Amendment on American government?

  1. It abolished the poll tax.
  2. It granted women the right to vote.
  3. It lowered the voting age to eighteen.
  4. It provided for the direct election of U.S. senators by the people rather than by state legislatures. Correct answer.

Explanation

The Seventeenth Amendment, ratified in 1913, changed the method of selecting senators from election by state legislatures to direct popular election. This increased the democratic accountability of the Senate and reduced the influence of state legislatures in national politics.

Question 34Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following scenarios would most likely be prohibited by the Constitution's prohibition on bills of attainder?

  1. A state enacts a law requiring all residents to purchase health insurance.
  2. Congress passes a law declaring a specific individual guilty of treason and imposing punishment without a trial. Correct answer.
  3. Congress passes a law increasing the penalty for tax evasion for all future offenders.
  4. The president issues an executive order directing the military to defend the nation.

Explanation

A bill of attainder is a legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial. The Constitution prohibits both Congress and the states from enacting bills of attainder, so a law declaring a specific person guilty and punishing them without judicial proceedings is unconstitutional.

Question 35Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the full faith and credit clause?

  1. It establishes that federal law is supreme over state law.
  2. It ensures that all states have the same laws.
  3. It guarantees that citizens of one state will be treated equally in all states.
  4. It requires states to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states. Correct answer.

Explanation

Article IV, Section 1, the full faith and credit clause, requires each state to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. This facilitates cooperation and stability across state lines, for example by enforcing out-of-state court judgments.

Question 36Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of a block grant?

  1. A federal grant to states for broad purposes such as community development, with few conditions attached Correct answer.
  2. A federal grant that is automatically renewed without application
  3. A federal grant given directly to individuals for housing assistance
  4. A federal grant that requires states to match funds and follow detailed federal guidelines for a specific program

Explanation

Block grants provide federal funds to states for broad, general purposes (such as community development or social services) with relatively few restrictions, giving states flexibility in how to spend the money. This contrasts with categorical grants, which are targeted to specific programs and often carry detailed conditions.

Question 37Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best explains the constitutional basis for the Supreme Court's power of judicial review?

  1. The Tenth Amendment reserves the power of judicial review to the states.
  2. Article III explicitly grants the Supreme Court the power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional.
  3. The principle of judicial review is not explicitly stated in the Constitution but was established by the Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison. Correct answer.
  4. The necessary and proper clause gives the Court the authority to review legislation.

Explanation

The Constitution does not expressly grant the power of judicial review; the Supreme Court asserted it in Marbury v. Madison (1803), reasoning that the Constitution is paramount and that courts must interpret the law, including the Constitution. This established the judiciary's authority to invalidate acts of Congress that conflict with the Constitution.

Question 38Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best reflects the Anti-Federalist argument regarding the ratification of the Constitution?

  1. The Constitution should be ratified only with a bill of rights to protect individual liberties. Correct answer.
  2. The Constitution should be ratified because it preserves the power of state legislatures.
  3. The Constitution should be ratified because it includes a bill of rights.
  4. The Constitution should be ratified because it creates a strong national government.

Explanation

Anti-Federalists opposed ratification primarily because the proposed Constitution lacked a bill of rights and seemed to concentrate too much power in the national government. Their insistence on protections for individual liberties led to the addition of the Bill of Rights as a condition of ratification in several states.

Question 39Foundations of American Democracy

Which of the following best describes the difference between a federal system and a unitary system?

  1. In a federal system, all power is concentrated in the national government, whereas in a unitary system, power is shared equally.
  2. In a federal system, power is divided between national and regional governments, whereas in a unitary system, regional governments derive their authority from the national government. Correct answer.
  3. In a federal system, regional governments have no independent constitutional authority, whereas in a unitary system, they do.
  4. In a federal system, the national government can abolish regional governments at will, whereas in a unitary system, regional governments are sovereign.

Explanation

A federal system constitutionally divides power between a central government and regional (state) governments, each with its own sphere of authority. In a unitary system, the central government creates regional governments and can alter or abolish them, and regional authority is not constitutionally entrenched.

Question 40Foundations of American Democracy

The Constitution's prohibition on states making treaties with foreign nations reflects which principle?

  1. The president may delegate treaty-making authority to governors.
  2. The national government has exclusive authority over foreign affairs. Correct answer.
  3. States retain concurrent power to conduct foreign policy.
  4. The Senate shares treaty-making power with the states.

Explanation

Article I, Section 10, prohibits states from entering into treaties, and Article II gives the president treaty-making power with the advice and consent of the Senate. This reflects the Framers' design that foreign affairs be conducted by the national government exclusively, ensuring the United States speaks with one voice internationally.

Question 41Interactions Among Branches of Government

The Constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to do which of the following?

  1. Try impeached officials
  2. Confirm presidential appointments
  3. Ratify treaties
  4. Originate revenue bills Correct answer.

Explanation

Article I, Section 7 requires that all bills for raising revenue originate in the House, reflecting the Framers' view that the chamber closest to the people should control taxation. The Senate may amend such bills but cannot introduce them.

Question 42Interactions Among Branches of Government

A president signs an executive order directing an agency to change how it enforces a statute. Which statement best describes the constitutional basis for this action?

  1. Executive orders require ratification by the Senate
  2. The president acts as commander in chief of the bureaucracy
  3. The order becomes law only after congressional approval
  4. The president exercises authority delegated by statute or the Constitution Correct answer.

Explanation

Executive orders rest on the president's constitutional authority or on power Congress has delegated to the executive branch. They carry the force of law for agencies but cannot override statutes or the Constitution.

Question 43Interactions Among Branches of Government

Which of the following best describes the role of the Senate in the judicial appointment process?

  1. It selects federal judges through the seniority system
  2. It confirms or rejects the president's nominees by majority vote Correct answer.
  3. It has no formal role in judicial appointments
  4. It nominates candidates for federal judgeships

Explanation

The president nominates federal judges with the advice and consent of the Senate, which confirms nominees by a simple majority. The Senate may also reject, delay, or refuse to act on a nomination.

Question 44Interactions Among Branches of Government

A federal agency issues a rule interpreting an ambiguous statute. Which action could Congress take to check the agency?

  1. Remove the agency head by a majority vote of both chambers
  2. Amend the underlying statute or restrict the agency's funding Correct answer.
  3. Pass a joint resolution of legislative veto over the rule
  4. Declare the rule unconstitutional

Explanation

Congress checks agency rulemaking through its lawmaking and appropriations powers, such as amending the statute to clarify intent or cutting funding for enforcement. It may also use oversight hearings and the Congressional Review Act.

Question 45Interactions Among Branches of Government

The Supreme Court's power of judicial review was most clearly established in which case?

  1. Gibbons v. Ogden
  2. McCulloch v. Maryland
  3. Baker v. Carr
  4. Marbury v. Madison Correct answer.

Explanation

In Marbury v. Madison (1803), the Court held that it may declare acts of Congress unconstitutional when they conflict with the Constitution. This decision grounded judicial review in the supremacy of the Constitution over ordinary legislation.

Question 46Interactions Among Branches of Government

Which of the following is a formal constitutional check the president holds over Congress?

  1. Impounding appropriated funds
  2. Calling a special session of Congress
  3. Issuing signing statements
  4. Pocket veto of a bill presented near adjournment Correct answer.

Explanation

The veto power, including the pocket veto that occurs when Congress adjourns within ten days of presentment, is an express constitutional check on legislation. Congress can override a regular veto with a two-thirds vote of both chambers.

Question 47Interactions Among Branches of Government

The Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland is best known for which holding?

  1. The Bill of Rights applies to the states
  2. Congress may charter a national bank under implied powers Correct answer.
  3. Federal courts may hear suits against states
  4. States may not regulate interstate commerce

Explanation

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States under the necessary and proper clause. It also held that Maryland could not tax a federal instrumentality because the power to tax is the power to destroy.

Question 48Interactions Among Branches of Government

A president negotiates an international agreement but the Senate refuses to consent by two-thirds. Which of the following remains available to the president?

  1. Asking the Supreme Court to ratify the treaty
  2. Entering a congressional-executive agreement approved by simple majorities Correct answer.
  3. Ratifying the treaty unilaterally as commander in chief
  4. Declaring the treaty effective through a pocket veto

Explanation

When the Senate does not provide advice and consent, presidents often pursue congressional-executive agreements, which require simple majorities in both chambers rather than a two-thirds Senate vote. Such agreements are politically and legally distinct from Article II treaties.

Question 49Interactions Among Branches of Government

Which of the following best describes the Senate's use of the filibuster?

  1. A rule allowing a minority of senators to delay or block a vote Correct answer.
  2. A constitutional requirement that treaties be debated for ten days
  3. A procedure used only for confirming judges
  4. A mechanism for the House to end debate on a bill

Explanation

The filibuster is a Senate practice that lets a minority prolong debate to prevent a vote on legislation or nominations. Ending debate requires a cloture motion, which generally needs three-fifths of the Senate.

Question 50Interactions Among Branches of Government

Which of the following is an example of the executive branch checking the judicial branch?

  1. The Supreme Court striking down an executive order
  2. The Senate rejecting a judicial nominee
  3. The president refusing to enforce a Supreme Court decision Correct answer.
  4. The House impeaching a federal judge

Explanation

Presidential refusal to enforce a judicial ruling is an informal but real check, since the executive branch carries out court orders. The more routine check is nomination of judges, but that is shared with the Senate.