Essays

1) Citizens often choose 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).

2) Trust and confidence in government have declined in recent decades.
(a) Explain how divided government has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government. Be sure to include a definition of divided government in your response
(b) Explain how the increased cost of election campaigns has contributed to the decline in trust and confidence in government.
(c) Explain two specific consequences of the decline in trust and confidence in government for individual political behavior.

3) The Framers of the United States Constitution created a legislative system that is bicameral. However, it is not just bicameral; the framers also established two houses of distinctly different character and authority.
(a) Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature.
(b) Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power.
(c) Identify one power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the senate that power.

4) Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.
(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.
(b) Define congressional redistricting.
(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.
(d) Describe two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.