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United StatesPolitics

Unit 5: Political Participation

13 dot points across 13 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How is money raised and spent in American campaigns, and how has the law shaped it?

Topic 5.11 Campaign Finance: explain how campaign finance is regulated and how court decisions have shaped the role of money in elections.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.11: how campaign money is raised and regulated, PACs and Super PACs, the effect of Citizens United on independent spending, soft versus hard money, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
10 min answer →

How has the changing media landscape, especially social media, transformed political information and participation?

Topic 5.13 Changing Media: explain how changes in the media, including social media and partisan outlets, affect political participation and the spread of information.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.13: how the media landscape has changed, the rise of social media and partisan news, the effects of echo chambers and misinformation on participation, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

How are members of Congress elected, and what advantages do incumbents hold?

Topic 5.9 Congressional Elections: explain how congressional elections work and the factors, including incumbency, that shape their outcomes.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.9: how congressional elections work, the power of incumbency, the effects of redistricting and gerrymandering, the difference between midterm and presidential-year elections, and how to use them in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

How does the United States elect a president, from primaries to the Electoral College?

Topic 5.8 Electing a President: explain the process of electing a president, including primaries, caucuses, the national conventions, and the Electoral College.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.8: the presidential election process from primaries and caucuses through conventions to the Electoral College, how electoral votes are allocated, the debate over the system, and how to use it in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
10 min answer →

Why do some interest groups achieve their policy goals while others fail?

Topic 5.7 Groups Influencing Policy Outcomes: explain why some interest groups and social movements are more successful than others in achieving their goals.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.7: why some interest groups and movements succeed and others fail, the role of resources, the free-rider problem, single-issue groups, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

How and why do political parties change their coalitions, platforms, and strategies over time?

Topic 5.4 How and Why Political Parties Change and Adapt: explain how political parties adapt to candidate-centered campaigns, technology, and demographic change.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.4: how parties change through realignment and critical elections, the shift to candidate-centered campaigns, the impact of technology and demographics on parties, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

How do interest groups influence policymaking, and what advantages and limits do they have?

Topic 5.6 Interest Groups Influencing Policymaking: explain how interest groups influence policy and the factors that shape their success.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.6: how interest groups influence policy through lobbying, litigation, and mobilization, the role of PACs and iron triangles, the factors that shape their success, and how to use them in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
10 min answer →

How have modern campaigns changed the way candidates reach and persuade voters?

Topic 5.10 Modern Campaigns: explain how modern campaigns are run, including the role of technology, data, and media.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.10: how modern campaigns use technology, data analytics, social media, and professional consultants, the rise of candidate-centered campaigns, the cost and length of campaigns, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

What functions do political parties perform as linkage institutions in American democracy?

Topic 5.3 Political Parties: explain the functions and impact of political parties as linkage institutions.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.3: the functions of political parties as linkage institutions, how parties mobilize voters, recruit candidates, and organize government, the role of the party platform, and how to use them in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

How does the media shape political participation, agendas, and public opinion?

Topic 5.12 The Media: explain the role of the media as a linkage institution, including agenda setting and the watchdog function.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.12: the media as a linkage institution, the functions of agenda setting, framing, and the watchdog role, how the media shape public opinion and participation, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

Why does the United States have a two-party system, and what role do third parties play?

Topic 5.5 Third-Party Politics: explain why third parties struggle in the United States and the impact they have on the political system.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.5: why the United States has a two-party system, how winner-take-all and single-member districts disadvantage third parties, the influence third parties still have, and how to use these ideas in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
9 min answer →

What factors raise or lower voter turnout in the United States?

Topic 5.2 Voter Turnout: explain the factors that influence voter turnout and the variation in participation among groups.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.2: the factors that drive voter turnout, structural and individual influences, why turnout varies across groups and election types, and how to interpret turnout data in Quantitative Analysis and Concept Application answers.
9 min answer →

How have voting rights expanded, and what models explain why people vote the way they do?

Topic 5.1 Voting Rights and Models of Voting Behavior: explain how voting rights have expanded and the models that explain voting behavior.
A focused answer to AP US Government Topic 5.1: the constitutional amendments that expanded voting rights, the Voting Rights Act, and the models of voting behavior (rational-choice, retrospective, prospective, party-line), and how to use them in Concept Application and Argument Essay answers.
10 min answer →