2012

AP
Comparative Government and Politics

2012 Free-Response Questions

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2012 AP
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

2012 The College Board.

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Section II
Time1 hour and 40 minutes

Directions: You have 100 minutes to answer five short-answer concept questions, one conceptual analysis question,
and two country context questions. Unless the directions indicate otherwise, respond to all parts of all eight
questions. It is suggested that you take a few minutes to plan and outline each answer. We suggest that you spend
approximately 30 minutes total on questions 1 through 5, 30 minutes on question 6, and 40 minutes total on
questions 7 and 8. These suggested times do not reflect the weight of the questions as part of your AP exam score.
In your responses, use substantive examples where appropriate. Make certain to number each of your answers as the
questions are numbered below.

Short-Answer Concepts: We suggest that you spend approximately 30 minutes total on questions 1 through 5.

1. Identify the country studied in the AP Comparative Government and Politics course that limits the chief
executive to one term. Describe how a one-term limit can be an advantage for a political system. Describe
how a one-term limit can be a disadvantage for a political system.

2. Define political socialization. Describe two methods Russian authorities currently use to socialize citizens.

3. Explain how two current environmental problems in China resulted from its economic liberalization. Describe
one policy the Chinese government has developed in response to one of these environmental problems.

4. Describe the relationship between interest groups and the state in a pluralist system. Describe the relationship
between interest groups and the state in a corporatist system. Identify one country studied in the AP Comparative
Government and Politics course that historically was corporatist but is now pluralist.

5. Identify the institution in Iran that controls which candidates can run for the Majles. Describe how this institution
controls the selection process. Explain how the candidate selection process influences electoral competition.
2012 AP

FREE-RESPONSE QUESTIONS

2012 The College Board.

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Conceptual Analysis: We suggest that you spend approximately 30 minutes on question 6.

6. Many of the countries covered in the AP Comparative Government and Politics course are multination states.

(a) Define the concept of a state.
(b) Explain how a nation is different from a state.
(c) Describe one challenge governments face in securing stability in multination states.
(d) Discuss two policies that governments have taken to address the challenge you described in part (c).

Country Context: We suggest that you spend approximately 40 minutes (20 minutes each) on questions 7 and 8.

7. In China and Mexico, there have been significant geographic patterns of internal migrations of people over the
past twenty years.
(a) Describe the general pattern of internal migration within Mexico. Describe the general pattern of internal
migration within China.
(b) Describe one economic policy that prompted the migration in Mexico. Describe one economic policy that
prompted the migration in China.
(c) Describe a political consequence of the migration in Mexico. Describe a political consequence of the
migration in China.
(d) Compare how the governments of both China and Mexico have responded to these migration pressures.

8. Great Britain and Russia have bicameral legislatures with a much stronger lower house, but with different
relationships to the executive.
(a) Describe two functions exercised by both the House of Commons in Great Britain and the Duma in Russia.
(b) Identify the electoral system in Great Britain and explain its effect on party representation in the House of
Commons.
(c) Identify the electoral system in Russia and explain its effect on party representation in the Duma.
(d) Explain why the House of Commons is more effective in limiting the power of the executive in Great Britain
than the Duma is in limiting the power of the executive in Russia.

STOP

END OF EXAM

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AP

Comparative Government and Politics

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

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