Public Policy Topics

AP GOV Key Information - The information provided here breaks down what you can expect to see on the AP Exam. Be sure to check out the videos below before moving on.

Expand the items below to learn more about each topic. The Essential Knowledge section is a great way to review the content you will be expected to know and each section has videos explaining that topic in further depth. Because policy is a topic across multiple modules, below you will find topics from different units that will help you with the content.

TOPIC 2.12 The Bureaucracy

Learning Objective

LO 2.12.A

Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.12.A.1

The federal bureaucracy is composed of departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations that implement policy by:

Writing and enforcing regulations
Issuing fines
Testifying before Congress
Forming iron triangles (alliances of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that are prominent in specific policy areas)
Creating issue networks (temporary coalitions that form to promote a common issue or agenda)

EK 2.12.A.2

The civil service primarily uses a merit system that prioritizes hiring and promotion based on professionalism, specialization, and neutrality, as opposed to political patronage, whereby bureaucratic jobs are politically appointed.

Review Videos

Videos for this topic are included with the TOPIC 2.13 Discretionary and Rulemaking Authority videos.

TOPIC 2.13 Discretionary and Rulemaking Authority

Learning Objective

LO 2.13.A

Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rulemaking and implementation.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.13.A.1

The federal bureaucracy uses discretionary power as delegated by Congress to interpret and implement policies. Through their rulemaking authority, federal bureaucratic agencies utilize their discretion to create and enforce regulations. Bureaucratic agencies include:

Department of Homeland Security
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Education
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Elections Commission (FEC)
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Review Videos

Review the three videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - The Bureaucracy Discretionary & Rulemaking Authority by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - The Federal BUREAUCRACY by Heimler's History

Video 3 - BUREAUCRACY: Discretionary & Rule Making Authority by Heimler's History

TOPIC 2.14 Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable

Learning Objective

LO 2.14.A

Explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch.

LO 2.14.B

Explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.14.A.1

Congressional oversight of the bureaucracy to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended includes:

Review, monitoring, and supervision of bureaucratic agencies
Investigation and committee hearings of bureaucratic activity
Power of the purse (the ability of Congress to check the bureaucracy by appropriating or withholding funds)

EK 2.14.A.2

As a means to curtail the use of presidential power, congressional oversight serves as a check of executive authorization.

EK 2.14.B.1

Presidential ideology, authority, and influence affect how executive branch agencies carry out the goals of the administration.

EK 2.14.B.2

Compliance monitoring ensures that funds are being used properly and regulations are being followed. Compliance monitoring can pose a challenge to policy implementation.

Review Videos

Videos for this topic are included in the TOPIC 2.15 Policy and the Branches of Government section.

TOPIC 2.15 Policy and the Branches of Government

Learning Objective

LO 2.15.A

Explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts.

LO 2.15.B

Explain how the distribution of powers among the three branches of government impacts policymaking.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.15.A.1

Formal and informal powers of Congress, the president, and the courts over the bureaucracy are used to maintain its accountability.

EK 2.15.B.1

The allocation of powers among the three branches of government creates multiple access points for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy.

EK 2.15.B.2

National policymaking is constrained by the sharing of powers between the three branches.

Review Videos

Review the two videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - Holding the BUREAUCRACY Accountable by Heimler's History

TOPIC 4.9 Ideology and Economic Policy

Learning Objective

LO 4.9.A

Explain how different political ideologies affect the role of government in regulating the marketplace.

LO 4.9.B

Explain how fiscal and monetary policy actions influence economic conditions.

Essential Knowledge

EK 4.9.A.1

Liberal ideologies favor more governmental regulation of the marketplace, conservative ideologies favor fewer regulations, and libertarian ideologies favor little or no regulation of the marketplace beyond the protection of property rights and voluntary trade.

EK 4.9.B.1

Fiscal policy consists of actions taken by Congress and the president to influence economic conditions and includes Keynesian and supply-side positions.

EK 4.9.B.2

Monetary policy consists of actions taken by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) to influence interest rates which affect broader economic conditions. The Fed is an independent agency which seeks to achieve maximum employment and price stability.

Review Videos

Review the two videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - Ideology and Economic Policy by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - Ideology and Economic Policy by Heimler's History

TOPIC 4.10 Ideology and Social Policy

Learning Objective

LO 4.10.A

Explain how political ideologies vary on the role of the government in addressing social issues.

LO 4.10.B

Explain how different ideologies affect policy on social issues.

Essential Knowledge

EK 4.10.A.1

Liberal ideologies generally favor more national government involvement to address some social issues such as education and public health, with less responsibility for these issues left to state governments.

EK 4.10.A.2

Conservative ideologies generally favor less national government involvement to address some social issues such as education and public health, with more responsibility for these issues left to state governments.

EK 4.10.A.3

Libertarian ideologies generally favor little national or state government involvement except when national or state government is protecting private property or individual liberty

EK 4.10.B.1

Policy trends concerning the level of government involvement in social issues reflect the success of conservative or liberal perspectives in political parties.

Review Videos

Review the two videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - Ideology and Social Policy by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - Ideology and Social Policy by Heimler's History

TOPIC 2.1 Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives (Review)

Learning Objective

LO 2.1.A

Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.1.A.1

Republicanism, the democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government debates and decisions by their representatives, is shown in the bicameral structure of Congress. The Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent the people.

EK 2.1.A.2

Different membership sizes influence the formality of debate in each chamber. Debate in the House, which has 435 members, is more formal than in the Senate, with 100 members.

EK 2.1.A.3

Interactions in Congress are affected by the two-party system and term-length differences. One-third of the Senate is elected every two years, creating a continuous legislative body. All House members are elected every two years.

EK 2.1.A.4

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow Congress to participate in the public policy process by:

Passing a federal budget, raising revenue by laying and collecting taxes, borrowing money, and coining money
Declaring war and providing the funds necessary to maintain the armed forces
Determining the process for naturalization by which people can become citizens of the U.S. iv. Regulating interstate commerce
Creating federal courts and their jurisdictions
Enacting legislation under the authority of the necessary and proper clause
Conducting oversight of the executive branch, including federal agencies in the bureaucracy

Review Videos

Review the two videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - Congress: Senate & House | by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - CONGRESS: The Senate and the House of Representatives by Heimler's History

TOPIC 2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Learning Objective

LO 2.2.A

Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policymaking process.

Essential Knowledge

EK 2.2.A.1

The structures and powers of the Senate and House are different by design. This difference directly affects the legislative process.

EK 2.2.A.2

Both chambers refer bills to committees, which conduct hearings and debate and mark up bills with revisions and additions. Leadership in committees is determined by the majority political party.

EK 2.2.A.3

Chamber-specific rules and procedures affect the legislative process.

In the House, the Speaker is elected by a majority of members and presides over the legislative work in the House. All revenue bills must originate in the House. Rules for debate in the House on a bill are established by the Rules Committee. The House can form a Committee of the Whole in order to expedite debate on bills. An individual representative in the House can file a discharge petition to have a bill brought to the floor for debate, but it is rarely done.
In the Senate, bills are typically brought to the floor by unanimous consent, but a Senator may request a hold on a bill to prevent it from getting to the floor for a vote. During debate, a Senator can use the filibuster (a tactic to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill) or make a motion for
When a bill passed by both chambers on the same topic has variation in its wording, a conference committee meets to reconcile those differences.

EK 2.2.A.4

Congress must generate a budget that addresses both mandatory and discretionary spending.

Mandatory spending is required by law for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Discretionary spending is approved on an annual basis for defense spending, education, and infrastructure. As entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase, or the budget deficit increases.

EK 2.2.A.5

Pork-barrel legislation (funding for a local project in a larger appropriation bill) and logrolling (combining several pieces of legislation into one bill to secure enough votes for passage) affect the legislative process in both chambers.

Review Videos

Review the two videos below before moving forward in this module.

Video 1 - Congress: Entitlement Spending by Carey LaManna

Video 2 - Structures, Powers, and Functions of CONGRESS by Heimler's History

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