FRQ 1 — Concept Application

Congressional Oversight and the Iron Triangle

25 minutes suggested 3 points

AP Exam Tip

When a task says 'explain how,' you must show causation — not just describe what something is. A weak answer names the concept. A strong answer shows the mechanism by which it produces the result.

Scenario

A Senate committee holds a series of high-profile hearings investigating whether a federal regulatory agency has been improperly influenced by the industry it is supposed to regulate. The committee's investigation reveals that the agency has repeatedly issued rules favorable to industry lobbyists and has hired several former industry executives in senior positions.

AP readers give no credit for abstract definitions. Every answer must reference the specific scenario text above.

Step 1

IDENTIFY the concept

Name it — a phrase is enough

Step 2

DESCRIBE how it works

Explain the mechanism, not just the label

Step 3

CONNECT to the scenario

Use specific details from the text above — names, numbers, events

✗ WEAK (no scenario connection)

"Partisanship is when people vote along party lines."

✓ STRONG (uses scenario)

"Republicans voted along party lines against invoking cloture on the election reform bill, preventing a floor vote even though Democrats held a simple majority."

Use the scenario above to answer the following questions about the relationship between Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.

Describe one formal power Congress can use to respond to the findings described in the scenario.

0 words · minimum 40 to submit

Explain how the scenario illustrates the concept of regulatory capture.

0 words · minimum 40 to submit

Explain how the iron triangle described in the scenario can make it difficult for Congress to reform the agency's behavior, even after an investigation.

0 words · minimum 40 to submit

Each response needs at least 40 words before you can submit.

Congressional Oversight and the Iron Triangle

On the Beach of Dreams