Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an AP Comparative Government and Politics FRQ
Step 1: Understand the Types of FRQs
AP Comparative Government and Politics FRQs come in four types:
Step 2: Dissect the Prompt
Step 3: Create a Quick OutlineSpend 3–5 minutes to jot down:
Step 4: Answer Each Part Directly and ClearlyFRQs are broken into parts (a), (b), (c), etc. Each part is scored separately.
Step 5: Use Specific Country Examples
Always tie your answers to at least one of the six core countries:
Step 6: Explain Cause and Effect
Whenever you are asked to “explain”:
Step 7: Avoid Common Pitfalls
Step 8: Review Your AnswerBefore moving on:
Comparative Analysis Sample FRQ
Prompt:
In both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, executive leaders play an important role in shaping policy.
(a) Identify the executive leader in Nigeria and the executive leader in the United Kingdom.
(b) Describe a power that the Nigerian executive has but the United Kingdom executive does not.
(c) Explain how the difference identified in part (b) affects policy-making in each country.
(d) Explain how the regime type in each country influences executive accountability to other government institutions.
Sample Response:
(a)
The executive leader in Nigeria is the President. The executive leader in the United Kingdom is the Prime Minister.
(b)
The Nigerian President has the power to veto legislation passed by the National Assembly. The United Kingdom Prime Minister does not have veto power; instead, the monarchy grants royal assent, which is largely symbolic.
(c)
In Nigeria, the President's veto power can delay or prevent legislation, giving the executive stronger influence over the legislative agenda. In the United Kingdom, the lack of a veto means the Prime Minister relies more heavily on party discipline within Parliament to pass legislation.
(d)
Nigeria’s regime is a presidential democracy where separation of powers exists between the executive and legislative branches, so the President is accountable to both the legislature and the judiciary. In contrast, the United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy where the executive (Prime Minister) is drawn from the legislature and is directly accountable to Parliament, especially during votes of confidence.
Conceptual Analysis (Concept Application) FRQ
Prompt:
Authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes differ in their use of political legitimacy.
(a) Define political legitimacy.
(b) Describe one source of political legitimacy commonly used in authoritarian regimes.
(c) Describe one source of political legitimacy commonly used in democratic regimes.
(d) Explain how the use of legitimacy differs between an authoritarian regime and a democratic regime.
Sample Response:
(a)
Political legitimacy is the degree to which a government is accepted by its people and recognized as having the authority to rule.
(b)
One source of political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes is the use of nationalism, where leaders promote national pride and unity to justify their power.
(c)
One source of political legitimacy in democratic regimes is competitive elections, where free and fair elections provide the government with legitimacy.
(d)
In authoritarian regimes like China, legitimacy often derives from nationalistic propaganda and economic performance rather than citizen participation. In contrast, democratic regimes like the United Kingdom rely on elections and rule of law to secure legitimacy, giving citizens direct input into government selection.
Quantitative Analysis FRQ
Prompt:
Refer to the data below, which shows voter turnout rates (%) in recent national elections in Nigeria and Mexico.
(b) Identify the trend in voter turnout in Mexico between 2011 and 2019.
(c) Describe one factor that could account for the trend in Nigeria’s voter turnout.
(d) Explain how the trend in Nigeria’s voter turnout might affect democratic legitimacy.
Sample Response:
(a)
In Nigeria, voter turnout steadily declined from 54% in 2011 to 35% in 2019.
(b)
In Mexico, voter turnout remained stable at 63% between 2011 and 2015 but decreased to 53% in 2019.
(c)
One factor that could explain Nigeria’s declining voter turnout is widespread political violence and electoral fraud, which discourages voter participation.
(d)
The decline in voter turnout in Nigeria could weaken democratic legitimacy because low participation may signal citizen disillusionment with the political process and distrust in electoral institutions.
Argument Essay FRQ
Prompt:
Develop an argument as to whether civil society strengthens political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes. Use at least one course country as an example.
Sample Response:
Claim:
Civil society can strengthen political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes by providing channels for citizen engagement and state-society cooperation.
Evidence 1:
In China, the government has tolerated certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on social services and disaster relief, which help meet citizen needs.
Evidence 2:
By addressing social welfare gaps, these organizations help reduce citizen dissatisfaction and reinforce trust in the government.
Reasoning:
Although authoritarian regimes often limit civil liberties, controlled civil society activity can serve as a safety valve for grievances. In China, NGOs that do not challenge the Communist Party’s authority are allowed to function, indirectly supporting the regime by demonstrating responsiveness to social needs.
Conclusion:
Thus, civil society, when constrained and monitored, can contribute to authoritarian legitimacy by enhancing state capacity and co-opting civic participation.
AP Comparative Government and Politics FRQ Checklist
For All FRQ Types:
Conceptual Analysis (Concept Application) Checklist:
Quantitative Analysis Checklist:
Comparative Analysis Checklist:
Argument Essay Checklist:
Step 1: Understand the Types of FRQs
AP Comparative Government and Politics FRQs come in four types:
- Conceptual Analysis (Concept Application)
- Quantitative Analysis
- Comparative Analysis
- Argument Essay
Step 2: Dissect the Prompt
- Identify the action verbs (e.g., identify, describe, explain, compare, evaluate).
- Underline key concepts related to political institutions, actors, processes, or concepts like democratization, authoritarianism, civil society, etc.
Step 3: Create a Quick OutlineSpend 3–5 minutes to jot down:
- Definitions (if required)
- Examples (e.g., specific country case studies)
- Comparisons/Contrasts (for comparative prompts)
- Trends/Data points (for quantitative questions)
Step 4: Answer Each Part Directly and ClearlyFRQs are broken into parts (a), (b), (c), etc. Each part is scored separately.
- Label each part clearly (e.g., “a)”)
- Use complete sentences
- Be concise but thorough
Step 5: Use Specific Country Examples
Always tie your answers to at least one of the six core countries:
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- China
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Iran
Step 6: Explain Cause and Effect
Whenever you are asked to “explain”:
- Identify a relationship (e.g., "The expansion of civil society has led to...").
- Show causality (e.g., “Because of X, Y occurred.”).
Step 7: Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Don’t just list facts--connect them to the question.
- Don’t confuse the AP U.S. Government course with AP Comparative.
- Avoid vague statements like "Russia is unstable"--be specific ("Russia's semi-authoritarian regime under Putin has restricted media freedoms").
Step 8: Review Your AnswerBefore moving on:
- Double-check that you answered all parts.
- Make sure examples are accurate and relevant.
- Check your use of political science terminology.
Comparative Analysis Sample FRQ
Prompt:
In both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, executive leaders play an important role in shaping policy.
(a) Identify the executive leader in Nigeria and the executive leader in the United Kingdom.
(b) Describe a power that the Nigerian executive has but the United Kingdom executive does not.
(c) Explain how the difference identified in part (b) affects policy-making in each country.
(d) Explain how the regime type in each country influences executive accountability to other government institutions.
Sample Response:
(a)
The executive leader in Nigeria is the President. The executive leader in the United Kingdom is the Prime Minister.
(b)
The Nigerian President has the power to veto legislation passed by the National Assembly. The United Kingdom Prime Minister does not have veto power; instead, the monarchy grants royal assent, which is largely symbolic.
(c)
In Nigeria, the President's veto power can delay or prevent legislation, giving the executive stronger influence over the legislative agenda. In the United Kingdom, the lack of a veto means the Prime Minister relies more heavily on party discipline within Parliament to pass legislation.
(d)
Nigeria’s regime is a presidential democracy where separation of powers exists between the executive and legislative branches, so the President is accountable to both the legislature and the judiciary. In contrast, the United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy where the executive (Prime Minister) is drawn from the legislature and is directly accountable to Parliament, especially during votes of confidence.
Conceptual Analysis (Concept Application) FRQ
Prompt:
Authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes differ in their use of political legitimacy.
(a) Define political legitimacy.
(b) Describe one source of political legitimacy commonly used in authoritarian regimes.
(c) Describe one source of political legitimacy commonly used in democratic regimes.
(d) Explain how the use of legitimacy differs between an authoritarian regime and a democratic regime.
Sample Response:
(a)
Political legitimacy is the degree to which a government is accepted by its people and recognized as having the authority to rule.
(b)
One source of political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes is the use of nationalism, where leaders promote national pride and unity to justify their power.
(c)
One source of political legitimacy in democratic regimes is competitive elections, where free and fair elections provide the government with legitimacy.
(d)
In authoritarian regimes like China, legitimacy often derives from nationalistic propaganda and economic performance rather than citizen participation. In contrast, democratic regimes like the United Kingdom rely on elections and rule of law to secure legitimacy, giving citizens direct input into government selection.
Quantitative Analysis FRQ
Prompt:
Refer to the data below, which shows voter turnout rates (%) in recent national elections in Nigeria and Mexico.
- Nigeria:
- 2011 Voter Turnout: 54%
- 2015 Voter Turnout: 44%
- 2019 Voter Turnout: 35%
- Mexico:
- 2011 Voter Turnout: 63%
- 2015 Voter Turnout: 63%
- 2019 Voter Turnout: 53%
(b) Identify the trend in voter turnout in Mexico between 2011 and 2019.
(c) Describe one factor that could account for the trend in Nigeria’s voter turnout.
(d) Explain how the trend in Nigeria’s voter turnout might affect democratic legitimacy.
Sample Response:
(a)
In Nigeria, voter turnout steadily declined from 54% in 2011 to 35% in 2019.
(b)
In Mexico, voter turnout remained stable at 63% between 2011 and 2015 but decreased to 53% in 2019.
(c)
One factor that could explain Nigeria’s declining voter turnout is widespread political violence and electoral fraud, which discourages voter participation.
(d)
The decline in voter turnout in Nigeria could weaken democratic legitimacy because low participation may signal citizen disillusionment with the political process and distrust in electoral institutions.
Argument Essay FRQ
Prompt:
Develop an argument as to whether civil society strengthens political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes. Use at least one course country as an example.
Sample Response:
Claim:
Civil society can strengthen political legitimacy in authoritarian regimes by providing channels for citizen engagement and state-society cooperation.
Evidence 1:
In China, the government has tolerated certain non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on social services and disaster relief, which help meet citizen needs.
Evidence 2:
By addressing social welfare gaps, these organizations help reduce citizen dissatisfaction and reinforce trust in the government.
Reasoning:
Although authoritarian regimes often limit civil liberties, controlled civil society activity can serve as a safety valve for grievances. In China, NGOs that do not challenge the Communist Party’s authority are allowed to function, indirectly supporting the regime by demonstrating responsiveness to social needs.
Conclusion:
Thus, civil society, when constrained and monitored, can contribute to authoritarian legitimacy by enhancing state capacity and co-opting civic participation.
AP Comparative Government and Politics FRQ Checklist
For All FRQ Types:
- Have I fully answered each part (a, b, c, etc.) of the question?
- Did I label each part clearly (a, b, c, etc.)?
- Did I use complete sentences throughout?
- Did I use relevant political science concepts/terminology?
- Did I provide country-specific examples (from one of the six course countries)?
- Did I explain cause and effect where required (especially for "explain" prompts)?
- Did I avoid vague/general statements and instead provide specific evidence?
Conceptual Analysis (Concept Application) Checklist:
- Did I clearly define the key concept(s)?
- Did I apply the concept to a real-world situation or country?
- Did I compare/contrast where appropriate?
Quantitative Analysis Checklist:
- Did I correctly interpret trends or patterns in the data provided?
- Did I describe a possible factor that explains the trend?
- Did I link data trends to political concepts like legitimacy, participation, representation, etc.?
Comparative Analysis Checklist:
- Did I identify and explain a similarity and/or difference between two countries?
- Did I explain how political institutions or processes differ across regimes?
- Did I include at least one factor that explains why the difference matters?
Argument Essay Checklist:
- Did I develop a defensible claim (thesis statement)?
- Did I include two pieces of specific evidence supporting the argument?
- Did I provide reasoning to link evidence to my claim?
- Did I reference at least one of the six course countries in my argument?