2011, Question 4 · 6 points · about 25 minutes
Mutual constraints on presidents and Congress
Explain how executive tools and congressional checks shape decisions within a system where the branches share governing authority.
This paper allotted 100 minutes for four responses, recommending equal time for each, and used the earlier question structure. The current exam has 4 free-response questions in 100 minutes. The skills these questions practice still count.
1 Read the question
The question is College Board's, from the 2011 exam. It starts on page 3 of the PDF. College Board no longer posts this exam, so it opens from the copy of College Board's PDF that the Internet Archive saved on December 8, 2025.
2 Write your answer
Answer each part the way you would on the exam, in full sentences, with your work shown. Your writing saves as you type.
3 Score it
Score your answer against College Board's scoring guidelines, one point at a time. Give yourself a point only when your answer says what the guideline asks for.
Scoring guidelines (PDF, page 5) What the exam readers saw (Student Performance Q&A)
Question, scoring guidelines and Chief Reader report: College Board, from the Internet Archive. The title, summary are ours.