---
title: "AP US Government Argument Essay Practice"
description: "101 Argument Essays written in the AP format, each scored part by part."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-gov/frqs/argument-essay"
type: "frq-type-practice"
subject: "AP US Government"
---

# AP US Government Argument Essay Practice

## What the Argument Essay asks

The Argument Essay is FRQ 4 on the AP US Government exam. You take a position on a political debate, support it with evidence that includes a foundational document from the prompt’s list, and respond to an opposing view.

- **40 min**: suggested writing time
- **6 points**: across rows A to D
- **12.5%**: of your exam score

| Part | What it asks | Points |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A: Thesis | A defensible claim that sets up a line of reasoning | 1 |
| B: Evidence | Two pieces of specific evidence, one from a listed foundational document | 3 |
| C: Reasoning | Why your evidence supports your claim | 1 |
| D: Alternate perspective | An opposing view, answered with rebuttal or refutation | 1 |

## How Argument Essay practice works

1. **Read the full prompt.** The debate, the listed foundational documents, and the four requirements, laid out the way the exam shows them.
2. **Write on a 40-minute timer.** The time to plan for on exam day. Pause it or turn it off, and your response saves as you go.
3. **Submit for a score out of 6.** Your response is scored against the scoring guidelines written for that question. Your first score is included.

## All 101 questions

### Unit 1: Foundations of American Democracy (24)
- [Federalism and individual liberty protection balance](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6967d4c56ca551d96213db9c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal versus state power in protecting citizen rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851a5efe5aa9c136e00b29&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Centralized versus decentralized government protection of rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851b69fe5aa9c136e00b37&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Central versus decentralized government power, liberty protection](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851bbbfe5aa9c136e00b3d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and individual rights protection debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851be8fe5aa9c136e00b3e&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and individual liberty protection debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c1afe5aa9c136e00b42&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Central versus decentralized government and liberty protection](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c76fe5aa9c136e00b4a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and protection of individual liberties](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851cbbfe5aa9c136e00b50&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and protection of individual rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d07fe5aa9c136e00b56&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and individual liberty protection debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d5cfe5aa9c136e00b5d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism, individual liberty, democratic representation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d8dfe5aa9c136e00b5f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Constitutional transition and individual liberty protections](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851df9fe5aa9c136e00b66&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and individual liberty protection](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e28fe5aa9c136e00b6a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and protection of individual liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e5cfe5aa9c136e00b6e&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Central versus decentralized government protecting liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851eb3fe5aa9c136e00b73&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism: national versus state power protection](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ee0fe5aa9c136e00b76&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and protection of individual rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f00fe5aa9c136e00b79&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and protection of individual liberties](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f2efe5aa9c136e00b7c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism, tyranny prevention, individual rights protection](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f8bfe5aa9c136e00b80&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Faction control in large versus small republics](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a4deca0b397d1b9d36007&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Government accountability: participatory versus elite democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a4ecb8c8a009534dce18b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Constitutional checks, balances, and federalism limiting power](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a50670e30971e7930d43f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federalism and participatory democracy effectiveness](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a5198ad4005b47eeeceed&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Participatory versus pluralist democracy models](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a54afc6e958071a4088c8&type=frq-4-argument-essay)

### Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government (17)
- [Presidential power expansion and governmental effectiveness](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=696f0feff9203a118075e317&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Executive versus legislative branch accountability structures](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851baafe5aa9c136e00b3b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential versus Congressional power in modern policymaking](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c09fe5aa9c136e00b41&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential informal powers and constitutional checks and balances](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c66fe5aa9c136e00b47&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion and constitutional checks and balances](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c92fe5aa9c136e00b4c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion: governance effectiveness debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851cc3fe5aa9c136e00b51&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Executive power versus legislative deliberation in governance](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d23fe5aa9c136e00b59&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion and democratic governance](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851da3fe5aa9c136e00b62&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential veto power and legislative-executive balance](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e23fe5aa9c136e00b69&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Executive power versus legislative deliberation in policymaking](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e56fe5aa9c136e00b6d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential versus Congressional authority in national security](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851eb2fe5aa9c136e00b72&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion and constitutional intent](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851efbfe5aa9c136e00b78&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential versus congressional authority in governance](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f28fe5aa9c136e00b7b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Legislative versus executive branch policy direction](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f5dfe5aa9c136e00b7e&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion and constitutional checks and balances](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f94fe5aa9c136e00b81&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential versus Congressional authority in foreign policy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6985200ffe5aa9c136e00b87&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Presidential power expansion and constitutional limited government](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6985205ffe5aa9c136e00b8a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)

### Unit 3: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (20)
- [Civil rights: legal challenges versus nonviolent action](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=696f1004f9203a118075e319&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal judiciary versus social movements in civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851a5bfe5aa9c136e00b28&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Social movements versus federal court challenges for civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851aaffe5aa9c136e00b2b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individual liberties versus social order in constitutional framework](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ae3fe5aa9c136e00b30&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Civil rights advancement: direct action versus federal courts](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ba9fe5aa9c136e00b3a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Nonviolent direct action versus litigation in civil rights movements](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c33fe5aa9c136e00b43&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Social movements versus federal court strategies for civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c73fe5aa9c136e00b48&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Civil liberties versus public order priorities](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d15fe5aa9c136e00b57&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Civil rights advancement: courts versus social movements](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d3dfe5aa9c136e00b5b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Judicial versus social movements in civil rights advancement](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d9cfe5aa9c136e00b60&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individual liberty versus public order priorities](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e03fe5aa9c136e00b67&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal judiciary versus nonviolent direct action effectiveness](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e34fe5aa9c136e00b6b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Social movements versus federal courts in civil rights advancement](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e64fe5aa9c136e00b6f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individual liberty versus government social order prioritization](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ea0fe5aa9c136e00b71&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Legal versus nonviolent action effectiveness in civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f08fe5aa9c136e00b7a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Government restriction of public protests and civil liberties](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851fa5fe5aa9c136e00b82&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individual liberty versus public order prioritization](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69852008fe5aa9c136e00b86&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Judicial branch versus social movements securing civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6985203afe5aa9c136e00b88&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Minority equality: social movements versus legal challenges](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6985206efe5aa9c136e00b8b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Executive action versus grassroots movements for civil rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a5222f1b307ad56461ba2&type=frq-4-argument-essay)

### Unit 4: American Political Ideologies and Beliefs (19)
- [Individual economic freedom versus economic equality tension](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=696f0fe8f9203a118075e315&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Equality of opportunity versus free enterprise priority](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851a72fe5aa9c136e00b2a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Representative roles: delegates versus trustees](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851acffe5aa9c136e00b2d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal regulation versus free market protection debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851b09fe5aa9c136e00b32&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individual liberty versus equality of opportunity prioritization](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851b37fe5aa9c136e00b35&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Congressional reliance on public opinion polls and democratic representation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851bf4fe5aa9c136e00b3f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal versus limited government role in economic prosperity](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c3ffe5aa9c136e00b45&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individualism versus equality of opportunity in economic policy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c7ffe5aa9c136e00b4b&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal economic equality versus individual economic liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ca5fe5aa9c136e00b4e&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Economic equality versus individual economic liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ccffe5aa9c136e00b53&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Tension between equality of opportunity and individual liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d04fe5aa9c136e00b55&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Individualism versus equality of opportunity in policy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d76fe5aa9c136e00b5e&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Equality of opportunity versus individualism in policy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851dc9fe5aa9c136e00b64&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal welfare promotion versus individual property rights](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ebcfe5aa9c136e00b75&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Government regulation versus free market economy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ef9fe5aa9c136e00b77&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Government role: economic equality versus individual liberty](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851fd2fe5aa9c136e00b84&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal regulation versus free market protection in American capitalism](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6985204ffe5aa9c136e00b89&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Keynesian versus supply-side economic stimulus policies](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a535d9603a58b7cad96ea&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Federal regulation versus free market enterprise](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6a7a544c8f98303a4cc1b571&type=frq-4-argument-essay)

### Unit 5: Political Participation (21)
- [Electoral College and democratic representation debate](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=696f0ff2f9203a118075e318&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College versus direct popular vote democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851aaffe5aa9c136e00b2c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Interest groups' impact on participatory democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851adafe5aa9c136e00b2f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Independent political expenditures, free speech, election fairness](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851b0bfe5aa9c136e00b33&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College: democratic check or anti-democratic obstacle](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851b32fe5aa9c136e00b34&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Interest groups' impact on democratic participation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851bb1fe5aa9c136e00b3c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College versus direct popular vote democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c01fe5aa9c136e00b40&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Political parties versus interest groups as linkage institutions](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c37fe5aa9c136e00b44&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral power: federalism versus democratic equality](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851c76fe5aa9c136e00b49&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Political parties versus interest groups in policy influence](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ca0fe5aa9c136e00b4d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Political parties versus interest groups advocating citizen concerns](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851cc4fe5aa9c136e00b52&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College versus direct popular vote democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851d37fe5aa9c136e00b5a&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Political parties versus interest groups influence mechanisms](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851da0fe5aa9c136e00b61&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College's impact on democratic representation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e05fe5aa9c136e00b68&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Corporate political spending and participatory democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851e3afe5aa9c136e00b6c&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Independent political spending, money in elections](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851eb9fe5aa9c136e00b74&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Independent political expenditures and democratic representation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f33fe5aa9c136e00b7d&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College versus direct popular vote democracy](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851f5ffe5aa9c136e00b7f&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Interest groups, democratic representation, elite influence](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851fbbfe5aa9c136e00b83&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Electoral College: democratic safeguard or participation barrier](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=69851ff3fe5aa9c136e00b85&type=frq-4-argument-essay)
- [Primary elections and winner-take-all representation](/ap-gov/frq-practice?id=6abad82f50d9d93a527518fa&type=frq-4-argument-essay)

## Sample question

**Federalism and individual liberty protection balance**

Main Prompt: Debates regarding the proper balance of power between the national government and the states have existed since the founding of the United States. Develop an argument as to whether a strong central government or strong state governments are best suited to protect individual liberty.

Foundational Documents:
  - Brutus No. 1: An Anti-Federalist essay arguing that a large central government poses a threat to individual liberty
  - Federalist No. 10: A Federalist essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic is the best defense against the dangers of factions
  - The Declaration of Independence: The foundational document asserting natural rights and the principle of popular sovereignty

Instructions:
  - Respond to the prompt with a defensible claim or thesis that establishes a line of reasoning.
  - Support your claim with at least TWO pieces of specific and relevant evidence. One piece of evidence must come from one of the foundational documents listed. A second piece of evidence can come from any other foundational document not used as your first piece of evidence or it may be from your knowledge of course concepts.
  - Use reasoning to explain why your evidence supports your claim or thesis.
  - Respond to an opposing or alternate perspective using rebuttal or refutation.

## Questions

**How many responses can I get scored?**

You can read every question without a plan. Your first scored response is included. A plan unlocks unlimited scoring.

**Which documents can I use as evidence?**

One piece of evidence must come from a foundational document listed in the prompt. The other can come from another foundational document or from course concepts.

**Is there a right answer?**

No. Any defensible position can earn all 6 points when it’s supported with specific evidence and reasoning.

**Are these real College Board questions?**

No. We wrote them in the AP format, with the same four requirements, and wrote scoring guidelines for each one.

**Can I write my answer by hand?**

Yes. Switch the editor to handwrite, write on paper, and add a photo of your page.

## Related

- [Argument Essay exam guide](/ap-gov/ap-us-government-exam/ap-gov-frq-argument-essay/study-guide/ap-gov-frq-argument-essay)
- [AP US Government Concept Application FRQ practice](/ap-gov/frqs/concept-application)
- [AP US Government Quantitative Analysis FRQ practice](/ap-gov/frqs/quantitative-analysis)
- [AP US Government SCOTUS Comparison FRQ practice](/ap-gov/frqs/scotus-comparison)
- [AP US Government FRQs](/ap-gov/frqs)
- Any question by id: the `get_frq` tool on the [Fiveable MCP server](/mcp/docs)

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