Test your basic knowledge |

AP Government

Subjects : civics, ap
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






2. A philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






3. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






4. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






5. Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose - such as school lunches or for building airports and highways. These funds are allocated by formula and are subject to detailed federal conditions - often on a matching basis; that is - the local go






6. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






7. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover






8. A theory of government that holds that open - multiple - and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.






9. A landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






10. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






11. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






12. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.






13. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






14. Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.






15. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






16. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






17. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






18. A government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






19. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






20. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






21. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






22. A theory of international relations that focuses on the tendency of nations to operate from self-interest.






23. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






24. The rights of an individual to own - use - rent - invest in - buy - and sell property.






25. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






26. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






27. Donations made to political candidates - party committees - or groups which - by law - are limited and must be declared.






28. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






29. Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like 'vote for' or 'vote against -' although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.






30. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






31. Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.






32. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






33. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






34. A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress - now prohibited under Federal law.






35. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






36. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






37. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






38. The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






39. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






40. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f






41. How voters feel about a candidate's background - personality - leadership ability - and other personal qualities.






42. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






43. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






44. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






45. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






46. The principle of a two-house legislature.






47. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.






48. An imbalance in international trade in which the value of imports exceeds the value of exports.






49. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






50. A jury of 6 to 12 persons that determines guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action.