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. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






2. 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






3. 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






4. A form of organization that operates through impersonal - uniform rules and procedures.






5. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






6. The principle of a two-house legislature.






7. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






8. 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.






9. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.






10. Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.






11. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






12. A policy-making alliance that involves a very strong ties among a congressional committee - an interest group - and a Federal Department or agency.






13. Biological - chemical - or nuclear weapons that can cause a massive number of deaths in a single use.






14. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






15. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






16. A policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity.






17. Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.






18. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






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






20. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






21. The head of the White House staff.






22. Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.






23. Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes - stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms.






24. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






25. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






26. The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget - the Council of Economic Advisers - and several other units.






27. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






28. Quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary - artistic - political - or scientific value.






29. Attempting to overthrow the government by force or use violence to interrupt its activities.






30. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






31. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






32. Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs.






33. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






34. The reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems.






35. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






36. Political contributions given to a party - candidate - or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds - hence the term 'hard money.'






37. The residents of a congressional district or state.






38. A president's claim of broad public support.






39. Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.






40. A national meeting of delegates elected at primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






41. A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation - attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention.






42. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






43. An international trade organization with more than 130 members - including the United States and the People's Republic of China - that seeks to encourage free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions.






44. The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.






45. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






46. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






47. Segregation imposed by law.






48. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this to forbid governmental support to any or all religions.






49. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






50. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.