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. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






2. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






3. An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy.






4. A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days - the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.






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






6. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






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






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






9. Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate - and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.






10. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






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






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






13. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






14. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






15. Federal statute barring Federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.






16. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






17. Usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.






18. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






19. The convention in Philadelphia - May 25 to September 17 - 1787 - that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.






20. The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue - candidate - or institution within a specific population.






21. A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.






22. 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.






23. The Federal government's primary intelligence officer - responsible for overseeing all national intelligence agencies and providing advice to the President on terrorist threats.






24. A national meeting of delegates elected in 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.






25. A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






26. A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or - if composed of ideologies on the right or left - usually persists over time; also called a third party.






27. The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).






28. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






29. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






30. 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.






31. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






32. Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.






33. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






34. Powers that grow out of the very existence of government.






35. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






36. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






37. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






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






39. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






40. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






41. The clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 8 - Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






42. Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.






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






44. Domination of an industry by a single company that fixes prices and discourages competition; also - the company that dominates the industry by these means.






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






46. A congressional committee created for a specific purpose - sometimes to conduct an investigation.






47. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






48. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






49. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.






50. A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.