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. Governance divided between the parties - as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.






2. A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.






3. Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.






4. The principle of a two-house legislature.






5. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






6. The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.






7. 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.






8. A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns






9. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






10. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that tried to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






11. The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote.






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






13. An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.






14. 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






15. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






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






17. The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.






18. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.






19. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






20. Agency that administers civil service laws - rules - and regulations.






21. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






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






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






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






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






26. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






27. A combination of entitlement programs - paid for by employer and employee taxes - that includes retirement benefits - health insurance - and support for disabled workers and the children of deceased or disabled workers.






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






29. A type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






30. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.






31. 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.






32. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. These sanctions permit the use of federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another. For example - a 1984 act reduced federal highway aid by up to 15 percent for any






33. 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.






34. The total output of all economic activity in the nation - including goods and services.






35. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






36. 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.






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






38. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890) that try to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






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. Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






41. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






42. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






43. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






44. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






45. A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.






46. The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.






47. Assigning police to neighborhoods where they walk the beat and work with churches and other community groups to reduce crime and improve relations with minorities.






48. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.






49. A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.






50. Congress appropriates a certain sum - which is allocated to state and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies - based on applications from those who wish to participate. Examples are grants by the National Science Foundation to universi







Sorry!:) No result found.

Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?


Let me suggest you:

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests



Major Subjects

Tests & Exams


AP
CLEP
DSST
GRE
SAT
GMAT

Browse all subjects

Browse all tests

Most popular tests