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. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






2. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






3. 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.






4. 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.






5. Legislative act inflicting punishment - including deprivation of property - without a trial - on named individuals or members of a specific group.






6. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






7. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






8. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership is a condition of employment.






9. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






10. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






11. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






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






13. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






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






15. The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate - such as his/her strengths - weaknesses - background - experience - and visibility.






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






17. Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually presumed to be unconstitutional.






18. 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.






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






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






21. 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.'






22. The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.






23. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






24. An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto - requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.






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






26. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






27. A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






28. Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials - especially legislators - and the policies they enact.






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






30. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






31. Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.






32. 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.






33. The right to vote.






34. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.






35. Citizenship in more than one nation.






36. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy.






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






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






39. The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.






40. 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.






41. International organization derived from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that promotes it free trade around the world.






42. 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






43. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






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






45. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






46. A company in which new employees must join a union within a stated time period.






47. 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.






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 formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill.






50. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp