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 dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.






2. Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election - not necessarily more than half.






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






4. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.






5. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






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






7. Requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained be excluded from a criminal trial.






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






9. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.






10. Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment.






11. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






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






13. Interpretation of the First Amendment that would permit legislatures to forbid speech encouraging people to engage in illegal action.






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






15. The formal process for making regulations.






16. 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






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






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






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






20. 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.






21. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






22. Federal program that provides medical benefits for low-income persons.






23. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






24. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






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






26. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and by how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






27. Media that emphasize the news.






28. Loss of tax revenue due to Federal laws that provide special tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses.






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






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






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






32. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






33. Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 - protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

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34. The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.






35. 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.






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






37. People who favor state or local action rather than national action.






38. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






39. A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent - from the Atlantic the Pacific.






40. Petition that - if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.






41. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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






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






44. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






45. Largely banned party soft money - restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes - and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.






46. A career government employee.






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






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






49. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






50. 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.