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






2. Segregation imposed by law.






3. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






4. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






5. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






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






7. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






8. A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of camp






9. 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.






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






11. Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.






12. 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.






13. 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.






14. 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.






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






16. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






17. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






18. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






19. Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.






20. An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.






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






22. Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose - such as school lunches or for building airports and highways. These funds are allocated by formula and are subject to detailed federal conditions - often on a matching basis; that is - the local go






23. Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities.






24. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






25. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






26. 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.






27. The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.






28. Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






29. 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.






30. Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.






31. 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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32. The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.






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






34. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






35. 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.






36. 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.






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






38. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






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






40. 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.'






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






42. An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






43. The process by which provisions of the bill of rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.






44. An imbalance in international trade in which the value of imports exceeds the value of exports.






45. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






46. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






47. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






48. National Health Insurance program for the elderly and disabled.






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






50. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.