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






2. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






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






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






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






6. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






7. Means of communication that are reaching the public - including newspapers and magazines - radio - television (broadcast - cable - and satellite) - films - recordings - books - and electronic communication.






8. The presiding officer in the House of Representatives - formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.






9. 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).






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






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






12. A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior.






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






14. The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members - stockholders - or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.






15. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






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






17. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






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






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






20. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for more serious offense.






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






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






23. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disability relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






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






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






26. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






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






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






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






30. The study of the characteristics of populations.






31. A minor party dedicated to the environment - social justice - nonviolence - and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.






32. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






33. The head of the White House staff.






34. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






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






36. The principle of a two-house legislature.






37. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






38. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government - promoting a free market economy - a noninterventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in moral - economic - and social life.






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






40. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






41. Alternative means of health care in which individuals make tax-deductible contributions to a special account that can be used to pay medical expenses.






42. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






43. Championed by Ronald Reagan - presumes that the power of the federal government is limited in favor of the broad powers reserved to the states.

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44. 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.






45. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






46. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






47. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






48. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






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






50. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover