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. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






2. 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.






3. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.






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






5. The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget - the Council of Economic Advisers - and several other units.






6. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






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






8. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.






9. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






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






11. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






12. General tax on sales transactions - sometimes exempting food and drugs.






13. 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.






14. 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.






15. Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By interpretation - the Fifth Amendment imposes the same limitation on the national government. This clause is t






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






17. 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.






18. A policy-making alliance that involves a very strong ties among a congressional committee - an interest group - and a Federal Department or agency.






19. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






20. 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






21. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






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






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






24. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






25. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






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






27. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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






29. A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






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






31. Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.






32. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






33. Media that emphasize the news.






34. 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.






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






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






37. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






38. Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.






39. 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.






40. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






41. 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






42. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






43. Democratic and civic habits of discussion - compromise - and respect for differences - which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.






44. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






45. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






46. Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise - such as tobacco.






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






48. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






49. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






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