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. 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






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






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






4. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






5. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






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






7. Programs such as Medicaid and welfare under which applicants must meet eligibility requirements based on need.






8. 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.






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






10. The residents of a congressional district or state.






11. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






12. A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.






13. 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.






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






15. A judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences.






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






17. Segregation imposed by law.






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






19. 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.






20. Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






21. 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.






22. 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.






23. How voters feel about a candidate's background - personality - leadership ability - and other personal qualities.






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






25. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






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






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






29. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






30. A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress.






31. Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of the party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






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






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






34. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






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






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






37. The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.






38. Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.






39. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






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






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






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






47. 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.






48. Programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government - usually in the form of payroll taxes.






49. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






50. 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.