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. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






2. 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






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






4. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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5. 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.






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






7. 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






8. A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope the nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.






9. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






10. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






11. 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






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






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






14. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






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






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






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






18. Domination of an industry by a single company; also the company that dominates the industry.






19. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






20. The total amount of money the Federal government has borrowed to finance deficit spending over the years.






21. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






22. A permanent committee established in a legislature - usually focusing on a policy area.






23. Power of a government to take private property for public use; the U.S. Constitution gives national and state governments this power and requires them to provide just compensation for property so taken.






24. 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.






25. 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.






26. 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.






27. The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.






28. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






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. A philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






31. A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods.






32. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






33. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.






34. 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).






35. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






36. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






37. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






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






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






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






41. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






42. 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.






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






44. 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.






45. The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.






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






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






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






49. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






50. 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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