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






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






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






4. 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.






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






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






7. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






8. Implies that although federalism provides 'a sharing of power and authority between the national and state governments - the state's share rests upon the permission and permissiveness of the national government.'






9. A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform - fiscal responsibility - and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity.






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






11. 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






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






13. Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.






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






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






16. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






17. 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.






18. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






19. 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.






20. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






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






22. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






23. Through different grant programs - slices up the marble cake into many different pieces - making it even more difficult to differentiate the functions of the levels of government.






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






25. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






26. A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.






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






28. The rights of an individual to own - use - rent - invest in - buy - and sell property.






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






30. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






31. The formal process for making regulations.






32. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






33. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






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






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






36. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






37. A secret ballot printed by the state.






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






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






40. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






41. Donations made to political candidates - party committees - or groups which - by law - are limited and must be declared.






42. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.






43. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






44. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






45. Established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible - mobile corps of senior career executives who worked closely with presidential appointees to manage government.






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






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






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






49. The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.






50. The residents of a congressional district or state.







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