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. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






2. Federal statute barring Federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.






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






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






5. The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court.






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






7. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






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






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






10. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.






11. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






12. Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government - leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. The Supreme Cou






13. Remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women.






14. 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.






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






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






17. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






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






19. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






20. An international trade organization with more than 130 members - including the United States and the People's Republic of China - that seeks to encourage free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions.






21. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






22. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






23. Segregation imposed by law.






24. Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.






25. A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






26. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






27. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






28. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






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






30. 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.






31. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






32. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






33. A social division based on national origin - religion - language - and often race.






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






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






36. Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.






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






38. A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of camp






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






40. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this to forbid governmental support to any or all religions.






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






42. Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments - called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.






43. 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.






44. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






45. The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.






46. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






48. Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 - protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

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






50. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.