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. A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.






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






3. 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






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






5. Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.






6. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






7. Literacy requirements some states imposed as a condition of voting - generally used to disqualify black voters in the South; now illegal.






8. Powers that grow out of the very existence of government.






9. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






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






11. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






12. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






13. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






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






15. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






16. 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.






17. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






18. The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote.






19. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






20. 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.






21. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






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






23. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






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






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






26. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.


27. 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.






28. 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.






29. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp






30. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






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






32. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.






33. A law that defines crimes against the public order.






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






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






36. A type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






37. A provision attached to a bill






38. Domination of an industry by a single company that fixes prices and discourages competition; also - the company that dominates the industry by these means.






39. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






40. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






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






42. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. These sanctions permit the use of federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another. For example - a 1984 act reduced federal highway aid by up to 15 percent for any






43. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






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






45. An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy.






46. 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






47. 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.






48. Media that emphasize the news.






49. 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.






50. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.