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. Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election - not necessarily more than half.






2. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






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






4. 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.






5. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






7. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






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






9. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






10. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






11. 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.






12. Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.






13. The formal process for making regulations.






14. Divisions within society that reinforce one another - making groups more homogenous or similar.






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






16. 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






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






18. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






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






20. Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






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






22. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.






23. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






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






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






26. A government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






27. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






28. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






29. Segregation imposed by law.






30. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






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






32. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






33. 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.






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






35. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






36. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






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






38. 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.






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






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






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






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






43. The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.






44. A type of policy that provides benefits to all Americans.






45. The reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems.






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






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






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






49. 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






50. 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.