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 proportion of the voting age public that votes - sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.






2. Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






3. 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.






4. The head of the White House staff.






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






6. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






7. 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.






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






9. 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.






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






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






12. 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.






13. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






14. A landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






15. Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs.






16. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






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






18. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






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






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






21. 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.






22. Method whereby representatives of the union and employer determine wages - hours - and other conditions of employment through direct negotiation.






23. 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.






24. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.






25. 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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26. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






27. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






28. 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.






29. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






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






31. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






32. 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.






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






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






35. National Health Insurance program for the elderly and disabled.






36. Legislative act inflicting punishment - including deprivation of property - without a trial - on named individuals or members of a specific group.






37. 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.






38. 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.






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






40. Political contributions given to a party - candidate - or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds - hence the term 'hard money.'






41. A career government employee.






42. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






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






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






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






46. A monopoly that controls goods and services - often in combinations that reduce competition.






47. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for more serious offense.






48. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






49. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






50. 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.