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 law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.






2. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






3. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






4. Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes - stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms.






5. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






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






7. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






8. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p

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9. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






10. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






11. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disability relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






12. 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






13. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.






14. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






15. Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By interpretation - the Fifth Amendment imposes the same limitation on the national government. This clause is t






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






17. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






18. 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.






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






20. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






21. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






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






23. Usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.






24. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






25. The total amount of money the Federal government has borrowed to finance deficit spending over the years.






26. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disaster relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






27. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






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






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






30. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy.






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






32. A formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill.






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






34. 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.






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






36. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






37. 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.






38. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






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






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






41. 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.






42. 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






43. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






44. 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.






45. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






46. 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.






47. Legislative or executive review of a particular government program or organization. Can be in response to a crisis of some kind or part of routine review.






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






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






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