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. Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials - especially legislators - and the policies they enact.






2. Promoting a particular position or an issue by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate and - until 2004 had not been subject to regulation.






3. The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.






4. 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.






5. The tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time.






6. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






7. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






8. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






9. A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






10. A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress.






11. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership is a condition of employment.






12. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






13. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






14. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






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






16. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






17. The convention in Philadelphia - May 25 to September 17 - 1787 - that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.






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






19. Biological - chemical - or nuclear weapons that can cause a massive number of deaths in a single use.






20. 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






21. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






22. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






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






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






25. The right to vote.






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






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






28. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






29. The portion of the Federal budget that is spent on programs - such as Social Security - that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut.






30. Agency that administers civil service laws - rules - and regulations.






31. Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities.






32. Segregation imposed by law.






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






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






35. A theory of government that holds that open - multiple - and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.






36. 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.






37. An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.






38. Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.






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






40. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






41. 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.






42. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






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






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






45. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






46. Governance divided between the parties - especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.






47. The head of the White House staff.






48. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






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






50. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.