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. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress - in addition to its express powers has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Co






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






3. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






4. 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.






5. An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






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






7. Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like 'vote for' or 'vote against -' although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.






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






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






10. 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.






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






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






13. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






14. Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments - called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.






15. Democratic and civic habits of discussion - compromise - and respect for differences - which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.






16. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






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






18. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






19. 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.






20. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






21. 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.






22. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890) that try to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






23. A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns






24. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect the public health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






25. A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.






26. 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.






27. 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.






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






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






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






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






32. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






33. 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.






34. 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.






35. 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.






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






37. 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.






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






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






40. The head of the White House staff.






41. The Federal government's primary intelligence officer - responsible for overseeing all national intelligence agencies and providing advice to the President on terrorist threats.






42. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






43. The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






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






45. God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.






46. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






47. The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget - the Council of Economic Advisers - and several other units.






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






49. The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census - to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.






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