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 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






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






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






4. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






5. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






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






7. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






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






9. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f






10. Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for 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 any regulation.






11. 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.






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






13. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






14. The principle of a two-house legislature.






15. A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.






16. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






17. 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






18. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






19. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






20. Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.






21. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






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






23. A court order forbidding specific individuals or groups from performing certain acts (such as striking) that the court considers harmful to the rights and property of an employer or community.






24. 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






25. 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.






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






27. 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.






28. Congress appropriates a certain sum - which is allocated to state and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies - based on applications from those who wish to participate. Examples are grants by the National Science Foundation to universi






29. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






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






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






33. Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually presumed to be unconstitutional.






34. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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35. Largely banned party soft money - restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes - and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.






36. 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.






37. 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.






38. Tax levied on imports to help protect the nation's industries - labor - or farmers from foreign competition. It can also be used to raise additional revenue.






39. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






40. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






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. 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.






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






45. The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.






46. Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.






47. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






48. 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.






49. 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






50. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.