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. Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one states to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.






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






3. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






4. The principle of a two-house legislature.






5. A type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






6. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






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






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






9. The principle of a two-house legislature.






10. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






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






12. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






13. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






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






15. Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.






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






17. People who favor state or local action rather than national action.






18. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






19. 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.






20. 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.






21. A policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity.






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






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






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






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






26. 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






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






28. A type of policy that provides benefits to all Americans.






29. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






30. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






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






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






33. 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






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






35. 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.






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






37. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.






38. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






39. 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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40. 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.






41. Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.






42. A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress - now prohibited under Federal law.






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






44. Attempting to overthrow the government by force or use violence to interrupt its activities.






45. 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.






46. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






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






48. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






49. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






50. Words that by their very nature inflict injury on those to whom they are addressed or insight them to acts of violence.