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 philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






2. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






3. A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent - from the Atlantic the Pacific.






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






5. Divisions within society that reinforce one another - making groups more homogenous or similar.






6. 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.






7. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






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






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






10. Interpretation of the First Amendment that would permit legislatures to forbid speech encouraging people to engage in illegal action.






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






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






13. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






14. 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.






15. Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.






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






17. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






18. Quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary - artistic - political - or scientific value.






19. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






20. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






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






22. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






23. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






24. 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.






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






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






27. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






28. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






29. Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






30. 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.






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






32. The rights of an individual to own - use - rent - invest in - buy - and sell property.






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






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






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






36. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






37. Policy of erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industry.






38. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






39. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






40. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






41. 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.






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






43. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






44. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






45. A monopoly that controls goods and services - often in combinations that reduce competition.






46. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






47. Domination of an industry by a single company; also the company that dominates the industry.






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






50. 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.