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. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






2. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






3. Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






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






5. An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.






6. A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.






7. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






8. Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.






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






10. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






11. A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system - expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization - and a foreign policy of nonintervention - free trade - and open immigration.






12. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






13. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






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






15. The total output of all economic activity in the nation - including goods and services.






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






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






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






19. A provision attached to a bill






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






21. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






22. 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






23. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






24. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






25. The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.






26. Review of all executive branch testimony - reports - and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.






27. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






28. 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.






29. A jury of 6 to 12 persons that determines guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action.






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






31. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






32. 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.






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






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






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






36. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp






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






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






39. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






40. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






41. An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.






42. 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.






43. Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.






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






45. 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






46. The process by which provisions of the bill of rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.






47. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






48. The current holder of the elected office.






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






50. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover