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. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






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






3. 30-second statements on the evening news shows. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on sound bites to explain them to the public.






4. 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.






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






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






7. 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.






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






9. 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.






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






11. 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.






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






13. 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






14. Requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained be excluded from a criminal trial.






15. The residents of a congressional district or state.






16. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






17. A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.






18. 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.






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






20. Political contributions given to a party - candidate - or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds - hence the term 'hard money.'






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






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. 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.






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






25. 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.






26. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






28. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






29. The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote.






30. The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate - such as his/her strengths - weaknesses - background - experience - and visibility.






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






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






33. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






34. Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 - protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

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35. An imbalance in international trade in which the value of imports exceeds the value of exports.






36. Agency that administers civil service laws - rules - and regulations.






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






38. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






40. Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By interpretation - the Fifth Amendment imposes the same limitation on the national government. This clause is t






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






42. A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation - attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention.






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






44. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






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






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






47. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disaster relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






48. Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials - especially legislators - and the policies they enact.






49. Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.






50. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.