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






2. Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise - such as tobacco.






3. 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






4. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






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






6. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






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






8. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






9. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.






10. 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.






11. The head of the White House staff.






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






13. The right to vote.






14. 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.






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






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






17. Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.






18. The proportion of the voting age public that votes - sometimes defined as the number of registered voters that vote.






19. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






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






21. The right of women to vote.

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






23. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






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






25. International organization derived from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that promotes it free trade around the world.






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






27. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






28. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






29. 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.






30. 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.






31. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






32. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






33. A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






34. A congressional committee created for a specific purpose - sometimes to conduct an investigation.






35. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






36. 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.






37. The principle of a two-house legislature.






38. The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).






39. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






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






41. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






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






43. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






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






45. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






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






47. 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.






48. 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.






49. Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.






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