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. 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






2. The formal process for making regulations.






3. A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






4. A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.






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






6. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






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






8. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






9. The clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 8 - Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






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






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






12. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






13. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






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






15. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






16. A president's claim of broad public support.






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






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






19. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






21. A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope the nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.






22. The right to vote.






23. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






24. Loss of tax revenue due to Federal laws that provide special tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses.






25. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






26. 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.






27. The residents of a congressional district or state.






28. Power of a government to take private property for public use; the U.S. Constitution gives national and state governments this power and requires them to provide just compensation for property so taken.






29. A provision attached to a bill






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






31. 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.'






32. Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.






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






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






36. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






37. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






38. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






39. 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.






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






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






42. A permanent committee established in a legislature - usually focusing on a policy area.






43. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






44. The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.






45. Championed by Ronald Reagan - presumes that the power of the federal government is limited in favor of the broad powers reserved to the states.

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46. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






47. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






48. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.






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






50. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.