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 system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






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






3. The study of the characteristics of populations.






4. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






5. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






6. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






7. Tax levied on imports to help protect the nation's industries - labor - or farmers from foreign competition. It can also be used to raise additional revenue.






8. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






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






10. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






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






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






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






14. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






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






16. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






17. Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government - generally.






18. Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution - published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison in 1787 and 1788.






19. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






20. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






21. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






22. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






23. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






24. The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.






25. A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.






26. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






27. A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.






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






29. An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto - requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.






30. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






32. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






33. General tax on sales transactions - sometimes exempting food and drugs.






34. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






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






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






37. 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






38. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






44. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






45. God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.






46. 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.






47. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






48. A national meeting of delegates elected at 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.






49. 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.






50. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.