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






2. The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget - the Council of Economic Advisers - and several other units.






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






4. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






5. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






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






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






8. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






9. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






10. Synonymous with 'collective action -' it specifically studies how government officials - politicians - and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.






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






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






13. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






14. 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.






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






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






17. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






18. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






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






20. Words that by their very nature inflict injury on those to whom they are addressed or insight them to acts of violence.






21. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






22. 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.






23. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






24. 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






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






26. 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.






27. The tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time.






28. 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.'






29. 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






30. Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.






31. The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue - candidate - or institution within a specific population.






32. A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.






33. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






34. 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.






35. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






36. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.






37. Through different grant programs - slices up the marble cake into many different pieces - making it even more difficult to differentiate the functions of the levels of government.






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






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






40. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






41. 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.






42. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






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






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






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






46. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






47. Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of the party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






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






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






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