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 landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






2. Clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 10) originally intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; for a while interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affec






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






4. Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.






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






6. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






7. The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.






8. Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities.






9. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






10. Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.






11. Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.






12. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






13. The Federal government's primary intelligence officer - responsible for overseeing all national intelligence agencies and providing advice to the President on terrorist threats.






14. A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.






15. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






16. Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.






17. 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.






18. Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.






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






20. 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






21. Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.






22. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






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






24. 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.






25. A formal - public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two thirds of the Senate.






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






27. The reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems.






28. Democratic and civic habits of discussion - compromise - and respect for differences - which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.






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






30. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






32. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






33. Segregation imposed by law.






34. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership is a condition of employment.






35. 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






36. An international trade organization with more than 130 members - including the United States and the People's Republic of China - that seeks to encourage free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions.






37. 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.






38. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






39. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






41. 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.






42. 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.






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






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






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






46. 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.






47. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






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






49. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






50. 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.