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 principle of a two-house legislature.






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






3. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






4. The right of women to vote.


5. 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.






6. A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.






7. People who favor state or local action rather than national action.






8. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






9. Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






10. A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods.






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






12. 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.






13. The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.






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






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






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






17. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






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






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






20. 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.






21. Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election - not necessarily more than half.






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






23. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






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






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






26. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.






27. A government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






28. 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.






29. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.






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






31. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






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






33. 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.






34. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






35. An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy.






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






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






38. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






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






40. 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.






41. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






42. Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate - and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.






43. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






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






45. Presidential staff the agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






46. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






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






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






49. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p


50. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.