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






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






3. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






4. 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.






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






6. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






7. Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one states to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.






8. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






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






10. A company in which new employees must join a union within a stated time period.






11. Democratic party primary in the old 'one-party South' that was limited to white people and essentially constituted an election; ruled unconstitutional in Smith v. Allwright (1944).






12. 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






13. The total amount of money the Federal government has borrowed to finance deficit spending over the years.






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






15. 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.






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






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






18. A combination of entitlement programs - paid for by employer and employee taxes - that includes retirement benefits - health insurance - and support for disabled workers and the children of deceased or disabled workers.






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






20. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






21. A PAC formed by an officeholder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.






22. Alternative means of health care in which individuals make tax-deductible contributions to a special account that can be used to pay medical expenses.






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






24. 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.






25. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






26. Primary election in which any voter - regardless of party - may vote.






27. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






28. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






29. The current holder of the elected office.






30. A monopoly that controls goods and services - often in combinations that reduce competition.






31. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






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






33. The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.






34. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






35. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






36. 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.






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






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






39. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






40. An imbalance in international trade in which the value of imports exceeds the value of exports.






41. The total output of all economic activity in the nation - including goods and services.






42. 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.






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






44. The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).






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






46. The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.






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






48. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






49. National Health Insurance program for the elderly and disabled.






50. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.