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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. International organization derived from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that promotes it free trade around the world.






2. The inclination to focus on national issues - rather than local issues - in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party o






3. The authority of a court to hear a case 'in the first instance.'






4. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






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






6. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






8. 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.






9. A social division based on national origin - religion - language - and often race.






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






11. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






12. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






13. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






14. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






15. A secret ballot printed by the state.






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






17. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






18. A president's claim of broad public support.






19. A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.






20. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






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






22. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense.






23. A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or - if composed of ideologies on the right or left - usually persists over time; also called a third party.






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






25. 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.






26. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






27. 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.






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






29. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






30. A theory of international relations that focuses on the tendency of nations to operate from self-interest.






31. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.






32. Review of all executive branch testimony - reports - and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.






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






34. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






35. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






36. Governance divided between the parties - especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.






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






38. Segregation imposed by law.






39. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






40. Media that emphasize the news.






41. 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.






42. 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






43. 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.






44. The right to vote.






45. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






46. 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.






47. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






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






49. 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.






50. Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 - protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

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