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. 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.






2. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






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






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






5. 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).






6. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






7. A minor party dedicated to the environment - social justice - nonviolence - and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.






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






9. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.






10. 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.






11. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






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






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






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






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






16. Legislative or executive review of a particular government program or organization. Can be in response to a crisis of some kind or part of routine review.






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






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






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






20. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






21. 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.






22. 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.






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






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






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






26. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


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






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






29. A law that defines crimes against the public order.






30. 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.






31. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






32. A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.






33. Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president - in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party's candidates.






34. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






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






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






37. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






38. 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.






39. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






40. The residents of a congressional district or state.






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






42. A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system - expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization - and a foreign policy of nonintervention - free trade - and open immigration.






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






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






45. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and by how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






46. 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.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


47. 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.






48. 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.






49. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






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