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 grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






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






3. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






4. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






5. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.






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






7. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






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






9. An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.






10. 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.






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






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






13. The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.






14. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






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






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






17. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






18. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.






19. A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation - attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention.






20. Petition that - if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.






21. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






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






23. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.






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






25. A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.






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






27. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






28. The clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 8 - Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






29. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f






30. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






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






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






33. Programs such as Medicaid and welfare under which applicants must meet eligibility requirements based on need.






34. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






35. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






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






37. Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment.






38. How voters feel about a candidate's background - personality - leadership ability - and other personal qualities.






39. 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.






40. The head of the White House staff.






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






42. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






43. General tax on sales transactions - sometimes exempting food and drugs.






44. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.






45. The right to vote.






46. A type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






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






48. The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.






49. Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise - such as tobacco.






50. 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.