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. 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.






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






3. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






4. A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of camp






5. Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like 'vote for' or 'vote against -' although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.






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






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






8. Power of a government to take private property for public use; the U.S. Constitution gives national and state governments this power and requires them to provide just compensation for property so taken.






9. 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






10. 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.






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






12. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






13. The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court.






14. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






15. Agency that administers civil service laws - rules - and regulations.






16. A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.






17. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that tried to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






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






19. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






20. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






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






23. 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.






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






25. A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress.






26. 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.






27. 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.






28. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






29. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






30. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






31. A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress - now prohibited under Federal law.






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






33. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






34. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






35. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890) that try to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






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






37. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






38. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






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






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






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






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






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






44. Segregation imposed by law.






45. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






46. 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).






47. A provision attached to a bill






48. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






49. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






50. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect the public health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.