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. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.






2. 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.






3. 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.






4. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






5. 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.






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






7. 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






8. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






9. 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.






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






11. A secret ballot printed by the state.






12. 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.






13. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






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






15. 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.






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






17. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.






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






19. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






20. 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.






21. 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.






22. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover






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






24. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






25. Segregation imposed by law.






26. Loss of tax revenue due to Federal laws that provide special tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses.






27. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






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






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






30. Domination of an industry by a single company; also the company that dominates the industry.






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






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






33. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






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






35. 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).






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






37. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.






38. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






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






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






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






42. 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.






43. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






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






45. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






46. A provision attached to a bill






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






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






49. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






50. Citizenship in more than one nation.