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 jury of 6 to 12 persons that determines guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action.






2. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






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






4. Biological - chemical - or nuclear weapons that can cause a massive number of deaths in a single use.






5. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






6. The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.






7. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






8. 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.






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






10. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.






11. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






12. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






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






14. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






15. Political contributions given to a party - candidate - or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds - hence the term 'hard money.'






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






17. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






18. A permanent committee established in a legislature - usually focusing on a policy area.






19. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






20. Federal program that provides medical benefits for low-income persons.






21. 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.






22. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






23. The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members - stockholders - or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.






24. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






25. Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of the party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






26. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






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






28. Interpretation of the First Amendment that would permit legislatures to forbid speech encouraging people to engage in illegal action.






29. The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate - such as his/her strengths - weaknesses - background - experience - and visibility.






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






31. Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.






32. Policy of erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industry.






33. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






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






35. A combination of entitlement programs - paid for by employer and employee taxes - that includes retirement benefits - health insurance - and support for disabled workers and the children of deceased or disabled workers.






36. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






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






38. Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution - published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison in 1787 and 1788.






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






40. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






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






42. A company in which new employees must join a union within a stated time period.






43. Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government - leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. The Supreme Cou






44. Congress appropriates a certain sum - which is allocated to state and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies - based on applications from those who wish to participate. Examples are grants by the National Science Foundation to universi






45. Requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained be excluded from a criminal trial.






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






47. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






48. A monopoly that controls goods and services - often in combinations that reduce competition.






49. 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.






50. 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