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. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






2. 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.






3. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






4. The rights of an individual to own - use - rent - invest in - buy - and sell property.






5. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






6. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government - promoting a free market economy - a noninterventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in moral - economic - and social life.






7. The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).






8. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






10. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






11. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






12. Programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government - usually in the form of payroll taxes.






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






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






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






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






17. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






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






19. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






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






22. 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.






23. 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.






24. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






25. Quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary - artistic - political - or scientific value.






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






27. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






28. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






29. 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






30. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






31. Review of all executive branch testimony - reports - and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.






32. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






33. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






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






35. 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.






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






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






38. A landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






39. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






40. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






41. 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.






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






43. Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.






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






45. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






46. 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.






47. Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.






48. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






49. Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.






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.