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. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy.






2. Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one states to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.






3. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






4. 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.






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






6. A career government employee.






7. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






8. 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.






9. Established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible - mobile corps of senior career executives who worked closely with presidential appointees to manage government.






10. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






11. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






12. 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






13. 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.






14. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






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






16. 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.






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






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






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






20. A philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






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






22. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






23. 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.






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






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






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






27. Powers that grow out of the very existence of government.






28. Implies that although federalism provides 'a sharing of power and authority between the national and state governments - the state's share rests upon the permission and permissiveness of the national government.'






29. The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.






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






31. 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.






32. Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials - especially legislators - and the policies they enact.






33. 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.






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






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






36. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






37. Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.






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






39. 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






40. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






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






42. The reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems.






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






44. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






45. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






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






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






48. Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs.






49. 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.






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