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. 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.






2. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






3. A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






4. A policy-making alliance among loosely connected participants that comes together on a particular issue - then disbands.






5. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






6. The total amount of money the Federal government has borrowed to finance deficit spending over the years.






7. A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days - the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.






8. A president's claim of broad public support.






9. The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.






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






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






12. Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.






13. A policy-making alliance that involves a very strong ties among a congressional committee - an interest group - and a Federal Department or agency.






14. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






15. 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.






16. 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.






17. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.






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






19. A secret ballot printed by the state.






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






21. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






22. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






23. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






24. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f






25. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






26. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






27. The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.






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






29. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






30. Synonymous with 'collective action -' it specifically studies how government officials - politicians - and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.






31. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






32. A formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill.






33. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






35. 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.






36. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






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






38. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.






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






40. 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.






41. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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42. The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.






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






44. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






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






46. Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment.






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






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






49. Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes - stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms.






50. Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate - and until 2004 had not been subject to any regulation.