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






2. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






3. A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.






4. The principle of a two-house legislature.






5. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






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






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






8. The head of the White House staff.






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






10. Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






11. The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.






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






13. Attempting to overthrow the government by force or use violence to interrupt its activities.






14. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






15. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






16. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






17. A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.






18. Governance divided between the parties - as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.






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






20. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.






21. 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.






22. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress - in addition to its express powers has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Co






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






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






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






26. A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.






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






28. 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.






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






30. Promoting a particular position or an issue 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 regulation.






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






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






33. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






34. Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.






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






36. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






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






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






39. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






40. A provision attached to a bill






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






42. 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.






43. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

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44. Views the national government - 50 states - and thousands of local governments as competing with each other over ways to put together packages of services and taxes. Applies the analogy of the marketplace: we have some choice about which state and ci






45. 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.






46. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.






47. A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform - fiscal responsibility - and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity.






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






49. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






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.