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






2. The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






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






4. A national meeting of delegates elected in primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






5. 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.






6. 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).






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






8. Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government - generally.






9. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. These sanctions permit the use of federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another. For example - a 1984 act reduced federal highway aid by up to 15 percent for any






10. The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census - to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.






11. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






12. 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.






13. 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.






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






15. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.






16. Deliberate refusal to obey law or comply with orders of public officials as a means of expressing opposition.






17. 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.






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






19. The head of the White House staff.






20. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






21. A government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






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






23. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






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






25. Alternative means of health care in which individuals make tax-deductible contributions to a special account that can be used to pay medical expenses.






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






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






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






29. A formal - public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two thirds of the Senate.






30. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.






31. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






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






33. 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.






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






35. 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.






36. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.






37. 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.'






38. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






39. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






40. 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.






41. 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.






42. Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities.






43. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership is a condition of employment.






44. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






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






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






47. 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.






48. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






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






50. Election in which voters choose party nominees.