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. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






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






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






4. 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.






5. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






6. 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.






7. 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.






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






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






10. 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.






11. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






12. 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.






13. Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.






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






15. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






16. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






17. Segregation imposed by law.






18. Democratic party primary in the old 'one-party South' that was limited to white people and essentially constituted an election; ruled unconstitutional in Smith v. Allwright (1944).






19. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






20. The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue - candidate - or institution within a specific population.






21. 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.






22. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






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






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






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






26. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






27. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.






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






29. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






30. 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.






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






32. Assigning police to neighborhoods where they walk the beat and work with churches and other community groups to reduce crime and improve relations with minorities.






33. The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.






34. An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.






35. 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






36. The study of the characteristics of populations.






37. 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.






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






39. A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress.






40. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






41. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






42. Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election - not necessarily more than half.






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






44. Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.






45. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






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






47. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






48. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






49. Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.






50. The head of the White House staff.