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 type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






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






3. Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.






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






5. 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.






6. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






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






8. Federal program that provides medical benefits for low-income persons.






9. A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.






10. An international trade organization with more than 130 members - including the United States and the People's Republic of China - that seeks to encourage free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions.






11. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






12. Largely banned party soft money - restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes - and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.






13. The principle of a two-house legislature.






14. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






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






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






18. 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.






19. Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.






20. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






21. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






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






23. Primary election in which any voter - regardless of party - may vote.






24. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






25. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






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






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






28. The study of the characteristics of populations.






29. 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






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






31. 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.






32. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






33. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






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






35. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






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






37. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






38. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






39. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






40. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






41. Donations made to political candidates - party committees - or groups which - by law - are limited and must be declared.






42. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






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






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






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






46. 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






47. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






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






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






50. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.