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. 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.






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






3. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






4. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






5. Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.






6. 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.






7. 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.






8. 30-second statements on the evening news shows. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on sound bites to explain them to the public.






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






10. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






11. 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.






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






13. Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.






14. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






15. A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods.






16. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


17. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disability relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






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






19. An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.






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






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






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






23. Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one states to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.






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






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






26. The Federal government's primary intelligence officer - responsible for overseeing all national intelligence agencies and providing advice to the President on terrorist threats.






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






28. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






29. 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






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






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






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






33. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






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






35. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






36. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






37. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






38. An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.






39. A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior.






40. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






41. Divisions within society that reinforce one another - making groups more homogenous or similar.






42. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






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






44. The study of the characteristics of populations.






45. 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.






46. Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.






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






48. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






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. Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments - called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.