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 government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






2. 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






3. Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president - in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party's candidates.






4. 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.






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






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






7. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






8. The residents of a congressional district or state.






9. 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.






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






11. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






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






13. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






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






15. 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.






16. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp






17. 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.






18. 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






19. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.






20. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






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






22. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






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






24. Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.






25. 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.






26. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






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






28. The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members - stockholders - or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.






29. 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






30. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






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






33. Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






34. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.






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






36. Means of communication that are reaching the public - including newspapers and magazines - radio - television (broadcast - cable - and satellite) - films - recordings - books - and electronic communication.






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






38. A provision attached to a bill






39. A minor party dedicated to the environment - social justice - nonviolence - and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.






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






41. The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.






42. Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government - leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. The Supreme Cou






43. 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.






44. Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.






45. 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.






46. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






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






48. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






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






50. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.