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. The right to vote.






2. Clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 10) originally intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; for a while interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affec






3. 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.






4. Interpretation of the First Amendment that would permit legislatures to forbid speech encouraging people to engage in illegal action.






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






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






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






8. 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






9. 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.






10. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






11. 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.






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






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






14. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






15. The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.






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






17. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






18. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






19. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






20. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






21. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






22. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






23. A PAC formed by an officeholder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






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






32. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






33. 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.






34. The tendency of presidents to lose support over time.






35. Petition that - if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.






36. Usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.






37. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






38. A form of organization that operates through impersonal - uniform rules and procedures.






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






40. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






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






42. An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






43. The head of the White House staff.






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






45. 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






46. 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.






47. 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.






48. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






49. An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto - requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.






50. 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.