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. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






2. 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.






3. A notion held by a nineteenth-century Americans that the United States was destined to rule the continent - from the Atlantic the Pacific.






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






5. A secret ballot printed by the state.






6. Federal statute barring Federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.






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






8. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






9. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






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






11. 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






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






13. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






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






15. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






16. Legislative act inflicting punishment - including deprivation of property - without a trial - on named individuals or members of a specific group.






17. 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.






18. Method whereby representatives of the union and employer determine wages - hours - and other conditions of employment through direct negotiation.






19. The authority of a court to hear a case 'in the first instance.'






20. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.






21. 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.






22. 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.






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






24. A philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






25. Government by religious leaders - who claim divine guidance.






26. A government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






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






28. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






29. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






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






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






32. 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.






33. Alternative means of health care in which individuals make tax-deductible contributions to a special account that can be used to pay medical expenses.






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






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






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






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






38. A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope the nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.






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






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






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






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






43. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






44. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






45. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






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






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






48. Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.






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






50. 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