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






2. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






3. Democratic and civic habits of discussion - compromise - and respect for differences - which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.






4. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






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






6. 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.






7. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






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






9. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.






10. The study of the characteristics of populations.






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






12. 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.






13. The right of women to vote.

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14. Domination of an industry by a single company; also the company that dominates the industry.






15. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






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






17. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






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






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






20. 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.






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






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






23. The convention in Philadelphia - May 25 to September 17 - 1787 - that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.






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






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






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






27. The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.






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






29. 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.






30. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






31. A theory of international relations that focuses on the tendency of nations to operate from self-interest.






32. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






33. 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.






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






35. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.






36. Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy.






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






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






39. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






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






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






42. Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






43. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






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






45. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






46. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.






47. Congress appropriates a certain sum - which is allocated to state and local units and sometimes to nongovernmental agencies - based on applications from those who wish to participate. Examples are grants by the National Science Foundation to universi






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






49. The current holder of the elected office.






50. An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.