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 tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






2. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.






3. 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






4. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






5. A national meeting of delegates elected at primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






6. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






7. 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.






8. A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days - the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.






9. 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.






10. 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.






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






12. Loss of tax revenue due to Federal laws that provide special tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses.






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






14. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






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






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






17. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






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






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






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






21. A landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






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






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






24. How voters feel about a candidate's background - personality - leadership ability - and other personal qualities.






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






26. Segregation imposed by law.






27. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






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






29. Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.






30. A policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity.






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






32. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






33. A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.






34. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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






36. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






37. The total amount of money the Federal government has borrowed to finance deficit spending over the years.






38. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






39. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






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






41. 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






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






43. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






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






45. Policy of erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industry.






46. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






47. 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.






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






49. The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party - group - or incumbent.






50. 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.