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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. 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.






2. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense.






3. A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties - especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.






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






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






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






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






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






9. Through different grant programs - slices up the marble cake into many different pieces - making it even more difficult to differentiate the functions of the levels of government.






10. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






11. 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






12. Primary election in which any voter - regardless of party - may vote.






13. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






14. The idea that the rights of the nation are supreme over the rights of the individuals who make up the nation.






15. The residents of a congressional district or state.






16. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






17. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






18. 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.






19. Requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained be excluded from a criminal trial.






20. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






22. A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.






23. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






24. Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually presumed to be unconstitutional.






25. Political contributions given to a party - candidate - or interest group that are limited in amounts and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds is harder than raising unlimited funds - hence the term 'hard money.'






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






27. Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. By interpretation - the Fifth Amendment imposes the same limitation on the national government. This clause is t






28. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






29. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






30. Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 - protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

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31. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






32. 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.






33. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Act of 1890) that tried to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






34. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.






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






36. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






37. Synonymous with 'collective action -' it specifically studies how government officials - politicians - and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.






38. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






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






40. 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.






41. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






42. Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.






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






44. 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.






45. 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.






46. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.






47. Literacy requirements some states imposed as a condition of voting - generally used to disqualify black voters in the South; now illegal.






48. A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.






49. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






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







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