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. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






2. 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






3. 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.






4. Democratic party primary in the old 'one-party South' that was limited to white people and essentially constituted an election; ruled unconstitutional in Smith v. Allwright (1944).






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






6. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






7. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.






8. 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.






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






10. A provision attached to a bill






11. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






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






13. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






14. Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.






15. The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs.






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






17. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






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






19. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






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






21. 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.






22. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. These sanctions permit the use of federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another. For example - a 1984 act reduced federal highway aid by up to 15 percent for any






23. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






24. 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.






25. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






26. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government - promoting a free market economy - a noninterventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in moral - economic - and social life.






27. A policy-making alliance that involves a very strong ties among a congressional committee - an interest group - and a Federal Department or agency.






28. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






29. A social division based on national origin - religion - language - and often race.






30. The inclination to focus on national issues - rather than local issues - in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party o






31. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






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






33. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






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






35. 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






36. 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.






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






38. Attempting to overthrow the government by force or use violence to interrupt its activities.






39. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p


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






41. The clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 8 - Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






42. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f






43. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress - in addition to its express powers has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Co






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






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






46. People who favor state or local action rather than national action.






47. An economic and governmental system based on public ownership of the means of production and exchange.






48. 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.






49. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






50. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.