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. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






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






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






4. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






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






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






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






8. The principle of a two-house legislature.






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






10. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.






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






12. Largely banned party soft money - restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes - and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.






13. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






14. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






15. The head of the White House staff.






16. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp






17. Candidate or party with the most votes cast in an election - not necessarily more than half.






18. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






19. The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census - to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.






20. Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like 'vote for' or 'vote against -' although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.






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






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






23. 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






24. Presidential staff the agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






25. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






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






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






28. A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.






29. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






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






31. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment.






32. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






33. 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






34. Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs.






35. 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.






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






37. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






38. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






39. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






40. 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.






41. 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.






42. 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






43. A type of policy that takes benefits (usually through taxes) from one group of Americans and gives them to another (usually through spending).






44. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






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






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






47. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






48. Means of communication that are reaching the public - including newspapers and magazines - radio - television (broadcast - cable - and satellite) - films - recordings - books - and electronic communication.






49. A theory of government that holds that open - multiple - and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.






50. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.