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 power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






2. 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.






3. A formal - public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two thirds of the Senate.






4. The right of women to vote.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


5. A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation - attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention.






6. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






7. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






8. The right to vote.






9. The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.






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






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






12. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






13. A congressional committee created for a specific purpose - sometimes to conduct an investigation.






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






15. Citizenship in more than one nation.






16. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






17. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






18. A law that defines crimes against the public order.






19. A career government employee.






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






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






22. 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.'






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






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






25. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






26. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






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






28. 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.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


29. 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






30. A minor party dedicated to the environment - social justice - nonviolence - and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.






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






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






33. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






34. Implies that although federalism provides 'a sharing of power and authority between the national and state governments - the state's share rests upon the permission and permissiveness of the national government.'






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






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






37. Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.






38. Stresses federalism as a system of intergovernmental relations in delivering governmental goods and services to the people and calls for cooperation among various levels of government.






39. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






40. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






41. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






42. A form of organization that operates through impersonal - uniform rules and procedures.






43. Tax levied on imports to help protect the nation's industries - labor - or farmers from foreign competition. It can also be used to raise additional revenue.






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






45. 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.






46. A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.






47. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






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






49. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






50. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.