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






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






3. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






4. 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






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






6. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.






7. A permanent committee established in a legislature - usually focusing on a policy area.






8. 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.






9. A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of camp






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






11. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect the public health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






12. 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.






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






14. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






15. 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.






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






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






18. Citizenship in more than one nation.






19. 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.






20. Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.






21. Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.






22. A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.






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






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






25. 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.






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






27. The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.






28. Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.






29. 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.






30. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






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






32. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






33. The reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems.






34. Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise - such as tobacco.






35. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






36. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.






37. 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.






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






39. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






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






41. A provision attached to a bill






42. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






43. International organization derived from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that promotes it free trade around the world.






44. A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






45. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






46. The distribution of individual preferences or evaluations of a given issue - candidate - or institution within a specific population.






47. The head of the White House staff.






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






49. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






50. Federal statute barring Federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.