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. A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress - now prohibited under Federal law.






2. Programs such as Medicaid and welfare under which applicants must meet eligibility requirements based on need.






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






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






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






7. A policy-making alliance among loosely connected participants that comes together on a particular issue - then disbands.






8. The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.






9. Compromise between northern and southern states at the Constitutional Convention that three-fifths of the slave population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.






10. 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






11. 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.






12. 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






13. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this to forbid governmental support to any or all religions.






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






15. 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.






16. 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.






17. A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






18. A philosophy that encourages individual nations tacked together to solve international problems.






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






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






21. The Federal government's primary intelligence officer - responsible for overseeing all national intelligence agencies and providing advice to the President on terrorist threats.






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






23. Government by religious leaders - who claim divine guidance.






24. Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.






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






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






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






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






29. Donations made to political candidates - party committees - or groups which - by law - are limited and must be declared.






30. The principle of a two-house legislature.






31. The system created by Congress in 1913 to establish banking practices and regulate currency in circulation and the amount of credit available. It consists of 12 regional banks supervised by the Board of Governors. Often called simply the Fed.






32. 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.






33. 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.






34. The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages.






35. 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.






36. A combination of entitlement programs - paid for by employer and employee taxes - that includes retirement benefits - health insurance - and support for disabled workers and the children of deceased or disabled workers.






37. A national meeting of delegates elected at primaries - caucuses - or state conventions who assemble once every four years to nominate candidates for president and vice president - ratify the party platform - elect officers - and adopt rules.






38. 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.






39. Written defamation of another person. For public officials and public figures - the constitutional tests designed to restrict libel actions are especially rigid.






40. Review of all executive branch testimony - reports - and draft legislation by the Office of Management and Budget to ensure that each communication to Congress is in accordance with the president's program.






41. Legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one states to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.






42. A grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






43. The tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time.






44. A president's claim of broad public support.






45. Powers the Constitution specifically grants to one of the branches of the national government.






46. 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.






47. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






48. The current holder of the elected office.






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






50. Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government - generally.