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. Power of a government to take private property for public use; the U.S. Constitution gives national and state governments this power and requires them to provide just compensation for property so taken.






2. A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods.






3. A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns






4. Programs that the Federal government requires States to implement without Federal funding.






5. The difference between the revenues raised annually from sources of income other than borrowing and the expenditures of government - including paying the interest on past borrowing.






6. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






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






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






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






11. Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose - such as school lunches or for building airports and highways. These funds are allocated by formula and are subject to detailed federal conditions - often on a matching basis; that is - the local go






12. 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






13. A minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995. It focuses on national government reform - fiscal responsibility - and political accountability. It has recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that it lacks an identity.






14. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






15. A provision attached to a bill






16. 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.






17. 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.






18. 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.






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






20. 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






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






22. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






23. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






24. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






25. Remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women.






26. Programs such as unemployment insurance - disaster relief - or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.






27. 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.






28. 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.






29. 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






30. The right of women to vote.

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31. 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






32. A small political party that rises and falls with a charismatic candidate or - if composed of ideologies on the right or left - usually persists over time; also called a third party.






33. 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






34. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






35. Promoting a particular position or an issue by interest groups or individuals but not candidates. Much issue advocacy is often electioneering for or against a candidate and - until 2004 had not been subject to regulation.






36. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






37. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






38. An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.






39. A procedure for terminating debate - especially filibusters - in the Senate.






40. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






41. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






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






43. Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






44. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






45. 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






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






47. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






48. 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.






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






50. 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.