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






2. Constitutional division of powers among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches - with the legislative branch making law - the executive applying and enforcing the law - and the judiciary interpreting the law.






3. During the Great Society - the marble cake approach of intergovernmental relations.






4. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






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






6. 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.






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






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






9. General tax on sales transactions - sometimes exempting food and drugs.






10. 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.






11. The total output of all economic activity in the nation - including goods and services.






12. A secret ballot printed by the state.






13. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover






14. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






15. A career government employee.






16. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






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






18. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p

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19. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






20. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






21. 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.






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






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






24. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






25. Powers that grow out of the very existence of government.






26. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






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






28. The clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 8 - Clause 3) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






29. Policy of erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industry.






30. Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment.






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






32. A court order forbidding specific individuals or groups from performing certain acts (such as striking) that the court considers harmful to the rights and property of an employer or community.






33. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






34. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






35. Primary election in which any voter - regardless of party - may vote.






36. 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.






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






38. Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments - called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.






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






40. 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.






41. Democratic party primary in the old 'one-party South' that was limited to white people and essentially constituted an election; ruled unconstitutional in Smith v. Allwright (1944).






42. National Health Insurance program for the elderly and disabled.






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






44. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






45. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






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






47. 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.






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






49. The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).






50. Retroactive criminal law that works to the disadvantage of a person.