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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. Usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.






2. Constitutional requirement that governments act reasonably and that the substance of the laws themselves be fair and reasonable; limits what the government may do.






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






4. 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.






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






6. An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.






7. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






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






9. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






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






11. The difference between the political opinions or political behavior of men and of women.






12. 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.






13. 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.






14. 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.






15. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






16. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






17. 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.






18. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.






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






20. Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.






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






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






23. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






24. Domination of an industry by a single company that fixes prices and discourages competition; also - the company that dominates the industry by these means.






25. A secret ballot printed by the state.






26. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






27. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






28. The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






29. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






30. Biological - chemical - or nuclear weapons that can cause a massive number of deaths in a single use.






31. The presiding officer in the House of Representatives - formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.






32. 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.






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






34. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion.






35. A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.






36. 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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37. A judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences.






38. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






39. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






40. 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.






41. 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.






42. 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.






43. 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.






44. 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.'






45. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






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






47. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






48. 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.






49. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.






50. The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy - confers with other party leaders - and tries to keep members of the party in line.