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 legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






2. 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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3. 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.






4. 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.






5. 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






6. The portion of the Federal budget that is spent on programs - such as Social Security - that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut.






7. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






8. The current holder of the elected office.






9. Tax required to vote; prohibited for national elections by the Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964) and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections (1966).






10. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






11. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






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






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






14. A PAC formed by an officeholder that collects contributions from individuals and other PACs and then makes contributions to other candidates and political parties.






15. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






16. Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






17. Programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government - usually in the form of payroll taxes.






18. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






19. 30-second statements on the evening news shows. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on sound bites to explain them to the public.






20. 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.






21. The residents of a congressional district or state.






22. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






23. A theory of international relations that focuses on the hope the nations will act together to solve international problems and promote peace.






24. 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






25. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.






26. 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.






27. Deliberate refusal to obey law or comply with orders of public officials as a means of expressing opposition.






28. 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






29. Means of communication that are reaching the public - including newspapers and magazines - radio - television (broadcast - cable - and satellite) - films - recordings - books - and electronic communication.






30. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






31. People who favor state or local action rather than national action.






32. A landmark case in United States law and the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States - under Article Three of the United States Constitution. The case resulted from a petition to the Supreme Court by William Marbury - who had b






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






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






35. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






36. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






37. A national meeting of delegates elected in 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 system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.






39. A court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody.






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






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






42. State laws formerly pervasive throughout the South requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional.






43. Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.






44. An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official.






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






46. An organization that seeks political power by electing people to office so that its positions and philosophy become public policy.






47. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






48. A theory that is based on creating enough military strength to convince other nations not to attack first.






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






50. Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.