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






2. A monopoly that controls goods and services - often in combinations that reduce competition.






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






4. An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.






5. The current holder of the elected office.






6. A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.






7. Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






8. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






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






10. The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






11. The convention in Philadelphia - May 25 to September 17 - 1787 - that debated and agreed upon the Constitution of the United States.






12. A career government employee.






13. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






14. 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.'






15. The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.






16. How groups form and organize to pursue their goals or objectives - including how to get individuals and groups to participate and to cooperate. The term has many applications in the various social sciences such as political science - sociology - and






17. Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes - stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms.






18. A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.






19. Formal accusation against a president or other public official - the first step in removal from office.






20. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






21. Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.






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






23. 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.






24. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






25. The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court.






26. A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days - the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.






27. 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).






28. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






29. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






30. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






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






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






33. A minor party dedicated to the environment - social justice - nonviolence - and the foreign policy of nonintervention. Ralph Nader ran as the Green party's nominee in 2000.






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






35. 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






36. The act of declaring party affiliation; required by some states when one registers to vote.






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






38. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






39. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






40. An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






41. God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.






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






43. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






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






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






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






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






48. 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.






49. A law that defines crimes against the public order.






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