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






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






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






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






5. Clause in the Fifth Amendment limiting the power of the national government; similar clause in the Fourteenth Amendment prohibiting state governments from depriving any person of life - liberty - or property without due process of law.






6. In a criminal action - the person or party accused of an offense.






7. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






8. 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.






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






10. A collection of people who share a common interest or attitude and seek to influence government for specific ends. Interest groups usually work within the framework of government and try to achieve their goals through tactics such as lobbying.






11. An official document - published every weekday - which lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.






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






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






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






15. Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.






16. 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.






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






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






19. 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.






20. Promoting a particular position or an issue paid for 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 any regulation.






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






22. 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.






23. 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.






24. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






25. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






26. 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.






27. The principle of a two-house legislature.






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






29. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






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






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






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






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






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






35. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






36. The rights of an individual to own - use - rent - invest in - buy - and sell property.






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






38. A jury of 6 to 12 persons that determines guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action.






39. Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.






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






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






42. 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.






43. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






45. Literacy requirements some states imposed as a condition of voting - generally used to disqualify black voters in the South; now illegal.






46. The widely shared beliefs - values - and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.






47. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






48. Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs.






49. 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.






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