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






2. Unlimited and undisclosed spending by an individual or group on communications that do not use words like 'vote for' or 'vote against -' although much of this activity is actually about electing or defeating candidates.






3. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. These sanctions permit the use of federal money in one program to influence state and local policy in another. For example - a 1984 act reduced federal highway aid by up to 15 percent for any






4. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.






5. Petition that - if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members - will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.






6. The right to vote.






7. 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






8. Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.






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






10. A president's claim of broad public support.






11. A convention held in September 1786 to consider problems of trade and navigation - attended by five states and important because it issued the call to Congress and the states for what became the Constitutional Convention.






12. A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






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






14. Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.






15. 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).






16. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.






17. A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress.






18. An imbalance in international trade in which the value of imports exceeds the value of exports.






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






20. A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.






21. Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.






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






23. A minor party that believes in extremely limited government. Libertarians call for a free market system - expanded individual liberties such as drug legalization - and a foreign policy of nonintervention - free trade - and open immigration.






24. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






25. A characteristic of individuals that is predictive of political behavior.






26. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






27. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






28. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






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






30. A national meeting of delegates elected at 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.






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






32. Legislative act inflicting punishment - including deprivation of property - without a trial - on named individuals or members of a specific group.






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






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






35. Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities.






36. Tax levied on imports to help protect the nation's industries - labor - or farmers from foreign competition. It can also be used to raise additional revenue.






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






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






39. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






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






41. A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.






42. Governance divided between the parties - as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.






43. Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.






44. 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






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






46. Views the national government - 50 states - and thousands of local governments as competing with each other over ways to put together packages of services and taxes. Applies the analogy of the marketplace: we have some choice about which state and ci






47. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






48. The residents of a congressional district or state.






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






50. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.