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 grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance.






2. A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.






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






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






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






6. Elections in which voters determine party nominees.






7. Initial proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by the Virginia delegation for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature dominated by the big states.






8. 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.






9. Clause in the Constitution (Article 4 - Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid.






10. 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






11. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






12. 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.






13. 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






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






15. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






16. The practice of exporting U.S. jobs to lower paid employees in other nations.






17. A permanent committee established in a legislature - usually focusing on a policy area.






18. A legal action conferring citizenship on an alien.






19. A provision in a deed to real property prohibiting its sale to a person of a particular race or religion. Judicial enforcement of such deeds is unconstitutional.






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






21. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






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






23. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover






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






25. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






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






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






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






29. Theory that opposes governmental interference in economic affairs beyond what is necessary to protect life and property.






30. Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them - and incumbents are more recognizable.






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






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






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






34. A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.






35. 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.






36. Governance according to the expressed preferences of the majority.






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






38. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






39. National Health Insurance program for the elderly and disabled.






40. A theory of government that holds that open - multiple - and competing groups can check the asserted power by any one group.






41. Citizenship in more than one nation.






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






43. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






44. Constitutional arrangement in which sovereign nations or states - by compact - create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it direct authority over individuals.






45. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






46. 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






47. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






48. 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.






49. Promoting a particular position or an issue 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 regulation.






50. 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.