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. The inclination to focus on national issues - rather than local issues - in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party o






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






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






4. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






5. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






6. Clause of the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress - in addition to its express powers has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Co






7. Established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible - mobile corps of senior career executives who worked closely with presidential appointees to manage government.






8. General tax on sales transactions - sometimes exempting food and drugs.






9. The political arm of an interest group that is legally entitled to raise funds on a voluntary basis from members - stockholders - or employees to contribute funds to candidates or political parties.






10. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






11. Biological - chemical - or nuclear weapons that can cause a massive number of deaths in a single use.






12. Established rules and regulations that restrain government officials.






13. An economic system characterized by private property - competitive markets - economic incentives - and limited government involvement in the production - distribution - and pricing of goods and services.






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






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






16. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






17. A policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity.






18. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






19. The candidate or party that wins more than half the votes cast in an election.






20. The process by which provisions of the bill of rights are brought within the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment and so applied to state and local governments.






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






22. The means by which individuals can express preferences regarding the development of public policy.






23. Words that by their very nature inflict injury on those to whom they are addressed or insight them to acts of violence.






24. 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).






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






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






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






28. Largely banned party soft money - restored a long-standing prohibition on corporations and labor unions for using general treasury funds for electoral purposes - and narrowed the definition of issue advocacy.






29. Belief in the superiority of one's nation or ethnic group.






30. 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






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






32. Money spent by individuals or groups not associated with candidates to elect or defeat candidates for office.






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






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






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






36. 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.






37. A policy-making alliance among loosely connected participants that comes together on a particular issue - then disbands.






38. Remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women.






39. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






40. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






42. 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.






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






44. 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






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






46. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






47. The belief that nations must engage in international problem solving.






48. 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.






49. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






50. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.