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. 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.






3. Constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national government and those of a state or local government - the actions of the federal government will prevail.






4. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






5. Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.






6. A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns






7. The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census - to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.






8. Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.






9. The presiding officer in the House of Representatives - formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.






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






11. Elections held in years when the president is on the ballot.






12. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






13. Segregation imposed by law.






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






15. 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






16. Libel - obscenity - fighting words - and commercial speech - which are not entitled to constitutional protection in all circumstances.






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






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






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






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






21. A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.






22. The right to renounce one's citizenship.






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






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






25. The desire to avoid international entanglement altogether.






26. Clause of the Constitution (Article I - Section 10) originally intended to prohibit state governments from modifying contracts made between individuals; for a while interpreted as prohibiting state governments from taking actions that adversely affec






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






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






29. Conservative Christians who (as a group) have become more active in politics in the last two decades and were especially influential in the 2000 presidential election.






30. Programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government - usually in the form of payroll taxes.






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






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






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






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






35. 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






36. 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.






37. Through different grant programs - slices up the marble cake into many different pieces - making it even more difficult to differentiate the functions of the levels of government.






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






39. 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.






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






41. 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.






42. Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other - so the success of the party's candidate is almost taken for granted.






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






44. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






45. The total output of all economic activity in the nation - including goods and services.






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. Congress appropriates funds for a specific purpose - such as school lunches or for building airports and highways. These funds are allocated by formula and are subject to detailed federal conditions - often on a matching basis; that is - the local go






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






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






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