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






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






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






4. Democratic and civic habits of discussion - compromise - and respect for differences - which grow out of participation in voluntary organizations.






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






6. 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.






7. Citizenship in more than one nation.






8. The first governing document of the confederated states drafted in 1777 - ratified in 1781 - and replaced by the present Constitution in 1789.






9. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership is a condition of employment.






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






11. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






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






13. A belief that government can and should achieve justice and equality of opportunity.






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






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






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






17. 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






18. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






19. 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.






20. Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term.






21. The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals - groups - and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual - group - or party does so - they are






22. Election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






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






24. 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.






25. A rise in the general price level (and decrease in dollar value) owing to an increase in the volume of money and credit in relation to available goods.






26. Trial or punishment for the same crime by the same government; forbidden by the Constitution.






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






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






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






30. A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods.






31. Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.






32. 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.






33. Photo opportunities set up by the candidates. The media have been accused of simplifying complicated political issues by relying on photo ops to explain them to the public.






34. A government that enforces recognized limits on those who govern and allows the voice of the people to be heard through free - fair - and relatively frequent elections.






35. 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






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






37. A tax graduated so that people with higher incomes pay larger fraction of their income than people with lower incomes.






38. A national meeting of delegates elected in 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.






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






40. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






41. 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.






42. The residents of a congressional district or state.






43. Money raised in unlimited amounts by political parties for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state or local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






44. Government by the people - both directly or indirectly - with free and frequent elections.






45. 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.






46. 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.






47. Trade status granted as part of an international trade policy that gives a nation the same favorable trade concessions and tariffs that the best trading partners receive.






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






49. Clause in the First Amendment that states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The Supreme Court has interpreted this to forbid governmental support to any or all religions.






50. 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.