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 government entity that is independent of the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






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






3. Exemption from prosecution for a particular crime in return for testimony pertaining to the case.






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






5. 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.






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






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. 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.






9. The authority of a court to hear a case 'in the first instance.'






10. A congressional committee created for a specific purpose - sometimes to conduct an investigation.






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






12. A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days - the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.






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






14. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






15. Synonymous with 'collective action -' it specifically studies how government officials - politicians - and voters respond to positive and negative incentives.






16. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






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






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






19. 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






20. A jury of 12 to 23 persons who - in private - hear evidence presented by the government to determine whether persons shall be required to stand trial. If the jury believes there is sufficient evidence that a crime was committed - it issues an indictm






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






22. Agreement signed by the United States - Canada - and Mexico in 1992 to form the largest free trade zone in the world.






23. 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.






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






25. 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






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






27. The number of Americans who are out of work but actively looking for a job. The number does not usually include those who are not looking.






28. 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.






29. 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.






30. Government by religious leaders - who claim divine guidance.






31. Government in which the people elect those who govern and pass laws; also called a republic.






32. The effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states.






33. Loss of tax revenue due to Federal laws that provide special tax incentives or benefits to individuals or businesses.






34. 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.






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






36. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






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






38. These are broad state grants to states for prescribed activities—welfare - child care - education - social services - preventive health care - and health services—with only a few strings attached. States have greater flexibility in deciding how to sp






39. 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






40. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or a government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






41. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.






42. A company with a labor agreement under which union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment.






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






44. God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law.






45. 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.






46. 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






47. Contributions to a state or local party for party-building purposes.






48. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






49. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






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