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






2. Domination of an industry by a single company; also the company that dominates the industry.






3. 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.






4. The process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.






5. An international trade organization with more than 130 members - including the United States and the People's Republic of China - that seeks to encourage free trade by lowering tariffs and other trade restrictions.






6. 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.






7. How voters feel about a candidate's background - personality - leadership ability - and other personal qualities.






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






9. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






10. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense.






11. 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.






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






13. The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.






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






15. A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.






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






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






18. A tax whereby people with lower incomes pay a higher fraction of their income than people with higher incomes.






19. Government regulation of property so extensive that government is deemed to have taken the property by the power of eminent domain - for which it must compensate the property owners.






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






21. A division of population based on occupation - income - and education.






22. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Federal grants may establish certain conditions that extend to all activities supported by federal funds - regardless of their source. The first and most famous of these is Title VI of the 196






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






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






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






26. Constitutional arrangement that concentrates power in a central government.






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






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






29. 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).






30. A jury of 6 to 12 persons that determines guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action.






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






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






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






34. 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.






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






36. Donations made to political candidates - party committees - or groups which - by law - are limited and must be declared.






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






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






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






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






41. Electoral system used in electing the president and vice president - in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular party's candidates.






42. Aid to the poor; 'welfare.'






43. Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for more serious offense.






44. Legislative act inflicting punishment - including deprivation of property - without a trial - on named individuals or members of a specific group.






45. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






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






47. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






48. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.






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






50. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Total preemption rests on the national governments power under the supremacy and commerce clauses to preempt conflicting state and local activity. Building on this constitutional authority - f