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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. 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.






2. An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.






3. The portion of the Federal budget that is spent on programs - such as Social Security - that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut.






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






5. Powers that grow out of the very existence of government.






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






7. A nonprofit association or group operating outside of government that advocates and pursues policy objectives.






8. The residents of a congressional district or state.






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






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






11. Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party.






12. 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






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






14. A formal written statement from a grand jury charging an individual with an offense; also called a true bill.






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






16. Financial contributions by individuals or groups in the hope of influencing the outcome of the election and subsequently influencing policy.






17. 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.






18. System designed to reduce voter fraud by limiting voting to those who have established eligibility to vote by submitting the proper documents.






19. Inherent powers of state governments to pass laws to protect the public health - safety - and welfare; the national government has no directly granted police powers but accomplishes the same goals through other delegated powers.






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






21. An election during periods of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point - redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties.






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






23. A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.






24. A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.






25. A requirement the federal government imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds.






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






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






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






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






30. 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






31. The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.






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






33. 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.






34. A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.






35. Usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission; also the highest rank in Federal hierarchy.






36. A government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by Congress.






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






38. A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.






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






40. 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.






41. 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.






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






43. In this type of sample - every individual has unknown and random chance of being selected.






44. 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.






45. 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.






46. The reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems.






47. 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.






48. Advertisements and commercials for products and services; they receive less First Amendment protection - primarily to discourage false and misleading ads.






49. An ideology that cherishes individual liberty and insists on minimal government - promoting a free market economy - a noninterventionist foreign policy - and an absence of regulation in moral - economic - and social life.






50. Federal laws (starting with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890) that try to prevent a monopoly from dominating an industry and restraining trade.






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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