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 formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.






2. The process by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






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






5. Federal program that provides medical benefits for low-income persons.






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






7. A tactic in which PACs collect contributions from like-minded individuals (each limited to $2000) and present them to a candidate or political party as a 'bundle -' thus increasing the PAC's influence.






8. Court order directing an official to perform an official duty.






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






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






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






12. Views the Constitution as giving a limited list of powers—primarily foreign policy and national defense—to the national government - leaving the rest to the sovereign states. Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. The Supreme Cou






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






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






15. A combination of entitlement programs - paid for by employer and employee taxes - that includes retirement benefits - health insurance - and support for disabled workers and the children of deceased or disabled workers.






16. The constitutional requirement (in Article II - Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed - even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.






17. A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of camp






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






19. The tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time.






20. 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.






21. Procedure whereby a certain number of voters may - by petition - propose a law or constitutional amendment and have it submitted to the voters.






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






23. A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.






24. Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government - generally.






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






26. Weakening of partisan preferences that points to a rejection of both major parties and a rise in the number of independents.






27. Theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes - stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and the curve during booms.






28. A type of policy that provides benefits to all Americans.






29. 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.






30. A judicial system in which the court of law is a neutral arena where two parties argue their differences.






31. Conceives of federalism as a marble cake in which all levels of government are involved in a variety of issues and programs - rather than a layer cake - or dual federalism - with fixed divisions between layers or levels of government.






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






33. The right to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to National Security.






34. The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.






35. A meeting of party delegates to vote on matters of policy and in some cases to select party candidates for public office.






36. 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.






37. Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise - such as tobacco.






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






39. Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.






40. A specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal.






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






42. A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.






43. Lawsuit brought by an individual or group of people on behalf of all those similarly situated.






44. Election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.






45. An explanation of the decision of the Supreme Court or any other appellate court.






46. 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.






47. Economic theory based on the principles of John Maynard Keynes stating that government spending should increase during business slumps and be curbed during booms.






48. The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.






49. People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels.






50. Proposal at the Constitutional Convention made by William Paterson of New Jersey for a central government with a single-house legislature in which each state would be represented equally.