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. Means of communication that are reaching the public - including newspapers and magazines - radio - television (broadcast - cable - and satellite) - films - recordings - books - and electronic communication.






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






3. Relationships among interest groups - congressional committees and subcommittees - and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.






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






5. Interest groups organized under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code may advertise for or against candidates. If their source of funding is corporations or unions - they have some restrictions on broadcast advertising. 527 organizations were impo






6. 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.






7. A large body of people interested in a common issue - idea - or concern that is of continuing significance and who are willing to take action. Movements seek to change attitudes or institutions - not just policies.






8. 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.






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






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






11. Constitutional grant of powers that enables each of the three branches of government to check some acts of the others and therefore ensure that no branch can dominate.






12. 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.






13. 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).






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






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






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






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






18. Presidential power to strike - or remove - specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.






19. 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.






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






21. The residents of a congressional district or state.






22. An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.






23. 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






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






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






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






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






28. Arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys.






29. The precise legal definition of how government will implement a policy.






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






31. The formal process for making regulations.






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






33. Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.






34. 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.






35. A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.






36. The tendency in elections to focus on the personal attributes of a candidate - such as his/her strengths - weaknesses - background - experience - and visibility.






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






38. The principle of a two-house legislature.






39. Presidential staff the agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.






40. 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






41. Widespread agreement on fundamental principles of democratic governance and the values that undergird them.






42. An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements.






43. Constitutional arrangement in which power is distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments - called states in the United States. The national and the subdivisional governments both exercise direct authority over individuals.






44. 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.






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






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






47. Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.






48. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






49. 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






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