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 boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot - especially the president.






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






3. A formal agreement between a U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that acquires approval by both houses of Congress.






4. 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.






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






6. Powers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments - such as the power to levy taxes.






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






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






10. 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






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






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






13. Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments - the vice president - and a few other officials selected by the president.






14. The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.






15. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that freedom of expression is so essential to democracy that governments should not punish persons for what they say - only for what they do.






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






17. The rights of all people to dignity and worth; also called human rights.






18. The principle of a two-house legislature.






19. A tax on increased value of the product at each stage of production and distribution rather than just at the point of sale.






20. A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.






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






22. The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.






23. A secret ballot printed by the state.






24. The inclination to focus on national issues - rather than local issues - in an election campaign. The impact of the national tide can be reduced by the nature of the candidates on the ballot who might have differentiated themselves from their party o






25. Media that emphasize the news.






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






27. The widespread belief that the United States is a land of opportunity and that individual initiative and hard work can bring economic success.






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






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






30. The formal process for making regulations.






31. A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns






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






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






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






35. A local or judicial election in which candidates are not selected or endorsed by political parties and party affiliation is not listed on ballots.






36. Deliberate refusal to obey law or comply with orders of public officials as a means of expressing opposition.






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






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






39. Interpretation of the First Amendment that holds that the government cannot interfere with speech unless the speech presents a clear and present danger that it will lead to evil or illegal acts.






40. An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.






41. A court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts.






42. 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.






43. The rule of precedent - whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.






44. 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.






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






46. The right of a federal law or a regulation to preclude enforcement of a state or local law or regulation.






47. The clause in the Constitution (Article 1 - Section 8 - Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.






48. 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






49. Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.






50. 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.