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. 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






2. 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.






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






4. A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans 'rally 'round the flag' and the chief executive.






5. An individual who does not to join a group representing his or her interests yet receives the benefit of the group's influence.






6. 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.






7. Clause in the Constitution that states that 'Congress should have the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. . . .' This clause is also known as the elastic clause as is a major and significant p

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


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






9. An election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins.






10. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.






11. A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.






12. Money government provides to parents to pay their children's tuition in a public or private school of their choice.






13. 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.






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






15. 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.






16. Period at the beginning of the new president's term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress - usually lasting about six months.






17. Holding incumbents - usually the president's party - responsible for their records on issues - such as the economy or foreign policy.






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






19. The power to keep executive communications confidential - especially if they relate to national security.






20. The informal list of issues that Congress and the president consider most important for action.






21. The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.






22. Literally - a 'friend of the court' brief - filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.






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






24. A close contest; by extension - any contest in which the focus is on who is ahead and by how much rather than on substantive differences between the candidates.






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






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






27. Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.






28. 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.






29. Voting based on what a candidate pledges to do in the future about an issue if elected.






30. 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.






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






32. A belief that limited government insures order competitive markets and personal opportunity.






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






34. Denial of export - import - or financial relations with the target country in an effort to change that nation's policies.






35. Divisions within society that reinforce one another - making groups more homogenous or similar.






36. 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






37. Domination of an industry by a single company that fixes prices and discourages competition; also - the company that dominates the industry by these means.






38. Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published; usually presumed to be unconstitutional.






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






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






41. A government agency that operates like a business corporation - created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.






42. Powers expressly or implicitly reserved to the states.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


43. International organization derived from the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that promotes it free trade around the world.






44. The set of arrangements - including checks and balances - federalism - separation of powers - rule of law - due process - and a bill of rights - that requires our leaders to listen - think - bargain - and explain before they act or make laws. We then






45. Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.






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






47. Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.






48. 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.






49. The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget - the Council of Economic Advisers - and several other units.






50. A policy adopted by the Bush administration in 2001 that asserts America's right to attack any nation that has weapons of mass destruction that might be used against U.S. interests at home or abroad.