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






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






3. Quality or state of a work that taken as a whole appeals to a prurient interest in sex by depicting sexual conduct in a patently offensive way and that lacks serious literary - artistic - political - or scientific value.






4. The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.






5. 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.






6. An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.






7. The current holder of the elected office.






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






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






10. A philosophy that encourages individual nations to act on their own when facing threats from other nations.






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






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






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






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






15. Unlimited amounts of money that political parties previously could raise for party-building purposes. Now largely illegal except for limited contributions to state and local parties for voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts.






16. Elections held midway between presidential elections.






17. A writ issued by a magistrate that authorizes the police to search a particular place or person - specifying the place to be searched and the objects to be seized.






18. 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.






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






20. The process - most notably in families and schools - by which we develop our political attitudes - values - and beliefs.






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






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






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






24. The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or - in a state court - the state constitution.






25. Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.






26. A widely shared and consciously held view - like support for homeland security.






27. The list of potential cases that reach the Supreme Court.






28. Providing automatic increases to compensate for inflation.






29. Elections in which voters elect officeholders.






30. Segregation imposed by law.






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






32. 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.






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






34. Essays promoting ratification of the Constitution - published anonymously by Alexander Hamilton - John Jay - and James Madison in 1787 and 1788.






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






36. A term the founders used to refer to political parties and special interests or interest groups.






37. Employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies that regulate interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern.






38. A law that defines crimes against the public order.






39. A form of organization that operates through impersonal - uniform rules and procedures.






40. Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official - the first step in removal from office.






41. Alternative means of health care in which individuals make tax-deductible contributions to a special account that can be used to pay medical expenses.






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






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






44. A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.






45. Election in which voters choose party nominees.






46. 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.






47. Procedure for submitting to popular vote measures passed by the legislature or proposed amendments to a state constitution.






48. 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.






49. 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.






50. A technique of Congress to establish federal regulations. Direct orders must be complied with under threat of criminal or civil sanction. An example is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 - barring job discrimination by state and local gover